welcome home!

We've arrived in sunny Nanaimo!

After leaving Ottawa this morning, we flew the 5 hours to Vancouver and then switched to a small plane to take us to our final destination: Nanaimo.

It was only a 10 minute flight but it was spectacular going across the Straight of Georgia, seeing the little islands and inlets, all waiting to be explored! Can hardly wait!

Karen, our nice landlady, picked us up from the airport and took us to our new home.

The last picture is of Matt being my pack-horse, dutifully carrying all of our bags we brought with us to our new home, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Jersey to Canada.

We made it!

final leg in Ottawa

Ottawa, a day of relative peace and rest.

A nice walk by the river, a tinkle on the ivory keys, a back-to-school-cut for Matt and a visit to see friends Michael Lloyd Russell and his new bride, Katherine.

They are recent home-owners and have done wonders redecorating and renovating their house.

Made us itchy to buy a place and do the same.

To complete their family, for now, they have just welcomed adorable 10-week old Luna.

Matt tried on Mike's hockey gear. Well, the helmet and gloves.

The next morning we were flying to our final destination after all these months of being on the road: Nanaimo!

Toronto at its best!

A wonderful day and a half in Toronto with my family doing what we do best: gossip and eat.

A bbq with Uncle Kee, Uncle Hong and Mama.

Every possible family member we could get to come out on a weeknight from both sides of the family for an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner.

See pic of all of us trying to fit into one frame. And one of most of the grandkids on my mom's side... with about a dozen still missing.

A late night Timmy's cappuccino session with Mom, Dad and Sis.

Dimsum with the grand- parents.

Oh, and between sharing stories and showing Africa pictures, we got showered with presents of course!

The fav being the sweaters PoPo knitted, this time one that actually fit Matt!

She had at least a dozen ones for us to choose from, she is truly amazing with her knitting needles!

Why, hello again

Wow, it's been a long time since i've written on this page.

I've become so accustomed to my TravelPod blog but this is nice and familiar, like old slippers.

I've been job hunting today and firing out my CV as fast as possible. I need to keep track of what i've done, who i've called, a to-do list. There are so many opportunities out there for me to uncover, to grab, to strive for. It's overwhelming and what's strange is that this feeling is so familiar, too familiar, if i speak honestly.

That routine, that so-called mundane weekly routine, i want. I want to be part of a team, to be creative and silly in a safe environment where i will be using my skills and learning everyday. I am aiming for that.

And it's the small steps which i must take that will take me to this goal. I must try and enjoy the process as it comes, so they say. So, again, i exhale and sigh and think: maybe this time?



UPDATE (Nov 2019): Travelpod has since been stopped working. But we have saved all our FOXY blog entries here. If you want to read about our African Overland Journey, click here: 

https://www.floating-point.ca/travelpod/bonthorn.trip.1/bonthorn.trip.1.html