We missed sending our annual
letter last year, and for that I must apologize – sometimes we just run out of
time to do all those things on our “must-do” list. This year I promised to get the fingers back
to the key board for this special letter, and have already received Chris’s
input as well.
So firstly, I hope this letter
finds you and yours in good health and good spirits. 2009 has been a pretty good year on our
end. We started the year off trying to
get a building development variance permit so that Chris could build a
workshop. The logical location we had
picked for the shop required so many feet setback from the road, and we didn’t
quite make that, so we had to go to the municipal council and deal with an
incredible amount of bureaucracy, but finally in May it was approved. Chris, with some help from my brother-in-law
Terry, and our friend Randy, completed the workshop by summer. He put a wood stove in it, and is already
enjoying being able to working inside with cozy wood heat.
Speaking of Chris, he also
managed to do some improvements to our carport, in that he has enclosed the 2
sides and ultimately we will be making the carport into some kind of entrance
way or mud room. Chris’s health has been
good…except for the aches and pains that come with a physical job. His Paget’s disease seems to be under
control, he did have to have a 2nd blood infusion at the beginning
of the year because his femur was giving him pain again, but the infusion does
work. It would seem that he may be a candidate
for an annual infusion, although the doctor had hoped it would just take 1
shot. We are thankful that this
treatment is covered under the medical drug plan. That said, he has had upper arm pain and
into the shoulder these past few months, so he has to go for an xray this week
as the Dr. suspects it could be the Paget’s has developed in the long bone of
the arm. We hope not.
Chris was fortunate to get away
fishing for 2 weeks this gloriously long and hot summer. He took the boat over to Zeballis on the west
coast of Vancouver Island, where he and a friend went
salmon fishing. Unfortunately the timing
was bad because there was heavy dense fog every morning that prevented them
from getting out far enough to fish for the big ones. He had a good break and a good rest though,
which was the main thing, and was also able to visit with his son Mike and
Mike’s family in Campbell River, (despite Shae and Halle being sick with sun
stroke).
The impact of the recession has
certainly hit Bowen in that housing construction has pretty much stopped, and
people are postponing home renos etc, so this has naturally effected Chris’s
business this year…but that too may have been a gift, because it allowed him
time to get that workshop built and finished.
We are hoping for a busier 2010 as things pick up.
As for me, I managed to take 2
weeks off this summer – the first time in many years I have had so many
consecutive days. I took the time while
Chris was away, mainly to look after our dog Jake. It was awesome weather, and I got lots of
gardening done. My friend Kelli from Dawson
Creek came for a week at that time which was a real
bonus and we had a great time catching up.
My good friends Patti and Jim from Kelowna visited late summer as well,
for the first time, and brought their eldest daughter Melissa and her brand new
baby which was another gift. We had my
nephew Cal and his wife Carole and their son Brandon over one weekend which was
also good fun. I managed to swim a lot
this summer – the ocean was so warm, and summer was never ending – the only way
to cool off was to swim, and we are so close to the beach. I gardened most of the evening this summer,
and dabbled in and around the pond. It
is amazing how quickly the perennial gardens take over, reducing the amount of
effort. Chris will be putting in a
vegetable garden this spring so can’t wait!
We had a
lovely garden party luncheon in July for the church group – and that was
terrific, and we had a neighbourhood garden party one afternoon as well… lots
more fun. I got away for 3 days with my sister Pat in September and we went on
a little road trip to Osoyoos to do the wineries in that area; a truly awesome
trip! Chris and I did a 1 day road
trip to Whistler – he with his motorcycle and me and the dog in my Toyota. We wanted to check out the new highway being
built for the Olympics in 2010. We were
very impressed with the new road – and it was a great ride for Chris. I went to Oregon
in November with 2 of my lady friends to visit Mt. Angel Benedictine Abbey –
that was a different trip for me, having never been to a monastery, but very
peaceful.
This year, I got creative and figured out how to create my own blog, so that was my learning
activity for the year, and still is a learning activity. Learning how to use my digital camera
and manage digital photos on the computer is the next challenge.
Work at TRIUMF is very busy, and we are understaffed and overworked. One new year
focus will be to have more work/life balance in 2010.
Getting back to the gym (on Bowen) feels totally awesome, and I am starting to see results,
though I will have a set back soon when I have a Cheilectomy next week on my left foot to
remove bone spurs on my great toe. The stitches will be in for 10 to 14 days and then 2 months
of only light weight bearing exercise – no running or walks. I should be good to go by spring!
The critters
are all good. Jake is 5 now, and
although his muzzle is starting get a bit white, he is still very much the same
pup he was at the age of 2. The kitties
are fine, Smoke has his winter coat now and looks huge, while Gypsy is refusing
to go out in this cold weather we are having.
Our goldfish survived another year, and multiplied some more. I have strung fishing line all across the
pond to keep the herons out, and that seems to do the trick.
We will get
together with my family for Christmas on Dec. 20th at my sister Florence’s
place. It’s home made gifts this year,
so that will be fun! No plans for actual
Christmas day yet, depends on my foot I guess…. and Chris will likely be
cooking me dinner!
We are
looking forward to 2010 – we have a few trips planned. Chris will likely go to England
in the spring as he needs to take his parent’s ashes back. They met at the River Lea in Turnford, and it
was their request of Chris to sprinkle their ashes back there so God willing we
will likely go in April or May. We plan
to do a road trip down the Oregon
coast in July. We were going to do it
last year, but life got in the way.
Chris will take his motorbike and I will follow with my car and the
camping gear, dog, and what not. Looking
forward to it!
Well, that’s
about it from our end. We hope Christmas
is a special one for you and that 2010 is the best year yet! We hope you can come visit in 2010!!!
Love as
always from, Chris, Josie……. Jake, Smoke and Gypsy
No comments:
Post a Comment