I have an Electronic Practice. Front line Health workers and emergency responders have priorities for appointments. For appointments call 416-878-4945 or email- silva.redigonda@alumni.utoronto.ca Sessions are $180.00 for a 50 minute hour. Prices will not be increasing in January 2025, Consultations/Couple Therapy/family therapy is $200. Check with your EAP/Insurance for coverage. Opening practice to residents of the Province of Quebec as well as Ontario. English and Italian speaking.
Search This Blog
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Halibut House Fish and Chips - So good.............
I just found my new favourite Fish and Chips place. I just ate there a few days ago and want more now. Look it up on line. This began with a Refugee couple to Canada. Yup. Boy, did we luck out. I noticed they even have a place in Niagara Falls and will certainly go there if I sell my house. That is a hint for anyone wanting to buy in Toronto. I have posted the house here somewhere. I have posted a photo so you may salivate. It is worth visiting. All Canadian; all Ontario - the place to go. I ordered lunch; there is a bigger portion, but this was more than enough.
If you sign up for this make sure that you know what time zone you are in. It's free .............
Hope you don't mind but I wanted to inform you that we've now secured the date for the free Legal Perspectives Webinar!
Monday, 14 July 2025
Saturday, 12 July 2025
A letter to the President. I hope I don't get fired. You know that sometimes you should really have that third cup of coffee
Hello Mr President Trump. First I would like to let you know that I used to always watch the Celebrity Apprenticeship. Thank you for that show. I would also like to let you know that I love Americans. I have even given them Canadian Flags and other items so they can pass off as Canadians when I was overseas. I live in Toronto Ontario and am trying to sell my house so I can move to Niagara Falls and retire there. There is difficulty doing that because I am told it is due to the tariffs. So, I am suggesting you can buy my house as a gesture of being nice. You can have a home here, renovate it and enjoy the backyard. I can then move to my barbie house in Niagara Falls. What do you think? Respectfully not the 51st state.
Silva
Friday, 11 July 2025
Reduced the price for 510 Northcliffe Blvd. One time only opportunity. Going after this quarter. Link will direct you to MLS.
https://www.realtor.ca/l/bTeEz/ka
I have reduced the price but this is it and only because I really want to go to Niagara Falls. Should it not sell I am taking it off the market until the market improves and it shall, and I will have to return to just visiting Niagara. I love you Niagara FAlls, but Toronto is being stubborn in letting me go. I had one agent come to my backyard to make me an offer but I would have to list with him. Yup, he has a buyer, made me an immediate offer but will not put in an offer (because he would want the full commission). Too bad for him, I cannot be bought. Very unethical. I will eventually record all the nonsense in my blog one day. It will make for good reading. Have a good weekend.
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Feeling stressed out today - Don't try this at home
Monday, 7 July 2025
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Two day event with the Crime Writers of Canada was hot but amazing.......lots of fun. Toronto Festival of Writers
I had somewhat of a difficult time finding the place but once I had it was easy. I found parking very close by. All of us Crime Writers of Canada were in a court yard where we received some relief from the heat due to the surrounding trees. Thank you nature. I love talking to students and answering their questions. Their brains are like sponges ready to soak everything in and I have always loved the university environment. I also got to listen to speakers since there was a tent for us to speak if we wished to about our books etc....(I don't normally volunteer for that anymore. Sometimes, I don't get a choice but with my Associations I normally do). I met an interesting man who talked to me about autopsies which he performs in South America with the Coroners office. He has written six books of mystery fiction and one true story about the dissection of people I believe. I encouraged him to join crime writers and he may just do that. All of his books are in Spanish at the moment but I am looking forward to seeing him again when his books are translated. I met him at my table but I heard an interesting speaker who hails from Korea at the Tent. She talked about going through Canadian customs where the Officer speaking to her looked quite severe which changed when he recognized her from a movie. She stated (via interpreter) that she was pleased that she was famous in Canada (she's funny). She spoke about going to the Police museum since her hotel is nearby and was stunned and amazed that a police dog was given recognition. She was also surprised by the amount of dogs people were walking. She used words to the effect that Canadians are in tune and allied with nature. She wanted to research this phenomenon more while in Toronto. She talked about some movie which is coming out from one of the books she wrote. She wrote a book about the many ways you can kill your husband and stated that her husband would not sleep with her while she was writing the book. She later indicated that she is single. She did state that she believes everyone is capable of killing and told a story of when she was ten years old and a boy was bothering her so she told him if he didn't stop she would kill him. He started yelling out "kill me". So, she grabbed his throat and began to strangle him. Her brother pulled her off the poor boy thus saving his life. She believes she would have killed him. I thought about when I was ten. Was I capable of killing? I recalled a boy in my class annoying me as well. I jumped on the boy and I was on top of him when our teacher, a nun, returned to the class room and yelled out at the boy to stop malling me (remember I was on top of him). I didn't really know how to fight and neither did he. We both had to go to the Principals office because Mother Besella or something to that effect was the scariest person in the world. I told the boy I was sorry. In all honesty, I don't know what he said to get me so mad but to kill or strangle never even occurred to me. Suffice to say I don't think I would like to be friends with this person who stangles children when a child herself. She is headed out to White Horse and I did speak to her interpreter when they were walking by me to take her to Niagara Falls instead. She should be there now so watch your throats men. This is one lady you don't want to piss off. I spoke to many more interesting people especially our own authors. Richard Chartrand sitting nearby and I exchanged two books. I lost his first one Bad Karma yesterday. I had only read one chapter. I either left it at a restarant (I will have to check with them) or it was stolen from the passenger seat in my locked car. I have begun to read the second of his series, "Bad Karma 11, Final Revenge. He is writing another so it may not be so final (like Final Destination at the movies. I think I saw Final Destination ages ago. Not so final, hey? ) I need to remember to never use the word final in any of my stories. I really enjoyed Canada Day as well. Happy Jul 4 America. That's all folks for now. Have a wonderful weekend. Oh, I have been on hold with Rogers for one hour and 22 minutes. I have gotten so much work done in that time.
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Happy Canada World - Thank you all for your support.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ECLg8ybTo/
I believe you can now be directed to the post I wanted you to see from a few years back when I was part of the human flag in Toronto. This year I will be celebrating more quietly. I shall post photos.
Monday, 30 June 2025
A woman's experience with our health system as it is now - Toronto
I hope it is ok to copy and paste a portion of a newsletter I received. The person is not identified so I don't see the harm. What I do see is how our health system has deteriorated. I wasn't aware of how bad we actually were until COVID hit and the amount of disaster stories that were being told at how horrible people were being treated in old age homes. So many died needlessly and were treated inhuman. Imagine the military needed to be called in to investigate and aide in how we treated our elderly. It was shameful. It was not until I injured myself last summer that I experienced the problems I had when I went to the hospital. I won't repeat my self because I have told you about it in an earlier blog close to when it happened. I left the hospital prepared to die at home if I had to. The security officer apologized to me because he could see the state I was in. Since then I continue to hear the nighmare stories and am so disappointed in how the quality of life in Canada continues to corrode to help the rich because money is pored into private care rather than the public, taking away nurses where they are needed. Why should one life be more important than another because I could afford private care if I wanted it? Not all agree with me because they live comfortably for the moment. This is why I have copied below, so you can see what is happening here. We need to know the facts so we can change it. Having people care for us who are not qualified is not the answer. Terrible:
I have been taken by ambulance to emergency five times in the past seven years to four
different Toronto hospitals.
Given that patient care is no longer what it used to be because of cuts made to healthcare
and a shortage both of physicians and especially nurses, it will not surprise you to hear
that such an experience is hardly pleasant and, from what I have observed, can be
downright dangerous.
Therefore, I will tell you some of the things I observed and what you should do to prepare
yourself in case you ever need to go to emergency. Indeed, there are certain things that
you can do to prevent risks to your health and to make your life easier during that arduous
experience. (However, I am not covering situations where one has been in a car or biking
accident and suffers from broken bones.)
After you arrive, someone from hospital staff will examine you and, if necessary, send
you for CAT scans as well as for blood work. That is, after you have survived the triage.
Each time I arrived by ambulance, I was rapidly triaged. However, in some of the
hospitals, even after triage, it can take several hours before you see a doctor and a friend
told me that he had to wait eight hours before he saw a doctor.
Depending on the location of the hospital, the behavior of patients in the emergency
department can vary greatly. While sometimes the other patients are quiet, in most cases
there is at least one “screamer.” Sleeping is practically impossible. I was very unlucky
the last time as I was put in an area where, by coincidence, there were several patients
who were accompanied by police officers and one was tied to his bed. The screaming,
the swearing, the raging, the verbally assaulting of the nurses were extreme. I ended up
rather traumatized after three days.
What is very different from the past is that there are fewer registered nurses and most
of the patient care is given by PSW’s or Personal Care Workers and nursing assistants.
Another thing that was very annoying is that, because of the lack of nurses, most patients
end up being diapered. Yes! Diapered! At other places, they bring a potty chair next to
your cubicle and this is a great help.
Of the seven times I went to emergency, I was hospitalized only four times and the last
time was for six days because I acquired a serious problem as a result of the lack of
treatment received in the emergency department. I am focusing on that because I have
learned how to prevent some of this in the future if ever I have the unfortunate experience
of returning to one of those places.
When I arrived, I thought that I suffered from low sodium (hyponatremia) which is a
recurrent problem with me that can have serious consequences. However, this was not
the case and they confirmed to me that my sodium level was normal. I could not eat
during my three days in emergency because I had arrived vomiting copiously and my
stomach needed to rehabilitate itself slowly. I was put on an IV feeding which is fine.
However, be warned that you may not be receiving the same medications that you had
at home and you may not be able to take them at the same times as when you are at
home.
Then here comes the kicker. On my third day in emergency, in the morning, a nurse
arrived with about 10 pills that she said I had to take right away. Fortunately, I had
brought with me the list of the medications that I take as well as the time of the day when
I take them. Furthermore, I am a person who does not react very well to medication, and
I have to be started on a very low dosage to make sure that I don't react negatively and
become very sick.
However, the nurse wanted me to take all these pills at the same time, including several
new ones. Because she had brought them all together and because most of them were
white, neither she nor I could figure out which was which. I told her that I was not going
to take them and I finally was able to find the one that I take in the morning and I took
that one. I also told her that it would be a good idea if I got some salt which I take when
I’m at home.
She said "I don't know what you're talking about and I will have to ask the doctor." Now,
asking a doctor is not something that happens immediately and can take a whole day.
As a result, when I was transferred to a ward upstairs, I was diagnosed with suffering
from low sodium. And, remember, I had arrived with a perfect sodium score. In other
words, I had acquired an iatrogenic illness something that happens to about 25% of
people who go to hospitals.
I was put in a very nice room with two elderly ladies like me. It was peaceful and the
nurses were pleasant and competent. And it is only at that time that they were able to
10sort out my pill situation. I was still on IV feeding for the entire duration of my 3-day stay
in Emergency. And I was finally taken out of these diapers and given a potty chair next
to me!!
However, don't expect a nurse or an assistant to come running to you if you press on
the call button to ask for help. You may have to call four times in a single hour to see
anyone to help you unless you decide to start yelling. And, ladies, this is the second time
that I noticed that male patients received a prompter response than us women.
How to Prepare Yourself
Have someone with you.
The most important thing for a patient to arrive at emergency or to a regular ward is to
bring a friend or a family member who know about your case. The friend can go and get
help when you need it. But, especially, he or she can advocate for you when your
medications are not the proper ones or when care is not arriving on time.
Actually, when I go to visit my doctors at the hospital, including some specialists, I always
bring either a friend with me or my nephew. I have noticed that doctors give me more
information and pay more attention to my real needs when I am so accompanied.
Your list of medications
What probably saved my life the last two times I went to the emergency room was that I
had my list of medications along with the time of the day when I take them. This was my
saving grace.
Have a carry-on emergency bag ready
After my second hospitalization, I prepared a carry-on emergency bag in which I have a
change of clothes because generally I have left in my night gowns. Little by little, I have
added the following items to my emergency bag -small toothbrush and toothpaste,
hairbrush, small mirror, and whatever other objects related to your physical grooming
that are important to you.
Also important may be a bag of digestive cookies because meals come three times a
day and you're not always hungry at the same time. Chewing gum may be helpful along
with a pack of anti nausea pills, such as Gravol Ginger.
11Bring your own meds
Now I have finally learned my lesson and I now include these 7-day little pill containers
in my emergency bag so that I can take my pills in the correct order if I ever go back to
the hospital. That way I can be sure to take the right meds and not develop a hospital
created disease. Every month, I take all of these pills and exchange them with a new
batch so that they don't expire in terms of their viability.
Finally, bring your cell phone and a charger. The nurses generally are very cooperative
and help you plug it in somewhere. And keep it in your bed with you.
It's also important to think about what NOT to bring with you. Leave as many jewels
behind as possible. Bring maybe $20 to $40 in cash. No credit or debit cards. Nothing
expensive that could be stolen."
Friday, 27 June 2025
Festival of Authors
Please come and say hi to me at the Toronto Festival of Authors. I shall be there from 11:00 to 5:00 pm, tomorrow Jun 28 and during the same time Sunday Jun 29. Location will be at a tent at 73 Queens Park, Victoria College at the University of Toronto. I shall be signing and selling my books including Ominous. I will be with the Crime Writers of Canada. I shall report Monday on how it all went. We have Canada Day approaching as well so the celebrations have not stopped. Today I attended a strawberry lunch festival celebration and the strawberry short cake was amazing. My table also won a prize for answering a strawberry list of questions where we were narrowed down to three tables. It was a team effort with lots of brainstorming so winning was fun. Monday there is a bbq and Tuesday - well - Oh Canada. If you are visiting from anywhere please come and say hello. If you tell me that you have read my blog, you can get a copy of Hey Guy Buy Me for a tooney. Bye bye for now.
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
It is a scorcher!!!!!!
Oh boy, is it hot, here. Some people from Texas said they found it very comfortable here. Me? Not so much. It's the hotest in 10 years. What a start, first we have the biggest pollution in the world for a day when smoke from the fires out West came to town. When I entered the house, I felt like I was getting oxygen. Breathing and smelling smoke was odd. Now we have had a few days of heat waves and some pools closed because the life guards were too hot. Enough complaining. Now the positive. Went to another festival last weekend but I didn't stay too long because I need to be able to breath. I took pictures of the food trucks, not my cup of tea but it was great for kids who got free rides. Next weekend I am supposed to be selling my books at the writer's festival so please come and see me at Victoria College at the University of Toronto. I will provide you with the address again further into the week. I still did not sell my house though people were saying they were interested. Is my town refusing to let me go? I am missing my big tv and the small one I have been watching is becoming easier to watch. Due to global warming but they call climate change not to scare people I have decided to buy a fountain for birds at my next house. My eye is once again on a house closer to the falls than any other I saw and it is so cute. But, I have learned my lesson. I will not go and look at it or any other until I sell my house right here in Toronto. With one of five people I understand using the food bank, it is no wonder people are having problems with buying a house. But, it is the biggest city in Canada and people want to come here, so come please.........so I can go. It is time for a new chapter. I am too busy here, so many festivals and things to do. I just want to slow down walk along the falls and have high tea with a not so croweded theatre or show or festival........Yup........slowing down......with a cute barbie house. Bye, bye for now.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Italian Festival Sunday and Big Garage Street Sale Saturday
First I want to tell you about the garage sale. I only bought one small decorative mug (designer) of a beautiful koala mom and baby. But, I bought a lot of my favourite authors' books. It was difficult finding books I hadn't read but it all goes to a good charity - the Historical Museum - so I came back and bought more.
Sunday, after mass consisted of being at the Italian Festival. I had a small dish of home made gnocchi which was authentic enough and can be found at any legitimate Italian restaurant in Toronto, but the sauce failed the grade, probably from not cooking it enough. I had to wait about two hours for it and was informed it was worth the wait and I would get a free espresso. It was not worth the wait and I did not get any espresso ( because they didn't even sell it). It certainly wasn't worth the 16 or 17 dollars I spent but it did have a line up without any Italians in it. I won't name the place but they are not from Toronto. I don't like to give bad reviews but I certainly won't name it for compliments. The band stand was fun and everyday Italian men and women sang and dance with gusto. There was also a pasta eating contest where those who didn't finish eating their bowl could take it home. Even though I had lots of fun and met many interesting people, there were simply too many people and I actually got dizzy from sensory overload from my final resting place to my car. Complaint I heard was that it was too multicultural and they want "Italian" only. All in all, I did have a good time but due to the growing enormous crowd throughout the day, I am going to have to pass in future. However, it is worth going if you are from out of town or a tourist. The garden umbrella and tree is my home which is still for sale people and my coffee break and lunch break relaxation spot. I also like watching movies there and attending seminars in the summer. That's all folks!!!!
Dr Nick Carleton - notes
I cut and pasted Dr Carleton's research interest:
Research Interests
- Anxiety Disorders
- First Responders and Other Public Safety Personnel
- Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Events
- Traumatic Stress
- Fundamental Cognitions
- Psychometrics and Statistics
- Transdiagnostics
Friday, 13 June 2025
Montgomery's Inn - you can find this in the Toronto History Museums.
Montgomery’s Inn

Built in the 1830s to shelter travellers, Montgomery’s Inn brought people together from the surrounding area and beyond over food, drink, games, and more. More than 190 years later, it’s still doing just that. This lively museum gives visitors the opportunity to see how a 19th-century Canadian inn was run from ballroom to bedrooms.
Hear the diverse stories of people who traversed the grounds from Chinese market gardeners to an employee who escaped his enslavement in the United States through the Underground Railroad.
Discover a rich history and enjoy family activities, camps, storytelling, music and more. Weekly farmers’ markets bring neighbours together over freshly-baked bread and seasonal fruits and vegetables; while hearth cooking demonstrations and community art exhibits offer a wider range of experiences that look at the past, present and future of the neighbourhood.
Montgomery’s Inn gathered communities around food, drink, news and laughter. Keep that spirit alive today: there’s always something happening at the Inn.
Hi, again. It's me. I tried to cut and paste this because this is the location of where we met to get the buses to see the murals. It doesn't mention, that it is haunted. You should visit, it is part of our history. Til next week.