The kindness and warmth from total strangers...

is something we don't often come across, but when we do it is so heartwarming.

Almost two weeks ago we arrived in Canada with just two suitcases each.  All our personal belongings and some of our home wares are somewhere on the Atlantic ocean.  We sold all of our furniture as it would cost more to ship than it would to replace.  Last night our cousins, Lynn and Stan, took us to visit some friends of theirs whom we have never met before.  They welcomed us as if we were old friends, and we spent a lovely evening with dinner and a card game.  We knew they had a dining room set for sale which was beautiful and we agreed we would like to buy it.  What we didn't bargain for was two armchairs and a patio table and even more...they had a friend who wanted to sell a freezer!  Tonight we picked up the furniture and they invited us to take a ride in their classic car to pick up the freezer!

Although not in the category of strangers, Lynn & Stan have been fantastic.  Without a vehicle we have been totally reliant on them for transport.  They have sat outside banks for hours while we negotiated our way around various accounts, cards and formalities.  They have taken us from one store to another to collect various bits that we would need to start off in our new home.

We also met a couple who live just around the corner who were having a garage sale.  We got there a little late but they were kind enough to ask what we needed and then hooked out all the things, and more, that they thought would help.  They then offered us a beer, put everything in their trailer and delivered it!

So, to Stan & Lynn, Joan & Bill, Will and Mary-Francis  Thank you all so much.  To all who read this I wish that you will all one day experience kindness of this magnitude.  And for us I hope that we will have an opportunity to show the same to someone else someday.

I also think that the saying is true.  There are no strangers here, only friends we have yet to meet.

We're getting there!

Well we have now been in Canada for one whole week.  I feel we have achieved a lot.  We got all the paperwork done, bought a car.  Gradually we have started collecting furniture from various sources from garage sales to good old Kijiji!  We've spent endless hours in the bank and just as many scouring the internet for essential items to take up North with us.

Tonight, however, was total bliss.  I made Jam!  Lynn and I spent a couple of hours in the kitchen making strawberry jam!  So guess what?  I now have to add to my list of essential items jam jars, lids and labels!  It was a lovely evening and took the edge off the increasing frustration at not having my paints and bits and pieces to keep me occupied!  Oh and watch this space.  Just wait till you see my pot pourri holders for the lady's boudoir!

Bitter Sweet New Beginnings

Well!  We're here!  This morning it is raining like you wouldn't believe!  Lovely Man declared that if he'd known it rained here he'd have stayed in Blighty!  The last two weeks went in a blur.  I have to confess my emotions are all over the place.  I am calm and settled for the most part.  But my emotions are actually quite raw.  I cannot phone home for fear I'll end up a sobbing heap.  My last memory of all those dear to me is a bitter sweet last meeting ending in uncontrolable tears!  That last contact felt like my heart was being ripped from my body.  Even Lovely Man sobbed and asked 'Tell me again why we're doing this?'

However,  two nights of decent, restful sleep together with a good start on all the red tape and formalities has made us feel a little better.  I guess each phone call will get easier.

Today we are going to look at a car.  Yesterday we road tested a Dodge Durango.  It was big, blue and shiny with a huge V8 engine.  I fell in love.  Lovely Man asked me which car I would choose of the ones we looked at.  My head tells me the Chrysler  Town & country van but my little 'ole heart says the big blue Dodge cos it's big and shiny and it roars!

No Mans Land

Yesterday the packers came.  They arrived three strong and armed with an array of weapons.  Reels of tape, boxes, bubble wrap and scissors.  For over seven hours they folded, wrapped, sorted, boxed and labeled.  Then they were gone leaving behind a very empty and somewhat sad little place.

Phil arrived and immediately opened the kitchen cupboard.  His eyes like saucers he remarked "ooh good you've still got lots of food".  Yes we have. But such a pity the can opener got packed, along with everything except a butter knife, two cups, some paper plates and some plastic glasses!

Last night we slept on a rather uncomfortable sofa bed with two very disgruntled cats!  This morning we woke to the sound of rain on the conservatory roof.  In Canada they call it the Florida room.  Certainly doesn't look anything like Florida out there this morning!

Lovely Man decided he needed a cooked breakfast so I suggested the cafe at the end of the road.  It was then we realised that we had packed ALL our coats!  So how's it all going so far?  Well.  We've nothing to cook with, eat off or with.  We have only two bath towels and two tea towels left here. NO coats!  We do have a skillet, tub of ceramic beans and a tiffin box which should be on a ship.  Oh and the envelopes I carefully set to one side to post last minute letters?  They are in the top drawer of the filing cabinet.....which is.....on the ship!

However, we are still smiling!  Not with glee though, just pure insanity!

The final countdown

Today has been another day of sorting, cleaning and packing.  How is it that we accumulate so many things and yet still we always seem to not have the one thing we need?  I've lost count of the number of times Lovely Man has nipped off to B & Q on a Sunday morning because we just need this or that to do whatever job is Job of the Day.  And yet he is continually coming into the house saying 'Look what I found!  I didn't even know I had these!'  I, of course, am not guilty of this.  The reason I have so many packets of needles, pairs of scissors and scraps of fabric is because people give me things! (said with wide-eyed look)

But the pleasure has been in finding a birthday card from an old friend tucked away, and the odd photo which had hidden itself amongst books and long forgotten letters from people we haven't seen for awhile. There is also the feeling of new beginnings and a lightness that comes when everything is sorted, sifted, thinned out and filed neatly.  Treasure of the day had to be a handmade birthday card, drawn in pencil on a folded piece of lined A4 paper.  It was from Chris.  It was given to me on the first birthday I was with his Dad.  It reminded me of a surprise birthday party with Jelly rabbits which he'd insisted he made.  And a trip to Chichester with him and Becky which was a diversion tactic whilst all the guests arrived!

All in all a nice day and very productive too!  You never know, at this rate we may just be ready for the shipping company on Friday!

Claire & Michael

claire & Michael
Originally uploaded by Rona Gregory

Claire emailed me a photo of her wedding day which I changed to Black & White in Photoshop and then printed onto Habotai Silk. This was done by using some pre- treated silk sheets on peel off paper and my own ink-jet printer. I then made another ribbon-craft heart with an aperture to show the photo through. This was then mounted onto a canvas painted with pale gold acrylic and then varnished. The 6" square canvas is displayed on a mini easel .

ring bearers cushion

ring bearers cushion
Originally uploaded by Rona Gregory

Someone asked the other day how I found time to make all these things when I'm preparing to move my home and my whole life across the world. Simple. If I sit still and do nothing my mind gallops around the house worrying about everything that has too be done. As a lot of what is left to do cannot be done just yet it helps to focus on something else. In other words it helps me relax! This week's offering is a ring bearer's cushion I have made for a friend who is getting married very soon. I got the idea for ribbon weaving from Susan Niner Janes' book New Ideas in Ribboncraft and then chose different fabrics to make it my own. As is fashionable I up-cycled a blouse that had a wee hole in!

With the remainder of the blouse I am going to make a beautiful evening purse.  Watch this space!