WHO IS STEALING OUR MONTHS ??

C’MON ALL OF YOU OUT THERE! Somebody must know who is stealing big chunks of our time –months at a time !!?? Could the culprit please own up and give them back ??!! Last time I wrote, it was mid-August; that should mean we’ve had four and a half months since then,- Right?! So where did they go ?? …….

When I last wrote, we were on the houseboat in Fenelon Falls, in Canada, about a third of the way along the Trent-Severn waterway. We managed to dawdle our way along , off the actual system to Lindsay, a lovely little town, and back along to Bobcaygeon and Buckhorn, before we stopped and had the boat pulled out for the winter. Each town we visited was  delightful; we made new friends, caught up with friends from Georgian Bay, attended local live theatre, were written up by a local newspaper, had visits from more family and friends, did some repairs on the roof and flybridge, and just generally had a magical  time !! The distance we covered  in that last month would probably be a nice afternoons car drive;- a whole different pace and mind-set. Now the boat is high and dry, and probably covered in snow, awaiting our return in May! 

Despite how very much we enjoyed the summer,  the trees started to tell us it was time to go, and we  were very ready and happy to get home in September. Nick and the rest of the family had done an amazing renovation and facelift on the beachhouse while we were away !! Amongst many other things,they seem to have doubled the space of the old laundry/bathroom wing, without stretching the outside walls!! How did they do that !? We now have a very posh place!  Amazing!! Our thanks to them all!!

We had a great visit from Kris and Jo, as well as two sons Jai and Louis, before they went off to Bali for a holiday.  It  was lovely to meet Louis; so now we have only Jazic yet to meet.  We had a missed opportunity a week later when we went to Brisbane and stayed at their house in their absence, -thanks both-, but missed Jaz.

The special event that put us back on a plane to Brisbane so soon after we’d arrived home, was Lee  and Belinda’s wedding, combined with Maryanne’s naming day. Congratulations Guys! It was a lovely wedding and reception, held in their own garden and new deck area, with friends and family gathered from around Australia and from England.  We also took advantage of being over there  to visit Anne’s cousin Jeff and Doreen, who live a bit north of Brisbane.    

The time from there is one of the stolen times I mentioned earlier; it just went by in a big blur!! There was Hallowe’en of  course (one of these years the kids  will outgrow me in these sorts of things (tragic, but inevitable). We had all sorts of work re tenants and getting a house ready to sell (work is also tragic, isn’t it!). We had visits from my Canadian cousins,Clint’s parents, Larry and Barb, with daughter Stacey and granddaughter Riley, whom we’d never met, so that was fun.The dolphins must have heard that there were overseas visitors, because they came in on cue and put on a particularly impressive show. Clint is off on the adventure of a lifetime, supervising on a diving research project in Casey, Antarctica for three (?) months. Wow !!

We started to think Christmas, and to do Christmas projects, but then as Christmas approached, we decided to do something totally different this year, and took ourselves off to Bali for 11 days over Christmas, splitting our time between Ubud and Sanur! We tried very hard (and quite successfully if I may say so) to do as little as possible, just laze  and be pampered ! We’ve always loved Bali, but had half forgotten how very much at home we feel there! We arrived the day before their big celebration of Galungan, so everyone was turned out in their temple finery.  It felt more than a bit strange leaving home, family and friends at Christmas, but Bali pulled out all the stops to make everyone feel in the spirit, including a carol service on the beach, traditional dinners and lots of festivities, Santas and so much warmth!.

We just got  home this morning, and are looking forward to 2015. Meg brought her Mum, Beth and Georgia down today, but no dolphins, only lizards, sorry guys. (Beth was not thrilled)

 

   Tomorrow we have to get back to reality and get some work done. Like I said –tragic and certainly not the note on which we want to start 2015, but what can you do?

So Happy New Year everyone!! Stay safe and happy!

Annie and Kathie

The Happy Wanderers