SEPTEMBER in Canada
[scroll to end for all news and views]
WEATHER:
Autumn [Fall] was mostly good weather. Typical autumn where the days are brisk with sunshine. There are definite signs that winter is around the corner. Snow fell in parts of Canada and northern Ontario. The brisk weather meant GREAT Autumn colours. The colours are diverse and Ontario just seems covered in carpet - the canopies towards the end of September, moving into a carpet of colour beginning October. All in all, Autumn weather is pretty stable. It was really summer until the 21st September as Canadians go by the equinox... however, if the early September weather was summer - I think they missed it!
SCHOOL NEWS:
School has started for the year. I must say that things are very different from Australia with regards to the start of a school year. Class lists are not confirmed [or rooms] until staff and students return. Staffing is organised by the Board only days before. Students still get moved from and into different classes as the teacher:ratio formula is different also.
All this meant that I started with 21 students and two days later, after a move of one student, I had 20 Gr. 3 students. 20 gorgeous, well-mannered, delightful students. After 30 [and some classes are still big in other areas of the school] last year [school year goes from September - June], I kept looking around. During our classroom meetings, I had to actually ask the kids to move the circle in instead of asking them all to squash up.... lovely.
We started straight away learning about Australia - our Flat Friends project was launched. A HUGE thankyou to my long suffering friends and family who continually take on my wacky school projects. I can tell you the kids in King City, Ontario are LOVING the project... they are reading the blog and even putting on posts and come in to school in the mornings to tell their classmates what their flat person has been up to. You can join in at: www.aussieflatstan.blogspot.ca 
When we think the condo is actually finished, it's not. We have learnt a lot about condo/high rise construction. I thought the external concrete had been finished - they then put a foam like material over some green stuff and mould it to look like bessa brick. Interesting process. The dental shop is still 'opening soon'. Gogo tours does a roaring business with the mainly new arrival Chinese population. A new shop - dry cleaner and alterations is 'opening soon'. Excitement at the Royal Gardens condos.
The gardens have been continually developed. A roof top garden is supposed to be a work in progress, however, we snuck in again and it won't be finished before winter... duh.
The condo is heated and cooled by management. We have complained at how hot it is [80F all day and all night] and their response was that there are a lot of elderly Chinese that feel the cold. We try not to spend a lot of time at the condo. There are so many GREAT places in Ontario to visit and many of the hotels we stay in are bigger than the condo so we get out and explore [and are poor! :-)]
The gardens have been continually developed. A roof top garden is supposed to be a work in progress, however, we snuck in again and it won't be finished before winter... duh.
The condo is heated and cooled by management. We have complained at how hot it is [80F all day and all night] and their response was that there are a lot of elderly Chinese that feel the cold. We try not to spend a lot of time at the condo. There are so many GREAT places in Ontario to visit and many of the hotels we stay in are bigger than the condo so we get out and explore [and are poor! :-)]
DAY TRIPS:
MONO CLIFFS:
We really enjoy exploring the Bruce Trail. Bob and Linda took us to the Mono Cliffs and we hiked around the area for a few hours before heading to an Aussie Pub - the Mono Cliffs Inn. It's owned by Carol - an unassuming Aussie and we loved it.
Niagara:
Our seasonal trip to Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parkway had ups and downs. We went via the St. Jacob's market which was like the Caribbean Market on heat!!!!! Everyone probably knew it was the last warm weekend of the year so it was really, really crowded and a lot of junky stalls. Straight to the Falls and up the Skylon tower to see these majestic falls in autumn. The colours were not at the peak yet, however, we got the idea. Our Winter photos were of ice. Our Spring photos were of crisp, blue days with remnants of ice. We skipped summer [too busy on our road trip and most NF photos are of summer :-)]. It was great to be able to take photos of where we stood in January, surrounded by the white stuff, and again in September, surrounded by Autumn colour. If you're going that way and head back to Toronto via Fort Erie, make sure you turn left at the correct turn. Otherwise, you will end up in no man's land - neither in USA or in Canada - and incur the wrath of the customs officers, especially if you have no passport with you and no real identification or reason to be on the USA border when you are supposed to be in Canada!!!!!!!!!!!
Lake Simcoe and Trent-Severn Waterways:
Lake Simcoe has been a favourite place since we took our first Canadian drive and got lost! Again, how lucky to take photos capturing the seasonal changes. If you look back over our blog, you will see the same spots in the different seasons. This time, we drove around Lake Simcoe, stayed at Lagoon City and then followed the Trent-Severn waterways to Peterborough. We started with the manual lift lock at Kirkfield. We were so impressed watching two boats go through that we stayed and watched more. Little did we realise that each lock was going to be great. Passing through Coboconk to Rosedale and the next lock. We drove through swing bridges, door lock systems... all amazing. Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon and then Peterborough for the largest hydrolic lift lock.... check out the photos of the cruise boat way up in the air waiting to go through.
The lock system is simply marvellous engineering, allowing boats of all shapes and sizes to commute through the lakes and rivers via the locks. It was a GREAT weekend to finish September.
The lock system is simply marvellous engineering, allowing boats of all shapes and sizes to commute through the lakes and rivers via the locks. It was a GREAT weekend to finish September.
Other things:
Cirque de Soleil: - What a great performance. So glad to see Cirque de Soleil in Canada. We visited it's home in Quebec and now to see Kurios was awesome.
HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS
- Dim Sum
- Autumn colour
- Condo heating
- School starting
- Autumn colour
- Curriculum information night for parents [they were more interested in Australia :-)]
- Autumn colour - did we mention that?????????
- Skunks
- Racoons
DON'T FORGET THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
MARY AND ADAM IN CANADA
email: contrary33@gmail.com or adsfz001@gmail.com
Where do we live:
370 Highway 7E
Richmond Hill - L4B 0C4.
Ontario
Canada