Awoosh.com

My mother gave me a gift, but I didn’t open it until I became a mother. And now that I have children of my own, I know that I took advantage of her generosity. I never realized the sacrifice she was making to be there, for me. It never occurred to me that she might have dreams that reached beyond the bounds of her reality.

My mother’s journey has taken her on a winding path, away from the shores of England, where she was born and raised, to a new life in Canada. She is a classic English rose – lovely and delicate – transplanted into North American soil.

Continue reading →

I am home again, after a visit to Berlin last week. There is glorious early summer weather here in Vancouver, and in my absence the garden exploded into riotous colour – everything blooming in one huge exhale after a long, stiflingly wet winter.

And I’ve come home to a missing kitty. Our beloved Mr Simon is awol. He is a tough little character, having grown up homeless on the banks of the Fraser River, up near Lytton (a very rural and rugged area). He found our middle daughter, and attached himself to her. She kept him for a while at the resort where she works, but he was too friendly – visiting the kitchen, guest accommodations etc. So she called me up and asked me if we could give him a home. I went up to meet him, experienced love at first sight, and brought him back to Vancouver with me.

He has been living the life of riley with us for almost three years – and he has won our hearts. Even people who don’t like cats like Simon – really, he behaves more like a dog than a cat. Fearless, friendly, curious, good company, and BFF of our dog Harry.

Continue reading →