Versailles

On Sunday my plan was for us to wake early and head to Versailles bright and early to be there at nine. We enjoyed an interesting breakfast at a cafe near our Airbnb before casually heading to Versailles. We had already purchased tickets online so did not need to queue to get inside. We entered the palace and strolled through the halls. Though I had been to Versailles years before, I enjoyed every room. The high ceilings, the furniture, the paintings. The whole idea that this had been someones home. Those someone of course being the French royals including Marie Antoinette.

Meeting in Paris

What a joy it was to see my mother and sister at the airport. We had planned to meet at the Sheraton hotel lobby before heading to the metro. I arrived first and waited and waited. Getting a bit antsy, I headed to where they would be walking from. I waited some more. No signs of them. Giving in, I moved towards the gate they had flown into and was rewarded by finding them. Happy hugs from my mother and sister after not having seen them for a year. It was like I had never left their side. Gathering our bags, we headed to the train and purchased three tickets to get us into Paris. Getting on the train we sat down with our bags and smiles happy smiles at each other. They had made it all the way from Vancouver to meet me in Paris. They had left the day before and I had left that very morning, flying out of Liverpool.

So this is Christmas

So I woke up Christmas morning. No snow outside. Such a shame. I had my bowl of cereal and a Baileys and coffee mix before getting started on my presents. I felt very spoiled with the selection from my loved ones in Canada and my friends here in Liverpool.

Santa sure spoiled me this Christmas. My stocking was very plentiful with treats.

Looking and feeling silly in my new Totoro hoodie. It kept me nice and warm as I opened up gifts.

The beautiful paper from Tayla and the socks that were in side. Felt very foxy. 

Could not have been happier with my new scarf and hat knitted by Hillary. The pin on the hat says I (heart) P R and the heart is actually a blackberry.

A lovely ornament sent from my grandmother and below the ring and bracelet from my mom. 

I have four days off of work and go back Monday. I am super happy today, feel very spoiled by everyone. Made myself a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings. Felt very proud that I managed that. Going to have a relaxing evening now.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Paige Update!

I have been back at Rathmore since the 31st of May and I am happy to be home. I got my tea and my bed.  I really enjoyed Spain and this was fully due to Jess. We had our highs and we had our lows. I won't give away too many details as there are plenty of posts coming from my Spain trip. You may have seen some Barcelona posts already slipping amongst my Topdeck tour posts. There are a few Berlin posts in the works then Amsterdam, Brugge, London possibly and more Liverpool. I'm going to try and post more about how I am currently doing.

I know quite a few of my family and friends read through my posts or at least look at the pretty pictures and that means a lot to me. Thank you to all those who read it and watch for my posts. It makes me so happy.

Well anyways, back in Liverpool. I've sent some postcards out to my postcard pals and restocked my cupboards with foodstuffs. A girl has to eat.

Just before I left for Spain I had walked on a very long journey to the Jobcentre Plus in Toxteth to get them to stamp a copy of my passport so I could mail away my application for my National Insurance Number. I need this number so I can be employed. So far playing the waiting game on the mail man for my processed application.

I managed to hang the bird garland that I got in Milan with Marianna and Maria Carla. It's so beautiful. I was worried I would ruin it but it looks pretty good. A little uneven but might try and fix that later.

 I added the photos I received from my mother in her care package to me to my fireplace mantle. 3 postcards from Powell River, a photo of my mother, sister and I. A beautiful drawing by my cousin Lily and a bracelet her brother Jackson made me.  I also got a delayed Christmas card. It all made me so happy to get it. Now I can look at my mother and sister smiling at me when I pass.

Happy Paige. I hope everyone else is happy and well.

My last day in Domo!

More Mozzio.

We were back to Mozzio to have lunch with more of my distant Rolandi relatives. This time I was accompanied by Maurice and Maria Carla and their cute grandchildren Sofia and Edoardo.

Saturday, a day at the market in Domodossola.

With Marianna busy, I headed to explore the market of Domodossola with Maria Carla. Every Saturday they host a market that draws many people from all over. Due to Domodossola being so close to the Swiss border the market brings a lot of them by train.

Mozzio, Mozzio, Mozzio!

Today Marianna and I were headed up to Mozzio to have lunch with more of my Rolandi relatives. Her uncle Sergio gave us a ride in his car north of Domodossola to Mozzio.

The long road to Domodossola.

As mentioned in my previous post I woke up several times during the morning of the 2nd before giving up on sleeping and headed out of my hostel as soon as I could. After checking out I walked the 10-15 minutes to Picadilly Train Station.

A day at the market.

Sunday the 9th

Today was the last day to spend with Chris. He's headed back to Victoria and then in a few months he'll be moving to Toronto. Our hearts will be closer though the kilometers will still be long between us. It was so nice to have him over the weekend. I have known him since I was eight. He's the same age as my sister and they became best friends and have not parted since. He was part of my sister's wedding party in August. Over the years we have stayed close and I am going to miss him a lot. I hope he is able to find a hot redhead in Toronto.

We slept in a while, still tired from the party the night before finally managing to wake up enough to head to Granville Island Market to explore and have lunch.

It's Perogie day! Perogie Day!

It seems like this is becoming a food blog but I promise that as soon as I am out of Vancouver you will see my adventures travelling around Europe as well as photos of all the amazing food I will be putting inside my mouth.

Friday morning was a great morning as it was PEROGIE DAY! If you have read through my blog you would have seen that perogie day is a day that happens once a month on the first Friday, hosted by the Ukranian Church on 10th Avenue in East Vancouver. It is a massive perogie dinner with all the fixings and has been a monthly event for me for the past few months. A gathering of friends over good food is always a happy time for me.

Cakes and Chongqing: A Feast

March 6th

Shawn had a few doctor's appointments in the morning and afternoon so we spent a bit of time waiting for those to be finished. All was well. We arrived early downtown on Davie for one of them so we were able to go into Transylvania Traditions, one of my favourite cake shops and get a slice each.

A Happy Wednesday

 March 5

Shawn had her drivers test this morning and she passed! Now she has her class five! Mom and I were both so happy for her.  She stomped her N on the ground. Happy to get rid of it finally.

The wind is rising. We must try to live.

March 4th,
The day started with gloomy conditions. It seems like rain is determined on causing grey skies for my weeks off. Is it trying to tell me something?

A busy beginning...

The end of February was a very busy time. I had my last day of work for Staples and we enjoyed an amazing pot luck of some of my favourite foods. We enjoyed the feast and it was hard to go back to work but the last few hours went by quickly and soon the last shift was over. I clocked out, said my goodbyes to my coworkers and handed over my fob and key. I headed out of the parking lot and I did not look back.

A Powell River weekend.

We left Vancouver bright and early on Friday January 31st. Off to catch the 7:20 am ferry out of Horseshoe Bay. We did great on timing, managing to get a Blenz drink before going right onto the boat.

 The ferry docking in Langdale

We stopped at Trout Lake on the Peninsula to kill  a bit of time.