Meditative thoughts.

A while back, I wrote a post entitled 'how to become a mountain' and discussed how you become part of what you are looking at and should therefore always endeavour to look at things that are peaceful in an attempt to become more peaceful. Violence breeds violence. Peace breeds peace. 

I have recently come to understand this in a deeper way, through the use of a very brief YouTube clip here. It takes you to the most luscious and natural of places before informing you that this is where you come from and that you should take the whole World with you wherever you go. Upon opening your eyes, your mind still sees the peace and beauty of the wonderful garden you found yourself in within your meditation. This is really true.

Sometimes I find myself sitting and gazing at a pebble or at a curtain blowing in the wind, or any little thing and I realize that my worries don't mean very much at all when this is where I came from - from the wind and the rain and the grass and the leaves and the dirt of the Earth. It was this very train of thought that lead me lately to forgive the sinners on my Facebook block list and to extend a few olive branches! Because none of it really matters.

In this train of thought, it is not as though I forget the things or people that I love with me, but more that they become a part of me to carry around wherever I go. It truly is spectacular.

Boy, have I ever needed this meditation over the last few days. I won't say too much, because I have written a blog post all about it for the blog post awards. I won't leave you in too much suspense either, suffice to say I suffered the worst job interview in the world yesterday! Upon arriving home I created a furious blog post that shall be posted on Monday all about it and no doubt shall show characteristic flaws of grammar and spelling, owing to the ferocity with which it was written!

May Two Four at The Grand River, Cayuga

It is hard to believe this gorgeous bundle of fur could have been so bad this Sunday! Here she is, looking as though butter wouldn't melt. Look more closely, though, and you may see super muddy front and back paws! A wee glimpse of the horrors that were to come!

The best and worst dog in the World!

We started out at the Grand River in Cayuga on Monday and decided to laze in a field along the river all day. The sun was beating on the top of our heads and we set our feet in the grass, feeling our worries fade away!

Mmmm...the feel of grass on your feet!

Along trots Zoey, fresh from the river with the muddiest, stinkiest fur ever, right up to the chest, from where she had been strolling through the thick mud at the river bank. She was generous with this mud too, sharing droplets of it with Luke and I as she shook and and then proceeded to run all over our blanket as much as she could.

The Grand River, Cayuga

We decided to move away from the muddiest part of the water, and what did Zo find, but a dead fish! Such fun rolling in a rotting fish. Not to mention trying to snaffle it. So now not only did she stink like bog water, but also like the rotting corpse of a fish. I was yelling like an old fish wife: 'Zoey, get away from that fish!!!', much to Luke's consternation as he tried to make the most of the 'relaxing' long weekend.

The calm pictures tell a different tale to what actually happened!

Ho hum...no matter how adorable you think your dog is, the chances are he too would roll in fish carcass, given the opportunity. You would look at your dog in a different light after this had happened too I think!

Down by the river...under the willow...

May Two Four is officially known as 'Victoria Day' and is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Queen Victoria. Amazing that the Canadians celebrate this day, when the English do not. However, since this always falls on the Monday nearest May 24th, it has become more commonly known as 'May Two Four', a day to go and buy a 'two four' (this is what Canadians call a 24 pack of beer) and get drunk!

Our May Two Four started out being a bit of a disaster with the stench of the dog, but it definitely improved and in the evening I was actually glad we decided to stay in when our next door neighbours began playing Neil Young 'Rocking in the Free World' out back. It sounded amazing and we sat to listen to them until the thunder storm hit. View the video on facebook here.

Lake Shore, Toronto

Yesterday Luke and I decided to go down to Lake Shore, Toronto. Every time we go past there it looks so nice and yuppy with people blading or cycling. We are the least yuppy people in the World so we wanted to sample a bit of it! It wasn't actually anything like what we thought it would be.

For a start it was breathtakingly beautiful. Lake Ontario stretches forever as blue and vast as an ocean, but still and peaceful as a bath. The sandy beach stretches along the lake and along the city forever. 

In the meantime, the long straight path that is smooth as glass and totally flat, is perfect for rollerblading and it made me glad that I had taken my rollerblades. Blading by the lake was so superior to blading around the little streets of my old village! I was less glad that I had my blades when Luke sent me back to his truck for his wallet alone as I was the faster out of the two of us!! When I returned, hot and sweaty, Luke was oh so casually lazing on the pier throwing sticks to the pup, with his feet in the water. Grrrr!!

Such a great place to rollerblade!

We sat down on a bench on the sand to eat a take out burger and soaked in the sun for a long time. It was like being on holiday with all of the families milling on the beach and the lovers lying on the pier in the distance. There is such a resort feel to it all.

What really made the day, though, was Dame Zoey Picklebottom. We left her at the bench guarding my rollerblades briefly, as we went to order our food, and then wondered why the waitresses, who were keeping half an eye on her, were giggling. Looking out from the Greek-style building where we had ordered our food, we saw our puppy on top of the bench, erect and alert, searching for us. She looked so adorable I just had to take billions of photos!!

After this debacle, she decided to dig a giant hole under the bench whilst we ate and then to lie in it. She looked up after her exertion and revealed a sandy muzzle. So much sand had entered her nose we were blowing it for her all day!

I know I have said it many times, but we are so so lucky to own this extraordinary creature, who loves us unconditionally and who entertains us and draws us ever closer together! Such a good day and so nice to be able to take the dog on the beach!

Flag poling at Peace Bridge

Finally! I am here for good. Well, a year, but the next stage of the immigration process will have to wait a little while!!

Yesterday Luke and I woke up bright and breezy with huge smiles on our faces knowing that the day we have been dreaming about for so long was finally here! The day I get my visa. The day dawned hot with a huge sun and we held hands for the whole hour trip to Peace Bridge. I love holding Luke's hand. It is an action so familiar to me from so many years of having held it over the last thirteen years. I know now, at last, that it is a hand that I will hold for the rest of my days and it seemed right to be holding that hand as we took our first steps into a normal lifestyle together.

The only pic I managed to take of going over Peace Bridge from the car window!

A Google image of Peace Bridge

It was with a fair amount of trepidation, on my part at least, that we made our way over Peace Bridge and towards the United States of America border. Luke had a resigned look on his face, knowing how long it had taken him to get into the States the last time he had tried this trip. Although he did have fun telling me a tale about the time Sam had accidentally tried to drive through the States border, without knowing where he was, with no passport or identification and he had then been detained for a fair amount of time! Poor Sam!

Luckily, our time was fairly pain free. If we had Canadian passports it would have been pretty simple to pass through, however we haven't and we hadn't filled out a form called a visa waiver, which allows visa free passage for 90 days. Now we have this, the next time we want to get into the states will be much quicker. To have made it a quicker process, these can also be obtained online - I recommend all reading this to remember to get this form online if you want to go from Canada to the States!

We sat in a room and waited beside a huge stuffed American Bald Eagle and played I Spy. Luke reluctantly played, here is an example of the game. 

Me: Luke. It's your turn, it's your turn.

Luke (bored voice): Ugh, do I have to?

Me: Yes, yes! Of course, what other entertainment do I have?!

Luke: Fine...I spy with my little eye something beginning with 'e'.

Me: Ummmm...egg. No that's stupid, there are no eggs in here. Ummmm....e, e, e ok I give up.

Luke (looking at me like I am now a lower form of life): Holly, it was eagle.

Obviously.

Oh dear. Anyway we waited for an hour before driving out of there. We had spent so long there (plus the thought of Pickles alone at home was a sad one, she is almost never left alone) so we drove briefly around the outskirts of Buffalo, only to find somewhere to turn around, stopped off at duty free for beer because we have heard the LCBO is on strike this May 24... Is this right? Can anyone confirm? ... before driving back over the Peace Bridge towards the Canadian border.

My only view of the States!

With mounting trepidation once more, I was reassured by Luke's calming voice telling me he hasn't a clue why I get so worried by authority when I have nothing to worry about. Is it just me who sees a policeman and instantly feels guilty, despite having never committed a crime in my life??

Shouldn't have worried though! The lady who helped with my immigration forms was the nicest lady in the World who giggled when, having informed me the only job I would be unable to do was in the sex trade, I turned to Luke and asked if he still wanted me now he could no longer pimp me out ha ha ha. 

The whole thing on the Canadian side took less than twenty minutes and then we were driving away, free as birds, towards our lovely home and beautiful dog. Honestly, you should have seen the stupid grins on our faces! Every night before we go to sleep, or every morning when he kisses me goodbye before work, or every time we stop to stare at one another we wonder if what we have now would have been so sweet without this intense appreciation we have built for one another, having fought for this for so long and so hard. It is crazy that it doesn't seem to fade with time too.

This man right here, inspecting my new visa papers, is the reason why I am the happiest, luckiest girl alive!

It was with these thoughts that I watched the sun set on my first day as a 'new Canadian', with a smile on my face and a little piece of paper in my pocket that tells me I am now free to feel safe and happy once more.

The sun setting over Hammer last night

Donn Zver Pottery

This Sunday we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend Canadian Mother's Day with Luke's Mom, which was so nice as she lives in England and so it was amazing to be able to share a special day with her. It was just as nice for me as for Luke as I got to have a female English compadre to watch girl films with! Not to mention how nice it was to have a Mummy in the house with us to cook nice food!! If she's reading - thank you!!!

For me, the highlight of the weekend was a trip to Donn Zver Pottery in Troy. The link can be found here.

Foolishly I didn't think to bring my camera, so the photos I am using are from the Donn Zver website. The pottery is breath taking. Beautiful colour schemes and each piece just so unique! There is a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere at the pottery, from the sign on the door telling you about the cats to the open door into the craft room where the magic happens! 

The cats milling around are so friendly and obviously love visitors! It is almost just as worth going for the cats! Clyde was my favourite, he is such a playful wee thing that had me crawling under the table with a toy mouse on a stick!

My favourite piece of pottery was a dish with a spike in the middle that you can place a cored apple on, drizzled in honey and sultanas and cinnamon to bake. Sounds just so delicious!

The cafe was so nice, it was amazing to eat from the gorgeous plates and drink from a clay chalice! The food was so nice. We ate from a buffet and there was so much food! Tender osso bucco and salmon, pasta in a beautiful sauce, chicken saltinboca, salad, cheese, grapes, veg. Oh yum. I want to go back every weekend! I really, really do, but sadly the price tag is just a tad too high :( oh but the desserts! Little fragile cakes topped with delicate flowers!

It isn't a surprise, though, that Donn Zver was awarded a Diamond Jubilee medal for his contribution to Canada, a country where the arts rank so highly!

I really do recommend that you take a trip to Troy and lunch at this fabulous pottery!

Woohoo!!! My IEC (International Experience Canada) point of entry/letter of introduction is finally here!

Almost six months of waiting and life in limbo and finally my point of entry letter came through! Next I have to get my insurance, bank statement and flagpole at Niagara! Now it is all official, I thought I would document it all a bit more fully for reference for others.

Timeline:

Jan 2012: Loose decision made to immigrate based on crazy whirlwind romance!

Mar 2012: Lawyer approached and International Experience Canada (IEC) decided as being best route to Canada. New passport applied for so I would have a valid one throughout my year's stay.

April 2012: CRB check applied for and forms all finished. Notice handed in at work (bad and overly optimistic move)

May 2012: IEC program no longer have any visas left: DOOOOOOOMMM!!! Fortunately I was able to rescind my resignation thanks to an amazing friend and ex-work colleague and an amazing school!!

Jan 11th 2013: Arrived in Canada for a 6 month holiday as could no longer bear to be apart from Luke - come what may!!

Feb 25th: Secured a place for a visa, subject to approval etc. Handed all information for round 1 on the same day

Feb 26th: Visa fee paid for and proof of payment sent

Mar 4th: Conditional acceptance onto the program, round one complete on the mom pass account.

Mar 13th: Finally submitted my application! Completed all documents on the MyCIC account.

Apr 6th: Medical forms received on MyCIC account.

April 16th: Medical done, but I needed to go back.

May 3rd: Medical passed

May 6th: Medical info submitted on MyCIC account.

May 12th: Point of entry letter received

This Wednesday I am hoping to flagpole at Niagara and then the job hunt begins! Looks like I am here to stay! Thanks to everyone who have been so supportive during this time!

Sounds in the night

As I am falling asleep I am so used to the sound of nothing. Maybe a hamster running in it's wheel or my rabbit thumping his feet, but otherwise there was no sound whilst I lived in a village. Occasionally I might stir as I heard the sound of an airplane land at the local airport, but usually the silence was such that I was instantly lulled into a sleep that took over me completely and totally. When I woke up in the morning I would get up refreshed and feeling great.

Now I feel like the little country mouse who found himself in a large and strange city. A hot one, in which sleep does not come so easily. With the window open in the heat I hear such foreign noises. People shouting and laughing drunkenly. The sound of music sometimes drifts down from the bars on Hess Street. Ever prevalent is the sound of traffic, the constant hum of tyres on the road with the occasional siren. I wonder when I will ever get used to city life!

This morning, as I lay asleep, I was suddenly sitting bolt upright. 'What was that?' I whispered to the house. Zoey heard it too and she was sitting up, looking around at the window. Luke continued to sleep. Then I heard it again, a peculiar low growl followed by a cacophony of foreign screeches. I got up to the window and looked out.

The sun was just beginning to rise and the tweets and caws of birds were beginning to start - a sound I adore in the summer, not least because the sounds are all so strange to me and different. A tiny fluorescent red bird - a scarlet tanager - flew down and landed in a nearby tree. Yes, Holly. You really do live abroad now. This is not something you would see in the early hours of the morning in England.

The loud screeches once more pitched in, coming from the sound of the alley by the house. 'It's just the raccoons fighting' came Luke's sleepy voice. Oh, I thought, that's all, just fighting raccoons!