Time off

Well my first Christmas in Vancouver in years. It was lovely and I was lucky to have two of them. My friends where I stay are from Germany so we have gifts and dinner on the 24th and then off to our son's place for the 25th. That was super to see our grand daugther open gifts and enjoy the day so much.

It is nice that seems she was more excited by the fact that Santa had been and eaten the goodies she left out then what he had left her. Lets hope that stays with her. There where two very surprised Mothers on each day me for one my friend did a lovely china painting of my Grandmothers house and my son's Mother in law got a piano keyboard. So we each got things we really loved. Well enought for now off to look for a place to move to as we will be off the Bluff in May

Dec 24 2007

Well it has been a wk, that is because I got off the light. So here am I in Vancouver for the Christmas season. This is my first with our son in yrs and a first with his family. What a joy it was yesterday to see our grand daugther and he unwrap the christmas ornaments. These are ones he and I bought in France and some in Germany so many yrs ago. To see the look on her face as she unwrapped each one wondering what it would be. Then going for another, and then they placed them on the tree. The day before we went out to cut down a fresh tree. So sweet Christmas truly is for the young and the young at heart.

I had thought that I would be on the light with our neighbours as hubby went fill in so this gave me a good reason to be here. I got lucky to get a chopper all the way down to Victoria and the day was lovely and a good ride . My Pilot was a great man and we even had to detour as there was a thought someone heard a radio beacon from a plane, off we went to check it out. Seems there was a small private runway and a hanger and the thought was that they beacon was from the hanger set off by accident.

Since I have been here I have been having memories of my own childhood Christmas with my family. Taking a train in to Montreal and spending the day shopping and going on rides and ending up at Eaton's top floor resturant for lunch. Eaton's was a large department store. And of course there was the photo with Santa each yr as well. Well it is now early morning here in my room in Vancouver trying to get rid of the town cold that we all get when we come off the lights. I hope that is will find all my readers enjoying the season and having their own memorys of their childhood Christmas's and that they are good ones. I know that my are. Later from the Couver as we call it here.

A day

Such a rainy day melting the snow and ice hurray. The clouds are moving up the mountain side who knows we might even have a sort of nice day.

I am slowly getting ready for my trip out if all goes to plan. Still no word but that is not strange from our office.. slow on the uptake they seem to think we can get ready in flash. Not always easy so I am packing slowly over the last few days just in case they decide to give me a days notice.

This time of year is one of the hard times to get off the lights and seems that they have booked chopper training week now. Not really training but I guess it is for re certification for them. But sure leaves the lights a bit stranded.

It is getting time to get my garbage ready for the day, and more cleaning and packing. So later from the Bluff

more photos

Boat Bluff from the air



Ivory Island a view from the hall window upstairs


We have had quite a day cold and dull. Yet that has not stopped the sea lions in the area I have 4 of them outside my window now. Along with the clouds sliding down the mountain side with bits of snow and trees popping through. I hope that all will go well so that I can get to Vancovuer for Christmas that will a nice time it was such a surprise trip but one I will accept smile ..Hubby is off at the other light now for a month so I should have a good time and will be looking for a place for us to retire off the lights.

Yes we are finally going to retire.. well it is getting dark and my dishes have still not learned to to wash or put themselves away.. so off I go.. chat later have a good evening from the Bluff

A few Photos from the chopper

A shot from Ivory Island the day we arrived in Oct lovely and clear

On the right a photo of how the dogs have to fly on a chopper

Centre Ivory Island Lighthouse from the air

Winter wonderland

What a winter wonderland. We have alot of snow and trees across the channel look like they have all been dusted with a sieve of icing sugar. And our frog in the back pond has what looks like a hat of ice over him. It is very lovely but not easy to keep the snow off the dishes and the chopper pad.

My husband has gone off to another lighthouse. He left by ship yesterday and I will be going to town next wk if all goes to plan. I know that most would find this odd that some would leave family but it is a good cause. One of the keeper's wives has a family member who will pass very soon and they would like to be off with the family for Christmas. So with all the shuffling he is off to Dryad Point for a month. We both know it is a good reason and I will be with the children and grandchildren. As well if I have to fly off back East I will have an easier time from Vancouver.

This too will give me time get the house ready for I leave. Also I hope to start packing.... and might even do a bit of shoveling so later from the Bluff

It is really here

So winter has finally arrived. That is real winter, snow, ice pellets, ice crystals, the whole lot. Not just here at the Bluff but all over both Coasts. They again who ever "they" are says winter will come early and be very cold.

Lovely but cold and one could get knocked out if you slipped and fell on the stairs or boardwalks around here. Everything is kept shovelled and as clear as can be. Yet with falling temps and the layers of different winter hard to keep it from freezing. The big hope is that the weather will let up for the grocery run on the 6th. No joy having bad weather and slippery boardwalks.

Snow is every child's dream and maybe some adults as well for this season, for me it brings back memories of snow castles, angels, and of course sliding down a bevie of hills in the area, and times we skated on the ponds. There was this great pond in on of out towns, but I would have say that our wee pond here at the Bluff is only big enough for a bird to skate on. As small as it is here looking at it brings back great ones of the big pond from all those years ago.

It is dark now and I can see the Christmas lights we have put up my white and my neighbours many colours. And her ingenius trees in blue made up out of tomatoe cages.. I hope the passing ships can see them on a night like this, well off to get the snow off the sat dish for the last time tonight, so I will say bye from the Bluff