Julian’s Progress

Since we hadn’t visited in a while, we arranged with Mehran and Nushin to visit them in Hemmingford when we got back from Toronto. The blueberries are just coming into season (like everything else this year, about two weeks early), so we were invited to pick a bunch. First, though, we had to have lunch,

complete with “Life”!

It was nice to have a chance to chat with our son’s in-laws.

And then it was time to go out into the fields and pick some wonderful blueberries!

I was privileged to have my own special mode of transport… named after this very blog! As a result I got tasked with ferrying the yogurt containers back to the house, as they got filled up with blueberries. It was a real balancing act to not spill (or eat) them all on the way!

I also had a chance to take a few photos of the plants around the farm. (Click to enlarge the photos).

We had a wonderful day out — thank you Mehran and Nushin!

Today Suzanne and I decided to try breakfast at Clafouti, which was just downstairs from my brother’s apartment. we had a decadently European breakfast:

There was something of a hint of 1920′s Paris in the air…

We met Esther for lunch at a sushi restaurant… (we always seem to be eating!)

And then went to an outdoor neighbourhood market. Before going back to the apartment for a little rest, we stopped by Dutch Dreams again, for some take out.

We decided to go out to a restaurant near my brother’s home, and I wanted to walk there. Esther filmed me from the apartment to the restaurant — about 7 minutes of me walking with my canes:

Once we got there, I rewarded myself with a yummy pizza…

… and a triumphant smile.

And of course, I then walked back as well. It was a good workout. Tomorrow we return home.

Suzanne and I began our day at “home” where we had our usual cereal. We then met up with Jpry and Esther, and they took us to this Chinese restaurant out in the wilds of Markham (I think), We went there because they had been there before and thought it was really good, which it was. It seems to be a traditional Chinese fish restaurant.

From there we went to the AGO to see an exhibition on Artists and the Theatre. It was very interesting, tracing the interactions of visual artists and performing artists down the ages. The AGO also has good wheelchair service, well-adapted toilets, and free admission for one “attendant”. Because it was getting hot, and because we were all feeling decadent, after the AGO we went to Dutch Dreams, an amazing ice cream parlour:

The next day we had a nice breakfast with Esther and Jory…

And then Suzanne and I headed out to see the McMichael collection of Group of Seven artists in Kleinberg. The collection is amazing and housed in a building which is nestled in the sort of forest and woodlands that the artists immortalized in their paintings. The building is also very accessible, and they provided me with a good wheelchair to get around.

I got inspired and photographed part of the forest in an impressionistic style.

It almost goes without saying that I cannot visit Toronto without going to my favourite clothing store… and I even found some clothes on sale!

We later met up with Jory, since Esther was rehearsing her new play,  The Innocents (part of Summerworks from August 7 to 14), and had dinner at the Rosedale Diner.

The next day we visited Esther and Jory’s apartment. They live on the second floor of a duplex, so I had to climb up their exterior stairs. The stairs have a good bannister, so it was not dangerous at all. I really wanted to see Esther’s new (old) desk, since we had been emailing back and forth about it before she bought it. Here it is in her living room!

While Esther and Suzanne went out to do some shopping, I relaxed on their deck and contemplated the beautiful flowers growing there. Esther and Jory have a landlord who is an exceptional gardener, and he always seems to make sure that their plants are flourishing. (Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image).

When Esther returned, it was time to show off her new duds…

Later, we went to join Jory at the Free Times Café where he was hosting their Open Stage evening.

We all really enjoyed ourselves.

We just got back from a trip to Toronto to visit Esther and Jory, whom we hadn’t seen for a while. As is usual, our trip started with a stop at a restaurant. This time it was at the bagel shop to get some bagels for my brother. That was the condition under which he agreed to let us stay in his apartment while he was away. Suzanne has gone in to get the bagels, while I wait outside.

About 7 hours later, we rolled into Toronto, and met up with Esther at the restaurant where she works between auditions and acting gigs. It is a vegan restaurant called Fresh, and it’s very good.

Last weekend Suzanne and I went to visit our friends Adrian and Heather at their country home in Métis-sur-la-Mer. Here are some photos of our trip: We began at the Orange Café, near our home, with breakfast.

About 7 hours later, we arrived at our destination. Their home is on a bay off the St. Lawrence. Because it is so close to the Gulf the water level in the bay changes according to the tides — there can be a difference between low and high tide of as much as 10 feet!

This is part of the bay at low tide:

Their house was built 100 years ago, as a simple summer place — so it is not winterized, and has wood finishing throughout.

It was quite cool when we were there. Here are Heather and Suzanne in what is actually the front entrance of the house.

While we were visiting, Adrian worked on building a front porch.

Across the bay (here the tide has come in somewhat) is a windmill farm.

We joined the Rimouski community for a Feast on Friday evening, and Suzanne had prepared a talk which she gave after the devotions. Here she is discussing some of the Writings with Tang.

On Saturday morning we went to the Métis community pancake breakfast with Heather, and met a number of members of the community.

This is the view from the front porch of the house.

And some local flowers.

On Saturday afternoon/evening, a number of friends came over for a bar-b-que and social event. There was food, music and good fun. One of the friends took this photo of me:

We had a chance to talk to some people we hadn’t seen in quite a while. Here is Suzanne with Francine.

More flowers.

They made a pit fire down on the beach, and I was actually able to walk down to it and roast a hot dog over the fire.

After eating, we all went inside for an evening of songs.

On Sunday, we all went to the Métis gardens. We started our visit with a delicious brunch in the former hunting and fishing lodge.

We then walked around the gardens themselves. Sometimes I would walk, and sometimes I sat in a wheelchair while Adrian pushed me. I think we all had a good workout.

Here Heather is photographing some flowers.

Heather and Suzanne share a view on one of the many little bridges over streams in the garden.

More flowers.

… and then on Monday morning, we came back home. All in all, it was a wonderful trip.

Just a quick note to let you all know that my son, Jonathan, married Tara on December 19th, 2009. He has posted some photos here: http://www.le19decembre.com/photos

Make sure you listen to the song as well.

Today I think is a significant date. Today, for the first time, I went to the Y for my workout, and used the locker room. There are a couple of things I did differently today from the past. I went to the Y using my canes, and not my walker. I have done this before, but always with Suzanne, In the past, she would take my coat, etc., to the locker room, and I would walk up the stairs (1 floor) to the TechnoGym, work out, and then walk down 1 floor to meet her to go home together. I simply did not use the locker room. Otherwise, I use my walker to carry my knapsack, and take the elevator to go up to the TechnoGym.

Today, I went to the Y alone (which I have done in the past using my walker, and the elevator) walked down the stairs to the locker room (1 floor), changed into my shorts and running shoes (which I have never done before), then walked upstairs to the TechnoGym (2 floors), did my workout (about an hour), then walked back down to the locker room (2 floors), got undressed, took a sauna (aaaah!), then a shower (another aaah!), then got dressed in my street clothes, and walked up the stairs (1 floor) to wait my transport to take me back home. I should add that all this walking up and down the stairs was done wearing my backpack, containing my shoes, and so on.

At home, I am walking around more and more without using any canes at all.I think my ability to do all this is a testament to the exercising I have been doing, part of which is to build up my endurance. Also of significance is the fact that I did not feel totally exhausted! So I think my body is still continuing to improve.

It has been some time since my last posting, but that doesn’t mean I have not been improving. Actually, my workouts at the YMCA continue to bear fruit. I have now started walking around the 125 m track on the third floor, about once a week. I can do one lap in about 2’45″, using only my canes.

On the second lap, I walk without any visible sign of support, but Vittia, a volunteer who is studying kinesiology (and using me as a test subject, I think), walks beside me ready to grab me by a special belt, if I should start losing my balance. I can’t post pictures here, because they do not allow any photos to be taken in the gym.

I am able to climb to the third floor, but by the time I get there I am a little winded. My endurance, though, continues to improve. I try to get to the Y at least twice a week, and most weeks three times. In addition to walking around the track, I also use their TechnoGym, which has computerized training equipment. In addition to strengthening my various muscles, I can now use the treadmill for 18 minutes, and the stationary bicycle for 9 minutes. I am actually also losing some weight, and have come down a pant size.

Every year, the YMCA publishes, in its annual report, some stories of people whose lives have been changed by their experience at the Y. This past year they chose me as one of their “poster boys”. Here is the photo they used in the annual report:

With me is Helen, the kinesiologist who has designed the training program for me. She is responsible for looking after “special populations” which includes people like me who have various specific training needs based on their medical condition. The Annual Report is here, and you can read the little article they wrote about me on pages 10 and 11.