I've just celebrated the tenth anniversary of my move to Winnipeg.
Buildings of Downtown Winnipeg
I moved here on the 20th of June 1999. It was a beautiful hot summer day in Ottawa and my mother, younger sister and her son had come to see me off at the airport. There were lots of hugs and tears and as I was passing through security I turned to look back. My vision was blurry as I tried to blink away the tears and I saw my little two-year-old nephew, cute as a button standing there with a great big grin on his face, and having the time of his life as his pudgy little hand blew me endless kisses. That image remains imprinted on me as my last parting memory of home.
As sad and scared as I was to be leaving, I felt I was on an adventure, heading off to carve out my future elsewhere. I've always had a very independent nature and I knew I needed to move away from my family and spread my wings in my own direction. I was about to turn thirty five, I was alone after being widowed a few years earlier, I'd never been to Winnipeg before, I didn't know anyone here and this was my chance to create a new life for myself. I did have a job, though there was no certainty as to how long it might last. I was enrolled in a training program to become an Air Traffic Controller and my continued employment was dependent on success in my training.
Manitoba Farmland
I watched out the window for most of the two and a half hour flight, lost in my thoughts and wondering what Winnipeg was going to be like. Shortly before landing, I knew we had arrived at the Canadian Prairies (which I'd never seen) because all the rural roads were as straight as if they'd been drawn with a ruler. The land was so flat, there was no need to have any bends in the roads and they criss-crossed across the landscape like it was a big checker board. It was sunny and beautiful when we landed and I made my way to the hotel where I would be staying for the next few weeks.
Outdoor Patio by the River
My first impression of Winnipeg was that it was so much more than I was expecting. I knew that the surrounding area was mostly farmland, wide open and flat, and I guess I just expected that the city would be more of the same except more populated (meaning that there would be a lack of large trees and neighbours would have no privacy from each other when out in their yards). I was so excited by all the trees - big, mature trees that formed a canopy over the residential streets in the area where I was staying - my mother found it humorous when I told her.
Finding a place to move into by the first of July was quite a challenge since it was only ten days away and I spent the first few days scanning the newspaper, placing calls and running off to view aparments. I was lucky to finally find a very spacious apartment with a great view, on the top floor of solidly built concrete building which was excellent at blocking out any noise from neighbouring units. The next challenge came when I received word that the moving company would not be able to deliver my belongings in time. Although I had three weeks booked in the hotel, extending my stay was not an option because in the summer of '99 Winnipeg was playing host to the Pan-Am Games and every hotel was already booked solid. Thankfully my emloyer, who was orchestrating the move, scramled to get another moving company on board who could deliver within the deadline, otherwise I would be moving into an empty apartment without so much as a pot to pee in, so to speak. It all worked out very well and I lived in that apartment for six years.
Provencher Bridge spanning the Red River between Downtown and St. Boniface
Its now been ten years since I moved here and I've grown to appreciate many things about Winnipeg. I'm glad I took the plunge and decided to change my life. Change is good and often brings new opprtunities or experiences but it's not always easy. For me it has helped me meet wonderful people, make new friends, get involved in new ventures and grow as a person.
Many people have said to me over the years that they're amazed I would/could do that on my own but all I can say is that it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I couldn't have planned all the things that have happened over the last ten years and I no longer feel like the same person I was when I left Ottawa. Sometimes it’s not planning that shapes your life. Little everyday decisions can end up being big moments. Things happen that you have no control over and you have to go with them – see where they take you.
Sometimes when things present themselves in certain ways in your life, you just have to go with your instincts and follow them where they lead you. My instincts led me here, to this city and what I'm doing now. It’s been a great adventure.
Well! After a very long and unexpected hiatus, I'm finally back!
I didn't go anywhere, it's just that I've had some serious computer issues lately. Two in fact, in very close succession, that have left me without any means to stay up to date with the online world. I admit to being quite frustrated with this over the last several weeks but there was no point getting worked up about it when I couldn't do anything except wait. An excercise in frustration became a lesson on Patience. Don't you just love the learning opportunities life throws your way? Yeah, right! We're a lot more the same than we are different, you and I, so I'm pretty sure you're not sitting there nodding your head vigourously in agreement to that question!
On the brighter side, I had more free time for other things, like visiting with friends and knitting, which I like to do in front of the TV. In an earlier post I mentioned I had started working on my first pair of socks and now I can proudly say that they're finished, along with another pair that just need to have the toe sewn with the Kitchener Stitch to close them up. I've had so much time in fact, that I've even knit a bag and all that's left to do with that is to felt it and attach the zipper and handle. All these items were made as gifts so I apologize that I can't add any photos at this time but I'll make sure they're added in a later post.
I'm glad to have had this time to relax a bit because now that we're heading into summer, things get much busier at work. The workload really picks up as more people are travelling and taking flights, gliding, taking flying lessons, skydiving and what have you, and with our own people wanting to take summer holidays as well, it creates a need to work a lot of extra shifts to cover for them in their absence. The nature of the business is such that your work won't wait on your desk until you come back so someone has to be scheduled to cover your shift. As a result, the summers are very busy for me and although I'll do my best to keep up with the blogging, I doubt there'll be much knitting or anything else getting done.
I’ve been reading a lot on the internet lately. Mostly blogs, forums and such, related to knitting, and it amazes me that people can do things in so many different ways to achieve the same result. For example, one woman was saying that she didn’t know all the ways of Casting On, she only knew about thirty of them. Now, I have a lot of knitting experience and am definitely not a Newbie in any way, shape or form but I never even knew there were thirty ways. Thirty ways … it boggles my mind! I laughed when I read that and I’m still chuckling now even as I write this. I tell ya, ever since the internet came into being, there’s no shortage of information.
Another thing I keep seeing reference to is “Blocking” your knitting. Do most people do this? Because that’s not something I can say I’ve ever done, unless you count laying a damp tea towel over your knitted item and passing a hot iron over it to create a little steam. The idea of buying a blocking board and pinning your garment down seems a bit unusual to me but then again, that’s probably just me. I’ve read that blocking is especially important for lacy shawls and similar items, to open up the lacework and show off all the detail. I can see the sense in that case, but what about things like socks? Do they need to be blocked too? Or gauge swatches? I just shake my head when people say do it for their gauge swatches … I must be missing something here (and I don’t think its my marbles).
If you’re someone who makes the effort to block all your projects, would you please let me know what benefit you find in it? I’m sure there must be some, or else people wouldn’t bother and I’m curious, since I’m not one of those people.
Last night I finally got to see my boyfriend Tino. We both lead such busy lives – him with his job, kids and soccer coaching responsibilities (for his younger son’s team) and me with my job (which is shift-work and doesn’t always fit in well with the schedule of the rest of the world), business, website and being a landlord.
Tino was away on a ski trip with his kids during their Spring Break a week ago and has been occupied with the of planning their trip, packing and taking care of all the other little details that involve leaving your house empty while you’re out of town. I saw them briefly last week when I picked them up at the airport but since then our work schedules haven’t been in sync, so you can imagine how nice it was to finally spend an evening just talking and catching up with each other.
We had dinner at Sukhothai, one of the most elegant restaurants in Osborne Village, which is one of the trendier neighbourhoods here in Winnipeg. I heard all about their adventures on the ski hill as we enjoyed our favourite green curry and coconut milk soup, which is always perfect… rich and delicious with chicken, mixed vegetables, onions, bamboo shoots and basil. After the soup came Pad Nut Puck (a cashew stir fry with chicken, asparagus, celery, snow peas, carrots, red pepper and onions), Pra Rad Pik (a battered Tilapia fillet in a sweet and spicy chili sauce) and Coconut Rice. We both love good food and dining out at this restaurant is definitely one of our guilty pleasures … pure Heaven on Earth!
How many of you like Thai food? What’s your favourite restaurant? I’d love to hear about the places you enjoy the most and the dishes that you get excited about. Post a comment and let the rest of us know.
Today when I was looking at things on the internet I came across a video about a very confident young girl who had knit her own prom dress out of Duck Tape. Seriously, Duck tape??? All I can say is...... WOW! Such resourcefulness is pretty rare, don't you think? I wonder where this girl will be in a few years from now (maybe designing new and innovative knitting patterns we'll all be talking about?). Watch the video to see for yourself:
It turns out though, that every year hundreds of teenagers are creating their own funky fashions out of duct tape, hoping to win a scholarship prize in a contest put on by the makers of Duck brand duct tape.
The contest rules state "The Contest is open to legal residents of the United States and Canada, including the District of Columbia, but excluding Puerto Rico and the Province of Quebec, 14 years of age or older at the time of entry who are attending a high school prom in the spring of 2009".
Do you think you're up for the challenge? Check out the contest website for more information and to look at the fashions created by past winners. See more images of contest participants. It seems like a totally crazy idea but might just be a lot of fun.
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On the brighter side, I had more free time for other things, like visiting with friends and knitting, which I like to do in front of the TV. In an earlier post I mentioned I had started working on my first pair of socks and now I can proudly say that they're finished, along with another pair that just need to have the toe sewn with the Kitchener Stitch to close them up. I've had so much time in fact, that I've even knit a bag and all that's left to do with that is to felt it and attach the zipper and handle. All these items were made as gifts so I apologize that I can't add any photos at this time but I'll make sure they're added in a later post.
I'm glad to have had this time to relax a bit because now that we're heading into summer, things get much busier at work. The workload really picks up as more people are travelling and taking flights, gliding, taking flying lessons, skydiving and what have you, and with our own people wanting to take summer holidays as well, it creates a need to work a lot of extra shifts to cover for them in their absence. The nature of the business is such that your work won't wait on your desk until you come back so someone has to be scheduled to cover your shift. As a result, the summers are very busy for me and although I'll do my best to keep up with the blogging, I doubt there'll be much knitting or anything else getting done.
Another thing I keep seeing reference to is “Blocking” your knitting. Do most people do this? Because that’s not something I can say I’ve ever done, unless you count laying a damp tea towel over your knitted item and passing a hot iron over it to create a little steam. The idea of buying a blocking board and pinning your garment down seems a bit unusual to me but then again, that’s probably just me. I’ve read that blocking is especially important for lacy shawls and similar items, to open up the lacework and show off all the detail. I can see the sense in that case, but what about things like socks? Do they need to be blocked too? Or gauge swatches? I just shake my head when people say do it for their gauge swatches … I must be missing something here (and I don’t think its my marbles).
We had dinner at Sukhothai, one of the most elegant restaurants in Osborne Village, which is one of the trendier neighbourhoods here in Winnipeg. I heard all about their adventures on the ski hill as we enjoyed our favourite green curry and coconut milk soup, which is always perfect… rich and delicious with chicken, mixed vegetables, onions, bamboo shoots and basil. After the soup came Pad Nut Puck (a cashew stir fry with chicken, asparagus, celery, snow peas, carrots, red pepper and onions), Pra Rad Pik (a battered Tilapia fillet in a sweet and spicy chili sauce) and Coconut Rice. We both love good food and dining out at this restaurant is definitely one of our guilty pleasures … pure Heaven on Earth!