Our reflections of this past year focus on the great, the poor and the downright weird.......
The year for us started with the Big Bang in February at Alec and Kathleen's wedding. Prior to the wedding , Toronto was almost completely devoid of snow. The day before the wedding, a tremendous snowfall dropped a blanket of white, almost a meter deep.This was the worst snowfall in the last fifty years in Toronto. The wedding day was sunny, cold and a beautiful, FUN day.
After a short honeymoon in Mexico, Kat and Alec settled into their new married life. Vyden was surprised to find out he becomes a big brother sometime around the beginning of April.
So far Noreen and I have come up with some appropriate names like "LMNOP" Lyall, "Whatchamacallit" Lyall, while Vyden thinks "Vyden the 2nd" is the best.
Early in the spring Noreen and I got a call from our friend, Val, in New Zealand. Val is a dairy farmer and was looking for some help during the winter calving season. She had some gastral surgery and was needing to rest and recuperate throughout July and August. Initially we tried to think of anyone who could help her AND, foolishly , looked at each other and said, "we could do this".
So, in July we headed to New Zealand. What we learned was - we are too old to work this hard or maybe even be useful? Val's 85 acre, 75 cow operation is not far from Hobbittown and I felt instantly like Gulliver! From the beginning, I wacked my head on door frames, the clothesline and low hanging pipes. Val is 4' 9" and scurries around without any problems. Eventually I ended up in the hospital with a concussion after running into an overhead pipe in the dark. Noreen also needed a trip to the clinic for nerve damage from hauling too many milk/water pails, wrestling calves and slopping the hogs.
Since September we have recuperated and I have been getting more parts thrown away or replaced. I broke my wrist in 1991. Although initially it seemed ok, when I had the cast removed, it always seemed weak and too loose. Eventually a large lump formed on top and it started to ache. It turns out it was never set properly and some of the bones had shifted and developed arthritis. Now I am a few bones short and 6 screws and a plate to the good. The pain is almost all gone and I have renewed hopes of being a better golfer?
Noreen's recovery has included buying fleece-lined pants, a long, warm coat and spending time in the hot tub.
Richard and Janelle have mothballed the tiny home and "dropped out" by purchasing and renovating a motor home. They are currently spending the winter being " far out, groovy, warm and chilled" on the beach in San Fillipe, Mexico (circa 1970).
Alec is enjoying his 12 hour, nightshift job as a rigging foreman on the mega tunneling, subway project under downtown Toronto.
Kat is looking forward to being an at-home mom. Ten-year-old Vyden is in grade five and continues to be a Lego/Minecraft Master....We hope there's a future in that!?
Have a Great Christmas and an even better 2026. Stay safe, healthy and in touch.
The Lyall Clan