Christmas 2005

Happy Solstice, Happy Holidays, Happy New year

It’Äôs ’Äì8 C and tomorrow’Äôs new band of precipitation will bring snow! There is ice in the creek and we hope our Read Island homestead is ready for winter. We’Äôve finally replaced our faithful old ’ÄúIsland Comfort’Äù with a larger woodstove. We’Äôve rebuilt the hydroelectric system with a new pelton turbine. The woodshed and the food cellar are full. The kayaks are put away . Our thoughts about sea kayaking are mostly looking forward to another Vancouver Island kayaking season and in this last week before the end of another year, business efforts give way to family reunion, friends, and holiday cheer.

Our kids are arriving home. Albert came from University of Victoria via Greyhound; Emily’Äôs schedule is more tenuous because Montreal is in the grips of a major blizzard and Mirabelle Airport is currently shut down’ĶBut our house is cozy and we are happily anticipating everyone home for the holidays. Fir boughs line the windows and scent the rooms and at night coloured lights on the outside decks contrast the dark forest and otherwise uninhabited shorelines. When we are all gathered home, we’Äôll savour a few of our family traditions, starting with the search for a little tree and a joyful evening adding lights and decorations as we enjoy some Christmas carols, Ralph mulled wine and Lannie’Äôs Christmas Stollen.

While we indulge in family traditions, special foods, friends and celebrations, our thoughts also turn to those people who are less fortunate. We write some cheques to assist various efforts that we hope will help make the world become a better place. We ponder our own efforts, and resolve to do better and somehow more’Ķ And also this time of year, we wish our family and friends ’Äì indeed everyone who shares life on the special planet ’Äì a time of peace, good health, good challenges and happiness. We wish that everyone can have enough to eat, clean water, security and shelter. We hope for an end to war, for love and compassion to spread over the earth.

From our family to yours, please accept our good wishes for a peaceful holiday season and goodness that lasts all year long. We also hope that Santa some how puts a sea kayak in your stocking!!