Jetlag still has its cruel hooks in me — at least, I feel fine except that I haven’t yet slept more than three hours at a time since Friday night. Our travel home was uneventful, if fairly long: the 5-hour stopover at Heathrow brought us to a total of some 18 hours in transit, but the most tedious part of the trip was surely the huge, slow lineup waiting to go through Border Patrol at Paris Charles de Gaulle. No more did I love the unrolling of my personal goods into four or five trays at two separate airports, the jiggling-back into their cases of the laptop, iPad mini, phone, all while trying to wrap my belt back through the loops on my jeans and keep my passport’s whereabouts in mind. . . . But all’s well that ends well. . .
We got home late Saturday evening, and Sunday morning had the two in-town families for brunch, so good times with grandkids and more exposure to cold viruses. . . After what sounds like weeks and weeks of consecutive rain, we lucked out with a cold snap that brought blue skies, sunshine, and snow-covered local mountains. . .
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| Just to the right of that central high-rise, you can see the twin peaks that we call The Lions (and that the Squamish people have traditionally called The Twin Sisters) — it’s reassuring to see snow covering these–hope it lasts right through the season and late into spring, even summer…. |
I’m still assessing how I feel about our travels, about being in this new home, about the differences between heres and theres, and part of that thinking happened on yesterday’s walk through our relatively new home neighbourhood. What drew my eye in our travels in Europe; what draws it here; and why. . . And how much of the answers to those questions have to do with training, with education, with notions of beauty. Certainly, in these photos you can see much less regularity, much less polish perhaps, than in some of the photos I shared from Europe. But there are beauties to be found in both places, and there are harsher realities to see in both as well.
More thinking to follow, I must warn you, as I settle back in here, but for now, as I adjust to the vision of snow falling thickly over the city, traffic moving cautiously down a slushy street just a block away, I’ll leave you with a few photos from yesterday’s walk, and wish you a Happy Monday.
These flowers in the sidewalk a few blocks away, for example, right in front of the flower shop that features this prose poem written in a very pretty script across the windows which reflect the utilitarian architecture of a traditionally industrial neighbourhood now in transition.
Or this quirky snail, someone’s imagination and paint transforming a large boulder (part of a Stonehenge-esque grouping) into an object of fantasy worthy of its spot just beside a favourite neighbourhood toy store. . .
But now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some laundry to wash and some favourite winter sweaters to get reacquainted with. . . and if only I could remember where I put my best winter coat. . . .
Egad! I heard about your weather! Let me just say that you HAVE missed weeks and weeks of rain. I look at my weather app every morning (and check out some key parts of the world) and I've been horrified by all of the rain! So I am happy that you have sun – even if it involves snow đ It'll melt and you'll have a gorgeous view of those mountains. Now, all of this snow in your neighbourhood does not bode well for me. But I'm hoping the weather goddess has forgotten us in this moment of (albeit brown and grey) moderateness.
Yes, the weather here has been so dreary with rain while we've been away, and despite the inconvenience of the snow, these bright blue skies and sparkling ice everywhere more than make up for the lower temps (and as you well know, when the thermometer stays within 5 degrees of 0, that's pretty easy to dress for…. Hoping your moderate lasts for awhile…
Welcome back, Frances! How about cold weather, blue sky and snow to great you in usually gloomy Vancouver in winter. It turned really cold in Kamloops yesterday and there went the long lovely fall we have had. I hope your transition home goes smoothly and I look forward to your reflections on your travels and your new full time Vancouver life! đâď¸
Yes, as above to K, this weather is quite welcome (and I know you folk in Kamloops always laugh at our lotusland complaints about winter)
I heard that Vancouver got quite a bit of snow today. The Flower Shop looks interesting and it is great that you are out and about exploring your new neighbourhood.
With a lack of colour in the garden I often treat myself to fresh flowers….a wee indulgence that perks up our bungalow.
Our SIL and daughter came home yesterday from NZ and they have jet lag too…hope you find your coat…it must be packed away just waiting for you to find it!
You will be so happy to have your daughter home with your new son-in-law, especially after that earthquake scare while they were away.
And I did find my coat! Thank goodness, as this cool weather intends to persist…
Welcome home. That 18hr trip sounds familiar. Jet lag is not fun. It's always so strange returning home after being away for awhile. For you it must be even more unusual this time…with new surroundings and boxes waiting to be unpacked.
Ali
Thanks Ali, Yes, it's a bit disorienting, but I suppose I designed it deliberately this way — a bit of a push to the Reset button. . . đ
Oh jet lag. No fun at all. Hope you soon sleep well. Don't make any judgments about your current life while under jet lag's influence. What beautiful script on the store window.
I'm a bit envious of the snow (but don't tell most of our neighbours!)
Sounds as if you no longer need envy us, Lorrie. I'm crossing my fingers there's no more snow over the next few days as our son's family is coming from your way to visit us here. I'd prefer the roads be clear. . .
Welcome home,Frances!
Take some time for things to settle down!
Sometimes when I get home from a trip, it's like an avalanche was just waiting to go down the mountain on me ( not literally-I'm sorry about your snow )and I think "it's your family,bussiness obligations,your friends ,you must….." and the golden gilding of my trip fades away with only a glimpse or two
I was yesterday with a friend who said wisely and slowly :"I can't do it all at once,some things have to wait". And I am learning….
I follow your Advent calendar ,it is beautiful,great fun and such a great idea
Dottoressa
Thanks Dottoressa. Yes, I've accepted that this Christmas will be very different, and that giving myself permission to let some things go this year is the smartest approach if I want to stay healthy…
So glad you're enjoying the Advent calendar — it was fun planning for it during our last weeks away, and now it's fun to relive those moments.
Welcome home! The jet lag will fade. Living close to a flower store is good. I take a little walk to my corner florist/green grocer and my spirits are lifted. I think that we have a bright day coming today.
We've had a few bright ones, haven't we? Spirit-lifting.
I popped into that florist shop on Tuesday and now I'm going to go back with a little list, trying to brighten our place up for the holidays. Such a good smell in there!
Glad you made it back home, and missed the nasty rain. Now, you are just in time to enjoy the holidays. Love your pics – and especially that painted "snail". Hope the jet lag doesn't linger.
Isn't that snail great?!
Welcome home to you both …snow on the mountains…happy times spent with family …my idea of bliss!
Hope you're managing to get some sleep.
Rosie
Like Dottoressa I'm really enjoying your Advent Calendar … much appreciated!
Rosie
Can't believe I'm commenting again đ but I've just seen Lorries comment! Why do those of us who love snow always feel so guilty! Maybe this could be a blog post ..ha ha …Feel as though I should shout if from the mountains. ..I really LOVE snow!!! đ
Rosie
Love all your comments, Rosie! đ
I won't be the one to write that blogpost — I secretly suspect you snow-lovers of wreaking that havoc on the rest of us đ Although it really was fun to see how excited my grandson was, stood at the window mesmerised by the thickly falling flakes and then later outside quite willing to freeze his cheeks, nose, toes, all for the thrill of playing in this new stuff.
Isn't it strange when you return from a long holiday & the real seems unreal for a little while . Vancouver does look a lovely place to return to . Like many people who have snow only occasionally, I love it too
Wendy in York
Strange indeed, Wendy.
And yes, of all the places to come home to, Vancouver is a beautiful city.
Welcome Home! Love the flowers in the sidewalk, and how nice to have a flower shop nearby. I've been absent for a while, and I'm sorry to have missed your adventures, but now we can settle in and get reacquainted.
I haven't been very good at connecting in social media over the past few months myself. Let's see if there's more time for visiting in these darker months of the year, part of the hygge.