The Ouseys in Victoria Page

Christmas dinner at Lyn and Alan's went very well.  Being turkeyed out Alan did a fine standing Prime Rib Roast and Lyn did Yorkshire puddings. MMmmmm good, along with Carolyn's famous Schwartzies potatoes, plus Pecan Pie for dessert the dinner was a smashing success. Alan got the roast at Costco, and he was the envy of every guy in the line when they found out it was for Christmas dinner.  One commented that he wished he could do that, but his wife wouldn't let him, poor fellow. Must be a guy thing, I for one certainly enjoyed it.  We had a small group as Tena and David had Tena's family over at their place, Noni entertained Chelsea, Cole and Cole's mother up in Comox.   Mike and Char had all the kiddies home for their festivities in Aiyansh.  So it was Lyn, Alan, Adam, Sara, Rachel, Carolyn and yours truly, but it was lovely.  Most of the conversation revolved around the upcoming nuptials, which are currently moving apace.

Mom missed the dinner on Christmas as they brilliantly changed one of her meds two day before Christmas and she was out of sorts and declined to come.  Fortunately she is doing fine now, so I had her out today for a haircut, and here for dinner, now we can take down the Christmas decorations.

The MH is ready, 3/4's packed and we are chomping at the bit.  So are Sara and Adam. They get to spend their initial married lives living at our place.  To say the least they are excited.

Carolyn and I wish them, the family and all our friends the Happiest of New Years.

Ciao and Peace.

We recently enjoyed a reception in Nanaimo for Kathy and Denny Thomas, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  It was held in a central part of the island so the Comox people could come from one direction while the Victoria folk could come from the other.  Nice to see old friends, and it was a well organized affair thanks to their son and daughter Shaun and Lisa. Kathy and Denny came on our 50th Anniversary Cruise to the Baltic this past spring. So we have been celebrating all year.

Wedding plans are progressing nicely.  Lyn and family are in a tizzy over at her place, but there is relative calm here despite Carolyn's involvement.  She is pretty well organized. Once Christmas is done, then some of Sara's relatives start arriving.  Mom and two sisters will be staying at our clubhouse.  We are looking forward to the event.  Even Grandma Viv is excited, she'll be out more than normal over these holidays.

Of course preparations for our departure south are happening at the same time, and the motor home is pretty well ready with new tires and such.  Loading progresses on a daily basis.

Our annual Christmas eve party with our good friends, (24th one now) is at Margaret and Errol's place this year and we very much looking forward to that as well as the Christmas dinner at Lyn's.  Apparently, after two Thanksgiving turkeys we have decided on a roast this year, so that will be a change from tradition.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years too.

Peace.

On November 26th, which just happened to be Bro Jack's birthday, we had an American Thanksgiving dinner for Sara, Adam's girlfriend, who is in town for a couple of months.  She had been here since Oct 28th and thus missed her traditional Thanksgiving.  So we got together for a second Thanksgiving.  Adam, got up at the start of the dinner and announced their engagement and also that they were to be Wed on the afternoon of New Years Eve day.  Wow,  a shocker, at least for some.  We were informed earlier as we had planned on heading south on Dec 26th.  We are now leaving Jan 2nd.  Lyn, Carolyn and Sara have been, and will be, busy with wedding plans.  It is to be a small wedding at Lyn's and Alan's house.  Sara's Mom and Sisters are coming and I am standing in for father figure to walk the bride down the "aisle".  Sara is working her job while here with her company's permission.  Technology is wonderful.  They will stay at our house after we depart until she returns.  Adam will be joining her later.  They make a sweet couple and Sara fits right in with our bunch.  The picture has Sara, Mom and Adam.  So that's the big news around here.

And TTFN & Peace.