It has been suggested to us that we attend several "Job Fairs" this is where potential employers display information about their company and job seekers make application for a position or merely turn in their resume. We had decided to attend one such job fair. This particular one was right downtown Toronto - in what was named "Cabbage Town". The Job Fair was a bit of a fizzle with only one company represented and there must have been 50 people filling out applications and waiting for an interview. But Cabbage Town was a delightful experience. Once the slum of Toronto where the poor emigrants lived in shantys and raised cabbages in their front yards but what are now more stately brick homes, many being refurbished. The narrow streets were lined with maple, magnolia, and flowering plum trees. Each street adjoining Parliament street - the main street - bekoned the curious to walk a bit. I did just that while Grant waited on the corner of Parliament Street. We came upon the most delicious bakery and I will absolutely HAVE TO GO THERE AGAIN. We bought a type of a bread dough crossant that was filled with chocolate. It was delicious! Further down the street was a creamery and here Grant treated himself to a moose-tracks-ice-cream-cone. The sunshine was radiant and there was no wind. Another lovely surprise experience.
Sunday we had contacted the bishops of three wards in London, met with two of them and one bishops councellor, set a date to return in June to speak to Relief Society and Priesthood regarding the resources at the employment centre and encouraged them to be holding career workshops. I knew before hand that one of the councellors in the London 1st ward was a man by the name of Michael Bridge. When I shook his hand and told him that my name was Elaine BRIDGE Harker Fisher Gehmlich and that we were probably not related but ask him to tell me about his grandfather Bridge. He said he didn't know much about the Bridge-side of the family as his association was more with the Dudleys - which his grandmother was. I told about my grandfather coming up from Utah as a young man and that his father came from England to the U.S. He said, so did mine. I ask him who his father was and when he told me Grayden Bridge, I laughed and told him that I was a babysitter of him when he was first born and that he is my first cousin. What a small world. Michael John Bridge works for the church education system and is assigned to the London area over seminaries and institutes.
The next surprise was when we arrived at the home where we were to have dinner, one of Grant's friends from Sherwood Park, Judd Bunnage, I realized that his wife had been my neighbour growing up in Magrath and that I had also been her babysitter. Linda Blumell Bunnage. Another lovely experience visiting with them and their children Richard and Kelly Bunnage and their children. Judd had made sweet and sour pork ribs - and were they delicious. Finger licking good!
You may think that we never work but in fact we held our third career workshop here Tuesday and Wednesday then attended a networking meeting in Toronto Wednesday evening.
The Bishops storehouse is in this same building. Every Monday and Tuesday it is a beehive of activity with orders of food going out from Ontario to British Columbia. The current managers are being released and new ones taking over in July and as I have told them I am a secretary - I was asked if I would take care of the invoices. I am looking forward to doing this task as well. We are getting more appointments to speak in wards and are offering to take our career workshop from this office to the areas where the ward and stake employment specialists are not able to conduct them. Also, the Bishop of the Etobicoke Ward - we live in this boundry - has asked that we teach the temple preparation class. We are excited about doing this as well.
Brother Eversure, a high councellor came over last week and ask if we would work with the list of inactive young adults and offer them a welcome and become a contact with someone here in the Etobicoke ward.
Two more wonderful things happened this week. Firstly Owen emailed to say he would be here the last week in May and maybe even Jennifer will come as well. I am jumping with joy!
Yesterday I received a mothers' day card from Michelle- which I haven't opened yet - and a delivery brought a beautiful boquet of iris and tulips from David and Thao. I am a blessed lady. Grant and I went to the temple last night, the first time since it reopened after having beautiful new granite tile and patterned carpet layed in the foyer.
This weekend - beginning this evening - is Time Out For Women - I have purchased tickets and will take a newly baptised member of the church with me as well we will meet the other senior sisters from this mission. This will be my first experience going to this activity.
The Etobicoke Ward members had never made a 72 hour kit so that is next on my list of things to be involved in. Envolvement I like. Bye for now Elaine
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Oh, Elaine and Grant, you exhaust me just with the telling of all your INVOLVEMENTS! One caution, don't overdo! that's when something suffers...afraid this is the voice of experience speaking. Want to tell you, your blog is great, Elaine. Your mom loves it too; she's awed by your way with words!
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