Exhibit – slightly weird

Friday, 28 August, 2026

It’s been a month of getting medical stuff done and I guess I’m OK with that. My bionic era awaits.

First my surgery, then my oncology follow-up, then my lymphoedema and, in there somewhere bloodwork and X-ray. Next comes the optometrist and my radiotherapy follow-up, and to see my GP about this and that my new oncologist doesn’t need to know about – September, here I come. Life is a medical storybook, ticking off more of those boxes.

In December 2023 I went with my son and his girlfriend to the annual Christmas concert at St Anne’s Anglican Church, one of my Toronto Christmas traditions. My friend, Angela, was in their fantastic choir and had introduced me to the concerts many years ago. The church, built in 1907, was a breathtaking one. Not only was the exterior a lovely Byzantine-inspired design, and the interior full of colourful mosaic work, it also had many paintings around the eaves. These paintings were the only religious works of some of the Group of Seven, Canada’s most prominent artists. It’s hard to describe how stunning the whole was. I have a video.

This is written in the past tense because in early June 2024, a scarce six months later, the church, a National Historic Site of Canada, was on fire and the interior was completely gutted. I went to look at it shortly afterwards, and it pretty much broke my heart. This month, they are holding an exhibition in that space, completely open to the sky. The front of the domed church is intact. Three walls are standing but badly damaged. I went with my niece to take a look. I can’t say the art pieces inside were impressive, but the whole experience left me very emotional. It had been pouring all morning, so I wasn’t sure we’d get there, but I set out anyway. I arrived pretty wet and waded through deep puddles in the parking lot to get into the site. I’ll include some of the things that were on display. A very nice touch is a bread oven made from salvaged bricks. Adrianna and I had a small pita each with the very good za’atar dip made by the baker.

Gladstone Avenue, Toronto. St Anne’s on the left and the old Cadbury factory on the right (Now Mondelez)

From the street, it looks almost normal, but the doors are covered in wood and the beautiful middle dome, pictured here, is gone. The church was inspired by the magnificent Early Byzantine church Hagia Sophia (532-537AD) in Istanbul

From the back, inside the gutted church, the real story. The walls are wrapped in white, with red tape. There were three hanging objects that were super heavy. Couldn’t move them. Also a giant nest. I need to find out more about each highly symbolic piece

Art piece, Pushmepullyou, was very Pompeii

One of two wooden sculptures on the old doors. Reminding me of a bishop

I got over to Fiesta Farms to shop. Prices are high but the selection of herbs and vegetables are what sent me there. A long time ago, Fiesta Farms was a reasonably-priced heavily Italian supermarket and I’d go to save money and find some good Italian choices. These days I can’t afford much of what they put on their shelves. It’s become elite. Long gone are the days of $2 locally made panettone. Anyway, I walked there and back, and that’s A Big Deal.

Intrigued by mini artichokes and some zucchini blossoms near the entrance. Didn’t buy

Many, many soups. One sounded good enough to imitate — beet and ginger. Will try it!

Across the road, the nursery version – Fiesta Gardens. Once my plant shop of choice

On the bakery counter. Am I the only one who doesn’t love cannoli?

The herbs and vegetables always look amazing and this trip I noticed almost everything was from Ontario or Canada. This will change when the cold weather hits and everything is US or Mexico. I can guarantee Mexico will be favoured. The boycott of US goods is everywhere. Feel bad for the farmers, though

Meanwhile, I’m walking in the neighbourhood again – it’s the easy option, and now that the weather will start to cool down, I will pick some other neighbourhoods to be dropped off in for some different vistas and a different vibe, no matter how subtle. Making that list.

On the way to Fiesta Farms, a lawn campaign poster bonanza

Are others aware of the French language schools in Canada? This one is a Catholic elementary

An enormous and healthy silver birch tree a street just north of here

At the Portuguese supermarket, I was interested to see how clean and sanitised the pig trotters are compared to Ridley Road Market in Hackney. These won’t offend anyone at first glance!

I hope I can find some of these ‘lantern’ sprays for the apartment this autumn

In the Italian and Portuguese neighbourhoods – this one blends them – there are always vines set up wherever residents can fit them. This one in a front garden close by

Utility (Bell) box art – everywhere. This one is close by

About a block away, this very brief stretch of road is open to bicycles only and there’s a small picnic table, a bike station, and a solar panel

I want to walk “new” neighbourhoods. I’ve lived in Toronto enough to know that there aren’t many areas that are unfamiliar. So it’s mostly a revisit. Meanwhile, I went to Chinatown and to Little Portugal so I have had a bit of a change of scenery – the main goal, along with walking, which I’m trying to extend. I’d better start that list. Where first?

After a long break, I went for pho again. I need to try some new places. This is Xe Lua in Chinatown

Little Portugal intersection. We had a huge rainstorm that day and the skies are bleak

After leaving St. Anne’s, spotted this familiar rooster in the heart of Little Portugal

In Little Portugal. Crab apples, anyone? Whoa

This week, the restaurant went on holiday. Everyone is gone for a couple of weeks. It’s quiet! We’ve been asked to water the plants while they’re away, and it sounds like we might get a meal in return. Finally!

Coming in from a walk. The tables are gone and the chairs are housing plants for now

There’s been a fair amount of rain, and I’ve had appointments, so I’m trying to make the most of being at home. I started a program to combat my pre-diabetes and felt that, while I have a lot of diabetes knowledge from my teaching days, I needed a refresher-update. If I learn only one new thing a week, I will consider it a good move. The provincial health insurance covers the program, so it’s free. There’s homework each week, followed by a one-hour Monday morning touch-in about challenges and triumphs and a place to ask questions. Chief takeaways so far – An overnight fast of 12 hours (max 16) is recommended (and I’ve noticed I feel healthier in the morning now, so triumph.) Snacking means insulin is pushed into the system, so I have been doing that less often. This week was about exercise. This will be a tough one but if I can walk 20 minutes a day, especially during ‘fasting’ times it could make a difference. If you’re in Ontario, BC or Alberta, look here.

Not just walking. Also getting some sewing in and, looking at my latest, considering a new doll

Wondering about the Old Man? He was spotted in his now-flourishing garden, squatting with some support. Envious of that! My knees definitely won’t let me

The back patio is all packed up for the season. I’m a bit sad, especially if we get a meal – I’d have liked to have had that backyard woodfire smoked version of things

These are my everyday hours. Nothing to shout about but real. Now to decide what to do next. My work hours continue to drop, and that isn’t going to change any day soon, if ever. On my list, anyway – a couple of medical appointments (stop, already!), a visit to a different neighbourhood but also doing a bit of street art photography in Little Portugal – I simply couldn’t cover the whole area, two out-of-the-way eating places, a new doll – meaning a visit back to the fabric recycling place or a thift store or two, a visit to a historical site I haven’t been before – need to figure that one out soon since the next open day is coming up. Every day isn’t full of excitement, but I’m doing my best. I’d just love a companion for some of it. Seeking a foodie and a flaneur friend. You in?

Friday, October 14, 2022

October 14 is our anniversary. We usually go somewhere to eat, but I find unless we’ve booked it, it often doesn’t happen. We did make an attempt though, looking for a roast or even just a cream tea somewhere.

We were well into our clearing out and packing days during our anniversary week. I’d say that we wouldn’t ordinarily choose to go to London Bridge for such an occasion but I’d booked a couple of months earlier to go see the Gaia My Earth exhibit at Southwark Cathedral. The cathedral is somewhere that we’ve always loved and the place Krish had met our close friend Emma and her husband many years earlier.

Anyway, I’d been wanting to see the Gaia and London Bridge and the cathedral ticked a bunch of boxes so we were going.

Looking down on Southwark cathedral from London Bridge

There’s no way to avoid the crammed passage of eating places bordering Borough Market when you climb down from the bridge

The cathedral is at the edge of the market and there was the usual well-organised entry path. No one asked to look at our tickets so in we went.

Then as you clear the entrance, there floats Gaia.

Gaia was created by UK artist Luke Jerram. It’s a suspended, revolving seven metre diameter model of earth. The artwork has been touring around the world for some time. In Greek Mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth

There’s also audio – music and voices, including many who are at once awed and fearful of our earth and its future. The model wants to create more respect and responsibility for each other and our planet.

As large as it is, this Earth is “1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth’s surface. By standing 211m away from the artwork, the public will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.”.

The atmosphere in the cathedral was hushed. People stood and watched it, some walking around to view it from all sides. At one point a group of school children were escorted in and each one gasped at seeing it for the first time because, yes, it’s very impressive. The backdrop of the cathedral was quite lovely. I’d actually like to have seen it in dimmer light.

The cathedral has some great artefacts scattered about, items that have been found and kept from its earlier days. Originally called St Mary Overie, then St Saviours, there’s been a church here since the early 12th century, but over the years it has been added to and restored. It became a cathedral in 1905. Since Shakespeare lived in Southwark, he also has a memorial here – a statue and stained glass window – so many visitors think he is buried here. He isn’t but his brother Edmund who died in 1607 at the age of 27 is. Each year on Williams’s birthday there’s a memorial celebration here in the cathedral. I’ve never managed to be there for it.

When I came to London in 2002, I’d often go to Borough Market. I loved walking along from St Pauls, over the Millennium Bridge and eastwards from the Tate Gallery – my favourite part was between the Globe Theatre and London Bridge so took in all of the market. Over the years the market has become busier and more trendy, with more and more cooked food stalls popping up. This is true of most markets but it changes the ambience and attracts more crowds of young people. It’s still fun to go there when it’s not so crowded and I tend to stick to the shops in the surrounding streets, like Neals Yard Dairy. I really do try to stay away during lunch hours and weekends.

The very modern Shard presides over the very old market

It was one of those days when nothing appealed in the way of food. We checked out some menus and turned away. We looked at the menu for Roast, inside the market, but again turned away. I grabbed a sausage roll for the bus home and I no longer remember what we ate that night but I think someone still owes me an anniversary dinner!

Category: Exhibit

Everyday things every day

Gaia – “My Earth” exhibit and a flying visit to Borough Market