John's last post

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.