Home, but not quite as we know it

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The glorious Rideau Canal, the world's largest skating rink!

I left you on our way back from England to Ottawa with plans to stay in an Airbnb in Dunrobin, a small town on the way to where Crystal's parents live.  It's really the middle of nowhere but turned out to be quite nice.  We'd had a really long journey back, around 20 hours after flights delayed, connections missed, in-airport covid tests, and another delayed flight.  Once again quarantine came to our rescue, giving us some breathing space.  We had a view over the river, a backyard full of snow, and a stocked fridge, courtesy of a pre-visit by the grandparents (thank you).  Jet lag and winter excitement saw the kids out playing in the snow before sunrise, while adults staggered around the kitchen in search of tea.  This firebreak/staycation allowed us to move in with Crystal's parents for Christmas, confident that we were (still) covid-free.

Rest, relaxation, and sticker painting

Christmas present, not coming on the next leg of the journey

Time for music

We got to visit Francine and her friend Hosannah

For New Year we upped the tempo and headed to party central, Crystal's sister's place, just round the corner from our own house.  Strange.  The five cousins had a wild time and we saw in the New Year calmly but congenially.  The kids were on the local outdoor rink on New Year's day and perhaps it felt like we'd never been away.

The Jacksons and the Fergusons

New Year's Day at the rink

Next stop, a dozen blocks over, and a three week house/dog sit for my friend and former London boss, Peter.  He is in Florida with the family, hot on the heels of their golf prodigy boy and his endless training and competing.  The house came with Blue, the two-year-old chocolate lab.  Instant hit with the kids, hours of fun for all.  

Happy Birthday Crystal!

Skiing in the Gats

Ski

This odd winter, short of snow for so long, exploded mid-January with a 40cm+ dump of snow and a seemingly endless run of frigid days.  Not for the faint hearted but it's given us the opportunity to downhill ski, cross country ski and do lots of skating.  

Big snow

Indoor activity

Blue

A reader

That canal

Given all the uncertainty around our time back in Ottawa, we registered the kids back in school.  The first two weeks they were online which went ok, then two weeks back in person.  Day one coincided with that giant snowfall which... closed schools.  Since then it's been all go and Toby and Felicity have done great.  We've asked a lot of them this year in a lot of different ways.  We try to take the time to talk about upcoming changes, to get their input, to give them a say without overwhelming them with responsibility.  Time will tell how this year contributes to their growth and development, but what we know so far is that they have been champions!

Online school.  Again.

Back to school for real

And now, onwards.  The biggest challenge of this year off has been the uncertainty caused by covid.  It has meant that we have been on a continual conveyor belt, trying to enjoy the here and now as the next decision, or need to plan, hoves into view around the corner.  Here we are again, Omicron seeming to have put the final nail in the coffin of our Australia/NZ plans, trying to organise for a 5 month trip on 2 weeks notice.  Exciting yes, daunting certainly, scary too.  Enough so to warrant its own blog post...

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