Hi All !
Can you believe it's September already?! Can't believe we're starting to pack the place up getting ready to head home! Many of you will know that we have to take batteries,and anything that may freeze into town (not the grog;- it's 
usually OK, but we stand all the bottles in the bath, just in case). We put linens, clothes, cushions,cutlery, dishes, etc., etc., into plastic bags to keep off those creatures who get past our baits, mothballs and spearmint oil; as well as bring in everything; and finally we hire a chap to blow water out of all pipes and put antifreeze in. It's quite a production! 
Summer in Ontario this year was a non-starter until about early August, but we often say if we were simply looking for good weather, we'd stay in Australia (I know, we'd have to join the old farts in caravan parks to avoid the rain at 
home, but we wouldn't have to fly). We keep reminding ourselves WE'LL see months of lovely warm 
weather and incredibly blue skys; these poor Canadians go from almost no summer to fall and WINTER! 
Anyway, we've managed to get in a fair bit of boating and playing, especially in August; and to share a lot of good times with family and friends here,- the real purpose of the annual migration. We took a three day boat trip as far as Smiths Falls, cheating and staying at a hotel on the water instead of camping. Mum has spent about half the time out here at the lake with us; the extended family has gathered here most Sundays, and the 3 youngest niece and nephews spent a few 
days here as well. No bears to report this year (to Anne's disappointment), but we were visited by a very friendly raccoon, and rescued a baby robin (guess who had to feed it worms!) . It has also been a bumper year for skunks; we've had a persistent visitor in the wee hours, digging dozens of small holes in the grass 
looking for grubs. We may have to import Terry with his mole expertise. One of our 
neighbours stepped down out of his place to find a skunk under the step he was about to stand on; he reckoned the only thing that saved him was that the skunk hadn't room to lift its tail!!!
During July, as we whinged and whined about the weather, we joked and carried on about a sunshine fix/-
a cruise specifically, until it sounded better and better, and became a dream rather than a joke! So yesterday we just came home from a 10 day trip to Florida, including a 5 day cruise in the Caribbean !!! We flew down to Fort Lauderdale for 3 days and looked around there and Miami Beach, then boarded a floating 
pamper-palace where the non-stop eating, drinking and entertainment were only interrupted by the shore excursions. It's a different world !! We, who go out to restaurant or theatre perhaps a handful of times each year, got dolled up and 
went to a posh dinner, live musical theatre and nightclubs every night! Our excuse was our anniversary,- as if we needed an excuse! We stopped 
in Key West which was delightful; spent a day on a beach on Passion Island,Cozumel, off Mexico; and visited a 
Mayan site in Belize. Then we had a day at sea with no stops, which we all needed to rest up and soak up some of the sun we had supposedly come for. At the end of the cruise, we managed to fit in a 
short tour of the Everglades before we got dropped at the airport. One of the very best holidays we've ever had;- we'd go again next week if we could (but we'd be in big trouble with Mif, as well as the banker,-and I know who scares me more!!).
Now we're starting to really look forward to being home again and catching up with family and friends in Aus. So 'Cheerio' to those we leave here; hope we see you all well next year! And 'See you soon' to all the Aussies!
Take Care All
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