Ontario in the fall

So what's Ontario like in the fall?


You can check out the distillery district, just along the Esplanade from us at number 25.


...or go for a leisurely lunch on Toronto island where the beer tastes of green apples...

Downtown Toronto as seen from the second highest freestanding structure in Toronto, and they make a mean Martini!


Chris Bosh and the mighty Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 98-64. Let's go Raptors!


Peggy (Johanna's cousin) and Johanna Aspel in Buffalo, New York.

Or you could go visit the Royal Ontario Museum...


With totem poles...

...and mosaic ceilings.


The red arrow marks our condominium, the maple leafs on the flat roof on the right are the Air Canada Centre: Go Leafs Go!


Johanna, Dylan and Chilombo on our lovely new sofa. After the last one didn't fit into the flat we were very happy when this one did.

...or head off to wine growing country in Niagara-on-the-lake for 9850 litre barrels of (mediocre) wine...



Chil with huge butterflies

Johanna with maple leafs.


Niagara, a close second to the mighty Mosi...

I think you'll agree, it's a great season to visit your friendly neighbourhood Canadians.

Dylan's had an abstract accepted for presentation in San Diego in January woo hoo!

Happy Halloween!

Best wishes to all. Congratulations Mwamba on your new home. Happy Birthday Eva. I hope Bill rapidly finds another Dirty Hand.

Dylan, Chilombo and Johanna.

World Press Photo 2007

We've got a visitor!

Johanna's come to see us so expect lots of pictures from her and Chil's trip to Niagara and Buffalo.

We just saw the World Press Photo exhibition, if you didn't catch it as it travels round the globe (sorry it's already been to London and doesn't seem to get to Lusaka) you can see the amazing but disturbing pictures here.

Can't believe that the (Australian) TV umpire ruled out what was clearly the only try of the rugby World Cup Final, I'm sure it would have changed the game, even if South Africa were the better side.

Update

Hi everyone,

I've been a bit behind with emails, phone calls and updating this blog due to finding myself neck deep in educational theory but I hope you are all well.

Quick update: Chil is live on internet radio! I've started my Masters.


We've been watching all the World Cup Rugby, being far from home makes you peculiarly patriotic although it's always sad to see Frenchmen crying ;)

Rumour has it that Pete has survived Oktoberfest...

we wish we could be in Zambia later in the week for Chisha's wedding, have a great time those of you who will be there and put up some photos.

More to follow,

Dylan

Bill Bold & The Dirty Hands

Here's a photo from last week's gig at the Pleasure Unit

...

Bill

Holidays are here again

SUMMER 2007

There being no real summer in the UK,
I abandoned Peter and went to absorb
some Italian ambience in Roma, before
joining Claudia and Bill back in the UK,
for a few (sunny) days.















"merry go round" Trentham Gardens, Staffs)

WILDLIFE:
North Staffs monkey (Barbary Macaque)

















Heron, Hyde Park


















Bill and Claudia, Hyde Park

ROMA
Trevi Fountain
























Vatican: St Peter's Piazza

















Pantheon


































Arch of Constantine























National Museum

















Riding in Style, THEN
Entering Vatican City on open top bus






































Statue of Trajan

















Columns at sunset on the Palatine Hill



















Colosseum




















Now it's back to work...........................................


DDP

Chinese Lantern Festivities

Greetings from Toronto!

I've invested in some pretty extensive body armour. Don't worry, Chil is as mild mannered as ever and I'm in no physical danger: it's all about the hockey! I had my first 'power skating' lesson on Monday, was easily the worst skater in the class which I guess means I've got the most to gain out if it. The group I play with will start again, probably in September and I hope to be able to skate backwards by then.


We went back to see the Blue Jays last weekend, this time to see them play the mighty New York Yankees , who are also local rivals. Tension was high amongst the 40,000 at the Rogers Center. The Yankees are the Man U of baseball and there were as many supporters in pinstripes as there were supporting the home team. There was a 'bench emptying' fight when the Yankee's best hitter "A-Rod" got a pitch aimed at him and another when the Yankees pitcher did the same later on! Despite these fractious activities on the field home fans sit with away fans with no hint of hostilities, women and children need not fear for even hearing abusive chants and the only real danger is the hot, hot, blazing sunshine.

Torontonians are a pretty law abiding bunch, most folk duly walked on that grass!

Last night we went to the truly amazing (annual) Chinese lantern festival. I'd expected the lanterns to be pretty, and at least the size of a large pumpkin, but actually...

...they were enourmous, including dragon-boats housing lantern-soldier navys...

...more dragons...floating pagodas...

...towering giants...

...armies of soldiers...


...and armies of pandas!


As well as a depiction of Baghdad!

I guess it's because the winters are hard here but these Torontonians really know how to make the best of the summer.

And no finer way to round off a weekend than a BBQ. You know you are at frenchman's BBQ when you are served goats cheese brushetta and your host cannot be seperated from his bottle of red! Our host Stéphane is on the left...



Good news: I (finally) got accepted to a Master of Education program at the University of Toronto. I'm anxiously hoping and waiting for a study permit from the immigration people but if that is ok I will start in September.

Otherwise it's all good here. Chil is thrilled we've got a bed to put our matress on (as of this afternoon) and our flat is starting to look like a home.

Good luck Pete with your new job in Munich. I hope you managed to get the Skype phone working, and what's your Skype name?