Jello-O Plan-changing Winds, Visiting Family

London, Ontario

When I woke up on Tuesday, Apr. 9^th it was a much better time. It was 6 am so I relaxed for another half hour. I joined Bill downstairs and being it wasn’t light enough to walk yet, I made my tea and caught up on some friends’ blog posts. Most of our Ontario friends are home with the exception of a couple who will be soon. Today was extremely windy and added to the chilly 7C/46F air temps, I didn’t get out for a walk in the morning.

Bill left before 9

Our first priority was to empty the storage area underneath our king bed. We lifted that and found spaces for everything, including our boxed Christmas tree. And surprisingly, we can still walk around and live in the Suite. We also stripped the bed of sheets and duvet. We did all this because the service technician, Al, is coming to temporarily, but professionally, tighten the really really slack slide cables. He wants to be able to see what, if anything, may be causing all of the issues – from all angles, even under the bed.

It wasn't Al arriving, but instead I heard then saw Kirk bring a Mobile Suite in
It would either need a PDI or cleaning before going back to Can-Am

We had breakfast of poached eggs on rye toast and cleaned up dishes and then ourselves so that would be out of the way when he arrived. As it turned out, Bill got called in for a morning orientation job on a Grand Design travel trailer. Marshall was still sick and this was his client. Bill can’t say no, I understand that and we were going to stick around anyway so he could help Al with the bedroom job. Instead of Bill helping him, he will bring another service guy with him.

Parts of today looked like this while others were pure blue sky and sunshine
but it was definitely a 'don't wear a hat day'

Hopefully, both morning events will be done early enough that we can do some running around this afternoon. If not, definitely tomorrow. We also need groceries. The fridge needs a restock before we drive to the Ridge, it is looking pretty pathetic. Bill left at 9:15 to meet the clients and I can relax until the boys come. I made a coffee and did just that. Clemson is asleep in his bed on the couch so he will keep me company.

Driving on familiar streets, the ones we drove every day back and forth
for  30+ years

So, there is jiggling Jell-o afoot and I don’t mean the kind in the fridge. At 12 noon, Bill texted and said “I’m on my way home”. That’s great, he’s done an orientation in record time. However, Al never made it to work on our slide so I’m kind of confused. When Bill walked in, he said he heard early on that because of the winds and the cold, they deferred the fix until tomorrow morning. He was a bit gun shy to call and tell me that we did all the moving for nothing.

London also has some very unique old buildings
This church sits right on a corner at Adelaide St. and King St.
for those of you who are familiar with the city

At least the stuff is packed neatly and not in our way. We do have to remake the bed and then strip it again in the morning. What else do I have to do, really? LOL So, it was good that Bill was home early. We had cheese and crackers for lunch and then we drove to St. Thomas to Elgin Travel Centre on Wellington St. and chatted with Taylor about some flight information for October. We’ve never been to a resort before and haven’t flown since 2004 so we’re pretty rusty on the whole things. She was very helpful and answered all of our queries.

Acceptable graffiti on a building across from the police station

So, Taylor at ETC aside, I hate admitting this, but I’m frustrated about being back home for one reason. We have some lousy, read my lips, LOUSY customer service people here in London. Yesterday in a Dollarama, not one smile from any of the 6 employees I met. No ‘good morning!’, no ‘how are you today’ (with any sincerity), rude shelf stackers reaching around me to straighten greeting cards with nary an ‘excuse me’.

Beef, mushroom rice soup
It was delicious
Bill had the house salad

lasagna and garlic toast
yummy

Rice pudding came with the seniors meal
I was so full, I shared it with Bill

Today, other than our buddy Stu at Costco who greets us like old and dear friends, an ignorant ‘foodie’ at a sampler booth, a cashier and bagger who greeted us and then ignored us during checkout while chatting about karaoke to each other, I felt very disappointed in human kind. I walked out thinking of how everyone, well a large percentage in the southwest venues, campgrounds etc. know how to treat their consumers. I’m hoping to be met with the familiar friendliness in our hometown of Durham when we arrive.

Charlotte and Cory have a very nice home

Okay, rant over, back on to our day. We left Costco and stopped at Food Basics where I picked up a few veggies and other necessary things on the grocery list. People were nicer there. We drove home, got groceries put away and at 5:30 Bill took me out to supper. One of our favourite London restaurants, a bi-weekly payday haunt for us during our working career. Southside Family Restaurant is just around the corner from our former sticks and bricks home.

Chelsea likes her hoody
although it is a bit big on her
Look at that beautiful smile!

 While there, we were delightfully surprised to see a former school board employee walk in. We have known Dave Ward for over 30 years and it was wonderful to see and chat with him before our supper and his guests arrived. He was hosting a seminar in the back room for London Auto Service, his new business. After leaving the restaurant, with a bit of time on our hands, Bill drove down our old street and past our old house.

She thought it was neat that it came from Mexico

Interesting to see the changes of no front garden (what happened to my lilac bush?) but also interesting that we felt ‘nothing’, really. It was just a drive in an old neighbourhood that we aren’t missing in our life. There are a couple of neighbours that we miss but we had a date and had to keep on moving. Across the familiar city, Black Beauty nosed her way around as if she’d never left. We arrived at Charlotte and Cory’s lovely home in the north corner of London.

I didn't do a very good job getting a picture of the earrings
but what a cutie patootie! Olivia loves the roadrunners.

The girls seem to grow so much during the 6 months we are away. Olivia becomes more of a young lady and Chelsea, our sports gal, must have grown at least 3”! I told her 3’ but was kidding. 😊 We caught up on their news, they on ours and then I handed out the gifts we’d brought home. I do believe everything was a hit. Chelsea looked great in her new hoody from Los Algodones and Olivia was tickled ‘pink’ with her roadrunner earrings from there as well. How well we did with the pink being her birthstone colour! (Lucky is all)

Now you can see them

We talked about Cancun for October and we are all getting excited for the vacation away. We said goodbye at 8:15 and drove home under dark clouds and a bit of rain on the windshield. This was a good day here in London. We remade the bed when we got home. Bill read, Clemson waited for me to sit and I finished downloading pictures and getting my blog ready to post. It might be a morning post; my eyes are really drooping.

I hope yours was a good day as well. Thank you for stopping by.