#41 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- BUYING THE RED AND WHITE

Okay, I have a nice collection of tops for Canada Day but Adolph did not. So out to the Mall- Evernotes, Roots and Hudson's Bay had some tops and shorts. Bought a nice selection of Ts and Tanks for Adolph to last the season. Some with the 150. So what are you going to be wearing.
#Hudson'sBay#Evernotes#Roots#CanadaDay#celebrations

#40 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- OTTAWA THE PLACE TO BE FOR THE BIG DAY

Ottawa is about to receive hundreds of thousands guests for the big day. For me I will be watching on TV and celebrating locally with family! The fireworks everywhere should be great. Wear a shirt, have a favourite food- I have those maple leaf burgers from Sobeys-, make a special drink or drink a Canadian wine or drink, well just find your way to celebrate!  For the lucky, enjoy your day in Ottawa with all the hoopla!!
#canadaday#150#ottawa#sobeys#mapleleaf

NANA SAYS BREATH-SCHOOL IS OUT

For some parents summer vacations are fun. For many the enrollment at camps began in February. Some dump the kids with relatives, usually grandparents that retired- here is your summer job to care for my kids. Like other grandparents, I take some days here and there to help out. Perhaps one day I will do more, like renting a summer cottage to have some fun. Camping is out for me as it was a thing of my childhood and youth.  But my job entails covering for other Social Workers on their vacations and those on mine. So that's why a few days can be used. If able I would like to take some vacation time with the children and grandchildren with a whole family time together. I like the summer sleepovers too. The local parks are good with splash pads,  a wave pool or the regular pools. Some parks have little beaches so looking forward to exploring with the older grandchildren. The little ones are best at their own homes and own beds to help out the parents. So embracing the school break can be daunting. I remember when my children were in elementary school, September was welcoming with the routine. Finding care and camps and activities for 8-10 weeks was always an added stress. So parents breath, get support from family and each other. Take it a week at a time. A Canadian summer is very short so don't lose sight of the long days using the nights for some outdoor fun. Happy end of school everyone!

#39 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- JUNE 27 MULTICULTURAL DAY

So every culutre counts. Even the Canadian culture to which I belong. The group that has been here for 100 to 200 years more or less depending on the family line. Respecting others and all the cultures and religions equally is the goal. No more- my culture is better than yours. As a multigenerational Canadian for example, the whole issue of food. Our food is better than your food! Well on Multicultural day, everyone counts. So have a good day. Yes I speak English, some French, some Spanish and understand/speak lots of Italian.

JUNE HAS BEEN A TOUGH MONTH

Busy with the regular June stuff was not helped by family issues and crisises. A hospitalization. A death in the family. Memorial service at work that is always stressful. How to calm the energy and deal with all the stuff it has brought. The rain and more rain has made the garden a jungle or perhaps a rain forest. Everything is very green but very big. Puttting out 3 yard waste bags for the collection. If more energy could have been 30 bags and the garden would hardly be touched. Of course must watch all the bugs- thank heaven for DEET! So trying to do one thing at a time and enjoy my family and the coming Canada Day celebrations. What works for me- fake it  until you make it! Just go through the motions and things get done! So June came in like a bang for me, let's hope it goes out like a whimper or least no more hard times! How has your June been going?

                                       At least the beauty of the garden can be enjoyed!

#38 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- FLAGS ARE OUT

Getting ready for July 1st, the big Canadian flag is out in the garden. A banner of small flags hanging from trees visible down the road as well as little flags around the evergreen tree on the lawn. Buying a pot of white and red petunias to hang in preparation for the big day. Put some 150 flags in the pots on the front porch too! So where are your flags? How will you wave the flag for the big celebration?

TRAVEL ETIQUETTE-DOES IT EXIST? FIVE THOUGHTS!

Travel Etiquette! Recently traveling for a family emergency, I was privy to the exploits of Canadian travellers.

1. Security. I was stuck in the line with two people putting their large carryons, knapsacks that counted as a personal item and their laptops. Taking off a belt and other items on their body. Yes several bins each as well as needing to be scanned for the jewellery. Really. What happened to checking some item? Air Canada does not charge for the first checked bag. That's where my bag went!! Just a small carryon and my purse with my camera in it.

2. Prebook your seat. Yes I am a Nana and very sympathetic to couples travelling with children. But if you want to sit with your spouse, pay for the seat. Coming back from my destination, the mother and baby was able to sit with her husband because another passenger changed seats. I did not offer mine. I had prepaid and wanted the window seat. Simple! Another couple with a baby and toddler were all together because they prepaid for their seats! So please do not play the baby card! If you can afford to fly and not drive to your destination, you can afford the prepaid seat.

3. One never knows what other passengers have in their lives. To sit in front of one man talking to a fellow passenger about his teaching career in Japan and his family was okay for a few minutes but after two and one half hours, it really wore a little thin. In other years when the airline had movies or sites for music, easy to plug in and ignore the talk. But not knowing the flight did not have music or movies, was a learning experience. I had my ear plugs from other flights. Maybe retrospectively, I should have put them in my ears! Next time I will pay for the I pad- $10.00 or bring one.

4. Don't travel with your seat fully back the whole time. The passenger behind has very little space as it is on those domestic cheap flights. I was three to a space that even my short little legs were wedged quite well.

5. On my return leg of the trip, in the airport waiting for a plane, one does not buy the seats beside you for your bag. I had gone for a washroom break and returning noticing there were three seats beside whom I thought was a gentleman. Well, getting closer to the seats he quickly gave me a dirty look and put his large carryon on one of the seats. I was choosing the third seat farthest from him anyway. Not impressed, I sat there a few minutes then moved to another seat I eyed in the lounge. Thankfully I did not sit beside him on the plane. It happened on the initial stage of my trip with the 60 something couple sneaking kisses in the airport sitting beside me. OMG! Then on my flight out to my destination, they sat beside me. Again how many kisses are needed! Of course, I ignored them because as a woman if I smiled at the guy it would be seen as my trying to hit on him by his lady friend! I did not even make light conversation.

So be polite, but not necessarily friendly. I never tell people what I do for a living as I really am not interested in hearing every problem.

Checking in online the night previously is a wonderful feature and does save time at the airport. Besides it is reassuring that the seat prepaid is right there on the boarding pass!

Food tip- for the prepaid $7.00 I actually received two items for more than the cost. If the flight runs out of food, prepaid customers are fed first. So an appetizer of choice and my chicken wrap one way and the deli sandwich on the way home, it was an easy way to have food. Yes the food was fresh! Sure you can take a sandwich from home or buy in the airport but nicely served on the plane without any fuss of having to store it in one's bags. Travelling with children, it is a different conversation. Snacks for little ones and even the bottles and baby food are needed.

Another tip. Put away that cellphone or laptop. People watch in the airport. Easy to do because basically one is watching people playing on their gadgets- cellphones, laptops or whatever! I like to connect to the world around me. No one even notices they are being watched!!!
Some photo ops too!

In conclusion- most Canadian travellers are polite and respectful of others around them. I understand there are many that are fearful of flying so the best behaviour may not prevail! Personally, I love flying and going places. It just took a family emergency for it to happen.
Yes, I travel Air Canada whenever I can.
Happy Flying Everyone! Happy Landings!
#travel#AirCanada#manners#privacy