What a year!

Well the year is nearly done and we're heading towards Christmas. Where does the time go? This year brought a lot of changes. In early winter my brother Dave got some bad news, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He came to stay with us for a while, which was nice, we re-connected and he got a little time to rest and absorb it all. He found an apartment just a block away and we see each other much more now. He has been through some radiation and is managing. It's a nasty thing cancer, I hope some day there will be a cure and that the treatment isn't worse than the disease.

In February I took off for 10 days in my favourite vacation spot, Nosara. I am lucky to have relatives living in Paradise. It means the sunshine is always a flight away. I love getting closer to my niece and nephew who live there, as well as learning the culture and ways of Costa Rica. I would love to retire there for at least a few months a year but John's not a fan of the heat. Maybe we'll compromise and meet half way, say Memphis or New Orleans perhaps!

Summertime brought renovations, we're having a new garage built at the back of the property. Yes City of Toronto, it's a garage. There's going to be lots of storage for bikes, snowblower, lawnmower etc and it happens to be soundproof, so even if there is music played in there it's still a garage OK? *wink*

In the fall I applied for a promotion, and was given a six month secondment. This means I am in charge of the Transit Control Centre for TTC and hopefully in April it will translate to a permanent position. I am no longer in uniform which is both different and fun. I have been in uniform for 27 years, it's a whole new world and a very good excuse for shopping!

I took off again to Costa Rica in September this year, right after the earthquake. This time I got to do some travelling, starting with Granada Nicaragua staying in this beautiful hotel and later we travelled to San Jose and the Arenal Volcano region as well as a night at Carolina Lodge.

John's Dad has had some medical troubles this year too. In October John's Uncle and Aunt came for a visit from Scotland. Now I'm sure the image this brings to you is an older couple, right? No actually they're younger than us and what a fun time we had with them. We're now planning a trip to the UK next fall with John's BFF Jim who is from Ireland. Can't wait!

Over the last year John has been having a lot of knee pain. Things got worse, and eventually he saw a surgeon who told him there was no cartilage left, and it was time for new knees. Surgery was in mid October and they did both knees at once! He is still recovering, it's slow and it's painful but it's progressing well. He goes to Physio three times a week and in the meantime does his own exercises twice a day. He no longer uses a cane in the house and soon we are hoping he can get into the front seat of the van!!

Matt is finished at University of Ottawa in December and will be coming home to Toronto for a while. We're looking forward to having him around and hoping he will make Toronto his home, I've missed him!

Yohanna and Mike have bought their first house in Barrie and are moving in the week of Christmas. Hopefully that means we'll have our two grandsons down for a visit to help out. We're very excited for them!

Victoria is studying Human Resources and working hard, she and Kyle are happy and well in Hamilton.

Adam and Kendra have headed back to Whistler for the season. They're thinking of Australia next, ah to be young and free!

Well I hope I haven't bored you too much. I will try to get some photos up soon but in the meantime you're up to speed on the "Days of Our Lives"!