A Birthday Abroad.

Hope everyone is well. Just wanted to say thank-you all for the many birthday wishes I have received by email, or on facebook. Is so lovely to hear from everyone, and makes me feel very loved!!

So...a catch-up on the last few days. On Friday the weather took a turn for the worse (the remnants of hurricane Ike making their way up...or so I'm told), so I was finally moved from my balcony seat in the sun, and took refuge in the Museum of Contemporary Art. A lot like the Tate Modern - I'm sure I'll get the hang of this modern art thing one day, but I can't help feeling that a branch stuck to the wall just isn't that impressive. There was a very cool French-Canadian music video exhibition that made up for the pretentious wank tho.... In the evening Lydia's very good friend Melissa came over, we had some food, and drove to a lookout point at the top of Mount Royal, unfortunately due to said weather conditions, there was nothing to look at....

Saturday was spent chilling and getting Lydia ready for her 1/2 Marathon. We were up early on Sunday morning, to the sound of torrential rain (oh dear!) but Lyds said she wasn't going to let that stop her. Made it over to the start on the Jaques-Cartier bridge - really impressive start line - again unfortunately due to torrential downpour was a little difficult to savour the view! Hundreds of runners doing both the Marathon and the 1/2, although a sever lack of silly costumes ala London; maybe these French-Canadians just aren't as daft as us Brits. Tried to catch Lyds at the 10k point, but she was going so fast that we missed her, so headed straight to the finish in the Olympic Stadium. Amazing way to finish a race, hundreds of people in there, and a really wonderful atmosphere. Got there just in time to see the Kenyan come sprinting in at 2hrs 18mins to win the Marathon, very impressive! Were just about to give up, convinced that Lyds must have sprinted past the finish line long before we got there, when, on que, she came hobbling in the stadium. Something had happened to her leg, and she'd hobbled through the last 5k...unable to walk, we eventually befriended some rather lovely French-Canadians who carried her to the car....

After a trip to the hospital on Monday monring, it appears she may have some kind of stress fracture. Good job that I am here to look after her! She's hobbling along on crutches, but with a week off work, it's the perfect excuse to sit infront of daytime TV and spend some time with me!

So, my birthday didn't quite go according to plan. While Lydia was at the hospital I spent the afternoon walking in Mount Royal - a big mountain/park in the middle of the city. Climbed to the top (this time the sun had come out...) for some great views of the city, and spent the afternoon wandering through the park...

In the evening, Lydia managed to hobble round the corner to an Indian restaurant, and treated me to a birthday curry, before home and a few more G&T's. She's already feeling a lot better, so hopefully by Friday the casino awaits us.....

This afternoon I'm off to the biodome to see some Canadian beavers (ahem...), and tomorrow I'm headed to Quebec city.

Is all very chilled here, and am enjoying the opportunity to relax and sleep in till 11 most days! But also can't wait to get to NYC next week and start to party!!

Lots of love

Rich
xxx