December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas Day and between our celebrations, we felt that we should update the blog so we can say Hi and Best Wishes to you all! We feel especially blessed at this time of year as we think of our good fortune and the wonderful friends and family that surround our thoughts and souls. We hope this finds you at peace and joy and we wish you all a wonderful 2008.

News now. We flew together to Cairo to start our Christmas month ‘working holiday’. There we met many good friends and enjoyed golfing with Adam and his friend and co-pilot Jeff. Each visit back to Cairo feels more like coming ‘home’ as we become more accustomed to the culture and get to reunite with good friends. Off to Paris the next week and Laurel’s suitcase took a side trip all on its own. Most people would have loved a shopping spree in Paris, but with only four days to tour, it wasn’t as welcome as you might think. The weather was cold by our new standards (-2C) but the lights, shops and touring venues were great. We enjoyed some fine wine, fabulous food and a good time with the crew. We are now in the middle of a magical Christmas week in Berlin. The weather – still cold, but the Christmas markets are just fantastic. They seem to be set up every few blocks – some with Ferris wheels, snow slide ramps, skating rinks and numerous booths skillfully decorated to show off the fine goods. Woodwork, glass, scarves, decorations, candles, and paintings on display just to name a few. The mandatory gluwein helped warm the cockles as did the live music. Last night we all dressed up for a fine Christmas Eve dinner that was really quite posh. Champaign and wine and goose and salmon were presented like never before. We were all stuffed and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company and great stories. Today, Dale woke early for a round at the gym before our nice breakfast and half hour walk to the Berliner Dom for the Christmas morning Church service. It too was beautiful though we missed being away from home, family and friends, and the comfort of our favorite Church in Comox. Nonetheless it was a special morning and we can’t wait to return with the crew tonight to enjoy a Brass Ensemble at the same Church. Laurel will leave for Cyprus on the 28^th as the schedule gets a little sketchy. But this has been a wonderful working month and we both feel so fortunate to have managed to spend this time together. We will be skyping home to Comox shortly as Adam and Joel will be waking up for snowboarding while Grandma and Grampa Winter do the Christmas dinner preparations. A lovely Christmas day celebration is anticipated for Dale’s Mom at Berwick. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all!

Well we have had a good month leading up to Christmas. And this may be part of our Christmas blog letter. We hope it finds you in the festive spirit and give thanks for all that we have had and wish you all wonderful hopes and dreams for the future.

We had a great visit from our first family member to set foot on the Cyprus soil since we moved over. Adam flew in on his business jet carrying some special clients and had a full 26 hours to have his parents show him their new home. We knew he and his course-mate and co-pilot, Jeff would be starving so we called up Agapi, our new friend in the village that just opened up her new restaurant. With 2 minutes warning she invited us up. When we arrived, she had opened just for us and welcomed Laurel into the kitchen to taste some stews. Then she brought out two samples that were so tasty that we ordered both. After many salad type appies and the stew, the boys were stuffed and in awe of the warmth of both Agapi and our little village. Next we took them to the big town of Paphos, touring some shops and old narrow traditional streets. It was only 4 hours later when we decided to return to Kouklia and invite the boys out again to Thanis’ Place for a really authentic Greek Meze dinner. The food kept coming, course after course, all by Sophie who poured over the young men like a big sister welcoming home a lost relative. Needless to say Adam and Jeff once again were quite impressed by the food and hospitality. Finally the next morning Dale took each of them out on a tour of the area on the Motorbike, drawing in the scenery from the back mountain roads and coastal route. Lunch was at a tiny hole in the wall garden restaurant with our friends Peter and Linda as well as Melina, Dale’s flight attendant who lives in Paphos as well. It was a great way to spend the precious few hours with Adam before he launched off to other exciting destinations.

He has just bought a new apartment, truck, and other toys back in Comox and will be spending Christmas there with his brother Joel – snowboarding and enjoying Christmas dinner at his Grandfolks.

Joel has a new job and as he turns 21 today, we will be thinking lots of him. Fortunately, the ‘Office Christmas Party’ is tonight so he won’t be missing us much. His new job is working out well, as he is now with a smaller company with more responsibilities and freedom to create his animations.

Each week we make a point to visit some area of the island and turn from being a ‘local’ to a ‘tourist’. The latest trek was north of Paphos into the many mountain villages. It was Linda and Peter’s turn to drive this time and with their wider van, some roads were a very tight squeeze. One highlight was in Letymvou where their first old church had a notice posted on how to see the ancient church nearby. Walk across the street to the Priest’s house, get the key and follow the map. We did just that and to our delight we had a self guided tour to an intriguing old stone church filled with many paintings and icons some dating back to the 1500’s. We took so many photos but we will only show a few.

The weather in early December has been quite fascinating with half sunshine and rain clouds that open up like nothing we have ever seen. Boulders run across the flooding streets, occasional hail then rainbows, sun circled clouds and calm again???!!

Laurel is cooking supper for some entertaining tonight as I listen to Christmas music and pump out the blog.

So, what are we doing for Christmas? Dale is working so, Laurel has bought a ticket to join him – first in Cairo then in Italy. If all goes well and that can be a big IF… we will be together enjoying the holiday season in some exotic place to be determined. Stay tuned for our wrap up of 2007 likely in early January. We wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and may peace and love fill your hearts. Hugs from afar…. Dale and Laurel