Swam next to a lovely UBC masters swimmer yesterday, young Belgian woman named Marlene. If you ever get back in the water, keep your eyes open....
I have bread in the oven; later I will push over to northside and pick up a "buche de Noel" from the patisserie over there, grab some salmon in the local creek, and head south. If you are out on your bike, have a safe roll around the town...
Cheers and more! Cactus
--
"Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est."
Thank you for thinking of us at this holiday moment. We wish you could have been with us last night, our third candle, here with our friends Elise and Brian for champagne, presents and dinner...our three miracles so far this year are Berkeley, our little home, and Love....and who knows how many more we will heap up before the eighth candle winks out? Last day of work, a bag full of lunches for the pool, and then off to Los Osos Saturday morning. May you have a lovely Christmas with Chloe and Wayne and Michele if they are around. We hope that Michele's ski injury is well-healed by now too....so, off I go, down the hill on my bike with wonderful memories of this beautiful card from such good friends putting a big smile on my face...til soon we hope!! David and Nancy
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Hi Prickly Pear, (decked with holly, I trust!), and Donna Florida, (a Christmas poinsettia, I hope!):
Safe journey to Los Osos and greetings to Nancy's assembled famiglia. You must be prescient as I did 2 miles yesterday at the Aquatic Centre. rode over the Burrard Bridge and back, going and returning. Lovely mild day/evening. Should feeling pretty good so couldn't ask for a better Christmas present. Now if I can just persuade Her Majesty to forget about her toes and concentrate on my appendages I won't need to keep on the look-out for Lili Marlene!!!
Fondestos and Cheers, Rizzzzzzzzzzzzzzo!
PS: Two carols, one traditional, the other modern!
Pat,
Are you able to sneak out for a ride Christmas Day, weather permitting? It's very dark and gloomy this morning but it might be nicer tomorrow. Ray
Hi Raymond!
I'd love to ride on Christmas Day but would only be able to do so once Chloë and I are back from volunteering at church, serving Xmas lunch to homeless, probably around 1:30pm-2:00pm. In the morning we'll be boiling mounds of potatoes and putting finishing touches to huge pans of stuffing we are preparing/taking for the lunch. As well, we are having Mom for breakfast earlier so that entails a fair bit of organization. I'm thinking about sending Cora Lee on her scooter to fetch Mother! Anyway, let me know about timing. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pat,
Afternoon would certainly be OK if it's not raining. Let's be in touch tomorrow. Ray
Hi Tiptoe!
Thanks for offer of travel advice. We have booked into the Salisbury-YMCA. Arrive on March 5th for five nights. Any suggestions much appreciated. Sorry I've not replied sooner but all sorts of last minute "things", as I'm sure you can appreciate.
Happy Christmas to you, Tiptoe, and family! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrice!
Dear Corinne & Patrick,
Sending a few pictures of my trip to Wpg. celebrating my Mom’s 95th Birthday. – My sister –Nieces—Our new boat—celebrating our 45th anniversary—Mom & I --My mom in her new pink robe – a purple outfit from me. Great fun and a memorable occasion.
Hope you are both well and I hope your foot operation went well Corinne We are gearing up once again for our annual Open House New Year’s Day, do come out.
Sending Seasons Greeting “Polar Bear Suite” produced by our neighbor.
Merry Christmas Love Jean & John & Benson
Hi Jean and John!
Just a quick note to send along some Christmas wishes. Thanks for great snaps and Polar Bear Suite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxw1FSY7BrE
Hi Scrooge!
Watch your pennies or you'll be buying a huge flat screen next!
Sorry I've not replied sooner but all sorts of last minute "things", as I'm sure you can appreciate.
I'm hoping to ride on Christmas Day but will only be able to do so once Chloë and I are back from volunteering at church, serving Xmas lunch to homeless, probably around 1:30pm-2:00pm. In the morning we'll be boiling mounds of potatoes and putting finishing touches to huge pans of stuffing we are preparing/taking for the lunch. As well, we are having Mom for breakfast earlier so that entails a fair bit of organization. I'm thinking about sending Cora Lee on her scooter to fetch Mother!
I've been suffering form a persistent cough, myself. As these things go, I caught something from Cora Lee and in my case, often a head cold ends up in my lungs. I feel fine but until the cough breaks I have a wracking, dry cough only malt will address! Swimming seems to help. In fact, I did 2 miles yesterday at the Aquatic Centre. Rode over the Burrard Bridge and back, going and returning. Lovely mild afternoon/evening. Shoulder feeling pretty good so couldn't ask for a better Christmas present. Usually enjoy a sauna after swim and find that very soothing on my air passages.
We are spending New Year's Eve here, with Clara and Dusty and The Millionaires, off next day on an extended cruise of the South Pacific! We were all invited downstairs to celebrate with Clan Sutherland BUT all their offspring and their amores will be there so it will be too, too much for C/D, not to mention Coriandre and I and the Dawes. (See comment below.) Of course, we'll go down for drinks. After their dinner, Sutherland entourage will de-camp to The Granville Island Hotel for dancing until the New Year arrives. (A few years ago, pre-lottery win, Grog and Lurch went home at 10:30pm when the six couples had booked dinner/dancing fro NY's Eve at GIH!)
You and Jane are more than welcome to join us if you are not planning to run nekkid through the forest on New Year's Eve. Furthermore, we are hosting an Open House On the 1st so you are invited to that should you be in city and wish to attend. Let me know what you decide upon as we'll need to know for menu planning purposes for New Year's Eve dinner.
Enjoy your time in Campbell River. Cheers, Fagin!
Hi Simone!
Hope cabbage rolls are made by now! I wrapped all my presents last night!! Happy Christmas to you, Simone, and family! Hope all goes well with Michael. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Elly and Tony!
Thanks for the wonderful "warm" Christmas greetings and wishes! Great song! Destined to be, if not already so, a classic!!! Please find a "chillier" version attached! Happy Christmas to you both, Elly and Tony, and family! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Jet-Lagged JDP!
My head's in a spin just reading about the whirlwind trip! We can use treadmill for training when we visit next July!!! Happy Christmas to you both, Lynne and Petros, and family! Give us a shout if you decide you can swing by when returning to The Naramata! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick,
Lynne and I are just leaving in her new red sleigh for the drive to "The Coast". I just wanted you to know that you're not alone with your cough. Lynne has had it for over two weeks, now thankfully nearly cured. Keep your malt levels up and have a great Christmas. Peter
PS - great attachments!
Hi Old Oakites!
Trust all goes well. Sorry I've not been in touch sooner but plenty of "things" needed doing, as you can appreciate, I'm sure. Enjoyed your message from the Island, Stefano. Bit flummoxed, at first, as I didn't think that Grogg even knew who Christopher Hitches happened to be! Finally dawned on me that you had hacked into his email!!!
We are spending New Year's Eve here, (Christmas Day dinner with Famiglia Sutherland, their turn to host!), with Clara and Dusty and The Millionaires, (off next day on an extended cruise of the South Pacific!), and you are more than welcome to join us, as I've mentioned. We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends who could not attend our earlier Christmas Open House. Of course, should you still be here, you are more than welcome to attend! Happy Christmas to you both, Kathleen and Stefano, and family! Give us a shout when you know more about your travel plans Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Merry Christmas to you all! We have just returned from Southampton after visiting our new grandson Tristan (and his parents of course). He is quite adorable but I would say that wouldn't I? Picture attached. We are spending a pretty quiet Christmas this year. My sister and her family have gone to Centre Parcs at Longleat for Christmas so we agreed to look after her grand kids rabbit, guinea pigs and cats over Christmas while they are away. We will do the usual visiting today then Gayle will rustle up a nice Tortiere etc for us this evening with a good bottle of wine. Tortiere is sort of a tradition with us on Christmas eve. I will be cooking Christmas dinner. Scallops with sweetcorn puree and quails eggs and truffle shavings to start then Ballontine of duck breasts stuffed with prunes and served with madeira sauce, fondant potatoes, asparagus custards, and braised carrots and artichokes. We will have the traditional Christmas pudding for desert (compliments of the Duchy of Cornwall) and I will make a creme anglaise generously enhanced with brandy of course! This together with a bottle of bubbly and a couple of bottles of wine should do it!
The weather is looking pretty good over the holidays with highs of 12 degrees - very warm for this time of year. We will probably go for a long walk on Boxing Day and will be heading back to Southampton for New Year.
I just received an email from a friend who moved to Thailand to live a couple of months ago. Actually Kevin was my deputy at the College and retired the same time as I did. He met a Thai woman over the internet and after a short 6 month electronic courtship he gave up everything in England, went to Thailand with two suitcases and married her! He lives in a fairly remote area near the Laos border. Her family have a rice paddy so he said it's pretty rustic there. He enjoys the cold showers since it relieves the heat! This is his second attempt at this sort of thing. A few years ago he married a Gambian woman which ended in disaster. Long story which I will tell you over a glass of wine!
I tried to get tickets to see the Da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery but unfortunately they were all sold out. Oh well you know what they say "those who hesitate ..." We will still try to get to London in the New Year to catch a show.
You all sound to be pretty full on over there. Enjoyed seeing the pictures of you on your steed! The mountains still look as awesome as ever. Glad the dear Chloe is well on the mend now. She is such a great girl.
Do have an enjoyable and safe Christmas. Bye for now Derek and Gayle
I tried to get tickets to see the Da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery but unfortunately they were all sold out. Oh well you know what they say "those who hesitate ..." We will still try to get to London in the New Year to catch a show.
You all sound to be pretty full on over there. Enjoyed seeing the pictures of you on your steed! The mountains still look as awesome as ever. Glad the dear Chloe is well on the mend now. She is such a great girl.
Do have an enjoyable and safe Christmas. Bye for now Derek and Gayle
Hi Gayle and Derek!
Congratulations on the arrival of Tristan! Handsome young man indeed! Must take after his grandmother!! What a marvelous Christmas present! Your Christmas plans/food sound divine! Happy Christmas to you both, proud grandparents that you are, Gayle and Derek. and family! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
PS: Chloë showed me a picture of "Pigmobile" and it looks terrific!
Hey pat,
I am in kamloops and looking at getting single malt for dad. Do they have special ones here that u can't get in Vancouver? C
Merry Christmas to all our friends and family, near and far.
We are thinking of you as we celebrate love and light at this special time of year.
We wish you peace, health and contentment in the year ahead.
With love and gratitude for all of you,
Maya and Declan
PS: Declan chose this picture of his family:)
We are thinking of you as we celebrate love and light at this special time of year.
We wish you peace, health and contentment in the year ahead.
With love and gratitude for all of you,
Maya and Declan
PS: Declan chose this picture of his family:)
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss
Hi Declan, Maya and Dave!
What a wonderful picture! Had a lovely chat with Noreen yesterday. She seems quite well in spite of her injury! We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. You three are invited so please pop by! Happy Christmas Declan, Maya and Dave! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
What a wonderful picture! Had a lovely chat with Noreen yesterday. She seems quite well in spite of her injury! We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. You three are invited so please pop by! Happy Christmas Declan, Maya and Dave! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Subject: Xmas Health & Safety Warning
Importance: High
All employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open
sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way are advised
that a Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an
open sleigh for members of the public. This assessment must also
consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a
venture, particularly where there are multiple passengers. Please note
that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners
before their fields may be entered. To avoid offending those not
participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is
moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.
Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for
collection by any shepherds planning or required to watch their flocks
at night. While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of
flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation
hut, all users of this facility are reminded that an emergency
response plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the
flocks. The angel of the Lord is additionally reminded that, prior to
shining his/her glory all around, s/he must confirm that all shepherds
are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for
the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory.
Following last years well-publicised case, everyone is advised that
Equal Opportunities legislation prohibits any comment with regard to
the redness of any part of Mr R Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion
of Mr R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory
and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of
this offence.
While it is acknowledged that gift bearing is a common practice in
various parts of the world, particularly the Orient, everyone is
reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to Hospitality
Guidelines and all gifts must be registered. This applies regardless
of the individual, even royal personages. It is particularly noted
that direct gifts of currency or gold are specifically precluded,
while caution is advised regarding other common gifts such as aromatic
resins that may evoke allergic reactions.
Finally, in the recent instance of the infant found tucked up in a
manger without any crib for a bed, Social Services have been advised
and will be arriving shortly
Merry Christmas Folks.
G'day Patrick and Corinne,
Just a quick note to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Hope all are well and enjoying the holiday period - I'll be in touch with more news from Oz early in the new year! Love to all Tina and Trevor
Ps: temperature is due to reach 37C today (Christmas Eve)! Cooler tomorrow - we hope!
Hi TNT!
Thanks for warm wishes! Just a quick note myself, as Her Majesty is "bellowing" for help in kitchen!
Happy Christmas to you both, Teens and Trev, and family. Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for warm wishes! Just a quick note myself, as Her Majesty is "bellowing" for help in kitchen!
Happy Christmas to you both, Teens and Trev, and family. Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Glasgow!
Thanks for compliments on my new Just a quick note as Her Majesty is "bellowing" for help in kitchen!
We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. Please pop by for some ham! Happy Christmas to you both, and girls. Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for compliments on my new Just a quick note as Her Majesty is "bellowing" for help in kitchen!
We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. Please pop by for some ham! Happy Christmas to you both, and girls. Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi O Susannah and Champagne!
Thanks for wonderful card! Nothing but the very best champagne for you two in 2012! Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!
My precious babies...♥
Chloe Alexis Dunn My little ones, they used to love to snuggle with me and be cozy!!! Xxxxxxx
Patrick James Dunn They're not babies, they're Giants!
As I Promised
You've no idea how cool is this http://www.forsalebozeman.com/NewYear.php?NewYear Enjoy!
Hi Patrick,
It was great to meet both of you last night, wonderful talk and festivity for the last night of my nine weeks journey! Thanks for sending through the photos, they are fun to have!
I have sent a friend request and look forward to many more lively exchanges
with all good wishes and love for the festive season and beyond! Have a great time in Australia, the great red heart!
all the very best
--
Fe Day
Storyteller, facilitator, teacher and celebrant
...AIO ki te aorangi, peace to the universe....
Hi Baby Beluga!
Trust Famiglia Coverntini is well! We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. Drop by if you can! Happy Christmas to you four and a Healthy New Year! Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio/Il Conduttore!
Of course I have no idea how cool this is as page won't open! Correct address? Cheers, Patrizzio!
Fe Day
Storyteller, facilitator, teacher and celebrant
...AIO ki te aorangi, peace to the universe....
Hi
Best wishes for a great Holiday Season and healthy and Happy 2012!
Covey, Linda, Courtney and Patrick
Hi Baby Beluga!
Trust Famiglia Coverntini is well! We are hosting an Open House On the 1st so look forward to seeing some of the friends we've not seen in some time. Drop by if you can! Happy Christmas to you four and a Healthy New Year! Fondestso and Cheers, Patrizzio/Il Conduttore!
Hi Ski!
Of course I have no idea how cool this is as page won't open! Correct address? Cheers, Patrizzio!
DO NOT open the link, it is a VIRUS!
Hi again, Ski!
Why am I not surprised, coming from You!!! Cheers, Patrizzio!
I am so embarrased, somehow I have a virus in my email so all my contacts received different emails from viagra to who knows what! Oh well, the world of computers and hackers.
Merry Christmas!! xo
Hi again, Ski!
Why am I not surprised, coming from You!!! Cheers, Patrizzio!
I am so embarrased, somehow I have a virus in my email so all my contacts received different emails from viagra to who knows what! Oh well, the world of computers and hackers.
I hope you have a great Christmas, I loved your christmas card! Take care Ski also know as Rhoda
Hi Rhoda!
Don't open any of the attached pictures as each contains a virus. My computer became infected ever since I was sent a message by some dingbat named "Ski". Ever heard of her? However, Cora Lee says that she likes the viagra. Not quite sure what she means. Any idea?
Trust you and Ronaldo and family had a grand Christmas! We had one ourselves. Started out on Saturday, making two very large, cafeteria style trays of stuffing for lunch for homeless at church on Christmas Day. Coriandre did all the chopping, (large bag of Spanish Onions and three large bags of celery), perched on a stool in front of counter, and sautéing mixture while I prepared Uncle Ben's stuffing, bringing liquid to a boil and "fluffing" in bread crumbs at just the right moment! Tasted pretty good for something not made completely from scratch.
We enjoyed Clarisse's home-made borscht, with sour cream, before going to 7:00pm service at Trinity. New, interim-minister, Beth Hayward, conducted a wonderful service and the tiny choir, three singers, conducted by Music Minister, Ron Smail, were simply remarkable. The two sopranos had such powerful, soaring, expressive, thrilling voices that it could have been the London Back Choir singing carols to the mesmerized congregation. The wonder on the faces of the small children opening the large wrapped present holding the Crèche figures was wondrous indeed!
Back home to ready the Christmas Eve meal. Chloë and Clara fried up the perogies, (Bought this year, from Alenka, a small Eastern European deli store owned by couple from Ukraine who came to Vancouver in 1996. They are really helpful and friendly. Didn't have time to do them ourselves, much to our chagrin!), while Dusty did Cajun spiced jumbo shrimps. Mini-bagels with garlic and herb cream cheese and a huge crock pot of baked beans completed non-meat traditional fare. I was kept busy open wine and filling Cora Lee's quickly emptied glass and by time food was ready Clan Sutherland trooped in and we sat down to enjoy the delicious meal.
Downstairs gang departed about 10:30pm and once I'd loaded dishwasher, Cora Lee and I started peeling spuds. We were donating a large bag for lunch for homeless. By the time we had the potatoes peeled and sliced and in pots of cold water, ready for the morrow's boiling, it was almost midnight and we still had to play Santa. Stockings stuffed and presents arranged neath the tree, we trundled off to bed, close to 2:00am!
Up at 7:30am to have a java with some extra delicious Avalon eggnog Chloë had brought home from GI Market the day before. I had put away most of last night's dishes before Her Majesty ambled, (as well as one can "amble" on one leg!), into living room and we wished each other Happy Christmas!
Clara and Dusty came over about 8:30am, just before Chloë started her shower. We wished everyone more Merry Christmases and over more java we put potatoes on to boil and started to ready breakfast: smoked salmon on toasted bagels, scrambled eggs and fried mushrooms. When Chloë had completed her ablutions I opened the finest Cook's California Sparklng Wine, (an exceedingly rare 1839 vintage!), mixed it with OJ and toasted each other! I then went to collect Mother at Broadway Lodge and brought her back for breakfast. Bit of difficulty putting on her coat and getting her to uncurl her fingers when trying to fit her gloves but fine, otherwise. She looked very festive in the red sweater we had given to her a few days earlier, in readiness for Christmas.
After enjoying scrumptious breakfast and a few more toasts, Chloë took Mom back to Broadway Lodge and I finished last of mashed potatoes. Was ready to go when she returned and we made for Trinity at 11:30am. Place was abuzz with activity as we brought in pans of dressing and pot of potatoes. Coats off and shirt sleeves rolled up we set to work: Chloë ferrying foodstuffs from kitchen and other food preparation areas to trestle tables set up in the narthex while I manned the sink, washing everything from serving platters to bowls for cranbeery sauce to gravy dishes to dropped utensils. Pretty strady going for about two solid hours but lots of fun and good fellowship with rest of volunteer contingent, some we knew from past lunches, others new to us and process. Towards the end of our shift we even had an incredible cup of the eggnog one of the Anglican families, (Trinity is composed of congregations from Kitsilano United and St Mark's), had to thought to bring along. Dusty would have approved as it was laced with more rum than eggnog!!! Very fluffy and frothy and certainly most drinkable as part of secret recipe, apparently, involves whipped egg whites!
So fortified we finished off the last of the chores at hand, collected our coats and oven mitts and empty pot and made for home, close to 2:00pm. On the way out, a number of the people served remembered me from past lunches. I have taken to wearing my red Crocs along with a Santa apron so I suppose I stick out a bit like Rudolph! Everyone was most appreciative and we were certainly pleased to have been able to help out, to make the lives of those less fortunate a tiny bit more comfortable, at the very least.
I had been hoping to go for a ride, with Robo Ray, around Stanley Park, once we were back from volunteering at church but by the time we were actually home, all I wanted was a nap! I phoned Raymundo to beg off and just after I put down phone I realized that I had left the pretty package of cherry cake that Beth had presented to me with when she and her family had come to be part of gathering over lunch, putting it on top of the fridge next to the sink, out of the way, and, as it turned out, out of mind as well! (Earlier in the week she had paid a visit to Cora Lee and I had shared some of "my" cherry cake, a birthday present from Rosita, with her, carefully monitoring thickness of slices, however, Dear Reader!) I was so tired from combination of late night, early morning and the hours of standing over the sink that I could hardly bear the thought of driving back to pick up gift before everyone left. Fortunately, for me, Chloë was happy to fetch forgotten present and I drifted off even before she was out the door!
Had a simply divine nap until about 3:30pm and then proceeded to start working in kitchen, all over again. Helped Chloë with all the dishes she used making her cornbread stuffing. Cora Lee was ensconced on her favourite armchair, with her favourite cat, watching The Sound of Music, making unreasonable demands more often than the scullions would have liked. Chloë had broken a wine glass when emptying dishwasher after she returned from church and had not had time to vacuum in case she had missed any tiny shards of glass. I, as Vacuum Master extraordinaire, was charged with the task but only allowed, by royal fiat, to do so during commercial breaks. This, of course, delayed entire hoovering project, yet She Who Must Be Obeyed, was adamant about the decree. This caused all sorts of mutterings and grumblings among affected underlings but to no avail. (Was more than tempted to blurt out: "Git yer own bloody tea, yer Bloody Majesty on yer shiny mini-bike, Royal Coach scooter!", but was cautioned by the Downstairs Maid to refrain from so doing, although she had to pinch herself to stop from laughing aloud!) The Proclamation held. I did manage, however, to slip, surreptitiously, as you would expect, three pinches of arsenic into Her Majesty's afternoon tea, Dear Reader, but have, unfortunately, yet to see any encouraging results! Will have to speak to my pharmacist after Boxing Day!!!
Finally, the Singing von Trapps made it to safety in Switzerland and I could finish my search for slivers of the finest Czechoslovakian crystal and then attend to mashing of more potatoes, one of our contributions to Christmas dinner with Clan Sutherland downstairs. Clara and Dusty did a turkey, (as Durstons are very particular about how the bird is to be done and wanted overlefts anyway), and turnip puff and Chloë helped take those plates downstairs. By the time I was showered and changed, Sarge was just finishing carving their bird. Table was set and looked lovely, adorned with crackers and large paper, origami cranes, courtesy of Akiko, Aaron's fiancée. Aaron is Sarge's nephew and he asked Akiko for her hand in marriage, on Christmas Eve, at Stanley Park. He produced the engagement ring near the Miniature Railway and it is rumoured that he was there for the Christmas Train ride and the proposal was an afterthought! Wedding is to take place this coming July, on lawn outside Sutherland's patio, so planning for that has already started!
Due to sheer number of guests, everyone, (except Her Imperious Royal Personage, Chloë pulling Lady-in-Waiting duty), helped themselves to sumptuous, steaming platters, (Flamin's mouth-watering, pecan encrusted squash and three different types of dressing joined the groaning serving counter), and we sat down to have food blessed by Cora Lee, now wearing her Earth Mother/Matriarch hat, and dinner began. We snapped crackers with those beside us and traded prizes with those around table if we didn't particularly like our own. Hard to believe some of the loot that the colourful crackers contained. Marvinator, per esempio, had the great good fortune to land a mini-Swiss knife look alike, complete with blade, bottle opener, pen-light and pen with automatically retractable nib. Device was good enough to qualify for a space mission while I was simply delighted to find a small bag of paper clips in the bowels of my cracker. Okay, so there was a small black magnetised base to hold them but Paper Clips! I'm retired already! What do I need from paper clips. Oy Vey!! And I don't even celebrate Hanukkah! Swapped for a pen with Kid Chelene and even forget to take that home!
We had an uproarious time with plenty of hootch and more food and more wine and on and on and on until we could barely move or laugh or breath, for that matter. Consequently, dessert, (Clarisse's Christmas pudding!), for most of us, was simply out of the question so the tables, (needed an extension to seat tall twelve of us), were cleared and dining room table pushed back against one wal to make room for The Battle of the Sexes, the new Christmas Game. As the name implies, The Sisterhood faced off against The Brotherhood. Each team asks questions, of the other, from the Female or Male point of view. The women ask questions that, supposedly, men would not know, (What are the call numbers on the plane in Lost?), while the men ask questions that are so general that even the pets in the house were able to answer. More often than not thess came with either or clues: Who wrote Heart of Darkness? Joseph Conrad or Ernest Hemmingway?
Needless to say, The Brotherhood struggled against the unfair odds and made slow progress until Sarge realized that the rules were not being applied correctly, and we then mounted a splendid dash to the finish line only to lose in a photo-finish. Gracious losers, as ever, we congratulated the winning team while grumbling into our glasses of Auchentoshen Three Wood, (matured in American Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks), Kid Chelene's gift to his Dad for Christmas! Almost worth losing as we needed a couple of snorts to dillute the shame of defeat!
Thanking Clan Sutherland for wonderful meal and evening, we collected our now empty plates and bowls and made for upstairs. Thanked Clara and Dusty for the lovely turkey and turnip and they repaired to their lace. Goils changed into their jams and we watched a recorded episode of the American Prime Suspect before saying goodnight and heading to bed to read for a bit before turning out our bedside lamps. A full and wonderful, wonderful day and we felt magnificently blessed to share such time and such munificence with close family and friends. A Happy, Happy Christmas indeed.
All the best for a Healthy New Year, Ski and Ronaldo! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Rhoda!
Don't open any of the attached pictures as each contains a virus. My computer became infected ever since I was sent a message by some dingbat named "Ski". Ever heard of her? However, Cora Lee says that she likes the viagra. Not quite sure what she means. Any idea?
Trust you and Ronaldo and family had a grand Christmas! We had one ourselves. Started out on Saturday, making two very large, cafeteria style trays of stuffing for lunch for homeless at church on Christmas Day. Coriandre did all the chopping, (large bag of Spanish Onions and three large bags of celery), perched on a stool in front of counter, and sautéing mixture while I prepared Uncle Ben's stuffing, bringing liquid to a boil and "fluffing" in bread crumbs at just the right moment! Tasted pretty good for something not made completely from scratch.
We enjoyed Clarisse's home-made borscht, with sour cream, before going to 7:00pm service at Trinity. New, interim-minister, Beth Hayward, conducted a wonderful service and the tiny choir, three singers, conducted by Music Minister, Ron Smail, were simply remarkable. The two sopranos had such powerful, soaring, expressive, thrilling voices that it could have been the London Back Choir singing carols to the mesmerized congregation. The wonder on the faces of the small children opening the large wrapped present holding the Crèche figures was wondrous indeed!
Back home to ready the Christmas Eve meal. Chloë and Clara fried up the perogies, (Bought this year, from Alenka, a small Eastern European deli store owned by couple from Ukraine who came to Vancouver in 1996. They are really helpful and friendly. Didn't have time to do them ourselves, much to our chagrin!), while Dusty did Cajun spiced jumbo shrimps. Mini-bagels with garlic and herb cream cheese and a huge crock pot of baked beans completed non-meat traditional fare. I was kept busy open wine and filling Cora Lee's quickly emptied glass and by time food was ready Clan Sutherland trooped in and we sat down to enjoy the delicious meal.
Downstairs gang departed about 10:30pm and once I'd loaded dishwasher, Cora Lee and I started peeling spuds. We were donating a large bag for lunch for homeless. By the time we had the potatoes peeled and sliced and in pots of cold water, ready for the morrow's boiling, it was almost midnight and we still had to play Santa. Stockings stuffed and presents arranged neath the tree, we trundled off to bed, close to 2:00am!
Up at 7:30am to have a java with some extra delicious Avalon eggnog Chloë had brought home from GI Market the day before. I had put away most of last night's dishes before Her Majesty ambled, (as well as one can "amble" on one leg!), into living room and we wished each other Happy Christmas!
Clara and Dusty came over about 8:30am, just before Chloë started her shower. We wished everyone more Merry Christmases and over more java we put potatoes on to boil and started to ready breakfast: smoked salmon on toasted bagels, scrambled eggs and fried mushrooms. When Chloë had completed her ablutions I opened the finest Cook's California Sparklng Wine, (an exceedingly rare 1839 vintage!), mixed it with OJ and toasted each other! I then went to collect Mother at Broadway Lodge and brought her back for breakfast. Bit of difficulty putting on her coat and getting her to uncurl her fingers when trying to fit her gloves but fine, otherwise. She looked very festive in the red sweater we had given to her a few days earlier, in readiness for Christmas.
After enjoying scrumptious breakfast and a few more toasts, Chloë took Mom back to Broadway Lodge and I finished last of mashed potatoes. Was ready to go when she returned and we made for Trinity at 11:30am. Place was abuzz with activity as we brought in pans of dressing and pot of potatoes. Coats off and shirt sleeves rolled up we set to work: Chloë ferrying foodstuffs from kitchen and other food preparation areas to trestle tables set up in the narthex while I manned the sink, washing everything from serving platters to bowls for cranbeery sauce to gravy dishes to dropped utensils. Pretty strady going for about two solid hours but lots of fun and good fellowship with rest of volunteer contingent, some we knew from past lunches, others new to us and process. Towards the end of our shift we even had an incredible cup of the eggnog one of the Anglican families, (Trinity is composed of congregations from Kitsilano United and St Mark's), had to thought to bring along. Dusty would have approved as it was laced with more rum than eggnog!!! Very fluffy and frothy and certainly most drinkable as part of secret recipe, apparently, involves whipped egg whites!
So fortified we finished off the last of the chores at hand, collected our coats and oven mitts and empty pot and made for home, close to 2:00pm. On the way out, a number of the people served remembered me from past lunches. I have taken to wearing my red Crocs along with a Santa apron so I suppose I stick out a bit like Rudolph! Everyone was most appreciative and we were certainly pleased to have been able to help out, to make the lives of those less fortunate a tiny bit more comfortable, at the very least.
I had been hoping to go for a ride, with Robo Ray, around Stanley Park, once we were back from volunteering at church but by the time we were actually home, all I wanted was a nap! I phoned Raymundo to beg off and just after I put down phone I realized that I had left the pretty package of cherry cake that Beth had presented to me with when she and her family had come to be part of gathering over lunch, putting it on top of the fridge next to the sink, out of the way, and, as it turned out, out of mind as well! (Earlier in the week she had paid a visit to Cora Lee and I had shared some of "my" cherry cake, a birthday present from Rosita, with her, carefully monitoring thickness of slices, however, Dear Reader!) I was so tired from combination of late night, early morning and the hours of standing over the sink that I could hardly bear the thought of driving back to pick up gift before everyone left. Fortunately, for me, Chloë was happy to fetch forgotten present and I drifted off even before she was out the door!
Had a simply divine nap until about 3:30pm and then proceeded to start working in kitchen, all over again. Helped Chloë with all the dishes she used making her cornbread stuffing. Cora Lee was ensconced on her favourite armchair, with her favourite cat, watching The Sound of Music, making unreasonable demands more often than the scullions would have liked. Chloë had broken a wine glass when emptying dishwasher after she returned from church and had not had time to vacuum in case she had missed any tiny shards of glass. I, as Vacuum Master extraordinaire, was charged with the task but only allowed, by royal fiat, to do so during commercial breaks. This, of course, delayed entire hoovering project, yet She Who Must Be Obeyed, was adamant about the decree. This caused all sorts of mutterings and grumblings among affected underlings but to no avail. (Was more than tempted to blurt out: "Git yer own bloody tea, yer Bloody Majesty on yer shiny mini-bike, Royal Coach scooter!", but was cautioned by the Downstairs Maid to refrain from so doing, although she had to pinch herself to stop from laughing aloud!) The Proclamation held. I did manage, however, to slip, surreptitiously, as you would expect, three pinches of arsenic into Her Majesty's afternoon tea, Dear Reader, but have, unfortunately, yet to see any encouraging results! Will have to speak to my pharmacist after Boxing Day!!!
Finally, the Singing von Trapps made it to safety in Switzerland and I could finish my search for slivers of the finest Czechoslovakian crystal and then attend to mashing of more potatoes, one of our contributions to Christmas dinner with Clan Sutherland downstairs. Clara and Dusty did a turkey, (as Durstons are very particular about how the bird is to be done and wanted overlefts anyway), and turnip puff and Chloë helped take those plates downstairs. By the time I was showered and changed, Sarge was just finishing carving their bird. Table was set and looked lovely, adorned with crackers and large paper, origami cranes, courtesy of Akiko, Aaron's fiancée. Aaron is Sarge's nephew and he asked Akiko for her hand in marriage, on Christmas Eve, at Stanley Park. He produced the engagement ring near the Miniature Railway and it is rumoured that he was there for the Christmas Train ride and the proposal was an afterthought! Wedding is to take place this coming July, on lawn outside Sutherland's patio, so planning for that has already started!
Due to sheer number of guests, everyone, (except Her Imperious Royal Personage, Chloë pulling Lady-in-Waiting duty), helped themselves to sumptuous, steaming platters, (Flamin's mouth-watering, pecan encrusted squash and three different types of dressing joined the groaning serving counter), and we sat down to have food blessed by Cora Lee, now wearing her Earth Mother/Matriarch hat, and dinner began. We snapped crackers with those beside us and traded prizes with those around table if we didn't particularly like our own. Hard to believe some of the loot that the colourful crackers contained. Marvinator, per esempio, had the great good fortune to land a mini-Swiss knife look alike, complete with blade, bottle opener, pen-light and pen with automatically retractable nib. Device was good enough to qualify for a space mission while I was simply delighted to find a small bag of paper clips in the bowels of my cracker. Okay, so there was a small black magnetised base to hold them but Paper Clips! I'm retired already! What do I need from paper clips. Oy Vey!! And I don't even celebrate Hanukkah! Swapped for a pen with Kid Chelene and even forget to take that home!
We had an uproarious time with plenty of hootch and more food and more wine and on and on and on until we could barely move or laugh or breath, for that matter. Consequently, dessert, (Clarisse's Christmas pudding!), for most of us, was simply out of the question so the tables, (needed an extension to seat tall twelve of us), were cleared and dining room table pushed back against one wal to make room for The Battle of the Sexes, the new Christmas Game. As the name implies, The Sisterhood faced off against The Brotherhood. Each team asks questions, of the other, from the Female or Male point of view. The women ask questions that, supposedly, men would not know, (What are the call numbers on the plane in Lost?), while the men ask questions that are so general that even the pets in the house were able to answer. More often than not thess came with either or clues: Who wrote Heart of Darkness? Joseph Conrad or Ernest Hemmingway?
Needless to say, The Brotherhood struggled against the unfair odds and made slow progress until Sarge realized that the rules were not being applied correctly, and we then mounted a splendid dash to the finish line only to lose in a photo-finish. Gracious losers, as ever, we congratulated the winning team while grumbling into our glasses of Auchentoshen Three Wood, (matured in American Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks), Kid Chelene's gift to his Dad for Christmas! Almost worth losing as we needed a couple of snorts to dillute the shame of defeat!
Thanking Clan Sutherland for wonderful meal and evening, we collected our now empty plates and bowls and made for upstairs. Thanked Clara and Dusty for the lovely turkey and turnip and they repaired to their lace. Goils changed into their jams and we watched a recorded episode of the American Prime Suspect before saying goodnight and heading to bed to read for a bit before turning out our bedside lamps. A full and wonderful, wonderful day and we felt magnificently blessed to share such time and such munificence with close family and friends. A Happy, Happy Christmas indeed.
All the best for a Healthy New Year, Ski and Ronaldo! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
No Problem,
No White Christmas and that's OK with me!
Enjoy the holidays! Charlie
No White Christmas and that's OK with me!
Enjoy the holidays! Charlie
Hi Kid Chelene! Don't think that there will be any not held in Vancouver. However, ask at the store. If all else fails, just spend lots of coin and if he already has it he can pass it along to me! Happy Christmas to you and Beckster and her family. See you tomorrow. Cheers, Patrizzio! | |
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