A Big Update

Survey the Grand River on Boxing Day

The blog has a wild new look right now.  Let me know if it is too weird.  I can easily change it back to normal.

A Christmas dinosaur in Waterloo Park

Neil and Tracy sharing the radiator bed

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

What Christmas Tree is complete without a hedgehog?

I know, it's been ages so I have a lot to add.  First and foremost, congratulations to my good friend  Lauren Schell who has gotten engaged!  I am so happy for you!  I spent the Christmas holidays in Canada where I hoped to do a bit of skiing but it was not to be.  The was ok though because it gave me plenty of time to go shopping and do some serious visiting.  I saw as much family as possible and friends where possible.  I also spent some quality time with Old Navy and the Bulk Barn.  I always say that I want to avoid boxing day shopping but this time I went out for a bit.  I can't believe that Old Navy opened at 4AM, if you got there early enough you got some free gift.  The lady who was checking out my purchases said people where lined up by 2 AM.  The gift was apparently a digital camera.  Who doesn't have their own camera already these days?  So crazy!  I went out much later and it wasn't too bad.  We only went to the plaza across from mom and dad's place though so it wasn't too pressuring.  Christmas dinner was delicious as always.  There was a good group of people around and we played some board games and card games as is our family tradition.  Lots of eating, drinking and game playing.   We went out after dinner to Waterloo Park to see the lights display.  The dusting of snow made them look nice and festive.  I was really surprised to see the animals still outside though as it was pretty cold.  I say two peacocks up in a tree and some swans that I think should really be away in a barn somewhere at this point in the season.   It was great to see my massive cats as well.  If there was ever any doubt that Jack would not regain his weigh after his airport ordeal, those fears are now safely dealt with.  there is plenty more of him to love and he demands that you do so.  by comparison, his transatlantic cousins are practically mute.  Mom bought them some catnip bubble for them for Christmas which was a very innovative product.  The cats all loved rolling in the bubbles but I didn't do a very good job of blowing them.  I considered adding a bit of soap to the mix but that might have taking away from the taste of the bubbles.  I left my cats in the capable hands of a coworker.  She look excellent care of them as always and even came on Christmas day to dispense their special Christmas meal to them.   Before leaving for the holidays, we went down to Hyde Park to go to a German market and carnival that had been set up.  Winter Wonderland as it was called was absolutely packed but it reminded me nicely of that wonderful trip we took last year to Cologne.  It had lots of craft and food stalls and then a carnival and ice skating rink added on.  I don't know how they kept the skating rink going because the weather here has been even warming than it has been in Canada.  We haven't seen a flake of snow yet.  We have had a few chilly days more recently so that cats have enjoyed their radiator hammock they received before Christmas.  I only got one because I didn't know if they would actually sleep in it was it has turned out to be outrageously popular with them and the source of many skirmishes.  I can back to London just in time for New Years eve.  I stayed in suburbia for it because we were still a bit jet lagged.  I got together with a few friends and we had a Chinese feast and did a quiz together.  We watched the London fireworks on TV which were incredible!  If didn't see it, watch them here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1yLRK2M8YQ They are amazing, especially the beginning with Big Ben.  I hope this is a taste of what we will be able to expect for the Olympics this summer.  Then just a few short days later, it was back to work.  There have been a couple of activities since then but I will save them for a separate post.  I hope you all had a happy New Year and Christmas!