Monday. We are in the deep full on mayhem of the final pushing of packing before the removal people come tomorrow (Tuesday).
Whilst I go and try and shove all the things we want to ship to Australia in the boxes, leave out what we want to take to Australia but it travelling with us and our mountain of bags, and then what stays in Montreal I'll leave you with this post I have been trying to post for the past couple of weeks...
Apologies for the rushed post, but it was this or nothing. - and Magog deserved a mention.
Whilst I go and try and shove all the things we want to ship to Australia in the boxes, leave out what we want to take to Australia but it travelling with us and our mountain of bags, and then what stays in Montreal I'll leave you with this post I have been trying to post for the past couple of weeks...
Apologies for the rushed post, but it was this or nothing. - and Magog deserved a mention.
With the car sold, T has been managing to share a lift to work for the past weeks, but as all the team are on various shifts there has been the odd week here and there when he has had to hire a car.
It often turned out cheaper to hire it for a whole week rather than the 4 or so days he needed it, so that meant we have had a car for two weekends. When this happened, the heat was on to think of all the jobs/trips we should, and wanted, to take and take advantage of having four wheels again.
The first weekend, having the car was a little unsuspected as T was due to work on the Saturday but then found out that morning he was no longer needed. Put on the spot, we couldn't think of any trip to take advantage of it! When the pressure is on, although you know there are road trips you have been wanting to take, "If only we had a car" but cannot remember where to. All those chores we had thought of and wished, "If only we had a car" suddenly disappear from our minds to.
It often turned out cheaper to hire it for a whole week rather than the 4 or so days he needed it, so that meant we have had a car for two weekends. When this happened, the heat was on to think of all the jobs/trips we should, and wanted, to take and take advantage of having four wheels again.
The first weekend, having the car was a little unsuspected as T was due to work on the Saturday but then found out that morning he was no longer needed. Put on the spot, we couldn't think of any trip to take advantage of it! When the pressure is on, although you know there are road trips you have been wanting to take, "If only we had a car" but cannot remember where to. All those chores we had thought of and wished, "If only we had a car" suddenly disappear from our minds to.
The first car we had was a huge Ford Flex - it was so big, we could fit the whole single bed and mattress in the back, with room to spare! This fact was discovered when a friend who was buying our spare bed off us - very useful!
We meandered over to Verdun, a borough of Montreal, situated on the St. Lawrence river, and an area we hadn't been to before. Grabbing a coffee there, we then drove alongside the river, taking it all in, stopping off for a walk in one of the parks next to the huge, fast flowing river.
When we dropped the car off at the rental place we felt we had wasted the opportunity somewhat.
When we dropped the car off at the rental place we felt we had wasted the opportunity somewhat.
The second time however we were more planned: After the last car hire I had bookmarked a town called Magog when I came across it being recommended on the internet just in case we had another weekend with transport. An hour and a half drive East from home, it was in the direction we felt we hadn't ventured too much in our time here.
The Saturday was a day of sunshine and showers, it was a pretty good day for getting out of the city.
The drive, at first being lined with the flat, pretty uninspiring countryside; soon changed to be very scenic.
Arriving in Magog at lunch time, we had a picnic lunch, accompanied by clouds of black flies, overlooking the huge lake, as well as keeping a close eye on the big rain cloud which was heading in our direction.
Arriving in Magog at lunch time, we had a picnic lunch, accompanied by clouds of black flies, overlooking the huge lake, as well as keeping a close eye on the big rain cloud which was heading in our direction.
I say huge, and it is: Lake Memphremagog is 31 miles long, and lies in both Quebec and Vermont.
It is also rumoured to be home to an amphibious monster called Memphre
A small bustling high street housed a variety of shops including many homeware ones - for most of our time in Montreal and we had been looking for such shops but just when we really aren't looking for that type of shop we came across them. Typical!
A couple of hours wondering around, we then left for home. The rain cloud did catch up with us - but when we were safely in the car!
It was nice to make the most of our weekend with an escape out of Montreal as we have a very strong feeling the remaining weekends will be taken up with something to do with moving...