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It's been almost a week since the election and the world has not yet come to an end, so I suppose it could be worse, though, as you have probably figured out by now, I am not much enamoured of our new government. At least it will be interesting to see how Harper handles the minefield of a minority. The Liberal encumbent, Mike Savage, was re-elected in our riding as was Scott Brison in Katy's.
The Celtics were in action again yesterday, playing against the Martyrs out in East Preston. We carpooled with Emily's team-mate, Habiba, and her Mum, Nova. As usual, the girls played a spirited game and lost.
Today Ann, Emily and James left early, to go to the church for the Early Risers' Breakfast, a monthly gathering of church women in the lower hall. James played on the church computer for an hour before attending a practice of the Youth Choir which then sang during the service. I stayed at home, as usual, to cook Sunday lunch for ourselves and also for Jim, Valerie, Carl and Roxanne. This was partly in repayment for plumbing services that Jim and Carl offered before Christmas while Ann was replacing the taps on the sinks in two of our bathrooms. I think we got the better of the deal.
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There is not too much to report this week as we head into the winter doldrums. Even the weather has been very dull, unlike this time last year when we were hit by a succession of storms. So far this year we have had almost no snow at all.
On Friday night the Cubs had a sleepover in the church gym. Both James and David attended. When I popped in at about 11 PM to give James his medicine (he still has a couple of days left in the antibiotic prescribed last week) they were all snuggled in the sleeping bags on the gym floor watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets projected on the wall.
Yesterday the Celtics, Emily's basketball team, had a game in Bedford. They played quite well but lost again, though Emily scored several baskets. They need a couple of taller players to get the rebounds. It seems that every time the ball is in our end, the opposing team gets about four or five shots, while when we have it in their end we get one.
Today David and I drove to Kentville for a soccer game against the Valley. The team was a bit disorganized in the first half and ended up losing 2-1.
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Our weekend was dominated by Emily's 10th birthday on Saturday. It began with a bit of a scare as Emily fell sick on Wednesday followed by James on Thursday. The possibility of a birthday in bed sick was looming. Ann took them both to the doctor on Thursday where they were quickly diagnosed with strep throat and loaded up with antibiotics soon enough that the birthday festivities were not disrupted. The big day started with a breakfast of waffles along with the opening of presents. Emily's basketball team, the Celtics, had a game just before lunch. We took along a cake, iced to look like a basketball, which the team shared after the game was over, helping to soften the disappointment of another loss. After lunch I drove to Wolfville to collect Katy returning just in time for the start of the party. Emily had six of her best buddies for a macaroni and cheese dinner followed by a trip to the Clay Café, for a couple of hours painting on pottery; we pick up our creations on Wednesday. When we got home it was time for cake, ice cream and more presents. By the time they were sufficiently high on sugar it was about 10 o'clock, so we crammed them all into the toy room to go to sleep (Ha!). They did all finally succumb around midnight but were up again at eight for a pancake breakfast before pick-up at 10 AM. Chapman and Chris, Emily's godmother, came for Sunday lunch. Ann drove Katy back to Acadia in the late afternoon while the rest of us began the clean-up.
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The Christmas decorations are away, the tree is adding to the Halifax Regional Municipality compost pile, and we are settling into the schedule for the New Year. Our lives should be somewhat less hectic this term compared with the last as the kids have shed several extra-curricular activities. James will be taking hip-hop again, but not basketball or swimming. Emily will still be playing basketball with the Celtics, but will not be taking swimming lessons. David will still play for the Dartmouth United Under 18 soccer team and will have various musical activities. Ann will continue to attend her book club, though her completion rate is still sub-standard, and I will continue to play with the Dave Brothers Band though we curently have no gigs on the horizon.
David's soccer team was in action this evening against the Celtics (not to be confused with Emily's basketball team). They played a lack-lustre game, giving the ball away to no purpose on several occasions, and managed to lose 1-0 despite having a seven to six man advantage for almost the whole second half: one the Celtics was red-carded for pushing one of our players into the wall (it is an indoor field, of course, and the walls of the building are only a few feet beyond the edges of the field; see the picture). I took the opportunity of trying out one of my new camera lenses. The results were not great (I'm still trying to figure out the optimal method of using it) but still much better than what I would have got before Christmas.
Emily's Celtics played both yesterday and today, losing both games (they have yet to win this season, being a very young and inexperienced team) but put up a good fight in both games. Most of the players have improved immeasurably since the start of the season.
While Emily was playing basketball and David was playing soccer, James was at the birthday party of his friend and classmate Daniel. This caused some logistical problems at pick-up time, compounded by the fact that Emily's game started late, but we all managed to end up back at home for dinner.
Katy returned to Acadia this afternoon, getting a ride with her room-mate Krista. It was great to have at home again for more than a day or two, though her daily schedule seems to be offset an hour or two later than that of the rest of the family. She will probably be home again next weekend for Emily's birthday.
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We have all been enjoying a relaxing week with just the right balance of planned activities and down time to play with our new Christmas toys. Ginger and Louie, our kittens, seem to have the same idea, alternating between frenetic play-fighting all over the house, and prolonged naps.
On Tuesday afternoon we went en masse to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. As Emily, James and I have been reading the Narnia stories at bedtime for the past few months (we are now on the fourth book, The Silver Chair), we are able to report that the movie is an accurate translation of the book to the screen. I thought the movie was well done, and beautifully shot, while at the same time admitting that I find other classic titles in children's lit more compelling.
Wednesday was my birthday, so I was treated to a day of slumming around doing pretty much as I pleased. It started with a delicious breakfast of waffles along with the opening of presents. While Ann and Mum went out shopping, I spent most of the afternoon starting to read the pile of new books that I received. So far I have finished Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders as well as a number of magazine articles and I'm now well into The Great War for Civilisation: the Conquest of the Middle East by Robert Fisk. I did pop out for a while in the late afternoon to try out the new 70-200mm zoom lens for my camera. Then, while Ann prepared a wonderful roast beef dinner, the rest of us watched The March of the Penguins on DVD.
On Thursday morning we all drove Mum to the airport for her flight back home. Of course, everyone was sorry to see her leave and we are all looking forward to her next visit in the spring. In the afternoon Katy borrowed the van to drive with a bunch of her friends for an overnight gathering at a cottage near Sheet Harbour. Meanwhile Ann and Emily went to see the Neptune production of Sound of Music while James and I walked down to the Sportsplex to go skating. After the play Emily was taken by her godmother Chris to make a teddy bear (christened Buddy) and then back to Chris and Dave's for dinner.
On Friday we did very little except that we did manage to go down to the Sportsplex in the afternoon to get a little exercise: Ann went to the weight room with our friend Cathy while Emily, James and I went to the public skate in the arena.
We spent New Year's Eve as we have for the past few years, at Ingrid, Mike and Alex's. About twenty of us enjoyed a protracted pot-luck dinner followed by champagne as the New Year dawned. Katy had dinner with us but then went to her friend Alison's house for the rest of the evening.
Sunday was another quiet day. Ann managed to get up in time for church but everyone else stayed at home. In the afternoon Monica, who used to look after the kids during the day until James was old enough for school, dropped in for a visit. She has recently bought a house in Truro where she operates a thriving day-care.
We have spent today trying to get psyched for the return to school and work tomorrow and the early rising that that implies. Katy is the only one of us that remains on holiday for the week.
December 2005 Archive
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