Stratford 2014

Saturday, June 14
A new season of Stratford unfolds completely unlike previous our previous voyages. Right now, the future is a blank slate, what happens next...no one really knows.
Wherever it does, it’s time to leave home and start the trek to Stratford. Its 10:10 now and we're off...first stop...Oakville.
Make it so.

11:05 a.m.
 We have arrived at our first stop to pick up a VVIP...very, very important person...Jordana Rosen.

12:00 p.m.
 In search of nourishment, we are stopping in Cambridge. As in past years, our destination is Harvey’s. There is one difference from previous stopovers. This year, I brought my own lunch, a tuna sandwich and clementine. At this point, Jordana gave me a birthday present, a gift card for Coles/Indigo/Chapters. I love it, but love the card she gave me even more.

12:25 p.m.
 Lunch is finished. Having sustained nourishment, we are heading back on the road.

1:09 p.m.
 We have entered Stratford.

1:30 p.m.
 Greetings peoples. We have check into the Arden Park, room 424. This year we are back in the same wing as we were two years ago, after complaining of the noise is the other wing last year. What’s next? We will see.

3:15 p.m.
 And we’re back! We went to the Stratford mall. I bought a book with the Coles gift card. Then I sat back and read the newspaper, while Lisa and Jordana went shopping (Jordana bought sandals and a skirt). They also bought refreshments for the room. Now we’re going to relax and read the paper.
Talk later.

5:30 p.m.
 We are all well rested and getting ready for the evening. It’s strange but nice, but this year wearing size 38 pants, two sizes smaller than last year, with a new shirt that I can even tuck in. Like I said, strange, but nice.
Now if I could get rid of the stupid pain in my back.
OK, we’re out of here now. We will chat later.

11:38 p.m.
 Good evening. Well the day is done. What a great evening it was. We went to Annie’s Seafood Restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, we went to the Festival Theatre, first for a quick photo shoot and then to see Crazy for You.
How to describe it? How about zany screwball romantic comedy with classic tunes by George and Ira Gershwin. We had great seats in row G.
Afterwards, we went to Tim Horton’s, where Jordana treated us for dessert.
So, that’s it. Day is done. Are my spirits soaring now? Hardily, but I enjoyed the day with my family.
Good night.


Sunday, June 15
8:35 a.m.
 Good morning. Well. It’s Father’s Day and to start, Jordana brought me ice tea in bed (no juice allowed any more). She bought me a gift card and Lisa bought me a bathrobe.

9:10 a.m.
 So we’re ALMOST ready to go downstairs for breakfast. I think I will head down to wait for the troops.
Til later.

10:15 a.m.
 Back from breakfast. This year the food was hot, but service was a bit slow. However, considering its Father’s Day and it was busy, it was understandable.

10:35 a.m.
 Our bags are packed (and we’re ready to go). We are headed to the dollar store. From there...who knows?

11:45 p.m.
 So we dropped off our keys and ran into our cousin Amy. Seems she and Paul were also staying at the hotel this weekend (they arrived Friday). From there we went to the dollar store and Lisa bought things for the house, while Jordana bought things for her room at the daycare. After that, we went to Walmart and looked around.
Now we are headed to downtown Stratford and then to see Man of La Mancha.

12:30 p.m.
 So we walked around the downtown area again. We visited the “jam store” but unlike previous years, did not make any purchases. Found the products just a bit too sweet for my taste. Afterwards, we went to Coffee Culture for a small lunch break and then headed to the theatre, where we caught up with the Sheldon/Phillips.

4:30 p.m.
 The play is out. We all agreed that we enjoyed last night’s production over today. However, I found it very moving and quite good. Actually, a fantastic performance.

4:45 p.m.
 Well, Crabby Joe’s is out for dinner this year as it is closed for renovations. So, we decided on Kelsey’s. Actually, we debated whether to have dinner in Stratford or to wait til we arrived in Oakville, but decided on the former.

5:55 p.m.
 Dinner is done, enjoyed by all. We are heading home now, with our first pit stop planned for Oakville.

7:15 p.m.
 We have arrived at our first destination. As hard it is for all of us, it’s time to say farewell to our wonderful daughter, but not before she has her input in this.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!
I LOVE YOU!!

8:00 p.m.
 Warp drive disengaged....thrusters set to stationary...we have arrived home.
Will there be further entries to Stratford 2014? I guess you (and I) will have to wait.
So long

CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS



Wednesday, July 16
 9:30 a.m.
Guess you would call this Stratford 14, Part 2 or the Sequel. We are heading back to our favourite theatre town (OK, one of our favourites) to see Hay Fever at the Avon. Couple of firsts this time out:
- This is the first time going to Stratford in midweek and as a result,
- This is the first time Lisa and I are venturing out without Jordana.

Originally we were supposed to go at the end of July, but at this time I was working and was asked to modify my vacation plans, so I moved up the date/ Of course, it’s all moot now, as I am now working (no good deed goes unpunished).
I am still looking forward to today. Talk to you later.

9:45 a.m.
We are heading out.

11:30 a.m.
We are stopping at the Stratford mall to walk around and have lunch (I brought mine though). Its overcast and it’s been raining off and on since we got on Highway 7/8.

12:30 p.m.
We’re well fed now and I bought a pair of jeans (which Lisa found). Now we are heading downtown to the theatre.

5:11 p.m.
Well, we are back in the car. The play, Hay Fever, was a cute, light comedy. The first act was ok, but got better in the second act. Afterward the two hour play, we went to Downie Street Burgers for supper (by the time we left the theatre, we had decided to have dinner first, then travel). Guess what we had? Right....fish! Just kidding! Now we are headed out. Talk to us later.

7:15 p.m.
We are home. Drive was good. Got off Highway 8 before Highway 401 due to traffic congestion and went the back roads. We eventually connected to Highway 401. We had rain off and on.

So that’s it for part 2. That’s where it would end in most years. What's next, you ask? Guess you will have to wait!



Saturday, August 23
9:55 a.m.
Would you believe - Stratford III: Return of the Rosens! It’s true; today we are making our third trek of the 2014 season to Stratford. This time out, we are reunited with Jordana who came home last night. We are leaving home now and heading to the Avon Theatre in Stratford to see Alice Through the Looking Glass.

11:35 a.m.
Wow, that seemed like a fast trip, probably because we were talking, laughing and reminiscing about past excursions all the way. We didn’t even turn on the radio the entire journey. We are going to check out the dollar store before we go to Wendy’s for lunch, as it’s kind of early to eat (note: I brought my own lunch this time out).

12:20 p.m.
We are finished with Wendy’s. So we did go to the dollar store and Lisa was going to buy a few things. However, there was only one person working the cash registers and she decided it wasn’t worth it to stand in the long line. So, we’re off to the theatre.

1:15 p.m.
We are at the theatre just waiting to get to our seats. I dropped Lisa and Jordana off near the theatre and headed to our usual (free) parking area. We then walked to Connoisseurs, where Lisa and Jordana bought BBQ sauce. Of course, I wound up taking all the goods back to the car. The walk was nice though. Even though it was overcast when we left Toronto, the sun has come out.

4:15 p.m.
The play is out. Jordana liked it more than Lisa and I. This play was different and it utilized a number of special effects including bubbles, jellybeans which the actors threw to members of the audience and streamers which descended from the ceiling.
We are now going to Annie’s for dinner.

5:20 p.m.
That was a very good dinner. We walked in and no one was there. Of course we arrived around 4:30 so that accounts for it.

5:45 p.m.
We are stopping in Shakespeare to buy fresh sweet corn from a local vendor. It looks pretty good.

6:54 p.m.
Well, it’s the end of the line for Miss Jordana. It was great being with her today and even though parting is such sweet sorrow (sorry Shakespeare), we decided to say goodbye tonight, as opposed to tomorrow.

7:45 p.m.
That’s it! We are home. Stratford 2014 has officially come to an end. It was a good season (I liked last year better though) and we managed to take in more plays than in the past.


All being well, there will other such journeys to Stratford, Ontario. Or maybe we will try out the Shaw Festival. Who knows? I certainly don’t and even if I did I wouldn’t say a word. We will just have to wait and see.

So long!