Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!

Wednesday was Scott's Dad's birthday and since he didn't want a big deal made about it I didn't post anything on the actual day. Scott spoke with his Dad Tuesday night and sent him our birthday wishes. We trust that he had a fabulous birthday celebration in Ottawa and we want him to know just how much we love him!!!


We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new niece or nephew, the latest addition to the Gorman-Trick clan!!! Kim is due to deliver anytime now, as she puts it she is tired of being an incubator at this point. So we will be sure to share the wonderful news once the little bambino arrives!!! Good-luck Kim!! We will be keeping you, Mead and Alexa close in our thoughts over the next little while. Also, this is a tad early but Happy 1st Anniversary Kim & Mead!!! Have a terrific Anniversary / New Year's Eve celebration!!! We wish you love, joy and peace this coming year!!!!

Scott and I head to Salzburg tomorrow, yeah!!! So we'll be signing off for the holidays and will be back in January 2007!!! Have a terrific time at Christmas and New Year's with friends and family!!!

Sending lots of love!

4 More Sleeps!!!!

As many of you know I have a twin, I can not imagine my life without Karen in it. Having a twin meant that growing up I not only had a sibling but a constant companion. Over the years our relationship has developed and in addition to having a wonderful sister, I also have a cherished friend. I wanted to share one of my favorite holiday memories and of course it involves my twin sister. Waking up early Christmas morning when we were wee little ones, we would quietly get out of bed to find that our stockings had been magically filled. We would enjoy delving into all the goodies, sharing our discoveries with each other, before anyone else was awake.

Scott and I are looking forward to spending Christmas in Salzburg, we leave on Saturday!!! I am certain there will be many stories and photos to share in the New Year.

Wishing each of you a wonderful Christmas holiday and brilliant New Year's Eve celebration!!!!

Imagine the possibilities; no one can say exactly what the New Year holds for each of us, or what might be just around the corner. Remember to enjoy the journey!!!

The Little Things

Remember that the smallest acts of human kindness are worth far more than gold.

Enjoy the Christmas holiday!!!!

One kind word can warm three winter months.

~Japanese proverb

Languages

I must say that it has been a humbling experience coming here to Bratislava. Scott and I had little time to prepare for our stay here in Bratislava, let alone time to take Slovak language lessons. I have been overwhelmed and as I have already mentioned humbled by the generosity, patience and kindness strangers have shown me during my stay thus far. My first question is often, “Do you speak English?, more often than not the person will answer, “A little”, and we will then commence with an attempt at understanding one another. It is truly amazing how many individuals here speak English, something for which I am eternally grateful.

I was at the dry cleaning shop recently and sorely wished I had brought my dictionary along with me. None of the employees seemed to speak any English and I was trying to explain, including a bit of charades, that I needed a copy of the receipt. It was all very disheartening but finally one woman who was able to speak a bit of English asked if I needed to bill it, I nodded my head and said yes. I walked out with my dry cleaning and a sort of receipt, much relieved to have that experience over with. Unfortunately once I made it back to the hotel room and proceeded to hang up the clothes, I realized they had given me the wrong pair of trousers. This is a reminder to everyone; check to be sure they are your garments before leaving the dry cleaners. Thankfully the cleaners is just around the corner and this time I was armed with my Slovak-English dictionary (it is not all that helpful but I was desperate). My finger held the pages to the Slovak words for trousers and wrong. It was much easier this visit, shaking my head and laying the trousers up on the counter, I tried to correctly pronounce the Slovak words for wrong trousers. The situation was cleared up in a remarkably short time and I was happily on my way back to the hotel, this time with the correct pair of trousers in hand.

Enjoy the journey!!!!

Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.
~Mahatma Gandhi

Thank Goodness For Toques, Mittens, Scarves & Thermals!!!

The weather forecast for the past couple of days has been completely off the mark, having called for mostly sunny skies. Well it has been grey and foggy four days in a row, the cold and damp air pressing down upon you the instant you ventured outside. As I strolled along the river the other afternoon, everything was shrouded in mist; the tendrils of fog were streaming up and away from the water’s surface, as though conjured by some unseen hand. The fog seemed to envelope you and somehow insulated and amplified at the same instance. The cold seemed somehow colder and the colours – at least those that were able to penetrate the mist – seemed richer, with a greater depth. The UFO-like structure of the Nový Most when seen from a distance seemed to have disappeared in the shroud of fog. As you approached the bridge the upper most structure loomed out of its ephemeral veil, reaffirming its presence. The calls of the gulls seemed to have an eerie tone and in addition to the water lapping against the boats moored by the river’s shore, it all seemed to emit a strange soundtrack for the afternoon’s amble.

Enjoy the journey!!!!