The West Commences: Back in the hood

Albert met Caroline and me at the airport, we drove home, changed and drove to Grounded, Gabe's restaurant to join Don and Mela and other guests who had been invited to sample the new dinner menu, four courses from four regions of Canada. Among other treats, I had the best land shank I have ever eaten.

I went home with Don and Mela and had a good visit with them, walking all around my favourite spots in Britannia, visiting, eating, having coffee with Margaux and generally feeling at home.

Mela, Caroline and I drove to the gathering of the WWW (now more wonderful than wild) at Cordula's. Her place is still a work of art, both inside and out and of course one of the wonderful things about the WWW is the food we all make. Come to think of it we still have wildly funny conversations and entertain each other thoroughly.

Mela and Caroline dropped me at Barb Steer's that evening and thus I discovered why Annick, wanting to let Barb tell her own story, had only hinted that the moral was don't wash your own windows. Barb's leg was much improved by the time I saw it but was still noticeably swollen and well bandaged. She had been going to wash a window, carrying a ladder through ferns at a corner of the house where she hadn't walked in years when one leg broke through the rotten wood cover of an abandoned well, slicing her leg to the bone. Needless to say, the rest of the story is gruesome and painful, but after days of going to the hospital three times a day for antibiotic injections all is improving. Our visit was less active than usual but the weather was good and I was happy to sit on her lawn watching the river, drinking wine and chatting. I did swim for about two minutes in the Gatineau and it was not too cold at all.

Barb drove me to Chelsea where Caroline and Albert picked me up for the last stage of my return with them. Perfect. We had long conversations; ate well, at home,at Grounded, the Trattoria and their local Pita Palace and visited the amazing Mosaic Garden, built to celebrate Canada 150. Caroline and I had long walks and went to her garden. Albert helped me with matters I appreciate being able to discuss with him and, being the generous guy with the good gear that he is, gave me the most powerful mini flashlight on the market; I have no doubt.

My last stop on the reconnecting tour was the traditional Sunday dinner with all the Baughans. We had a hot tub, the usual feast prepared by Caroline and a great visit. It's good to be able to get together as we do and pick up so quickly where we left off.

Now I'm on the VIA train to Toronto and on to Kitchener, where Cathy and Brian will pick me up. At the moment we're on time. MILAGROS.