Wednesday, 16 January 2008

The view from the window today is pretty much like Monday. The snow is piling up as the temperature sits at -7ºC. Last night we took a short walk round to our neighbours parents for drinks at about 7pm. The sky was clear and the moon was shining. We left at about 10pm and it was still clear and around -1º, so there was some hope of blue skies today... I see on the Weather Network much more snow is forecast for tomorrow, the day I leave for home.

After the boys went off to school and my sister had done a bit of housekeeping, we set off for Tavistock about half an hour south east of Stratford to look at a furniture shop. We weren't going to buy anything, just look at a multimedia centre with built in electric fireplace. We saw some we liked, and have left it to my brother in law to go back to decide what he wants to replace the almost 18 year old TV cabinet they got when they got married in Scottburgh on the KZN south coast. Has it been that long? We had a Tim Horton's coffee and cookie and I bought a 12 pack of ground coffee to take back home. I hope it's allowed through customs. Just checked, coffee is not on the list.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and packing. I'm ready to go.

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

The dinner was an eat as much as you like noodle affair at Gene's Chinese Restaurant in town, and the restaurant had been closed to the public for 3 sittings - we were the last sitting at 7pm.

This morning it was snowing lightly when my sister and I went into town to visit her work and go for a walk along the T.J. Dolan Trail along the Avon river. Down near the river among the bare snow-covered trees it was quite pleasant and were almost unaware that we were near the centre of a small city, with a main road passing nearby. Not quite dead centre of town, although there was a cemetery on the other side of the river! :-)

We were dressed as usual for the weather in boots, coats, hats and gloves, and spent about half an hour walking along the path. We saw a squirrel and some small birds at a bird feeder. Kind folk put seed in the feeders for the birds. The squirrels aren't able to get to the seed because of cone-shaped barriers on the poles, but are able to eat seed which the birds spill onto the ground.

We drove into town for coffee at Balzac's which the neighbour said was the best coffee shop in Stratford. The coffee was very good, and we sat at the counter facing Ontario street hoping to people watch, but the window was fogged up. The seed cookie (biscuit) was also good and filling.

After sitting talking for a while we strolled through downtown Stratford, down the Avon River where it runs through town, took some photos and walked back to the car and went home.

Monday, 14 January 2008

It continued snowing overnight and this morning the winter wonderland look had returned.

The little 1 metre high cypress outside the front door had its Christmas covering on it again.

My sister and I went to Kitchener about 40 minutes drive northwest of Stratford to look at a hobby shop which seemed to be in a private residence, and I didn't like the look of the place so we didn't get out the car. Instead we went on to another one on the otherside of town, but they didn't have anything which would have been of interest to my friend Leon at home. We went on to Canadian Tire which I would compare to Game in South Africa and bought a snow mobile suit which would do the perfect job when flying my microlight trike to Underberg in the winter. Windproof and very warm! I'm going to test drive it later. I'll get my brother in law to take me for a high speed ride on the back of his pickup along one of the country roads, just to make sure it can handle the wind chill factor as well. Oh... I've subsecuently found out a person is not allowed to be on the back of a vehicle unless all the seats with seatbelts are occupied. Hmmm. Canada and its regulations! Oh well, I'll have to believe the labels on the suit that say it's windproof etc.

Trees along the highway to Kitchener

Tonight we're going to a fund-raisers dinner for some poor African village. I know it sounds strange. That reminds me about the story my brother in law has told me of someone he knows who found his brown truck tailgate had been swapped for a white one overnight. I thought I was in Canada!!!?? At least it was a straight switch... now that's probably the difference!?

(Update: The snow mobile suite is perfect for flying the microlight. I've been using it regularly since I got back home.)

Sunday, 13 January 2008

I was a bit slow in posting this today, so people in the Eastern Hemisphere will only read this on Monday.

There was a tiny bit of snow overnight and I thought the sun was going to come out today (see pic left), but the clouds are too thick again. The snow has melted off the roofs and the temperature remains at 0ºC. The wind's shifted to blowing from the east today, and it looks like another grey day. The Canadians apparently don't like this "in between" weather, preferring either below zero with lots of snow or sunny and snow to this rainy damp weather we're having now. I'm inclined to agree. When there's lots of snow about and the sun shines, it really is a pleasant sight. The snow so white, and the sky a bright blue. Yes, it's blerry cold, but with the right clothing, being outside (although briefly) is bearable. We'll see what this my last week in Canada brings.

When the boys parents came back from Collingwood this morning we drove to London to visit Masonville Mall, just to get out and walk around for some exercise and a Tim Horton's coffee and donuts. As we arrived back home at about 4:30 pm it began to snow. Maybe this is the snow they're predicting.

Saturday, 12 January 2008

Well, the sun has tried to come out today, and it also tried to snow and rain. Temp just above zero Celsius outside (21 inside). The dog doesn't stay out long when she gets let out to do her business.

Looking out now I don't think the sun's going to get a chance today. People are still talking about this definitely unseasonal thaw and the news has issued warning to people not to walk on ice as it's thin and dangerous. People drill holes in frozen lakes, dams and rivers to fish in winter.

Life in winter here in Canada is so different to winters in South Africa. Some people leave their cars idling in the supermarket car parks so they're not cold when they get back! Can you imaging leaving your car idling in a car park in South Africa? It would be stolen before you walked away from it! But leaving the car running in Canada is not a thing that is done much because according to my sister, the Canadians are becoming more eco aware now. In summer big shopping centres and supermarkets only have about half their interior lights on in an attempt to keep electricity usage down. Home owners are encouraged to turn off lights when they're not in the room, and the municipality supplies different crates to each household for recycling e.g. plastics, paper tins, glass. South African should take a leaf out of their book. Drive through any city or large town in SA and see all the highrise office blocks a blaze of lights. (See the comments on 11 January) I think we must write to our city managers to get them to look into this situation. I know I'm going to speak to the general manager of my work place about turning office lights out at night when there's nobody there. Sometimes I go around the building turning passage lights out during the day. It's a pity other people don't care about these things too! Oh well.....

Babysitting my nephews is an easy task because all day and every day (in winter) they're at their computers playing video games (except when they're at school, and I wonder if they sit there longing for home time so they can get back to the games!!) They get on well together and I don't have to be referee of any fights.

Friday, 11 January 2008

The day started off cold (do I need to mention that?) and wet. It rained off and on, then about 2 pm light pellet snow fell for a while. It stopped just before we did the newspaper delivery route, but the wind was icy as usual. It was strange to see the neighbourhood without the 30cm covering of snow there was when I walked with the boys 2 weeks ago. Green lawns everywhere. The grass is snow resistant and retains its green colour.

The weather forecast says light snow overnight, some Saturday and Sunday and they expect about 1cm over the next 24 hours. If it continues to rain as well, the snow will melt again.

So that was Stratford today.

Thursday, 10 January 2008

I've sorted out the Comments problem - you can send them now.

Well the basketball game last night was enjoyable. It was a friendly house league game and my nephew shot a basket and was really chuffed. So were his dad and I.

Well done Buzz!

The sun shone for a while today, but it remained around 0ºC. Only small isolated bits of snow remain in some sheltered spots in gardens around the city. Now that my sister's off her night shift stint, we're going to get around more in town.