April 8, 2022 - When will the 2022 updates begin? Soon! Let me explain as I usually begin to start posting in early March. This year, a number of things had to take precedence and I’ll touch on each of them below:

Renovations

The biggest reason has been I've been overwhelmed with renovations and doing my best to beat an end-of-March deadline to get as much done as possible to fix up a mountain of what seemed like minor tasks and multiple corrections and quickly grew in scope. Yes, we hired tradespeople, but the old saying goes, 'if you want to do something right, do it yourself.' So suffice it to say, the bulk of any free time involved painting, sanding, staining, woodworking, and nearly any other DIY work detail you can think of. On the bright side, the most challenging parts are finally done, and what's left should be completed on a much less hectic schedule.

New Job

Then I also started a new job that was postponed during the pandemic, but once the mandates were lifted, the opportunities opened up again. So, of course, the weekdays are now focused on new goals and ambitions that I'm excited to explore and embrace. My time devoted to the Sakura Watch may be limited to the free time outside of work, but it's very manageable as blooming dates get closer.

Obligations

And lastly, there were personal obligations that needed my full attention. I've always believed that family and health should always take precedence in our lives. Though I’ve heard the phrase YOLO (you only live once) so many times over recent years, personal things and connections are too far important to pass up or ignore. It's the bonds we make that help shape ourselves.

Part of this includes helping out in my wife’s family business called The Old Country Shop which has been a staple in Roncesvalles since 1961! Easter and Christmas are our busiest times as we have so many wonderful European chocolates and gift and so much more to offer - you can visit us in person or see us online at oldcountryshop.ca

10 years and 2022 Updates Soon!

2022 marks my 10th year in running this website! It’s hard to believe I’ve been doing this for so long and I’ve been struggling on how best to commemorate this milestone as that too, had been pushed aside. From merchandise, to special posts, to podcasts and retrospectives at looking back are all in the cards. Do you have any ideas on what you would like to see?

With all that said, I am currently working putting together the first update of 2022 and plan to post it this weekend. I do truly appreciate everyone for all their support over all these years! Thank you all for visiting and wish you all are keeping healthy and safe!