Day 1 - Toronto

(29/07/08)

So I woke up this morning, feeling very grumpy, a bit lonely (after being back in Brizzle for AN AGE it feels weird to be back on the road again without my old mates around me) & just generally down. Oh no, I couldn't even make myself smile that I'm in one of the world's most cultured cities. Luckily after a Facebook chat with celebrity blog reader Ferny L (you know who you are) & a swift word with myself I extracted myself from my bed (yep internet chattage was conducted in my bunk, you've GOT to love Wi-fi!) & went about my day.

After a brief wander around the shops (fab, fab, fab!) I took myself off on a hike of the forests & ravines a little way out of the city centre. I hiked for a few hours, collected my thoughts, sat by a lilypad-filled pool & watched the butterflies, fish, dragonflies & turtles all going about their business and breathed in the rays of sunshine. I listened to the wise old words of Chris Martin (I know Coldplay are very commercial, but get over your snobbishness & recognise his lyrics for the poetry they really are) & read some of Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth & realised I've just been listening to my ego a bit too much recently, without even realising.

This ongoing journey to enlightenment is a long slow one for most of us I reckon, but life does seem to get easier everyday for me personally, and I'm getting to know myself better each day. I'm finding lots more to work on, however these are 'improvement opportunities'! :-D

Although I've only been here for 24 hours I think I'm starting to fall in love with Canada already. The wildlife is incredible (today I discovered black squirrels, I didn't even know they EXISTED!), the people are very chilled & they're really into protecting the environment, recycling & healthy eating. AND they have polar bears here. Is this paradise?

I've just discovered us Brits can get a working holiday visa until we're 35. I think I may have found my next destination after Australia. AWESOME!!!