Jan 3rd 2009

Very excited today as in 6 hours we will be meeting up with the man with the chin!

Yes today we meet Cheesey and start our adventure through New Zealand!!!! We've already been in Auckland a couple of days and despite some rain and a rather curious odour from the bloke in our dorm - I have to say we're pretty impressed! Very clean, very polite people and everyone speaks English!! - Except for the French lass sat next to me who won't shutup!!!

Well I hope everyone had a fab Christmas and New Year! Our one was 'AWESOME'! Despite missing friends and family we were treated to a wonderful white Chritsmas! We arrived in Calgary after spending over 14 hours flying from Buenos Aires to Dallas then up to Canada! On our arrival Auntie Chris and Uncle Roger had hats, gloves, scarves, extra jumpers - everything!! We thought they were joking, but when we stepped outside - oh my god!!! It was BALTIC!! Our bodies took a bit of a hit as we went from + 30 in BA to - 30 in Calgary!

Thought we were going to have a nice relaxing time - chilling out by the fire and having a few drinks! Well we did have a few drinks but we were busy!!! Had a great afternoon with Catherine and Dave (If I have to describe how everyone is related to me we'll be away for another 8 months so just to let you know - everyone's related on my old man's side! - got it!). Played loads with the kids - Sadie and Julien. Julien is very competitive - remind you of anyone? - and he is getting into hockey!! We played for hours on his table top hockey game and both Jen and I lost on several occassions! In fact he destroyed us in almost every game we played!! I say almost because I did actually beat him!! - The game was tied at 4-4 I took a shot and BOOM - top corner. I looked at Julien thinking - how is the little lad going to deal with defeat? Wil he cry? Will he throw a tamtram? I was worried - but credit to him - he was so proud of his Uncle Rich - all Julien's hard work training him had paid off and he ran around the sitting room telling everyone! - Top kid!

Had a great afternoon at Sarah and Sabastien's - really lovely place they have worked so hard to make it look amazing - Jen was inspired! Met Uncle Roger's mother Miar - a really lovely lady and our Gran for the week!

Chistmas Eve was a meal at Sabastien's mum's - Francine - a French Canadian lady who loves cooking. Which was perfect because we love food! She has a great place and felt really Chritmassy! After dinner Uncle Roger played Santa - and with the help of his little elves! - everyone took it in turn to sit on his lap and receive their pressie! - Great evening with lots of fun and laughter - although Uncle Roger is still suffering from Rich sitting on his knee!

Christmas day was great! A couple of emotional phone calls home and us missing everyone loads!!!!!! - Then we cracked open the Champers and got the party going! Opened all the pressies with Julien and Sadie being absolutely georgous! Christmas dinner was superb!! Great Turkey, loads of wine and enough veg to make Grandma proud!! - I even ate some Sprouts!!!! - Played some more with the kids and watched Sadie's fashion show - all her clothes from Christmas! Definate highlight was Sadie standing on the chair and demading everyone to 'Get a look'!

Boxing day was the open house with friends and family arriving throughout the day. Had a great time with Auntie Norah, Sheila and Alan who braved the weather to drive up from Leathbridge! Another busy day and weather was hot - only -5 or 6 today!

So overall had a great Christmas - had loads of laughs with Auntie Chris, Uncle Roger and Gran and was great to spend time with Sarah and her family. But as is the nature of our little adventure we can't stay in one place for too long and on 28th Dec we said our goodbyes and moved onto the next leg of the journey - LosAngeles!