Re-Arrangement Blues: Thursday, December 17th!

Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence. -Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, judge, and politician (17 Dec 1796-1865) 

Welcome back from India and so glad you both had a wonderful time. Mike is having Xmas lunch st Garry s in bushey then coming over to Lisa's . She has a mixed bag of people coming: Anna Leon max Shebana another Leon Leila Lauren Alistair liz and me! Dave is in Iraq - back on 8th Jan.
 
We have good news that another baby on the way for Lisa 😀 but she is finding it tough with full time job, Flynn and morning/all day sickness!its early days and her first scan is next Tuesday - Anna and I going with her. Mike and I going to hotel in Leicester from 27th to 30th Dec (Boxing Day at mine) then on 1st Jan we are combining Max's , Anna's and my birthday at El Vaquero for early dinner.
Not sure when we're back at work but I do know I'm working on Christmas Eve ! Lucky got all pressies and cards done. Love and hugs to the Dunn/Durston family and hope you have a fabulous Christmas Penny X X

Welcome home wild man! 


Dad doing a selfie!!! A bit scary with that light and angle!!
 
Pierre took one look at my new holiday kitchen mats and said "oh you got those because of Grandpa's painting"! I sent you all some Hallmark christmas movies. Mom, you might like Trading Christmas xo Love to all, Ayn

Hello Tinsel Town! Winston, your mats are fabulous! A matter of a Dog's Life imitating Art!!! Lady Darjeeling is starting to re-assert her regal prerogatives, commanding me to leap out of bed to put on a fire before she rises! Then make her a mug of tea so that she can sit on the sofa, warming her toes.
 

We rearranged the living room yesterday, in part to accommodate the tree. Lady Dar is not completely happy with new look but I'm sure it will evolve. Must away as I have to prepare the cheese platter I'm taking on our last hike of the year. Won't be more than an hour to reach spot where we will have a picnic. I gather this is the way the group traditionally end the hiking season. Snowshoeing after Christmas/New Year, although some of the folks have already been out, testing the snow/terrain near Apex. Might have flurries later this afternoon so pleased we have our snow tires. Fondestos from Mme Coriandre readying herself for her dental appointment at 9:30 am. Office is on Front Street so she can walk. I'm off tomorrow. Dentist is same one used by Lynne and Peter. After yesterday's ride I had an appointment with Peter's barber, Mark the Barber, a block or so from the bottom of White on Main. Lady Dar is really pleased with cut, as am I. Only $14 for both hair and beard so I'm planning to have a haircut every week!!! Fondestos from Pushy Lady Dar. Cheers, Shorn Patrizzio/Dad! send me a pic of the room so I can put in my two cents since I don't even get to go to Star Wars

Hiking group's Annual Christmas potluck on Cartwright Mt today so I drove to HH at 9;40 am, (Dropped Lady Dar at our new dentist on Front Street beforehand as her appointment was at 9:30 am.), to carpool with Rick, Pam and Tanya to IGA in Summerland. Once there greeted everyone. Knew most of the people but there were three or four I'd not met before. Unbelievably friendly, warm group and I was welcomed back as many knew we had been in India. 


After Big Al, our de facto leader, gave the instructions on where to go and how to get there, back into our respective cars to drive the Princeton Summerland Road until it intersects with McLennan Road, following the latter as far as a locked gate, beyond which one cannot drive. Unloaded ourselves and our considerable picnic fixings and headed up to the site where group traditionally celebrate. Took about an hour of fairly easy climbing, (one reasonably steep ascent but footing was very good in spite of light covering of snow), much on a good trail so were soon at the clearing. 

Day was cool and crisp so a number of the vets set about starting a campfire while the rest of us set out the various dishes, (on two, small, collapsible camping tables), we had contributed, Let me tell you it was a veritable feast with everything from lasagna to sausage, both hot and cold; fresh pineapple and watermelon chunks to Scotch eggs; all sorts of tasty cheeses and crackers; dumplings filed with spicy minced meat to a scrumptious deviled-egg mix; to a variety of wieners and sausages one could roast on the blazing fire; to bbq'd chicken drumsticks and wings, some fiery spicy, some sweet and sour; to croissants and flat bread sticks filled with cream cheese; to two types of potatoe salad and smoked salmon, candied and plain. For dessert there were rum-balls and cranberry loaf, to squares of one sort or another and a cookie-like sweet made from cashews! 

Not to mention all the hootch! For wine, I had Paul's 2003 Viognier, (He used to have a reasonably large vineyard in Kaleden.), and Old Jack's 2013 Merlot, both wonderful. Jos and Aarturo served a Dutch treat, shots of Jenever along with Gouda, one of the first treats we were treated to, while Young Jack poured his home-distilled vodka. While everybody was eating Mother Teresa, (She brought along her guitar.), and Aarturo sang Christmas carols, helped by others from time to time. It started to snow shortly after we arrived so a few of the taller lads set up a tarp to keep the "choir" dry! 
 
After we'd feasted, we broke into two groups, those interested in a further short hike, (an hour or so, there and back), and those keen for a longer outing, two hours to return. I chose the former, as did most others. Those who stayed behind were charged with tending the fire, now a considerable blaze, providing much appreciated warmth. This part of the hike was over much steeper terrain but still not overly difficult so deliriously enjoyable, through trees dusted with snow of bedecked with emerald green lichen, Nature's offering to the festive season. Various stops along the way, (one at Big Al's favourite stump), for group pictures. 
 
Once we climbed as far as everyone wanted, we did a bit of a loop to return to the picnic site and commenced to eat and drink! Big Al had a rum of some kind and Antonio a mulled Port wine; Jos also had a hot Blackberry infusion of some sort so the spirits were particularly reviving towards the end of the gathering, given that the last two were straight from the thermos. By this time, much of the food and drink ahd been consumed and people started to pack up. I'd come with Rick but his group wasn't going to be back for at least another hour so I hitched a ride with Anthea and Jim Bryant, and their lovely pooch, Tia. They live in Summerland but Jim had an appointment in Penticton so they were happy to drop me off at HH. Hugged and kissed around the campfire, wishing everyone a Happy Christmas before we said goodbye to one another. 

Earlier, during the course of the festivities a few individuals brought greetings from people, now living elsewhere, who had hiked with the group. Big Al also asked everyone to remember three close friends who had hiked with the group but who had died since the last potluck. I added my own grateful thanks, emphasizing how much I treasured being part of this truly, truly remarkable collection of fascinating, welcoming folk. What a Christmas present! PS: I forgot to turn off my odometre before we drove back to Penticton so stats are rather skewed, to say the least!!! too, too much hootch, obviously! Stats for hike:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/985399391#.VnNQgysIoMU.email

Upon further perusal, I estimate that initial hike to picnic site, then feasting, then next next hike and more feasting back at fire-pit, then return to car took about 3:40:54, for an AVG of 1.7kph, as opposed to stats which include car ride back to Penticton!

Christmas Potluck video lives at: https://youtu.be/1Iq2V0BwnV4 

Hi Guys and gals, I reckon you should be back from India by now and see as we do not have your postal address and our computer had a meltdown last week and lost all our data so sending you a quick little happy Christmas from us over here. Happy Christmas love Claire and Greg