Merry Christmas from Peterborough
2018
And when you’re done here, click this link to check out our yearly Picture Page
Hello, it’s us once more,
Embarking on the chore,
Of giving yearly news, by way of rhymes!
Now as I start explaining,
Please don’t expect complaining;
As I try to limit news to ‘happy times’.
Perhaps you’re thinking now,
The words I use, some how,
Sound a lot like rhymes I’ve used before…
Okay, I won’t deny it;
Perhaps you folks should try it!
The task, each year, challenges me more!
Fact & frolic, interspersed,
Will make up every verse,
As we confirm, another year has passed!
So now, to get right to it,
I’ll try not to overdo it.
All fond memories! …The kind that last!
A bylaw changed, and so,
Our dear chickens had to go;
A farmer friend agreed to take them in.
An hour’s drive away…
We may visit them some day!
We miss their ‘bruk-bruk-bruk’, now and then!
So now, with vacant coop…
No more eggs or chicken poop;
I joke with Barb, “why not get a bunny?”
The city hasn’t planned
For rabbits to be ‘banned’,
Pigs are okay, too, which I find funny!
And yet, to be pet free…
Such as we are, presently,
Means on travels, we are free to linger!
Some dreaded airport scans…
Were squeezed into our plans…
And with those, Barb’s a true “bell ringer!”
Nearly Spring, in fact,
With bags all neatly packed,
We would head to Florida, at last.
A trip, two years delayed,
Through extensions… all pre-paid!
A full agenda: we should have a blast!
Mid-march, we hopped a flight
With Fort Lauderdale, in sight!
Delay upon delay, was aggravating!
The rental place was slow!
We’d get our car and go…
Dinner missed, due to all that waiting!
The Villa, were we slept,
Was beautifully kept.
At last, a day for rest and relaxation.
We knew that on day three
We’d be heading out to sea!
Our very first, “cruise-ship” type vacation!
We neared the boarding gate;
Yet, once again, we wait!
“Systems down! Be patient” they insist.
The afternoon near-gone,
When we finally get on.
Another day…another meal missed!
Smooth sailing, that would calm us;
Tomorrow, the Bahamas,
Finally, we’d hit the beach for tanning!
So peaceful, we acclaim…
Until the rowdies came!
March Break! So much for clever planning!
Five days, then back to port,
And happy to report…
All in all, we were well, and rested.
The trip home was okay!
There’s tons more I could say,
So send an email, if you’re interested!
Jumping now to June…
Another trip, so soon?
We mustered up some moo-la, and eureka!
A generous invitation
We accept, with hesitation…
That’s ‘rainy season’, down in Costa Rica!
We need to point them out…
Two friends, beyond a doubt,
So, Catherine and John…thanks a lot!
There was so much to see,
And the jungle’s new to me!
Not much rain in fact, but it was hot.
The monkeys, birds and trees;
The mountain’s misty breeze;
Macaws and crocs; amazing things to view!
Took day trips, once or twice!
We enjoyed this paradise…
The local beer? I enjoyed that too!
Ten days, then home, again!
Our flights left Barb with pain,
Which isn’t how one’s holiday should end!
Often, pain’s occurring still,
But Barb is of strong will…
She’s confident that she is on the mend!
Sandra, Barb and Paul,
Lynn, & Wei-Wei, that’s not all;
Add Enzo, into Barb’s recovery plan!
I thank these friends of hers,
All ‘health practitioners’…
For helping Barb in any way they can!
Barb would be the first,
To say, “don’t think the worst,”
In fact, some days, I forget she’s hurtin’…
Her laughter; makes me smile,
True hope; there’s no denial;
It’s going to be okay, she is certain!
I’m slipping, or it seems!
So back to ‘happier’ themes;
Retirement! Sounds ‘happy’, does it not?
I’m still an early riser,
So sometimes, to surprise her…
Barb’s wake-up tea arrives, nice and hot!
I go about my day,
In a routine, sort of way,
But sometimes, I admit, there’s no plan.
Usually, though,
There are places I must go…
I’ll take my bike, as often as I can!
As volunteer, I’ve gone
On occasion, to St John…
Where most of the kids remember me!
Yep! I help the choir…
Musicians can’t retire…
As many of our friends, would all agree!
Thrice weekly, Barb and I
Start our day at the “Y”,
As she hits the pool, I hit the gym!
She’d much prefer a lake…
But please, make no mistake
For Barb, days go better with a swim!
Barb ‘syncros’ with her pals…
The “Rosette Syncro” gals,
They’re working up their yearly presentation.
When the season ends,
They ‘show off’ for their friends:
A true, “Sync or Swim”, situation!
We share another thing…
As you recall, we sing!
Music’s in our veins: we can’t resist!
Auditions go with ease,
And once we paid our fees,
We make the “Peterborough Singers” list!
I should cut to the chase…
As deadlines are in place…
A focus shift, perhaps for ‘new’ events!
Our children, briefly, now…
I’ll feature them, somehow!
My ramblings on will, hopefully, make sense!
For Clara, we can share
How much she and Erin care…
For Phineus; a most-beloved pet!
A surgery was needed…
Without question, they proceeded;
Costly, but, a choice they don’t regret!
By bike; by bus, by car…
On occasion they’ll go far,
Like Chatham, where they visit Erin’s folks!
To help out, now and then…
“We are happy to watch Phen!”
“Let’s get a pup!” Barb, sometimes jokes!
With her crowded schedule,
Clara’s year is far from dull…
*Here, we could debate ‘honest’ wages!
Concerts, trips and lessons,
Parent meetings; music sessions…
If I tried, I could fill a few more pages!
In my report last year,
A birth was drawing near,
Excitingly… a child did arrive!
Now, we love every minute
Spent with little Zoë Bennett…
We welcome her. “Grandchild Number 5!”
So, Katherine and Ryan…
Proud parents, no denyin’…
A sister for dear William, who is four.
He goes to J.K….
At a school 10 blocks away;
It’s big! 600 students, maybe more!
We watch their family grow!
Kat and Ryan, surely know,
Barb and I love having them so near!
Settled in and planting roots,
Though Ryan still commutes!
He hopes to gain some suitable work, here!
With some days on her own…
Katherine, may phone,
Asking if my schedule is free!
I’ll do the “Papa” bit…
And sometimes baby sit;
Provided Nana’s there to rescue me!
On another note,
In last year’s poem I wrote…
How Angela, was happily engaged!
Sparse details provided…
At least the date’s decided…
Barb’s birthday’s about to be upstaged!
The happy couple, may,
Take comfort when I say,
“Alex” is a tricky name to rhyme!
However, Barb and I,
Trust that Angie & her “guy”
Will know true happiness, for all time!
Their careers, well mainly,
Are “music focused”, plainly…
Angela is teaching and recording.
Double Cuts, the band,
Tending bar, we understand;
All of this, fulfilling and rewarding!
Now James, and family…
Through their generosity,
Plan to host the wedding, at their place.
This fall we all attended…
Trees were trimmed; trails mended…
We love the property and all the space!
Thanks to Renos, galore,
The work-shop is ‘no more’…
Their studio, now complete, is really great!
A “Peace Barn”, they exclaimed!
And Jocélyne, fully trained…
Helps visitors, to stretch and meditate.
Their children just keep growing.
With just no way of knowing…
Who, some day, the tallest one will be.
Émile, Olivier,
And Éloïse, I’ll say…
Are the cutest kids around, if you ask me!
James, we must admit,
Has kept busy, quite a bit,…
“Dad duties”, yes, along with so much more!
He leads Orillia’s band;
And at school, takes command,
Teaching music & conducting, as before!
The family’s excited!
For James has been invited…
The school’s band received a rare request!
New York! …Bring them all
Down to Carnegie Hall;
James confides, “These kids are the best!”
In conclusion, now,
I feel I must allow…
Space for a personal word or two!
The story never ends…
As another year begins…
rwhilts 