Where did Christmas go?

Mon Jan 2nd 2023

Grantham's Landing the other side of Gibsons looking across Howe Sound - Christmas Eve

Christmas seems to have whizzed by and in three months we will have been in Canada two years; it's hard to believe!

Ball and snow = happy dog

We hope you have all had a merry festive time whatever challenges have been thrown in your direction over the last year. We are very conscious from the UK news there have been a few, be it weather, strikes, health service pressures, et al. You can take the Cronks out of the UK, but not the UK and friends out of the Cronks so it was great to hear from so many of you and catch up on personal news. Many like us, adopted technology rather than snail mail for seasons greetings this year, not least with the UK postal strikes. Zoom and Facetime, even a phone call from a close friend made it all seem very 'local'.

Aside from the time difference for catching up with family, Christmases here seem very similar to the UK. Tins of Quality Street are the same - about half the size they used to be and run out in the stores just as quickly (I remain unsure why they still include Strawberry and Orange cream in the selection as they are always the last ones left in the tin). We have an excellent local butcher in Gibsons and couldn't fault our Christmas meat, definitely on a par with Sumbler's in Marlborough, who offer excellent quality meat at a Sumbler-like premium!

Brussel Sprouts and parsnips are in plentiful supply so post Christmas Bubble and Squeak was in production though made with roast spuds rather than mash which seems to be a preference in some North American households. In short supply were fruit Panettone, Stollen with marzipan and decent French wines. A day trip to Vancouver may be in order and a visit to my favourite wine shop in Kitsilano.

Jack has discovered his new mate's food doesn't
always end up in his mouth!

House and garden Christmas decorations are far more prevalent than the UK, although it was becoming increasingly popular over our last few UK Christmases. Here, the exception is houses without lights though fortunately the hippos and other non-christmassy characters are still in a minority.

The pre-Christmas concerts were a great success, though the last night of the Phoenix Choir coincided with more snow. The choir outnumbered the audience by about 2:1 - it is a big choir! The following two nights of the Messiah played to two packed and appreciative audiences who braved the snow. Only a couple of choir members were snowed in and didn't make it. The soloists came over from Vancouver and were brilliant. The members of the 16-piece orchestra were all Coasters, all bar one viola player. I shall stay with the Messiah Choir which is doing Vivaldi's Gloria in the Spring, no doubt with just four rehearsals again! There is some amazing talent on the Coast.

38-year old vintage Fisher Price toys

Nick, Lizzie and Seb had arrived by the time I'd got back from the last concert and we had a great five days with them over Christmas. A childhood friend of Lizzie's came over on Christmas Eve and slotted in like any other member of the family.

Fred, who packed five boxes of Nick and Ros's toys from 38 years ago and ensured they were shipped to Canada, has provided Seb with a ready collection of toys for whenever he is on the Coast. Half of one box has been put to use over Christmas. The Lego will remain stored in the garage for a few more years! Some of you may recognise designs, many of which were Fisher Price.

Monday morning sunrise

I got back into running in November, which was going well until the snow arrived. With the snow now gone I've managed to get four runs in since the excesses of Christmas, this morning I enjoyed a most beautiful sunrise on the way back.

The first Sunday sailing race of the New Year took place yesterday and we were ahead over the line by two minutes, but second after adjusted time which gave the last boat over the line, 15 minutes behind us, the winning position. So much for handicap racing! We're back on Mandala (a 38ft Catalina) after the yacht sale fell through. We meet on Wednesday to discuss options for the coming year. Keep Mandala but spend some money on new sails and rigging or look for other boats. Mandala's owner flew down to San Francisco to look at a BB10, but it was not in great condition and the survey highlighted major work replacing or repairing structural bulkheads. It will be an interesting discussion on Wednesday. Some of us would be quite happy to keep Mandala.

Mandala on the run back to Gibsons

The snow-melt that filled all the local creeks was supplemented by quite a lot of rain just after Christmas so only now is the roar of water beginning to subside, though fresh snow is forecast towards the middle/end of this week.

Our immediate focus is to get Fred's hip sorted. She has a consultation this Wednesday and provisional date for the op at the beginning of Feb in Calgary.

The next few weeks will be sorting out the roadtrip, accommodation and route for a couple of weeks in Calgary. I'm quite looking forward to the drive though not an ideal time of year if the snow is bad. At the moment we are planning to take the northern route, on Highways 1 & 5 via Kamloops and Banff. It's a 12-hour drive, though we may do it over a couple of days. We're still debating whether we get a housesitter for Jack or take him with us.