Fan Expo

It's been a really busy week. We have been house hunting and job hunting.

Jesse making good use of the curtain tie backs - hmmm - a hat!

Oh, that's horrible!

New Car!

Not that I can drive it. I have yet to sit my full license because the testers are on strike.

FAN EXPO

Yesterday we went to the Fan Expo - it was amazing. There were heaps and heaps of people there. We arrived at 9.25am for a 10am opening and there were probably about 1,000 people in the queue already. We had pre-purchased our tickets (smart cookies) so we were inside by just after 10.

Waiting in line - Yes there are about 10 lines here - note the people on either side of us are facing the other way, that's because they are ahead or behind us in the queue.

Highlight of the day had to be having our photo taken with Leonard Nimmoy (Spock on the original Star Trek). The photo is being posted to us as it was professionally done. Will upload that one when it arrives.

All these people in costumes are just the fans, not paid to dress up, they are just very passionate. There was a lot of gory people there but didn't take photos of those people as Jesse was scared of them. There was a car in the food court with a coffin in the back - for some reason that really scared him. Mind you, there was some groaning coming from the back.

Jesse went dressed as a Hobbit (what else)!

Jenna was Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls.

Jenna, Diana (dressed as an Amine character) and Jesse.

Leonard Nimmoy

Jenna thought that this looked like a nice fellow to take home with her!

This Batman took his job very seriously.

Mario and - who knows?

Andy fulfilled a life long dream to meet Wonder Woman!

Getting autograph of Robert McNeil (Tom Paris from Star Trek Voyager). Guess what, his wife's name is Carol too.

The Green Lantern

This chap needs no introduction.

Jenna could not resist these Charlie and the Chocolate Factory glasses.

That's something to smile about, Jesse.

Who you gonna call - Ghostbusters!

We just watched this movie last week.

How cool is this - Tron is an upcoming remake of that 1980s classic.

Jesse's favourite sci-fi series Stargate.

These girls looked amazing - note the years.

These people were promoting a new Canadian Movie called Rock, Paper Scissors.

Only my son could smile like this with three guns pointed at his head.

Felt sorry for this guy - he was on his way in and we accosted him for a photo. He had not yet experienced the mania inside and thought we were crazy - oh he's dressed as Mojojojo (evil monkey from the Powerpuff Girls).

Gotta say though, best comment of the day had to be when a rather large pirate told me I reminded him of Pink the singer.

All in all, a good day was had although by the time we got home about 5.30 we were absolutely exhausted.

NZ comes to Toronto

Today we went to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). It is like a huge A&P Show and more.

The reason we went today is that they were celebrating 175 years so it was only $1.75. Also we were invited as part of the Kea group because a Kapa Haka group was performing.

Sorry photos aren't great but I forgot my camera so they came from my phone.

Was great to see some NZ culture in Toronto and we loved the performance. The group was from Christchurch and will be performing here until the 29th. We intend to go and see them again next week.

Performing at the official presentation

At the morning tea for the Kea group. Got to chat with them lovely people.

On stage at the International Pavillion.

You should have seen the people leave when they said they were getting people on stage to teach them the haka!

I must say I felt very patriotic and proud to be a Kiwi!

Crazy Summer Weather

Yesterday there was a terrible storm - we were out in it but luckily we missed the tornado. Click here to view the footage on the news channel.

We were out picking up Jenna from Anastasia's when we drove into a wall of water - the cars on the highway just stopped and put their hazard lights on. We inched forward, luckily we weren't far from our destination so we continued our journey but it was scary.

There was lightning all around us and we could only see the car in front by the lights because of the rain. The thunder was just a constant rumble.

When we got there we ran inside and I looked like I had stepped into the shower in my clothes - we were all dripping. We sheltered there for bit and then ventured out once it calmed down. We got home safely, only to hear that there had been two tornados and people had lost their homes and one person was killed.

It's just terrible. This morning it is still raining but there is no wind. My heart goes out to those who lost their homes and the family of the person who died.

Thankfully this is unusual weather for Canada.

BBQ at the Lake

Sunday we went to the lake at Port Credit for a BBQ. We arrived at 3pm and left at 5.45pm. Was wonderful! Just kicked back and relaxed.

Jenna - not sure if she's guarding the wine glasses or the "cooler"!

Andy had been to Canadian Tire (extremely useful chain of stores who sell almost everything) in the morning and bought this mini charcoal BBQ. Was fantastic. Even though it was small it did an extremely good job.

Sexy me or the BBQ!

Also bought two fantastic water guns so the kids got very wet.

Hmmm - how much more meat can I fit on this tiny BBQ?

We liked this place so much that the next day we went there for dinner - we had someone looking through our house (to lease it) so we had to vacate so decided the lake was a good place to eat fish and chips - sorry not good old NZ fish and chips but they were OK.

How mad do you think Mum would be if I fell in?

Safe!

Damned sandflies!

Extra Photos

Earlier this week our lovely Real Estate Agent took us out for a drink at Jack Astors.

The Lovely Anastasia!

Hiding behind the menu!

A corner devoted to Elvis!

Anastasia and her "Jellybean" - Jesse!

Anastasia and Andy - her blue lemonade (the drink, not Andy).

Jenna had one too and it was scrummy!

What a Beautiful Day

It was an amazingly stunning day today (actually it has been for the last few). Today I decided it was well past time I found a hairdresser so we went to Streetsville, a suburb of Mississauga which is kind of a village, sort of like Ponsonby. Our friendly Realtor Anastasia suggested that was the best place to go. There was so much choice I really didn't know which one to choose. I think I counted 6 spas within a 100m block and hairdressers are just as prevalent.

Having made an appointment we went to Starbucks as this is the only place that does dairy free hot chocolate - but it was so hot that I had an iced chocolate. Lovely!

Jenna!

A cold one - iced chocolate that is!

The sun was just too bright for Jenna's smoothie!

Someone really should have told the guy behind us he couldn't sing - he played the guitar well but he should have stopped there!

After that we drove all the way down Mississauga Road - from one end to the other. Well, we decided that's where we want to live! Need to work hard for a few years to manage that tho. These are huge houses with big sections and swimming pools - oh for a swimming pool in this weather. The road is just amazing, tree lined and beautiful - ah - one day!

We found this lovely park right next to the lake at the end of Mississauga Road. Decided we will go there for a BBQ tomorrow afternoon.