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Published: January 5th 2007
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No angel
but I think it's the next best thing! A White Christmas...
Christmas was definitley a different experience being away from home.
Martha's family invited me to come with them for the traditional tree hunt so I could experience all the winter Christmas traditions. So Mum, Dad, Daughter, Dog, Gramma and token Australian went hiking into the forest out of Canmore to find the perfect, well rounded tree. Then it was a matter of cutting it down and Martha and I dragging it back to the car to tie on the roof. Really was great fun but strange Martha who has no christmas spirit didnt want to decorate the tree, which I always thought was the best bit, so we left that to her parents. We also got a tree for the apartment - Bruce the Spruce - who we decorated nicely complete with candy canes and a koala that says Gday from Perth because we didnt have a star or an angel.
I worked Room Service Christmas eve but I think there was only 3 guests in the whole place so I delivered 1 order and spent most of the night at a friends party on site. Which was much better than sitting around doing nothing
The search is on...
to find the perfect tree. but I couldnt drink until I finished working because my job involves driving and as everyone keeps reminding me I am already at a disadvantage because Im from Australia - no need to give me alcohol as well! Stupid Canadians think they're sooo funny!
For the record I would like to say I am a great driver even in the big work van with hot food piled up next to me and even when everything is backward and they have strange rules that let you turn right on a red light - where's the little green arrow??
As I walked home at 230am it was snowing so I crossed my finger that maybe this would be a genuine white christmas and much to my delight (and Kevin's amusement) when I woke up Christmas morning it was still snowing! Apparently its pretty rare for there to be actual fresh snow on Christmas so I was very lucky to get such a cliche!
Martha was at her parents for the day so Kevin and I opened a present and our stockings from home (thanks Mum & Dad) and got ready for the night when we had a few people over for
The tree!
Its wont be a Charlie Brown christmas this year Christmas dinner. Unfortunatley, the turkey-boy got himself so annihilated (drinking with some Aussies, who would have thought!) that he didnt make it to our place and we had to settle for a vegetarian Christmas dinner but it was a great spread and a great group so we had a lot of fun. On the 26th we did a roommates dinner with Martha, Kevin and his good friend Ryan where we really did cook an amazing turkey and all the veges and opened all our presents.
All up it was a good time but I missed the family and the usual routine at home and going for a swim in 35'C heat!!
Goodbye 2006
New Years - Again I worked room service on the 31st. It was much busier but I still spent time hanging out at Props Pub (our on site bar) not drinking of course. With downtown bars and clubs charging anywhere from $50 to $100 cover (any other night would be maximum $5 if you even had to pay) we opted to stay at our friendly work place bar and enjoy the $3 drink specials... and enjoy them we did! So 2007 was seen-in in
a snow covered mountain town in Canada with a group of fantastic new Canadian friends. I dont think I ever would have thought that this would be me a year ago when I was on the beach in Denmark watching the sun rise over the ocean with Kylie and Leah last new years.
And what am I up to in the New Year you ask ...
I am continuing to throw myself down the mountain in an effort to embrace snowboarding but its finally more of a gradual descent rather than the tumble it used to be which has made my tail bone very happy.
I am yet to take the ice skates (my red and white iceskates - the colours of canada!) out on the town. And seeing that is yet another winter sport I never really embraced back home (as Martha says - theres no ice in the desert!) I think my butt is in for another hiding... but I have made Kevin promise to give me either a sled based chair or a hockey stick which will save me Im sure!
I am still working and trying to save some money for the trip to Alaska
Gingerbread Houses - Stage 1
We construct the house with much icing to hold it all together in June although the bank balance is starting to feel the pinch (snowboarding is an expensive sport!)
I have my old roomie from summer, Lindsay, coming out for a few days to visit and my bro should be here in February by which time I have to have mad boarding skills!
My visa expires in April but I am in the process of applying for another to give me some more time in this country before I start to make the trip home or to the UK - who can tell!
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Sophie
non-member comment
I'm dreamin of a white christmas....
Hey Jo! Sounds like some christmas you had there, I'm buuuursting with jealousy that you had a white christmas :P I was up in Queensland and endured a sticky sleepless night, follwed by a sticky christmas day. But at least there was beach, that was something! hehe. Sounds like you're having a blast, keep up the good work! :D xoxox