Goodbye 2008!

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Merry Christmas!

Click to enlarge.

Not A Creature Was Stirring... I Think The Rat Poison Worked!

Our Rona tree looks great! Click...

Wendy and Gene string the lights. Click any picture to enlarge.

A real tree smells so nice when you bring it in the house.

Linda (back from FL) dropped in yesterday for a short visit. Lookin' good!

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Our daughter Erin's Jake... Erin doesn't like her picture taken.

Tim got new socks. Just what he asked for.

Wendy's Mom, Gene seemed to enjoy herself

We had a pretty quiet Christmas Eve. Wendy’s Mom was here with Jake, Erin and Andrew. We ordered Chinese and opened our presents. Quiet is good! The pictures of decorating the tree were from earlier this month.

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It Pays To Ask (An email to COSTCO)

Thanks COSTCO Marketing and Sales

I was very pleasantly surprised to see the 680 gm (24 oz.) packages of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts for $13.99. I bought a can immediately and tried them. They are just as fresh as the ones I bought in Hawaii and these came a very long way. (nearly 5000 miles) I guess it does pay to ask! Below is my email a year and a half ago. I feel I had something to do with it. I hope you sell a gazillion packages.

Thank You

Tim Carroll

--- On Mon, 5/14/07, Service Canada wrote:
From: Service Canada Subject: RE: Warehouse Questions or SuggestionsTo: tcarroll@rogers.comDate: Monday, May 14, 2007, 1:22 PM

Thank you for your recent inquiry through Costco.ca, in response, we appreciate member suggestions and have sent yours to the appropriate buying team for review.
If you have any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to write us at
servicecanada@costco.com, or you can call us Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm EST and an agent will be glad to assist you.
Member Service
servicecanada@costco.com
1-800-463-3783

-----Original Message-----
From: tcarroll at rogers.com [mailto:tcarroll at rogers.com]
Sent: May 11, 2007 10:06 AM
To: Service Canada
Subject: Warehouse Questions or Suggestions
Note this message was submitted through the costco.ca web site customer
suggestion page on 11/05/2007 12:00:00 AM at 07:05:05.1757500.
=========================================================
Comment/Suggestion/Request/Question Text:

Dear COSTCO Marketing and Sales Dept.

I think you could sell a lot of Macadamia Nuts in Ontario. I bought them in Costco Hawaii in a 24oz canister for $12.95. The closest place I've found to London, Ontario is Sam's Club in Port Huron MI USA. Loblaws used to carry them (years ago) and Bulk Barn are too expensive and sometimes stale.

A long time loyal member
Tim Carroll
=========================================================

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A Gala Event At Archie's Home

A long laneway leads to the palatial estate.

A piano player led the sing-along of Christmas Carols. Norm's wife Kelly and their daughters by the piano.

In the theatre room, an "oyster shucker" does the hard work.

Norm used to work for me in marketing at Carroll Healthcare. His lovely daughters pose with him.

Jacques was my purchaser and still works at the nursing home division of Carroll Healthcare which is now owned by Invacare.

Seems like every room has a spread fit for a king.

An ice sculptured bowl keeps the shrimp cold.

Chris, the proud caterer came all the way from Brantford. Check his web page below. The dessert table beside him is exquisite.

Carroll Healthcare Inc. was the name of my hospital bed company that Archie Leach and his partner Don Roussey bought from me back in 1996. In most of the subsequent years, Wendy and I have been invited to Archie's palatial home for a grand party. Although they sold the nursing home bed division, Archie and Don still retain the Carroll Hospital Group which manufactures high tech beds for hospitals, going head to head with some of the largest bed companies in the world. Carroll has beds in the Mayo Clinic in USA, and the UK has become a huge market. Just before I left, nearly thirteen years ago, we pioneered an extremely low bed called "the Solo". (because it goes so low - get it?) This was the impetus for a modern hospital bed that goes so low that if you fall out, you won't hurt yourself.

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Through it all they kept my name and are now known world-wide as the "low bed" company. I remember Don saying, when he bought me out "We're going to make you famous." I replied "Yeah, but I'm going to make you rich!" I'm sure he was already rich, but I hope I made him "richer".

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Archie still invites some of the original Carroll employees to his party, including Wendy and I for which I am eternally grateful.

Devlin's Country Bistro and Catering laid on the food. They came about 50 miles in a huge truck bringing all the decadent goodies and Chris's amazing staff.

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Wendy's cousin Sue (center) invited us to their home in Byron

Her husband Bob made sure nobody's glass was empty.

Bob and Sue's daughter Jennifer (left) was kept very busy serving hors d’oeuvres.

Wendy's other cousin Grace (Sue's sister) and her son Kyle.

Amanda (left) is a friend of Michelle (center). Michelle is Grace's daughter.

Kyle again.

Wendy talking with Grace's husband Brad

Wendy with Bob and Sue's friends they met while walking their dog in the park.

Wendy and I went out to Byron on the invitation of Sue and Bob and their daughter Jennifer. Sue is Wendy's first cousin. We arrived around 2pm, a little early because later in the afternoon Wendy's Mom's place (Waverley Mansion) was hosting their annual Christmas Dinner event. It was good to see some familiar faces and enjoy the huge selection of delectable treats. Bob and Sue really know how to entertain and put everyone in the Holiday spirit.

"Please, Kind Sir; Don't Take My Picture!"

I tend to shoot first and ask questions later, however some people may not want their picture to appear on my blog. If you see a picture (or any text) that you want me to remove, please leave a comment and I will take it off immediately. This blog is not generally searchable by the public on the web because I have requested that the search engine robots not scan this site. Most people who visit the web site are invited or have been referred by someone who has. I post the pictures as a pictorial recounting of the places Wendy and I visit and hope everyone will take it for what it is - a simple diary. I hope you enjoy looking back through the pics.

The Circle Of Friends Christmas

Circle of friends member Joyce shows off her gift. Joyce and Murray (below) live in Aylmer.

Murray gives the 'thumbs up' as Joan takes a picture.

Hazel (left) lives in Glencoe and Barb (right) lives here in London

Joan's husband Peter and Hazel's husband Tom.

Wendy models her blue hat for Trisha and Greg. Greg lives in Lambeth.

Joan and Peter came in from Thorndale.

Barb hams it up. Her husband Barry (right) and Hazel (far left)

Pat circulates the draw tickets.

Pat, talks with Trisha, right

Kitchens are always popular places with the guys. Here's Peter, Murray and Barry.

Ron is Pat's better half . They are tonight's hosts in their brand new home. Here's to the Circle of Friends!

Wendy has known Patricia longer than any other of her friends. They grew up together, attending the same school for all their childhood years. Some years later Trisha worked for the London Life Insurance Company based here in London. (I’ll refer to Patricia as Trisha because there is another lady in the group named Pat) Within the last couple of decades, seven of these “ex-Lifers” have gotten together on a regular basis, usually rotating the dinner parties amongst the ladies homes or a restaurant. The group is un-officially named “the Circle of Friends”.

Fifteen years or so ago they asked Wendy; even though she had never worked at London Life, to join their group. That makes eight ladies in the group. On special occasions the ‘men’ are allowed to participate. This year, for Christmas, the location chosen was the brand new home of Pat and Ron. They have a beautiful new townhouse, with access to the centrally located retirement centre next door. We made use of one of the lovely, large, special events areas within the central complex for our Christmas dinner. Two of the members, Mary-Helen and Anne could not make it but ‘a good time was had by all that attended’.

We Can Never Thank You Enough!

Linda and John - These days with you in Florida brought back our fondest memories of the place and the times we visited 'way back when'. It was so good to see you, exchange new stories and share and recall times gone by. We are so lucky to have great friends like you!!! See you when you get back in Canada.

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Our Last Day at Venice Beach

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