FOUR YEARS AGO

Tags

Canada., home, moving, Ontario, PEI

On May 1, 2016 we crossed the bridge from the Mainland to PEI our new home. A new chapter. Much has happened since some good some average but overall we have made our home here in Charlottetown.

Photo from the International Space Station showing Nova Scotia and our Island in the Gulf of St-Lawrence.

We were packing

Tags

art., culture, Food, island, lobster, moving, NB, oyster, PEI

Last year at this time we were 2 weeks away from moving day.  Had to plan the move but also the road trip with the dogs in the back seat of the car. Leaving Ottawa proceeding to Montreal on the 417 and then joining highway 20, up on the South shore of the Saint Lawrence river, at Rivière du Loup joining highway 85 and then highway 2 upon entering the province of New Brunswick.

I had decided to make a stop half way to PEI. However now in hindsight, our half way stop was too early in the day at Rivière du Loup and we should have proceeded to Edmunston in New Brunswick, sort of getting us over the hump so to speak, but I was concerned about the dogs and their comfort. I remember that the next day the road from Rivière du Loup to Edmunston and then to Fredericton to Moncton to the bridge unto the Island seemed endlessly long, Highway 2 hugs the Maine border in that area to then swing out across New Brunswick to the sea.  It was all highway driving and the portion in New Brunswick from the provincial border of Quebec was very scenic, a new highway built at great cost but well worth it. As you drive along the Maine Canada border  into moose country in New Brunswick on the way to Fredericton, I found that part long with warnings all along the road to call police if you see a moose on the road, they can be very dangerous and fatal if they charge your car. The dogs slept on the back seat wrapped in their blankets, though our Nick was mighty apprehensive of this long car ride which he did not understand, while Nora did not seem to care at all, just curious about the new smells.

We did move 4.5 tons of personal effects and goods, which seems like a lot but is the average weight for a couple moving. The moving truck would arrive a few days after our own arrival in Charlottetown. The weather was good all along and the move was done easily with the help of our friend Blake.

Now a year later, we went through our first Winter in PEI, pretty busy with volunteer work with various organizations and lots of social functions. Though some businesses, restaurants close during the Winter months, there is still plenty to do and the amount of Art and Culture is quite surprising for this small Island, certainly well above what one would expect. We did discover that Oysters in Winter are far superior than ones in Summer months, Winter lobster is also a lot better tasting and has far more meat.

Just last week we went to the Pour House for a concert by Guy Davis who is the son of Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee, a great blues musician. There are all sorts of things going on in Winter from food festivals to art exhibits to cultural evenings, talks and conferences, pub nights, classic movies or art movie nights, kitchen parties, etc, it is a bit of an insider thing, we are enjoying ourselves and the best of it is our friends here an easy going bunch.

The Winter was also much milder than old Ottawa, not so much in terms of snow and more sunny days. The wind however remains a factor, we are on the Atlantic and wind conditions are always something to be aware of.

One year already, how time flies when you are having fun.

Islander Day!

Tags

Ian sherwood, Islander day, moving, Music, PEI, Pub, winter

Today is Islander Day,  what is this public holiday about, no one seems to know for sure, though everything is closed and it’s a day to spend at home relaxing or doing some fun activity. Since everything is closed you cannot shop or do much which would involve a consumer activity, so reading, a craft activity, sports of all kinds is what most people will do.

In Canada each Province has what is called a public holiday or Family day, the concept being to give people a day off in February which is also Carnaval time in cities like Quebec, Ottawa, Charlottetown, etc. We are in that calendar period after the Christmas Holiday period and not yet at Easter which is the next big holiday. So in February you get a break.

Last year for Islander day, we were here in Charlottetown. We had decided to come to PEI to see what life was like in Winter on the Island, we were still living in Ottawa at this time last year. We were seriously thinking of moving to PEI but wanted to make sure that this is what we wanted to do and there was enough activity on the Island to make it worth our while.

Well it was a busy February one year ago, we started looking for somewhere to rent in Old Charlottetown, not at easy as one might think, lots of rent and at very reasonable prices but if you want something more like the big city style apartments, it is not so easy to find. Also real estate agents are not that helpful, most will try to sell you a house in the process, but we were not in a buying mood. With the help of friends we did find exactly what we wanted and moving in in May, some 10 months ago.

So last year Islander day was wet, foggy and with next to no snow at all. It made for a dreary day, so we went to the Pub to drink, because that is what you do on such days.

Speaking of which, many pubs have live music with some pretty good if not professional musicians like Richard Wood or in this case Ian Sherwood, with this song, The short end of the stick.

 

A long four months

Tags

Beach, Charlottetown, French Fries, moving, PEI

We, I, have been here in PEI for the last 4 months. Will finally arrives on 1 September, what a relief. However we leave for Ireland on 6 September for our Anniversary and Birthday trip. We planned this more than one year ago. It was planned before we thought of moving to PEI. Yes we do plan ahead that includes the Holidays and menus, I don’t think the Queen is that organized.

Summer as come and now it is almost gone. The house has been set-up and I have a new routine with favourite shops etc. I have been busy with quite a few social events and trips around the Island. Will discovered that across the street from us is the Chip Shack which serves the best french fries. The owner Caron Prins is a great lady and she is so busy, wait time is usually 15 minutes. All hand cut, all fresh, made on the spot.  No I do not eat lobster everyday, I really do not care for it that much, oysters and their variety are better.

Will has visited on weekends here and there during the Summer but coming to the Island can be difficult since all the flights are booked solid, there is the train from Montreal but it is a long trip. The train also does not come to PEI, the nearest stop is in Amherst, Nova Scotia about 90 minutes away on the mainland. Anyway all this is behind us now.

Made several trips to Point Prim to the old lighthouse and the very good restaurant which is only open in the Summer months. It is just nice to sit on the rocks and look out to sea, it is such a quiet area, if there is noise it is the birds chirping. The beach also is minutes away I like Stanhope, though there are lots of beaches to go to. Then I have been busy at the Gallery and on any given day we have a lot of people, which makes it so interesting.

I am happy things turned out so well for us, in this big move.

Stress and Dachshund views

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, dachshunds, dogs, moving, PEI, Stress

This move is now behind us and all that is left is to organize the new house. On 28 May we arrived in Charlottetown after 2 days on the road from Ottawa, Yes Canada is a big country.

Our two dwarf Dachshunds slept in the back seat of the car all the way, only stretching from time to time and we stopped to let them walk a bit and smell the air, which they did. It must have smelt strange to them, nothing familiar, everything foreign including the surrounding landscape. Nora being a hunter liked the challenge, it was like doing a cross word puzzle for her, trying to figure out what she was smelling and what was about. Her familiar things were the car, her toys, the blanket, the food and us taking care of her and being there. On the other hand our Nicky the sunshine boy, Mister show Dog was stressed, he did not like the trip one bit and was acting out. He also had lots of familiar things about him and Nora was there so what could be wrong.  His routine was upset and he did not like the smells of things, too foreign. He wanted to go home to his two sofas to lounge, but they were gone. What was happening, this was scary and so refusing to eat, feeling lethargic, looking worried was his way of telling us this was no fun.

On 1 June the truck arrived with all our things, all 4 tons of it, which by the way is normal for a couple without human children or so says the moving company. This time around lots of boxes, cardboard does smell and Nicky again did not like it one bit and the new house, was fun because he could run everywhere with Nora, which they did a lot of. Now the furniture which had disappeared in Ottawa had miraculously re-appeared in Charlottetown. Nora was happy, Nicky not so much, and one member of the family was missing, so for Nicky the equation was not perfect. He was mopping so much that I phoned the Vet to enquire what should I do. He went on a 3 day hunger strike, though he would eat treats and drink water, would pass on regular food.

The Vet assured me that A) dogs do not, ever, let themselves die of hunger. B) Nicky was stressed by the move and all the changes.  All the while I was busy getting the new place in to shape. Painters came in to re-paint the apartment on 7 June just days after our effects had arrived. Then the spouse arrived on 9 June and instantly Nicky found his Joie de vivre and bounced back. All was well now and he could put the move behind him.

I was telling the Vet that often people will say that dogs are just dumb animals, I disagree. We have had dogs for 26 years now all of them Dachshunds and found that dogs can be very perceptive often more so than humans. They have their own personalities, witness Nora and Nicky, they are so different from each other, they are not related having different parents but nonetheless they are individuals.

Nora speaks to us in varying growls with many different pitches depending on what she is trying to say to us. Nicky whines or whimpers, he never growls unless he feels threatened. Nora barks to sound the alarm if someone approaches but Nicky does not. Nicky barks only if he is warning someone not to get to close or else. He also barks once sharply at 07:30am every morning for his breakfast, Nora never does.

I am sure they are both happy with their new home. Nora has lots of new parks to explore and she enjoys it immensely, she also wants to throw herself into the Hillsborough river behind the house. We won’t let her because it is the harbour and I do not want to have to go in after her. Nicky still does not like to walk, he never did, too lazy.

Nicky and Nora hiding behind the hat.

 

 

 

 

We finally arrived

Tags

Charlottetown, dachshunds, house, moving, PEI, Travel

Well what a car ride this was, poor us we slept most of the way to PEI on the back seat. What else are you going to do when you are a hound, sleep is the best remedy. As we crossed the Sea bridge over the Straight of Northumberland on the radio played Josef Haydn’s Amen from the Creation. I said to Nora well we must be there, she looked out the window with her big eyes and indeed here we were on PEI. Then we crossed a lot of rural areas and Nora said to me look Nicky the earth is red. I thought I wonder why is the earth red instead of black. Nora has a theory, of course you guested it, it has to do with a great bloody battle between some mythical monsters who ruled a long time ago and the earth is red because the Dachshunds killed all the bad monsters or giants and there was so much blood it stained the earth. Nora has a wild imagination and then she goes on to tell me that  this is a family history. Now she is putting me on since her family are half Italian and half Hungarian and no one as far as I know have ever been to Canada.

So we got to the house and we go right away for a walk, I do not want to walk, I am tired and not in the mood, but Nora is running, jumping and sniffing like a radar with her big nose at everything around her in the great parks around the house. I suppose this is what happens when you come from a family of hunters.

View across the Hillsborough river towards Rocky Point and the Sea

The apartment is quite large, much larger than our old home. So both of us ran all around like crazed Dachshunds that we are, that was fun. The windows are quite large and we get a lot of sunshine on the East and West side of the house. So I lounge in the sunshine, that is my specialty. Nora refers to me as a lounger, I do not mind.

Nicky

 

 

Nicky and Nora

Tags

adventures, dachshunds, moving, Nicky and Nora, Travel

The World view on travel from two little Wire hair Dachshunds. We were born in Capena near Rome and we travelled, some would say emigrated to Canada, some five years ago. We lived in Ottawa until this morning when without any notice or warning, some people. we do not know who, came into our home and took everything away. There was nothing left but our two kennels and our blankets, some toys and our food. Then our two papas came and bundled everything up, we went to the garage and got in the car. We had no idea where we were going, it was not to the Vet nor the Beauty Salon.  We were sitting on the back seat with our blankets etc. this was all too strange for words. Was this going to be a long trip, again no explanation. Uncle Pervy, who is our Official designated Babysitter, we know people do find his name strange but it is a long story and goes back to another time in Rome before our birth, when our family had a long hair Dachshund by the name of Reesie. He was not related to us, he came from Chicago, an American.

All this to say that the manner of our departure from Ottawa today was so strange we thought a Coup d’Etat had taken place and we had to flee a revolution or something like that where Squirrels take over the World. We felt like the Royal Family of Italy who had to flee the Communists in 1946, Nora did now want to flee, she thought I will kill all the squirrels. Nicky not so sure, it’s messy and they have rights too you know and besides a revolution, if one took place, would interfere with my lifestyle.

Anyway after 7 hours we arrived at this strange place called Rivière du Loup (the wolf’s river) a small town on the great St-Lawrence River and the junction to another place where we heard our gros papa and Uncle Pervy talk about. It is apparently another 7 hours away across a great forest where Moose live. Fearless Nora wants to see the Moose eye to eye, that might not be possible since they weight 3 tons and stand several meters tall whereas Nora weighs only 6 Kg, but no matter Nora assures us that she can hunt them too, no problem. I tried to explain to her that it is out of Season, she does not understand. I think Nora has a one track mind, hunting! It does run in her family you know back in Italy.

As for me my Dad was a Champion Show Dog, so my life is like one big show at Cinecittà. I’m not vain I just know I am good looking.

So what does all this travel mean? We do not like all this travelling and we do not like to be kept in the dark about the agenda. Also our other Papa is not  with us, why is that, when is he coming, so many questions. We do not want to sound like whining Canadians about being transparent etc. but maybe they could explain to us what is going on. At least our luggage has not been lost and we got treats and our regular meals, so we cannot complain too much. Well tomorrow is another day and we shall see what new adventure it brings.

 

Moving day almost upon us

Tags

moving, packing, PEI

We are mere days away from the final packing and moving. This long Victoria Day Weekend in Canada will be devoted in our household in finalizing the preparations.

The number of people who asked me if I was all packed yet. We have movers to pack, why would I pack? What a strange concept unless of course you are of the school where you throw everything in green garbage bags and rent a U-Haul. I am sure my faithful readers have understood a long time ago that this would not be my philosophy of life.

Packing works of art and fine Porcelaine

On Wednesday morning the packers will come and spend the day carefully making boxes, Thursday they will load the container and off they go for PEI also known as the Mykonos of Canada.

Nicky and Nora morning snooze on a carpet imported from Iran.

I will take the road with the Hounds from Hell, Nicky and Nora, the movers said they could not bubble wrap them, strange. We will stop at Rivière du Loup on the Saint Lawrence river over night before turning towards New Brunswick and PEI. This way the trip in the car for them will be more manageable. But I will have their toys, blankets and lots of biscuits, hopefully they will sleep on the way and Uncle Pervy (the Official Babysitter) will look after them, entertaining them if need be.

Rivière du Loup, Province of Québec

The next day the trip from Rivière du Loup to Charlottetown will take about 7 hours. But I will have to stop more frequently perhaps for Nicky and Nora. However the TransCanada Highway is truly beautiful in the Kamouraska, Témiscouata, Madawaska region with its large forests and lakes.

So we are almost on our way, the weather is finely beautiful and Summer like.

Am I stressing myself?

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, Friends, life, Maritimes, move, moving, PEI, Provinces

I am told by my better half that I am stressing myself out over this move. I agree, I think I have been a little silly over thinking this move and over analyzing every detail over and over again. I have always been highly organized but this time I am over doing it.

It does not help that our landlord in Ottawa has decided to sell the condo we live in and is showing it while we are still living here and paying full rent. I resent that and maybe I could have put my foot down and said no. There is just over a month left before moving day so not much more time and any visit by a prospective buyer last all of 10 minutes no more. We have only  had 3 in 14 days, so not much of a big deal, but it is annoying nonetheless.

Province House (Legislature) Charlottetown

Also part of this move, we have been thinking of our Friends in Ottawa, I say our Friends with a Capital F because we have known these people for 40 years or almost. So we go back a long time with them and many may feel we are abandoning them, we are not, we are simply moving to another Province and it is not that far, really not. We will not forget them, unless we were ingrates, and too much water has passed under that bridge for us to forget them once in PEI. We only hope they will not forget us.

As I said yesterday at my formal farewell to the National Gallery Party for Volunteers where the Director and senior management made a point of thanking me for my contribution, I was honoured and moved by their words. We chose in our Sunset years (what can you call them) a higher quality of life and doing something we wanted to do for a long time which is to live by the Sea. I also want to be able to see the Universe at night without all the light pollution we enjoy here. It is quite an amazing spectacle it makes you realize how big it is and how small we are lost in the vast space. So for my remaining 25 years this is what I want to do. I say this with a grain of salt since no one knows how long one has.

European Gallery at the NGC 

The quality of life in PEI is high, the people have an old World charm about them, it is a small place and everyone knows everybody, families have been established for a long time, (17th century), the food is very good, with excellent restaurants and resorts, chefs with a solid reputation, the Farmer’s Market is the real thing, there is also a new wine industry growing, the beef, seafood and award winning cheeses, beaches are spectacular according to Condé Nast, the best in North America. There is a charm to the Island all it’s own. The weather is heavily influenced by Atlantic currents, the Gulf Stream and winds from the North and the East, meaning one is never sure what you will get during a single day. It is certainly not as cold as Central Canada which competes with Siberia in terms of cold days,  I will take -5 any day over -35C. The vibrant Art scene all year round, the numerous Festivals, etc. As Sarah Palin would say, I can see Europe from my kitchen window, actually we see New Brunswick and the Straits of Northumberland but you get my point, we are only 4 hours away. We are also on Atlantic time which means one hour ahead of Central Canada.

We are now set and all I have to do is simply take a deep breath and all will unfold as it should.

 

 

1000 CD’s

Tags

CD, donation, moving, Music, Public Library

As we prepare for the move we go from one area to the next and clean up this and that, organize, get rid of things we no longer need. One project to tackle is going through the 1000 CD library and discarding those we no longer want.

This means listening to some of them and then downloading them to our computer. We do have an incredible collection, some great recordings and some obscure recordings of piece that are surely appreciated only by the cognoscenti.

I have been playing CD’s I have not played in years, some I no longer like, others I am happy to listen too again.

The CDs we have are a mix of things, great opera recording with stars no longer with us but immortal, early Renaissance music, Baroque music, Music of the Reformation, Sephardic Music from Spain, Canadian music from national composers, Military marches, Country music and Religious music from the 14 to 18th Centuries and many more styles.

Those we no longer want will end up in a box at the Public Library as a donation.