Monday, July 12, 2010

Holiday Bliss

Wow!  Did we ever pack a lot into one week!  R and I drove to Toronto to see some small boats...

and some tall ships!  The Europa is from the Netherlands and was built in 1911.  There are 68 bunks and if you're feeling adventurous they offer trips where you can live the life of a seafarer.  Trying to dress the part I wore my 'wench blouse' and proceeded to get such a burn on my decollete...ouch!  I'll never make a very good vamp.

Time for some culture.  It was to Niagara-on-the-Lake to partake in the Shaw Festival series of plays, we saw An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde.  It was over 40C with the humidex and the two pints R had at lunch were practically for health and safety reasons.  But once we were in a darkened air-conditioned theatre and the lights went down I looked over to catch R having a snooze!  Cue the elbow.  This is the tiniest bookshop but full of just the kind of books I like.  No time to browse though as the curtain was about to go up!

I couldn't resist taking a photo of some Anne of Green Gable Raspberry Cordial for those of you across the pond.  Perhaps I'll suggest some of this to R instead of the pints next time.

On one of the days which rain was forecast we saw The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson.  Whilst everyone else was munching on popcorn, I snuck in an eccles cake leftover from Niagara-on-the-Lake and a cup of tea.  Very much a 'Hyacinth' moment.

Dinner out with friends and getting together on the patio was so nice and best of all...R and I didn't have to watch the clock.  Deacon had his fair share of swimming in the stream at Lowville Park and I discovered masses of wild blackberries which I had to gobble up straight away seeing as I didn't have a bowl.  R was worried about my tummy but as it turns out it was really Deacon he should have worried about.  Too much water and bark from chasing sticks caused him to empty the contents of his stomach on the back seat on the drive home one evening....ugh!  So perhaps not all bliss but hey...that's life.

And yesterday, on our last day of holiday, my true love gave to me...the most gorgeous diamond ring to mark our twenty-fifth year of marriage.  The actual date isn't until December but secrets and waiting can sometimes be too much to bear. 

So it's Monday and back to reality.  Who's on holiday next and what would you like to do?

14 comments:

  1. What a lovely week you've had - lucky you! And fantastic surprise with the ring! Can we see a pic??

    Two more weeks til I have a week off - it can't come quickly enough!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Darlene you sound like you had a beautiful time! I love the Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial! Do we get a photo of the ring? I'd love to see it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Two weeks until the summer holidays start - hurrah hurrah! Many congratulations on 25 years!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely photos! It sounds like you had a great time, though poor Deacon (and poor whoever had to clean the car!). Congrats on 25 years, and please do share a photo of the ring--what a great surprise!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Delightful whirlwind holiday...capped off by the romance of a sparkly diamond to celebrate 25 years...does it get any better?

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful surprise present!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a splendid holiday and what better way to end it than with a lovely diamond?!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations on your 25th wedding anniversary and the lovely glittering gift ( I know I am a lil early in wishing you!). I also loved the Rasperberry Cordial...oh I will never forget how anne got diana drunk and how devastated she was

    ReplyDelete
  9. It looks as if you've had a wonderful holiday! I'm so pleased! I was also delighted to see the Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial - NOT the kind to make you drunk! I called DH over to see it. Anne was one of the earliest books I read to him when we were first together and I read it to the offspring several years later! Our silver wedding anniversary is in December, too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. verity, Let's hope the next couple of weeks fly by and yes, I'll get a pic on here later today!

    booksnob, I knew the cordial pic would be a hit and stay tuned for the ring! I have to work in the morning but after that...

    Joan, Thank you and hooray for your holidays!

    Danielle, I had the crime scene clean-up assignment but really, it was such a sight when we opened the slider door that we just cracked up!

    hostess of the humble bungalow, It was lovely but oh so tiring...we need a rest after all that!

    Cornflower, Oh thank you, my very practical 'make do and mend' side is still in shock!

    Hannah, Considering we didn't book a trip or cottage it really was quite exciting!

    Vipula, Thank you...glad you enjoyed the photo!

    Penny, Isn't that spooky...we're the 27th, how about you? It's been so hot here, that cordial would be quite nice right about now!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy early anniversary to you and R! What a charming little bookstore and I much prefer your choice of movie snacks. So glad you all had a wonderful holiday:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Book Psmith, Thank you and yes, I felt a bit sorry for the popcorn munchers lol!

    ReplyDelete
  13. We're the 28th! I was looking at silver cupcake liners today and thinking I must get some for the Celebration, whatever form it takes...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the raspberry cordial! Sounds like a wonderful break.

    ReplyDelete