Ottawa, April 29, 2026

Hello all. My week in Toronto got off to a bad start on April 20. I had purchased a Ticket in Business Plus which  I was assured would  be in car number 1, and on the left hand side of the car, facing forward.  Car number one would be at the front of all other passenger cars. I do not like rear facing seats on any mode of transportation.  This would have given me the opportunity to take photos of the scenery and that included lake Ontario as we passed by.

When I arrived at the Fallowfield Station that morning, I discovered that the assurance that I would get what I paid for was not going to happen. Car number 1 was at the rear of the car, and seat 11A was facing backwards. There were many unhappy riders that morning. We got into Toronto 45 minutes late, at the start of rush hour.

I took a taxi from Union Station to my hotel a few minutes from the Shouldice hospital where I would be having my Hernia surgery on the 23rd.

I checked into Shouldice at ten on the 23rd, and was there  4 nights.  Shouldice have been doing Hernia surgeries at that location for 81 years. One could not have had a better experience for a hospital stay. The staff are all just wonderful people that could not do enough for you. Quiet surroundings on a beautiful 23 acre property set in woods like a golf course, greenery all around. They serve three great meals and two Snacks each day.

When my appointment was confirmed almost two months before, I was given a check in time for 10 A.M. My surgery was set for ten the next day, and happened as scheduled. I was discharged at ten on April 26. I was picked up by family members and driven home to Ottawa. 

As of January 1, 2026, Shouldice come under the Ontario Medical plan, known as OHIP, and for Ontario residents, it is all covered under OHIP. This is for a common room with others. I paid the 325.00 per day and had the peace and quiet of a Semi-Private room. People from outside Ontario have different rates depending on their Provincial plan.

Due to severe medical conditions of family members in Dawson Creek, B.C., I will not be going to Thailand. I depart Ottawa May six, and return here on May 14. No travel plans yet beyond that time

Take care

                                    Ottawa, April 18, 2026

Hello All.  I will be departing Ottawa on Monday morning, and travelling by train to Toronto.

I will relax at my hotel for two nights, then check into the Shouldice Hospital for Hernia surgery

on April 22.  I will have surgery the following day, and remain there until Sunday when I will be discharged at 10;00. My daughter will pick me up, and return to Ottawa.

If all goes well, and I have no reason to doubt that, I will then book some flights west. I will fly to Calgary and stay over for one night, then fly north west to Grande Prairie , Alberta. My destination is Dawson Creek, where there is no airport large enough for jets....small aircraft only. I have a sister living in Dawson Creek, and she is not well. I will rent a car to drive to Dawson. My plan is to stay for about three days, then I will fly to Vancouver and off to Bangkok, where I plan to travel for about three weeks in Thailand.

I would like to fly from Bangkok to Istanbul Turkiye then home after visiting friends there. With the situation in the middle east , that may not be possible and I would return home via Vancouver.

I will do an update once I am home from Toronto and have flights booked.

Safe travels to all

Don

                                                  Ottawa, February 20, 2026

Hello all.

 I am sorry for the delay in posting information; It has been a very trying, Good news/Bad news situation.

I have been waiting almost a year, (since March 2, 2025) for Hernia surgery. I will not get into the details of all the yes we will do it, then....No we will not. However, I now have a confirmed date and place. I will be travelling to Toronto on VIA train, April 20, and have the surgery on April 23. As of the beginning of this year, the  private Shouldice Hospital has come under the Provincial Medical Insurance program, and most of the costs are covered under that program.

I will go down  to Toronto on the morning of the 20th, and spend two nights at a hotel not far from the Clinic. On April 22, I will check in to Shouldice, and undergo surgery on the 23. After an inspection on the morning of the 26th, I will be discharged. 

I am treating myself to a Business Plus class seat to Toronto, and will have a view of the scenery on the left side of the train....rivers, etc.

I intend to do an update before departing  two months from today. 

Take care, and safe travels.