Christmas Party #02 - Bob and Sue - Wendy's Cousin Sue

Sue and her sister Grace

Sue's Brother Mike (left), Me (center), and Brad is Grace's husband

Helen is Sue's aunt

If I thought I could come home and lose some weight after a cruise, I was sadly mistaken. This is especially true at this festive time of the year. This was our second Christmas event in as many days and still another one scheduled for tomorrow. Don't get me wrong! I am certainly not lamenting or complaining. I wish I had got a usable picture of Bob but alas... Any how, it was so good to see everybody again.

Wendy with Sue's 'little' brother Tim

A Christmas Party #01 at Patricia's

Everything tasted as good as it looked

Tom kibitzes with Joyce (Murray's Wife)

Patricia and Wendy admire a gift

Barbara (Barry's wife) and Patricia

Joan's husband Peter

Pat's husband Ron

Joan

Anne, Hazel (Tom's wife), Pat

Tim and Murray

Pat

Anne

Barry

Greg (Patricia's beau)
Wendy's "Circle of Friends" and their S.O.'s got together last night (Friday) at Patricia's lovely home. This group of 9 ladies all (except Wendy who once applied, but was rejected based on the typing test) used to work at the London Life Insurance company head officed here in London. The ladies get together fairly frequently but the men are only invited to certain events. The last mixed event was Pat's 80th birthday posted on one of the August blog entries. NOTE: There is a Patricia and a Pat among the group.

Hors d'oeuvres, drinks, gifts and a pot luck dinner ensured lots of happy conversation.

One member, Mary-Helen and husband Bud could not come as they were enduring 81 degree heat, no doubt ducking out in air conditioning, in their winter home in Florida.

Goodbye Graham. We Will Miss You!

Some of you will remember Graham's picture. He and Barb were with us on the Sun Princess cruise posted last December (2006)

At times like this, there are no words. Our hearts go out to Barb and all the family.

VICARS, Graham Francis - September 11, 1946 - December 11, 2007 After a brave and valiant battle with brain cancer, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at the age of 61. Beloved husband of Barbara for 35 years. Loving father of Craig (Robin), Lindsay and Christopher (Melanie). Proud grandfather of Morgan. Cherished brother of Brian (Mary), Nigel, and Lynne Moran. Brother-in-law of Irene and Dave Hamilton, John and Patty Wieczor, Ed and Mary Ann Wieczor and son-in-law of Eugenia Wieczor and the late Czech Wieczor. Uncle to Trevor (Sonia), Melanie, Shannon, Robert, Stephanie, Tommy, Danny, Matthew, Tania, R.J., Alicia (Justin), Ashley, Andrew, Ryan, Michael and David. Great-uncle to Andrew and Sarah. God-father to Natalie, Kelly, Ian and Cindy. A dedicated air traffic controller with NAV Canada, landing air travellers safely for 35 years at Toronto Centre and Sault Ste. Marie Tower. Graham will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his family, extended family, friends and neighbours. Visitation on Thursday, December 13th from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. with a service to celebrate his life at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 14th will all be held at Andrews Community Funeral Centre in Brampton. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society will be greatly appreciated. Special thanks to the nurses on the palliative care unit at Brampton Civic Hospital.

Again the Perfect Tree? An Annual Quest!

No snow down south in Port Stanley, but was I getting snowed at $40? I was born in the night, but not last night!
This year we decided to hitch up our little trailer and go down to Port Stanley in search of the perfect tree. In other years we had good luck there. The fairly heavy snow here in town dwindled away to green fields as we headed the twenty miles or so south to the Lake Erie shore. Snow in our region usually comes in ‘streamers’ off Lake Huron so when you go farther south the depth of the snow diminishes. We were disappointed with the trees at stop one. Not only were they quite rugged looking and un-manicured, they were over priced at $40 for a straggly ‘cut your own’ tree. As I mentioned in last year’s blog entry, my extended reach is 8 feet so I'm a walking measuring stick. We had trouble finding a tree that was short enough and everything looked a little yellow. The lady said they didn’t get enough rain this summer. Not my problem!

Back towards home, we remembered passing some trees at a greenhouse operation south of Glanworth. I figured they would be pricey since they had to buy them at wholesale. I was right - $60 is too much even with inflation. Wendy said it might be the time in our life to get a phoney tree. “Where would we store it?” she mused. So off we go to our next stop.

Stop three looks promising. Any tree $30. But alas, a huge field of trees and nary a one that was any taller than me. They also had a yellowish tinge from our extremely hot and dry summer past. We didn’t linger very long here. The owner said “Come back next year. They’ll be another foot higher by then” I wondered if they would still be alive by next year. They looked so dried out.

Stop four and over 80 kilometers, we decided to try the ‘big box’ Rona home builder’s store just down the street from our home. They were having their Grand Opening this week. A prominent sign exclaimed $19.95 any tree. Hmm! There didn’t appear to be anyone around to help, so after perusing a few trees, we ventured into the store. Just pay at the register and go and get your tree. We bought one tree and two poinsettia plants. Wendy said the tree looked so good she wanted a second one for the family room. No one around, no one to talk to, no attendant, I tied on two trees and sent Wendy in to pay for the other one. Talk about self serve! I think this store is so new, they haven’t got their act together yet. I suppose they will lose a few trees before realize they can’t trust everybody to take only what they pay for.

Two for the price of one ($19.95 x 2 + tax) and 80 km plus fuel. But it was a nice excursion and the two trees do look very nice. They were probably cut ages ago and shipped from USA (or God forbid - China!) but they look really green and the smell in the house is not possible with a phoney tree. Besides, we can recycle them and they were only grown for this purpose so I don’t feel bad about it. Just doin’ my part to perpetuate the Christmas frenzy!

Victorian Christmas at Waverley Mansion

Gene welcomes Santa at the entrance to the old mansion where she lives. I hope Mrs. Claus doesn't see this blog! Should I erase the rest of the pictures?

Gene's home is located in Old South London. The Waverley Mansion is a fantastic old edifice, a survivor of times past. It was built by wealthy London businessman back in the mid 1800's. The Old South London Business Association sponsored free buses, carriage rides and of course a visit from Santa.

Gene says it seems like they are singing just to me! The singers are here in the mansion today.

Wendy is setting up the fiber optic tree. Our version of High tech in a low-tech castle!

Young ladies Teresa and Robin from the Carolinian Winery dispensing samples.

The Carolinian Winery and several other gift vendors where on hand all day in the lounge. The little wine samples added a warm glow to the festivities. I told the ladies I was better behaved when I haven't been drinking. They invited me to come to the winery. They would remember me they said! We bought eleven bottles for the festive season - Jazzberry and Santa's Secret. Flattery pays!
Check out their website http://www.carolinianwinery.com/

Poinsettias Are Part Of The Christmas Feeling!

Wendy's Mom, Gene, really enjoyed the day out I think.

Everything seems to grow to gigantic proportions if left in the greenhouse long.

Two 'old salts'.
Wendy and I picked up Wendy's Mom Gene at Waverley Mansion and took a nice drive down the Talbot Trail to Eagle, Ontario. This is where the Poinsettia Festival is running this weekend at Lakeview Gardens, (Formerly known as Swain's Greenhouses) It's been many years since we've been there and with the new ownership a complete and total re-vamping has taken place.

The facility is huge with a restaurant and gift shops and thousands of poinsettia plants creatively displayed throughout the immense, interconnected greenhouses. Coats were removed as the temperature was over 80°F. It was warmer than the Orchid Farm we visited in Barbados earlier this month. What a contrast from the crisp temperatures outside.

High Five Doc!

December 6 officially marks the 4th anniversary of my prostate surgery and today I had my annual meeting with my skilled and dedicated surgeon, Dr. Gerry Brock at St. Joseph’s Hospital here in London. My PSA test showed ‘zero’ which means, at 58, I’ve now been ‘cancer-free’ for 4 years. I would strongly encourage any male over 50 to get this simple blood test. Ask your doctor for a requisition. The test is free in Ontario if you get it done at a hospital. (At a lab it’s $25 or $30) It can save your life! Get a test every year.

Increasingly, physicians are relying on the results from the PSA blood test to diagnose prostate cancer. When the prostate gland has a hint of cancer-producing cells, a detectable substance, namely PSA, is produced in the blood. An abnormally high PSA level alerts the physician to the possible presence of prostate cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), one third of all American men over age 50 have microscopic signs of prostate cancer. Furthermore, by age 75, 50 to 75 percent of American men will have cancerous changes in the prostate.

There are several ways to treat prostate cancer. The choice depends on many factors, such as whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, tumor characteristics, the patient's age and general health, and how the patient feels about the treatment options and their side effects.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I opted to have the prostate completely removed and I’m really glad I did. I suffered very few side effects and have absolutely no regrets. To ignore it is an alternative, but not a good one. If you are over 50, please get the PSA test.

Now with robotics, I’m told the surgery is even less invasive than mine was five years ago. I have known others that have tried alternative treatments that have not succeeded in stopping the spread of the cancer. For them I feel very sad, but there were strong reasons why they would not or could not endure the surgery.

This is one cancer that can be beaten as long as you find out soon enough!

Hey! I’m Used To White Sand. What The Heck Is This?

Our back yard, looking out to the golf course beyond the pines.
Today I’m in shock. As I gaze out at the snow, I can feel my tan fading away. In our yard you’ll notice there are still leaves. I can sympathize with the trees that are covered with the white stuff. We’ve never seen so many leaves still hanging on so late in the season. Good thing there is no wind to yank at their heavy branches.

Front yard view shows leaves still on the trees which is rare for this time of year.

Our flight home was uneventful. The direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit put us in around 4:30 pm and we caught the 5:00 pm Robert Q Shuttle putting us back home at 7:45 pm. A balmy 60°F when I got off the plane in Detroit in my Hawaiian shirt, short pants and sandals.

Marathon in the Florida Keys

The Continental Inn is a gem in the Florida Keys at Marathon

What a beautiful spot! Holly found this place on the internet. The Continental Inn is laid out like a 60’s style two story motel with a pool in the centre courtyard and a white sandy beach on the ocean. Our unit is on the second floor and is spacious and bright with a full kitchen. Each unit is owned individually and rented out by the “front desk”. On Saturday they held their condo meeting with a couple of dozen owners participating.

There are many fine restaurants nearby and a 9 hole golf course the charges only $9. The Inn is surrounded by houses in the $ million plus range with beautiful yachts on the canals behind them.

We drove by the condo we rented a dozen years ago when we were there with our two kids. Much is still the same but much has also changed. The weather is perfect with a light breeze. Today we plan to drive the 50 miles down to Key West. This is the most southerly point in the USA and only about 90 miles from Cuba.

Margaritaville!

We made a good friend. A "Keys Girl" from Buffalo, Joanne. We'll keep in touch