An Amazing Breakfast at Tubbie’s and Lunch with Relatives at Hot Peppers in Scarborough, Ontario

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Woodbridge and Scarborough, Ontario

An Amazing Breakfast at Tubbie’s and Lunch with Relatives at Hot Peppers in Scarborough, Ontario

It is our last full day in Canada and, naturally, we liked to make the most of it. It started off beautifully with Sylvia informing us that we wanted to take us out for breakfast. Now Llew had already eaten his “Daily Special”—toast with preserves and coffee. But I had not eaten yet…so when Sylvia made her offer, I was quite happy to take her up on it. Llew declined but when we twisted his arm, he agreed to come along with us for the company. And so off we went.

Breakfast at Tubbie’s:

The three of us made our way into Tubbie’s (a very appropriately named place) if one went by the size of the portions being served to the customers. Sylvia told us that it is a superb place for breakfast and one that she often took her kids to when they were growing up. It reminded me very much of IKEA in his menu and its portion size. I could not resist the waffles (as they would be the last I would have, probably, before my return to India). Sylvia decided to order a mimosa (as it made her feel as if she were on a cruise, she said!), I had a hot chocolate and Llew had a decaff Americano. Because he had already eaten breakfast, he ordered nothing else, but I went for the waffles with apple-cinnamon compote (as I had already had them with strawberries on a couple of occasions), whipped cream and maple syrup. They were delicious. Sylvia chose pancakes but hardly had two bites of them and was done! In the end, it was not so much what we chose or what we ate but our knowledge of the fact that all good things must come to an end and that our lovely stay with Sylvia in Canada would soon come to a close. Tomorrow, at this time, we’d be in a cab and on our way to Pearson Airport for the start of Phase Five (the final phase) of our North American travels. We were full to bursting when we got up to leave and the thought of having yet another big meal in store for us was somewhat daunting.

Meeting a Long-Lost Cousin and Lunching with Him and His Family:

When we returned to Sylvia’s home, we had barely half an hour to get ourselves organized for the next part of our day—a meeting with one of my Mum’s long-lost relatives. It was purely by chance that I had inquired of my own cousin, Lancy, just a few days ago, as to whether or not he is in touch with Alex, my late Mum Edith’s cousin, as I remembered that they had once worked together. When Lancy told me that he still had Alex’s number, I requested him to find out if Alex would be open to meeting us.

I was absolutely delighted when Alex called, two days ago, to introduce himself to me again and to invite us very warmly to his home. As I had not seen him in ages, I was really keen to make the effort to take public transport to his place. But Alex was kind enough to save us that trouble and offered to come over to Sylvia’s in Woodbridge to pick us up. Accordingly, we made plans to see him and his wife, Lidwyn (Liddy), at their home and since Alex suggested that we have lunch with them, we knew the rest of our day was spoken for.

Alex did arrive on schedule, we were ready for him and with Sylvia also accompanying us, off we went in his car to Scarborough. It was a drive of about an hour, but we spent the entire time chatting about old times. I was able to ask Alex many questions about the relationship between my mother and him. He explained to me that his late father Peter (also known as Babusha) was my late mother Edith’s first cousin. Their mothers (i.e. my grandmother Valerie and his grandmother Machu) were sisters. Peter was Machu’s son. Her other children were Johnny, Daisy and Robert. I remembered Daily and Robert well as my mother was very close to them. That made Alex my Mum’s second cousin and it would make Alex and me third cousins! Still, despite the somewhat distant connection, I was delighted to make contact with someone from my Mum’s side of the family as I have a large cohort of cousins (to whom I am still very close) on my Dad’s side but just a handful of folks on my Mum’s side.

A Lovely Natter in Alex’s Home in Scarborough:

When we arrived at Alex’s place, we were re-introduced to his wife, Liddy, whom I had also last seen at least fifteen years ago (when my Mother was an a visit to Canada with us). I was also pleased to see that Alex had invited my cousin Lancy and his wife, Ilene, too for lunch. After a very lovely natter, first in their living room and later in their fully-finished basement with its cozy bar and den, we had drinks and an array of nibbles that Liddy put out. We also took a lot of pictures and generally had a grand time. But, after Alex made reservations at a local Chinese restaurant for us to go out and eat, we left, about two hours later.

Lunch at Hot Peppers Chinese Restaurant:

And so, the whole lot of us landed up at a modest Chinese restaurant called Hot Peppers which was just a ten minute drive away. Alex knew the manager well and seemed like a regular in the place. We left all the ordering to him and, in his experienced hands, we had an array of appetizers followed by a range of mains. There was something for everyone as we had fish, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, vegetables, and really nice beignets with chocolate sauce for dessert. The food was really tasty and with all the nattering and the laughter at the table, we had ourselves a really lovely afternoon. Fortunately, at the end of it, Lancy and Ilene offered to drop us home as we were not too far en route to their place—this saved Alex the trouble of dropping us back.

And so, our last full day in Canada came to an end. In fact, Ryan actually found the time to take me to Michael’s, the craft store, as I needed to buy some colored candles and fall silk flowers—I was very pleased that I found them quite easily.

Watching the Presidential Debate at Ryan’s House:

spent the rest of the evening, packing all our possessions (there wasn’t much to pack as we had just a small backpack each). But then, we knew that the much looked forward-to debate was later in the evening—at 9.00 pm. It was at this point that we discovered that Sylvia’s TV was not working as her entire internet system was down.

so, we had no choice but to go to Ryan’s place as we were hell bent on watching the debate between Trump and Harris. Ten minutes later, we were at Ryan’s place, poised in front of his TV and also getting a nice tour of his home. The debate went off very well. I have to say that knowing how awful a speaker Trump is usually, I was amazed at how well he had been prepped and how superbly he conducted himself. Harris, of course, was her usual assured self. She was articulate, elegant, confident and her responses were filled with solid material—not fluff.

soon as the debate ended, Ryan dropped us back to his mother’s place and we wished each other goodnight and went to bed—but not before setting our alarms as we had a fairly early start for the boarding of our flight to New York early tomorrow.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

Exploring Downtown Toronto’s Harbor Front, Vietnamese Lunch near Chinatown, Afternoon Tea with a College Classmate, Slap-Up Dinner at Moxie’s in Vaughn

Monday, September 9, 2024

Downtown Toronto, Canada

Exploring Downtown Toronto’s Harbor Front, Vietnamese Lunch near Chinatown, Afternoon Tea with a College Classmate, Slap-Up Dinner at Moxie’s in Vaughn

Considering we were on our second-last day in Canada with nothing until the evening on our itinerary, I suggested to Llew that we spend the day in the city. He was more than happy to comply and, after breakfast, we set out on our own to discover parts of the city with which we were unfamiliar. I used Lonely Planet and Google to figure out the places to which we should head and, accordingly, we made our plans.

Taking Public Transport to the City:

Of course, getting to the city from Woodbridge, where we are located, is a challenge in itself as it is very far away—it’s not just the distance, but the time it takes to get to the city as well as the expense that is daunting. It involves taking an Uber to the Subway station. This is a good 20 minutes’ away by car. Then, there is the long subway ride as the subway station is, in fact, the very last stop on the line. And, once we get off the Subway in the city, we still have to walk or take a bus to wherever we wish to go. Thankfully, we were not required to go through this commute daily—or it would be very off-putting

, we called for the Uber and made our way to the subway stop and then figured out where and how to buy our tickets and board our train, The thing about subway systems is that they are basically the same all over the world. So, if you have used a subway service in one country, you are more than familiar with the drill. It did not take us long to find our platform and our train and we were on our way. However, once we got off the subway station, we discovered that the place to which we were headed (Kensington Street Market)—was, in fact, too far to walk to. We’d actually have to take a bus to get there! So, we asked around and found out that there was a bus outside the subway station that we could take. We rode on it for about ten minutes and, finally, finally, we were at our destination! Yes, indeed, it was a huge production!

Exploring Kensington Street Market:

Kensington Market is hopping and heaving, it appears, at the weekends. Basically, ‘Market’ is a bit of a misnomer—it is more of an area or a locality. It comprises of a couple of side streets (off Spadina), that is filled with interesting stores that appeal to very young and very hip, tastes. There are vintage clothing boutiques, music stores, one-of-a-kind craftsy designer shops selling jewelry and home décor (ceramics, paintings, etc.) and a few restaurants and bars which, I imagine, would be great fun to frequent in the dark. However, on a Monday morning, the place was as dead as a dodo! There was absolutely no one there and I mean no one. It was after 11.00 am when we arrived there, but most of the shops were only just opening and so many of the eateries were still closed. We soon realized that we had made a mistake heading to this place as there was absolutely nothing of any interest to us.

Heading to the Harbor Front:

On the other hand, we did want to salvage our day—especially as we had spent half the day getting to the city! So, on an impulse, I suggested to Llew that we go to the Harbor Front—as this was also featured as one of the attractions of the city. Llew thought it made sense.

So, off we went, on another bus going downtown, in the direction of the Harbor. We rode all down the length of Spadina which is the heart of Chinatown. It gave me the idea that we ought to come back to this part of the city later for lunch. The conductor on the bus was very helpful and told us exactly where to get off.

Once we were at the Harbor Front, on a very cloudy, highly overcast day, when there was a pleasant nip in the air (and we were suitably attired, so not uncomfortable at all), we found ourselves surrounded by skyscrapers, while a few blocks ahead of us, we could already see the water and the many craft in the harbor.

The Promenade was great to walk along at a time when there was hardly another soul out there. We passed by the varied watercraft and even saw a seaplane take off. Boats, yachts, etc, of varied style and size bobbed or were buoyed in the water. As we reached the end of the promenade, we realized that, on the other side, were beautiful perennial gardens that had clearly demarcated walking paths through them. Of course, then we had to go through them and explore the gardens. I was delighted for there were all sorts of recognizable autumnal flowers and plants that I do not see in India—black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, butterfly bush, Autumn Joy Sedum, Joe Pye weed, the last of the day-lillies, lots of astilbe and plenty of hosta of varied shade and leaf size and even the last roses of summer. On reading a sign put up at the park, I discovered that the entire garden had been designed around the six movements of a sonata by J.S. Bach. It was quite innovative indeed and very creatively conceived with paths that curved tightly like a nautilus shell or offered places to pause under shady trees which sported strategically-placed benches. It was definitely the most delightful part of our day.

When we had covered the entire pavement garden, we crossed the main road and spying a Walgreens, decided to go in there for a quick browse We were there for about fifteen minutes before Llew told me that he felt hungry and wanted to go out in search of lunch. I suggested we get on the same bus and alight near our subway station and find a place there for Vietnamese food as I felt a great desire to eat a steaming bowl of Pho.

Lunch In Chinatown:

As it turned out, we found a bus that would take us back to our subway stop and not too far from it, we actually found a Vietnamese eatery that was called Vietnamese Happy Noodle! A quick look at the menu proclaimed that it sold Pho! I was very excited indeed. Llew and I settled down to study the menu and, I found to my even greater delight, that there was pho and another one of my favorite things in the world to eat—Singaporean Curried Laksa. So, of course, I had to order that too. Llew and I then split the two bowls between the two of us. I have to say that although we were both very hungry and had done a lot of walking and had built up an appetite, the bowls were so gigantic that we could barely manage to eat half of each bowl. Naturally, we requested the rest packed up for us to be carried away in doggie bags! And with those treasures under our arms, we walked back to the subway station and made the reverse journey home.

We were supposed to reach home by 4.00 pm as my friend Delilah and her husband were expected to come and see us. And we did indeed reach my 4.00 pm.

Afternoon Tea with Delilah and Francisco:

Not even half an hour after we reached Woodbridge, Delilah and Frisco appeared at our door and were all set to take us out for Afternoon Tea. Delilah’s daughter had identified a really nice coffee shop where we could sit quietly and catch up. It turned out to be a Turkish place called Cappadocia Coffee Shop and indeed, it was the perfect choice of place. For one thing, it was empty, for another, we could chat and sit for as long as we liked without feeling the pressure of having to leave soon and thirdly, we had the very attentive care of a female waitress who took our order. In the end, in addition to tea and coffee, we chose to share a Middle Eastern dessert called Kunafa, which is also one of my favorite things to eat. While Llew is familiar with it, the other two had never heard of it but were willing to try it. And that was what we did. We ordered kunafa and then shared it. Everyone knows that it is a very rich dessert with varying textures and flavors. Made with very fine strands like vermicelli which is almost fried, a flat pancake is sandwiched with molten mozzarella cheese. The whole thing is then soaked in a syrup flavored with orange blossom honey and sprinkled with toasted pistachio nuts. If it sounds super-rich, it’s because that’s what it is. Fortunately, everyone enjoyed it very much and as we chatted about everything under the sun, we had a really lovely two hours together.

Delilah and Francisco then dropped us back to Woodbridge where we had another evening’s plan ahead of us. We were taking our hostess Sylvia, her son Ryan and his wife Sharon, for dinner as a way of saying Thank you to her for her hospitality to us and to Ryan and Sharon chauffeuring us all over the place throughout the length of our stay in Woodbridge. But first, as we had a little time ahead of us before dinner, we switched on the TV to find out that the Presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will be on tomorrow. As we did not wish to miss it, we also listened to what the talking heads had to say about tomorrow’s show.

at Moxie’s with Close Friends:

We told our guests to choose the place at which they would like to eat as we are not familiar with the local possibilities. Sylvia initially thought about Earl’s, a fine dining place in Vaughn known for its steaks. However, when we entered, we were told that there was a wait of at least 40 minutes. Now that was much too long for us to wait for our dinner and so we had to think of another place. Fortunately, Moxie’s was in the same complex. And so, that was where we went. Moxie’s is also a fine dining place but much less crowded and quiet enough for us to have a lovely quiet meal together.

The meal was just lovely except for one small glitch. We started off with drinks for the table and then ordered. We had ⁠Sweet Potato Fries by way of an appetizer and then ordered our Mains: Tuna Poke Bowl (Sharon), ⁠Sirloin Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables (Llew and Sylvia), ⁠Soup (Boston Clam Chowder), Salad (Mixed Strawberry Salad) with baguette (Me) and ⁠Steak Frites (with chimichurri sauce for Ryan. For dessert, we dug our spoons into a White Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice-cream topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Sooooo Goooood! The glitch came in the form of fried quinoa sprinkled over my strawberry salad which was really hard (although it was meant to be crisp) and felt like tiny pebbles in my mouth. They did a real number on my teeth and, of course, I could not eat my salad. My soup, however, was very good and I was very grateful at the opportunity to eat New England Clam Chowder which is also one of my favorite things to eat. So, food-wise, you can see that I really enjoyed a number of my favorite items—and all on one single day! How lucky can one gal get?

All that was left for us, after a fun meal, was to get back home and go straight to bed. We thanked Ryan and Sharon for all their help in driving us all over the place and then we went down to the basement to bed.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

Mass in Woodbridge, Visit to the McMichael Art Collection in Kleinburg, Visit to a British Grocery Store in Oakville, Visit to Llew’s Aunt Josephine and Sunday Family Dinner at Home

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Woodbridge, Kleinburg and Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Mass in Woodbridge, Visit to the McMichael Art Collection in Kleinburg, Visit to a British Grocery Store in Oakville, Visit to Llew’s Aunt Josephine and Sunday Family Dinner at Home

We had an extraordinarily eventful day! Starting from the Get-go, when we had our breakfasts and left for the 10.30 am Mass (Ryan drove us there and stayed for the Mass), till we went to bed at night, we were on the Go, Go, Go.

Mass at St. Catherine of Assisi Church:

As Ryan drove us to church, we left home just ten minutes before Mass began. It was a nice service with the added gift, given to each of us, of an icon of Our Blessed Mother as today is her Feast Day. If we were still in Bandra, we’d be celebrating Bandra Feast today as the Birthday of our Lady is celebrated world-wide. We queued up after Mass to receive the icon (one per family) but I took a second one for Russel.

A Wonderful Visit to the McMichael Art Collection:

After Mass, we made a quick detour to pick up Sharon, Ryan’s wife, and then with her in the car, we drove to our next port of call: The McMichael Art Collection which is not far from Sylvia’s place in Vaughn. It’s in the small town of Kleinburg, Ontario, which was about a half hour’s drive away.

I had never even heard of this museum, but Sylvia informed me that her late husband, Tony, was very keen for us to visit this place. Had he still been living, we’d have all made an excursion to this venue together. As it was, Sylvia decided to honor his wishes and pay for us to enjoy a visit there. I was fortunate enough to be given a free ticket to enter on the strength of my Met ID card. Sylvia treated the rest to tickets—again, in accordance with Tony’s wishes.

From the time we entered the vast property that houses this collection, I was charmed. For one thing, it is delightfully isolated, in a non-residential part of Ontario. Set in a sprawling wooded property, the approach is a long driveway, both sides of which have been converted into a sculpture garden. Had we time, we could have strolled through the property to admire the sculptural work, as a lot of visitors seemed to be doing. The grounds were already showing evidence of the arrival of Autumn. There were maple trees already exhibiting splashes of vivid red and many trees had already yellowed. Appropriately, there was also a lovely nip in the air, so that I was grateful for my light down jacket and scarf. I love fall fashion and I feel sorry that I no longer get to wear scarves or blazers.

Since time was of the essence, we headed straight for the car park. Just a little later, we were entering the lovely modern building that was custom-designed to house a collection of Canadian Art. The collection was started by Robert and Signe McMichael in 1952, when the couple purchased land in the village of Kleinburg. Moved by the natural environment, the McMichaels began collecting works of art by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, who also drew inspiration from the natural landscape. In 1965, when they offered their home and artwork to the Province of Ontario, their collection comprised 194 paintings. Today, there are 6,500 items in the permanent collection. Even before we entered, we took a picture by a sculpture of a polar bear with her calf. It set the tone beautifully for the items on display inside.

Once inside and after our tickets had been purchased (Sylvia’s treat), we got to know that there was a docent tour to be given shortly. We decided to take it and were treated to a lovely walk-through of a special exhibition entitled, “River of Dreams: Impressionism on the St. Lawrence”. We were stunned by this exhibition as it introduced us to the Quebecois artists who followed in France’s Impressionist tradition to produce works that appropriated their techniques and colors but juxtaposed them against Canadian themes and subjects. We saw Impressionist Works by A Y Jackson, James Wilson Morrice, Frederick Varley, Emily Carr, Franklin Carmichael, A J Casson, Lionel Fitzgerald, Lauren Harris, Mullen, etc. in the special exhibition. These have traveled from Montreal to Toronto as the museum there is being renovated. These artists were known as the School of Seven. The guide was highly knowledgeable and she took us through each of the artists represented in the exhibition pointing out landscapes, country pass-times and pleasures, seasonal variations in Nature, etc. Very canvas followed the subtle pastel shades of the French Impressionists and their fondness for blurred lines. We loved the work on display and were truly charmed by it. I also discovered that one of the most famous of Canadian artists is Tom Thomson and that I own a beautiful reversible silk scarf (a Christmas gift from a friend in Bombay) that depicts his depiction of a ‘Forest in Fall’. I was just thrilled when I saw similar scarves depicting his work in the gift shop. I’m pretty certain my scarf was bought here in Canada and presented to me. I will now treat it with renewed respect!

When we finished viewing the special exhibition, we walked through several galleries where we recognized the work of indigenous Canadian artists such as Nerval Morrisseau (whose work we had seen in the AGO). But we did not linger too long as we had a number of other places to cover. Still, overall, the McMichael Collection had been a true revelation to me and I was so delighted I became introduced to Canada’s Impressionists—for who knew of them earlier? Indeed, everything about this museum was wonderful. We LOVED the place—the property (wide-spread sculpture gardens), the architectural design, the layout and curation, the guided tour and the gift shop.

to the British Grocery Store:

A few days ago, while we were chatting, someone had mentioned that there is a store here in Toronto that stocks and sells British groceries. Of course, then, I was very keen to visit it as I was looking for Lyle’s Golden Syrup. I do not get this product in India or in the USA. It is only in the UK that I can stock up on it. Hence, this was on the agenda for me as a must-buy item in Canada.

I was fortunate that Ryan agreed to drive me to a place called Oakville, which turned out to be a really beautiful town with the most enticing shops. Seriously, were I alone or had I more time on my hands, I could have spent an entire morning browsing in those one-of-a-kind boutiques and shops. But the rest of the company with me was not so inclined. So, we found the British store, Ryan dropped us off and went to park and I felt like a kid in a candy store once I was inside. I did find my Golden Syrup and also Colman’s mustard powder, Bisto gravy granules with onion flavor, Border’s Dark chocolate covered ginger biscuits and a couple of other items that I absolutely cannot do without. So, in the end, it was a very successful trip and certainly worth the search and the drive for it.

Visit to an Elderly Aunt:

As we were not far away at all, Llew decided to go and pay a visit to his only surviving aunt on his mother’s side, his Aunt Josephine (his late mother’s late brother John’s wife). She happened to be in an assisted living community and, having received the address and directions from her daughter, Irene, we went to see her. The rest of our group stayed in the car parked outside as we did not intend our visit to be very long.

Aunt Josephine was at the very end of a game of bingo when we found her inside. She is now 96 years old but seems perfectly coherent and lucid in her conversation with us. I am not entirely sure she recognized us or knew who we were, but she chatted away with us as if she had known us forever. We gave her the bouquet of flowers that Llew had picked up for her and at the end of the visit, she invited us to come over to her room—which we did. It is a very cozy and comfortable space, filled with photographs of her family members and personal mementoes, including pictures of her husband, Llew’s Uncle John. It was a brief but very enjoyable visit with her and we were very glad we carved out the time to include this visit as well.

A Family Dinner in Woodbridge:

We had been surviving on snacks that we picked up from the British store (chocolate biscuits, British crisps) and water—so, by the time we reached home, we were starving. As we knew we had a big dinner coming, we had a light late lunch. I made myself a toasted sandwich with cream cheese and had a nice cup of tea.

Later, in the evening, after we had showered and freshened up, Sylvia’s two sons, Ryan and Wayne, their wives Sharon and Amelia and their children came over to her place for dinner as they have been doing every Sunday for decades. Even though Tony is no more (perhaps, all the more reason, because Sylvia is now alone), they come in on a Sunday bringing food with them and their children—six teenagers in number (three for each son). The cousins, of course, have the time of their lives when they are together and the adults are free to gab and catch up with the events of the week.

By the time we decided to have dinner, I found out that Chinese take-out had been ordered as well as pepperoni pizza for the teens. We filled our plates and then sat down to eat as the chattering continued.

And so a very eventful and packed day came to a close. The days are flying and although it is amazing how much we are managing to fit into our stay here in Canada, it is still astonishing to me how quickly Phase Four of our travels will come to an end and we will be headed back to the USA for the start of Phase Five. We really do intend to make the most of our last days here.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

Meeting an Old Friend, Finishing a Work Assignment and A Wonderfully Enjoyable Saturday Dinner at Home with Friends

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Woodbridge, Ontario

Meeting an Old Friend, Finishing a Work Assignment and A Wonderfully Enjoyable Saturday Dinner at Home with Friends

Today was a very relaxed days compared to the recent ones we’ve been having. For the most part, we stayed put at our friend Sylvia’s home in Woodbridge. After breakfast, I asked to be excused from social interaction as I had an assignment to finish. As an examiner and evaluator of the applications from Indian research scholars for Fulbright Fellowships, I had about 25 applications to read—most of which ran into about 60 pages. I had begun several days ago, reading a few applications at a time, but I did want to finish all of them today as I had a strict deadline to meet. Accordingly, I went downstairs to our basement apartment and closeted myself in our room with my laptop so that I could focus on my work and finish it as quickly as possible.

A Visit from an Old Friend:

About an hour or more into my work, Llew came down to inform me that an old friend of ours had stopped by, all the way from Mississauga, to visit us as she knew we were not mobile and could not go over to her place to see her. Vivienne is an old friend of Llew from his days in Dubai—so they go back several decades. I went up to chat and stayed with her until she left, a good hour or more later. It was good to see her again and catch up with all her family news, but I was happy to be able to return to my work again.

I stayed working right up to lunch by which time I was very pleased to have finished my work. In the afternoon, I decided that I would post my grades to the assigned person and would be all done with my evaluation assignment. Lunch was a very casual feeding off leftovers in the fridge as we had been eating out so much that there was quite a bit of food in the house for our grazing pleasure.

After lunch, we had showers and naps and generally took it easy. We knew that the evening would be occupied again with the visit of more friends.

Dinner at Home with Old Friends:

As decided, our friends Ann and Kevin came by in the evening with the intention of staying with us for dinner. Anna, being the excellent home chef she is, was likely to bring food with her. But, I noticed, to my surprise, that she actually picked up food as she is overwhelmed with her responsibilities of babysitting her little grandchildren. We made ourselves very comfortable as we spent the entire evening chatting. Anna has a hilarious sense of humor and a really delightful way of narrating her many escapades with her little grandsons. Sylvia’s son, Ryan and his wife, Sharon, also arrived to spend the evening with us and Anna regaled us with stories that had our sides splitting as we listened to her.

After drinks and nibbles, Anna put out her offerings: she brought a large lasagna, Caesar Salad, her own home made cutlets and garlic bread. It was a simple meal but delicious and filling. For dessert, Sylvaia brought out a lemon meringue pie that she has picked up from Vicci Bakery and we had ourselves a very nice pudding indeed.

And so a very relaxed day came to an end. It was nice for a change to have a day at home filled with the company of good friends and endless laughs.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Day Spent Getting my Art Fix! In the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) and a Posh Italian Meal with Friends in Vaughn

Friday, September 6, 2024

Toronto, Canada

A Day Spent Getting my Art Fix! In the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) and a Posh Italian Meal with Friends in Vaughn

Today was another fantastic day in Toronto, Canada. A lot of folks ask me what I miss about living in India. This trip made me realize what I do miss: I miss driving; I miss enjoying Sunday Mass especially the good sermons we used to get from the Jesuit professor-priests at my parish in Fairfield, Connecticut; I miss the drama of the changing of the seasons; I miss having easy access to interior decorating supplies the way I can find so easily in Michael’s, Home Goods. Marshalls or TJ Maxx. But, over and above all these, I miss access to world-class Art (especially the Old Masters). So, on a day like this, when we had nothing really planned until the evening, it was my day to get my Art Fix—to feast my eyes (indeed, all my senses) on the art collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario (known simply as the AGO).

Journey from Whitby to Toronto:

So, our day began in my cousin Lancy’s home in Whitby, where we had spent one night, and where we became aware that while we were having a lazy lie-in downstairs in our basement apartment, Lancy and his wife, Ilene, had woken up at the crack of dawn and were hard at work making paanpaleys for us. These are typically Manglorean rice crepes that are eaten usually for breakfast. To accompany them, they had ground coconut chutney. You can just imagine what a terrific breakfast we had.

After breakfast, Lancy took us all around his home and showed us his brilliant handiwork. He is a DIY Ace and his home is filled with the things he has made himself—e.g. an entire set of oak furniture; a large wall clock that looks like a leather wrist-watch complete with strap and buckle, the steps and the patio leading to their back garden. His craftsmanship is most impressive. But soon, it was time for us to pack up and say goodbye to them and their warmth and hospitality. When we realized that it would take them over an hour to drop us by car to Toronto (where we were headed to spend the day), we told them that if they dropped us at the nearest GO (commuter train) station, we could take the train in and save them the journey back and forth. They were actually quite pleased that we offered to find our own way into the city.

So that was what they did. After a lovely 20 minute drive through some of the sweetest, prettiest suburban hamlets, we arrived at Whitby train station. There, we obtained tickets from the vending machine, through the assistance of a staff member, and ten minutes later, we were on our way. It was a very pleasant ride, for the most part, skirting the banks of Lake Ontario. We also had wifi on the double-decker train. Everything was exceedingly civilized and a real pleasure to travel. As this is the first time that we do not have our car in Toronto, we are discovering local commuter possibilities and we are very impressed by them. About 45 minutes later, we were entering the city, as the first high-rise buildings came into view. About five minutes later, we pulled into Central Station, I had used the wifi on the train to find out how we could get from Central Station to the AGO (which was our first stop) and discovered that we could use the subway very easily.

So, at Central Station, we left the commuter train platforms behind us and followed directions to the subway. At the subway stop, I asked the ticket dispenser for directions and he very clearly told me where to go, which subway train to take and at which stop we were to alight. We bought our tickets and followed his instructions. In less than ten minutes, we were at West Dundas Station and following my GPS, we easily arrived at the AGO, having walked through the city for a couple of blocks. There, I was given a free ticket through my Met ID card while Llew had to purchase one to get in ($30).

Exploring the AGO:

For the next few hours, we were fully enthralled by the art collection contained within this world-class museum and art gallery. We started off at the European Art collection and discovered it to be small, but significant. Almost every canvas was by an Old Master. And so, we saw works by Rembrandt, Tintoretto, Renoir, ⁠Anthony van Dyke, ⁠Rubens, ⁠George de la Tour, Bernini, Carpeau, Gainsborough, Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Simeon-Chardin, Degas, ⁠Van Gogh, William Waterhouse, ⁠Lyall, as well as indigenous Canadian artists such as ⁠Belacourt, ⁠Kent Monkhouse ⁠and Norval Morrisseau. It was just glorious!

Lunch with our Friend, Samita:

As I knew we would be in Toronto today, I had gotten in touch with my friend, Dr, Samita Nandy, who lives between Canada, India and Portugal. We had first met more than 15 years ago at a conference when we had both presented papers in Lisbon, Portugal. Our friendship has thrived and survived and now that she lives for part of the year in Bombay, we meet quite often in India too. She was delighted to meet us in Toronto and readily agreed to come to the AGO so that we could have lunch together.

And so we sat at a pizzeria, just outside the AGO, at a place called ‘Pizzaiola’ where we ordered and shared a large pepperoni pizza and washed it down with cold Cokes. Samita was great company and as we told her all about Chriselle’s wedding and our travels, the lunch hour passed by, our pizza was consumed, she was ready to move on and we were ready to return to the museum.

Another Round of Museum Delights:

Back inside the museum, we were rested enough to begin our second round of artistic delights. We took a guided tour with a docent named Lynne who gave us a detailed walk-through in a special exhibition entitled, ‘Moments in Modernism”. It was a wonderful chance for us to see the work of leading lights such as ⁠Andy Warhol, ⁠Mark Rothko and ⁠Chuck Close. Of course, I took many photographs and found myself in heaven, surrounded by such great art.

Then, when we’d had our share of wonderful musing in a terrific museum, we were ready to hit the road again, reverse our journey and take the subway directly back to the last stop--Vaughn Metro Park, from where we took an Uber to return to Sylvia’s home in Woodbridge—the Uber journey took about 20 minutes and cost us about $20.

Yes, both Llew and I were quite tired by our eventful day and were quite happy to get a cuppa, some rest, our showers and some TV before we were ready for our evening’s appointment.

Dinner with Close Friends in Vaughn:

I was definitely looking forward to dinner this evening, For one thing, it is such a long time since I have met our friends, Edwin and Christine, that I was really eager to catch up with them. Secondly, I am very fond of them, really enjoy their company and find them to be very stimulating in their outlook and interests Thirdly, I always fondly recall the wonderful time we’d had when they lived in Dubai, at least 35 years ago, when they had been the epitome of hospitality to Llew and me. This evening too, they were treating us to dinner and had chosen a place close to us—so that we did not have to deal with public transport to get to them.

Accordingly, Edwin and Christine arrived at Sylvia’s place. We did not lose much time over pleasantries, but got going pretty soon in their car. They had chosen an Italian place called ‘Nacosto’ in Vaughn and since Italian is my favorite cuisine in the whole world, I was simply delighted. We shared a bottle of Cabernet at the table (I had a margarita in the interest of avoiding my sulphuric allergy) and had ⁠Roasted Artichoke Hearts for an appetizer. Needless to say, these were simply delectable and set the tone very well for the rest of our meal which was simply joyous. We decided to order a whole lot of Mains and share them—this way we’d have a kind of Tasting Menu and everyone could tuck into something they liked. And so we ate Gnocchi with Bolognese, ⁠Pappardelle pasta with Pork Cheeks Ragu, ⁠Linguine with Seafood (clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster), Tagliatelle with Mushroom Sauce—all divine. For dessert, we shared ⁠Tiramisu (served rather dramatically with a lit sparkler in it) and Donuts with Salted Caramel, Chocolate Sauce and Lemon Curd. I have often sat back at the end of these meals and wondered, How will I ever go back to eating normal meals again?????

Throughout the meal, we chatted, as we always do, about old times, their kids, Sylvia and our kids, Chriselle’s wedding, etc. There is never a dearth of topics to tackle and the conversation was avid and interesting. But, sadly, at the end of the day (literally!), we had to get home and we were driven back to Sylvia’s. There, we said our long goodbyes and called it a night after what had been a truly splendid day for me.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Day Spent at Niagara Falls: Slap-Up Italian Lunch, Lucky Stint in Falls View Casino, Long Stroll to the Falls, Wine-Tasting at Colaneri Winery and a Delectable Dinner in Whitby.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

A Day Spent at Niagara Falls: Slap-Up Italian Lunch, Lucky Stint in Falls View Casino, Long Stroll to the Falls, Wine-Tasting at Colaneri Winery and a Delectable Dinner in Whitby.

We had the most eventful and adventurous day today. It was probably one of the highlights of our stay. For one thing, we were going to the Niagara Falls after more than 30 years. We had last been there when we had taken my Dad on a driving tour of the US East Coast and Canada. Of course, we have passed by Niagara countless times, through the intervening years—but that was only en route from the US to Canada and vice versa, when crossing the border. We had not really been to the actual Falls themselves, for a very long time, and I was super excited.

A Day Out at Niagara Falls:

My cousin Lancy and his wife, Ilene, who live in Whitby, offered to drive us to the Falls and suggested that, at the end of the day, they drive us to their place for dinner and then we spend the night with them in Whitby. This made perfect sense, logistically, as it would avoid them having to drive back and forth from Whitby to Woodbridge. Accordingly, we had our breakfast and awaited their arrival at Sylvia’s place in Woodbridge (from where they said they would pick us up at 9.00 am).

Not much after 9,00 am, they were actually there and after a very short visit with Sylvia, the four of us left. We had a bit of a problem initially as we tried to find the highway that offered the least traffic. But I have to say that all of them were jammed except for the one that requires paying tolls and I am not sure they had a transponder. Anyway, after a shaky start, we were actually on our way, and about three hours later (yes, it really is that far from Toronto), we arrived at our destination.

Lunch at Falls View Casino:

Lancy and Ilene were in phone contact with their daughter, Andrea, in Whitby, who did the research and kept us equipped with a suggested itinerary for the day. We pretty much followed it to the T and, in accordance with her idea, parked our car in the public parking area near Falls View Casino which she said was the casino closest to the Falls. Llew and I were very pleased that we would have the chance to try and see if Lady Luck would be on our side as we’d had no time to do any such activity when we had passed, like lightning, through Las Vegas, three weeks previously. At that time, we were trying desperately to make it to our destination in Utah by night fall and had foregone the charm of trying our hand at a spot of gambling.

But first, lunch! We were all experiencing hunger pangs and after taking a quick look at the Falls from the gardens in front of the Casino-hotel, we went inside to find a suitable eatery. Falls View Casino is grand and we really did enjoy walking through it, admiring the shops, getting free samples of cosmetics and soaps and eventually getting to the Food Court. As Lancy and Ilene had just returned to Canada after almost six months in India, they did not want Indian food and were ready to try another cuisine. We told them lunch was our treat and they should choose a place in which they would enjoy the meal. Eventually, Ilene chose ‘Vittorio’s’, a fine dining Italian restaurant where we had a truly splendid meal. After choosing our drinks (red wine for Ilene and Llew, a fancy cocktail for me and a mocktail for Lancy), we ordered from the extensive menu. We started off with Fried Calamari and then decided to choose Linguine with Shrimp and Spaghetti with Meatballs which we shared (each couple partook of one of the ultra-huge platters). The food was just amazing and I could easily have sat there all day in the cool, very quiet and very posh interior.

But, right after we finished our lunch, we decided to push forward as we wanted to cover quite a bit of ground today. So, using the GPS on our phones, we made our way down the hill to get to the long promenade that leads to the very front of the Falls. In the process, we saw the Rainbow Falls (which are better viewed on the American side of the border and are, therefore, also known as the American Falls) and stopped to take pictures there. The long walk (of at least half an hour) continued until we actually reached the Niagara Falls (also known as the Horseshoe Falls). As we walked closer to the best vantage point, the crowd increases until it was difficult to get a clear spot on the parapet for pictures that would only include one’s group and no one else! Still. The Falls are fascinating—with their power, their sound, their speed and their impact. Truly, it is a sight that never gets old or boring. I kept looking at all the commercial growth of this region in 30-odd years and I was astonished. In the 1950s, when Niagara was just a very small town, it was a very popular honeymoon destination for Americans and Canadians alike. Today, it is a full family area of entertainment as there is something for everyone, including a lot of children’s amusement parks and arcades to keep the little ones happy. Most people take a ride on the famous ‘Maid of the Mist’ boatr that gets you to the very foot of the Falls or they take a walk behind the Falls. As we have done these must-do activities on past trips, we chose to simply stay in the periphery and take pictures. So, we took a lot of pictures at the Falls and spent quite a bit of time there, before we decided to move on.

Trying our Luck in Falls View Casino:

Our long walk took us back to Falls View Casino where we decided to woo Lady Luck by making only very minor investments on the one-armed bandit machines (as none of us is a seasoned gambler). We loved the casino with its lovely dim lighting, the color and sound of the machines, the general atmosphere which is so different from anything one can find anywhere else. We found a one-armed bandit machine that we could use and Llew and Ilene tried their luck. Llew was very lucky and made quite a bit of valuable Canadian greenbacks! I then tried my luck on another machine and I too was very lucky, getting quite a considerable haul. So, in other words, we easily got back the money we had spent on our slap-up meal and we left the casino feeling very pleased with ourselves.

Wine Tasting Along the Niagara Wine Trail:

It was time then to explore the famous Niagara Wine Trail and we were very grateful again to Andrea who gave us the name of Colaneri Vineyards and Winery which was closest to Falls View Casino and still on our way back home. We had the most marvelous drive along the Vineyard Trail as we passed mile after mile of vineyards laden with fruit that were hanging appetizingly and ripening slowly in the late summer sunshine. In just about a month’s time, with autumn knocking at the seasonal door, it would be time to harvest them. But, for the moment, they left the hillsides green with abundant and very productive vines.

It was not long before we found Colaneri Vineyard and drove straight into it. It is always a treat for me to come to a place like this. The quiet, the serenity, the neatness, the general ambience which is highly reminiscent to me of vineyards in Beaujolais in France or in Napa Valley or Sonoma County n California (or even much closer to our homes now—to Nasik—only three hours’ drive from Bombay) always warm my heart. We strolled among the vines and took some pictures and then we were walking towards the lovely upscale restaurant where one could indulge in the thrills of a winery-tour followed by a tasting of at least 10 wines, or simply sit down and taste a glass of wine produced by the same vines and winery.

In the end, although we did contemplate taking the tour and the wine-tasting, we realized that we did not have adequate time if we also wished to make it in good time for dinner at Whitby in our hosts’ home. So we sat down and ordered wine by the glass and thoroughly enjoyed it with the complimentary nibbles that were supplied. After about an hour of simply enjoying the bird song and doing a bit of people-watching while savoring our tipples, it as time to hit the road again.

Dinner at my Cousins’ Home in Whitby:

We did hit a fair amount of traffic on our way home, but it was not much of an issue as we used the time to catch up and chat about so many things. About three hours later, we were pulling into their driveway in a completely new development in Whitby where we found that their daughter, Andrea and her husband Mike, were there already with their two sons. It was great fun to meet them, to interact with two very lively and very cute boys, to get to know Mike better while Ilene and Lancy pottered around in the kitchen as they got our meal ready. We sat with drinks and nibbles and after freshening ourselves up in our basement apartment below, we were ready for dinner.

Lancy and Ilene are both terrific home chefs and they served us a typically Manglorean item called Kori Roti which is Chicken Coconut Milk Curry, traditionally eaten with a crisp, wafer-like crispbread called Roti. They had actually bought this in Mangalore where they had recently spent some time and together with Zucchini and Salad, we had ourselves a really tasty, home cooked meal. But, although we were there at the table for no more than an hour, the long day with all its activity, had definitely taken its toll on all of us. Not too long, after Lancy served us his dessert—another rare treat and another traditional Manglorean item called Vorn--made with lentils, coconut milk and jaggery—we were ready to call it a night after another totally wonderful day in Canada.

All that was left was to go downstairs to our basement apartment, brush and floss our teeth and go down to our super-comfortable bedroom.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Pot Luck Luncheon in Mississauga That Went On All Day!

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Mississauga, Ontario

A Pot Luck Luncheon in Mississauga That Went On All Day!

Today was a very relaxed day and one in which all we did was socialize and have a good time with friends with whom Llew goes back at least six decades! Yes, indeed, we were scheduled to meet for a Pot Luck Lunch at the home of our friends, Teresa and Sennen, who live in Mississauga, a Toronto suburb.

So right after breakfast, we relaxed a bit and then showered and got ourselves ready for day-long partying. As Sylvia does not drive, friends Bryan and Avril came along to her home to pick us all up at about 11.00 am for the hour-long drive to Mississauga. We piled into their car and were off.

An hour later, we were at the very large home of Teresa and Sennen, where a huge group of Karachi friends had already gathered. They also happen to have a perfectly proportioned, beautifully-designed back yard and deck. Covid has much to answer for in terms of the fact that it induced everyone to spiffy up their backyards for socializing. They created a large wooden canopy over their existing deck and then extended the deck outwards into their lawn. This has made the deck extra-large and fully shaded. The weather, fortunately, was just perfect. I can imagine that it would not be as comfortable on a really hot day.

Anyway, the attendees were Tony (Fernandes), Sylvia, Bryan, Avril, Corrine, Carol, Merwyn, Belen, John, Dolly, Romina, Dominic, Jennifer, Anna, the hosts Teresa and Senen and Llew and myself plus Elaine who traveled from Montreal to be present with us. We were sorry that Lester and Joyce (also invited) could not join us as they had a previous engagement—nor could Charmaine, Stella and Gemma. Most of this crowd were teenagers together in Karachi and were members of the CYC (Christian Youth Club) where they first became friends and cemented their relationships. Over the years (and mainly in the 1970s and 80s), they majority of them emigrated to Ontario or Quebec (Montreal), where their lives took different directions. However, they remained very close friends and have socialized together over the years, being with each other through good and bad times. The many occasions on which Llew and I have visited Toronto, over the years, have been excuses for them to get together at large pot-luck parties such as this one. Today, mostly in their 70s, they are retired very comfortably and have lives filled with activities of children and grand-children, most of whom live in the vicinity. Getting together with them in an opportunity for us to catch up on their lives, tell them about life in India and find out about their extended families. Sadly, it is also an opportunity for us to realize how many of them have passed away and are no longer with us. Margaret and Alcuin, for instance, related to me through a relative of mine, are no more (and I miss them). Lionel (Gemma’s husband) is gone. Most recently, of course, we lost Tony (Pinto), Sylvia’s husband, and the whole lot of them got together to attend his funeral. For this reason, we did not start eating our lunch before Elaine read out a lovely tribute to Tony as well as a poem she composed. All of us realized how much Tony meant to this group and how deeply they feel his loss.

That aside, there is a great amount of laughter and joviality when this group meet—which, I am told, is now getting rarer. However, as they are all fine chefs (the males as much as the females), there is always wonderful food at these gatherings. The table on the deck was laden with Veg. Patties, Veg Samosas, Chicken Sandwiches (Bryan’s specialty), Chutney Sandwiches, Ham and Cream Cheese Sandwiches, Pistachios and Mixed Salted Nuts as drinks did the rounds. Sennen was a wonderful host and there was Prosecco available too for those who craved some fizz. Looking at all the appetizers, I wondered how anyone would find space for the Main attractions. But by the time the food was placed on the buffet island inside in the kitchen, appetites were whetted again for a more substantial repast. And so, Lamb Biryani, Lamb Curry, Chicken Curry, Tandoori Chicken, Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza, Cutlets and Salad, made their appearance in a lovely East-West menu blend that had us salivating. We filled our plates and returned to the deck to eat and to take a bunch of photographs. Since I have been married to Llew for a such a long time, most of these friends are now my dear friends too and I feel fully at home in their company. Hence, I had a fantastic time too.

When this round of food items were done, desserts were brought to the buffet island. I must add that this meal went on for a few hours—so by the time dessert was laid out, it was already about 5.00 pm. with no one showing any signs of leaving. The array of desserts, for those inclined towards a sweet tooth, were Crème Caramel, Ambrosia, Daal Dose, Jalebi Pudding, Apple Blossoms (mini Apple Pies), Neapolitan Ice-Cream and, of course, Indian mithai. And, of course, don’t ask me how, but we found the room to sample those delights too. All the while, we chatted about old times—always a revelation to me as it is fascinating for me to know about Llew’s early life in Karachi and to realize how similar it was, in so many ways, to our growing up years in Bombay.

It was well after 6.00 pm that folks finally showed signs of departing—and that was simply because most of the drivers wanted to reach home by 7.00 pm. Night blindness has hit us all, as the years have galloped on, and no one now fancies driving in the dark! And so, gradually, the long goodbyes were said, as the crowd trooped out after thanking our generous hosts and taking their leftovers with them.

We piled back into Bryan and Avril’s car and, an hour later, we were back in Woodbridge, after a day of happy camaraderie and really terrific eating and drinking. All that was left to do was to say Goodnight an get right into bed.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Most Relaxed Day in Toronto: Trip to Vaughn Mills Mall and Dinner at my Cousin Betty’s Place in Woodbridge.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Toronto, Canada

A Most Relaxed Day in Toronto: Trip to Vaughn Mills Mall and Dinner at my Cousin Betty’s Place in Woodbridge.

Today was a very relaxed day in Woodbridge, a Toronto suburb. After one of our very filling breakfasts at Sylvia’s, Llew and I caught up with the speeches by all the stars at the Democratic National Convention 2024 (Clinton, Hilary, Barack, Michelle, Oprah) as we’d heard so much about how great they were. We, of course, were traveling when it was taking pace in Chicago—and so missed all of it. Thanks to You Tube, we caught it all, in retrospect. Well, yes they were wonderful. Each better than the other. But, the fact is that, no matter what was said or how it was said, I believe everyone has already made up their minds about whom they want to see next in the White House. Still, it was lovely to see the arguments offered against Trump and for Harris. It was also good to get to know Tim Walz (because who on earth had even heard of this guy?) and to see his devotion to his family.

A Visit to Vaugh Mills Mall:

About mid-morning. Ryan arrived and offered to take us for a spin wherever we wished to go. It was, I believe, the last few days of his summer vacation (he is a middle-school teacher) and knows that, in a few days, he will no longer be around to chauffeur us. Hence, we decided to go to Vaughn Mills Mall. It is always nice to get out of the house and browse or window shop, even if one does not really have a great desire to buy. Still, our trip was fruitful as Llew was keen on buying shoes and Clarks had a fairly decent sale on—which induced him to buy two beautiful new pairs of shoes. I was eager to buy a black eyeliner pencil and I got one at Sephora, plus I was able to get a couple of perfume freebies which was nice. We didn’t see any bears in the US National Parks, but we saw a family in the Vaughn Mills Mall—in a nice center-piece tableau! We ended our mall visit with a trip to Baskin-Robbins for ice-cream—always a nice treat.

A Cousins’ Reunion at my Cousin Betty’s Home:

To our utter astonishment, in a city that has wide-spread suburbs that run from East to West involving long hours of highway driving (and traffic!), it was a real hoot to discover that my cousin Betty lives just a ten minute walk away from Sylvia’s house! She is my Dad’s late brother’s daughter and she has lived in Canada for about twenty years with her husband, Toby. As it turned out, her cousin Zita with husband Louis, was visiting Betty from Bombay—so they happened to be at Betty’s place too. When I informed Betty that we’d be visiting Toronto, she immediately and very warmly invited us for dinner to her place. I was delighted to accept as it would allow me to see some of my Canada-based cousins under one roof. Betty also invited her brother Lancy who lives in Whitby and another one of our cousins, Golwyna, who lives in Downtown Toronto. And so, it ended up becoming a really lovely D’Souza Cousins’ Reunion at Betty’s place. Naturally, Sylvia also joined us and this made us a merry lot as we clustered around Betty’s laden round dining table to enjoy her offerings.

Betty is also an amazing home chef and so her dinner spread was vast: Pork Ribs, Chicken Coconut Milk Curry, Chicken Wings, Pullao, Paanpales (Neer Dosa), Coleslaw with Dressing, Sautéed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions with Chocolate Layer Cake (brought by Goldwyna) for dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening with Betty as we reminisced over old times, as we always do when we, cousins, gets together. There was so much laughter and a load of memories brought up and much exclaiming about the fact that my cousin Goldwyna now bears a most striking resemblance to my Dad (her Dad’s brother)!

Betty is also a cake-maker and cake-decorator par excellence and we had a chance to look at the astounding sugar paste flowers that she made for her niece’s wedding cake, a few years ago.

Betty is also an amazing home chef and so her dinner spread was vast: Pork Ribs, Chicken Coconut Milk Curry, Chicken Wings, Pullao, Paanpales (Neer Dosa), Coleslaw with Dressing, Sautéed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions with Chocolate Layer Cake (brought by Goldwyna) for dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening with Betty as we reminisced over old times, as we always do when we, cousins, gets together. There was so much laughter and a load of memories brought up and much exclaiming about the fact that my cousin Goldwyna now bears a most striking resemblance to my Dad (her Dad’s brother)! Betty is also a cake-maker and cake-decorator par excellence and we had a chance to look at the astounding sugar paste flowers that she made for her niece’s wedding cake, a few years ago.

Overall, we had a fabulous time and the best part of all was knowing that we were literally only a ten-minute walk away—although Betty and Toby picked us up and dropped us back at the end of a wonderful evening. Back home at Sylvia’s, we descended into our basement apartment and spent a really well-rested night.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Truly Wonderful Day in the City of Toronto: Exploring the Royal Ontario Museum with Friends And A Slap-Up Dinner at Trattoria Milano in Eataly.

Monday, September 2, 2024

Toronto, Canada

A Truly Wonderful Day in the City of Toronto: Exploring the Royal Ontario Museum with Friends And A Slap-Up Dinner at Trattoria Milano in Eataly.

We had such a fabulous day in downtown Toronto on Labor Day—a national holiday in Canada.

But to begin at the beginning: We had a lovely breakfast at Sylvia’s in which we tasted the delicious bread she had bought, a couple of good cheeses and some spreads. Replete with a good meal, we awaited the arrival of Ryan, Sylvia’s son, who offered to drive us all the way to Toronto from Woodbridge as the holiday would mean very little traffic. Ryan drove us through some of the nicer parts of the outskirts of the city which allowed us to admire some really beautiful architecture in the upscale homes in this district. All too soon, we were outside the Royal Ontario Museum whose Modernist exterior was designed by famous architect, Daniel Libeskind, whose avant-garde lines and unconventional work I have seen and admired in Berlin and in Washington DC. We would spend the next few hours enjoying some of the finest art and archeological treasures that this unique building holds.

Exploring the Royal Ontario Museum:

We had informed our friend, Tony, that we’d be spending the day at the Museum. He decided then to join us there. All we had to do was await his arrival and we did that in the Main Lobby, just past the ticket office, where we were able, at length, to admire the stunning Byzantine mosaic ceiling which is, actually, one of the Highlights of this museum. In just a little while, our friend Tony joined us, bought his ticket (we’d bought ours earlier and I was given free entry with my Met ID card) and we were off. I have to emphasize that this is not really a museum of fine arts—it is mainly a museum that traces the history of various world civilizations through art and artifacts. To see the city’s collection of exquisite fine art, one needs to go to the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) which we would do, a few days later.

Having discovered that there was a Highlights Tour of the Museum at 12.00 noon and since we had an hour at our disposal, we started off our own exploration of the museum in the Medieval European section. For the next one hour, we were completely bowled over by Medieval items ranging from stained glass panels and ivory carvings to carved coconut shell artistry in the form of drinking cups and beakers. There were also arms and armor and all manner of items in ceramic. But, for my money, the best part of this section, were the vignettes of interiors of domestic spaces from those of peasantry to noblemen which took us right into that era with a startling realism.

Just a little before 12 noon, we made our way down to the Main Lobby again to the meeting spot which was right in front of a gigantic seated sculpture of Lord Buddha as Alokateshwara. It was huge and yet beautifully polished and made such a fine focal point in that vast lobby. A little later, we were joined by a large number of other visitors and then by the tour guide herself who happened to be of Indian descent. Her name was Neera Chopra and she was wonderful. For the next one hour, she took us around the museum and showed us some really fascinating pieces. Some of the items that I remember are:

--a gigantic Tung dynasty ceramic statue of a seated man. (We have two of these in the Met in New York)

--really large raw semi-precious stones (they were more like boulders) with topaz and amethyst in them

--the largest gold coin in the world with the face of the late Queen Elizabeth II engraved on it.

--a Medieval Byzantine ciborium

--an Egyptian Mummy

--the skeleton of a dinosaur

were all quite interesting indeed and her commentary, at every juncture, was really impressive. She knew her material and was also skillful in answering questions. Only at the very end of the tour, I informed Neera that I am an Emeritus Docent at the Met Museum and she was so excited about it that she asked if we could take a picture together with each of us holding up our ID cards. She then gave me her number and told me to whatsapp the picture to her.

A Lovely Walk Along Snazzy Bloor Street:

By the time we left the museum, we were hungry and ready for an early dinner. Sylvia decided to treat us to a slap-up meal and we had the great pleasure, in looking for a place to eat, of walking along Bloor Street which has some of the finest designer showrooms for our browsing pleasure. It felt as if we were strolling down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan or on Bond Street in London. All the big names were there: Ferragamo, Hermes, Dior, Calvin Klein, Dolce and Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Prada, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, you name it, it was represented there. I had the best time admiring the superb window décor which, I am well aware, is an art form in itself. These showrooms were located in lovely skyscrapers that hold the city’s commercial offices. In the distance, we could see the iconic CN Tower. As it was close to day’s end, many people were hurrying home after a hard day’s work.

Exploring Eataly and Enjoying an Italian Diner at ‘Trattoria Milano’:

After weighing a few options and leaving the choice of place to Sylvia, we eventually entered the ManuLife Building to explore Eataly—the lovely brain child of Italian-American chef Mario Bataly—to browse through their array of authentic Italian food shops, each offering a different delicacy directly from Italy. If it was pasta, you wanted, you could have it. Or pizza, or gelato, or any number of cold cuts or spec (as the Italians call it), or pastries and cakes, or cookies, or boxes of Italian chocolates or nuts. Of course, we were not in the market to buy any ingredients (as we already had a baggage weight problem on our hands), but we were keen on finding a good place to sit down and have a drink and a relaxing meal.

Eventually, we settled on a space called ‘Trattoria Milano’ which was definitely an upscale eatery—more like a fine dining place. After we’d placed our orders for drinks, we decided that we would order four different starters and then four different mains and share them all. This would give all of us a chance to taste a vast variety of the chef’s creations. Everyone loved the idea of doing it ‘Family Style’, and the next thing we knew, our tables were groaning with the most appetizing food.

I personally enjoyed my Negroni Bianca (a gin cocktail) while Llew and Sylvia shared a bottle of Cabernet and I then gave myself up to the pleasure of enjoying a kind of ‘tasting menu’ that went as such: Heirloom Tomato Salad with creamy yoghurt-herb dressing, ⁠Insalata Verde (Italian Green Salad), Veal Meatballs with Pesto & Mustard, Melon and Proscuitto for starters. Our shared Mains were ⁠Ravioli with Minced Veal and Brown Butter Sauce, Milanese Pork Tenderloin with Proscuitto Wrapping and Side Salad of Arugula and Peaches, Buccatini with Burrata, Cherry Tomatoes and Basil and Risotto with Scallops and Thyme. Needless to say, all the food was simply scrumptious and showed the mark of a master chef that had concocted these creations and then executed them with the finest attention to flavorful detail. We absolutely loved the meal. And yes, we did find room for dessert. We had Hazelnut Mousse with Praline Filling and Dark Chocolate Shell and a ⁠Chocolate & Hazelnut Mousse with Salted Pistachio Ice-cream and Fresh Raspberry Garnish. Yummmmieee!

Filled to bursting with our sensational meal, all we needed to do was thanks Sylvia profusely for her generosity in treating us to this meal, say goodbye to Tony and then find an Uber that would take us back to Woodbridge. This showed up in about 20 minutes and we were whisked off home.

We’d had an exceptional day—my kind of day! Filled with the delights of a world-class museum, the knowledgeability of a well-trained docent, the snazziness of a gorgeous street filled with high-end fashion merchandise that is pure eye-candy (regardless of whether or not one can afford to buy it) and then, the sheer gourmet pleasure of gastronomic wonders. I simply cannot imagine a better way to spend a day in a big city while on vacation.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

A Lovely Relaxed Sunday Morning with a Grand Wedding Anniversary Barbecue Party in Brampton

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Toronto, Canada

A Lovely Relaxed Sunday Morning with a Grand Wedding Anniversary Barbecue Party in Brampton

We had a most interesting first day in Toronto (or more properly, in Woodbridge and later Brampton)—and indeed every single day after would be just as much fun.

Sunday Mass in Woodbridge:

We awoke in Sylvia’s home in Woodbridge after a very good night’s sleep. I had carried my granola with me and I had that for breakfast with yogurt while Llew chose to eat toast with preserves. There was decaff coffee for both of us—so we had a very good breakfast indeed while making plans to go for the 10.30 am Mass.

Sylvia’s son, Ryan, who lives about ten minutes’ drive away, arrived to drop us off to the 10.30 am Mass at church. The venue was her new parish, St. Catherine of Assisi Church, a modern construction (as most churches in Canada are). Mass went off well and with Ryan at the wheel, after it ended, Sylvia needed to run some errands, mostly by way of buying provisions and groceries for the week.

Weekly Provisions Shopping:

Our first stop was Vicci Bakery which Sylvia told us bakes some fine artisanal bread. She picked up a loaf of her favorite and, with me surveying the wonderful cases filled with Italian pastries, cakes, cookies and other goodies, you can just imagine that our appetite was whetted for some enticing Italian gelato. And so as we ate cups just overflowing with creamy gelato, we sat ourselves down right there in Vicci and enjoyed the treat. It gave us a chance to do some people-watching too as most Italians have the lovely custom of going to church and then heading to their favorite place right after for brunch. The place was packed as families tucked into all manner of plates as they whiled away a Sunday morning. The weather outside was also just lovely—it was warm and bright with no humidity at all.

Out next stop was Longo’s Supermarket—another really large food market where there was everything enticing that one could imagine. We made our rounds of the space and while Sylvia put things into her cart, there was enough bought to satisfying our foodie cravings for the next ten days.

Those errands done, Ryan dropped us at Sylvia’s and made his way home. We would meet him again, later in the evening, at a huge family do.

We sat ourselves down for a light lunch, tasted the new loaf of bread that Sylvia had purchased, spread it with some interesting spreads, humus, cream cheese, etc. as we took care of hunger pangs. Then it was time for some relaxing naps and showers as we had a busy evening ahead of us.

A Huge Family Gathering in Brampton:

Our evening was consumed by a long (almost 1 hour) drive to Brampton for a family celebration. Sylvia’s sister Lorraine and her husband, Ronnie, were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with a massive family barbecue at their home. Of course, since we were Sylvia’s house guests and because we happen to know Lorraine and Ronnie too, we were the only non-family invitees. It was a really fun evening with all the noise and chatter you can imagine when several families, comprising multiple generations get together. Also, there were at least six gregarious teenagers present and when those kids get together, they have the best time. There was also two little twin girls present and they kept everyone fully occupied and amused as the evening marched on.

There were drinks and food galore to keep us happily sipping and munching throughout while the couple’s son, Roland and his dad, Ronnie, got on with the barbecue. We were oblivious to their efforts as we were busy laughing, joking, eating, drinking. When dinner was announced, you can imagine our shock when I approached the table and found it groaning with Barbecue offerings and accompaniments fit for the gods—all beautifully organized and laid out for our grazing pleasure. There was Barbecue chicken (Western Style), Tandoori Chicken, massive Beef Cutlets (Patties—to be placed in hamburger buns), huge frankfurter sausages (for making hot dogs), gently grilled fish—and as if this were not enough, a delicious Caesar Salad, a grand tub of coleslaw and another of potato salad plus all the fixin’s such as raw onion rings, tomato slices, lettuce leaves plus condiments galore. I mean what was not to love? I had half a hot dog and half a hamburger and with the salads, my plate and my tummy were full. Then, the icing on the cake was the desserts that were brought out: a wonderful pecan pie from Vicci (I love pecan pie!), Rice Krispie Treats (which the teenagers devoured), a magnificent apple struedel. It was hard to decide what to taste and what to pass up. Truly, this trip was all about food and all about eating and I will pay a very heavy price for all this over-indulgence, I am fully aware, when I get back to my normal life again.

But no complaints!!! What is life if not the counting of these blessings and the rejoicing in them? We said long goodbyes and a hundred thank-yous to the tireless chefs who had worked at the coals, all afternoon long, while we were shooting the breeze.

It was a lovely, long, companionable late-night drive back as Ryan dropped us off to Sylvia’s and without any ado, we went straight down to our basement apartment for another night’s rest—giving thanks for the gift of old friends and genuine friendships.

Until tomorrow, cheerio.

Our First Day in Toronto (On This Trip).

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Fairfield, Connecticut-New York City-Toronto, Canada

Our First Day in Toronto (On This Trip).

Today, we were on the road again—or more correctly, in the air! We left the US behind us to launch into Phase Four of our Great North American Travels—this time in Canada.

Flight to Canada:

We left Sturbridge Lane very early in the morning and drove to New York City to take our Delta flight departing at 1.45pm for Toronto, Canada. This meant that we’d need to be at JFK airport at 10.45 am which meant leaving from Fairfield no later than 9.00 am as we needed to return our rental car to Budget as well as make one stop en route at White Plains, Westchester, as I had left my hoodie at my friend Anita’s home, two nights ago. She was herself on a trip and since the home was empty, she left it for me on her deck.

And that was what we did. We stopped at White Plains, I picked up my hoodie and we were off. We reached the airport in time, had no trouble dropping off our car, taking the Air Train to the Delta Terminal and making it in good time for our flight. All we had was a small backpack each as that was all that our tickets permitted us no carry—no check-in bags allowed.

We had a very pleasant flight as we were upgraded to First Class. Not that this makes any difference anymore as US airlines do not even serve you a meal on their flights. Knowing this, we did pick up food from the airport and ate it at our gate while waiting for boarding to be announced. Soon enough, we were airborne into very hazy skies which did not allow me to get a single good picture of New York City. We were offered drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) on the flight and with just that bit of sustenance, we were en route.

Thankfully, Toronto was bathed by golden sunlight when we approached the city on Lake Ontario. I managed to get some lovely video footage of the downtown area while landing as I had a window seat. The iconic CN Tower and the Sky Dome, home of the Toronto Blue Jays was clearly visible. A few days later, we’d be down there ourselves, exploring the Harbor Front area—so it was good to see what the very snazzy area looked like from above. But those few skyscrapers apart, the rest of Toronto and its suburbs are all very flat as the suburbs came into view.

A little later, after we’d landed and cleared Immigration, we were outside the airport and followed signs to get to the Uber parking as we’d be taking an Uber to get to our friend Sylvia’s home in Woodbridge. All that went off very smoothly, the Uber came along, we called and told Sylvia we were on our way and we sat back and enjoyed the ride—about 40 minutes.

Reunion and Dinner with our Friend, Sylvia:

Entering Sylvia’s home was a bitter-sweet experience, to say the very least. On the one hand, we were so looking forward to our stay with her as we had not seen her in a very long time and had made lots of lovely plans for our time together. On the other hand, all of us had a terrible and very sad shock when we received the news that her husband, Tony (a super guy and a very dear friend of ours) had passed away, not even three weeks previously, while we were in Yellowstone National Park. He had been so looking forward to our stay and had lined up a number of things for us to do together. It would be a very surreal experience for us to stay in his home without him around. And thirdly, as they had only moved into this home six months previously, the house was completely new to us as we had never stayed with them in this place. We ourselves had to get used to a new environment. We were placed downstairs in the self-contained apartment that had been newly-finished and furnished and offered us all the comfort and privacy we desired.

After we had a nice reunion, we met the company who were spending the evening with Sylvia—her sister, Dolly and friends, Bryan and Avril. After relaxing for a while, we were plied with drinks and nibbles before we adjourned to the eat-in kitchen for a lovely dinner. Sylvia offered us Shrimp every which way you can imagine—from Shrimp Curry and Shrimp Masala to Shrimp Biryani. Needless to say, everything was delectable and we had a really grand time just stuffing our faces and shooting the breeze with some really good company around the table. We liked Sylvia’s new home, a down-sized version of the home she had lived in with Tony in Markham, for decades. But his presence pervaded every book and cranny of the home and we spent a great deal of time talking and thinking fondly about Tony for the duration of our stay. We were very glad that we were able to offer some company to Sylvia at a time when she missed Tony profoundly and when our presence could be the distraction she so badly needed after the long stress of the previous months.

By the end of the meal, both of us were quite ready to call it a day. We bid goodbye to our new friends and made our way downstairs for some much-needed sleep.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

Our Last Day in Fairfield, Connecticut: Our Kind of Terrific Day at New Haven.

Friday, August 30, 2024

Our Last Day in Fairfield, Connecticut: Our Kind of Terrific Day at New Haven.

We had a dream day together—at least we had a dream morning—just Llew and me—as we made the absolute most of our last day in Fairfield, Connecticut. Tomorrow, we fly to Canada, for the start of Phase Four of our Great North American Adventure.

Breakfast at IHOP in Orange, Connecticut:

We left Mary-Lauren’s place early, after I looked up Google and found out that IHOP in Orange, Connecticut, is still open. It took us about a half hour to get there, but get there we did, when it was still fairly empty. I absolutely LOVE eating breakfast at IHOP as I believe they offer the best breakfasts in the world at the most reasonable prices.

We sat ourselves down and scanned the menu when I had my first disappointment. The Rooty-Tooty Fresh and Fruity Pancakes that I used to adore at this place are no longer on the menu. A quick word with the waitress confirmed that they have taken all items containing nuts off their menu! To me this is plain, NUTS!!! The reason I loved those pancakes so much was because they were so superbly nutty-flavored as they were studded with chopped nuts that brought amazing flavor and texture. Anyway, I had to settle for waffles with strawberry compote and pecan-flavored syrup. The waitress was good enough to try to appease my disappointment by bringing me extra hefty servings of the strawberry compost, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and syrup and I have to tell you, I had a real party going on my plate! It was tremendous and the perfect last breakfast in the USA for me. Llew had his usual: two eggs with sausage, bacon, pancakes and hash browns and his serving was enormous and delicious too. We had a lovely companionable breakfast as we thought and talked about the years that we have been coming to this place for breakfast with various friends and guests and the many times we have really and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here.

Off to New Haven for a Touch of Anglophilia:

One of my other favorite things to do in Fairfield County is to walk in the university town of New Haven, home of Yale University, I love it for many reasons: the architecture, first of all, is just wonderfully reminiscent for me of the English university towns of Oxford and Cambridge—so I get my Neo-Gothic fix when I am here. The second reason is that it has the most glorious book shops and as Llew and I never pass a book shop without going inside, well, we have loads of browsing opportunities when in this town. Thirdly, I love the gentle, youthful ambience of this town which is always full of students and the intellectual air they bring to the place.

So, we began with parking our car on the main road (at Church Street) just outside Atticus Bookshop and the two museums. And then our walk began as we strolled under the Bridge of Sighs and went on towards Harkness Tower. My camera worked overtime as I kept clicking all the beautiful architectural masterpieces of the college before we entered the Green and took in the different architectural styles of the many buildings around the periphery. We also passed by the famous Sterling Library, entered the Grey Matter Book store to browse in there, then made a lovely loop and returned to our car. I am just delighted that we managed to squeeze in a visit to Yale as the new academic year had just begun, ‘Welcome to Yale’ signs were everywhere and you could sense the enthusiasm of the freshers who were still making friends and getting to know each other as they moved between classes. It took me back to my own years as a university grad student and then to the many decades I spent teaching these young folks as a university professor. While I had loved every second of it all, I have to admit that I do not miss it one bit and am really happy to be retired and free to simply enjoy every moment that life now presents me.

A Visit to Yale University Art Gallery:

Our first stop, once we crossed the street, was the Yale Center for British Art…but, to our disappointment, it was closed. This is always my first place of call and, as a result, I always end up spending a lot of time here and tiring myself out. This time, since it was closed for renovation, we had no choice but to enter the Yale University Art Gallery, just across the road, which turned out to be a real revelation for me. We began by looking at a section of the Ishtaar Gates, originally in Babylon, the entire Processional Way of which is now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where I had seen it. Here, a small section, featuring an embossed lion, is astounding enough, in terms of the achievement in ceramic art in that Ancient period. For the next two hours, we went minutely through a collection of Old Masters and contemporary masterpieces that simply took our breath away. From the extensive Medieval Collection to the Modern, we saw works by Botticelli, Constable, Degas, Georgia O’Keefe and Picasso—to name just a few. Each one was better than the other and representative of the most distinctive work of these artists. I could easily have spent another whole hour here, but we had a lunch appointment, back in Fairfield, with our friend, Mary-Lauren (who had the day off), for which we did not want to be late. So, very reluctantly, we left the museum (with me vowing to return there again on my next visit to Fairfield). It was such a well-spent morning.

Lunch with Mary-Lauren at Molto Pizzeria:

It was our friend and hostess, Mary-Lauren, who picked Molto Pizzeria for the casual lunch to which we wanted to treat her as she had been on a business trip throughout our stay at her home. After we dropped our car in her driveway, she took us for a spin in her snazzy vintage, convertible BMW which she has only recently purchased. With the top down on a glorious summer’s day, I sat beside her and tried to channel my inner Isadora Duncan, wearing my scarf around my head and neck! Thankfully, there were no historical accidents repeating themselves!

Lunch was wonderful, overstuffed sandwiches with each of us choosing something from their Lunch Special Menu that suited our fancy. We had ciabatta Sandwiches stuffed with tuna or deli meats (according to our taste) and served with small side salads. Everything was just terrific. Best of all, we actually had the opportunity to spend some quality time with our dear friend who has been so helpful to me, through the last year or two and is so generous in every way you can imagine. I feel so blessed to count her as one of my dearest friends in Fairfield.

Tea with More Friends at Maplethorpe:

No sooner did we finish lunch with Mary-Lauren than we had to say Bye to her and make our way to our next appointment: don’t even ask how I managed to squeeze all these different meetings with different friends, simply because I wanted to make sure that I could see them all during our brief 10-day stay in Connecticut.

The next port of call was the Maplethorpe Assisted Living Community to see our friend Jane who has been resident there for a couple of years. We had heard from her and others that she had a recent fall from which she was still recovering. And so, we were delighted to find her ready to greet us at the entrance, once we arrived there. We were also thrilled to find that our other friends, Virginia and Cheryl, would also be joining us shortly. We were all members of the Meet The Author Committee at the Pequot Library in Southport, Connecticut, which is where I became really friendly with these lovely, inspiring women.

Well, Jane looked wonderful, even if she has slowed down just a little bit. Once up in her room, we found that she had laid out a nice Tea for us with a platter of cookies and fresh lemonade—which we nibbled and sipped. Of course, there is so much for us all to talk about when all of us get together and the chatter simply did not stop. It is always a great pleasure for me to be in Jane’s presence, to enjoy conversation with someone whose vital mind and varied interests coalesce so beautifully with my own and to admire her amazing personal art collection—she has found the space to accommodate all her art work in her tiny space. I was also delighted to find that she had held on to my own book, ‘The Year The World Was Mine’ and that it is in her bookcase (I also saw the same book in Mary-Lauren’s bookcase). I cannot tell you how thrilling it is for a writer to find that friends have supported her efforts by buying her book and holding on to it. All too soon, it was time for us to leave our lovely friends and to think about our next appointment.

But first, we stopped back at our place to finish up our packing for tomorrow and to keep our backpacks ready for our flight to Canada as we’d be traveling with just one small carry-on bag each. This chore done, we could go on to our dinner appointment with full peace of mind.

b>Dinner at our Friend Diana’s Home in Fairfield:

And so, at the appointed hour (7.30 pm), we were ringing the doorbell to the home of our friend Diana who had invited us for a light and casual supper (although her husband Jonathan was on one of his sailing regattas). We were sorry that he would not be with us, but being with Diana is always fun and very heartwarming and she always goes out of her way to give us a good time.

so she did, on this occasion too. She plied us with drinks of our choice and then led us to her table where she had laid out her Spag Bal (what the British call Spaghetti Bolognese)—a large bowl of spaghetti to be topped with her terrific homemade meat-tomato sauce, further topped with lots of fresh, grated parmesan cheese. To go with this, she had a colorful side salad that was also grand. And for dessert, she had a most unusual dessert: a kind of pina colada in a bowl! She had slices of fresh pineapple that she topped with coconut ice-cream over which she poured a dram of rum! Now how creative is that? Well, needless to say, it was so tasty and a perfect ending to a simple, home cooked meal. Diana gave us a lot of family news and we gave her much of ours. It is always a pleasure to hear about her clever sons and their doings.

But, in a couple of hours, it was time for us to leave, as we had an early morning start for our flight to Canada. We thanked Diana profusely for organizing this evening with us, at such short notice, and hugging her goodbye, we returned to Sturbridge Lane to say Goodbye and Thanks to Mary-Lauren and Brett as we’d have a very early start tomorrow.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Another Doctor’s Appointment, Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet, Drinks in Brett’s Sunroom and Thai Dinner with Fairfield’s Indian Friends

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Fairfield, Connecticut

Another Doctor’s Appointment, Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet, Drinks in Brett’s Sunroom and Thai Dinner with Fairfield’s Indian Friends

Today was another day that was fairly unexciting although we did end it by meeting some of our closest friends in Fairfield. It’s funny how, as the years go by, you develop or create little gangs of friends that represent different aspects of your background, history and life. Well, these friends are first-generation immigrants from India who made their home in Fairfield County and with whom we connected, decades ago, so that our friendship has stood the test of time.

But to begin at the begin at the beginning: I drove alone to Trumbull to have my ultra-sound done and to get the opinion of my radiologist, Dr. Neil Specht, who gave me a clean bill of health (Thank you, Lord). That done, I picked Llew up from our lodgings at Sturbridge Lane. He had spent quite a bit of time, during my absence, doing his packing as we will be leaving the USA in two days and flying off to Canada with just a small backpack each. The bulk of our baggage will be left behind in the garage of our friends here in Sturbridge Lane. There is much organizing to do.

Lunch was going to be just the two of us and since we are making sure we have at least one meal in each of our favorite paces, we decided to eat at ‘Shanghai Gourmet’, a really modest Chinese eatery on the Southport-Westport border from where we have been ordering take-out food for years. This time, of course, we ate inside at the little table by the window. We both chose the Hot and Sour Soup that comes with the meal—but decided to simply take it home as it would be too much for us. For our main meal, I chose Shrimp in Hot Garlic Sauce, while Llew picked the Chicken in Mango Sauce—two of our favorite dishes. Both were served over brown rice and as we shared the dishes, we were able to enjoy both.

Lunch done, we returned to Sturbridge Lane for a short rest from packing and other worrying issues. When we surfaced, to face the evening, we realized that Brett had returned from work. As we had barely spent any time with him, it was great to chill on his deck while he fixed us drinks of our choice: a beer for him, red wine for Llew and a perfect margarita for me. With cheese and a few chips for nibbles, we had a very companionable evening while spending some quality time with Brett. His wife, Mary-Lauren, would return from her business trip tomorrow—an opportunity for us to spend some quality time with her.

It was time then for us to get ready for our dinner appointment—an evening out with our Indian friends. We had our showers, got dressed and drove to the Fairfield home of our friends, Dhiru and Kirti. It was Kirti who had initiated this evening’s gathering and I was very grateful to her for rallying the troops around to meet us. It was she too who suggested that we meet at a Bridgeport restaurant called ‘The King and I’ which was reputed for its excellent Thai food. Both Llew and I were delighted at the choice as we do really love the cuisine of Thailand.

As we were running a bit late, they were all set and ready for us and we left as soon as we arrived and parked our car in their driveway. Driving to the restaurant, provided us with the opportunity to catch up before the rest of the gang joined us. Kirti presented me with copies of two of her books (one of which has a blurb by me on the back jacket).

Within a short time, we arrived at The King and I, only to find that our friends had beaten us to it. It was great to meet Yvor and Angie and Delyse and Marcus. We had a wonderful reunion with all of them before we sat down to the serious business of studying the extensive menu and ordering. Finally, it was decided that we we’d get a selection of dishes and eat them family-style. A huge number of dishes were ordered for the table, each more delicious than the next. It was with very full tummies that we eventually ended our meal.

And on that happy note, our dinner and our day came to an end. Kirti and Dhiru drove us back to their home and from their driveway, we picked up our own car and drove ourselves back to Sturbridge Lane.

It had been another memorable day and we were grateful for the opportunity to spend it as fruitfully as we had done.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

A Walk in Southport Village, Lunch with a Friend at L.C. Chen, An Evening in my Brother’s Home, Dinner at the Home of Fairfield Friends

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Southport and Fairfield, Connecticut A Walk in Southport Village, Lunch with a Friend at L.C. Chen, An Evening in my Brother’s Home, Dinner at the Home of Fairfield Friends

Today was far more relaxing than it’s been in a long time.

My day began with a lovely long walk alone in the village of Southport, an opportunity to admire the glorious gardens of my former neighbors with their lush summer blooms and buzzing bees. Inevitably, I am pulled towards the Carousel Thrift Shop at the Congregation Church—a place from which I have picked up amazing finds over the decades. Today, I was particularly lucky to be able to get first dibs at a variety of vintage jewelry and I left with a nice haul.

Llew then had an appointment with his nephrologist, Dr. Weinstein and I accompanied him there. That done, we were just in time for lunch with our lawyer friend, Mimi, who was working from home today and managed to take time off to meet us at L.C. Chen’s, a pan-Asian place in Fairfield where we were delighted to see her again. She had been extremely helpful to us during our move from the US to India and I will never forget how energetically she worked to make our estate sale a success. We enjoyed Thai Coconut Curry, Shrimp with Cashews and Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, all served over white, steamed rice. Indeed we’ve been eating an overdose of shrimp on this trip as it is always our first choice from any menu.

After Lunch, Llew and I left Mimi to drive to Dairy Queen for Chocolate Cherry Blizzards—alas, no one can make them for us like our friend, Beth-Anne does. Sadly, she has been transferred to the Dairy Queen in Monroe—too far away for us to enjoy this favorite frozen treat.

In the evening, we drove to the home of my brother. We spent a lot of time with him, his wife and his daughter, Anaya as his son, Arav had left for university this morning. We had a lovely time with them over tea and cake and other goodies, but although they invited us to do so, we did not stay for dinner as we had already committed the evening to other friends of ours.

Dinner followed at the home of our friends, Swapna and Rasik, in their spacious new home about which they were so excited. As always, they were the epitome of warm hospitality as they plied us with drinks and nibbles and then got dinner organized. Here too, the star attraction was Swapna’s homemade Shrimp Curry which she served over streamed rice, as well as Sauteed Shrimp with chappatis, bread rolls, and a big salad. Dessert was Malai Kulfi. As always, we felt delighted at the prospect of meeting their young high school son, Parth, and spending time with them as a family. It is also an opportunity for us to see our dining room furniture which they had purchased from us when we were leaving Southport. Now that they have a separate dining room, the entire set is reunited again!

After a really lovely day spent with our nearest and dearest family members and friends, it was time to go back home to Sturbridge Lane and call it a night.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Medical Appointments, Visit to Pequot Library, Lunch at Duchess, Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at Quatro Pazzi in Fairfield, Connecticut

Tuesday, August 27, 2024:

Fairfield, Connecticut

Medical Appointments, Visit to Pequot Library, Lunch at Duchess, Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at Quatro Pazzi in Fairfield, Connecticut

Nothing much happened today, but the day turned exciting at the end as Today is a Red Letter Day for Llew and Me—it’s our wedding anniversary!

Appointment with an Endocrinologist:

After eating a hasty breakfast at Brett and Mary-Lauren’s (my own granola with yogurt for Llew and me), we left for our doctor’s appointments. We had a bunch of them today. My first one was at Trumbull at the office of my endocrinologist, Dr. Glenn Rich. He did a thorough examination today (as he always does) and, good news this, I got a clean bill of health as my osteoporosis seems to have declined and I am no longer thought to have it. Always an annual concern, this. He also monitored my meds, having taken a look at my bone density analysis (which was also fine) and told me to see him again after a year.

Off to the Pequot Library:

With some time to kill in-between medical appointments, we decided to make another trip to the Pequot Library. This time, we were far more successful. Not only did we meet the Director, our good friend, Stephanie Coakley, but we also met some of the staff who know us so well: Christine (who organized the talks I have given—in person and on zoom) and, for the first time, I met Charlie, who had been the host of my last zoom talk there. He joined the Library staff after Llew and I left Southport—hence, we had only made acquaintance with him, long-distance. It was great fun to go back into the stacks and meet our friend, Sandy, and to find a few new faces. New volunteers are always joining the Library’s cohort (as we had done nearly 40 years ago). I took pictures with all of them (to immortalize these moments).

Off to the Dentist:

Then, it was time for my annual dental appointment with Fairfield Dental Arts. Llew decided to accompany me so that we could have lunch right after I was done. It is always a pleasure to meet the staff at this dental practice as I have been with them for more than twenty years. I was lucky to get Dr. Jessalyn Fiorella herself, on this occasion, as one of her staff members was absent and she was filling in. She did my annual X-rays and then was excited to introduce me to a brand-new cleaning system that they have installed which uses hi-technology power-jets to produce deep cleaning through high-jet sprays. The manual cleaning of each tooth is now no longer required. I must say that I was really impressed with the new system and also with the thorough diagnostic report that I was given at the end. What’s more, as I discussed my acute dental sensitivity with her, she suggested she coat my teeth with a fluoride layer that will last for a year and will provide protection against some of the sensitivity I have been experiencing. I was really delighted to have such wonderful treatments so easily available when I have my annual check-ups. I was frank enough to tell the dentist that I would probably not have the time to do follow-up work in the US and would have to do it in India. She was very understanding, but despite not needing to do it herself, gave me a full and extensive report which I will only need to take to my dentist in India to get the work done. I am truly fortunate in the medical personnel who work with and for me.

Lunch at Duchess:

As we were really close to Duchess, one of my favorite fast-food chains, at Fairfield Circle, we decided to go there for their over-stuffed sandwiches which we both love. We had Chicken Parmesan & Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches which we shared. I must say that both Llew and I are having grave sticker shock at the prices of every item in the US today. There is no doubt at all that inflation has hit very hard and is reflected in the price of everything we buy—whether they are groceries, provisions or ready meals in restaurants. I am guessing that this will be a major factor in the coming US elections.

Rest and Relaxation After Lunch:

With nothing on the agenda this afternoon, we were able to get back home to Sturbridge Lane to Mary-Lauren’s. We had told Brett and Sage that we’d be taking them out to dinner as it was our wedding anniversary. Accordingly, we showered and had a chance to get some rest before it was time for us to keep our reservation appointment at Quatro Pazzi which was their choice for a nice Italian dinner.

Champagne Toast at Home and Dinner at Quatro Pazzi:

When Brett got back from work, in the evening, we opened a bottle of champagne (from the stock that we had actually left behind in their home). Sage was also present and we had a lovely toast during which we thanked them for hosting us and for a very comfortable stay.

Just a little later, we drove to Fairfield Center and found lovely seats at Quatro Pazzi where the portions are huge and the food simply delicious. We had Buratta with Pesto, Prosciutto and Roasted Red Peppers for a shared appetizer. Our Mains were: Capellini with Peas and Prosciutto (Sage), Rigatoni Burrata (Brett), Farfalle with Shrimp (Llew) and Linguine Pescatore (Rochelle). What a superly scrumptious meal it was! However, as expected, our pasta portions were humongous and Llew and I ended up taking half of our plates home in doggie bags.

Not to leave Dessert out, we then made our way to the Dairy Queen kiosk on the Post Road and ended up having wonderful Blizzards (my favorite type of ice-cream). These brought the curtain down on a very special wedding anniversary for us.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…