You are currently browsing the Maple MOLE weblog archives for December, 2007.

Ice Hockey

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Our 1st hockey game in BC met all expectations. We had good seats – not intentional, the game was fast, there was fighting, the boys had hot dogs, 1 or 2 hockey players met with the plexiglass right in front of us and O was given a hockey puck by one of the ice officials. After that what more do you need to know, oh yes at the very end they were giving away creamy dill crisps……… we soon found out why they were fee, lets just say we haven’t rushed to the local supermarket to buy up their stock.

The game was between the Vancouver Giants and Kamloops Blazers. Tickets for the Vancouver Canucks are sold out for the whole season, the Giants are the second team. As I am not a Hockey pro that didn’t worry me. Prior to puck drop we took a look at the programme, at this point E & O decided they wouldn’t try and make a career a professional player as the Giants are all around E’s age and about a foot taller! To round off the evening the Giants won, I am sure we will be returning to watch another game. Hockey is so big here it even takes over prime time TV on a Saturday evening. I have decided you either join in the whole experience or feel like Billy no mates on a Saturday evening.

Christmas Trees

Friday, December 28th, 2007

Now those of you who know us well will understand our disappointment when the caretakers of the premises put up a notice ‘No live Christmas tree to be taken across public areas due to the fire hazard’ Hmmmm, bar hum bug! We had been looking around at Christmas lights as we noticed some people had tasteful lights on their balconies. This appealed to us, and being miffed about the tree I decided I would make a tree for the balcony. O was a little worried when we went for a ‘walk’ one day to collect branches, but mum they said no live trees. This is not a tree it’s a branch, it does not have any leaves or pine needles on it. However once I cut them to size and arranged the lights it looked very ‘tree’ like and festive. It looked better from a distance, but I think you get the idea. (picture to the left) However we still had to make do with an artificial one for inside. I used a few boxes that we still had around to act as a display area so created a Christmas zone. All the other Christmas bits came out and our Christmas pyramid took up is normal residence on the dinning room table. I am please to say the boxes have now gone and we have some real storage and display units. In Vancouver there is no ‘Trafalgar Square’ to display a large Christmas tree so they just decorate LOADS of trees, either by draping the lights over the top, like in the picture or wind white or blue lights into the branches. Giving all sorts of places the Christmas feel.

Lights in Stanley Park

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

During December the children’s farm in Stanley Park becomes a winter wonderland. Vancouver decorate many trees with Christmas lights, making the bare trees come to life. We decided we would check out Bright nights in Stanley Park to see what it was all about. This is a fund raising event by BC Professional Fire Fighters Burns Fund. This is a fund that helps burns survivors and their families. We arrived in Stanley Park early to take in some of the scenery and the views across to the North shore and to look at the mountains just because we can. I captured this amazing reflection in some shallow water near the Totem Poles.

As it started to get dark we then headed to the farmyard, stopping on route to munch on some food. Entering the farmyard you are taken in to a fairy tail trail. The trees and displays are illuminated with thousands of lights and you can see Mr & Mrs Christmas resting before the big day, candy land, the gingerbread house and many other scenes with Christmas music being piped from the trees……. For the smaller children there is a train ride that takes you past Santa’s workshop, the train is also covered in lights, so cute, unfortunately no little children to share the cuteness with left me feeling a bit flat. You can imagine what the boys said!

There are more pictures on my Picasa site but they don’t really capture the event as you could also smell the roasting chestnuts (on an open fire), hot chocolate, warm over sized pretzels, cotton candy, cinnamon sticks – very yummy, kind of doughnut texture dipped in cinnamon, hot dogs etc. I think next year I will have to borrow some little children and book a train ride in advance as it gets very busy.

Dawn

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Now it didn’t plan on being out so early in the morning. However O was selected for the school Basketball team which means attending practice. No problem I said, he can stay after school, that’s easy. What he didn’t tell me was that sometimes they practice before school, starting at 7:15. Now that’s commitment, I guess it helps the coach to see who is really dedicated to the team. So yes we got up and left home whilst it was still dark. We may have been the only people on the bus, but when I took the picture there was a stream of traffic heading into Vancouver on the highway. You can just about make it out on the photo, its the long line of lights just right of the centre. The bonus of still using public transport and being out at this hour of the morning meant we where rewarded by seeing the dawn break. Oh is that what people mean by ‘the crack of dawn’ normally a figure of speech but yep that’s the real thing. A while later when I returned home walking back up the hill gave a slightly different view but still stunning. The sun is just shining on the far mountains, the pictures are also on my Picasa site where you can see a bigger picture. Enjoy

The first snow

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

SNOW, yeahhhh, its cool, and we have a hill in walking distance of the apartment. The locals didn’t appear to take much notice of it, life went on as usual, the sky train and buses run with out a hitch, the highway was cleared and gritted with all lanes open. I didn’t take to kindly to the mini snow plough clearing the road below our bedroom window at 6:30 in the morning! So the sledge was out and we put on our warmest kit we could find with the essential tuque and gloves. Tuque – french Canadian for woolie hat! It was very cold, the kinda cold that you feel down inside you when you breath in. The snow was amazing we made real snow balls, ones that stick together and made a great THUD when they hit you, although a bit of a shock when caught me in the head. Our stalwart sledge of some 23yrs served us well. It worked just as well as the plastic ones whizzing down the hill, plus is carries 2 people with ease. It snowed non-stop Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday there was about 6 inches, much to the boys disappointment it turned to rain late Sunday afternoon so it was back to school on Monday, by Monday evening only the snow stacks in the car-parks remained. There are more pics to look at on my picasa site.

Computer baby

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Having received news of two miracle babies being safely delivered in UK, 2 close friends had their babies on the same day – God’s planning. I was feeling a little bereft of cuddling a new born. Not to worry E to the rescue. It OK Mum I have to look after the computer baby soon. Caring for the computer baby gives E 4 credits towards his graduation. This means 48 hours with total responsibility. The teacher programmes the baby and you are supplied with an electronic bottle and diaper. E had to wear a coded wrist band which meant the baby would only respond to him doing what ever was necessary, including winding and cuddling when needed. He was able to put the baby in ‘daycare’ whilst he was working, but still had to tend to the babies needs during school and through the night. It was very real and even smelt like a baby, so I had a cuddle and was able to give the baby back and not have to tend to its needs. Once E had got used to the little ways he was well away. No need to change a diaper when you can slide the new chip down the back of the original diaper, feeding was more tricky. You could prop the baby on the sofa and the baby would hold the bottle, however the baby would then get lots of wind and need a cuddle, so the moral is, its always best to do these things properly. Scarf around the neck gives extra protection, so you don’t need to worry about supporting the head! In the short time that E cared for the baby he learnt 1 very important task whilst caring for young babies – how to multi task! You can, play a game on the computer, eat a bagel, drink and cuddle a baby – hmm not so sure about the ‘cuddle’