White Christmas

Hi guys!

Merry Christmas to everyone and a very Happy New Year. Well we completely missed December for updates, but honestly who is surprised? December started with a bang in Vancouver with snow falling on the 1st. What a way to kick things off! I must admit that looking out the window and seeing snow falling everywhere sent me a little giddy. With the winter season on us, and Grouse finally opened, we headed up the mountain to check out the conditions and get set for the ski season. Once we got to the top, Rebecca and I where not to pleased with the visibility. Being the rookie skiers that we were, not being able to see more than 20 metres in front of your face, coupled with the fact that we did not know what the ski runs were like since we had never been here, made the scenario a little off putting. We decided to give it a go anyway but, since neither of us had our gear yet we would have to hire everything, including clothes. After checking it all out, and noticing that the only "hire pants" left were all XL, we decided it was all too much and headed to the Bistro for lunch instead. After a good meal, back down the mountain to the clothing sale on Lonsdale where I got a $250 jacket for $50! Being that we turned up with 30 minutes to go there was not a lot on offer so this was all we walked out with. I know that Bec was annoyed that I was the only one that got anything. Now since I ordered my pants from the Grouse gear-up before everything else I thought at least one of us would have clothes for Whistler. More on that to come.

Anyway, so the Orage gear came in and no Burton pants. Positive – Bec was all set. Negative – I now have two jackets, no pants. The next weekend comes around and with clothes in hand, we head to Grouse to try again. Bec had hired me some pants only to realize at home they were XL. Let's just say that I fit in with the Homie snowboarding crowd!!! So we joined Lukas, Aggie and Alice and headed to the peak of Vancouver. We had a good first day at Grouse, deciding to hire our skis and stocks for the season up there since Bec gets a staff discount. Visibility was not much better (in fact I think it was worse) but it was still great to get out. After meeting the pro boarders (Lukas, Aggie and Alice) for a late lunch, Bec and I decided to call it a day as conditions had got somewhat worse and Bec was worried about blowing out a knee. When we got home we realized that the camera had not returned with us. Let me just say that with all the pockets in a ski jacket, it is a task to remember to do them all up. Unfortunately, Bec was the one most to suffer from this situation. The good thing was there where no pictures still on it as I had cleaned it out the night before. Also we had planned on getting a new one on the way out anyway as the old Canon S50 was showing its age, and its size. We did not plan to do this now however, and with Christmas rapidly approaching and our booked week at Whistler we would have to get a camera pronto.

After spending a day seeing what Future Shop (think JB Hi-Fi Canada style, without pages of their catalogue posted everywhere) had to offer, and a night of research, we decided to get another Canon, but drastically smaller, better quality and about a quarter of the price I paid for the original. I also used some shrewd bargaining, noticing that Office Depot (think Office Works Canada style) next door had it cheaper and secured a price beat from Future Shop. My experience with JB and Rebel Sport had served me well. So with the new Camera on board, and Christmas 3 days away, we were at least ready to document the events.

Christmas for Nine
So Christmas day had arrived and the Alice and Bec were set to work. With Sam and Lee arriving from their whirlwind honeymoon in the afternoon, and Lukas and Aggie spending the morning with Aggie's mum, Chris and I where the designated cooks. I must say that I was very skeptical of the baked Ham and Turkey in the same oven working out but Chris did a marvelous job. Sammi and Lee arrived at 3 just in time to see the snow falling in Vancouver. We would have a white Christmas!!! Lee decided to turn up in true Aussie fashion, arriving in a singlet, board shorts and thongs. Who said it was below 0 degrees? With the two meats, salad, boiled veggies, gravy, cranberry sauce and enough egg-nog to drown someone, everything went wonderfully well. The working girls (that sounds bad) arrived in time and everyone sat down to a wonderful Christmas dinner. After that, Secret Santa gifts where passed around and everyone seemed wrapped (no pun intended) with their gifts. Bec was so happy that she spent the evening in her pj's (they were a present). I didn't know it was that kind of party. With an early morning bus trip facing 6 of us, and Sam and Lee beginning to think they where humming birds (Simpson's reference) due to lack of sleep, we called it a night. It was sad to be away from family but we all had a wonderful time with good friends.

I was going to include our trip to whistler in this but having typed the start of it, it’s a little long and I will post separately. Note this will happen very soon!!!

Till then, hope all are well.

Love Mike and Bec.