Lessons from the past, a key and some hard work

Lessons from the past, a key and some hard work for the Carr’s in week 13

History Lesson
After the outbreak of the Second World War and the resignation of then British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, the First Lord of the Admiralty – Winston Churchill started one of his two terms as arguably the United Kingdom’s most noted Prime ministers. Known as a dedicated leader, a brilliant orator and grand statesman, Churchill would be given many honours and titles over his lifetime including, by decree of the Queen, a state funeral after his death January 1965. In Canada, the honours included, naming a street after him in Mississauga. Stretching from Lakeshore in the south and Caledon in the north, connecting Peel with Halton and Wellington County, Winston Churchill Boulevard is a major and busy thoroughfare and a fitting tribute to a grand life led in such civic service.

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

Stretching from highway 427 in the east and Carlisle, Ontario well west of Mississauga, Derry Road, has its origins a little further back. As a very busy pioneer trail, in the early 1820’s, it gave way to many small hamlets and rural communities along its path, including Malton, Mount Charles and Meadowvale. Mount Charles, at the corner of Derry and Dixie, but for a cemetery and a couple of now boarded up buildings shows no signs of its fascinating heritage. However, both Malton and Meadowvale, although much different from the time of the horse and buggy, still play key roles in their respective communities. Malton, as the current home to Toronto’s International Airport and the birthplace of the Avro Arrow and Meadowvale as the first village to be incorporated into the then new town of Mississauga in 1968.

And now, where a long history meets a great world leader you will find the new, very happy home of the Carr Family, because when we are asked by the pizza delivery company “what’s the closed intersection” we will happily say “Derry and Winston Churchill”.

The Keys
Thursday could not have been a longer day if it had tried. That was the day that the lawyers would have all the “i’s” dotted and the “t’s” crossed and the key and money exchange all taken care of for our little house deal of the century. Waiting all day was not what we hoped would happen, but as it turned out just the way it worked out. 3:30PM, Nathalie’s phone rings, with the lawyers name as the caller ID, so this could be very good or very bad and it was. Good that is, the keys are ready! The call came while in the line at the MTO office to officially change our address, so we stay and wait our turn but as soon as we are done, we take the quick trip to the office, and un-ceremonially, pick up the little envelope with one single little key. One little key, but a significant, powerful instrument, that will unlock our family’s future.

Some hard labour
Today was the first of what we are hopping will only be 14 days of some mad renovations and in only 7 or 8 hours, we accomplished way more then I could have imagined. Nathalie and I are sore in places we didn’t even know we had, but we are on our way. Look for before / after pictures coming soon and more recaps as we go!

In closing
Driving to one of the many “stuff for the new house” shopping trips this week, while stopped at a red light the girls made us laugh out loud. You see on the boulevard to the right of the car, dancing in the sun and almost it would seem playing, a large murmuration (I looked it up!) of starlings was pecking through the grass. What made us laugh was the phrase Jordyn coined and the conversation the girls had after the statement. Jordyn said, “Birdie Work, it looks like they are doing birdie work”, Julia in her best cartoon bird voice says, “You do this, and you do that” Then Jordyn adds in her little boss birdie voice, “Hey, don’t do it that way, do it this way”. I am not sure where they got the voices, but it was way too funny, and just the statement “Birdie work” is one you can’t say more then once without a smile appearing on your face.

I hope your birdie work goes well this week, and I know a couple of birds in Mississauga that will be very busy!

Thanks,
Jim