A:

A slow and easy morning as it was Saturday and Cecilia really enjoyed a relaxing day- normally she would race up to her parents' place and clean etc. We had a delicious and healthy breakfast before a walk with Eva and Ryan through the beautiful Springbank Park with its colourful landscape. Canada is stunningly beautiful at this time of year. We stopped by Remark- a growers market with lots of locally grown products- lovely looking fruit, vegies, bread, cheeses, meats, desserts and slices. There were samples on display of many items including the slices which we managed to avoid!

Home to have lunch- another delicious affair- and then off to watch Ryan play hockey in a nearby arena for the Oakridge team which was really exciting to watch. Sue Wilson (Theresa's daughter) and her fiance Mike joined us. I felt quite emotional meeting up with her as the last time I saw her was when both her parents and sister Laura were still alive, and she and Laura were playing hockey. She reminded me so much in mannerisms of Tegan- a soft and gentle person- and so attached to the wonderful family who has been such a huge suppot to her and her brother Paul who are the only ones remaining of their family. None of that will come as a surprise to those of you who know the Bezzina clan around the world!

Joe (Uncle Charlie's son) and his wife Marilyn came to pick us up for supper at Vince and Mary Beth's place. We had a riotous night and ate extremely well once again- I will have to pay for extra weight on the plane on Tuesday at this rate. Aunt Imelda was there- there is no stopping that woman who is proud to have got her licence at the age of 60. She is always cooking or working to help someone. Uncle Charlie turned up about 8pm having been up at 4.30am to go to Toronto to show his birds which he has been doing for years now. He was due to return to Toronto the following day, leaving his home at 7.30 am! He is not doing too badly for an eighty year old!

The following morning we went to 11 am Mass with Cecilia and Ryan and Eva and then had some of Aunt Mary's well known Sunday soup at their place. Cecilia did the best she could to tidy up things there and left her father's medication ready on the kitchen table. Aunt Mary spoke of the sadness she feels as what would be Theresa's birthday is approaching (Oct 30). I really don't know how parents live through that. Then it made me sad when I was saying goodbye to her - "Anne I don't know if I will see you again." The two of them have been remarkable and head a large clan of remarkable and generous people who have been so good to our family over a long period of time. We only hope that lots of them come to Australia (as some have) so we can repay such kindness.

Cecila and I went with Ryan and Eva and two of their friends Owen and Aaron who live nearby to "Buck's Farm" to buy a head for the headless man on the porch. He is surrounded by lots of ghoulish characters and spiders and skulls in preparation for Halloween which is next Monday so we will be gone by then. This farm sells pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn which is multi coloured and for decoration only and displays proudly a prize pumpkin of 1232 pounds which is not the record- that goes to Quebec for 1600 pounds! Meantime Mick shared a beer with Tim in the back yard by the (covered) pool in front of the open fire. (M: Watched a replay of the Rugby World Cup final) Gerry joined them for a while while the kids continued to do their Halloween thing outside in front of the house.

A quiet evening "at home" for a change!