OCTOBERYes folks, that old adage better late than never does apply. So be prepared for a mammoth post. I recommend a beverage of choice, a nice comfy chair and at least 15 minutes. Because this might take awhile.
2nd Annual Concrete BanquetWe have some crazy friends in Montreal. One of them appeared in the last post exploring the Turcot Exchange with Jeremy. Now Jason likes to shake things up once in awhile- get people to step outside their comfort zones and do something they don't usually do. Last year, he invited us to a flashmob, black tie banquet in one of Montreal's parks. This park has a unique feature- a huge long concrete picnic table that I think most people are too intimidated to use. It was such a success that we decided to do it again this year. Except the only time everyone could get together was late October. So the flowing dresses, the crinolins, the silk ties are all beneath our fanciest coats (which, alas, are not that fancy.)
Lina, Penny and Jeff drinking something to keep warm.
Jeremy and somebody that I should know his name because I have seen him at parties for many years and he even came to see the marathon. Damn. I suck at names. He's nice though. Trust me.
Mr. Jason Prince spinning a surreal version of Laertes. I tried to support him by yelling out Boo! when he talked about the abstinence of the kingdom. He thought I was booing him and I spent the rest of the evening trying to make up for it. Serves me right for trying to be an extrovert.
Halloween NightHalloween night was spectacular in Montreal this year, if not a bit frigid. It was cloudy and rainy all day and only started to clear up at around 5 pm. Then it became the most spooky evening ever, with clouds that could have been at home above Mordor.
Clea the witch and Madeleine the cat out on the prowl.
See? Spooky sunset...
And here are our four little monsters out on the town. Together they managed to stock up a mountain of candy. Of course, it ended up in swine-like flu symptoms in Clea. I am still not sure if it was just the candy or the epidemic...
Just one more spooky shot of Montreal.
NovemberHow much is that painting in the window? La lalalalalalalaaaaaaa.
Okay, so nobody actually asked, but it's because people suck. It is up now in the
casa del popolo and many people have asked in that location, thank you very much. Nobody that can actually pay, mind you, but who cares? Of course, I just realised that this little part might be very embarrassing for Jeremy. Sorry.
Clea and Turtus, our psychotic turtle. Or should that be Turtus and our psychotic Clea?
Jeremy does a self portrait. He's obviously too brilliant for himself...
DecemberThese last couple of Decembers Sylvie's ballet school has held open houses instead of the semi-annual concert squeeze. As they do such a big production at the end, this is a welcome thing. Trust me.
Here is Sylvie doing her thing.
Jeremy's studio (just 'cause)
Jeremy's studio continued. I am very glad he has his own space. Less rusted thingamahoos in our home, if you catch my drift...
Christmas Vacation and the big finale!Sylvie and Clea at the airport in the morning of the 16th.
Someone took this photo but it wasn't me. I was back in Montreal,working.
Decorating the Christmas tree with Mamie. Clea and Mateo are obviously too cool for school, but Magritte and Sylvie looked pretty happy.
Marc doing what he does best: fidgeting with gadgets and looking demonic. Installing a television that needs 3 remotes to work was among some of his satanic deeds.
The endangered
blue bridge at night. I have a certain fondness for this bridge. I used to attend a school in Esquimalt and needed to cross the bridge in order to get there. When a boat was coming into the harbour, all traffic would be halted and we would watch the large weight suspended from the top lower and the bridge lift up. It was slow, and painful and somehow a big part of my childhood.
My sister's clinic! Yay! One of the best parts of the trip was seeing my sister Katie. Installed in the old Redfern house with my mother and Mateo, she has opened her own clinic and is doing well. She is also the happiest I have ever seen her, with a new boyfriend who treats her well and does not run away screaming from my family. Now that's a keeper...
Beach! Beautiful, sunny, heart stopping beach. Ya okay. So I liked the beach. We spent some good times throwing rocks into the ocean, pushing logs so that we could throw rocks at it, building rafts so that we could push them into the ocean and then throw rocks at them...Yep. Good times.
Chapman house. A moment of silence please.
But back to the beach! Portraits this time.
First we have, the lovely, the sweet, miss Sylvie!
Carrie and Tom comes to visit us! At the beach! I'll stop with the exclamation marks now. I am getting a sore throat just thinking about them.
The ever-poised miss Clea. See? No exclamation mark.
Visit to Grandma's House in port AlberniBut first, Cameron Lake family portrait.
Grandma's HouseWe were welcomed handsomely by Auntie Liisa, her beau and Grandma. they had prepared a wonderful meal for us. After lunch, we stopped by and saw Liisa's new property, ducks, dogs and all. Thanks guys for such a wonderful visit!
Sylvie and Clea are monsters.
Told ya'. Now how come this is so beautiful?
Here is Grandma and Clea.
Grandma and Sylvie.
The girls with their new Grandma knitted hats.
Now the whole family with their new knits.
Christmas EveHaggis Game: Jeremy wins an industrial sized potato masher. I think he might have left it in Victoria...The haggis game has grown to massive, unwieldy proportions since we left. We are pleased to announce though that it has also evolved. The haggis is still in circulation. Now, whoever is the lucky haggis holder becomes the new queen or king of the game. Which means they will be able to choose first and last for next year's game.
Christmas morningMagritte sipping some virgin margueritas from her new martini set (won at the haggis game).
Mimi looking very chipper on Christmas morning.
Jim looking happy and healthy.
Sylvie with her present from Jim. As she is very interested in the Greek myths, this was the perfect present.
Grandma Branter and me. I missed her 90th birthday party in June, so we were very glad to see each other.
Clea and her spell book from Jim with Jim.
Alisa and her new hat.
Pub time with Jim and Miria.
Oxford Foods: Oh how I miss you. With your cheap deals, competent check out women and hilariously misspelled signs (anyone up for a glass of evaporated mike? How about some oliver oil on your salad?), you will live in our hearts forever. And also in this amazing photograph by Jeremy.
Talking about missing people... Here are two lovely ladies that I miss a lot. We had the pleasure of taking them out for lunch and a little treat (shameless bribery in an ineffectual attempt to make up for lost time). In fact, I got to see all of the lovely young people I have known since their birth and was totally moved by them. First of all, they all grew like Jack's beanstalk. Seriously, kids. I know I'm short, but this is embarrassing. Second of all, I go away for, like a paltry 3 years, and you all decide to become these sentient, thinking, amazing human beings? Now is that fair? Maggie, Bridget, Maita, Jonas, Pierre, Elliott, Sophie, Sacha, Magritte and Mateo. I love you guys so much. We gotta see each other more often, 'cause I don't know if I can handle another shock to my system like this Christmas. It might just kill me if you guys grow up more.
So that's it. Phew. Sorry for the little bit of drama at the end there. But I won't lie. It hurt some.
Happy New Year,
Lina
This was one of the best openings I have ever been to. A lot of our friends came and the people at the Casa were very accommodating to the kids. The paintings looked fabulous and the atmosphere was very convivial.
Clea, enjoying the food.
BREAKING NEWS! The Gordaneer family finally give winter sports a try. This is now our sixth year in Montreal and instead of hiding out like hibernating bears all winter we decided to go to the mountain and actually try some of those implements those strange northern folks put on their feet in the winter. We first tried cross country skis. It was fun, but because the kids were a little slow and my hands froze while waiting for them. I think I might enjoy it more when they get bigger.
Winter. Yay. Although I have to say it was a disturbingly short one. It was pretty much over by the beginning of March. Although I appreciate it, it makes me very uncomfortable, thinking of how this might be a symptom of unnatural climate change...
FEBRUARY
Looking tired but happy on the morning after...
Serious girls in the serious studio of their father.
February 14th. Skating at Ruth and Alex's.
15 years of being together. And Look! We still love each other! (You can tell because of the heart)
Going to the ballet! Jeremy and Sylvie off to see La Sylphide.
It was also during a lantern festival.
Now, I bet this is the least used port-o-potty in the world...
Clea's party. We took this gang to see Alice in Wonderland.
We then had cake and presents. And then they proceeded with their hardly sleep over.
Clea in her new Buffy t-shirt. I think she's on her way to be the biggest Buffy fan ever. I can't say I'm sad about it. Although I wish she'd stop trying to stake me...
