All my bags are packed and ready to go.....I'm leaving on a jet plane. Yep, it's the first leg of the journey to Taloyoak which begins in a few hours. Drive to the airport, flight to Edmonton, shop for perishables, overnight at the Executive Inn & Suites at the airport and off to Taloyoak the next morning. I'll be taking the milk run by the sounds as it's Edmonton to Yellowknife then Yellowknife to Taloyaok via Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk. The temperature difference of -7 here to - 47 there will be a change and of course the 24 hours of darkness. It does get easier each time to get myself together and I'm learning as I go. Will keep you posted.
I have gotten stopped the newspaper, paid my Qiniq (internet) account, packed my nonperishable groceries and all my supplies for eight weeks. If I don't have it, well I don't and will have to live without it. It's amazing how compact you can make your life and still live well for two months. My life fits into two duffle bags and a knapsack. Well not counting my Canada Goose parka, Pang hat, NS tartan scarf and sealskin mitts which are rolled intoa dry sack until I make it to Edmonton. A full flight of course with folks heading west after the holidays.
And speaking of holidays we did them up in style. Have had the western daughter here for a couple of weeks before she returns to school to do the theory for her 3rd year electrician apprenticeship and the baby daughter as she's worked at the local nursing home before heading back to university for her final semester / clinical before she graduates and writes RN after her name. The teacher daughter has been enjoying her holidays off and being the hostess with the mostest so it's been a busy but wonderful season.
Hosted a wonderful staff party for the business - lobster bisque, lobster au gratin on the half shell with broccoli, carrots and basmati rice, cheesecake with strawberry, blueberry and chocolate same and all sorts of refreshments. Had a friend come to help with the kitchen prep and the chef kept us on the straight and narrow. A great time was had by all. And then a few days later we hosted the family supper which we have all the life partners extended family in for creamed lobster and turkey dinner. We've grown to a group of almost thirty now so it was a busy evening.
Christmas Eve saw us on the road to the teacher daughters and we had a great holiday with all, yes you read that correctly....ALL the kids together for the first time in five years. The shore captain cooked seafood chowder and I made a batch of biscuits for supper. We watched the Christmas Vacation movie (as we are the Griswalds) and then played Cranium - pretty fun. The oldest daughter bought us ladies - the three girls and myself each matching pajamas. Cute! We got some great photos of us all modelling.
We got up Christmas morning to open gifts in front of the fireplace and had a great time - my homemade or Frenchy's shopping was really successful and the gifts were well received. We had barely finished with the gift opening when the boy captain arrived. He hauled traps on Christmas Eve, drove to the city to spend the day with us, then hauled traps on Boxing Day. It was as sister said "the Christmas miracle" that he made it. The son-in-laws family came along as well and we all enjoyed the afternoon. Had a wonderful meal of turkey, goose and duck (courtesy of the resident hunter's trip to Saskatchewan in the fall. We were very lucky to spend the time together and it'll likely be a while before that happens again. We headed back home on Boxing Day for the shore captain to get back to work.
Those of us not working have filled our days with crafts, Frenchy shopping, baking, visiting friends, dog walking and more. And the following quote sums up the fun we've had:
Last evening we headed to friends for New Years and had a great time. Bacon wrapped scallops for appetizers, lobster chill and biscuits and fried lobsters for supper with molten lava cakes and cherry pie for dessert. With a few refreshments (including some pink and white bubbly at midnight) a great time was had by all. My resolution for last year was to travel more and work less and I've accomplished that in spades. This year my resolution is to do the northern tour - there are 25 fly in communities in Nunavut and I've (as of the day after tomorrow) visited three so far, so have a good start.
Today the kids took down the Christmas tree and with the shore captain's assistance packed away the holiday decorations. They'd likely be waiting for me in March if this wasn't done. So, off to catch a few winks before it's time to head to the airport. Details to follow.
