We're coming home! - On s'en vient!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. You may have noticed my PP365 is late too. Haven't put any pics since Christmas. But here I am, finally telling you we'll be flying home in April! I can't wait to go. I think about that trip ALL the time. I'll be a great time for the family, I mean Philippe, Marc and I. We're flying aroud the world YIPEEEEE! as the airfare are just about the same price as going to Canada from Sydney. We'll spend 3 days in Singapore, 5 days in Switzerland to visit our good friends and former neighboor Les Dunand and then 3 weeks in Canada. In Quebec (Montreal and Sherbrooke) for 14 April - 3 May and then, a week in BC. Tell us when you're around, we want to see you!

I can't wait to go, I'm already thinking of the clothes I'll pack in Philippe's suitcase! Here is a list of things (mostly food), we will definitely enjoy when we're around:

1. St-Viateur Bagels I haven't had bagels since I left Montreal in March 2004. I can't wait to get a smoked salmon and cream cheese one.

2. Smoked Meat. I never actually ate at Schwartz so I guess next April would be a good time to do so. If it's too crowded as usual, perhaps a big smoked meat and a fat piece of cheese cake from Ste-Catherine St. will do just fine!

3. Poutine: I guess you have to be genuinely Quebecois to enjoy it, and I do! Is Rapido on Plateau Mont-Royal still the best???

4. Renaud-Bray. I can't wait to get in there to see all the latest BD (bandes dessinees) and get some story books for Philippe. So far we only have one baby book for him in 3 languages (Francais, Espanol and English) thanks to Philippe's friend Lise who sent it from Montreal.

5. Real baguette and croissants. Maybe Carole et Yannick would argue over that (being French!) but Au Pain Dore or Premiere Moisson are good enough for me, and I'll make sure I get plenty!

6. Sirop d'erable: you can buy some in Australia for about 3 times the price and it's made in Ontario. What's the point. My mother makes the most delicious maple syrup pie and maple mousse (to die for!!!). Plus she'll have the whole range of maple products on the table. I'll make sure to order ahead. I wonder if it's the right time for sugar shack???

7. Tintin and Spirou et Fantasio: That's it, it's decided: I'm shipping my BD collections across the planet I miss reading them too much. And Pierre, I think I'll get my XIII back too, hope you enjoyed!

Looking forward to see you soon!

Happy New Year from Tasmania

It was the best 1st January in a long time. It started on New Year's Eve with some friends at home. We prepared food during 2 days. Salads, dips, Marc's favorite smoked chicken on the BBQ and oysters - freshed and cooked, all prepared by Marc. The food was fantastic, the friends were great company. Even Philippe had a girlfriend, beautiful Anais.

You can tell it's been a quiet evening when at midnight we only needed one bottle of Champagne for 7 people! That must be because of the pregnant girl and the 2 breastfeeding mothers... The next morning we had breakfast with Andrew and Selina who stayed over for the night. We then did nothing for the rest of the day, had naps with Philippe, ate the left overs and had more oysters. The weather was fine (in Oz that means sunny) with a nice sea breeze across the bedroom. It just felt really really good to be alive and breathing the fresh air.

Happy New Year from Tasmania. May 2007 be full of surprises, happy, healthy and wise. I hope to see you on our round the world trip to Switzerland and Canada.

P.S. That photo is a year ago at our friend Steph in Melbourne.