Ontario

Blue Jays Day!

Up until 8 weeks ago the only part of this trip I’d planned and booked was today’s baseball game! But in a moment of madness we very nearly didn’t make it to the match…

The left hand, joined block, is the Bat Cave.

… As we all enjoyed a rare Sunday morning lay in I heard one of the boys start coughing… and then another … then the third… an attack of the killer lynx deodorant was my no.1 suspect. But, when I too started coughing, I started to wonder. Jack appeared, more than a little sheepish, taking the rap for the lynx from his coughing and spluttering brothers… but looking ashen and struggling to get a clear breath… I too could feel something very strange in the air… poor Jack sat close up beside me and whispered ‘I need to tell you something… I’ve done something stupid… by mistake sort of…’ My mind raced. ‘Bear Spray!’ he explained.

In conspires that he’d been reenacting a bear attack in the bathroom (?!) and triggered the lethal spray that had been laying at the top of Matt’s wash bag! 😱

All I can say is I pity those poor bears on the receiving end of that potent poison! I used to wonder about the likelihood of a ‘spray can vs a grizzly’ but one mouthful of that and you’d be retreating for the hills!

After half hour or so we finally managed to stop coughing and had the apartment well and truly aired… off to the game!

The Toronto Blue Jays v The Seattle Mariners. 20 years when Larry and I watched the Jays play it was the Sky Dome.. today it’s the Roger’s Centre. Such an impressive stadium and great for the boys to see the engineering fest that allows the retractable roof roll back… all 21 millions pounds in weight! Apparently, if laid out flat, the roof itself would cover almost 8 acres! We watched in awe as it’s colossal panels disappeared courtesy of 54 ‘bogeys’ – motorised carts that trundle along on huge steel wheels. It takes almost 20 minutes to complete a full run…a lot quicker than the Blue Jays who unfortunately, after almost 4 hours, hadn’t managed a run between them! However, the 8 home runs of the Mariners were super impressive and the whole spectacle of the game kept us well and truly entertained!

Home to 21 Iceboat Terrace for another swim and a chill before dinner…

Back to the Bat Cave at 21 Iceboat for films, WiFi and bed ready for Canada’s Wonderland in the morning. 😊🇨🇦

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Sacha Brakenbury

As mum to three sons (and auntie to ten!) Sacha is kept busy trying to keep the kids alive, safe, fed and watered. Having specialised in Child Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Reading, Sacha went on to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Education before taking up her first teaching post as Head of Boys Sport and Year 6 teacher. After 6 years, Sacha was fortunate enough to awarded a travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, enabling her to undertake an extensive research project overseas. Sacha has worked with some of the world's top professional sports and educational institutions across Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand - researching ways of engaging young people through the medium of sport and in particular how this can help to reduce drug use and gang membership. After returning to the UK Sacha became Education Director at Ipswich Town Football Club, leading in the government's 'Playing for Success' scheme. She went on to establish three highly respected Study Centres back in the East of England, each of which used sport as a means of motivating children and young people. After successfully completing her National Professional Qualification for Headship in Cambridge, Sacha went on to study for her Masters Degree in Education. With the arrival of her three sons, Sacha decided it was time to 'go it alone.' She set up her own business consultancy, supporting a range of charities and organisations across the UK. Securing funds in excess of £2 million pounds, Sacha was able to 'give wings' to a wide range of charitable causes close to her heart. She continues this today with work specifically for Child First Trust. It was her own kids that were the inspiration behind her establishing Learning Academies (www.learningacademies.co.uk) - a tutoring company that has the simple mission to motivate and encourage its students to become confident and assertive learners who are not afraid to 'take risks' and challenge themselves. As a passionate photographer, Sacha is never more at home than when she's travelling, camera in hand, boys in tow. As a qualified medic with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, she is able to combine her love the outdoors with her passion for wild animals.

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