Back in Madeira

So I have made it.. from the land of rain and wind to.. snow?! 

Vancouver is supposed to be one of the most popular cities in the world in which to live, so what is with all this white stuff?  One thing about snow though, it often seems to be accompanied with cold temperatures, which also means sun: always good. 

And it is pretty.

I am looking out at the sunrise this morning: the sky is a toasty pink, with lots of lots of blue, repeated as it is reflected in the absolutely still ocean. I can see the ¾ moon over the leaf stripped fig tree, arbutus and ever still green grass add color: all covered in a light dusting of white snow.

I am warm inside mom and dad’s guest house, with a cup of hot coffee and Jeri’s pink housecoat.  Warm.  Finally warm.

Taipei had great Chinese food, but was cold.  Cold.. Cold.. bloody cold.  No heat.. no warm, fuzzy, pink robe.. good ginger tea - thank God.  I spent 18 hours in that airport.. I probably could have gone out and had look around, but I was too cold, and tired.  Foolishly I thought it would be warmer inside… but it wasn’t and now my sore back really hurts! 

It is amazing how powerful your muscles can be.. they actually pull my back right out.

Isn’t getting older lovely. 

Rea starts her Chemo.. they stuck a stint in her arm.. we thought it was a surface thing, sort of like intervenes.  But,, they stick a great long tube in the top of her arm.. she actually had surgery to get it in. 

Cancer is a big deal, no matter how far the technology has come.

Jackie says her head feels a little jelly-like since she was sick last week.  She has dizzy spells..

John has a flu or something. 

Sheesh.. ya gotta wonder about winter in Canada eh?!  Who would actually leave the warmth of Northern Australia?  Oh ya.. me! 

Who cares.  I am taking my muscle relaxants, and pain killers and heading to the slopes. 

Snow is what Canada has.. snow and mountains... and lakes and bush ..it really is an outdoor play ground year around.  The sun and heat of Kununurra seems a long way a way.. oh ya.. it is!

I can’t wait to go skiing.  It is the most fun a person can have I think, if my back will just back off a bit.  I will give it a week or two and then am off to the interior. 

The roads should be open then.