Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
25 September 2026 - Toronto ON
Vancouver BC
SATURDAY
The day started off slowing as most Saturdays do. I popped frozen scones in the oven and then caught up on blog reading which leads to rabbit holes and book additions to my TBR list. There were a lot of new authors/books this morning! This took me to 10 10:30 AM, then I got in gear, showered, dressed and finally emptied the dryer. Tidied up, ran the mop.
I spent a few hours watching A Place To Call Home.
A Place to Call Home is an Australian drama set in the 1950s and 1960s, a period of intense social conservatism. The show highlights several historical prejudices and systemic injustices that just make me so angry! I'm not sure I can continue!
A Place to Call Home is an Australian drama set in the 1950s and 1960s, a period of intense social conservatism. The show highlights several historical prejudices and systemic injustices that just make me so angry! I'm not sure I can continue!
The intense anti semitism, a closeted gay man living in an era when homosexuality was illegal, socially ruinous, and classified as a mental illness. It highlights the devastating impact of government policies that led to the Stolen Generations, including the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. It also portrays the daily segregation, casual racism, and lack of legal protection experienced by Aboriginal characters.
And then, women navigate a society where women have almost no legal autonomy over their bodies or relationships.
The wealthy elite fight ruthlessly to maintain the status quo against an emerging, more progressive post-war world.
The wealthy elite fight ruthlessly to maintain the status quo against an emerging, more progressive post-war world.
SUNDAY
The whole week was very quiet as we finalized trip details and whatnot. Just quiet on the photo front. Lots of stuff getting done just not very post worthy.
I created some scheduled posts from abandoned drafts.
Popcorn for lunch.
As a certified (certifiable??) nerd and passionate lover of spreadsheets, I found this article to be hysterical. The Museum of Regrettable Spreadsheets.
MONDAY
I cleaned out the fridge! I went to Longo's for some groceries, Winners and $ store.
Saw these for the first time in Toronto.
TUESDAY
T Stands for Tuesday
John golfed, it was a real autumn day, bright and sunny but the winds were strong. I went to College Park in search of some new utility boxes that had been painted as a BIA initiative. But the wind was cold and it was so busy with TMU students I gave up and took the subway back.
I now have 4 of 11 found, the first one was last week.
I took the subway back (it was packed at TMU (formerly Dundas) station). SMH as to the purpose of these. I understand safety...
The point of the new steel barriers installed by the TTC is to prevent people and objects from falling onto the subway tracks while creating a more defined and secure waiting area for riders.
Right, but it doesn't run the length of the tracks...
The waist-high steel fences are placed along the platform edge between the spots where subway doors open, discouraging accidental falls or intentional track access.
In some spots.
You are not supposed to stand behind them, means less platform space. And, only at TMU for now.
Instead of Blue Jays uniforms this was the fashion along Front St. today, cowboy boots and hats, denim and lacy tops. Zach Bryan performed at the Rogers Centre on the 22nd and 23rd as part of his With Heaven On Tour, bringing out plenty of fans in classic country concert attire.
WEDNESDAY
John had his last men's league golf game of the season, their banquet is next week.
I went back to Yonge to look for the other utility boxes but gave up, went to T&T for broccoli and bananas and came home.
Say it isn't so! Where am I going to tell people to meet me now???
According to official City project documentation, the structure—historically known as the Travellers' Aid Society of Toronto booth—has been dismantled to be completely refurbished and relocated. The Travellers' Aid has already been moved to two booths on the right.
This clock and counter are not original, they were installed in 1994 and have no particular historical value.
Sankofa (Dundas) Square
I stopped into the Image Centre at TMU to see this, but wasn't impressed, it was too gloomy.
Painted by Elicser.
We grabbed a cab at Central Station as I had to book a hotel further east than usual, due to the race and the crazy hotel prices. We are in a Tru Hilton.
I finally finished The Expats, interesting twists.
Sankofa (Dundas) Square
John had done a review of our travel document and found some dates misaligned so I fixed that.
THURSDAY
Memories my parents' wedding anniversary
John met a friend for coffee, they hadn't got together for a long time.
Cutting through Brookfield Place.
.
I got a haircut and then wandered up Yonge St. and happened upon two more of the new mural utility boxes.
Now I have 6 of 11 new boxes.
Vegetarian - in a food court.
FRIDAY
We headed to Montreal on the 11:40 train. It was fully booked as were the hotels in Montreal.
Once we checked in John discovered he didn't have his phone. Sheer panic!!!!!!!! He realized it was probably in the cab. Did we know the cab company, no, we paid cash. So many we should haves etc. How to lock or cancel it. Everything we tried, wanted to send a verification code to his phone, which we don't have. We share a cellular account, but didn't want it screwing up mine as we were chatting to a chatbot or
"virtual assistant", not usually the brightest.
"virtual assistant", not usually the brightest.
So we went to dinner and ended in a pizza/pasta place.
When we left the hotel we told reception that we had lost a phone just in case someone found it. I don't normally turn my volume up but did in this case and I got a call from the hotel saying the driver had brought it back!!
We ended up chatting to the three people beside us, Americans from New York and New Hampshire. They had been on a cycling tour and were staying to see some of the races. They were NOT Trumpsters by any means and spoke about how ruined their country's reputation is around the world. One mentioned that he had been in Austria and Italy (cycling) recently and the amount of disdain he had encountered.
I found a mural walking back to the hotel!
John was extremely happy to be reunited with his phone!
COOKING
Bremner St. Toronto ON
Saturday - curry chicken
Sunday - roast pork, potatoes and carrots
Monday - leftover roast pork, gravy, mashed potatoes and beans
Tuesday - ground lamb, Greek salad
Wednesday - salmon, mashed potatoes and broccoli
Thursday - chicken quarters, roast potatoes and broccoli
Friday - Montreal pizza
I finally finished The Expats, interesting twists.
I also finished Kiss of Death, another Paul Finch. I do enjoy this series, I am reading out of order, it was a little slow at first but it certainly picked up!!!
What a relief that the taxi driver brought the phone back! Apparently cellphones are the #1 item forgotten in cabs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of utility box murals! My fave is the "all bundled up against the cold" one. And I like that sports mural in Montreal, too, especially the "mosaic effect" it has.
In Winnipeg back in the day, if you told someone to meet you "under the clock," everyone automatically knew you meant the big clock on the main floor of the Eatons downtown store on Portage Avenue.
I once left a camera in a taxi in Mexico and the driver brought it back to my hotel. If you say under the clock in St. John's it means your in the jail at the courthouse!
DeleteYes, I forgot to mention that the bundled up was done by our world famous artist Elicser!!!
I like the painted utility boxes you found in downtown Toronto and the mural in Montreal. So great that the taxi driver brought the phone back. Have a great time in Montreal! Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
ReplyDeleteSumos!!!! My favorite!!!! So good in yogurt with honey.
ReplyDeleteMy phone is glued to my hand so I don't THINK I could possibly lose it, knock on wood???
That pizza!!! Give me that and a beaver tail, please.
A Place to Call Home was good. Bits of it are coming back to me. Noni Hazlehurst was terrific in her role as the matriarch. It's had to believe it was shown so long ago.
ReplyDeleteI felt sick when I read John had lost his phone. Thank goodness it was returned.
OMG Andrew, we both felt sick when you realize how much info we keep in our phones! She is amazing in A Place to Call Home.
DeleteSo glad the cab driver brought the phone back!
ReplyDeleteA Place to Call Home reminds me of the shows of my childhood. I was always told, as a librarian, that I needed to have books on my shelves that were mirrors and windows for children. I think that's true of tv shows, too. We all need mirrors and windows.
You were lucky the cab drver brought the phone. that's incredibly kind. Your entire menu looks fantastic.
ReplyDelete