You may have noticed, but I didn't send Christmas cards and letters, or even New Year letters, for Christmas 2008 or the New Year, 2009. It was due to procrastination, pure and simple. But every card and letter we received was opened with joy, because I really do love to stay in touch with my friends and relatives over the years. I've been thinking that I'd make up by writing little notes to everyone, sending out a mass mailing, or going on a world tour. But, at last, here I am with some words and pictures that I hope you will enjoy.
In fact, the best place to see our pictures is over here at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbcollishaw/sets/
The biggest event of 2008 was, of course, Laura's wedding to Patrick Snider. This wonderful event took place at the cottage on September 20. Laura and Neil paddled from the dock to the beach, where her brother, sisters and I met them. Kevin, Rachel and Mary Ann were the attendants and Neil and I escorted her to the ceremonial spot. Patrick was attended by his brother Graydon, his and Laura's friend, Alexander McGill, and his longtime fencing teammate and honourary little sister, Harmony Mah.
It was a most unusual wedding, in terms of organization. Our cottage friends and neighbours and many of Laura's friends, and many other guests all pitched in to get things set up, people moving around, meals cooked and served, music played, and the whole thing cleaned up by the next day. It was great fun!
A few other things did happen to us during 2008. Neil & I had a week-long trip to Paris as the celebration for our 40th wedding anniversary. Yes, it has been that long; time sure flies when you're having fun. We toured some scenic and cultural places that we had neglected before, and we had lots of wonderful food and wine, too, of course. We tried out the free bicycle system, too. Nellie, who was my maid of honour in 1968, and her husband Rolf came to Paris from their home in Aachen, Germany, to spend part of the week with us, in the charming, perfectly-located flat we rented. Our regret was that we only had one week, because of my Parliamentary schedule, and so didn't get a chance to go back to our old haunts around Geneva. (This year, 2009, it will be 10 years since we returned to Ottawa, and that's hard to believe, too!)
Skipping back through time, I might as well tell you now that we began the year with our second trip to Bonaire. This time we only stayed for a week, and we stayed with Sal and Patty whom we had met the year before. Lots of fun, sun and diving.
During 2008, Neil travelled on business to Manila and to Durban, South Africa, among other places. I travelled to Chicago to see Jimmy Buffett. It was also the year for us to see other musical "old guys" who are still performing. We saw Gordon Lightfoot, Jesse Winchester, Neil Diamond, James Taylor and many others at BluesFest, and of course, my brother Doug, who isn't quite their ages yet, but will certainly be going strong for quite a while longer. He does a killer Rod Stewart show!
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