Packing up

It's now my last weekend in the North, and the end really is in sight. Packing has begun, and even though I have relatively few possessions here, I still have a whole bunch of stuff that I've hardly ever or in some cases, never, used. I came here with 18 boxes, and if I were to do it all again I could probably halve that number and still live relatively comfortably. When I get home next week I'm going to be going through the whole process again as we prepare for our major southern move - more on that in the days and weeks to come - and it's for that reason that I'm not quite as hyped about leaving as I might be otherwise.

I hate moving, or at least the packing side of things, and the fact that we've done it so often over the course of the past decade hasn't made me alter my opinion in any way. I make it that I've been involved in eleven moves over the course of the last ten years, including one inter-continental move and several excursions to, from and around Nunavik, but hopefully this will be it for the foreseeable future. Frank Sinatra used to sing that it was nice to go travelling but so much nicer to come home and I tend to agree, but I bet he never had to pack. Mafia connections most certainly have their perks; two men, a van and a horse's head...

In other news, it's James' birthday tomorrow, and as Sundays aren't the best days for parties he and Sophie are hosting a potluck tonight. I'm making spaghetti and sauce (how original), and in true Keith Floyd style there will be plenty of liquid stimulation on hand during the process as, in the initial stages of packing, I found a bottle and a half of rum plus some pina colada mixer that I forgot I had. My spaghetti's going to be awesome...

Growing old gracefully

I really am becoming old.

It was my birthday yesterday, and the day before I went to the shops with the intention of buying myself a modest present. What did I get?

A vacuum cleaner and a frying pan.

Look, I really needed both items, alright? The vacuum cleaner we have here at the apartment is broken and the one frying pan we own is still with all my belongings up in Inukjuak. I tried to cook French toast in a saucepan last week and thought 'enough's enough.'

Needless to say, I still haven't used either item yet.

Then, just to confirm the age thing, I took myself on a nice Sunday drive yesterday, during which time I became one of those old folk that hold you up when you've got far more important places to be. Whilst on the road I decided to search for a Tim Horton's that I hadn't visited before, and my quest eventually took me to the town of Perth where I enjoyed a very pleasant, and educational, couple of hours.

Whilst there, I discovered the site of the last ever fatal duel in Ontario...

...and I also discovered one of the biggest cheeses in the province.

Now, whether Perth ever witnessed any cheese-based duels is not on record, but if there ever were any, my money would have been on the Brie. I rounded off my day with a visit to the Cineplex to see Angels & Demons - the movie, not actual angels and demons - and after such an action packed start to the week, I really don't know where to go from here.

Perhaps I could unbox the vacuum?

Nah.

Happy Birthday!

With the indulgence that writing my own blog allows me, this post is really for one person only:

Happy Birthday Mum!

Now, further to the conversation we just had on the phone, here's how you leave a comment on any of the posts:

1. Click on the 'comments' tag at the end of the posting (it will most likely say '0 comments').
2. On the page that comes up, write your comment in the box provided.
3. When you have finished, select 'Name/URL' from the options under the Choose An Identity heading. The other options are for people who have certain other internet accounts or who simply wish to remain anonymous; you don't need to worry about them.
   
4. Write your name in the 'name' box; you can ignore the 'URL' box.
5. Click on 'Publish Your Comment' and you're done!

So there you go. I shall now expect a plethora of comments over the coming weeks! (That goes for anyone else who is still reading this post, too).

Finally, did you know that December 1st 1887 was the first time that Sherlock Holmes appeared in print, in the story A Study In Scarlet?

Happy Birthday!