Summary of the trip to Ottawa and Britain October 2021

Here are the highlights and lowlights that are still top of mind six days after arriving home.

  Highlights

A thanksgiving family get together (from Ottawa, Vancouver and Victoria) at Tremblant in Quebec.

A spectacular Ziplining experience with the background fall colours.

Seeing a live performance of "Hamilton" in London.

"Supersize Polyphony" in Canterbury Cathedral by the Armonico Consort and Baroque players directed by Christopher Monks and accompanied by the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. (The music very much like Monteverdi's Vespers that I had heard at the festival in 2019)

The National Justice Museum in Nottingham.

Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral and King's College Chapel Cambridge.

A visit to St Albans Cathedral.

Visiting with cousin Catherine, brother in law Nick and Family, colleague Tom and then my sister and family near Canterbury.

The efficiency of British trains - always on time and increasing number of fast trains like Canterbury West to London in less than an hour.

Using Google maps to navigate.

An opportunity to read British Newspapers, see excellent BBC TV and buy a couple of books.

A final concert of the Canterbury Festival - the Mozart C Minor Mass in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral.

Lowlights

The aggravation of multiple on line form filling and COVID testing. I paid for one COVID test 75 hours before departure because the testing place was in Canterbury but was closing but it was not accepted on line meaning I would not be able to fly. So I drove an hour to Rochester to get another test with the help of Google maps. I paid a total of about $500 CDN for testing in the UK. At YVR the test carried out was free. (All tests were negative).

My brother in law fell and broke his hip the day I arrived in Canterbury so that overshadowed my visit. However I was able to provide various supports to my sister and family.

Having to stay overnight in Vancouver after arrival due to Westjet not allowing one on their flight after 45 minutes before departure. I was at their desk one half hour before their flight departure time. Luckily I had  not bought a ticket as I did not know how much delay there would be at YVR.

Amazing to observe how much the British population is more relaxed about precautions against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (like distancing and mask wearing) than in BC. The UK has nearly 5 times the reported deaths (adjusted for population) from COVID-19 compared with BC.