Allan Gardens

Six months into winter, you learn to appreciate this sight more. It's been a long time since I walked into a glass house and felt so awed.

Picture from Blog.To

Hard to believe it was two degrees and snowing outside. Fingers crossed for a snow-less May!

The Idiot & Her Box

After a long-drawn eight-months of 'I will not give Rogers more money!' I realized:

1. I could not stand turning my laptop on after work hours, not even to watch a TV show.
2. As a result I was making my way through one and a half books a day. My brain hurts a little, in retrospect.
3. It's no use trying to go out, it's too dark & gloomy for that.

So. We now have cable TV at home. If only I could figure out how to make it work. I feel like DeeDee from Dexter's lab. Too many buttons!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Husband 
To: Me
Subject: Want me to do this for you?

Snowday

Tune & I were often unceremoniously kicked out of the ballpit at Pizza Corner, since we were clearly, according to the authorities anyway, too old for it. So I was delighted to drag my husband over to Travelocity Canada's ballpit at Eaton Center this weekend... adults only.

We had 30 seconds to find the gnome in the pile of 'snow,' and I managed to hold on to my title of 'Finder of Lost Things' and get to it first. Winners of each round won an #IdigtheGnome t-shirt. I magnanimously handed mine over to the husband, since I work for the company and get one anyway.

Other players (who don't work for the company that is :)) also got $150 off their next vacation. AND a sweepstakes entry with a chance to win a trip to Aruba and/or Nokia smartphone bundles. Sales patter aside, it was a lot of fun diving into clean 'snow' since the real snow's often been a slushy disappointment by the time it hits the ground.

... Most people are still amused by how pretty I find the snow anyway. I don't much care if it's brown and wet on the ground, it looks so fairy-tale like falling out of the sky! Toronto's not yet cold enough to be cold (though it's getting there), so I'm enjoying it while I still can.

First weekend of 2013

Sunrise... at 9am. I was out grocery shopping at 7, and at 9, the roads were still empty. I love the feeling of being awake while the whole city slumbers on... though this weekend, I think I'll enjoy slumbering right on, along with everyone else!

Met a college friend who moved here with her husband last week. We did a photography course back then, and she used to be one of my favorite models. Look how tall & gorgeous she is! (I'm wearing heels so I almost match up).

Her husband found me Priya Vadumaanga. If you haven't had this with curd rice in the summer, you don't know what you've missed out on. Completely made my weekend.

Had too much of a leaky nose to risk the pickle though. Made a huge batch of soup instead, and devoured it in between three laundry runs (the price of a long vacation - piles & piles of laundry).

Went out for dinner with a couple of people. They very generously offered to eat at a vegetarian place so I'd have more options...

... and then we went to an open mic night which had  some surprisingly good originals along with a bunch of mediocre to good classics rehashed. Though noone expected a rendition of The Phantom of the Opera. Definitely not standard karaoke fare, but so fun!

City Cider Festival

26 September, 2012

You'd think I'd notice when temperatures dropped from 33 to 14 and the sun stopped setting at 9 so it got dark out by 6:45. But honestly, the first time I noticed that summer had given way to fall was when I saw that *I* was the most scantily dressed person on the road and everyone else already had on their jackets and pants (I did a double-take when I saw pants on the road, I haven't seen anything full length for the last 3 months).

It gave me a jolt of pride really, given that I'm person who turns off the fan every now & then in Chennai. I'm assured that I'll feel the cold come winter, particularly when my nostril hairs freeze. That's an exact quote, not a witticism. Apparently it's a well documented physical phenomenon, one that I'm quite looking forward to after hearing the stories.

Anyway, long leadup to the fact that fall's here! And that means it's time for cider, soup, garlic (each of which have a festival dedicated to them!) and all the glory of comfort food. Bring. It. On.

Not Far From the Tree organized Toronto's 2nd City Cider Festival at the lovely Spadina Museum orchard a couple of Saturdays ago*. I love NFFT & anything they do (and I'm not alone in this - their founder Laura Reinsborough is one of the speakers at TEDx Toronto this year), so I offered to help. Awesome decision, as always.

Can you imagine anything more idyllic than picking apples from the orchard, then letting people press their own cider on the orchard grounds, while jesters and dancers wander around, and musicians play in the background? Oh yes, you can see the castle of Casa Loma in the background too. Talk about picture-postcard perfect. It really made me feel like I was getting the full Toronto fall experience.

More than 600 people came to the event, we churned out 200 liters of cider, and a fantastic time was had by all. I loved the turnout from families with kids, it's just such a great event to expose them to. Check out pictures here.

*Yes, I'm way behind schedule, as acknowledged and compensated for over the last 2 days.

Hello again, brain: My new job

24 September, 2012

I'm exactly five blog posts behind schedule at the moment - I meant to write about Panama, a writer's group I wrote with (oh, the irony), the Cider Festival, Opera Briefs, and (and this probably explains why none of the other posts have materialized), my new job. 

I was super kicked when I heard I got the job, particularly since it meant I'd finally get to introduce myself in Toronto as a single entity rather than a part of a couple (RIP 10,000 versions of this conversation - Person: So, what do you do?/What are you doing in Toronto? | Me: Well, I moved here with my husband, his job transferred him, so...) 

It's been a week since I started working, and it's definitely the most challenging role I've taken up so far - as you can probably tell by the fact that I tweet about once in two days at the moment (my personal internet time's been relegated to between 6:50am and 7:20am). But I love feeling like I'm stretching myself and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

My office is about half an hour away, but there's an underground path pretty much from my house, all the way up to the reception at my workplace. It makes me feel like the boy who dug a route to China, it's kind of lovely not having to be above ground and combating traffic at all. Plus, I've discovered that the subway's so smooth, it can't even give me motion-sickness, so I've been polishing off a book a day on the commute. Now that's what I call productive use of my time.

Tomorrow's one of those pressure-packed days where I've back-to-back meetings, including lunch & dinner appointments (alleluiah! no 6:15am-6:45am lunch prep for me!). My husband's schedule conveniently cooperated by making his day like that today (double bonus! early dinner for just me!). So I've the next hour to catch up on all those posts. Here we go.

Panama
Writer's Group
City Cider Festival
The New Job

Panama Souvenirs & Ontario Health Cards

12 September, 2012

Half my husband's salary gets deducted towards Canadian taxes (I wish I were exaggerating). The taxes are meant to sponsor our healthcare & child benefits, which is funny because I can't remember the last time I saw a doctor in India, and I don't plan to have kids in the near future. 

So it's kind of ironic that the day my (much resented and hard earned) Health Card arrived in the mail, I had to use it. Turns out I brought back a heat boil from Panama - one that morphed slowly and painfully into an aching, huge abscess.I don't recommend Googling that, they're not pretty. 

I waited patiently for it to go away by itself but woke up this morning feeling like I'd been fighting all night and was barely able to sit, so given the Health Card was in the mail, I figured I may as well put it to good use. Plus, it's the prettiest picture I've seen of me on a Government-issued card (I have a low bar, clearly) and I was eager to show it off. I take my kicks where I can get them.

I finished an entire novel by the time the doctor called me in, but except for the wait-time of about twenty minutes, the whole experience was remarkably smooth (and I say that despite having been injected, cut open, and then drained). The doctor was friendly, went straight into action, and warned me when things were going to get painful - and may I just say, as someone who's gotten a tattoo on a very bony finger - this was way more intense. She did a pretty good job distracting me.

Same story at the pharmacy - I'd to wait ten minutes while the prescription was scanned and sent to my insurance company, but at the end of it I was handed over a bag of antibiotics with incredibly detailed instructions on how to use them (I love my family pharmacist in Chennai, I do, but I can't imagine him having the time to sketch things out for me that clearly!) and no bill.

I'm happy to see the taxes are being put to good use. It's going to be hard cribbing about them if I can get a good night's sleep.

An Ode to Ikea Furniture Assembly Service

July 5, 2012

Here's something every first-time Ikea visitor should know: the cheaper a product, the more assembly it's probably going to require! Even small footstools require at least four nails to be drilled in before they'll stand up, so you can imagine the kind of time and patience it'd take to put together furniture for an entire house.

We didn't even try. Instead, we chose to hire Ikea Furniture Assembly Service, a company we found on Kijiji.   While there are many Ikea furniture assembly services online (there's even one that Ikea has exclusive tie-ups with) we chose this particular company over all the others: they clearly stood out, with their prompt response to our enquiry, their ready availability (my email said 'asap!' and they responded that they could be there within hours for immediate furniture assembly, and be back the next day for the less-urgent pieces) and their more-than-fair prices (we sent them a list of every single item in our house and they replied with an overall quote that was lower than any we'd seen or hoped to expect!)

The owner, Ivan, was in constant communication, and offered to further discount the price for a review on their G+ page. This made me very happy. As an ex-employee of Google, I'm always happy when anyone understands G+'s uses as a marketing medium. I also believe that when a company offers to knock money off in exchange for a review, they're very confident they're going to hear good feedback. It's always a great sign.

I had no idea just how good their service would be. I truly believe this company's even better than the one Ikea endorses. Michael came over at 5:15pm sharp and went right to work. He had all the tools he needed with him, they were a very professional set and helped him get the job done in minimal time. It took until 11:30pm (!) for everything to be assembled, we had a lot of stuff... but Michael never seemed to tire, and, in fact, said he'd leave only when everything was fully done.

I particularly remember a couple of moments, when Michael realized that there was a more effective way of holding a piece of furniture together (eg: by nailing the cushion on a footstool to the footstool's base). He went back to the piece he'd already worked on, took it apart, and put it back together again. We know that we'll be using sturdy, well-finished pieces thanks to Michael. He was also really helpful with proactive suggestions on lighting and wall mounting.

Though it was 11:30 at night when he finished, and he had a 3 hour journey before he'd get home, he flattened all the furniture boxes, taped them together, and even offered to sweep the floor (not that there was any mess, he was very careful to always work on a covered surface and keep his tools on a separate cloth). This was easily the best customer service I've ever seen and I'm going to do my best to make sure they're re-hired by anyone I know!

PS: I'd take pictures of our beautifully assembled furniture but the internet companies aren't as quick to respond as Ikea Furniture Assembly Service and they'll only be here next week :)

My first Canada Day Weekend in Toronto

July 1, 2012

What do people do on Canada Day? Popular consensus said they go to cottages, eat tons, check out the Pride Parade... essentially, do anything, just don't stay home. It seemed like the whole of Toronto was on the road in front of our new condo! We ended up having to cart our luggage through the subway station and into the condo, since there was no way of getting in from the street entrance. Wince.

Picture from Niagara Falls site

By the time we finally finished the four (!) trips it took to move all our stuff in, it was time to head over to the Niagara Falls for some family time. Though I don't have very many relatives in Canada (by Indian standards anyway!), an uncle-type relative was visiting, and that meant a get-together of sorts at the Niagara Falls.

When we got to the Falls, we realized we'd been mistaken - not everyone in TO was watching the Pride Parade, the rest were all at the Falls! The five minutes of fireworks provided a nice touch against the mist of the Niagara, but it took us five. hours. to drive back to Milton (the journey to the Falls took only an hour, for some context). Talk about the theory of relativity in action! 

We were exhausted by the time we got back, and unanimously voted to just book a hotel room and hit the casinos if we do this again. That said, I definitely needed the family time this week. It's been a painfully long one, with my grandfather being hospitalized and the physical exhaustion of shifting houses and picking out furniture. Some good home-cooked Indian food and catching up on family picture albums were just what I needed to catch my breath a little.

Picture from Expedia

And when we got back to town, my husband surprised me with reservations at a four-star hotel, because, like he says, we definitely deserve it :) So we're now at  a super comfy suite at One King West, which is arguably the most character-filled hotel you can find downtown (let me know if there are others!) I'm enjoying life in the lap of luxury and feeling blissfully spoiled. 

All in all, a long weekend with the motto 'all's well that ends well.'

What did you do for Canada Day?

Moving to Toronto, Moving in Toronto

29 June, 2012

Moving to Toronto was easy enough. My husband's company transferred us, and took care of all the (boring) paperwork. AirBnB hooked us up with a fantastic temporary accommodation. The City of Toronto gave us SIN numbers without protest. Et voile, we were here! 

Moving in Toronto, on the other hand, is a lot harder. Anyone who's tried to find a condo in the city in June/July can tell you that everyone in the city is looking for a condo in the city in June/July. You can count on apartments listed on Craigslist and Kijiji to be scooped up within the hour, and if they aren't... well, it's usually for a reason.

Such as that the bathroom in the apartment doesn't have a door. Or that the apartment has someone illegally camping out in it, who refuses to open the door to someone who wants to legally move in. Or because the appliances in the apartment look older than my grandfather. And he's 100 years old, no joke.

The whole process would have been infinitely annoying given we wanted to move asap. I think our real estate agent, Samantha Johnson, was the main reason it stayed fun and optimistic. She'd show up in her super-huge car, drive me around town, and ensure that we saw any house worth seeing. I can't emphasize enough how professional and helpful she was. 

The pros of having an agent, when you're new to the city:

- They have access to all the listings on MLS and can find you flats per your specifications

- You usually get taken around, so you don't waste time trying to figure out where things are/walking a roundabout route because Google Maps made you

- Since you likely don't have a credit history yet, it helps to have someone rooting for you and making your case

- You get to see flats at your convenience, rather than trying to coordinate with the owner for a time when he'll be there to personally give you the key

The cons of having an agent, when you're new to the city:

- If a listing's not on MLS, they usually won't know about it. So you may be missing out on a good deal from someone who's unwilling to hire an agent.

- The agent himself/herself! I've heard horror stories about real estate agents in Toronto feeding you false information, hustling you to hurry, and even threatening you because their commission depends on your cooperation. 

Not so with Sam. If you're thinking of hiring a real estate agent, I'd definitely unhesitatingly recommend her. We're moving into our new condo this weekend, and though it ended up being one that we found through friends (it wasn't listed on MLS), I know I'd definitely call Sam if we were looking for a house again. 

Canadian Summer Tradition: BBQ Sundays

June 24, 2012

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, my husband and I are temporarily staying at a house we found through AirBnB. It's great, because it gives us an opportunity to experience life in a true Toronto-style townhouse for a while, before we move to a far more convenient-to-maintain condo. 

The place where we're staying has a great rooftop garden. Inspired by the rooftop + the lovely weather we've been having, we decided to make like Canadians and fire up the barbeque. My husband donned his figurative apron and did an admirable job of roasting and grilling our snacks. All the time that he had the grill on, we were providing constructive commentary, such as 'But why would people do this? An oven's so much easier!' And you know what? An oven is so much easier, but the food made on that grill tasted so good!

Maybe it was because it had been marinating longer. Maybe it was the great outdoors. Possibly the charred smokiness in each bite. There's definitely something to it.

In other news of a culinary nature, I'm celebrating the anniversary of the first time I cooked at home for my husband. Yes, I really do remember these dates. I blame it on my Economics classes in high school, I'm cursed to remember random numbers forever more! Anyway, I baked a tiny little cake and plan to spring a surprise on him. It's safe to say he doesn't remember the date. It's hard to blame him... he probably didn't concentrate on Economics in school.

A Morning at City Hall

June 18, 2012

Picture from City of Toronto website

Everyone in Toronto has to have an SIN number, whether they're immigrants or on temporary work permits. I'd been putting off a trip to City Hall to register for mine... largely because when I pity Government offices of any kind, I picture long waits, tons of documentation, and plenty of tedious form filling. Suffice to say that I'd reached my month's quota of form filling by the time I cleared customs and immigration.

It was only when I realized that I need a SIN number to even apply for jobs that I set out for City Hall on the double. I have to say, I  like the old City Hall building a lot, it's bursting with character and reminds me, oddly, of India. The new building, though, is bursting with efficiency and I was super impressed with how easy it was to figure out which line to join, what form to fill (it had just 8 questions!) and so on.

I'll get my SIN 10 days from now, and then this move may start to feel more real than it has so far. We're still living out of suitcases, in temporary accommodation courtesy AirBnB (a website I highly recommend to people visiting cities and looking for cost efficient home-like spaces in which to stay) and this is my first concrete step towards being less of a tourist and more of a here-I-am. I've met so many people in the last few days, and they always tell me where they're from, and when Toronto became their new home. I guess my story probably starts around here.*Big grin*

A Go Train Away: Weekend in Milton

June 15, 2012

 My dad’s cousins have lived in Toronto for a really long time. I was surprised to hear it was actually well over 9 years, which means that the last time I saw them, I must have been much younger than I thought.

I have fairly vivid memories of visiting their home in India. I remember them swapping travel stories with my dad, and I’ll always remember one of them (they’re twins, so I can be forgiven for forgetting which one!) telling me that I looked just like Meg Ryan, when You’ve Got Mail was on TV. Then again, if You’ve Got Mail was on TV, it must have been ages ago!

It really felt like no time had passed at all when we met them at their beautiful home in Milton, ON. Thank God for my family’s miraculous genes (I hope I carry them too!), no one seems to look any older, despite the passing of years! 


Their house brought back many more memories, with a reconstituted puja room containing many pieces I recognized from their house in India. There were photos of their parents which I remembered seeing in photo albums my grandfather kept in his house. All in all, it was a pleasant trip down memory lane.

They’ve a lovely front porch with well-tended to potted plants, and a back garden which transports you to a new dimension altogether. The house was altogether magical, and the area seemed to do it justice. In the evening, we got in their car and went to a nearby park, as well as a lake with a walking path around it. 


I can’t begin to describe the serenity you feel in these places – the water seems so clean, the grass greener, and there are no high rises for miles together. We even saw unfettered horses grazing in one of the farms on our way back!

And, of course, there was Indian food. Lots of it. A weekend very well spent!

Hello, Blog!

6 June, 2012

At the offset, I should sheepishly confess that I've owned about 8 blogs to date. Note the past tense. I am (wince) a serial blog deleter.

Sometimes it's because a blog started to lack a cohesive theme, at other times because the people I wrote with moved away. God knows with Twitter, Facebook and G+, more and more people are starting to microblog, rather than good-old-fashioned blog blog. I'm guilty of that myself. Why then start this blog?


Well. I moved to Toronto recently, and found, to my delight, that people here actively blog. Not just tweet. No, they blog! And it's wonderful when you come across a community that blogs because that inspires you to write yourself. Not post a status, but write. Express. Share.


Blogs build communities in ways that microblogs don't quite. Whether it's getting a heartfelt comment on a post that meant a lot, or writing a guest post on a blog you've always admired... there's something about this medium that makes it stand apart.


I'm starting this blog with all the enthusiasm of a new girl in Toronto. It seems fitting that this blog should be about my experiences in the city that inspired the blog. I am four days old in the city, and determined to see and experience all I can. Here we go!


PS: Big big kudos to the team at ShesConnected for inspiring this!