8 days until we leave the Ottawa area. I find my self slipping into denial, I mean we can't be almost done August...can we? Where has this month gone? I still have packing to get done, apartment cleaning to do and friends to visit before I head off not knowing when I will be back to visit. One minute I feel like jumping for joy! This is really going to happen, we are actual going to do this and it makes me so ecstatic that one of our life long dreams together is going to come true. Then in the next moment I feel panicked and overwhelmed. We are actually going to leave the only country we have both ever lived in, our friends, my family and the culture we both affectionately joke about being uniquely Canadian. We are going to have to get use to a new country, make new friends and learn to adapt in a new culture. Plus find jobs and our own place eventually, but at leas we will have The Hubby's parents and extended family to help us out when they can. So I tell myself that and I relax a little. I guess this is just one emotional roller-coaster I have to ride out and once I am use to the changes I am sure I will not only survive, but I know I will thrive.
This weekend we took some time out of our busy getting ready to move schedule and took sometime to relax and enjoy some more of the Ottawa area while we could. The Hubby decided he would like to go and walk around where he spent most of his time as child and see how things had change. So we made our way out to the Kanata area for a walkabout. We got off the bus at the Eaglson Park and Ride stop for OC Transpo and trundled along through the side streets and parks on our way towards the Hazeldean Mall. I never knew Kanta had so many parks. I mean I was awear of the bike paths and nature trails that criss-crossed through it, but the sheer number of parks in the area we walked was quite astonishing. I enjoyed all the greeniery and The Hubby regailed me with tales of what had changed since the last time he had wandered about the area and what had remained the same. It was a gorgeous sunny day, the perfect day for this type of adventure to be sure.
After all the environmetnal beauty we decided to take a break in the air conditioned Hazeldean Mall. The Mall itself really hasn't changed too much in the 8 years I have lived in Ottawa, but The Hubby commented on the renovations done to the front entrance of the Zellers and some of the old stores that were no longer there. We found out that sadly the Zellers would be closing in February as well as part of the Target deal and that makes me sad. Growing up Zellers was always part of the shopping experience for me and my mom would always go on about how it was a Canadian institution. I will always remember their jingle, "At Zellers, where the lowest price is the law. Everyday!" It makes me smile to sing that even in my head, but as times change so do the stores and places you went to years ago. It is funny how somethings change and yet others stay the same.
It was finally time to walk down through the Glen Carin suburb and see The Hubby's old high school and elementary school. We talked about how the play structures had changed from the wood and metal we used to play on, to these metal and plastic monstrosities. When we were kids getting a splinter from the playground was a rite of passage. Nowadays children are so protected, it makes me wonder how most of my generation survived or my parents generation for that matter. Along the pathways between the schools there are fences everywhere. The Hubby hated this the most as he remember walking down to the drainage ditches and creeks to try and catch frogs and fish. I wondered if children even bothered to try and do that anymore when there was probably an app that allowed them to simulate these activities. We met up with two of The Hubby's childhood friends, who were both in our wedding party 6 years ago and headed out to The Brew Table for some drinks and food.
The Brew Table is a fun bar and grill in the Bells Corner area, right off Roberston Rd and Moodie Dr. It is attached to the hotel there so you know that customer service is going to be important. The selection of beers was quite impressive. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted (but what else is new when it comes to me lol). I decided to pay homage to the Angry Video Game Nerd and try out the Rolling Rock pale ale.
I have to say it was quite refreshing and light tasting. I loved the glass it came in too! I wouldn't mind having it again if it came up, but The Hubby tells me that I have to get used to a whole different beer experience when we get to England. The food menu had a wide variety of items, all of them matching a large range of price points. I was in the mood for something a little more up market so I tried the Seafood Terrine with home made pastries and fries.
My taste buds were in heaven! The shrimp, muscles and scallops all mixed in with vegetables in a cream sauce was just what I was looking for. It made me feel a little bit more mature to be eating something a bit healthier then a burger, but not too mature. The fries were nice and fresh and the pastries almost melted in your mouth. If you're near Bells Corners for lunch or dinner I would highly recommend checking The Brew Table out. The last item I had to try was a beer margarita. I saw that on the menu and just had to know what it was like.
The only downside to a beer margarita is that unless you let some of the lime mix in with the drink when you try and take a sip all you get is margarita mix. Once it melts a bit though it is actually a quite refreshing beverage, sort of their take on a lime beer just better quality. It is a mix I would make up for friends on a patio for sure.
The afternoon had now turned into evening and everyone had work or more packing to do the next day, so we said our goodbyes. It was nice to see the guys again and it made me teary to think it might be the last time we see them in a while. I made them promise if they made it over to England to look us up. The whole day was filled with reminiscing about the past and yet I was still happy to be dreaming about the future. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Keep on dreaming,
~Diligentdaydreamer
No comments:
Post a Comment