Goodbye Canada

I've just lived through the most surreal couple months of my life.  Surreal is the aciton of putting one foot in front of the other as if what is there, isn't.  While you may know where it is you are heading in search of what you feel you want and need - you so do with no guarantee of receipt or arrival at desired destination.  All you can do is walk.  "Walking" has brought me here.  Home. 

I'm in awe of my home town - a feeling I haven't had since I was 16 when having discovered punk, I realised London was the only place to be.  I've learned the hard way that London has always been the place for me to be - nothing new there.  I don't think I've ever taken the easy route though that is my honest intention every time.  So I went, saw and did not conquer but I did forge the strongest ties with The Lish's grandparents. Oh, the tears did flow when the time came to say goodbye.  All I will say is this: My in-laws rock.  I never thought I could love another mother like I did mine but I am obliged to report that I do.  In that sense, leaving her has felt like another bereavement and the tears come in waves even here.  All I could do was to offer a snot-filled apology for taking away a future she had come to rely on.  That is something I will have to live with.  We're expecting a visit in June.  I look forward to it.

So after the world's longest nap, the Jim Jam king and I took the nipper to our local park, which because we are currently staying at a hotel in Bayswater - is the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.  Now, THAT'S a park.  My mum used to take me there when I was little, well before it was anything but a big sandpit with a couple of swings. I've never felt more at home.

Last night we walked down Westbourne Grove to have dinner at what had been out favourite eatery before moving to burbsville.  Like the creatures of habit we are Jim Jam king had the rice balls and penne with Spinach balls and I had spaghetti vongole and a Campari.  It's amazing but it's like we never left and while Jimjamalicious is having to reconcile himself with being back in the world's busiest town, I don't think he'll have trouble - not the sort I had when we tried this the other way round.  He starts work on Monday (Director of European Talent - for the trendiest retailer in the world) a title that makes his Canadian friends titter and apart from the fact that for the next two weeks we have people making our beds everyday - we're as good as home.

Now I just need to get the cast off my leg - yes I left Canada in a wheelchair - and it's time to get on the Yoga trail.

So anyhoo, goodbye Canada and thanks for all the fish.