Guelph, Ontario

Arrived in Toronto to 27 degrees and 90% humidity!!!! Finally we have summer. Cuzzys met us and had 1.5 hr drive to Guelph, where Ian is doing a 12 month Fire Brigade exchange. Had the guided tour of town, small town feel even though its 118,000 people, they only live 10 mins walk to middle of town, but most shoppers use malls and shopping centres on outskirts. Alcohol can only be bought from State controlled shops but they do have a large selection, including NZ and Australian wines, around CD15 per bottle. Everything gets gst (5%) and pst (provincial tax)8% added to the price!!

Went along to watch Guelph Storm play a pre season ice hockey match against Brampton which Guelph won 3-2. gee what a fast sport, great watching them crash each other against the walls. Couldnt figure out the rules but great entertainment and atmosphere. Still wondering how they manage to stand up all game!!!

Saturday afternoon experienced the Guelph Jazz Festival in a big marquee in the closed main street. Watched Friendly Rich and the Lollipop people perform.....pretty alternative music, sort of childrens music gone wrong but great entertainment and very clever. Rich managed to rip his clothes while singing/performing. Next true jazz band was pretty boring after that performance.

Also managed to join in a Caribbean parade that went for about 2km thru town at 10pm that night. The dancers gave out whistles, castanets, drums and other noise machines to the crowd. Peter managed to score a 300cm hide covered drum and plastic squeeky hammer so he joined in with abandon. We just had horns!!! Had about five 3m high puppets in the parade, trumpeters, dancers in caribbean costumes and african/brazilian infuence as well. The parade stopped in the middle of streets with dance sessions on the way. Great atmosphere!! Ended up at the main tent where they carried on performing for a while. Drum is now in pride of place in the lounge here!!!

Today Walked to Riverside Park, nice garden glen area where squirrels came to eat our peanuts, some chipminks there also. Walked down river, nice area of town. Are having plenty of fun watching the squirrels collect walnuts from the trees at the King house here, they strip the outside cover off and take the shell and walnut back to their den. Watched a couple of chipmunks play also but theyre a bit shy and jumpy!!

9 Sep 2008