Waiting for a Delayed Flight at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Today was minus 20 degrees outside; it was freezing cold.  Bundled in our heavy winter sweaters, jackets and wrapped in thick scarves, we headed out towards the Toronto Pearson's International Airport.

Our scheduled flight to a warm sunny destination would not take off until 3:55pm.

But Toronto is forecasting heavy snow of 10 - 20 cm and a white out driving condition. We called our taxi company and moved up our departure time from home so that we would not be caught in the congested rush hour traffic.

The airport is busy with many Canadians heading south for some sun. My sister and her family went down to Mexico last Saturday while we are waiting for our flight to our favourite tropical country.

Though waiting for their much delayed flights, all the passengers are pretty calm and relaxed.
Many are chatting while some are playing games on the floor and my beloved is sitting comfortably surfing on the free wifi.

Looking out of the window, all I could see is a thick white sheet covering the airport.

Eh, a few hours from now, it would be a very different landscape for us. Green green grass and 30 degree sunny weather.

I am imaging myself sunbathing by the crystal blue water sandy beach and in my light colorful summer outfit.

Can't wait! Thank God for giving us good health and the resources to enjoy the sun in the middle of a cold cold Canadian winter!

Our flight has been delayed due to the winter snow storm, not sure when we will be flying out to our sunny destination. This gives me time to catch up on my recent blog.

Gratefully waiting at the Toronto Pearson Airport!

R.T.
Toronto
Jan. 28, 2019


p.s. Having difficulty uploading pictures to my recent blog postings, not sure if I can do my blogging from where we are heading as the wifi there is not reliable and limited
pps - Our flight has been cancelled until 6am the next morning. The big question is should we go home and come back at 4am or should we stay and sleep at the airport? Lots of passengers are discussing that right now.                 

Celebrating Robert Burns Day with a Haggis Dinner at Better Living Community Centre, Toronto

Canada is a country made up of immigrants from around the world. We are fortunate to be living in Toronto, one of the most ethnic diverse metropolitan in the world. We have endless opportunities to take part in a huge number of different cultural activities across the city.


Robert Burns,  a famous Scottish  poet, whose literary work and poets are studied in high schools and universities in Canada. Many Canadians celebrated the Robert Burns' Day and held special events and dinners in various communities.

We attended a Robbie Burns Haggis Dinner at the Better Living Community Centre

Last Wednesday, we attended a Robert Burns' Day Dinner at the community center in our neighborhood. The dinner was from 5:00 - 7:00pm and it started right on time!

I attended a Robbie Burns' Lunch at school while I was teaching but never attended a more formal haggis dinner.

It was interesting to see the Haggis being piped in by a gentleman dressed in his formal Scottish attire.

The piper and the haggis carrier went around the room,

Haggis, the national dish of Scotland was served at a Robbie Burns Day Dinner

Therefore,  we could all had a good look at the Haggis - a Scottish national dish beautifully cooked ready to be devoured by the hungry diners.

The piper addressed the Haggis before dinner & reciting Burns' poems

Before dinner was served, Michael, the piper addressed the haggis, reading poems composed by Robbie Burns and explaining to us what they meant. This was followed by toasting to the haggis and we all domed a strong drink of whisky.

Dinner was delicious! Besides the Haggis, we were served a Scottish Pie, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. It was followed with rice pudding and hot beverages.

We were entertained by a group of young Highlands dancers

A groups of young dancers arrived after dinner and entertained us with some highland dancing.

 We learned that highland dancing is an excellent form of exercises with lots of jumping and steps.

It demonstrate the physical strength and athleticism of the dancers.

A young man performing the sword dance at the Robert Burns' Dinner

In fact, we learned that that was the way the Scottish recruited and train their soldiers in the good old days!

How interesting was that!

R.T.
Robbie Burns Dinner
Better Living Community Centre
Don Mills
Toronto, Ontario

A Toronto Beck Taxi Driver Who Deserves to Be Recognized

Last week, either Thursday or Friday around 4:30pm,  I was doing a load of laundry at our neighborhood  laundromat. Since it was a work day, there were few people there.

An elderly gentleman with many if front teeth missing just finished his laundry and he was not feeling well.  Another customer was there and she asked me if I would call him a taxi on my cell since she did not have cell phone with her.  I did.

I dialed the taxi company's phone number saved on my phone. It was the Beck Taxi Company.  A few minutes later, a Beck Taxi driver arrived. He went up to the elderly man sitting in the laundromat waiting for him. This elderly man did not look too good; he could not walk by himself. Speaking gently to this frail old man, the taxi driver encouraged him, helping him to get on his feet and started walking.  It took a little while as the elderly man was slow and taking his time to do what seemed difficult for him. The taxi driver kept trying and supporting the man gently and patiently. He held out his hands, allowing the customer to put his arm around him. The driver looked after this customer well, with care, patience and compassion.

Unknowing to this driver while he was supporting his elderly customer,  another lady and I were observing this kind act unfolding in front of us quietly from a distance. We were both touched by such excellent customer service. I went out to the taxi and tipped the driver for his excellent service. I told him how much I appreciated his kindness and patience as I would like my elderly mother to be treated the same way if she were in the same situation.

The driver's name was Sufiyon Rashid, Cab No. 147 of Toronto;s Beck Taxi. I was very impressed by him and determined that in the future should I need a taxi in Toronto, I would definitely call the Beck Taxi company.

I also wrote to the taxi company and informed them of the excellent service their driver offered to the company's elderly customer.   This Beck Taxi driver has gone out of his way to do his job well! I feel strongly that good deeds and kindness need to be encouraged and recognized!

R,T,
Toronto

My Three Effective Ways to Be More Positive in 2019

This is the first month of 2019 when many people are still making plans for self improvement for the next twelve months.

Nobody can be strong and healthy all the time

However, not everyone is strong, healthy and living a life with few worries.

Having worked with closed friends and loved ones and accompanied them to a number of counselling sessions, I have learned and tried a few effective strategies along the way.

We all feel gloomy and depressed sometime in our lives

For those who may feel depressed from time to time, and would like to become more positive and less unhappy in their lives,  the following simple exercises may help them to become more positive:

Grateful & sunny thoughts are important to improve our mood

a. The Gratitude Exercise
 
Each day find 3 to 5 things for which you can be grateful.

I usually do it in the morning before I even roll out of bed. I thank God for being healthy, for my children, for another day, for living in a decent home and for living in a peaceful country like Canada.

In the evening after I climb into bed, I thank God for a nice warm bed, for my husband sleeping beside me and for a great day!







b. The Visualization Exercise
 
Take a few minutes each day, close your eyes and visualize yourself in a nice environment or your favorite place doing something you love. Try this exercise two to three times a day. It would help to improve your mood.

Visualize yourself in a happy place as often as possible daily can help one to become more positive

My favourite place is on a beach, under an umbrella and listening to the waves of the ocean. I am either dancing or doing something fun with my loved ones and best friends

c. Focus on what you have and want out of life, not what you don't' have.
 
Instead of wishing for what you don't have and feeling down, ask yourself what you really want  out of life and start doing something to achieve it.

One of the important goals in my professional life was to become a leader in education. I knew that I would need excellent public speaking skills.

Therefore, I joined a Toastmasters Club, learned and practiced my skills at the weekly meetings for three years. I have become a confident speaker and can speak in front of hundreds of professional colleagues with little difficulty. I did achieve my professional goal as a school administrator.

 







There are many other ways to help people to become more positive. The above three ways are something I have done and still doing to help myself and loved ones to stay positive, achieve our goals and enjoy our lives!

R.T.
Toronto
    

Making and Keeping My New Year Resolutions for 2019

Hiking trail at the Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto 

I felt great today as it was the beginning of a new year, the year 2019!

Instead of sleeping in all day, I was very proud of ourselves as we went hiking at the Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto, in the morning of the very first day of 2019.

A warm winter for Toronto, the hiking trails were clear with no snow.

I am one for making new year resolutions. Many people feel reluctant about making them since they are going to break them anyway.













However, I feel it's important for me to make resolutions at the start of a new year. Even though I may break a few but at least I will try to keep some of them.






















On the other hand if I don't set any goals for myself, 2019 will fly by and I would have achieved nothing when I look back a year from now.





















Therefore, my goals for 2019:

1. Put God first everyday and start my day with prayer and reading God's words

We passed by farmer houses on our hike at the Rouge Urban Park

2. Join a walking club so that I can become more active and keep myself healthy!

Hiking on the first day of 2019 was a great beginning to a new year!

3. Share the good news with my family members and others regularly.

4. Live out my faith in actions - love and be compassionate and show forgiveness to others.

5. Learn a new language

6. Rein in my tongue!

Getting up early and being outside to enjoy God's beautiful creations was a great start to 2019. I will work hard to keep my New Year resolutions alive!



R.T.
Rouge Urban National Park
Ontario
Jan. 1, 2019

Keeping Our Family's Christmas Tradition Alive

The Christmas and New Year holiday season is a joyous time for the majority of people in North America. There are so many things to do with friends and relatives to reconnect and visit.

With our children all grown up, working and living outside of Canada, at times, it's not easy for us to keep all our family traditions. This year, with Mom being hospitalized, our 45 year big family Christmas dinner was interrupted.

However, there is one family tradition we insist on keeping within our own family no matter what happens.  Attending the Christmas Eve service has been a tradition in my own family for a long time. We have been fortunate that no matter how far our children live away from us, one of them always makes it home and spends Christmas with us.

We attended the Christmas Eve Service at St. Paul's Church in downtown Toronto

With whatever has been happening in the U.S., our son's flight was delayed and he had to hang around at the airport for two extra days before coming home for Christmas. We were glad that he could make it and not missed the most important part of our family tradition, attending a church service together and spending time in a worship service as a family.

We attended the 10p.m. service at St. Paul's Church on Christmas Eve in downtown Toronto.


It was a nice crispy winter evening. The church looked beautiful, warm and welcoming with the lights and decorations inside.

The choir sings from the balcony of St. Paul's Church

We were there early and listened to the choir singing from the church balcony.

Though it was late in the evening, the church was packed and the service was well attended.

St. Paul\s Church is a church with beautiful architecture.

We listened to the lovely Christmas carols, reflected on the true meaning of Christmas:

- the birth of Christ, God's love for his people and his plan of salvation for all.

It was touching and my eyes were filled with grateful tears for God's love.










God's love and our prayers started to soften our son's heart.

He made an attempt to partake the communion!


Attending Christmas church services is an important part of our family traditions.

























We will definitely keep our Christmas tradition alive for years to come regardless of the weather or how busy we are during this holiday season!

R.T.
St. Paul's Church
Downtown Toronto

A Homemade Take Out Christmas Lunch with Mom at St. John Rehab Hospital, Toronto

We came back from our U.S. trip a few days before Christmas. No matter how nice our trip has been, it  always feels good to be home.

Knowing that we would be away most of December, we put up our Christmas decorations and lights in late November. Therefore when we came home in late December, the house was aglow with Christmas lights and decorations.

What a warm welcome home and a nice feeling!

However, my mom fell and cracked her hips before we went away.

It was nice that my sister and brother took turn to look after her during our absence at the rehab hospital. So it was my turn to look after her as soon as we got back.













Unable to be released to go home for Christmas, Mom was very happy when I told her that we would bring a meal to share and spend time with her on Christmas Day!

I made her favorite food: shrimps and salmon, a few kinds of soft green and yellow vegetables, some meatballs and appetizers. I even brought a tablecloth, plates and cutlery to the hospital so that she could feel that it was a special day for her. We put the home made food in a basket and took everything we needed with us.

We got to the hospital a little past 11am to make sure that she would not have lunch yet.

She was very happy especially when she saw E. coming to greet her. She liked the fact that E. came all the way from the States to visit her.

We set everything up in the visitors' lounge and enjoyed our Christmas lunch. I kind of felt bad when another family came in with one of the patients who looked at our Christmas lunch, yet all he had was a sandwich from the hospital.

We finished our Christmas lunch and left the room quickly so that other patients could have the use of it. Mom was eager to show us what she could do with the aid of her walker.

We took  her down to the lobby, enjoyed a hot drink and asked her to open her presents there.

Mom always spends Christmas with all or most of her children and grandchildren. This year was the first time we did not have our big family Christmas dinner together.

I was glad Mom did not spend Christmas alone and that we could spend this special day with her. It was a blessing!

R.T.
St. Johns Rehab Hospital
Toronto

Jackson Court, An Elegant Bed and Breakfast Inn in San Francisco.

Steep streets of San Francisco

We checked  into Jackson Court on the second Saturday we were in San Francisco.

A view of the San Francisco Bay from the top of Jackson Street, S.F.

The main floor sitting room at Jackson Court

We could have chosen a place downtown but we wanted to explore another completely different part of SF than being in a touristy area again.

















Jackson Court is an elegant huge old house renovated into a very comfortable luxurious bed and breakfast inn.

The Burgundy Room at Jackson Court, San Francisco

We stayed in the burgundy room.

It was a beautifully decorated spacious room with our own private bathroom and sitting area.

We loved going back to our beautiful room each evening after a full day of activities.

I parked myself in front of the desk to do my writing.

A complimentary breakfast was provided each morning.










There were fresh fruit cocktail, croissants and other pastries, freshly brewed coffee, and daily newspaper awaiting for us in the comfortable sunny kitchen.




We enjoyed sipping our morning coffee, reading the local newspaper and learning what were happening in the city. We liked looking out to the streets watching people coming and going to work.

                 The Games/ Reading Room on the main floor.

It felt like home; we just sat down for breakfast with nothing needed to be done at all.

Tea and cookies were served every afternoon in the drawing room.

The staff were very polite, helpful and friendly and the services were excellent.

In the late afternoon, between 3:30 - 6:30pm, hot tea and cookies were served at the inn's sitting room on the main floor with the beautiful fireplace on while soothing classical music was playing in the
background.

We enjoyed an after tea by the fire at Jackson Court during our recent vacation in San Francisco 

Away from the traffic noises and busy downtown area, we enjoyed this quiet and peaceful place.

A private garden in one of the rooms at  Jackson Court.

The only drawback of this place was personal.











It was too far from where E.'s place.

Entrance to the bed and breakfast inn

Therefore he only came once helping us to check in but not during the whole week while we were here.

We enjoyed our stay at Jackson Court a lot!

R.T.
Jackson Court
San Francisco
USA