STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

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Special Treat ??“ From Me

Aug 21, 2005? 

Bonjour from Montreal

By Carol Roach

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It is with great pleasure that I begin this weekly column in the Whigoah, especially since I had the opportunity to visit the wonderful people of Alvinston and surrounding areas last week. ? Our ten day trip was an unforgettable experience for both of us.

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Coming from Montreal, a city of three million people, you can well understand the differences.?  Matt and I were only too happy to get away from the hustle and bustle of big city life and enjoy some peaceful country style living. The warm hospitality of the Alvinston community was a welcome change.? 

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In Montreal, like most big cities across the world, you are lucky if you know your next door neighbour.?  Many people live in huge apartment complexes of 1,000 people or more and can boast that they may know one or two people in the building; even if they have lived there for twenty years or more.

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In contrast, I found that the Alvinston community was small enough for everyone to know each other. And if they didn??™t, they sure the heck didn??™t make it an obstacle. They did something virtually unheard of in Montreal; they smiled and waved.?  Our friends, Trish and Jim MacQueen, were our gracious hosts.? 

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Matt??™s favourite spot was their front porch, or should I say, veranda.?  We would sit for hours enjoying the quiet life.?  I loved the cloud formations and the starry nights (not many stars in Montreal, too many lights to see them). But the biggest thrill for me was to see people drive or bike by and you guessed it; smile and wave. Imagine seeing the mayor of the city and his wife ride by several times of the day in their truck and wave!?  I don??™t know where my mayor lives, let alone meet him or get close enough to wave at him!

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Trish and Jim took us everywhere.?  One could not find better hosts on this planet.?  We got to see, Sarnia, London, Wallaceburg, Petrolia, Chatham and more.?  In fact, don??™t be surprised if you see Matt and I as your neighbours sometime in the future.?  We totally fell in love with south western Ontario.? 

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My favourite trip was to the animal farm/zoo.?  The spitting llama has a new name, I called him Omar, and the little one is Hamid. Matt was so happy. He was like a boy again. He squealed in delight when he got to see partridges once again.?  He had not seen his beloved pets since he left his native country of Iraq nearly forty years before.

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Our favourite restaurant was Montana. I don??™t remember exactly where it was, but I do remember that there was so much food at such a reasonable price. It was amazing.?  Although you would not starve when you came to Montreal eateries, the city is more or less guided by French European fine cuisine where less is considered more. In other words, not as much food is served on the plate.?  If you go to some of the high priced fancy bistros in our French quarter you are lucky if you get a small potato, carrot stick, and three ounces of meat.?  For those of you who remember my picture, you can guess that I never frequent these restaurants.?  Fortunately, for Montrealers we have hundreds of restaurants and I don??™t have to.

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My least favourite trip happened to be going to the beach.?  I wanted the experience of actually putting my foot in Lake Huron.?  Remember, Montreal is far from the great lakes. Our claim to fame is the industrial St. Lawrence River which is a tributary to the Atlantic Seaway. The mighty St. Lawrence is steeped in history, but it is dirty and we do not have any swimming areas. It was refreshing to see the beautiful water of Lake Huron with it??™s varies shades of blue.

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Trish mentioned Ontario had the hottest sand beaches in the country. Did I listen; of course not.?  I took off my shoes and tried to brave it.?  I hate to say it but this city girl got a big surprise. I burnt my feet and they blistered.?  I hobbled back to the car in excruciating pain. Trish, or should I say Doctor Mom had to nurse me back to health.?  I felt so stupid. Never again will I ignore a warning like that from anyone.

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Matt is an artist. He enjoyed the art museum in London.?  Was it coincidence that on our visit the display from Canada??™s own group of seven was being shown??  Matt??™s art teacher was a student of one of the members of this illustrious group.?  I am sure that Matt and Ross will have much to talk about next week when he gets back to the studio.

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Matt took many pictures of the beautiful scenery all over the area.?  We both loved the lakes, ponds and trees.?  We did not have to wonder why London is called the Forest City.?  Montreal really is a beautiful city and we do have beautiful trees but just not as many.?  We don??™t have many parks and ponds for a city as big as ours either; the price you pay for living in a concrete jungle. Alvinston??™s pond is just wonderful. Yet, our favourite pond is the little pond in the MacQueen backyard.?  To see the beautiful fish, the bullfrog, and all the other critters which live there make it is an experience to behold. I will never forget it.

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Matt received some great news. Trish has negotiated two art showings for him at the Alvinston and Petrolia libraries in 2006.?  He is very excited about these showings as we plan to be a resident of one these communities in the future.?  Trish is such a wonder woman, I cannot get over all that she does and yet to look at her she gives you the impression of being a simple woman but ordinary she is not.?  She is a professional in every sense of the word, a mother, grandmother, writer, artist, newspaper publisher, book publisher, restaurateur, and much more.?  Boy I was exhausted just listing her accomplishments.

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I loved Trish??™s tearoom.?  We do have a few of those in Montreal as well.?  The food is great and the ambiance is exceptional. I was hoping to see the red hat ladies dressed in full garb. I have never seen these fine women in person. We do not have a local chapter in Montreal. Unfortunately they were not wearing their purple dresses and red hats that day.

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I have had the opportunity to read about these wonderful ladies and their adventures through the writers I have on Storytime Tapestry which is my daily newsletter.?  Next time I visit, red hat Ruby will see to it that I get a see them in all their glory.?  I Love you ladies. Maybe I will start a chapter of my own while I am still in Montreal.

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Country living is much healthier for me.?  I have been suffering with chronic bronchitis for years.?  Antibiotics just do not work. ? I have a puffer, yet I do not have asthma. I use it to keep my lungs clear.?  The trip to Alvinston did me a world of good.?  My coughing diminished considerably while in Alvinston and miraculously cleared up after taking some wonderful honey from none other than Monroe Honey.?  The natural bacteria in honey helped clear my throat.

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We enjoyed our Monroe honey tour immensely. I got to see how honey is made and I got to taste the award winning mead wine. It is a shame that Monroe Honey doesn??™t distribute in Quebec.?  Now Trish will be a very busy bee sending me honey when I run out.? 

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I want to thank the people of Alvinston and Petrolia, who graciously came to the reading of my new book; Angels Watching Over Me.?  I enjoyed the reading immensely.?  A special thank you goes out to Mary Lou of Alvinston public library and _____ and Sue of Petrolia public library for having me.?  I was very impressed with each of the librarians. They were warm and accommodating and set up the reading on very short notice.?  I look forward to working with you in the future as more of my books are released.

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Last but not least, Trish and Jim surprised us with a wonderful treat.?  We saw the musical Off Broadway in a barn of all things, in the playhouse in South bend.?  The music was wonderful the theatrics had us laughing all night. The evening was truly enchanting.?  Since we attended the theater on the last evening of our stay, we could not have asked for a better send off.? 

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Stay tuned next week for more about me and Montreal Living.

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Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A psychology

winterose@videotron.ca

Author: Picking Up the Pieces: A Woman??™s Journey, Angels Watching over Me

Newsletter Publisher:?  Storytime Tapestry: ? http://subs.zinester.com/98907

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Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

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A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University.?  She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology.?  Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor.?  You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com.?  You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.?  Carol??™s second book: Angels Watching Over Me is soon to be released by White Schooner Books ??“ details to follow. ? 

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If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you.?  Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.

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