A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS

So, after the whole polava of mum, dad and Vicky nearly not getting here, I got a call from mum saying they were on highway 401 from Toronto ‘sigh’. I walked down to Windermere Manor Hotel, unpacked and 45 mins later heard alot of scrabbling at the door ... apparently mum was too tired to get the key in the door. Basically there were alot of tears on my part but it was a nice reunion. The next day we stopped off at the Mall for a few supplies and then I gave the grand tour of Western and into Deli (my residence), it was nice to show mum dad and Vicky my room in real life and not just on webcam! The next day we went skiing at Boler Mountain (or ‘Boler Slight Incline’ as I call is ... not being worthy to be called a mountain). Anyhow, we had a great day, I got to practice skiing backwards and use Vicky as a guinnie-pig for teaching people as I will be teaching one night a week in January and Febuary.

We ate our that night as it was christmas eve (the cakes were AMAZING in the reasturant ... they even had a ‘mile high’ cake!), then we walked around Victoria Park and saw all the lights, ice skating and the band where we made friends with a nice minister who gave us hot apple cider. On Christmas day we felt strange not going to church ... apparently its a Canadian thing not having a service on christmas day ... odd. So we listened to carols and opened our presents, most of my things were related to Owls =] Lizzie came over for christmas dinner, and we played cards till late.

On boxing day we left London for Niagara where we spent three nights in a 5 star 4 diamond hotel =O fancy!! We visited Niagara falls the first night, but due to alof of fog, the fireworks that were supposed to light up the falls only vaguely changed the colour of the sky and the falls were no where to be seen. We did get to see Niagara falls during the day at some point, it was nice in the snow. We also spent some time around Niagara on the lake, an old little town full of character ... and candy apples mmmm =]

For the last few nights we stayed in Toronto and went up the CN tower and had a loooooooooong visit to MEC (Montain Equiptment co-op) where i took over an hour over buying a rope and a few slings. Kerri and Shaunas familys had us over for dinner one night, it was great for everyone to get to know eachother. Kerri’s dad, Richard picked me up from in Toronto on our last day as I was going to stay with them for a while as mum, dad and Vicky were going home. It wasnt as hard to leave them as in september, but it was a bit sad all the same.

Kerri, Jason and me made toblerone cookies that evening before going out to their friends house for a new years eve party. We them drove to Shauna’s hours to pick her up and go to another new years eve party in someones basement. Met alot of people that night, we all had ‘controled fun =]’ Aleda picked me and Shauna up the next morning to drive up to Collingwood for a few days skiing. The concitions on the road further North made the drive a bit too interesting for my liking, but we arrived alive. By the time we arrived, the wind was up and it was snowing heavily, we decided not to ski that day due to conditions and the face that we arrived later then planned because of the roads. Leaving Aleda to sleep, me and Shauna have a look around the villaga and went for lunch and a movie just outside of the town as we culdnt wake Aleda even after banging on the window for 10 mins! We finally got into out hotel room and headed for the hot tub (which i didnt realise was OUTSIDE untill we got there). That 2 minuet walk from the changing rooms to the hot tub in sub zero temperatures seemes to last forever, but when we were sitting in the hot water, whilst wearing woolly hats and ski goggles everything was ace again. I think the sudden change in temperature may have messed with my head though as i thought it would be a good idea to go sit on a deck chair by the pool which was a foot deep in snow ... oooo I was all tingly when I got back into the pool. We met a group of guys there and chatted about life for 30 mins or so before we all got wrinky and had to go back inside. We went out into the village for something to eat that night and to see a live band.

The next day things were looking up and the winds and snow had eased off giving great snow conditions for skiing. It came at a price though, with the wind chill we were skiing in -40 degrees and the snow froze as ice on out goggles as we belted down the slopes making it impossible to see propperly. We managed to get in about 12 or so good runs that day, with alot of hot chololate breaks inbetween to warm us up. We packed up the car and headed for home, arriving at Shauna’s house at about 7ish. We got fed well and then had a sing song in shauna’s room with her guitarr. Kerri came to pick me up about 11 and then i got fed well at her house too, then promptly passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Me and J packed up the car the next day after eating a tonne of pancakes and we set off for London.

All in all, it was an interesting christmas break. Was great to see my family, but it didnt quite feel like christmas not being at home. I will miss staying with Kerri and Shauna and we had a great time skiing. Now ... I have to get some work done ... in amouingst all the Frost week events that is!!