Annabelle and Seb's Holiday in Squamish July 21 to August 3, 2018

Friday, July 27, 2018 We didn't do a whole ton today. Ray took Seb back to the bike park this morning to "practise" his technique. Seb met some other kids and had a few interesting conversations. He learned the ages of some of the kids there. I think this was a little "humbling" for him, but it also showed him what can be done, and in true "Seb" style, he took the plunge and did the little jump. He is catching on really quickly, and seems to enjoy the mountain biking. It suits his playful personality!! He is really brave and after sizing up the "challenge" in front of him, he is also really capable in executing it!! Bravo Seb!! After Seb's bike adventure and "junk food" for lunch, Annabelle, Seb, and I went into the library in Squamish. Seb chose a book, Annabelle and Seb played games on one of the computers, and then we went to the park and played on the swings and various other equipment. Still good fun...even for adult...

Thursday, July 26 Wake up time is getting back to what Annabelle and Seb are used to...I'm told. So I think this morning they were up around 7:30. They are very good though. They slip quietly down stairs, turn on the TV very low (their child size ears pick up every murmur), and are quite content until one of us appears around 8:30, or even around 7:30  when I do a workout with my friend Ursula NX offers breakfast. Annabelle is keen to make toast, and boiled eggs, which is cool. I think we chilled pretty well in the morning: a little badminton, a little TV, and a little reading. Then we ate some lunch and headed down to The Britannia Mine Museum. This was once the largest copper mine in the British Empire and remained an important source of copper for over 74 years. It now offers an underground train ride through its 200+ k of tunnels, an opportunity to "pan for gold," and a lot of information and pictures about its processes through the years, the development of the ...

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 I thought we were beating "jet-lag" but maybe not!! Seb was up at 6:00 a.m. this morning, Annabelle closer to her "normal" at 7:00 a.m. I was up early too to do a workout with Ursula at 8:00 a.m. Annabelle appeared towards the end, but didn't join us. She said "it looked hard!!" Considering she is pretty hard core, that was a compliment!!! Ray took Annabelle and Sebastien over to meet our neighbours Don and Valerie who had offered us the loan of their badminton set. It was a go, so Ray set it up in the garden and the two of them played a little and then retired to the "gym". It is truly amazing the ability of both of them to do pull ups. I can't remember the exact numbers but they were up around 26 assisted pull ups over a period of time. What is also amazing is the commitment to fitness. It is a part of their lives, not because it is a fitness enhancer, but because they enjoy the movement. Kudos to them both!...

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 We had a relaxed morning. The kids were awake around 6:00 a.m. Ray got up around 8:15 and set up some muesli for their breakfast. Alanna arrived around 9:30 a.m. to pack for her trip to Halifax. At around 11:30 we left on a bike ride. It wasn't too far, maybe around 10k. The kids are strong bikers, so no problems handling the rocky surface of the trail, nor the residential roads around us. Then I suggested "ice cream" which was warmly approved. Unfortunately, the ice-cream shop was closed. We were all, especially Seb, astounded that an ice-cream shop would be closed on Tuesday! "What is special with Tuesday?" Seb asked. No idea. After a bike-hunt around the Garibaldi area for an ice cream, the ever resourceful Ray suggested the supermarket!! We purchased a box of 4 "caramel and pecan" chocolate-coated ices, and ate them outside the store, having parked our bikes and avoided the vicious "barks" of a terrified pooch. T...

Monday, July 23, 2018 An early morning. Annabelle, Seb, and Ray were out the door at 8:05 a.m. But that's OK; they were both awake around 6:30 a.m.!! Hooray for jet-lag!!!  They met Alanna and all four went on the Canadian Rafting Company's "Cheakamus River Splash." As I didn't go with them (I did a workout with my friend, attended to some volunteer business issues, showered, etc.) I will turn you over to Ray who will describe the event: So white water rafting in Squamish.  We rolled up early in the morning to register and fill in all the forms for Canadian Outback Rafting.  They were great in terms of explaining everything that we will need to do to get ready for the ride.  So, we don wet suits, booties, helmets and full life jackets.  Our guide who will ride with us is from Switzerland and most of the other guides are from far away places too, here to enjoy what Squamish and Whistler have to offer.  To Seb's delight, the ride to the river ...

Tuesday, July 22, 2018 I awake to the sound of thunder reverberating throughout the house....and Ray appears in the bedroom with a cup of coffee. "Are Annabelle and Seb up?" I ask. They are up! Annabelle thinks she woke up around 6:00/6:30 and that Seb probably woke up around 7:00 a.m. They have done well! Around 10:45 we head out to "The Match" a restaurant in our local Casino. But it has other features: it has a stunning view of The Chief, a lovely outdoor verandah, and brunch specials on Sunday for $10.00. We say "hello" to the logger sports guy welcoming us as we enter the parking area. Seb is mesmorized by the replica of The Chief rising out of the water. We head upstairs and take our seats. Annabelle has two poached eggs with bacon and home fries; Seb has waffles, I have a salmon benedict, and Ray has a regular eggs benedict. All thoroughly enjoyed! After brunch, we head down to Nexen Beach, now seemingly called Newport Beach. There...

Friday, July 21 I'm not sure how their day started off. Mom and Dad will have to fill in. I think it was something like a 4 a.m. wake up call, head out to Gatwick around ...., take off for Vancouver at 2:00 p.m. and arrive in Vancouver at 3:39 p.m.....same day!!! And we, Ray and I, were waiting for them. The handover from the Air Transat official went smoothly and quickly, and we led two tired but stalwart young people through the terminal, across the road, into the parking lot, and the car. More sitting for them. Lots of questions. Intelligent, observant, and curious they chatted about the differences they were noticing between Vancouver and London, England: more modern, red fire hydrants, larger cars, lots of SUVs. Being Saturday, traffic was slow leaving Vancouver, but once through Stanley Park and on the Lion's Gate Bridge with the tall mountains towering on the horizon in front of us, and the Burrard Inlet spotted with cargo vessels waiting to be filled or empt...