I have a love-hate relationship with it but....

... I hear LONDON CALLING!

Yes, thanks to the magic of the FA Cup, and the lure of Cardiff's first visit to Wembley in 81 years, I am coming back to "Blighty" for a brief, but sure to be exciting weekend.
This really was an opportunity I couldn't miss, and despite the obvious costs involved, and whatever the result maybe, its going to be worth every penny.
And it seems I'm not alone in feeling this way, with Bluebird fans from Alabama, Arizona and Bangkok even coming back for this one.

So, on Thursday April 4th Air Chaos (Air Canada to most people) will be chauffering me to Heathrow, and after a hectic weekend of family, friends, fun AND FOOTBALL, I will be returning to Toronto on Monday 7th.

And dangling at the end of all this excitement, is the potential for a place in the FA Cup final, and another Wembley appearence in May.
See you all SOON!

"WEM-BER-LEY, WEM-BER-LEY....

.....WE'RE THE FAMOUS CARDIFF CITY AND WE'RE GOING TO WEM-BER-LEY!"

It's a good job I wasn't watching the Middlesbrough v Cardiff FA Cup quarter-final in a public place on Sunday morning, otherwise there would have been a lot of people thinking something very strange was going on with the welsh boy jumping up and down singing songs and tapping his hands on his head in a very strange way.

All this in response to the mighty mighty BLOOOOOOOOOOBIRDS winning up in the northeast of England quite emphatically 2-0.

So now we face Barnsley in the semi-final at WEM-BER-LEY in what has been quite a fantastic FA Cup competition this season. Shock, after shock, after shock, and this weekend was probably THE most shock filled of all.

The magic of the FA Cup is alive, well, and kicking back irresistibly this year!
LONG LIVE THE CUP!

We're on a road to... Wembley, OR California!

Just a quick one this, and time to plug a couple of websites that are really worth a few minutes to read.

Firstly is THIS ONE from my cousins Sylvie & Marie-Anne from Ottawa. They, along with a couple of friends are in the process of cycling..... yes, cycling!.... across the southern US, a place I'd really love to visit, and return to Arizona especially.
Anyway, they started in New Orleans about a month ago, and have now made it almost all the way across Texas! That's some good going, and great timing to avoid the winter up here north of the border too!

After beating Wolves 2-0 yesterday at Ninian Park, the Mighty Bluebirds of Cardiff City, are now through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup! Yes... the LAST EIGHT teams! Something we've not done since 1927, when we actually went all the way and won the FA Cup itself, beating Arsenal 1-0.
Now, one nice chap called Andy has been following "The Road to Wembley" since it started way back at the start of the season, and its now brought him to Cardiff. He was at the game yesterday (making me very jealous, and just a little bit homesick) and now will be following our next game (or more). You can read all about it HERE.

BLLLOOOOOOOOBIRDS!

The Greatest Show on Ice! - "Go LEAFS Go!"

This past weekend was quite simply brilliant, and the summit of that brilliance was on Saturday afternoon, when after many years of dreaming from across the Atlantic, and then many months of hoping here in Canada, I finally got to see my first Toronto Maple Leafs game.

Tickets for the Leafs are harder to come by than one of Willie Wonker's famous golden tickets, so when Amanda's sister Kim managed to get us two spare tickets from a friend of her's in work, I was utterly overjoyed. The fact that these tickets were for the only game this season against the Detroit Red Wings (as previously mentioned in the Ottawa game, the Wings are currently the best team in the NHL), and the first time they've played in Toronto since 2003, due to the mess of the NHL fixture list, was extra special.

These two teams have been long time and bitter rivals for over 300 games and about 80 years, and with the cities just 5 hours or so apart, it always provides a great atmosphere and mix of fans from "Hockeytown" Canada and USA!

Toronto have been having a rather rough season, but despite a couple of good wins against Ottawa and Montreal this week, were also hammered 8-0 by lowly Florida. So what to expect against Detroit? Which side of Leafs Nation would we see in this game? I was desperately trying to remain hopeful and optomistic in my Maple Leaf heart, but my realistic hockey head was saying nothing but a defeat was likely.





The game started well with the Leafs holding their own , and actually getting some very good shots away at the Red Wings net, and as in the game up in Ottawa, Detroit didn't seem to settle well........ and then........... midway through the first period......... from a bit of a freak deflection.... the Leafs score! I think it took most of the Air Canada Centre by surprise as it seemed the cheers were muted from our lofty perch, but we were actually in the lead! we held on until the end of the first period, and then Amanda and I were able to catch our breath, and let some small glimmer of hope shine that we might possibly win the game.

In the second period it was again fairly even, with chances being traded pretty equally at each end. Toronto were playing a very controlled tactically aware game matching up against the clinical play of the red Wings, a change form the usual high pace and tempo and harder hitting fore-checking usually seen in most NHL games. On one rare occassion where the Leafs did send someone in Detroits end to challenge, the Red Wings broke away and scored the equaliser on a tip-in close to the net.

Hope for the Blue & White waned, and then as so often happens, Detroit seemed to take a bit more control of the game, and with about 7 minutes left in the third period, took the lead themselves, sending the Red Wings fans around the ACC into joy, and the Leafs into despair.
BUT WAIT... there were two who would not be denied. Goalie Vesa Toskala had been outstanding all game for Toronto, and the Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin stood-up and pulled the team with them. In the last seven minutes Sundin barely left the ice for breath, and deservedly scored Toronto's equaliser. this time it was the Leafs fans chance to crow, and that they did well. Urging on the team giving them the support to hold on until overtime, and a guaranteed point at least.

THEN... a minute into the four-on-four first-goal wins action, Toronto surged into the Detroit zone, goalie Dominic Hasek lost an edge, went sprawling and then lost his hold on his stick in the process, Anton Strahlman shot from the high-slot, and Nik Antropov tipped puck infront, and..... well... the rest is a bit of a blur to me! There was lots of cheering, shouting, jumping, hugging, bouncing, flag waving, and I've never been more glad to hear "Zombie Nation" come over the speakers. Quite an adrenaline rush, and the closest I've come in a long while to the feeling of Cardiff scoring a last minute winner. HIGHLIGHTS HERE!



Our post match dinner was a very happy one surrounded by equally happy Leaf fans in a very happy city!


Don't worry, there will be more on this to follow soon! ;-)

Another view of Toronto

While I'm here, there's a couple of things that I found while nosing around on YouTube that will hopefully interest and amuse most of you.

Firstly THIS, which is a funky little film of the ice rink in front of City Hall where I go skating after work, and then the Eaton Centre, Toronto's busiest and most well-known shopping centre, and the commercial heart of the city.

And secondly, in more of a bit of fun HERE, so just watch and enjoy how the city was "put together".

There's also a couple more good tours of the city HERE (which features some really good music too) & HERE, and another clearer slightly better version of the New Years fireworks at City Hall.

There's plenty more if you want to look for them and take in this wonderful city that I'm very happily calling home at the moment.

A Winter Blanket

On Friday we had the second major winter storm of the season come through Toronto (and most of Eastern Canada), which lasted almost 24 hours, but fortunately was much nicer and less messy than the first one.

That meant Amanda and I had the chance to go out and enjoy some of the wonderful wintery conditions and play in the snow after work on Friday evening. I think this one storm produced more snow than I can remember seeing in the last few winters combined back home, and so I'm making the most of savouring the sights, sounds & fun of the city covered in a blanket of white!

Here are some of the photos of our adventures:

The streets of Toronto look very fresh and enticing in this winter wonderland.



Amanda & I "made a new friend" who wanted to say hi to everyone.





Now here's a real snow angel!


And just before we headed home, the snow came back to wish us goodnight!

AAAAAHHHHHHH! How cute!

I'm a little bit late in saying this, but its been a busy week, so accept my apologies...... but please welcome to the world Carys Megen Sofia Evans!
She arrived on Friday 25th January, at about 10pm, and weighed in at a healthy 7lb 12oz. She is Rhys & Heather's second "bundle of joy", and means Rhodri now has a little baby sister to take care of.

And speaking of my godson, it was a busy couple of days for the Evans family as Rhodri celebrated his third birthday! Three years already... how time flies, and how quickly he's grown.

So Happy Birthday from Uncle Owain!

So cold you could make ice cream outside!

We had the pleasure of a trip down to Niagara Falls last weekend and a visit with my great uncle David and Aunt Valerie, which was as lovely as always.

Along with the chance to escape the city for a weekend, we also took the chance to introduce them to possibly the best ice cream in the world.... despite the fact it was -12c (-22 wind chill) outside! Sometimes, only an ice cream will do!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!

Let's all laugh at swansea, let's all laugh at swansea.......! He he!

Havant & Waterlooville 4 - 2 swansea!
If you haven't heard of Havant (he he!.. get it?!) then don't be surprised, not many people had either, but then that didn't stop them from beating dear old swansea city in a real FA Cup upset, and proves what the meaning of this tournament is in British football.

The fact it meant that those poor neighbours of ours from down the M4 miss out on a glamour trip to Liverpool in the next round, was just even more sweeter.

In other football news....
.. Just WHAT IS GOING ON AT NEWCASTLE?! First you sack your new manager after only 8 MONTHS, and THEN go and do THIS?!
I mean really..... have you learnt absolutely NOTHING since the last time about 5 years ago!

And finally, I must just say a well done to the mighty BLUEBIRDS for a very nice turn around in form since mid-December, and by all accounts we seem to be playing top-draw football and getting the results we deserve. (We also managed to negotiate our FA Cup banana-skin far more comfortably both on and off the pitch than those down west!) Keep up the hard work, and good luck boys.


Happy footballing days all!

More from Ottawa

The "Welcoming Party" outside the Senators home.


Ottawa raised, and Red Wing (and ice hockey) legend Steve Yzerman was honoured in a pre-season ceremony. A real treat seeing this guy and being able to recognise his talent and part in NHL history.



The Senators banners hung from the roof. On the far side, those from the original Senators team that last won the Stanley Cup in the 1920s.



The crowd get involved in some third period support for the team, passing a huge Senators banner over our heads around the stadium.


And here's what it looks like... sort of.

Stanley Cup preview?!

Saturday night in Canada means just one thing across the nation (and fortunately its not Ant and Dec being idiots!)... "Hockey Night in Canada". Its a national institution, and has been for about, well, the dawn of TV in Canada. Its the one time of the week where everyone in this hockey mad country gathers together and is watching the same hockey match.

Last Saturday there was only one game to be watching in Canada (in fact in the whole of the NHL), in Ottawa between the two top teams in the NHL, the hometown Senators and Detroit Red Wings. And with some fantastic twist of fate, I was lucky enough to be there thanks to Mr Brian, Sir (Amanda's Dad) and his friend Yvon. It was part of a great weekend up in the Capital, and a real highlight of my time here in Canada, along with so many others!



(Mr. Brian & Yvon enjoying the atmosphere at Scotiabank Place)

The first two periods weren't that interesting sadly as Detroit really didn't show up at all, but that allowed the Sens to take a two-nil lead making the home crowd (including myself pretty happy). But they couldn't make the most of all their possession and some excellent chances, including hitting the post three times and missing a wide open net as Hasek in Detroit's goal went walkabouts.

But the third period was electric, and showed how good these two teams are, as Detroit came out to play. As so often happens, those missed chances came back to hurt Ottawa, first the Red Wings were awarded a very debatable powerplay which they took advantage of after looking very ineffective on their first five opportunities. And then they equalised with 8 minutes to go! Would Ottawa do something so typical of the Toronto Maple Leafs and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

The Sens however, came roaring back themselves, and captain Daniel Alfredsson capped of a man of the match performance with a fine goal from right below our position in the stands. The crowd erupted (along with me), and a few minutes later were happily leaving the arena and heading for a celebration in the nation's capital.

The only time these teams can meet again would be in the Stanley Cup finals. And what a series that would be if they did!



(Some of the atmosphere from Scotiabank Place.)

America 'votes'.... well... soon!

Tonight is the second of the US Presidential candidate nomination primaries. And if that makes any sense to you, then Well DONE! Basically, the two main US political parties (the 'evil Republican empire', and the 'slightly less evil but probably more inept at actually doing anything' Democrats) are now going around to three different states where voters then choose which candidate they want to run for the opportunity to replace Darth Vader,... ahem, sorry.... I mean't George 'Dubya' Bush, this time next year.

Since 'winning' the 're-election' in 2004, in a remarkably similar and dubious way to the first one in 2000, everyone seems to have given up on him doing anything productive at all, and basically treated him as a lame-duck President for the last three years.

So now apparently the whole of the USA is ready for a change in more ways than one, and the Democrats are hoping to capitalise on this. But just how much of America is ready for 'how much' of a change?

Two of the three leading Democrat candidates are an African American (Barak Obama) and a woman (Hilary Clinton). Its usually hard enough to get a Democrat into the White House in the first place, but if they really think that Middle America (and infact the South and most of the North too!) is ready for, let alone actually willingly WANTS either a Black or Female President, then I personally think they are, unfortunately, very sadly, hugely mistaken.

The prejudices that continue to exist in America (and lots of the rest of the 'Western World') are quite shocking and very long-lived, and won't be removed quickly or easily in 'one fell-swoop'. If either of these becomes the Democrat candidate, they are effectively closing the door to millions of potential voters, and probably sealing their defeat too. I wish this wasn't the way as I feel a few years under Obama would do the whole of American society the world of good, and bring it a new perspective on the world, but I suspect it will just result in 8 years of 'nice old traditional caucasian Republican' John McCain. Oh the joy!

Welcome to 2008!

Well the forecast was "all white", and that's how Toronto's New Year celebrations turned out.
Here's a small taste of the celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square infront of City Hall, right smack in the middle of downtown Toronto.

Ok, so its not quite Sydney, London, or Times Square in New York (and you'll have to turn your neck halfway through sorry!), but the snow floating down and being bundled up nice and warm really does add to the atmosphere here.

So... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

"I'm dreaming....

...... of a White New Year's!"

Ok, not quite as the original was intended to sound, but this morning (New Year's Eve) Toronto awoke to a dusting of snow, and tonight, and right around midnight, its predicted that we'll have the start of a nice little snowfall to see the New Year in.

So if that isn't an excuse for a bit of a sing song, then I don't know what is!

Anyway, all this rambling leads me to say I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and may 2008 be happy, healthy and prosperous to you (especially those of you with or expecting new arrivals in the family).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I went to a fight last night.....

..... AND A HOCKEY GAME BROKE OUT!
(or so goes the often quoted line here).

I think it's fair to say that the Marlies game against the Rockford Ice Hogs (daft name I know!) was fractious and physical to start, got rough in the middle, and turned downright violent at the end. The game sheet itself makes scary reading, but also pretty much tells the tale of the game all on its own.

An incredibly picky referee, who seemed to be spotting infractions from nowhere didn't help the situation, and he ended-up calling TWENTY-NINE Penalties! Yes... 29!! Only three of which came in the first period, and meant there were a total of four 5-on-3 situations. So its not surprising there was no real flow to the game, and quite impressive that the teams managed to muster eight goals between them, and ONLY TWO on the powerplay!

There were however, two real highlights of the night. The first one is the aforementioned fights. Yes hockey is a great sport anyway, but sometimes the fighting just adds to the entertainment, and works as a release for the players and a way to "police" the sport themselves. So as the end neared with the result secured, the final two minutes saw three (quite impressive by hockey standards) fights and a misconduct penalty to add to the fun. Toronto's Kris Newberry (my best mate! - see the post from this time last year!) was especially impressive in his "bout" and left the ring... sorry, I mean rink, to a standing ovation.

The really cute part of day though didn't actually involve the players we'd all paid to come and watch. No, that was fulfilled by this:




all together now ....... aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
These kids are all barely old enough to walk, yet they're playing hockey already. Yep, they start them young in Canada!

Happy Hockey Days everyone!

Time flies!

Well its hard to believe in some ways that its been one full year since I left home and ol' Wales. Sometimes it feels just like yesterday that I was heading to the airport for that Zoom Airlines 767. Until recently life has been so busy that it "can't possibly have been a year gone", but then, when I get the chance to sit down and actually think about everything that has happened, it seems like enough to fit into five years!

A couple of weeks in Canada to start, turned into a wonderful white Christmas and a couple of months of Canadian winter! From the frozen winds and blowing snow of Toronto in winter, it was then from one extreme to the other with the heat and altitude of the South American Andes. Three hectic, energetic, exhausting and very very exciting months south of the equator exploring the fascinating and beautiful scenery, history and people of Latin America.

Then just as its getting cold down there, I fly back up to Toronto to be reunited with a wonderful Canadian girl just in time for a wonderful Canadian summer! A summer which included visitors from home, baseball games, visiting family all around Ontario, a spectacular trip out East to Nova Scotia, and actually finally working sometime as well!

So if that's what the previous 365 days held for me, the possibilities for the next 365 days are endless!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Just a quick one to say wish everyone a fun filled Halloween night.
We've even got the CN Tower here in Toronto lit-up like a pumpkin for the night (if you can make out the green light above the orange observation dome).


Spooky EH?!

MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

This is cool!

Now if I had the time, money and.... well, time and money I guess... then THIS is what I'd love to do. The guy has a blog HERE too and he's becoming something of a legend in the Hockey world, as his story spreads across North America, and even being mentioned on Bob McCowan's "Prime Time Sports" radio show on the The FAN 590 (an even more legendary event in Canada).

Its kind of like trying to see all 92 football league grounds (something Dale is attempting to do), BUT doing it in one season, non-stop!

Maybe those should be my next travel aims!

Its all gonna go belly-up, down south!

If any more proof were needed that the American economy is about to go very very badly down the pipes, then check out my (currently) beloved Canadian dollar. Now, while the "Loonie" and Canadian economy are much stronger than throughout the last forty years or so, whats happening now is just ridiculous! Thanks to my friends at XE.com One Canadian dollar now gets you 98.65 US cents. In other words, its almost ONE US DOLLAR to the CANADIAN DOLLAR! It was only a few years ago the Americans would scoff at the thought that a Loonie was worth more than HALF a green-back.

And to further prove my point, the wonderful British Pound is now worth OVER TWO US $!!! That means that we British are now TWICE as valuable as one American! (Sorry to any Yank readers)


Apologies for the brief economics lecture, but its quite funny (in one way) to realise that while most of the world understands its all about to get very messy in the US, no-one has actually told the President. Either that or "Mr. President" is having too much fun looking for "currencies of mass destruction."

Back to reality soon I promise!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

Amanda gets the "Montana's Birthday Special"!

Just a quick one this time to wish a very Happy Birthday to a special someone today!
Sadly we're apart this week by the "small matter" of half of Canada, and my empty bank account, but we managed to have a small celebration before today. Hope you're having a great day out there!