Day 73: What else is gonna go wrong today ...

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 73: What else is gonna go wrong today ...

There are days that you just know everything is going your way. The sun is shining, you look great in your outfit, your hair does exactly what you want it to do, there’s hardly any traffic and … everything is just perfect.

And then there are days like today …

I woke up shortly before 6:00 a.m. to the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning, accompanied by a steady stream of rain. When I'm home I love rain. The dark clouds, the pitter patter of water droplets on flat surfaces, the gurgling of gutters. However, when I have to go out it’s a different story.

I hardly ever take an umbrella with me because, while such an item keeps me reasonably dry, it’s a nuisance on the subway. It’s big, it’s wet, and along the way it might poke people who knows where. As a result I took two showers today … one in my bathroom and one on Queen Street.

Soaking wet from head to toe I arrived at Tim Hortons where more trouble awaited me. No sooner was I seated with my fragrant hot cup of coffee and delicious croissant than a homeless woman approached me shouting that I was in her seat.

The last time I checked, Tim Hortons didn’t have reserved seating so I was not eager to move. She made an issue of it though, shouting that she was there first and blah blah blah, to the point that there was a bit of a gefaffle.

Normally I don’t back down from bullies, but in this case I thought it better to move. Not only was the woman homeless but she looked and acted deranged and there was no telling what she would do next. There was the chance that she would scratch me and that was to be avoided at all cost. Dirty and maybe carrying some disease, I didn’t want to get infected by something nasty. So I moved to another table. Not quick enough though as she swiped my things off the table. My coffee, croissant and reading glasses case went flying.

Fortunately, this attracted the attention of the staff of Tim Hortons who not only served me with a fresh cup of coffee and croissant but got on the phone and called the police. Knowing how busy the police is, I didn’t expect them to show up any time soon, but at least an effort was made.

Once at work more bad luck awaited me. When I got dressed this morning I got too warm and decided not to wear the sweater I had laid out last night. Big mistake. Now that I’m at my desk, I’m cold and my hands are freezing. 

What else is gonna go wrong today ...

Homeless?

A few people contacted me, pointing out that it’s been quiet on the Under the Toronto Sun blog.  They’re right, my last entry dates back to July 22.  A dedicated blogger I am not.

In my defense, not much has been happening under the Toronto sun.  In fact, for the past two weeks I’ve been under the Belgian sun.

My father past away after an extended hospital stay.  He was 88 with a number of health problems.  Losing him was not altogether a bad thing.  He was alone after mom passed away three years ago, and resided in an old age home.  Compared to where he was, I’m sure he’s much happier where he is now.

Even with that knowledge, attending his funeral was quite an emotional affair.  As a veteran, dad’s funeral was attended by other veterans, complete with Belgian flags and playing the national anthem in church and at the cemetery.  So many of his friends were there, some of them in wheelchairs. 

 (Dad [far right) with his group of veterans)

My hometown didn’t feel like home anymore.  So much has changed, I hardly recognized the place.  Where the municipal pool used to be is now a college for the performing arts; where I used to go dancing on Saturday and Sunday night is now a hotel; and where my favorite boutique used to be is now a MacDonald's.  What a sight that was, that giant letter “M” on top of a glass and steel structure, among buildings that date back to the 1500s.

(Belfort Aalst)

While in Belgium I stayed at the Ibis hotel.  A charming place.  It might not have been a 5 star hotel, but it sure had 5 star service.  The staff, from the receptionist right down to the chambermaids, were very friendly and knowledgeable.   

(Ibis hotel Aalst)

All too soon August 15^th came around and time for me to pack up and go home.  Only, I couldn’t go home.  At the airport it was discovered that my passport had expired and I was refused access to the plane.  To get back to Toronto I had to organize a new passport.

When I went to the municipality of Aalst, where I was born and raised, they couldn’t find me.  After some digging it was discovered that, because I live abroad, my file was transferred to Ghent.  So off I went to Ghent to apply for a new passport.  To cut a long story short, 240 Euros later I had such a new document.

And so now I’m home again.  Home … strange to think of Canada as home.  I never thought about Canada as home.  Then again, I always thought of Belgium as home, but it isn’t anymore.  Maybe I’m homeless.

The homeless urinate in chairs at Timothy's

Toronto residents, or those visiting Toronto, might want to think twice before taking a seat at Timothy’s coffee shop at 40 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

For the longest time, Timothy’s was my regular lunchtime spot. I would order a coffee or tea and then settle down in one of the comfy armchairs to read my book. That routine changed when I visited Timothy’s on February 25th.
As soon as I sat down in one of the armchairs I felt a distinct wetness. When I got up I noticed a huge stain in the chair, with the distinct smell of urine. OMG someone had peed in this chair!

When I approached the lady serving coffee at the time and pointed out the soiled chair, she was not particularly concerned. “A homeless man was sitting there earlier,” she said. “Maybe he had an accident.”
Maybe he had an accident? That was it? She wasn’t going to do anything!
Well if she wasn’t, I was.
Not yelling, but not keeping my voice down either, I informed her that it is unsanitary to have a soiled chair standing around for people to sit in. How many people before me had sat in that chair, and how many would take a seat in it after me?

“What do you want me to do?” the waitress asked. “I can’t turn the homeless away. It’s cold outside”
While I am most sympathetic with the homeless, I draw the line where they think they can relieve themselves anywhere it is convenient.
The building houses a huge food court at basement level, offering coffee, tea and all kinds of breakfast. What’s wrong with the homeless sitting there?
Why do they have to sit in coffee shops? And since when is peeing in chairs permitted?

I flew out of the coffee shop and went straight to Giliani, a ladies clothing boutique.
I couldn’t wait to get out of my soiled pants and into a fresh one.
I was going to buy new pants and Timothy’s was going to pay for it.

To cut a long story short … first Timothy’s management offered me a free cup of coffee.
They upgraded that suggestion with the offer to have my soiled pants dry cleaned.
I didn’t budge though, I had been ‘forced’ to buy a new pants, and I wanted them to reimburse me for that.
Nothing more, nothing less.

And I got it. After contacting Timothy’s head office with an official complaint, they offered to pay for my new pants.
There that took care of that.
While I am satisfied with the outcome of this incident, I am dissatisfied and concerned with how Timothy’s treated my complaint.
The soiled chair remained standing in the coffee shop, and is still there.

If you happen to visit Timothy’s coffee shop at 40 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, and you take a seat in one of their chairs, you might just be sitting in the urine chair. Could there be more than one?