Sunday 25 Dec, 2011 outside The Dove, Bury St Edmunds. British pint in a British pub Christmas day, that'll do nicely. 
Lynda's surpise 50th birthday dinner at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Claridges, Mayfair, London. 
Lynda's surprise 50th birthday party at the Brownstones. 
Tue, 6 Dec 2011 we went to see the Maple Leafs play the New Jersey Devils. The Deveils won 3-2. Before the game we went in to the new Longos in Maple Leaf Square next door to the ACC and had a decent pint, a glass of wine and a fresh cooked piza in the Corks Beer and Wine Bar. Highly recommended before stepping foot in the ACC. 
Algonquin Moon Bed & Breakfast where we have stayed on 4 occasions. Susan and Peter are the host's. It is a wonderful location and ideal for visiting Algonquin park. 
Mike has figured out if you stand between to large pine trees to have your photograph taken. It removes 20lbs from the waist line.
Whiskey Rapids, Algonquin Park. 
Daisy's first time in Algonquin Park. We told her to stay close or she could become lunch for a wolf or bear. We think that made her nervous. 
Cashe Lake Algonquin Park. 
This is the original homestead of the Scarrow family who moved from Freckenham Suffolk, England to Ontario, Canada in the 1830's. 
The Scarrow family reunion held the first Sunday after Labor Day. I was invited along and asked to Speak about Mildenhall, Suffolk, my home town which neighbors Freckenham the ancestral home of the Scarrow Family. 
Enjoying time with Ian, Clare and Abbey-crombie at Niagara Botanical Gardens. 
18th August 2011 we arrived in Parry Sound to celebrate Mike's 50th birthday tomorrow. We stayed at a very nice B&B called 40 Bay Street. Named thus so it is easy to find. Once you have found Bay Street which is on Parry Sound Harbour. 
View of Parry Sound Harbour taken from the lookout tower at the museum. In 1870 the English were given 100 acres of land to move to Canada. Unfortunately when the pioneers cleared the brush (trees to you and I) they found solid rock and very little fertile soil. Hence the reason why the beautiful game of football (English style) never took off in Parry Sound. Probably!!
We were directed to the White Squall Paddling Centre to try our hand at kayaking. These people are seriously generous as they let us take out a kayak for free. How often does that happen? 
I'll call this photo 'Kayak on the Dock'.
...and this photo 'Lonesome Pine'. 
Finally got Lynda on the water at Cole Lake. She prefers kayaking to canoeing. A bit more stable. Plus she likes yellow! 
This is the Island Queen V leaving the dock. Parry Sound has the deepest natural fresh water harbour in the world.
19th August (my birthday) we did the 30,000 Islands Tour. Tom Thomson and others from the Group of Seven came to Parry Sound to paint during the early part of the 20th century. 
It was a wonderful trip on a beautiful day. Lynda and I sunning ourselves on deck. 
The 'Hole in the Wall' is a narrow passage between islands on Georgian Bay and is one of the highlights of the 30,000 islands tour. 
Long before the European settlers arrived in Parry Sound the Ojibway inhabited the town. Then it was called 'Shining Shore'. Now the Ojibway territory is north of Parry Sound in Shawanaga. 
We learnt that the Shawanaga 14th Annual Pow-Wow was taking place whilst we were in the area so we had to go and experience the event. 
We weren't disappointed. With all the colour, beating of the drum, singing and dancing, it made for a great afternoon. 
The costumes were fantastic. 
A very ceremonial event, remembering veterans. 
Lynda looking on disperate to dance.
Let the celebrations begin. 2011 is a big year for Lynda and I. Never thought I would be caught out with a surprice birthday party but they got me 'hook, line and sinker' I had a great night, 13-Aug. I might have dressed a bit smarter if someone had told me I was going to my birthday party. 
...and a very special Anglo-Canadian cake. 
Today (18-June) we went on a wine tasting tour in the Niagara region with the 'Village Wine Maker', the shop where we make our own wine. It was a great day, we visted 3 vineyards. The picture is of the vineyard at Flat Rock Cellars which was our favorite. We met some very nice fellow wine makers and learnt a few facts about wine making. 
In May Sarah took us to see the Abstract Expressionist Art exhibition brought to the AGO, Toronto from New York. The block colour design in this advertising banner is a Mark Rothko oil painting showing vertical form. He used very large-scale designs to overwhelm the viewer, or, in his own words, to make the viewer feel "enveloped within" the painting. We had a good day. 
The Art Gallery of Ontario is on the junction of Dundas St W and Beverley St where Sarah lives. The glass facade of the gallery was part of the $270M revamp completed in 2008. It's very impressive.
After the art gallery we took a strole around Kensington Market. 
Friday 29th April 2011. We had breakfast with John and Carolyn and enjoyed watching and celebrating William and Kate's Royal Wedding. 
Back to Crawford Lake on Good Friday 2011. We do tend to keep returning to this spot for a walk along the escarpment and around the lake. I think you can see why. It is beautiful. 
Celebrating 4 years living in Canada. Sarah came home from Toronto and we had an evening in Jack Astors. 4th April 2011.
How do you keep your Daisy's fresh through the winter? Let her play in the snow. 
Evening out at the Lone Star Texas Grill, Oakville, our Christmas gift from Robert, Michelle and Alfie. Thank you guys. 
The 2nd Friday in January and we're taking vacation, what ever next. We did pretty well this morning, on the slopes for a 10 a.m. photo call and we've been on the road 2 hours. It was a great day, not too busy, not too cold, perfect. 
New ski's at last. Thanks Steve for the pair you gave me. Oh, and a new jacket to match the bindings.
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