The day dawned to a light dusting of snow and quiet flurries continuing. The temperature was hovering around zero (real money - Centigrade) and there was a strong wind that made it feel a lot colder.

After another good breakfast in the Idlewyld's lovely dining room, watching the snow float down, I made a few phone calls and organised the rest of the weekend. My first appointment was at Bernardines at 1, so I decided to go for another walk downtown. I parked over in the Ridgeway, and started with a look at the place Anne and I had rented in the 80s, the old coach house behind a once stately home. We discovered last year that there had been a serious fire at the house. Now, the shell of the house has been pulled down, so the only place left standing is the separate coach house where we rented. Walking along the street, there are signs of gentrification, but there are also still plenty of the old sub-divided, low rent places that were the style when we lived there.

I walked up to Victoria Park. In this period of early winter and pre real snow, and before the skating rink is set up, the place looks rather soggy. However, it looks like it won't be long before both snow and skating are restored.

I also wandered into St Peter's Basilica - where Mum and Dad were married and I was baptised. The next shrine I visited was Novaks - something of a London landmark, where Anne and I bought our sleeping bags and camping gear for our 1984 European adventure. The pictures show the bad news. It is closing down.

Off to see Bernardine and Ian. While I was there, their son Peter and his wife Jennifer dropped by to leave Sammy, their four and a half month old son to be baby sat while they shopped. We caught up with all the family news, and as was becomong the pattern, discussion centred on elderly and infirm parents. Finally found a suitable Tim Horton's after I left their place en route to Alex and Mary B's.

I had arranged to go to mass with them, and dropped in to get a batch of laundry under way at their place before we hit the church. It was something of a family reunion as Cathy, Andrew and the girls and Cecilia, Ryan and Eva were all there as well, so we had a good chat after mass. Mary B had a brief moment of panic as she had left a butternut squash in the oven (expecting to be back much sooner). No harm done, and it was very easy to scoop out, instead of the usual tough job of peeling. Grabbed my laundry and then headed off to Am and George's place for dinner. The GPS was really getting a workout!

Last year, when Anne and I met them in town, they were very fully occupied with caring for their twin grand-daughters. They have now gone back to their mother and grandmother in Toronto. They are obviously missed. Cecilia joined us after dinner and we chatted away until about 11, when I climbed into the trusty Kia and headed for "home".

Sunday morning saw a more significant - yet still gentle - snow fall. After breakfast, I settled down to a morning of blogging, email and reading student drafts.

About 1.30 I headed out for a toasted "panini" at Tim Horton's. The name is wrong both grammatically and in a culinary sense. First of all there was only one. Secondly, it was on bread rather than a bun. Still it tasted fine. I then went to the Parkwood again to see Uncle Charlie. When I got there, Aunt Imelda and Joe and Vince were already chatting with him. He looked a lot brighter today and his speech seemed a bit clearer. Vince left, then Charlie Aquilina, and old friend turned up, at which point Joe and I went off to the cafeteria for a chat. Soon after that I bid my farewells and headed off to see Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary. Rita - and .... wait for it - RON ... were there, as were Gerry and his fiance Vi (pronounced Vee). Rita had prepared a meal, and even though I was due to eat at Alex and Mary B's I felt compelled to join in - oncluding dessert.

When I arrived, Ron was regaling Gerry with a story about methane production, but there were plenty of stories to go around! The meal was, of course, delicious. The farewells were made easier by Ron singing "Happy Trails" with Rita providing the clip-clop sound effects. Just as well, because the chances of my seeing either Mary or Joe again are not great.

Then to Alex and Mary B's for the Grey Cup - the final of the Canadian football league competition. I managed to put away some more dinner - but no dessert this time! I had a second chance for a surprise. Mary B told Siobhan that there would be a guest - but not who it would be. Then when I rang the doorbell, she asked S to answer the door - and there I was. Toronto won the football, and I headed for Idlewyld.

Slow morning today, then dropped the car off uneventfully and was driven to Robert Q. Only three passengers in the shuttle and a quick run to the airport where I am now awaiting my flight. Unless something particular happens on the flight/s, this will wrap up this entry.