We flew to Canada in June and met up with John's sister June and her husband Bobby - we all thought that Texas (where June and Bobby live) would be too hot in the summer and so chose Canada and its capital, Ottawa. This was a good choice since it is a lovely city with lots to see and do.

After ten days in Ottawa we went on to Brockville where we met up with cousin Joan and her husband Glen.

We then went on to Pickering to stay with Bruce and Ellie, while June and Bobby flew back to Texas.
     
 
We stayed in the Fairmont Hotel - probably the best (and most expensive!) in Ottawa.   The Parliament buildings were a short walk from the hotel; here Liz poses beside the plinth of Queen Elizabeth's statue
     
 
John and June in Ottawa   Liz and a special Royal Mounted Policeman!
     
June had her birthday while we were in Ottawa so we had afternoon tea at the Fairmont!
     
 
Liz busking with Oscar Peterson. Oscar was born in Montreal   June and Bobby outside the Mill Street Brewery
 
In the Royal Mint they have a 28lb gold bar - worth about a third of a million pounds. We were allowed to pick it up - but notice that it is chained up, and there was a very burly security guard standing just behind us!
 
We met up with John and June's "half-cousin" in Brockville. John, June and Joan have the same grandfather but different grandmothers! For the full story visit the Studd Family Web site.
Above: Liz, John, June, Bobby, Joan and Glen
 
 
Brockville Railway station - June and Bobby return to Ottawa prior to flying back to Texas, we continue to Pickering   Have you seen the film "Groundhog Day"? Well this is a groundhog - spotted on the road side in Brockville
     
 
Sasha   Bruce and Ellie at Niagara Falls - with John in the background
     
A square meal with Bruce and Ellie
     
Bruce and Ellie's daughter, Judy, her husband Peter and son Kevin joined us for supper one evening and the next day Peter and Judy invited us to visit reconstruction of a 17th century Jesuit Mission Station. This proved to be fascinating:
 
Inside the "long house" where a whole tribe would spend the winter - with lots of people and fires! It had a magical feel.   Peter, Judy, Liz and John
 
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