Chapter 20

I need to start with my Thanksgiving greeting as today is that day in Canada, October 14th. There are loads to be thankful for from the vibrant trees ablaze with colour to human connections to the promise of each new day.  After a tasty ham and scalloped potato dinner, yesterday at a local restaurant, a drive alongside the colourful trees and bushes took us home. Where is home at this minute? We are on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast of Canada in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. We have been here before, pet-sitting Agnes, the rambunctious Labradoodle, and two cuddly cats, Tom and Lilly. Our home is an art museum as the pet owner is an acclaimed artist and beautiful canvasses of various scenes fill the home. What I appreciate most is the surrounding nature and the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean a few meters from the house. Hanging from one tree are chimes offering soothing sounds that immerse the soul in peacefulness whenever the wind blows. 

We are into October which means the months have flown by this year. We started the year in freezing Quebec with lots of snow, stayed here in Liverpool at the end of winter, and then on to our beloved Japan. Three months in Japan visiting my friends and students breathed life back into my social connections. I am always reminded of my many friendships with those in Japan each time I visit and am grateful for these. A quick trip to Singapore for a pet-sit in a new country for us. We thought that Japan was hot and humid; Singapore took that to a whole new level. Blissfully, we spent the last six weeks of our visit in Okinawa. I think I have found one of the most enchanting places in Japan. Being island girls seemed to suit us perfectly.  We frequented outdoor cafes and restaurants full of artistic charm and tasty food, swam in the ocean at every opportunity, and walked or bused further afield to see the sites. What we didn't do was absorb the military presence; I am with the Okinawans on this topic, give back their land. On our last day in Japan, we flew from Okinawa to Tokyo and onto Toronto. Goodbye, Japan until the next chance. 

From August through September, Toronto was our home base. We caught up with family and friends. I revisited our once family-owned cottage on Lake Erie and relived childhood memories. My sister's birthday was celebrated on the deck of the cottage next door. I could look over at the cottage on the hill where we spent countless summer weeks, year after year of my childhood and swam in the lake below, counting the many steps to the beach as I had done so many times before. Summer in Toronto was filled with runs, walks along the lake, online classes, and delicious ethnic foods from whatever neighbourhood we found ourselves pet-sitting in. One particularly delectable area was Greektown; we were minutes away from mouthwatering dishes and opted for these often. 

At the end of September, we flew to Halifax. And it is here in Nova Scotia that I am writing from. What have I been doing here? One day, we drove to Annapolis Royal to a winery and sat by the water sipping a glass of Nova Scotian wine and nibbling on the inviting charcuterie board. Another day, we drove to the famous Peggy's Cove location and took in the sights and sounds like all the other tourists. Fresh seafood is available everywhere and I have had scallops, shrimp, Atlantic salmon, fresh cod, halibut, and lobster. Wild blueberries are on the menu each day as I purchased a 25-pound box of frozen ones upon arrival. When we are not eating or working, Agnes, the dog, keeps us busy with laneway walks and longer beach walks daily. The landscape is quintessential East Coast, offering fishing villages and unique stores and shops throughout the countryside. I like this part of Canada as it is seemingly untouched and the nature is rugged and honest. 

Where are we heading to next? We are about to embark on a trip to England. Specifically, on Wednesday, we will fly to the land of my heritage. I am excited to visit Britain for the second time. Five pet-sits are lined up taking us to the Isle of Wight, Bath, Huddersfield, Dartmouth, and Salisbury. I will take you with me on each pet-sit and relay the British vibes as I encounter new sights and sounds. Here's an introduction to British terminology. Let's see if there are any eligible blokes for Rachel. We might be asked to budge up on the Tube but hope that we don't cheese off any other passengers. Here's hoping for some chin-wags as we meet others. Check back next week for my first British blog in the land of the Queen's English. I will write from the local castle, pub, park or wherever I feel most enchanted. The best part is that the flight from Halifax to London is less than six hours long. Talk to you from the U.K. next.

Hope that I don't write any codswallop (nonsense). Talk to you soon.

Take care,

Rosemary