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Sunday, September 29, 2013

We made it!

Despite the fact that we haven't lived here for six years and we'll probably never live here again, we still consider Ottawa our hometown. So arriving back here for the first time in almost a year is pretty exciting for us and we've been looking forward to seeing the family and friends that we have in the area.

We left here October 22nd of last year.

And we drove the little blue car all the way down to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala! Then all the way to the middle of Saskatchewan, Canada, and back to Ottawa.

16,250 kms (10,000 miles)!

The little blue car (a 2006 Pontiac Wave) now has 190,000 kms (118,000 miles) on it. And what a great little car it has been. We bought four new tires on the way south, and spent $80 on an exhaust repair on the way north. It still has the original brakes and clutch! And even with this many miles on it, I would not hesitate to drive it all the way to Guatemala again.

Got to get it cleaned up a bit today though. It sure does need a vacuum and a bath!

So, what do we have planned over the next two weeks?

Well, visiting family and friends are top of the agenda. So many people we want to see, and it starts today because we've been invited to dinner with one of my long time best friends. Picking up our son Alex on the way there, and we haven't seen him since last year so we're looking forward to that!

Tomorrow, Ruth's dad returns from a month long visit to England. We arrived at his house knowing that he wasn't here yet. That's okay, we can get the place looking "lived in" again before he arrives.

Next weekend, I'm getting together with eight guys who I have known since we were all 16 years old. We've rented a huge "cottage" about an hour from here with an indoor swimming pool and all the toys. Really looking forward to a weekend with the boys. We see each other regularly, but we have not been together as a group in over 30 years!

And, Ottawa Tourism and the Ottawa Marriott Hotel are going to sponsor a two night stay in downtown Ottawa so that Ruth and I can play tourist in our own hometown. Excited to be able to tell you all about Canada's capital city and everything there is to see and do in the dowtown core.

October 14th is Canadian Thanksgiving and hopefully all of our family in the area will be able to attend. Because on the 15th, we fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia!

Our son Alex had already bought his ticket to come to Nova Scotia with us, but unfortunately his plans have changed. But for good reason...he has been looking for a job as an actuary, and has now been hired by one of the leading companies in the world for this type of work. So proud of him, and he is proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.

So, lots going on over the next little while!

18 comments:

  1. Glad you are "home' safe and sound. Enjoy your visit. Make lots of memories.

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    1. Thank you Marsha! You can be guaranteed we will enjoy our time here.

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  2. Nice going. Funny that you'll be a tourist in your own hometown. Good gig with The Marriot.

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    1. How many people are there out there that only visit the "tourist" spots when they have out of town visitors?! Ottawa is a great place to play tourist!

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  3. Great news about A;ex, let us know who he is working for. My Brother In Law the retired actuary would love to here about it.Hope you enjoy uour get together, and Family. Sam & Donna...

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    1. Thanks Sam and Donna, Alex is pretty excited about his new job but we will miss him when we head off to Nova Scotia without him.

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  4. Welcome home and congratulations to Alex. Glad to hear that Ruths' Dad is doing well enough to be travelling

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    1. Thank you Contessa! Looking forward to seeing my Dad. He is doing better but still is having problems (he knee is the problem now) and just decided to go to England anyway, I don't think he did a lot of walking. I guess we will see how things went for him when he comes back tonight.

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  5. Welcome home, you two and congrats to Alex and his new job - that's great!
    We are following your blog everyday but just don't post as much. Busy going to our granddaughter Allie's college soccer games - this is one of the best times in our lives! Wishing you a happy, happy time at home with family and friends!!!
    B&C

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    1. Thanks Connie and Barry, Alex is grinning from ear to ear!

      Hope your granddaughter Allie is doing well with her soccer, it is so fun to watch them play, isn't it?!

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  6. You are definitely going to have a busy two weeks. But such a wonderful time - friends and family. That is the best.

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    1. Yep, it will be busy and we are going to enjoy every minute of it!

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  7. What full plate you guys have. Always good to see family and friends. Little blue car has certainly been around. Hmm, four countries.

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    1. The little blue car doesn't owe us a thing! It has been such a great car, I think maybe he is looking forward to a rest though. :)

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  8. It always seems busy when you get around family and friends. Enjoy your time there.

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    1. Is sure does, especially when you only have a couple of weeks to spend with them.

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  9. Howdy Ruth & Kevin,
    When Chris, sez plate full, he means enchiladas !!! Glad y'all made it in the allotted time, picked up (CONGRATULATIONS) Alex, beat your dad home, where you made it look 'lived in'... How did THE RESEARCHER find a FREE weekend in Ottawa; he amazes me??? Enjoy your 'visits', family reunion and have HAPPY DAYS !!!

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    1. Mmmm, we could do with a plate full of enciladas right now, sure missing Mexico!

      We will enjoy our time with family and friends, thanks Butterbean.

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