As we only arrived in Canada at the end of September 2008 our first Toronto International Film Festival is only happening now. As far as my duties for the COC allow I will try to be your film correspondent for the next few days before I can start reporting from the rehearsals of Madama Butterfly at the Four Seasons Centre next week. My wife Eloise has an impressive list of 25 films to see (if I am lucky I will be able to make five) and for a change it won't be her who doesn't see me, but me who doesn't see her during the next ten days.

Yesterday, we got to attend the opening of the festival with Jon Amiel's Creation. It's a sad and moving story about Charles Darwin and his wife dealing with the loss of her oldest daugther while he is writing his best-seller On the Origin of Species. Stunning images and highly intense performances from the actors made for a very strong evening at the movies, although our shed tears wouldn't really bring us in the right mood for the sumptuous opening party at Liberty Grand where we shared a few drinks with my colleagues Chris Lorway (Luminato) and Jeff Melanson (National Ballet School) before we went home to release the babysitter.

Today was off for a bad start when for my first appointment in the morning I went to the offices of a Toronto politician just to find out that he wasn't in town and his collaborators had forgotten to inform my office about the cancelled appointment. I have to admit that I spent a slightly grumpy day in the office. At least, we got quite a few things organized before the weekend, including all my travels between now and the end of May.

Now, I am ready for the weekend, the last one for me for the next two months.