Travelin' Road Show: 12/31/13

Thur Dec 13 – Dec 31 Beautiful Christmas to New Year

Niagara on the Lake Christmas Parade

Christmas in Niagara on the Lake was EVERYTHING that we hoped it would be and more. The first Saturday was the NOTL Christmas Parade and on the Sunday we were joined by Braden and Grant to attend a Christmas choral concert at the Festival Theatre. The concert was festive, but a little tame for our extreme party-mood group of four so we followed it up with a supremely enjoyable pint at the Angel Inn (our ‘local’). Janice got to enjoy the Silversmiths Black Lager (local brewery) while Derek was especially attached to the draft Innis and Gunn beer (Scottish).

Niagara on the Lake Christmas Parade

One of the wonderful benefits of being here for Christmas was the memories we made with our two sons… we enjoyed many meals together, some great nights at the Angel, beautiful snowy walks through town and a fabulous Christmas around the fire in the cottage. We kept as many of our family tradition as we could and even enjoyed card games… but we eventually graduated from our usual tame game of Newmarket when the guys taught me and Derek to play poker… and things got much more spirited. Although I must add that Derek and I cleaned up!!! Beginners luck I guess!! Looking for a rematch next year!!

During our stay over the holidays we went for check-ups at the doctor and dentists and we also managed to see many friends and family, most joining us for a drink at the cottage followed by a walk and meal in the old town. One of the things we enjoyed most about our stay in NOTL was the ability to walk into town for all our needs and entertainment… which brings me to…..

New Year’s Eve…. On the morning of New Years Eve Derek got a call saying his new glasses were ready for pick up in St Catharine’s, so Janice decided that she would walk into town to peruse some of the clothing stores. On her way there she walked up Regent Street. A light snow was falling and a dusting on the ground covered up the pavement. Unfortunately it also hid some treacherous patches of ice. The town of NOTL is not very good at clearing sidewalks (their responsibility). Upshot… Janice ended up with a spectacular fall. Followed by the swift realization that all was not well with her arm/wrist. A long afternoon at Niagara General and armed with a cast and pain killers, New Years Eve was spent feeling a little sorry for ourselves by the fire. Grant and Braden came over to cheer us up, but we encouraged them to go to some friends and have some fun. They were reluctant to leave, which was flattering and sweet, but we are glad they went and did have fun. We brought in the New Year and were in bed only minutes after midnight. And so ends 2013… overall an amazing, fantastic, adventure filled year that we feel privileged and extremely lucky to have enjoyed together. From extensive travel across the US, mountains, deserts and canyons, to the cruise in the Caribbean to an extended trip in UK, our son’s wedding and our trip back across Canada, down to South Carolina and finally an amazing Christmas in Niagara on the Lake… and so we enter 2014 knowing we have some plan changes in the offing. We hadn’t planned on Janice being in a cast for the next 6-8 weeks.

Some scenes and memories from our Christmas holidays: