Christmas Eve

 WHERE ARE WE TODAY

London, Ontario

Today is Christmas Eve and as many people rush around trying to finish or for some start their Christmas shopping we have had a peaceful day. Having had our family Christmas 12 days ago, it is nice not to have all the rushing, hustle and bustle that can come with today. Pat did go out to the grocery store first thing this morning to get a couple of ingredients for a dish she is making to take tomorrow for Christmas dinner at my sisters and I did go to the local hobby shop  to wish them a Merry Christmas, but that was well before the day got busy.

What I will say is special about today is the weather. Now don't forget this is London Ontario Canada. The sun is shining and the temperature on our outside thermometer is 10*F with no snow and none in the forecast. WOO Hoo!

Dec.24th,2015  10*C

No Snow

Beautiful Day

Since my last post, it has been uneventful with our day to day work life. Cleaning up year end chores, purging files, schools gearing down for the holidays and getting ready for the new year.

We have done some more purging in the house, either giving away, selling or throwing out. Feels good to see some further progress.

We were invited to CanAm RV'S Christmas Party last Saturday night and had a great time as always. To every ones surprise, the retirement of General Manager, Roger Stacey, at the end of year was announced. He will be greatly missed.

Roger and wife Patti

Giving thank you speech

Pat talking with some of the techs

I didn't intend for this to be a long post, so with that being said I'll say thanks for stopping by and until the next time take care.
With one final comment, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT, may the peace and joy of the season be with you.






Retirement Countdown

Family Christmas Dinner

WHERE ARE WE TODAY

Today was our last Family Christmas in this house. Out of a possible 22, only 4 were missing. As we are a blended family, we hold our get together early in hopes it doesn't convict with other family times or events. 

Pat and I were up early to get the 19 lb. turkey in the oven so we could have it cooked and carved before everyone arrived. We then busied ourselves with some house cleaning, setting up tables and getting all the plates , cutlery, glasses and food preparation in order. A quick run to get a couple of last minute items and all seemed in order by noon. We still had time to shower, dress and catch a snooze before our guests arrived around three.

Retirement Countdown

Turkey all done

Tables in dining room

Table in the rec room

TV fireplace

Braeden's 14th birthday

 Today is my oldest grandsons birthday, 14 years old, he is the son of my oldest daughters who has 4 boys. 

The family

As I mentioned, this is the last Christmas in the house. We were blessed to have 18 out of the 22 possible with us for the occasion. My parents , 4 daughters, Pats daughter and son and 6 of our grand kids. While the youngest played and had fun downstairs, the older ones engaged in conversation of all sorts. When supper was ready, all filled their plates enjoyed a great meal prepared by many hands. Before you knew it, nine pm arrived and time for home as most were from out of town and more then hour long drive. My parents were staying for the night instead of driving back to Stratford, we were happy to have them.

This brings to the end of another day, another celebration and a time of family in this house. Definitely not a sad time as we look forward to our retirement lifestyle and new family gatherings.

Thanks for stopping by and until the next time, take care.

Busy Weekend

I hadn't planned on writing a post so soon, but sometimes events make you stop and cherish life a little more, so that's what prompted this one. Last Friday , we were just sitting down after work when Pat received a phone call. Our first thought was a telemarketer, it's usually that time of day when they call. To our surprise and shock it was a nurse at the Wallaceburg Hospital calling. "Your sister, Wendy has been in a serious car accident, but she's okay." Well , let me tell you, those words sure get your attention.   Pat got to speak to Wendy, who was  naturally upset and found out a few details. Wendy, who lives in Owen Sound, had been at a conference for Museums in Windsor. She works for two museums in Owen Sound www.greyroots .com and marineandrail.ca and was on her way home when the accident happened, her car was totaled.  Wendy was on her way to x- ray and we wouldn't know the results for a while. We told her that we were coming to see her whether she had to stay or could go home after the results were determined. So off we went and after 125 km and an hour and a half later, we arrived just in time, as the doctor cleared her to go home.  Sore and bruised, she is one lucky young lady. I had decided to take our truck instead of the car as it would be a more comfortable ride. After getting her strapped in and turning on the heated seat we were off to our place in London for the night.

Below is a picture of Wendy at a better time. 

Saturday morning brought a beautiful sunny day and time to get Wendy home to Owen Sound. Her car had been towed to the towing company's yard in Thamesville, all her belongings were still in the car. So, the decision was made to drive to Thamesville , clean out her car then drive to Hanover to Donna and Gerry's where another family member would meet us and take Wendy the rest of the way home. After fueling up the truck,  we were off by 10:00am to Thamesville and cleaned out the Nia.

Wendy's car

The most damage

Rear window gone also




With that done we headed off to Hanover, arriving just after 2:30 pm. Wendy got to have a break from sitting and a short visit with her sister, Donna and Gerry before her husband arrived from Owen Sound to take her the rest of the way home.Pat and I stayed a little longer and then around 4:00 pm we were on our way home. Definitely a long day, 547 km. but were happy to have been there for Wendy.Sunday brought another great fall day. In the afternoon we were off to Stratford to celebrate my step mom's 80th birthday. We met at Dad and Marilynne's first for some social time with them and my sisters' and their husbands'. Around five pm. we were off to the Arden Park Restaurant at the Best Western Hotel for dinner. Great food and times were had by all.

Arriving

All of us except Pat the pic taker

Marilynne & Dad

Blowing out the candle

Another great time with family but soon time to head home. So now you see way it was a busy weekend, almost 1000 km. travelled. 

Now , I don't mind the driving, I quite enjoy it. The point about cherishing life a little more is that Wendy had a close call that could have been devastating to say the least. Secondly during that time and distance travelled there were at least 3 times we could have been in accidents because of other drivers. 

More confirmation of cherishing, Sunday afternoon our brother-in-law, Gerry. fell off a ladder and although came through the hospital tests fine, is very sore and bruised. You just never know.

For those of you that know of our plans to full time RV, pulling a 5th wheel trailer, covering great distances, anything can happen. This reminds me that I have to be aware at all times what is going on around us as we travel down the road. It has not altered our plans, we will travel and enjoy life no matter how long or short of a time we will have.

To all of our friends, family , fellow RVers and those who blogs we follow and have not met yet,  safe travels and watch out for the other guy.

Thanks for stopping by and until the next time , take care.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I have never been one to get into Halloween, so I am surprised at myself for even posting about it this year. Maybe it's because it is our last year of being in a bricks and sticks house that has compiled me to do so. 

As I said, I'm not into it but my wife, Pat is. She loves to hand out sweets to the 'Trick or Treaters" and even dresses up to do so. This year she was " Raggedy Ann" . If this had been a work day, she would have gone to work dressed up, which to her disappointment, being her last year, it wasn't.

Pat as Raggedy Ann

It wasn't the best night for the little ones, but the rain held off for the most part. Trick or Treaters started to come just before dark. The little ones are so cute. In total we had 53 come knocking at the door, and by eight o'clock we turned off the lights and it was all over.

Quite the Display

On our crescent, they're only a couple that go all out and decorate. The house two doors down does quite the display. It is the mom that does most of it. Each year she adds more. Even the next door neighbor did some this year. 

Next Door

Just before Dark


Hats off to the neighbors for their displays.
Well about that, a post done on time for a change. Thanks for stopping by, until the next time, take care.

Toronto RV Show

Better Late Then Never

Well here I go again, late with a post. That seems to be a theme right now. I have written about this RV Show before, so that's maybe why I wasn't in a hurry. RV shows are RV shows, the same thing really, just a different location, different people and trailers. That being said, we still see some of the same people from one time to the next. They are still looking for that perfect trailer or they are there for something to do.  They usually remember that we are going full time next year and ask if we are still going to, the answer is YES!!! We enjoy our time here, meeting people who are interested in RVing. Talking to them about what they do,  would like to do, what kind of trailer they are looking for and about what we do. 

CanAm RV our spotcanamrv.ca

This little girl had her face done at one of the booths.

Pat standing by

We did have a great time meeting new people and talking to a few we have met before. We really enjoy talking about full timing and can't wait to start next year.
The other side of this , is the time we have with the staff of Can Am RV. Not only at the show but also the social time afterwards. Dinner on the Saturday night is always a great time, great company and food. A time to unwind from the day and relax. For the staff of CanAm RV, this is work, try and get leads and sell trailers, make those deals.  For us, we get to show up and tell our story and listen to others and at the end of the weekend leave for home. 

Good Times

Great Conversation

Good Food

There is still a lot of work to be done that we don't have to do. Taking down the display and packing everything to come back to the dealership. We aren't sales people so no pressure. Having said that, there is nothing like the feeling when one of the sale people will say to a customer, " here is Pat and Bill, they're customers and own a DRV", we can then answer questions they might have about a certain trailer. what do we pull ours with and so on. That conversation may and has helped a couple to buy.
The next show will be in February and we get to do it all over again. 

The last couple of weeks we have been getting ready for winter, cleaning up around the yard and winterizing the trailer. While doing this, I discovered some damage done to the roof of the trailer by tree branches. Not sure where or when, though we have an idea. Just waiting for the insurance adjuster to give the go ahead and have CanAm fix it, probably in early December. Until that is done, I won't get the vehicles arranged in the driveway for winter the way I do. During this process we think of what is coming and it saddens us. We just have to remember this will be the last winter here we hope for a long time  and look forward to what is coming. The selling of our house, retirement and full timing.Well for being late and not thinking I would have much to say, this has become a story.

 Thanks for stopping by for a read. Until the next time, take care. To all our full time friends on the road heading south, take care, drive safe and enjoy.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

I said in my last post that I would try and get the next one out sooner then later, so here it is.

We managed to get off work a couple of hours early on Friday so we could get to " The Ridge " before dark. It was a good trip up with only a couple of slow downs on the short stretch of the 401 that we travel. Arriving just before sunset and all set up before dark.

Stratford's  Avon River

Coming into Durham

All set up and sun setting

Saturday  was a beautiful bright, sunny and warm day. Our brother-in law- Gerry, was having a problem with the light connection for his trailer wiring on his truck,  I said we would have a look and see if we could get it fixed. It didn't take to long to find the problem and fix it , so it is good as new and can use his trailer again.

Fixing the wiring

With the wiring fixed, Gerry was off home as they had company coming. Pat and I started putting things away for the winter. We had brought a couple of plants from our garden at home to have up here. A Rose of Sharon and a Peony bush. Before Gerry arrived we got the holes dug and the plants planted.

Rose of Sharon

Peony Bush

Even though we were having a big family get together on Sunday, we decided to have our own little Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night. Fired up the Weber Q and cooked a turkey breast roll along with potatoes. Pat got the rest ready inside and when all was ready we sat down to a great supper.

Table all set

After supper I lit the camp fire for one last time this year and Donna and Gerry joined for a nice evening together.

Pat

Clemson and I


Roaring Fire


Donna and Gerry

Sunday turned out to be just as glorious as Saturday. I set out for a walk down the lane and up the road . Thought I would take a few pics of the property from different angle from the road. Here are a few.

No need for captions, I think they speak for themselves. As said before, when we retire next year, this will be our summer place. You have to be here to realize the peace and serenity of it.
Sunday afternoon we headed to Gayle and Johns near Chatsworth  for the family Thanksgiving. Great afternoon seeing everyone who could make it, even the families from USA. One of the girls from the USA, asked for a pic of everyone. Her teacher didn't believe she was going for thanksgiving in Canada, so wanted proof. :-).

Great pic of the family, yours truly, back row center and  Pat front row on the right edge of the picture.
 Pat's mom two in from the right with the red sweater on.
We were on our way before dark. Gerry and Donna had mom with them and followed us back. Mom had not seen " The Ridge " or our trailer, so they stopped to show her before taking her home.
Once again a beautiful day for Monday. One of the last things we usually do is go and help Donna and Gerry winterize their trailer. With that done it was time to say good-bye and head home.  We were home by three. It is sad to see the end of the season and know what is coming, but we know that next year will be a new beginning in our life style and we are so looking forward to it. Over the next two weeks I will get our trailer ready for winter. We are fortunate that we can keep it in our driveway and keep an eye on it over the winter.
With that said, I am coming to a close on this post. Stay tune for the next edition coming soon. Next weekend, Oct.16, 17 &18 is the Toronto fall RV Show and Sale at the International Centre. We will be there on Sat. & Sun. with CanAm RV. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello.
Thanks for stopping by, until the next time, take care.