Things are starting

Our project of building a garage has started.Slowly. By inches. Tree guys are here for the second day. They only work half a day. Don't know why. It is not because it gets too hot in the afternoon. It is 11 o'clock on morning of June 5, and it is 9'. That would be cold for the 5 of May. It is like a cold, very cool, October morning. But the sun is not right for Oct. The trees are not right for October.

We are looking at a patch of logs. Beautiful oak and pine, maybe 20" in diameter are down,  in long chunks, to be piled for the sawyer. A portable saw will come on the property and mill us lumber. To watch the two men work. One climbs the tree, with spurs on, and he ropes himself in, and jabs his feet in to the trunk and climbs up. With a chain saw roped to his belt. He then lops off the big branches, and then 10/12' pieces of the trunk. They then drag the branches to a corner of our property that is low ground. We will have a chipper come in and chip these big branches to put as filler in this low land. Another pile of the big long logs are piled for the sawyer.

Here is the patch of downed trees.

The trunk of this topped off oak is probably 20" in diameter.

The other day we saw a fox go by the front of the house. They always seem so majestic. This one stopped to check us out. Maybe 10 seconds stare, then casually sauntered off.

I had a lovely weekend last weekend.  I have spoken of how I yearned for a feeling of belonging. In Singapore, I knew so few, and none with a shared history. Well, I am finding that in spades here. Saturday night we were invited to dinner with a friend of mine from high school. Jane Templeton. A girl who grew up in Bala. We were summertime friends. We have said hello over the years, but she married at 18, and started her family right away. She has a daughter 50, and she has great grandchildren. She is so a lap ahead of me. But we had a wonderful time. At dinner were some old Balaites, and we talked the olden days. Like 50-60 years ago. Summers in Bala. Jane has just bought an old original Muskoka cottage. It is fabulous, but it will be their home, so in fact they will tear it down. She feels guilty doing that, but it just won't work as a full time year round residence.

That weekend at church, we were asked to read. First time I have ever seen Tim read. I have many times, but not up here. We both read, and people came up to us after to chat. Who were we, new to town? and we left church feeling we had made a lovely connection with our church community.

Had company up this week. Dianne and I were out for a drive, stopped in Port Carling. Saw the Wenonah pass throughout the locks. I have not been there at the right time since I was a kid, maybe 60-65 years ago!. It really is a wonderful thing to watch. This steam boat going from Lake Muskoka to Lake Rosseau, throughout the locks that allow for the 12" or so water level change.

This weekend Tim and Elizabeth are doing the Ride for the Cure. Bike Toronto/Hamilton Saturday, and Hamilton/Niagara on the Lake Sunday. I will tag a long in the truck and get them back to TO Sunday. Tim has been training, did a 90 k the other day. It will be 100 k but for two consecutive days. The second day will be the killer. I will take the day Sunday as a tourist in Niagara on the Lake. Looking forward to that.

But looking more forward to the new dock arriving next Thursday!! And the garage finishing. Great excitement. Even greater patience.

Hey wait just a minute.

We are retired! We are supposed to have all the time in the world. Well one big HA to that. 

It is crazy busy. We are north, settling in to Bala (pop 400) and loving it. But much to do.

We have met with our builder Al. But our request for a variance wasn't through council, and just passed last week. We planned this last September. Urgh. So we now wait the 20 days for neighbours to complain. I was joking with our neighbour, my nephew, Gord Wade, and he said he was joining the class action suit against our permit. Ha.

We can start taking down trees. But I don't see any tree guys around. Urgh.

Life this time round for me , is a lesson in patience. 

So here is a photo of us leaving Singapore. Dramatic exit.

Here are our suitcases in the airport. We usually travel very light, but we sure didn't this time! Seven, count 'em, seven suitcases! But that all got through and on and home, and we didn't even have to pay extra. I do not know how that happened, but I wasn't about to ask questions.

Now Momma is happy. We stayed at my sister Marnie's and the first night the kids came up for pizza and beer. It was, needless to say. wonderful to see them and be back in the fold.

Elizabeth and Steve

The first week home had lots to do. Get an Ontario driver's licence. A temporary one here and mine is in the mail. I don't even need a medical. In Sg you need a medical as of 65 and every year thereafter!.

BothTim and I bought cars. I bought the smallest one I could get- a mini cooper, and Tim bought the biggest he could -  a Ram 1500 truck.

In Bala, a lovely goldfinch is fascinated with himself and perches on the door of the car, or truck, to gaze at himself in the rearview mirror. BUT he poops on my new car!

There is much to be done. We furnished our 4 bedroom apartment in Singapore with IKEA. We then gave it to the thrift shop at our church when we left. Now we are buying at IKEA for here. At least we are getting good at putting stuff together. We have to get storage things. Oh so much stuff to stuff in to a "cottage" that was design with very little storage. It's a cottage right? Not now. So many summer clothes. A full twelve month's worth, not just the summer months here, but 12 months in Sg. Mr IKEA handyman manages a smile, it is getting so easy for him.

This is what it is all about. Home to kids. And home to family. My two sisters. My twin sister on the left, my younger sister Marnie in the middle, and me (the one taking the selfie, looking like a deer caught in the headlights). We had three days together. Marnie and I went to stay with Judy in Port Colburne. It was food for the soul. And the heart. And all that is good.

This is what I wake up to. Glassy water, sunlight through the pines,  so peaceful, so quiet, so beautiful. Culture shock from Singapore, population 5 million, and an energetic huge bustling vibrant centre. To Bala, Long Lake, population 400. I am fourth generation on this property. From a feeling of no roots and being disconnected from all I knew when I moved to Singapore, to Bala, where my roots run deep, and I am so honoured to be here.

Tim had lit me a fire. I will now put my feet up, snuggle in to the fireside. Oh how I dreamed of this. I am living my dream!

Wow is this busy

I so appreciate that you check in for a new post. I can see that many still connect. I am so busy. I have much to say but just can not do it justice yet, so hang in with me, and I will be back. It is an amazing repatriation. A mind bender.

Tim's last day wearing a tie

Tim is on his last flight. He will get in 5 pm, and a group meets his last flight. Five of us are going out to be at Arrivals. Some management will be there and they do a little thing and cut his tie off. Last flight that Tim will wear a tie. He still has his little airplane that will sit at the dock at Southwinds, but no tie need. No shoes needed. No shirt needed.

But his last flight in a uniform, and this is the last photo of the "twins" at Tiger. Everybody confused Rod with Tim. They both look alike!? I guess to the Asians. But Tim is known as "the nice one" says Rod. They joined at the same time at Air Canada, were in line together signing up, and followed each other, one number away in seniority for 33 years. But funnily enough, Rod, 3 months older, retired before Tim, so Tim now has priority over Rod at AC. Finally a catch up.

I am really thinking I am going to find a closet full of junk that I have not dealt with. I had NOTHING to do yesterday so went off to Gardens by the Bay to see the tulip showing. It was voluptuous. The scent of tulips, the mass of colours. I have a zillion pics (at least) but will post two. Wafts of colours, and wafts of that delicate scent. It fed my soul. And primed me for my first Ontario Spring in three years. Whoopppee!

I find myself saying goodbye to things and people. I remember doing that when were packing from Connaught Circle, but wish I had a stronger memory of those farewells. So here are some for Singapore. The iconic Marina Bay Sands Resort downtown, the a amazing infinity pool on top, the views of the city magnificent, the logistics of the engineering with the curve supporting what is at the top. I love it. It commands a view from all over, it is the first place I suggest visitors go to, and I am so glad we did a staycation and I experienced that roof top pool.

Our apartment. 23-05 of Aquamarine Tower at 50 Bayshore Park, on Bayshore Road. The condo complex is wonderful. The grounds are very green and quiet and spacious, and wonderfully landscaped. (except the fake grass they have started to put in!)

The view from our now empty balcony. A somber day with some haze. I have heard that the haze is coming soon and going to be worse that last year (is it possible?) and for 2 months. Yuck.

So the last flight tonight. The party tomorrow night, then Friday Saturday empty !!! and we fly out very early Sunday. To Hong Kong. And then standby to TO. With 6 oversized suitcases, ($$$) and oversold flights. We could get in as early as Sunday night. 12 hours in the plane and get to TO the same time we left HK.


So this might be the last post from Singapore. Or it might not be.

well here I am back again, so soon

Packing up in the hottest weather we have experienced. No breeze and the awful humidity on top of the heat. YUCK

Our belongings have been procreating in the closets. We went off to Giant (a bargain department store) to buy big suitcases. S$40  each. Amazing. They only have to last one flight. We never travel this heavy!

Aside from stuffing belongings into these huge bags that are restricted by weight and 50 lbs comes too soon, there is also all these many currencies left over.

Nancy and Rod are going to buy some of our foreign currencies. We have Myanmar 1410 kyats which comes to S$1.84!
673,000 Indonesian rupiah comes to S$73.65.
The hard one to count was Vietnamese dongs 10,060,000. That comes to $597. Why did I have so much? I don't know. But counting those zeros. It took me many times over, I had to put them in piles, and count over and over. I will have Nancy check. I could be out by many zeros.

Our last sleep in our apartment is tonight. It is very charged. We have had such a lovely time, exciting travel, and wonderful time together. We are both a little soft about leaving that behind.

But the call of children and family and friends is loud. Such mixed yin/yang, bittersweet feelings, as is most of life, right?

Ten Days to go!!!!!!!!

Tim's sister Jeanette was our last visitor. Time is flying like greased lightening. It is scary fast.

We just had 2 weeks with Netty/Jeanette/Skip. It was a super visit to end this incredible chapter.

We had a slow start. Netty had been racing Masters Cross Country Skiing in Labrador, -30' , (5 bronze medals!) and stepped off the plane here in 30' and humidity. It was very hot while she was here.

We had a bbq so she could meet some of our friends. We can rent a bbq down by the pool. We pay $5 to reserve it, but  $50 deposit to insure we leave it tidy. When you are finished you call the security guard to come and inspect your tidying job, sign you off and you go to the office the next day to get your deposit back. Just like school children. Urgh.

We went to a concert of the SSO doing Bach's St. John Passion,  We did some sight seeing, Marina Bay Sands, I think the most amazing "must" in Singapore. An engineering feat, and so beautiful. The Art science Museum, again , an architectural jewel, built to look like a lotus flower, and saw a dinosaur exhibition that was wonderful. 

 Then we went to Norm's boat. Norm, our dear friend who was the reason we came here. He had come a year ahead, and called Tim to say this is fantastic, you should come. He is now retired, and his plan is to be 5 months on his sailboat out of Phuket, a month travelling, then 5 months in Barbados, (his home, his roots, where he has a house,) for 5 months, and travel a month. Sounds pretty nice to me. He is the most wonderful, generous, happy, interesting, brilliant soul. I do love him dearly. He had invited us for 4 days, it coincided with Netty being here, and Tim got the 4 days off.

Norm is very tall, and makes me feel petite!

We had very still water. Which made sailing easy or even not enough and we had to motor. We were crossing from Phuket to Krabi. Tim and I had been to both places staying at resorts. I would look out at these beautiful sail boats and think "wow". Well we were the "wow". To see these beaches from the boat. Fantastic! We crossed the Andaman Sea from the east coast of the peninsula Phuket is on, to the west coast further south than the peninsula, to Krabi. The water there is scattered with these amazing islands. Limestone eruptions in the sea. Many have caves and chimneys carved out by millennia of sea water. They are spectacular. Photos do not do them justice. (see how quiet the water is)

We anchored three nights, and we had 2 kayaks for exploring, a little rubber dinghy to go ashore, and we could have gone diving. Norm has tanks, a regulator, the works.

 His boat is 50' long, has three cabins and a bow cabin, so can sleep 8. We were 5; Norm, Tim, me, Netty, and a young man, Ben, a son of a friend of Norm's, who helped crew. The boat is lovely. Called Barbados Bound, because that is where Norm lives, or has a house. (He commuted from Barbados to TO for Air Canada!)

We are just coming out of a hong cave. It is beyond description. We are in the dinghy looking at the BB anchored in the very still sea. Shallow water, vegetation growing on the walls - the will to live is dramatic- Sometimes the opening goes in to a cave, sometimes in to a chimney, that is either enclosed at the top, or open to the sky.

I felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, and yet the longtails come by with tourists to visit the caves. I think I have shown these longtails before, beautifully designed, sea worthy teak boats, with a motor (a very simple engine that sounds like piston beaver- that is very loud) that will draw very little water, so they can go in very shallow water. They ply the heavy seas beautifully too. But they are noisy.
We also were visited by fishermen, and we bought fresh prawns and bbq'd them.

Here is beautiful Barbados Bound anchored at a hong.

We swam in to this beach and wandered in on the island, through a slice in the wall, and followed a river. The high walls echoed the calls of birds, and I felt like Robinson Caruso.

We came back to Sg and went to Garden by the Bay. These fantastic structures, maybe 100' high, are growing living walls up them. They are very dramatic.

A lovely view of my favourite Singapore icon, Marina Bay Sands, from the Garden.

I am going to be very busy and somewhat scattered over the next 10 days. TEN DAYS!!! YIKES!!!getting this place closed up. We will finish here 25th and head back shortly thereafter. I have decided to continue this blog after getting back to Canada, because there will be a post script for me. The transition will be a big one. So I will record it.

Thank you for sharing my adventure. So far! It has been very important to me to feel I am connecting with friends back home. I so want to share the adventure, because I am so lucky to have done this. It has been fantastic. But to be sharing helped with the inevitable loneliness of being away. From very low depths, extreme ill health, to wallowing in the adventures we have had, it has been quite a ride. Thank you for sharing it.

I do love synchronicity

We still have three weeks before leaving, but I wanted to say goodbye to my dear friend Kate. She has the yoga studio I attend. Tomorrow I am off sailing for 4 days, and during that time she is off to South Africa to visit her family. She gets back the day we finish up here. So although very early to say a farewell, it would have to be. I was wondering how I could track her down with the bit of time I had today.

Shopping for groceries for our sailing trip tomorrow I bumped in to her in the mall! I came to her studio with her and was able to have a visit. It was wonderful to have a proper farewell. But I do have to say that I plan to come back to Singapore next Fall to go on her annual yoga retreat. So it was a 5 month goodbye. But to bump in to her at the mall. Wonderful synchronicity.

Tim's sister Jeanette, is visiting from Whistler. Actually she came via Labrador where she competed in Masters cross country ski. She got 5 bronze medals. She came from in Labrador -20 to  Singapore 30'! Tim, Jeanette and I are off to Thailand tomorrow. We fly to Phuket, and fly out of Krabi. Phuket is an peninsula that hangs down the west side of Thailand. We will sail with Norm east across the bay to the mainland of Thailand, to Krabi. We have been to both places on holidays so I know how beautiful it will be. But to spend 4 days on a sailboat there is beyond exciting.

It is a boat, I think 40'. It sleeps 8, 3 bedrooms below and one in the bow. Norm has all the diving gear on his boat, he has a kayak, a bbq, a bimini, and it should be very beautiful. We went with him way back when we first got here. I was still very sick, and could not manage the ladder so did no swimming. I am looking forward to be a part of the activities on the boat this time. I am taking ziploc bags of salads, (quinoa and bean) that can travel tomorrow on the flight, and am thrilled to be able to contribute to the kitchen. Oops, galley. Last visit I had no idea what to take. I did know not to bring rum. He has something like 13 bottles of rum!

We, the three Callahans, went to hear the SSO last week. St John Passion by Bach. It was wonderful. They did it with traditional instruments. That would be a theorbor, and a viol da gamba. A theorbor is a lute/guitar like instrument with a very long neck. Like three feet long. A viol da gamba is like a cello with no end pin, held between the legs. The sound is different to a cello. In all my years of playing, I never played with a theorbor. Again, the hall was wonderful, the acoustics perfect, and I was purring like a happy kitten.

Hoping you are warming up at home. I am beginning to think I am going to come home to snow! My sister Marnie was at our place in Bala Sunday, and the snow plow for the driveway has made an eight foot snow pile right where we hope to start building May 1. HA.