My Good Old Friends - Happy New Year To You!

We think of you all the time. Please have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Tim and Wen
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A Cute Little Bunny Visits Our Yard

What do you see Dash?

 

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Christmas Eve and a Party Tonight

We went down to the market to get some last minute things before the people were to arrive later in the afternoon.

I guess by this time everyone is finished shopping and at home getting ready for Christmas because the market was noticeably devoid of people.

Dash always enjoys a party and loves to show off with his Christmas necklace.

There was Wendy's brother Brad and his wife Denise from Richmond Hill as well as their two sons Coulton and Mitch, Wendy's other brother Doug and his wife Daphne, with their son Doug and daughter Sarah from Toronto with her husband Calvin.

Our daughter Erin with Jake and our son Tim as well as our good friend Pat. Don't forget Tricia, Wendy's oldest and best friend with Greg. Then just to make it complete our good friend Andrew arrived with som rum and eggnog.

Coulton, Erin and Andrew.

Dash flakes out after a busy evening.

Calvin a Sarah made it down in spite of the aftermath of the terrible storm in Toronto. We weren't sure if Brad and Denise would be able to come since Richmond Hill was without power too, but Brad had a generator to relieve the chill and they made the trip once power was restored

Andrew and Calvin.

Wendy works extra hard whenever she hosts a party and this one was no exception. There was more people than our little house could hold but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I don't think anyone went away hungry.

Tricia and Doug.

Wendy, you've outdone yourself again!

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Merry Christmas To All.

This old post card from 1909 shows an image of Santa that bears a striking resemblance to me. How weird is that?

I think I'm finished upgrading the wonderful 14 days of our cruise so please browse through. I say "I think" because I will probably find a few more pictures that I should have posted so don't hesitate to check back.

Maybe next time we travel you can join us. We'd love to have you with us.
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Back to Reality!

Photo from the Internet of a Toronto street .

Now I remember what winter in Canada looks like... Toronto and the Niagara peninsula including Hamilton got hit with a huge, devastating ice storm on Saturday. Many of my friends and relatives have lost electrical power and things are getting worse. Not worse storm-wise particularly but the colder temps are sustaining the icy coating and causing new emergencies for those without heat in their homes to protect the pipes from freezing. Power may not be restored until after Christmas Day so things will become very cold and uncomfortable with forecasts of overnight temperatures as low as -8 C. (18 F)

Looks like Wendy and I made it back to London just in the nick of time late Friday night. We had contemplated staying in Buffalo to do some shopping. Glad we didn't. We had to pass through some of the hardest hit areas in Hamilton and Ancaster but we were home by 10:30 pm Friday so we squeaked through just ahead of the storm. Fortunately the storm missed London... this time!

UPDATE: Today I received an email from my friend Sam who lives north of Kitchener. They also got tree-breaking ice there.(as is verified by the above weather map) We've mostly heard about damage in Toronto through the news media.
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Dec. 20, Friday. Fort Lauderdale And Home.

Ships in this Port Today: 6036 passengers, Maasdam, Celebrity Equinox, Zuiderdam. Fairly busy at Port Everglades but we've got LOTS of time to get to the airport since our SW flight 1452 doesn't leave 'til 2:40 pm arriving BUF 5:45 pm. We should be home in London before 10 tonight.

Packing the luggage for the trip back to reality.


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Dec. 19, Thursday. Half Moon Cay.

Ships in this Port Today: 1266 passengers, Maasdam only.
This is a good thing. Since the island is owned by the cruise line, the tender boats come from shore and if there is more than one ship anchored out, the wait to go to the island is increased. Also we've found, the lines at the free lunch are much longer if there are two ships visiting. We leave at 3pm today, our last day out.

The magic mat in the elevator that somehow changes each day, says it's our last cruising day.  Boo hoo!

I've never, anywhere else, seen sand so clean and smooth as at Half Moon Cay!

 Always good photo opportunities here.

We met some very nice people on our cruise. This is Pat and  Margaret from Florida.

My new Italian-American friend Annio from North Carolina. Unfortunately a better shot with his wife Brigit did not turn out.

Large tender boats make the unloading of the ship quick and easy.

Back at the ship the decks are abandoned as the more senior crowd disappears every day to the early seating dining room and the Lido Buffet.

We meet here every day for our own, private "Happy Hour" after 4 pm.

A good time to discuss the days' pranks and activities over a cold drink.

Pete and John are experts at practical jokes aimed at each other.

Check back, I'll be adding lots more soon.
Tim
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Dec. 18, Wednesday. At Sea.

Wednesday and another day at sea.

Today's feature at the Lido Pool.

Hey! Somebody taped up John's drink. Pete, we see you in the reflection.

Somehow Donna's Wreath ended up on our door.  Duct tape courtesy of Wendy.

4 - 6 pm Happy Hour as usual.
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Dec. 17, Tuesday. At Sea

We spent a good part of the day sunning up on the Sports Deck (Top) forward beside the Crowsnest Bar. As usual there was a brisk 20 knot wind but it was hot at 85F.

Where we were located, the Crowsnest Bar sheltered us from the wind. When we got too hot, we could move into the shade or over to the rail and catch the breeze.

Donna cools down on the rail.

With our northwesterly course the strong wind was off our starboard side which is where we were sunbathing. With the crosswind the waves were hitting us broadside causing some rolling motion.

Hundreds of miles from any land, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea (about half way between Bonaire and Cuba) we met a sail boat heading the other way. You can see that he has his sail reefed down to the minimum in the 20 knot wind.

In spite of the wind and the distance from shore these energetic birds were relentlessly diving for flying fish which were fleeing constantly from the bow wake of the ship.

The following 5 lucky shots of the day shows a bird "hanging dirty" and stalling, then assuming the diving configuration.

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