It Had to Happen

But did it have to be Christmas eve. As we were leaving Lynn and John's house, loaded with food to take to the street party, I did the elegant slide down the drive on my bum...... and managed to shatter a platter filled with cheese and wreck my camera. The only damage I did to me was a lovely bruise on the elbow and of course lots of damage to my pride, but the camera didn't like the slide at all. We will take it to a camera shop, but I don't hold much hope, the lens took a pretty good whack. Luckily I do have another camera with me, but the after Christmas sales are looking pretty good, by about $100 on Aussie prices.
The Christmas eve party was delightful and a great way to meet all the neighbours I hadn't met yet. They have all been friends for quite some time and the Christmas eve party has been a long standing tradition. A great evening

Christmas Eve
 
It snowed yesterday morning and although the sun shone all day, and is again today, there is still snow on the ground and everything is beautiful. It's pretty cold out there, with the temperature sitting at -6 and not expected to get much higher for the day, and the good news is we are expecting more snow flurries overnight and tomorrow. So Santa will have some snow to land on? 
 


 
The dogs and I have been for a good long walk and it was so lovely I went out again with the camera to catch the ice flowers on the river, they look just beautiful



So , fingers crossed, it's a White Christmas.






MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Festival of Carols: The Elora Festival Singers

The Elora Festival Singers have established a reputation as on of the finest chamber choirs in Canada and beyond, so it was an absolute delight for me to hear them perform at St John's Church here in Elora. No snow outside, but a wonderful Christmassy feeling inside and every seat in the house taken. They are only giving three performances, so Nicole, Richard and Liam had bought my ticket early. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, a mixture of traditional carols and other musical pieces.

Niagara Falls

 "If you come to this region of Ontario, you have to get to the Falls" everyone kept telling me, and it was pretty high on my list. On my first visit to the Tourist Info Centre, where I spoke to Robyn, an Aussie and Sue an English woman, figure that one, I inquired about buses, or in fact, any transport to Niagara, they just looked at me and told me there wasn't even transport to Fergus or Guelph, although there sort of possibly is. (I have tried the web site but don't get very far on that one.) Anyway, the long and short of it is... forget public transport  to Niagara.

 Again thank goodness for wonderful friendly neighbours. Yesterday on a bright sunny day, Lynn and I set of bright and early for our 1 1/2 hour trip to Niagara, and it lived up to all my expectations, although one of those expectations wasn't to get absolutely soaking wet. It just so happened that yesterday the breeze was blowing back towards the viewing area, and once outside the doors, it was like standing fully clothed in a shower, or just standing in the rain.

 Within seconds everything was just soaked, including the camera. Lynn. as you would when you have seen it all before, instantly turned tail and ran back inside, I made a number of forays in and out, all the while trying to keep the camera and lens dry and to see through my glasses. But it was worth all the saoking, the falls are so very magestic and beautiful and all the ice trees along the edges looked beautiful.

   After a lovely lunch in the restaurant overlooking the Falls we braved it once more in "the rain" before heading off for a drive through town and a stop off at a Discount Mall for some bargains. I will have to show you my new Red Leather Jacket, it's GORGEOUS.

St Jacobs Farmer's Market

A Mennonite girl selling vegetables

On Saturday morning, after our gym workout (more about that later) Lynne and I headed off to the St Jacobs Farmer's Market, both swearing that we needed no more food and were just going to look. I don't think I believed it either! Surprisingly, with it being so close to Christmas, it wasn't that crowded, but still pretty busy. The outside and downstairs sections are filled with food, and fresh produce and the upstairs section mainly crafts and things. Naturally we bought heaps ore food, just in case!!!








As  St Jacobs is in the middle if a large Mennonite population, many of the stallholders are Mennonite and sell much of their home grown produce, but the market and the town of St Jacobs are now very touristy, so the produce is quite varied.

Selling Maple Syrup

Mennonite Children

All the owners are at work

After the market we traveled a round trip through the Mennonite townships, beginning with St Jacobs where we visited the Mennonite museum. Here they show a very informative film which includes the roots of the faith, the journey taken to various parts of the world, the beliefs  and the way of life. As an Aussie, I must admit I knew very little about the group, but I guess it's not surprising, as Australia has only a very small group, but they have spread to many other countries and are growing in numbers, particularly in  Africa. Lynn taught for many years at the Floradale Public School and many of her students were from Mennonite families, so she proved a great guide.
 There are a number of different Mennonite groups within the area. Some live more as we do and even drive cars, others travel by buggy and many still have no electricity within the home, although they have it in the barns. The houses are often a higgedly piggedly conglomeration as new bits are added all the time for extended family. The traditions were originally Germanic, so the accent and speech of the people still reflects this.

Elora Acoustic Cafe


Last night I went along to the annual all open-stage Christmas show at the Elora Acoustic Cafe, held at the Elora Arts Centre. A bracing walk in temperatures about-7C and I had the times wrong, so naturally was very early, but that gave me a chance to meet and talk to more friendly locals. There were some very Christmassy songs and others not so festive.

The evening is held monthly on the 2nd Friday and gives artists the opportunity to share their joy of music,song and song writing. I gather that different artists are featured  at each evening. There wasn't a large crowd, mostly made up of musicians, but it was a great way to spend the evening.

Spirit of Celebration

I can't drink many wines these days, and really miss my reds, but even here I found one I could enjoy. Alcohol is sold here in the LCBO, the liquor control board or some such thing - in other words the grog shop. In some you can only buy the hard stuff, wines and spirits and the beer is bought at ... you guessed it - the Beer Shop. I think the names are very original. But here in Elora the two are combined, so you can buy the hard stuff and beer all in the one. So last week I wandered into this one, it's at the end of the street and the dogs and I walk past most days, and I found an Australian Sparkling Shiraz...whooeeee. I do like a sparkling red.
I must admit I haven't heard of the brand, The Black Chook,( I think we are the only ones that call them chooks), but I asked about it and the staff told me there was not much left, so I bought a box, and then had to bring them home in a taxi. it was an icy cold day. I thought with Christmas, New Year and my birthday all coming up I would have plenty of people to share them with. So the box is cooling it's heels in the garage, pretty cold down there, and the first one shared last night with Lynn(neighbours, who are really looking after me) over our Eggplant Parmigiana we cooked for the family last night, I can happily say it lives up to the Aussie standard very well. We are sure to enjoy some more in the hot tub on a very snowy night. I am looking forward to that!

Innocence

 First there's Mr "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth" Diesel, just looks at you with those big brown eyes and asks "who me". Last night I wandered out of bed at some early hour for the usual nocturnal wander and when I returned to bed found a little warm bundle happily curled up in the bed! That didn't last long. Then this morning after the usual mad dash around "killing" each other Diesel quietly set about destroying his bed. I had been warned this was not an unusual event and that he has destroyed quite a few....looks like I have a little sewing to do.

Next we have lay back and casual Miyo   mmmmm. When the dogs and I go walking,  I have discovered she gets into things. Came home a few days ago and a packet of the dog treats was on the floor with lots of holes in the packet, made obviously by claws sharper than the dogs. But I had left them on the top of the treats cupboard. so blamed myself and made sure all were put away. This morning after our walk the dogs and I discovered a packet of treats scattered all over the floor. Diesel and Stella thought Christmas had come early, until I spoiled the party. It seems our clever Miyo has been fishing over the side of the baskets and hooking out packages.... clever cat!

This morning out walking Diesel and Stella, I noticed the ice had started to form on the river above the falls, so had to go back out with the camera. The weather is warming up again, so all the snow and soon, I imagine, the ice will have disappeared again. It's supposed to be as high as 10 C on Thursday before dropping again - crazy weather!

Yesterday, Sunday, was a glorious day yet again. Lots of blue skies and sunshine, so Lyn took me a little further afield. She was on her way to Costco, the supermarket at Kitchener. I know we now have at least one store in Oz, but I haven't been before, and a Sunday just a couple of weeks before Christmas is not really the time to go, but we got there and with lots of others trawled the aisles. It's called buying in BULK, great if you have lots of storage room.
Aside form that it gave me the opportunity to see a little of the countryside in the daylight. It's very flat around the Wellington and Waterloo districts, with a lot of agriculture. The fields have all been ploughed  ready for the spring season. There is a large Mennonite presence in the area and it was for me, fascinating to see the horses and buggies out and about as we drove by, especially those all covered in with tail lights and indicators brightly lit on the back.

Lynne at the West Montrose Covered Bridge

We stopped by the West Montrose Covered Bridge, the only remaining covered bridge in Ontario and built in 1881, and then had a brief stop in St Jacobs, now a very popular tourist town, but what was originally a Mennonite village. The quaint shops and mills have been restored and now are filled with galleries, and other tourist  shops. I am hoping to get back and spend a lot more time there including the Mennonite Museum and the Farmer's Market - I just love markets.

The Hockey Game

The Hockey Game.

Neighbours, Lynn and John informed me that a trip to Canada in winter is not complete without a visit to a hockey game - a Canadian Institution.9 To me hockey is the game they play on wet turf and certainly do not have skates on their feet - h! field hockey I am told, we are going to the "real hockey". I had noticed that it seems to figure a lot on t.v. and there are games going on all the time, so I did have an idea of it's place in the scheme of things.
Last night, it was off to Guelph, about a half hour journey, to see the local game. Last night was a  special night, the Christmas Teddy Bear Toss night, and as we arrived there were people everywhere carrying all sorts of stuffed toys including Lynn with our bag of toys. The arena is in the centre of town in the middle of a shopping mall, and although the arena wasn't full capacity is 6,000) I think there were just under 4,000. It is quite a social event, everyone wanders around chatting and catching up. Popcorn and beer are the traditional fare, although all the usual sporting event foods are also available.

The Teddy Bear toss, has become a popular tradition at Christmas time in the local leagues, where the toys brought by the fans are all tossed onto the ice after the home team scores it's first  goal. The toys are then donated to charities.


Last night we all held onto those toys for a very long time and everyone was getting worried that they would be leaving with their toys as the home team, the Storm, were being soundly whipped and by the end of the 2nd third, they were down 6 to 0 - a disaster indeed.
John and Lynn assure me that it was a very strange game, for the 1st two thirds, the visiting team, the Colts were in complete command scoring 6 goals, much to the delight of the two ladies sitting next to us and ringing their cow bells happily and frequently.

These games are noisy with frequent bursts of advertising and music during the down moments, which I admit I didn't understand, but I have never played hockey. The home crowd became more despondent and many left early.

Finally in the last 15 minutes of the game it was time for the Teddy Bear toss - at LAST, the Storm scored a goal, the crowd went wild and stuffed toys rained down onto the ice. It  took some time for all the toys to be collected, there were lots of kids out there, but I am not sure how much they helped, and the game continued. I don't know whether it was the toys or the noise, but the Storm players went crazy and in the next few minutes the teams were only 1 goal apart, 6 - 5. Unfortunately time ran out and the Colts scored another with the final score 7 - 5. My apologies to the Colts, the final score was 8 - 5. My hosts insist it was a very unusual game, but best of all I had FUN, and a beer and some popcorn.
Thanks Lynn and John.

What to do when it snows

This morning it has been snowing steadily since I got up, which I must admit is considerably later than at home.But my excuse is that it is still dark until a lot later, and these dogs don't expect a 6.00am walk like some I know.  Anyway it's still snowing now, not heavily, but steadily. I might even have to do some snow shoveling later, don't think there is enough for the big gun yet, and shoveling will be good for me.
As I am not getting to the gym every morning like at home, I am using the rowing machine , and this morning up another km to 6. If I get too bored I can always spend some time with Liam's service station and cars down there. I am also spending a lot of time walking, usually about 6 - 8 kms a day.

The dogs on the other hand, like to rush outside and play in the snow for a while. It doesn't take long for Diesel to come back in, but Stella rushes around like a mad thing, chasing squirrels, throwing toys and barking dementedly.  Then comes inside and does the same thing.

We may get all dressed up in our warm gear soon and take me for my first walk here while it's snowing.

The Family:

 Meet Richard, Nicole and Liam, who are at this very moment hopefully enjoying a beautiful summer in Victoria, for the moment. In fact not very far at all from my home there in Melbourne. They will be wandering that vast country visiting a number of states for the next month or so, while I stay in their lovely home and care for my charges.

Richard is an Aussie, and they both lived there for some time, so have lots of friends and family to catch up with,

 And here they are. This is Diesel, in front, a long haired Dachshund, although his hair is a little shorter than usual I am told, I wont say why. And then there is Stella a very busy little rescue terrier. And busy they both are between bouts of sleeping and keeping watch out the windows for attacking humans or squirrels in the yard. At which time there is an explosion of noise - until I yell that is. But they are cute  and very entertaining, and I am convincing Diesel to like walking outside, he's not tooooo keen. Stella would go anywhere, anytime.

 And here is Miyo, who usually likes to spend time where the dogs are not, although is pretty good at holding her own when necessary.


Then there is Pao Pao the fish, but he is not particularly photogenic and a little old, so I was worried the flash might be a little more than he was up for.

I think we can all keep each other company for the next couple of months.

Snow
Woke this morning to a lovely dusting of snow, but damp enough to stick to the trees, which made for a beautiful sight, so 3 walks and 8km  later I have covered a lot of ground and taken a heap of photos. Which will appear on    www.flickr.com/photos/barbhagger     soon I hope. Just need a day or 2 to get them up - too busy walking.

What a beautiful village and the walk through the the Elora Gorge Conservation Park with neighbour Lynn and her beautiful spaniel Desi,  it was just magic

 Snowblower Lessons
Picture this:   two Aussies in the drive at around 8.00pm, pitch black, with the snowblower roaring and not a snowflake to be seen. Several neighbours passing just rolled their eyes and I am sure others thought we were just a little odd. I think I mentioned that Richard is Australian, Nicole is Canadian ( I am house sitting for them) so Richard had to give me a quick lesson in the snowblower. That is after he re taught himself!!

They tell me the thing you have to be most careful of is the direction you aim the snow. Very bad form to send it over the neighbours fence, never, never, never is it to be aimed at the road and the biggest catastrophe of all is to hit yourself in the face with it! This should be fun.

New York, New York.

One the way over I had an all to brief stop over in New York. First time and I just loved it.
Walked my little feet off .
Caught the subway to Brooklyn.
Walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and back.
Viewed the world from the tops of the Empire State and Rockefeller buildings.
Saw the unlit Christmas tree at the Rockefeller centre.
Walked my little feet off.
Visited Times Square.
Saw the Christmas lights and the city lights - wow.
Visited the 9/11 memorial, in the rain.
Ate part of a pretzel - didn't like it!
Had no time to eat or sleep.
Visited Macy's.
Visited Strawberry Fields in Central Park.
Stood in the great hall at Grand Central Station..
And best of all, saw Hugh Jackman perform live on Broadway - fantastic.

Now I want to go again.

Time to start all over again. Having lost control of my google account for some time I couldn't continue my ramblings. but it's all back now and I am on a new adventure in Elora, Ontario Canada for 2 months, so will do a little waffling on about my life here in the depths of winter. It's not quite here yet but everyone assures me that the time will come..... I am just hoping for a white Christmas.
I am here house sitting (that's the house and the snow that greeted me) for a family who at this moment are probably arriving right where I came from, Melbourne. They, and most of their friends and neighbours just can't believe that anyone would be crazy enough to come here from a summer in Australia,for a winter, but life is an adventure or nothing. So here I am in a beautiful little village a couple of hours outside of Toronto and with camera in hand to do lots of exploring. More later.

Certificado Ushuaia

Certificado Ushuaia
Originally uploaded by agypsy.

I can hardly believe it, but this is the last entry from Ushuaia.

Eight months, some great experiences and photos, the whole 8 months on another BLOG in Spanish and tomorrow I'm gone, forever....well who knows? Never say never.

¿What am I going to miss?
My friends from here: Celia, young enough to be my daughter but who has looked after me all the way, helped with everything including the language problems and correcting my translations, shared mate and always been there. Amanda & Exequiel for all their help and friendship and patience.To all those at Finis terrae, Silvina and Adriana, my friend from El Video and all the other great people who have crossed my path.
The views and the mountains that are different every single day.
The colours and the beauty, the sunrises and sunsets. Magnificent.
The life of the streets and the people.
Lots of things.

¿What am I NOT going to miss?

The dogs.....
The dust and the mud, although I love the snow.
The dogs.
The hole in the bathroom roof and the almost warm shower every morning.
The dogs.
The nena running around upstairs at 12.30 at night.
Did I mention the dogs? They are barking now.

And the next adventure? After Buenos Aires and Back to OZ ...Who knows. Guess I'll just keep writing about it here.