Written in August 2011, but not posted until July 2014 (life must have got busy quickly!)
(John)
So I have come full circle, well almost. In my absence my office was moved and I am now
one floor higher, so technically I didn’t just circle, I spiralled – up. I am writing this first sentence from my desk
at my job, everything seems very familiar yet I’m feeling pretty green. I’ll get back to work and write the rest from
home.
Coming
back to Canada was very exciting for us.
Being in the UK for a final fling with my family was wonderful and
allowed for an easy transition back. We
were able to arrange a week visiting in Southern Ontario before hitting
Winnipeg. That was a great decision. We
had a blast in Kitchener and then Port Perry with friends we hadn’t seen for
far too long. I had many “Oh Yeah I’m in
Canada” moments when walking around during that first week. Once in a park in Kitchener I realised I
could understand what people close by were saying and stepping in to Tim Horton’s
was surreal. Many thanks to Nicky and
Dave and to Paul and Sandra for hosting us that week, we felt very welcome and
had a great time.
Getting
back to Winnipeg was our final challenge.
We had to get from North and East of Toronto to Lester B Pearson Airport
by 11:00am to return the rental car, and then get a West Jet flight home. Our beautifully planned Google directions
took us to a back entrance to the airport where we were not allowed to be. But we didn’t panic, we had time, and we
calmly found our way first to the arrivals area, where we asked where to go to
get gas for the car, and then back to departures where we easily found where to
leave it.
After
that it was pretty straightforward. We
landed in Winnipeg on a gorgeous sunny day, we were the first off the plane and
as we came down the escalator we were greeted by a happy hoard of friends and
family with banners and balloons. It was
lovely and we felt great. Thanks for
that; it meant a lot. The other people
on our flight had no idea they were travelling with such celebrities.
We
have been home for two weeks now and it is good to be back in my own bed. I have stopped dreaming about being on buses
and trains and I am back to dreaming about riding my bike. Yes, my life is that dull. Not that I’m complaining. Our cats came back the very first day, which
we were not expecting so that was nice. After a slightly nervous start for Christie,
they are both now just as they were, as if we had never left.
We
have been busy organising our lives and so far we seem to be doing OK. Having to spend so much money since we got
back is difficult but we fully expected it and are only too glad that we had
been so cheap all year and kept a bit back.
We
have had fun these past two weeks seeing friends and family and hope to
continue to see people as we reintegrate, so feel free to drop in we’d love to
see you.
