While I am writing this blog in Toronto Airport, it really covers the last few days of my stay at the farm and in London.

The second day on the farm was one of those perfect autumn days- air like cut crystal, sharply chilly without getting to your marrow and laced with frost wherever the sun hadn't reached. I spent a good part of the morning helping Ron shuffle the corn wagons between the combine and the dryer. With the plenty of this harvest the yield was such that it was almost impossible to keep up with the rate the kernels were coming off the plants. Ron is in his element planning just how to juggle priorities and Tobias has set his high performance diesel mechanics aside while he runs the combine. It looks like he clocked up about 18 hours in the saddle yesterday.

I withdrew to domesticity, chatting to Rita until lunch, when Ron joined us briefly and Tobias grabbed something for later. Rita was keen to wash some upper storey windows, so as Ron was tied up, I assisted in moving and holding the ladder before I left for London.

The little Kia I was driving was perfectly adequate to the task and I was surprised that I seemed to be adjusting relatively quickly to the Canadian driving, on the right, 4 way stop signs and various London roadworks included. The GPS made the task a good deal easier. The run out to the farm and back was beautiful as the fields and woodlands provided a green and autumn contrast all the way.

In the late afternoon Alex and I went to the cemetery where I was able to pay my respects to Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary, Teresa, Tony and Laura. So much sadness here. It's clear that the passing of Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary in particular has had a profound effect on the family.

That evening I was Alex and Mary B's guest at the London Grand Theatre at a performance of 2 Pianos, 4 Hands. It is a piece that is well known in Canada that involves two men and 2 grand pianos (as advertised) with a lightning quick succession of vignettes focussed on learning and playing the piano. It ranged from pathos to high farce - with a light touch and a pervading sense of fun. The two guys were first rate musicians and played pieces of some pretty complex compositions throughout.

The evening finished by watching the Blue jays lose the 6th of 7 qualifying matches for the World Series on TV and hence lose 4-2 to Kansas. Canadians now in mourning