Dec 22 - unexpected encounters

Breakfast at the St. Lawrence Market is always good ... and I always have the same thing ... peameal bacon on a bun.  This so-called Canadian Bacon has the outside rolled in corn meal, thus the name.  Kylie and I had the peameal; Lauren had a juicy thing; Sandy had what probably amounts to an omelet-in-a-croissant.  

From there we went back to the hotel to get our luggage and car and then onward to Barrie.  We got to Stef's just before noon, chatted a bit and then hit the road with Abby, heading to Lowes and then to Toronto.

Our first destination was Sherway Gardens.  We were missing one calendar so Sandy wanted to hit the Calendar Store that's always open in the aisle this time of year.  What a zoo !  It took forever to find a parking spot.  We ended up by Toys 'R Us but even there we cruised for a while until someone left.

First off, lunch in the food court by Sporting Life.  Next, the calendar store -- whoops -- according to an info person "They didn't show up this year" -- ??  This is the only time of year that people buy lots of calendars but of course they do compete with online shopping.  We were advised that perhaps Hallmark, but nothing there, and then pointed at Chapters across the Queensway.  Traffic was jammed but eventually we got there; I didn't even try to find parking.

I dropped Sandy off by the door and then drove slowly into the Acura Dealership adjoining, turned around ... and who was walking along towards me but Gavin !  He and ... help me here Jason ... Mark ? ... I know the friend from the cottage ... had bought coffee.   We chatted for a while and then Sandy came along, seeing me parked and talking to people assumed that there'd been some inter-vehicle altercation (i.e. minor fender bender).  We chatted some more and then headed off.

Next stop was The Apple Market but before that we stopped at Queensway and Cawthra and got fuel and washed the car.  We loaded up on mostly veggies at TAM and then continued west along The Queensway, finding that we couldn't turn south on Highway 10 due to police car blockage and continued to Mavis, north to Dundas, west to Erin Mills Parkway, then to the QEW and our hotel on Walkers Line.  At this point, with all the heavy traffic, it was already around 5pm.  Abby got a walk; Sandy contacted Joyce and we agreed to meet at a restaurant on Appleby at 6:30.  We sat and chatted with Joyce for at least three hours, a very long time for me to sit still but I did.

It was good to see Joyce.  Usually Sandy gets together with her solo.  We need to get to Hong Kong while she's working there.  It will be three years next in May ... have to make some plans !

Today I have a dentist appointment at 11am.  Hopefully that goes well and I don't have to see Dr. Weir for a while.  He's a great guy but ...

We'll stop at Sobey's in Barrie on the way north for a couple of things, notably milk, that wouldn't have survived in the car for 24 hours.  Tomorrow we head back to Stef's to celebrate Christmas a day early, but that's just a day trip.

Onward !