2.008 is almost gone and what a strange year it has been especially the last few months with the economic craziness. We are thankful that we are relatively unscathed by it all. Teaching wasn't a picnic and wasn't that well paid but having a secure pension at this point in time is definitely a bonus.
We began the year with a trip to Mexico which was a real treat. We were both tired after Martin's Mum's death and the subsequent rush to clear the house so we decided to just book an All-inclusive type holiday and just collapse in the proverbial small heap! The resort we found was one frequented by a lot of Mexican families. There were only about 20 or so North Americans in the whole resort which was quite extensive though small by tourist standards.
We flew out on Vancouver directly to Manzanillo and then were transferred by min-van to our hotel. We had a basic room with a T.V. and en-suite bathroom. The T.V. had one English channel which seemed to be totally preoccupied with soccer games so we didn't have to bother with it at all. The resort had two restaurants and the basic dining room buffet for breakfast and lunch. The food was plentiful and very good. The evening meal was served buffet style in a large outdoor area facing a stage where nightly entertainment followed the meal. The entertainment was mostly dancing and some audience participation games and comedy in Spanish but with an English translation if necessary. The resort had two children's pools and one large adult pool, several tennis courts, a games room and several bars! One of the things we enjoyed regularly was an after dinner Spanish coffee prepared at our table by one of the waiters complete with flames and local liquers.
The beach was across the road and miles long so we walked there quite often and spent time just lounging in the deckchairs provided. It was just what we needed!
We were blessed to have Tony and Marie from Wales visit in April for a few days though the weather wasn't great. I gather it was better than the U.K. weather had been so there were no grumbles. Our time together was, as always, too short but it was good to catch up on the news from their part of the world.
We had no spring but our summer arrived one weekend and stayed for a few months so we were happy with that. Ben and Josee moved out to their property in the early summer and are very much enjoying that. Her Mum was here for some time and helped with lots of the settling in chores. The first few weeks of the school holidays they worked very hard.
We also decided to renovate the basement after their departure so spent time working downstairs with painting and new floors. We then moved upstairs and continued with redecorating, replacing carpet and painting everything in sight. We also replaced the electrical plugs everywhere so Martin has added electrician to his resume. It was a lot of work but it is finished and looks good. I've threatened to move before it needs doing again!!
At the end of the summer Janet and Michael from Oxford came for a few days and the weather held good until their last day. The highlight of their visit to us was an all day Zodiac trip to see the grizzlies.
We did see one but at a distance. National Geographic has spoiled us I'm afraid - we expect to see animals up close and personal. I was struck again at the sheer enormity of the province and realized as we motored North east on the water that it would be nothing short of miraculous if we saw anything! We did see dolphins and a large group of sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks of a little island and our one bear fishing in the river made the trip worthwhile.
In July we headed over to Vancouver for the funeral of a Welsh friend who had shepherded us through the first few months of our time in Canada. He had been failing for s few years so his death did not come as a shock but nevertheless it was a sad occasion. We drove on from there to visit John and Rosaleen, our cousins in Seattle. They were well and we managed to fit in a lunch with their daughter and her family and supper with their son and family so we caught up on their news and saw how much the children had grown. You turn your back and they are young adults it seems!!
Martin continues his work with the Soup Kitchen in town and plays golf as often as the weather permits. We both do Meals on Wheels delivery still and I am busy with
ACTS Board meetings and Hospital Board meetings. The Hospital work has increased since one of our members who did a lot has resigned and I seem to have ended up with two of her committees to run.
Tim and Andi are both well. Tim's last check-up was good though he has been fighting strep.throat and a painful foot perhaps gout. Both things seem to be on the way out now. Oliver and Charlotte are now 1 and 4 respectively and are the light of our lives. We are able to see them often and really appreciate the fact that they are near enough for us to be an integral part of their lives. Oliver is almost walking and is a cuddly bundle who laughs a lot. Charlotte goes to pre-school twice a week and talks a mile a minute whenever we are together.
Martin celebrated his 65th birthday in Nov. and we had an open house for cake and coffee and managed to touch base with lots of friends we hadn't seen for a while.
His Gold card(Old aged pension) arrived safely and we are planning a road trip when I get mine. We get to travel for free on the many ferries in the area and plan to visit some of the littler islands next summer.
Church continues to occupy our time and our thoughts and prayers as we try to understand where and what God would have us do. Our
house church remains small though at our services in the retirement home we are seeing an increase in attendance. With the help of a few retired priests we are now doing weekly services there which people are enjoying. It's easier than trying to remember if Church is this Sun or next!!
Next Tuesday evening we will have a Carol sing for all the residents. Last year around 75 attended so hopefully even more will come this year though space will be an issue if too many more come. It's a nice problem to have!
That's our year in a nutshell!! We hope and pray you are well and enjoying life to the fullest.
Love and God's Blessings for 2009.
Charlotte was there too, playing with her Webkins. Of course, she showed us the new books that she had been given along with some of the other gifts. We had some tea and then Charlotte unwrapped the gift we'd given her which was an electronic learning/games device which could be hooked up to a computer. 
Oliver liked the ride-on truck which we had bought him. He pushed all the right buttons on it and, of course, got the resulting tunes, noises, whistles which were built in. I'm sure his Mum and Dad will love us for that...not! 
In the evening, Ben, Josée, Ron and Jean came to have Christmas dinner with us. As always, Cynthia had prepped a beautiful meal which we greatly enjoyed. Conversation was good over the meal. We moved to the living room for our tea and/or coffee than played some games of pictionary and 20 questions. these were separated by some carol singing when Jean took to the piano. Later on, after the Husseys had left, Ben and Josée, Cynthia and I opened our stockings together before they went home and we headed off to bed. 
