Life: Fucking Toronto Streetcar Tracks! Damn you!!!!

So i've been in Canada for a week now. It went by pretty quick. My flight was a bit of a nightmare, after my long bus ride overnight to Heathrow to find out that my flight was delayed 2 hours. I had an annoying couple sitting beside me, okay, they were actually nice but one of those who really wants a conversation but having no sleep at all the night before, i just wanted to sleep. The husband also had to get up every hour to the loo, once i get into Toronto 2 hours later than expected, i slept the entire day/night. Good thing we've pushed Thanksgiving dinner til the day after.

Our infamous Orphans' Thanksgiving Cycle 6 was pretty good. We made our usual apple/leek stuffing, we had procuitto wrapped caramlised figs for starters, butternut squash soup with coconut and lime, a roasted chestnut wild rice pilaf with promegrante, watercress salad with maple carmalised walnuts, blue cheese and figs. We had a 12 lbs roasted turkey with sage, along with French green beans with caramlised shallots. Of course, last but not least, i made my marriage-proposing infamous apple pie! I try to change it up a bit every year, this year i put a bit of herb de province in it.

The week went by quickly, i pretty much ran out of things to do including my favourite vintage shops (the owners remembered me, and asked why i haven't been to their stores, can still manage to get my usual discount). Also went to book sale at University College, Dance Cave on Friday and got hit on by 12 year olds! Went to visit my old work. Everything is expensive now except for eating out. Did manage to have a list of food stuff checked off my list so far:

• Goldstone - Chinese BBQ - Roasted Duck and Rice
• Sushi on Bloor - Sushi pizza, seaweed salad, crunchy roll, shitake tempura
• Thumbs Up - Korean Pork Bone Soup
• Future's Cafe - Cheesecakes!
• Saving Grace - My favourite brunch place despite we waited 1.5 hours before we got seated, it was worth it.

On Monday, i bought a bike off Craigslist. She is beautiful, hot pink folding shopper/cruiser much like my Bianca in London but bigger. Her tires were a bit flat and the gears need a tune up, she was only $100 CDN. I named her Beyoncè.

The week i first landed the weather was lovely, it was in early 20s, mid 10s. The weekend got a lot colder this week, and blimey, it even snowed today!! This afternoon, I rode about 10 mins my hands were freezing. The wind was so vicious, i might as well cycle backwards. It fell to -2C. Like WTF??

Tonight, as i was going to meet a friend at Horseshoe to see White Lies (they were playing in a tiny tiny venue here for free instead of sold out shows in London), i had a bike accident. My wheel got stuck with the streetcar (cable car) tracks and lost my balance and i wiped out BIG TIME. Good thing there wasn't any traffic at the time. A cyclist couple immediately came to my rescue. I forgot how nice Canadians were! A worker from American Apparel saw what happened and was accommodating enough to let me into the store offered me some water, to use the phone and to keep warm whilst i waited for my friend to pick me up. I'm okay but pretty hurt, scrapped both my knees (one was already injured in the summer from the attack), will be limping for the next couple of days, also i would definitely need to see a dentist ASAP. Wonder if my travel insurance will cover? My right side of the lip is pretty swollen too, totally sexy. People cycle differently here compared to London, i was applying my London cycling knowledge but totally forgot about those damn TTC Streetcar tracks which was the exact fit to my wheel which i was also getting used to my new bike. I guess no ballet tomorrow night.

I hate to be back, it does not feel like home any more.
Miss you all.
x

ps. Pasta Hut is still Pizza Hut here, so far.

Goodbye Misty!

Misty was stolen from my own garden this morning between 2am-6am (because those were the only hours i were sleeping and didn't hear any noise outside of forementioned time frame). The lock was cut, it was a good kyptonite lock too.

On top of the shitty feeling i've been having, I'm extremely upset (i'm not even going to mention the other stuff). What upset me the most is that I've left Misty in dodgy places overnight, in other rougher parts of Hackney and in the city centre and it was fine, but she was stolen from my own home!!

There were some kids Sunday sitting on the bike and ringing the bell, i was in the kitchen so I gave them a dirty look, they ran away but they were really young though and were just playing football. I suspect is my neighbours, coz they can watch and know what time I'm home and stuff.

Sure, Misty was only £10, plus the tires £30, and lock £40. I've just got used to riding my bike everywhere, it's much faster than taking the bus (plus more environmental friendly and cost effective, transportation is expensive here) but sad news is, I really can't afford to buy another one right now.

I really hope bad karma will happen to the Misty thieves!

*sigh*

Introducing... Misty!

Hello to all bike enthusiasts!

Please, any tips & pointers for new cyclist are most welcome!!

I've been eyeing on a bike for a bit after heavy persuasion from MattK and my new flatmate, Richie. I wasn't going to get one initially until I've settled but as I was walking home from Brick Lane, it was end of the day as all other stalls were closing up, a guy and a girl was selling this gorgeous burgundy bike for £25 (I walked around eyeing on it for a bit) and as soon as the guy put up a new sign "Please Buy Misty, Any Offers", i couldn't resist. I offered all my change which i only had £10 on me.



I had to ask why she was selling it, in case Misty was a stolen. Turns out Misty's previous owner (actually lived down the street from mine) has gone back to America so her flatmate is selling Misty for her for anything. Looks like the bike was well cared for, it's in working condition other than the flat tires. There were already loads of compliments when I started to wheel down the street, I got stopped a couple of times if I'm selling it (the sign was still attached) and a group of people on the patio was complimenting on it.



I walked Misty until Columbia Road, then I rode on it for a bit, then got off as I was crossing Hackney Road, then biked along Hackney City Farm, onto Broadway Market but got a bit frightened as cars were passing by. London drivers are CRAZY!!! So i walked her until London Fields and rode until Hackney Central. I haven't been on a bike for YEARS!! I was quite rusty at first, once i got a hang of it i was fine but soooo tiring coz i'm not used to the exercise.

When I got home, Richie examined the bike for me, he said that Raleigh was a very good brand for bikes back in the days. Misty seems to be in good conditions, the break works fine, just needs a change of tires. He tried to pump it but it deflated after an hour, so he recommend me for a lock and go to the bike shop and get them changed, shouldn't be too much and since i've only paid a tenner for it. He also found there was an Olympic sticker on it and we laughed about that (i have to go re-check what year it was).

Yay, i'm quite excited!!