MYSTERY FUN

In January hubby decided to join the Toronto Cricket Club and at first I was a bit upset at the expense of this but as he got a senior rate I calmed down and started looking for the benefits . Hubby used to be a very active Rotarian but his club closed down about 6 years ago when it was no loner possible to recruit new younger members. It seems service clubs are having this issue these days.

Joining the club has given him the ability to look forward to some social activities with a few friends and the ability to make some new acquaintances. Since he joined he has proudly taken us all for several nice meals. We watched some curling and I had both Buddy and hubby out on the ice showing them the weight of those rocks and how they move. I used to curl. Brian Orser coaches skaters here so watching skating in action created fun conversations.

A monthly newsletter of events comes out online and I have been designated to pick some events we might enjoy.

Last night we attended the club's production of a Mureder Mystery Dinner with actors being club members who have a hobby of creating a performance. I saw them rehearsing once a while back but ha no idea they would put on a great show a month later.

We arrived to find ourselves at table two with a number of members and guests from as far away as Ottawa. With papers about the murder event and the meal in hand we soon realized that each table was to actively chat about the events present in the play to solve it . We were soon engaged in conversations about the play, the meal and our personal backgrounds at the club and away so yes this was what was needed, social interactions with friendly people to lift our spirits and feel more connected again socially.

The play presented was Death by Doornail by Lee Mueller and the club producer injected two characters that were not in the original play thus adding another twist.The characters were a wanna be Tom Jones and his gal. He even sang some notes from a popular song "It's not Unusual...".

The three part play went perfectly with the three part meal. The chef collaborated with the players and set up a fitting feast for this crime  Even the bar set up a special "bloody" type beverage.

By the third act Buddy told us whom he thought wa the murderer.He chose Priscilla the daughter of the missing Albert Doornale. At our table lots of talk but the idea Buddy had was abandoned though I did feel hee had a valid point. The final group decision was that Tom Jones was the missing Albert in disguise so no one was murdered since no human body was found. WRONG!!!

Buddy was correct. It turned out the Albert that was murdered was a pet by that name and it was Priscilla the caused it's demise.

The evening ended on a high note for Buddy and we all had fun while having an excellent meal .

Have you ever enjoyed a Murder Mystery meal before? We have many years ago and we would go again for the fun of it.

Grandpa

It's been almost six months since I took the time to write a post here and I guess that's because it has been a very busy stressful yet somewhat happy time. As you know I was in UK from 11th June until July 7th just in time to pick up the keys to our newest rental place. Two days later I celebrated my 70th birthday with my lovely extended family.  Then the packing and moving began. We had until the 31st of July to be out. The overlap made the move slightly less difficult. Since the new place was just 2 blocks from the old I could literally just pack contents of one closet and hang it into the new one. While it was a simple idea the execution was not that easy. In both homes the closets were on the upper level so I had plenty of trips up and down stairs. Buddy gave me a hand. So did a friend of my daughter. The major packing and moving was to be done by a hired firm on July 25. Before the movers' arrival I had hired a declutter person to help me get rid of much unneeded stuff that had gathered. Though I tried hard to find good movers they were not well organized and it took them 2 days to relocate the kitchen and dining room dishes and contents  along with the big furniture pieces. I must mention that a family friend with a pick up came to assist me  and ended uo helping the movers. He came for a 3rd day to pick up what movers left behind. What I true friend!

Luckily I had signed a contract for the move and was only charged an additional 10% of the agreed cost.  My friend who helped was offered a job by the movers

but he has a more serious role to play. He is a very special caregiver. I shall post it in the new year.

So by July 28 we were in our new location with many boxes left to unpack to get our house to a homey state again. I had the entire month of August to plod away at boxes. Buddy and I would go out for a well deserved lunch now and then just to get out. Daughter helped put up some venetian style blinds we bought for the main floor since the place came with rag like old drapes that we boxed and put in the basement. We preferred our own fresh new window dressings. The bedrooms got nice blackout drapes.

My goal was to have both the inside and the garden looking better. Jen a gardener who helped us each summer was willing to follow us to our new location. She's a real gem.

On September 5 we were off to the UK so Buddy and Grandpa could enjoy the new baby. It was during the move and the trip to UK that it became very clear that hubby was now a vey different person. He had been trying to hide his memory loss for a while but a noticeable big change in behaviour was cropping up. He began to buy expensive items claiming they would be useful if we had an upcoming depression.

He would wander away in tourist areas leaving us wondering. He would refuse to use his new iPhone saying he did not feel making or answering calls mattered. All conversations have become more difficult as it seems he no longer is able to follow a long conversation readily and his frustration leads to outbursts of anger.

Once  back home from UK I booked a trip just for two. It would be easier and more relaxing without hubby to worry about. So at the end of October Buddy and I took a break and visited his favourite island, CaypCoco, since we had missed our lovely summer to our relocation. The move had been unexpectedly imposed on us when the  landlord decided to sell that place to her brother in law.

During November we shopped and prepared gifts for Christmas. At the end of the month we took another seven day trip. We knew on December 10th our kids would be here from UK. We also knew that our way of life would soon be very different. We just have no idea how it will be because hubby must soon stop going to his office and that will make him very upset. In fact it might happen that he may not know how to get there or how to get home soon. He has had moments of confusion while travelling in our area. i have tried to keep rental homes  near his office because signs of dementia have be there for a while.

When that time comes I shall be responsible for a different type of disabled adult as long as I am able. He is a grandpa now but he has trouble recalling her name at times. Buddy is there to guide him. His recall is fantastic.

Grandpa loves his little gal who is almost six months old. He is seated in the living room of the home I created pretty much without his help this time. But Buddy was there for me.

Grandpa is loved.

PS This post has errors in paragraph placement due to blogger glitches.

Baby Brings Hope

On July 1 it is Canada Day in our country. This year that date took on a whole new dimension for our family as it is now also the birthday of our granddaughter.  Being here in the UK for her delivery was quite an experience. What started off as a routine delivery got a bit more challenging when baby decided to tilt her head up into a star gazing position making it a 2 cm  larger head circumference. Midwife went and got the doctor to see what could be done. With skilled hands the doctor gently turned baby's head to the right position but that brought a slow down in contractions- so hormones were added by a drip until things were upto speed. The team then finished the delivery. Baby's head revealed lots of black hair and then came a long slender body fitting for this wee tyke. There was only one loud scream as she took her first breath and then she settled into nurse's brief clean up centre before her new father got to hold her and then mother and grandma.
Each time a new life comes into our world it feels so miraculous. This baby is one of the fortunate ones as it is born into a seemingly safe environment for now.
For me holding her right in the delivery room was a moment of joy but also a painful realization that in 8 days I'll be 70 and our time together will be special but shorter.
And already it is July 4 and for many of you it is your nation's birthday.
Let's hope the future is not as gloomy as it feels currently for the UK and the US.

PS  Buddy has seen his niece over Facetime and loves that he is her uncle.

CHANGES

I cannot begin to tell you how my heart sank when SIL entered my room early yesterday and announced we're out! Oh my goodness what have the small majority of Brits done? Nations around the globe are reeling in disbelief as am I.
I feel the new tech savy younger folks were wise to vote no. It seems the older population went for yes possibly because they are just not getting the point that one cannot turn the clock back and live a simpler homegrwn life while incomes are now generated on an international playing field.
As for all being better for Brits? Not likely. Scotland voted to remain in UK because of EU ties and now that has gone sour. Scots want to stay in EU so guess what's next?
A split? Another referendum?
The shape of UK as we have known it may well become further fragmented leaving it vulnerable to many issues with trade and security since costs will be higher as they fumble to make new agreements and cancel old ones. Those who voted no have managed to get it all messed up for seemingly few benefits.
For me this democratic process went terribly wrong. And it is likely a lesson the folks in the US as their November elections draw near. A power shift seems to be coming. A weaker Western world appears to be forming. A divide is happening according to my instincts.
Do not blame Wall Street or those who have managed to keep wars from your shores. Something else is going on. Even if Clinton gets in it will be a very tough term as powers shift around the globe.
I sense a new order heading our way. It feels to me like our whole economic, medical, technical, agricultural and educational intitutions are in for a major overhaul. Our current systems will not house nor feed future generations and the youth know it.
I wonder how you "see" all this my friends?

P.S. Baby has yet to appear and no wonder eh? Buddy and hubby are missing me now for two weeks have gone by since I departed.
P.P.S. My hubby's eldest brother passed away June 23.

BREXIT

My time in the UK has put me here to witness the arrival of the grandchild and it is taking it's time. Today I get to be smack in the middle of a national referendum on leaving the EU. Brexit voting is today. My hope is that wisdom will prevail for it is far better in this new global world economy and structuring of nations to be part of a larger group. Smaller portions of nations have historically been run agroud over the centuries. It would be sad if UK put itself into jeopardy now. Nations need to be more united and solve bigger issues as a whole unit. As world populations rise so will the struggle for water and food. One has to face facts. If I could vote I would choose no without hesitation.
We'll see soon enough what the locals will decide.
P.S. Buddy and I chat via Facetime daily and he also likes the status quo concept.