Time warp

Yesterday we got together with four people that I have known forever.  

Mike and I started Grade 1 together in 1957.  Though he doesn't remember it, he was the one who taught me to tie my shoelaces when we were both 6 years old.  

Charlotte and I were best friends since we were in Grade 8.  Later,  in 1972, she and I left Montreal together to start new lives in Toronto as Independent Women.

Kerry and I dated - once - when we were 15.  We have different, but equally amusing,  recollections of that experience. 

Linda and I were in different grades in school - a two-year gap that yawned like a bottomless chasm to a teenager.

You'd think that, with a distance of 45+ years separating us from those days at William McMaster High School and Beloeil QC, we'd have nothing to talk about ...  Ha!

Play me a rock 'n' roll song

There's a new 8-unit condo building going up right next door to us.

We don't mind.  The previous structure was an old dilapidated house, perhaps of some historical value, but left to deteriorate in the hands of frequently-changing renters.The new place will be an nice looking up-to-date design.  It will also increase the density of the neighbourhood, which is a good thing in an urban core. 

There's also a huge entertainment factor for us.  Because the building is so close, we can see first hand the intricacies of the building process.  We've watched them deconstruct the original building, level the ground, dig it up again, build forms, pour concrete (It has to be +7C to pour concrete, we learned.), remove the forms, and build walls.  Tom spends so much time at the window, that the construction workers wave as they move from one project to another. We're on a first name basis with the Site Supervisor and his deputies. 

In Victoria construction continues all through the winter, rain or shine.  As one of the construction crew said to us, "If you don't work when it rains in Victoria, you don't work."  

One thing that isn't different between Eastern Canadian and Western Canadian construction crews is the ubiquitous boom box.  Whatever the weather, it pumps out pop music at ear-splitting levels so the workers can hear it through their protective hearing devices.  

The best Christmas present ever - Part 2

Whirlwind weekend of driving from condo to condo, trying to be supportive and neutral ... 

Allison and realtor-par-excellence, Chuck, discussing the prices and various merits of one place over another ... 

Hours of FaceTime between Allison in Victoria and John and Hudson in Calgary, re-jigging budgets, trying to describe rooms and neighbourhoods, and  putting in a little Mummy time ... 

Celebration dinner at Cafe Brio while juggling cellphone, gnocchi, and counter-offers ... 


And the piece-de-resistance ...

A new home for Allison, John, Hudson and baby-to-be McNeill, only six blocks from our place.

Merry Christmas!

Powerless

They replaced the hydro pole in front of our place yesterday. We were warned that there would be no power for most of the day; we had forgotten what that meant.

No power means:

• no light
• no heat

It also means:

• no phone
• no radio
• no TV
• no internet
• no recharging of cell phone and tablet
• no coffee

And in an apartment building it means;

• no Enterphone (that thingy that  releases the door for guests)
• no elevator
• no automatic garage door opening 

Oddly, what I missed the most was the hum of the refrigerator ...

Travelling Road Show - 1976 to 1978

In 1976, Northwood Building Materials moved its Head Office to Winnipeg and I chose not to go with them.

I moved into to a row housing complex on Oak Street, bought IKEA furniture, and hung real drapes.

I started a new job, as an accountant, with Family Services of Greater Vancouver.  There I met a charming white-haired man who was to figure prominently in my future.

A year or so later, I bought a brand-new house on Dollar Road in the District of North Vancouver ...and started commuting from the suburbs to work downtown ... just like I used to from Beloeil to Montreal ...
  

The best Christmas present ever

Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen, 
For now the sky is all serene; 
The god of day – the orb of love – 
Has hung his ensign high above; 
The sky is all ablaze.

(Gilbert and Sullivan really know how to do enthusiasm.)

 Allison is moving to Victoria!

Allison, husband John, son Hudson, and baby-in-waiting McNeill, are moving from Calgary to the City of Gardens in late March next year.  She'll be joining her cousin, Bryan, and girlfriend, Megan, and Aunt Gwyn (that's me!) and Uncle Tom.  Hooray!!

We are sooooo excited!!

Gutsy Lady

My mother put her house up for sale this week.

This is the house that she and my dad bought in 1959 ... The house that they raised six kids in ... The house where we played scrub in the front yard, with the red maple as first base ... The house with the backyard fountain, skating rink, putting green, boat, gazebo ... The house where we built family pyramids ... The house that bursts at the seams when all six kids, twelve grandkids, two-and-a-half great-grandkids, and assorted spouses and partners get together ...

Good thing I'm not the sentimental type.