Canada: Day Four!

Today we went to see Niagara on the lake

I'm going to be honest and tell you I didn't actually make it to the lake... You see there was a sweet little town next to the lake and I spent most of my time looking in the shops!!!

I found a lovely little shop that specialised in maple syrup products and gourmet sauces. I kind of want to live next door to that shop. I bought one of my most favouritest things: maple butter. I used to be able to buy maple butter in England, but after a year or so the shop i used to get it from stopped selling it! First they got me hooked and then they took away my supply!

I also bought two of their award winning sauces, one balsamic salad dressing and one feta cheese and herb pasta dressing... They tasted divine!

It all seemed like a good idea until I tried to get both bottles in my suitcase. I'm starting to wish I'd listened to my dad when he said to always leave your suitcase half full so that you have room for any purchases you make while on holiday.

Tomorrow we start our train journey, I'm really getting excited now!

DeeDee. :-D

Canada: Day Three!

Today we had sunshine!

It was -16 and when we walked to the falls and I felt as though my nose and lips might fall off! But it was worth it, the view of the falls was much clearer today and it was interesting to get close and see that the water going over the cliffs was very icy. It looked a bit like a slushy drink, but a nicer colour! After taking lots of pickys we went inside to thaw out with a cup of coffee.

We might also have taken a silly picture that depicted me and my friend Kit throwing my sister over Niagara falls...

But I cannot confirm that such a photo exists...    ;-P

Something that I've noticed as we've been walking is that large speakers on the street play the local radio station. I've never been anywhere else that has done that, I like it though. Another thing is that the city is built very differently to anything in England, everything is really spaced out, one block only seems to contain a building or two and there is LOTS of parking!

This afternoon we went for dinner at the Skylon Tower, which looks like this:

The dinning room goes around and round so that you get a 360 degree view of the falls and the surrounding countryside. I'm not sure why but it kept reminding me of this scene from The Big Bang Theory:

My cousin Jac Jac (she's 6 years old) had a sip of her dad's non alcoholic cocktail and said it tasted like a wet one, which was a little embarrassing. Jac Jac's not much of a whisperer, so I'm pretty sure the whole room heard! Kids are lovely, aren't they?!?!? She's very disappointed that none of the restaurants we've been to have Heinz baked beans: thank goodness chips are international!!! ;-P

Night has descended once again and fluffy pillows await, so goodnight until tomorrow.

DeeDee.  ;-D

Canada: Day Two!

Morning has arrived!!!

I woke up to snow, which was very pretty and we immediately decided to go and see the falls (Niagara) as soon as we'd had brekky.

It was COLD!!!

I repeat COLD!!! Frostbite claimed our extremities and it was quite difficult to see where we were going because the wind stung our eyes so much. A word of advice: don't wear mascara, just, no. Everyone keeps telling us that this is the worst weather for 20 years; it snowed ALL day!!! ALL DAY!!! I'm used to a few hours snow here and there (on special occasions) so it was incredible to see it continue for HOURS.

It was also incredible to see how little affect it had on Canadian drivers! In England a light dusting of snow produces mass panic. Supermarket shelves empty and everyone stays *snowed in*. I have a feeling the Canadians would laugh so hard they cried if they saw an English *snow storm* and the mayhem in causes on our roads.

Snow on the road and yet the buses are still doing fifty!!! And the trucks just strap a snow shovel to the front of their bumpers and carry on business as usual!

Then we took my baby cousin swimming... no, not in the falls!!! It was a bit weird sitting in the hot tub and watching the snow pile up outside, but it was a good weird. And no: you're not having a picky of THAT!!!
;-P
 Now it's night time and I'm settling down for bed, jet lag is starting to kick in, telling me it's midnight at home. I have a few new episodes of my favourite series to watch before sleep has its way.

DeeDee.  ;-D

The Grand Canadian Chant Family Holiday!!!

So we've finally arrived at the hotel! We've been up for eighteen hours by now so I'm going to sleep like a baby.

We had the usual airport scares: did we all have our passports and luggage and then, my personal favourite, someone lost their cards!

My dad is usually the one to age us all prematurely by declaring a loss of credit cards about half an hour before we're due to board. However on this occasion it was my Uncle Graham that induced mass hysteria, and everyone split up in an effort to locate the missing items.

About five minuets after everyone had disappeared (in different directions) Uncle Graham 'found' his cards... In his trouser pocket. Relieved, we set about calling the others mobile's to tell them all was well and that our gate had just been announced.

The thing is, us Chant's are selectively deaf: we don't recognise our own ring tones!!! Panic once again ruled as those of us who had remained with the hand luggage while our intrepid fellows searched Heathrow for the missing articles, wondered what we were going to do.

After fifteen fruitless minuets of calling every family member I could over and over again, a new and dangerous idea was put forward: more people would have to leave the safety of the huddle to find our stray comrades!!!

This is a VERY risky strategy and was not undertaken lightly.

Somehow we managed to locate all of our number and board the plane, enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing there is very little hope of anyone getting lost on an aeroplane!

I indulged in a movie fest that totalled three an a half films... I'm still a little miffed that I don't know how the last one ended!!!

Unfortunately in the scramble to get off the plane another item went missing, this time a phone...

Dear reader, it was mine!

So if you get any weird texts from me...

On the way to our hotel near Niagara we stopped at a diner and discovered that Canadians have a real sweet tooth. Also, no gluten free option, much to my friend Kit's dismay. She had to make do with a salad while the rest of us chowed down some sweet carbohydrate goodness...

I kind of feel mean about that... But such is life! ;-) 

So now I'm in my hotel room, all bed time ablutions at an end and its time to put down my pen. This Cinderella has a date with the fluffiest of pillows and I'm gonna give sleeping beauty a run for her money!!!

DeeDee.

Reviews!!!

First Broken City and Broken Truce reviews from the book tour! 

5* for Broken City and 4* for Broken Truce!

Broken City Series by D.D. Chant | Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock

Broken City Series Blog Tour

Hi everyone!

So I'm very excited to announce that the Broken City Series Book tour will be starting in the 22nd of February to the 23rd of March.

Yay!!!

There will be excerpts, interviews, reviews, this or thats and much, much more! I'm really excited.

If you are interested in being a part of the tour there is still time! Just click on the link bellow to sign up!

Broken City Series Book Tour

In the mean time, have a lovely day!

DeeDee  xxx

Broken Truce Is LIVE!!!

It's finally that time!

Broken Truce (Broken City, 2#) is live!!!

Here is the blurb:

Life isn't turning out the way that Deeta thought it would. With the Lewises defeated and peace between the tribes, she had believed that the dark times were a thing of the past. 
But troubles between the tribes continue, and the Andak council have selected Tom as their ambassador and spokesman to the other tribes. 
Deeta knows that there is still much resentment against the Andak, and that Tom is in danger every time he leaves the safety of Andak City. 
Struggling with her own complicated feelings against the tribe that she is now a part of, Deeta tries to ignore the changing attitudes growing within her. 
But when Tom is betrayed and they are thrown into great danger, Deeta finds that reality can't be ignored forever...

Just click on the link below to check it out on amazon.

Broken Truce (Broken City) eBook: D.D. Chant, Kate Lacey: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

DeeDee  :-)