Around the Horn it is….

My chauffeur to supper

Gizmo post workout

The end of a four day weekend seems a good point to update you from. The Easter weekend is one of those holidays which gives you two four day weeks and completely disorientates you. It's quiet enough here in this spot that it is difficult enough to keep track of which one of us in on call to begin without adding in long weekends. My coworker seems to have more issues with finding things to occupy herself than moi - I told her that she needs to get a hobby, or maybe a few hobbies. She has been having those 'bored, bored, bored' with long sigh conversations with me on a regular basis but I can't help her as I've been working my way through various crocheted projects. I've crocheted boot cuffs for the second daughter's birthday - she was 29 today imagine!  Working on her Masters course. Yesterday I made sweet potato pancakes - yummy - I thought I'd invented them until I Googled them. Baked sweet potato rolls which were delicious and roasted sweet potatoes with onion soup mix to take to Easter supper. A nice outing at the RCMP house - ham, turkey, scalloped potatoes, salads oh and the desserts. ahhhhh. I got to ride in the back of the RCMP truck but I knew they'd let me out as I sat with the food. I don't think there has been anyone but me in the back of the truck (seen above) as they've had one call this month which was apparently very minor. 

Was a full week at the health centre as the Dr. came over to do clinic for us - we have a physician here every six weeks or so - and that went smoothly. We shared suppers and knew he'd been educated well when he asked about amounts and brands of foodstuffs on our list. He said "Shirley trained me well" when he disclosed his marital status of 45 + years. He not only brought fresh food but nice wine - we got along well. My contribution was creamed lobster and fried halibut cheeks - with cranberry pudding for dessert all of which were well received. I traded my last package of halibut for musk ox steak and ground musk ox burger from the clerk. I think I need a (free) permit to export it out of Northwest Territories which I shall investigate - don't want anything holding me back when the time for heading home comes around. 

The oldest daughter returned this week from a vacation in Cuba with news of all our friends and lots of photos. She had a wonderful time (of course) and was sporting photos of a handsome new friend. He had been intensely interrogated by her surrogate parents (both city and country) and so passed the test - her Canadian parents are the least of his worries. She has settled herself in for the final course of her electrician apprenticeship which means three months in Medicine Hat as that was the nearest seat in the program. Her journeyman (person) designation will open doors - perhaps even a chance to work in Cuba as there is a cooperative arrangement to train Cuban apprentices - she would be an obvious choice with fluency both linguistic and cultural. A goal to work towards. At present establishing email connection with the guy left behind in the land of fun, sun and rum would be good. Although there are cell phones, the technology is iffy and the bureaucracy is still cumbersome - there are only so many days you can wait in a line to be told '"sorry not today". 

The best recent news was that the life partner has booked us a cruise! We were watching a sale on a 14 day South American cruise 'around Cape Horn' from Santiago to Buenos Aires

on the Norwegian Sun for a while now and the price dropped over the weekend. Of course, being spoiled the last time with the great sale on the suite he felt the need to indulge again. Hope he's not disappointed as this category of suite isn't as luxurious as Costa but it is larger than the standard balcony room. I had a credit from a previous cruise, there was a free drinks package offered, Norwegian is very casual with wonderful food and he chose a port side cabin (having done his research on the itinerary - he is getting to be quite the booking pro working with Vacations to Go. The intent of heading to South American (first return since 1994) is to visit an Argentine friend and her family after the cruise so we will take a week post cruise in Mar del Plata. My job share partner confirmed that we can move the date for my February 2016 return to work ahead so that is all that mattered to me. Mister is now making noises about a pre-cruise junket to Easter Island so I have left that to him to investigate. I will be home just before Christmas from work so leaving mid January to summer south of the equator suits me fine. 

Most of the community has been out 'near the lakes' in their cabins or tenting for the weekend. It's cold and windy but spring is coming so they're getting ready. Apparently there are 26 polar bear tags for Sachs Harbour (don't tell WWF) annually so lots of hunting going on until end of April for the white bears. I have been doing hunting research for the various seasons should the shore captain find time to visit me. Unfortunately the most productive bird hunting takes place the end of the lobster season which is a busy time for him. We shall see. 

It has been a steady day with having seen two patients, had two phone calls, the dental team arrived and drugs were delivered. Life in the fast lane. The (too handsome for his own good) young dentist from Montreal asked me if there was a gym here and although the sarcastic reply would've been "do I look like I go to the gym?" I said "I'm sure you can use the school gym - ask the RCMP". When he asked if they worked out I said "I don't think so but they go to the school" and smiled. Heading over to the coworkers to watch a movie (which she borrowed from the RCMP wife) this pm. I have some downloaded on my laptop but that means they are solo viewing. I watched St. Vincent (with Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy - I love them both) which was excellent - very irreverent but funny and a great story. Highly recommend it. Had a chat with a coworker heading north as I fly out. We'll both be in Edmonton on May 8th so have set a supper date. The north although geographically large is a small place people wise.