The Ouseys in Victoria Page

Christmas day was quiet here. Lyn, Alan, Mom, Carolyn and I were the only ones available for Christmas dinner, but we really enjoyed it. Carolyn did the whole thing herself, superb as usual, however, she bought a Costco Christmas Yule Log instead of baking the usual pies. We all had a laugh because it was huge we could have served the neighbourhood. We have been eating it all week and still have some to go.

Rachel and Saul return today from New Zealand and we are all looking forward to seeing her tomorrow, however, Adam returns in early January from seeing Sarah in Chicago; so we won't be seeing him until April. Lyn, however, missed them both greatly. Noni, John and Chelsea stayed up in Comox and did their own thing for Christmas, but they are arriving shortly for a visit today and tomorrow. Thanks to Skype we got together with them on Christmas day as we also did with Jack in Oklahoma. Mom really likes doing that. David and Tena came over for dinner just prior to Christmas. She has her family gathering on Christmas day and we will see them this weekend prior to our imminent departure south.

I just heard from Mom, and she isn't feeling well, she may have caught the cold that is going around the Care Centre. Hope that is all it is. She has a new phone number as the one she was given when the land line was installed a couple of weeks ago turned out to be the business number of a Victoria Electoronics company that went out of business a few months back and she was inundated with calls. So if all goes well, (with Telus that is always a big if) it should change today.

Sue has been visiting and will be heading back to Georgia early this morning. Her flight is at 6:53 am and with all the new security measures in place, due to the usual over reaction to the recent flight events, we will have to get up real early. It was a good and productive visit as she was able to catch up her medical appointments and straighten out the financial situation wrt the RV fire and insurance settlement. They are both happy it is done.

So they will have a Happy New Year, and on that note we wish everyone a Happy and Properous New Year.

Ciao & Peace.

Next news is Carolyn has a black eye. No I didn't do it. She had a dizzy spell during a hot flash while on the throne (5 am) and tried to make it back to bed but managed a face plant on the carpet instead. Fortunately she didn't hit anything else on the way down, but gave herself a shiner and a sore face on the left side. I shot out of bed to help, but she preferred to lay there for awhile to get her bearings. Eventually we got her back to bed and dosed her up with Tylenol. Neither of us got much sleep after that. Otherwise she is doing OK. She probably won't be in many Christmas pictures this year.

Rob and Sue are in Florida, dishing up their (new to them) rig. Apparently the original owners were not as diligent with maintenance as one should be, certainly not to Rob's standards. However, they are happy, they still got a great deal.

Well after all that any other news is anti climatic, so:

Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

and be very careful in the bathroom too.

Ciao Peace.

We both came back with a cold, mine lingered on until I needed anti-biotics for bronchitis, Carolyn's went away quickly, but has since had problems with her eyes, requiring a second round of anti-biotics. Otherwise we are fine. Mom is still feeling cramped in her new quarters, but is otherwise happy. She frequently utilizes the lounge across the hall, which helps. She is not crazy about using a cell phone, but currently there is no other choice, I'll be checking this week to see if they can put in a connection for a landline. She does like to keep in contact, just not sure of all this new technology.

The news has been out awhile, but Rob and Sue lost their motor home to a fire in Bakersfield, and have just gotten official word that it is a write-off, so they have a line on another one which they may purchase soon and be back on the road again. Bakersfield people have been very good to them with many offers of help. A particular couple loaned them their motor home to live in while awaiting the bureaucratic wheels of the insurance company ground along and also helped and provided storage space for their belongings. Just a wonderful couple. It made things so much easier for them.

Speaking of motor homes, we are getting ours ready and we are anxious to get going, but not until the New Year rolls around, in the meantime we are freezing. Unusually cold for Victoria and windy with temperatures as low as -7 C (19 F), with much cooler wind chills. Hey for us that's cold.

Well that's about it for now.

Ciao & Peace.