Homeless no more

Okay, I shouldn't joke.

Please excuse my flippancy. Yesterday we took ownership of a five-bedroom house in Westmount, Quebec. Apart from a brief spell of panic — along the lines of "My God, what have we gotten ourselves into!" — we are ecstatic! It has taken just over a year for us to become truly settled in this magnificent city. It appears we are here to stay.

Pictures to follow...of an empty house, as we don't officially move in until Thanksgiving weekend. We think the timing fitting.

Proof it does happen

Indeed, folks, it is true. Aspiring writers in our midst do receive the call. One of my writer friends from Nantwich has recently been signed and will have her first book published in August 2007. Congratulations to India!

Back to school

Like other parents all over the world, I'm revelling in the fact that Kassie has returned to school. Summer is great—I'm sad to see it go (as I write leaves swirl and dance outside my window)—but a little routine is definitely in order.

A month or so ago I switched from working at home to working 9-5 at a client's office. It reminds me a bit of school: we sit at open workstations in a room resembling a large classroom, we work studiously but occasionally take time out to quip back and forth, and, get this, we sometimes even eat together in the cafeteria. Best of all, it's a casual atmosphere. We don't even have to put on the proverbial (and usually uncomfortable) power suit.

Kassie must wear a uniform. And she isn't paid for her labours with cold hard cash. But, other than that, I don't see much difference between how we spend our respective days.