Canadians (especially Ontarians) love their cottages, and last month I got to have my first cottage weekend when Morgan, Emily and me, and other friends went to Em's cottage on Four Mile Lake. It was great to be cosy in the cottage with the lovely wood stove, and great company and food.
Extreme Bocce and Drinking Jenga were also entertaining :) (I managed to pick all the easy ones and only take small sips ;) ).
I've also enjoyed a few other North American events. The LIT Reunion was a great time catching up and hanging out (including a game of Broomball (basically Ice Hockey without the padding or the skates) - I scored a goal!!). More recently was that very interesting tradition of Halloween.
I got to go Trick or Treating with two very sweet 2 year olds dressed as monkeys (they got a big haul of 'candy' that I got to help out with too ;) ). 
Morgan, Emily and I also checked out the big party happening in downtown Toronto - an amazing array of dress-ups :) And just this past weekend I experienced my first American Thanksgiving (in Canada!) - Noah cooked up a storm and we ate - how good is that?!And yes, for those who've asked, it is getting cold - we even got some snow last week:
Not really skiing conditions yet though :) (don't ask me why the formatting has just disappeared in the rest of this post.... ;) )
Also, in the last couple of weeks, two gorgeous little ones have come into the world (bubs of 2 couples I know): Maddox and Miriam. Lots of love and prayers to their Mum's and Dad's :) I can't wait to see more pix!
It's been a bit mind boggling but now I'm into the excitement phase of planning my January trip with my friend Jane (from Sydney). We're meeting in Honduras and we'll be part of a volunteer program for a couple of weeks http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/work-with-children-in-honduras.html and then we'll do some serious relaxing in Belize (my break from the freezing cold winter of Canada). So, time to learn some Spanish! Rápido!
But before all that, I'm going to be at the IVCF Staff Conference. I'll be part of the Drama team - can't wait!
And meanwhile, big change is happening back in Aus, new party in power, new Prime Minister (I got to vote at the Australian Consulate the other week. And there was a guy there wearing a 'Kevin '07' T-shirt, handing out Labor 'how-to-vote' cards! I couldn't believe the commitment! Well, apparently it paid off!) - I think it's time for a change, it will be interesting to see how things go. In a very shallow way, I've been enjoying it all through the eyes of 'The Chaser' (one more vodcast to watch!) - they are so hilarious! In other things entertainment related it's been sad to have 'Get This' finish (my fave radio show from Aus) but at least I have the podcasts to listen to (and my new first ipod to listen them on!): "this is dizzy stuff, folks" (sorry, 'Get This' 'in' joke ;) )
Well, we finally have a home phone line now so: talk/skype/email/facebook with you soon!
(more snow, Halloween and cottage pix are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bec.kimpton/FirstSnowInToronto0708_221107 and here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bec.kimpton/HalloweenCottagesCanadian)
