Hello Hello...Well here I am again.  I have learned from experienced bloggers that there is a place on the site that you click which says followers.  I am passing this on to all my old friends who are dumb bloggers so they will then be informed via email when I have posted (cool word!!) another blog.  I want no excuses for not reading my prose as when I return there will be a quiz to guage my true friends.

Tess at Science museum showing what Narnie looked like when her leg bone broke away from her hip bone

                                          Tess & I being swallowed by something called ART

The past week has been filled with excursions here, there and everywhere and we enjoyed having Trina with us for the week-end outings.  Tess and I paid a visit to the Toronto Museum last week which has a floor full of exhibits of interest to the kidlets (and adults).  Dinosaurs a favourite of course...children are completely fascinated with dinos and Tess is no different.   During our days we try to find a pretty spot to have our picnic and near the Museum is Queens Park...perfect for us and enough squirrels running around to keep the child excited.   Next day was the Science Museum (yes we are very cultured for a couple of Aussies).  Now this is a truly amazing place and great for kids.  We made paper and brought home a handprint.  We learned about electricity and how it can make your hair stand on end.  Tess didn't want to participate but was very keen for Nonnie to do it.  What a shame it was only for children!!!..I was so looking forward to making a fool of myself.   Trying to get her to leave was in itself a scientific process.  So many things to try.  When I explained that my legs were turning to jelly she took sympathy on me and after some time I found the way out.  Actually I am improving quite a lot in this area and the other day an elderly lady actually asked me for directions on the Subway and I actually answered her.  I do hope the dear old soul is not still floating around down there somewhere.
The three of us headed down to the Harbour on Saturday for the Big Circus Festival, continuous entertainment for three days.  (Monday was Canada Day Holiday).   Sunday was Art Gallery day, a treat for the Mother. For the Grandmother the most awesome exhibits were the model ships...130  collected and donated to the Gallery by one man ....good bloke called Thomson.  The detail was mind boggling and I could have stayed there for hours.  I also bought a kinky watch which looks like a huge black and white postage stamp on my wrist...have to live dangerously sometimes.
Monday we tackled the old red double-decker bus.  I cringed a bit at a large group of senior citizens getting on and laughing too loud and talking too much until I realised I was actually one of those grey nomads.  It was an interesting tour.   We have left the boat ride on the Harbour for another day as the water was very choppy.  Tess also wants to go up to the top of the Crown Tower and stand on the glass-floored platform.  Trina said she was too scared but daughter replied "Mum you tell me I have to face my fears so now you have to".  We will see what happens!!!
Tess and I travelled to Trina's school on Tuesday to join her for lunch and check out the joint.  She is very happy with the course and is learning so much.   We also enjoy the cake which sometimes makes it way home (the staff here are also enjoying their share).   I shall leave our trip to the Zoo for the next post as I appreciate what busy lives you all have.
Life is good....get up, make the bed, do the brekkie dishes, quick tidy and that's my housework for the day.  I have decided a cleaning lady is an absolute necessity for a happy life.  Talk to you soon....keep happy xxxGlor

Just over a week since we left and Tess is the only one who has started her blog.  Guilt sets in so here I go.  Here is a quick appraisal for those of you with a very short attention span.
 Travel - Excellent ...flights very smooth, food yucky (as expected)
Accommodation...LA/Redondo two nights, good position near the beach.
     Toronto...Love our new home, very quaint and they love artificial flowers.
Sightseeing.........   Disneyland amazing, Toronto beautiful city and we have hardly started on our list of 'to-           dos"
The Half Femme....She is such a little trooper and rarely loses her bounce.  So many laughs.
\Weather.......5 out of 10

If you would like a little more detail continue reading:

Am I supposed to pedal??

The flights were incredibly smooth except for the landing at LA which brought a few yells from passengers.  Tess, in her wisdom, explained the pilot was just practicing...mmmm not on my shift please!  It is such a pain getting through the airports but we survived.  Our first day in LA we thought we should try to stay awake until normal bedtime having left Oz at 11am and arriving in USA at 6.30am the same day it sure plays havoc with one's body clock as many of you would know.  I managed to sneak onto the bed in the arvo but Trina very quickly kicked me out and advised we were going bike riding along the seashore.  I wasn't sure I could even remember how
to ride a bike let alone ride one whilst asleep.  It turned out to be a lovely experience and we rewarded ourselves with big icecreams on the pier while we watched the seals on the rocks.  Much of this trip will be enjoyed through the eyes of the child and this was the start of the wonderment.  We had a moment of negativity regarding Disneyland when we thought of the crowds but then we realised one could not be in LA with a child and not give her the experience.  Great decision for Tess and ourselves.  I rode in a teacup 45 years ago and here I was doing it again with my granddaughter.  What an incredible place this is and Tess just wanted more and more.  She cruised through the magic of Small World, went to find Nemo in a yellow submarine, took the train ride through the Grand Canyon and Dinosaur World and so much more.  She and I even went into the haunted house just to please the Mother.  Pretty spooky!! (Above is photo of Minnie Mouse) We are desperate for a decent cup of cappuccino and a normal size plate of food.  Feeling not too hungry I ordered a starter of mushrooms (6 big fellas in cream sauce) and an appertif of wontons (11 deep fried parcels arrived on a bed of noodles).  Meals in USA are served on platters not plates.
Toronto is a city which we felt had a great vibe from the beginning, something we didn't get with LA.  Tess & I have had several enjoyable days exploring and getting to know our way around on the subway and streetcars.  My sense of direction is a worry though as yesterday arvo I took her on a streetcar to go East and it went West.  Our 8 minute journey took 45 minutes at the end of a big day.  She takes it in her stride.  Only the first day when we were walking up to the coffee?? shop did she sit down in the middle of the pavement and inform us that she was too tired to walk anymore.  She had the grumps for quite a while until we sat in the shop and put a blueberry muffin in front of her.  I know Trina cares about me as she looked across the street and informed me there was a psychologist there if I happend to need it!   I am sure I will cope very well as she has been a gem and we are having fun.

Toronto Suites ...Our new home

Our apartment is really cosy.  This whole area has an historic feel to it as all the houses and buildings are very English (or maybe it's the French influence).  Our building has an atrium near our room so Tess & I will be able to go down there and sit in the lounge for stories etc and watch the fish in the pond.
More adventures to come.  Please tune in again.  xxxxxGlor