Today I appreciate…

• This amazing project and website called CouchSurfing.com. It is thanks to this site that I met my current host and friend in Montreal Andrés, as well as the countless many that I count as friends.
• My super legs for powering through the aches as I cycled around the city this past week.
• Cafe Expressions, my fave cafe in Montreal at the moment, for the free wifi, great space to chill out, Sinatra playing in the background (“I did it myyyy wayyy!”). I love how I can sit here by the window, watch people on Mont-Royal street passing by, ponder about the future, and think creative thoughts. Also a great spot for sheltering from the rain!
• Ben, a random stranger, who found my ad on Craigslist, and met me at Laurier Metro today to purchase my Montreal to Toronto bus tickets off me.
• My two Fairy Godmothers – Maria and Gail – and my Evergreen Queen Michelle for organizing a super solution for making my move back to Toronto a heck of a lot easier and cost-effective. It’s just incredible what the three of them came up with in just a few days!
• Friends popping up in unexpected places like when I was served at the crepe place at Jean-Talon Market earlier today by Maryse – somebody I met at a party weeks ago, who I’m embarrassed to say, recognised me first.
• The beauty and wonder of a smile. So much more can be said with genuine eyes and a simple smile. In fact, that’s all that needs to be said.
• The wonders of creation and engineering. It is thanks to the magical winged bird, the airplane, that my dad arrived safely in Laos and stepped onto the soil of his birth country for the first time in thirty years. I wish I was there to see his face when it happened.
• My lovely friend Marie-France for hosting my first ever intimate and private Montreal meat fondue dinner party tonight. I’m excited!
• Couch Surfer Anuj for organising a little farewell shindig for me at his place tomorrow afternoon, which will involve yummy Indian cooking and fun folks. DJ Adam from the UK will be there too. After all it was his suggestion to have a “typical British” Biryani and beer day!
• This fantastic city, Montreal, thank you for all the amazing times, friends, colourful and original spots, culture, beautiful parcs, music, festivals, sunshine, rain, and French-ness. I’ll be back soon I’m sure!
• Yann Arthus-Bertrand for his vision and mission to educate and change the world with his projects, and his latest documentary that everybody must watch “Home”.