22:00 hrs
Well, half of the Holiday Season has passed and we have survived. There were a few moving parts this year with the Sr. Loin Fruit's Significant Other heading South to Capital City for part of it and at the Wayward Inn as well while the Jr. Couch Monkey's Significant Other stayed over too. And, to top it all off, we had The Onion come up from Hub City to be with us. Needless to say the place was busy with Chef Blaine and Sous Irene trying to keep ahead of the wave. Speaking of waves, I was called in to backfill a position at work on the Christma afternoon shift down at Goose Spit. The wind was gusting to 70km, the rain was horizontal to the ground and the sea state was running 12 foot waves. And there were people out kite surfing in that stuff! Crazy!
29 Dec 23
20:30 hrs
Things just keep getting better. Today we had to reach the hot water tank. The original tank appeared to be leaking. Actually, there was water behind the new washer and I thought it was a slow leak from the nest of hose vipers. After mopping up the dampness with some towels we monitored the situation and determined that it was the tank. My Lobster started calling plumbers and finally received a response. By 14:00 hrs the new tank was installed. I just checked the tank an hour ago and there was fresh water on the tiles. A call was placed to the plumber and we followed his advise....mop it up, close the valve. After a half hour I opened the valve and checked for water. Nothing so far. Cross your fingers.
Elric and his Lobster are coming over for New Years Eve. Elric is often deprived of dining on red meat so Chef Blaine is going to make Tea Smoked Korean ribs. For the others there will be chicken kabobs and Thai shrimp for the pescatarians. Sous Irene is planning some Asian noodle salad plus we'll have a small cheese board. Dine, have a couple games of cards with our guests and rack out.
As a Christmas gift my Better Half bought tickets for us and the Loin Fruits with their Significant Others for the Christmas Pantomime. It is put on by one of the local musical acting troupes. We had been to a half dozen or so before the Beer Flu had hit the planet and usually they are pretty entertaining in a bad dad joke kinda way. But this year the acting was a 3 of 10, the singing a 2 of 10, there were characters in the play that had no business being in the play and the writing was a 2 of 10. The only good thing was the set pieces. Great workmanship. As bad as it was we suffered through it all.
Did I mention that the Onion visited us over the holidays? It was great to see her. She should achieve her BA by the end of next semester.
The Cookbook is finally done and has been passed on to my Lobster for editing. Now, it has to have the cover designed and a few bits added but essentially it is done. I'll probably price it out at $14.95 USD. Look for How to Cook your way Out of a Wet Paper Bag.
31 Dec 23
15:30 hrs
The kitchen at the Wayward Inn is in full swing. Two salads, Brazilian monkey bread, Korean short ribs, chicken stickits, homemade chicken fingers, spicy bbq prawns and snacks. We have less than two hours before the guests arrive. Our Sr. Couch Monkey has picked up is Beloved and brought her here but he's taking off to play DnD with his buddies leaving us to feed and entertain her. He promises to be home by midnight If I have to finish every plate I will ensure there is nothing left for him just because he's being a dumbass. Prove me wrong!
We have had no snow on the ground in the Valley. A fair bit is up on the Beauforts. Not a ton, mind you. And I'm not sure how much is on the ski slopes, not that I care. But, we did see a foursome playing with their balls on the Jewelled Links. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of golfers who are enjoying the extended season.
I don't know what the coming year will bring. One can only hope that the Tangerine Tyrant will loose his empire and be imprisoned, that Putin wil have his forces crushed in Ukraine and Navalny will be released, that Hamas is destroyed but Israel learns to share the space and finally, that a bounty be placed on all paparazzi!
Happy New Year All!
