Well, January is more done and dusted, than yet to be, so
2012 is well under way. Nephew James is celebrating
his birthday in Tralee on the west coast of Ireland and here I sit marvelling at
just how misguided I was to think that -5 was anything other than sultry. The weather this past week has been an
experience and reminded me of the sometimes intense snow and ice that hung
around when I was based in West Germany.
The skills I picked up driving on snow and ice there are standing me in
good stead now as I slide from our lofty rural perch down the 500 feet to the
centre of Mission and then back up again.
Momentum is the key; winter tyres help.
West Germany is now part of a unified Germany but I was there in the thick of it during the Cold War with George Smiley and the rest of the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy crew. Awesome film by the way.
New year 2011 was greeted in Prince George and it was there
that I first crossed over into -20 territory, without the wind chill. Snow there arrives in November and leaves in
March. I have to say that -26 with wind
chill as was the case two days ago was extreme to say the least. I thought I had a new appreciation of cold
and then was aghast hearing of temperatures as low as -50 in Saskatchewan. I cannot contemplate that much cold but sense
that for crime prevention purposes and my current work contract; there cannot
be too many criminals braving these elements for ill gotten gain.
Work is going very well and the future is looking
bright. My current contract finishes at
the end of February but I have already been offered additional work from the
same sponsor for tasks that will fall under a new contract and therefore signal
more income. I also met with the very infleuntial Professor of Criminology at the University of the Fraser
Valley Darryl Plecas who is also becoming my chief cheerleader. He is assisting me as I try to secure public
safety contracts through local government and he is doing so from the top down
as well as the bottom up. He is the
national research chair for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and shaping
policy direction from on high. My quite
distinct ‘public safety design’ skills are being slotted into that research
under recommendations. At this time it
looks as though I can expect at least two municipality public safety audits,
some transport compliance projects, and finally some public speaking
commitments sharing a platform with the aforementioned Professor. The first engagement may be in Ontario.
The work project that most excites me at the moment is the
potential training I could be doing for the First Nations Indians of the Lake Babine
Nation in Northern British Columbia. The
nation is the size of the Home Counties in the United Kingdom and has more than
its fair share of social problems linked to crime. It is a short hop from there to Alaska and it’s
a friend of Kim’s who is now the Director of Fisheries for that nation who is
opening doors. It should be a massive
experience for me and a wonderful learning curve as I embrace the Indian culture. I await the February and March funding influx
from federal government to hit the Babine Nation and hope my name is on their
list for spondulics.
The Mission Springs Brewery and Pub is being hit in the
pocket at the moment as I approach my fourth week of temperance. My target is to be lean, mean, and clean by
the time us folks head off to the UK in October. Having given up the dreaded cigarettes in
April 2008 I can sure manage without quaffing flagons of ale for a time. The Wii Fit Plus machine in the basement
welcomed me back after 63 days and I’m sure I heard it say, “I’ll just get
admin to get your record from the archive”.
Detox and good diet feels great and it’s really surprising just how much
more enthusiastic and optimistic I have become.
Everyone is not now an utter bastard trying to make life miserable, some
people actually have redeeming features.
Dropped about 12 pounds so far and can now see my feet. Who knows what else might be possible? We take delivery of a cross country ski-ing
training machine next week from friends of ours. Fitted with heart monitor and all the gym
style additions we will finally have a sweat generator in the basement. I now have a short term bucket list here in Canada
which includes a desire to skate and net a hockey puck on ice; send a curling
stone to join other curling stones down where curling stones generally gather
at the end of an end. Finally to ski,
snowboard and snowmobile with energy and just to skate on a frozen lake. Not too much to ask. Just need to say been there done that (have
skied and skated before in the deep and distant past. My speed skating at the Silver Blades in
Streatham was legendary, my ski-ing in Borovets Bulgaria noteworthy)
Our biggest excitement at the moment is Kim’s 50th
Birthday on March 5th and house party on March 17th. Kim
knows she is having a party but not what the party entails. We are having an 80’s night and guests will
be expected to dress the part. We will
be having emerging star spotlights through the evening as well rehearsed
amateurs brave the stage and X Factor themselves in front of the crowd. It’ll be memorable and one of the things I
plan to do is get family and friends to send a short video message and greeting
so that I can edit and create a video to fluff up and inflate the birthday girl. From DISCO to new romantics, this decade had
it all and with marginally better clothes than the 70’s.
Once the birthday event is done its all sights focused on
the trip back to the United Kingdom. It’s
been over two years since I last stepped on British Soil and I have some
withdrawal symptoms. The weight loss now
will allow indulgence then as I work my way through decent beer (Definitely Abbot
Ale or Adnam’s Broadside on tap), proper sausages, Cornish pasties, pork pies,
fish and chips, and pitching ourselves at or on places or family as our entourage
travel to strategic points across the UK. We cannot possibly get to all so some
flexibility and forward planning is suggested along the lines of...”We will be
here from here to here so come here and see us”
Our centres will be Northampton, Lincoln, Bristol, Hassocks where family
clusters are populated (there is a science to all of this you know).
It goes without saying that family are hugely missed and
Frank Evans for social networks to keep contact fresh and folk informed.
Samantha now has a fiancé Alan and he is a thoroughly decent
kind of guy. Was an ex colleague with
Northamptonshire Police although our paths never crossed. We plan quite the joined celebration when we
get home and take up residence in the coaching house in Long Buckby
Northamptonshire. Samantha and Alan’s
engagement; Reece’s 21st Birthday, Marcus’s 20th Birthday
while we are there, Samantha’s University graduation and nursing degree and
just getting everyone together again.
Massive Roast Lamb Lunch is being planned with all the trimmings and preceded
by a trip to the Fox and Hounds in Great Brington for pre dinner drinks. An afternoon of general festering and
vegetation before heading into an evening of just broad family chatter and
natter is then the order of the day.
I have just been contemplating my navel and had two contacts
today advising extreme caution outside.
In the extreme weather we have had numerous sightings of Cougars in
Mission. A young girl was apparently
chased on 12th Avenue today near friend Bob’s house on 11th
Avenue where we stayed on arrival in Canada.
I confess I checked the air rifles downstairs because big
cats are not funny...Purely coincidentally we watched “we bought a zoo” the
other night. Now we get to watch for one
out of the window. Woburn safari park,
eat your heart out.
As far as we know all is well at home and with our kids and
grandchildren and Heather who is as many hours away from here is also flourishing. It is such a comfort knowing your child raising efforts have actually generated fine human beings quite capable of looking after us old croaks in our frail dotage.
The “exception reporting” system seems to operate well.
We push on in our lovely log home and find ourselves wishing
for spring and dry enough weather for me to finish clearing the 600,000,000
leaves still left after last autumn! It
would be quite nice if the gas stove stayed lit for longer but mercifully we
have base board heaters and oil filled radiators for emergencies so still
snug. Going to the mailbox now with my
gun so au revoir!
Much love to all and see you very soon
Dad, Mike, Mum, Kim, Grandad and Granny, Uncle and Aunt, Niece,
Nephew, Cousins or just plain friends. xxxxx
