weRNtheBritzone

Hello everyone!

I wanted to send a quick note to let everyone we are thinking of them. We miss everyone! LOL! Really and truly we do.

We have had the privilege of many visitors in the past year. Friends and family have made the trek across the pond. In fact, I’ve seen my brother M more in the past year than when I lived in Calgary. He has been in London for work so we have connected three times. Bully for us. My Mom and Dad have made the trip. Mom and I have been to Ireland and Spain. Dad and I traced our lineage to Hazelbury Brian and found where all our relatives were buried and visited the church they had a hand in building…we think. Some of my Dark & Twisty friends have arrived on my doorstep and we powered through the sites of London.

David’s Mom was due to visit us in June. Sadly, she was unable to come as she passed away this October. We miss her so much. She was an amazing Mom and Nanny. D and B had a chance to return to Canada for two weeks to see her and say goodbye. We will be back in Canada in June to throw a celebration in her honour. Complete with 70’s rock, golf and a beer or two.

We had a opportunity to see our amazing friends L & P, tie the knot in D.C. this past summer. It was picture perfect! A beautiful, classy bash reminiscent of the couple. Unfortunately, B and D were levelled by jetlag and were in  bed by 1700h every night, so no wild late night parties ensued. We did checkout the Mall though. It was a cornucopia of  school kids decked out in matching neon shirts and hats. Thousands of them!

I started work in September (six months behind schedule). I’m in a 10 bed Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic ward. Here is where I learned how truly important tea is to the English. An Englishperson not getting tea when they want it, is to a Canadian not being able to use their Box seat tickets to Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final to watch their favourite team play at home. Blood pressure skyrockets, panic ensues. I renewed my contract for one more term (13 week) then I plan to move to ICU and tackle the ventilators. The commute is a bit of a hassle, 1.5hr each way. Although, there isn’t a closer hospital that offers the high level of acuity that St. Thomas’ offers. So for the time being, the train and tube are my buddies.

D continues to try and change the world, one mathematical model at a time. He has just over a year and a half let on his on contract at St.Mary’s hospital. The past year has been a challenge as what he envisions as interesting and worth pursuing is not always the consensus of the team. That said, D does love a challenge and I can’t wait to see what comes of the research his team is doing.

B started school (reception aka pre-kindy). He goes M-F, 0850-1515h.  He has really come into his own since starting. He is very outgoing now, happy to participate in new activities and is always on the lookout for friends. He would still rather stay home with D and I, to play ‘bad guys’ or ‘power rangers’, but school seems to be an ok second activity. He is currently enduring a mild case of Chicken Pox. The threat of application of After-bite seems to be enough to keep the scratching to a minimum.

This Christmas we have taken in WinterWonderland in London, gone skating twice (once in 12ºC weather) and taken in the Lights Of London tour, via a vintage double decker bus. We are having a party on Saturday and Christmas Lunch with friends. All and all, this Christmas has a decidedly different feel to it compared to last year. We even have a real tree to decorate! B has written to Santa, although it’s hard for him to picture Santa coming through our fireplace. Thank-goodness for magic or poor old St. Nich would never be able to fit!

Love to everyone! I wish you all a happy and peaceful time this Christmas season. I look forward to all the holiday pics on social media.

E, D & B