Lily's Introduction ....

Hi!  Lily here!  I protect and look after Catherine.  We live with Anneke in the first floor of a house on a leafy street.  It’s hot in the summer and snowy and cold in the winter…. I don’t think it’s the Left Coast anymore.  No salty lakes.

What’s that sound?  Who’s out there?  Gotta go to my window……

….. back – greeted another dog out on the sidewalk from my window – asked it to come and play – couldn't get through the window – again.

So, Catherine takes me out for walks around the leafy streets.  We even went on a bunch of long car rides in the summer and stayed by the lake with an old bald guy with a beard and his lovely lady.  That was nice. 

One day when I was playing by the lake, I met a smelly cat with a white stripe down its back.  Catherine gave me a shower right after… I don't know why! I wasn't THAT smelly. 

Anyway…. Wait!  Someone just came in the front door…..

….. not for this apartment….. sigh!

So, here I am typing away and editing the news from every one else.  New for me, so please excuze any spelling and typos… 

I'll do my best to report the family's news! Happy Holidays, everyone!!

Greetings from Susan

Merry Christmas!

Some of you might wonder why Lily has taken over the Ballachey Christmas Blog, or, maybe if you're a doggie person you might have suspected. Yes, Panay has gone over the Rainbow Bridge.

We started out 2014 by taking the bold step of going across the border in order to get Peter a new set of hips. Panay was our little buddy on this adventure, and he kept me company when Peter had to stay overnight in hospital after surgery. For 16 years he has kept us company and provided much entertainment and love. He helped me to care for Peter while we were 'down south' for the winter.  At the end of the summer and into the fall, Panay required more and more care. We were able to pay back some of the attention and love that he'd given us over his 16 years.

So Lily, the exuberant, bouncy, ever lovable Lily, Catherine's canine companion, has taken over the blog and Peter is back dancing, golfing, hiking, and is free from pain.  I'm newly refocused on our home in North Vancouver, our lovely family, friends and, yes, dancing.  Peter has joined me and we're both now in training - aiming to compete as an amateur couple...so stay tuned for future issues of this epistle for how this turns out!

I wish you all the very best for a happy and safe holiday season and great success in 2015!

Sincerely,

SUSAN

Season's Greetings from the Heather and Dustin

Hello again to our loyal readers!  (We do have some, don't we?)

I shake my head when I think that 2014 is already drawing to a close, although I'm optimistic for new challenges, good times and exciting travels in 2015!

This year saw me continuing in my role as marketing and communications specialist at iATS Payments, where I've worked for three years now.  One thing I really enjoy about working at iATS is how I get to travel across North America throughout the year.  This year I visited Washington DC, (working in a side trip to California to be with my dad - and his new hips - on his 60th birthday), San Antonio (remember the Alamo!), San Francisco and most recently Toronto.  San Francisco in particular was a highlight because Dustin joined me for his first trip to the Bay City!  I'll never forget seeing Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Neil Young, Arianna Huffington and Eckhart Tolle speak in person at the conference.  Unbelievable!

Dustin's enjoying his ongoing pursuit of a new and exciting career as a full-time student at Langara College, focusing his studies on internet and web technology.  We enjoyed a fun road trip down the Oregon Coast in early February and a memorable week at Townsend Lake with everyone in early July.  We were both very honoured to participate in two weddings this year: me as the wedding officiant at Jenna and Jeremy's wedding in May and Dustin as a groomsman at Brett and Nicole's big day in August.  (Brett and Nicole also selected a world-class MC for their event - yours truly!) Looking back, we had a lot of good times in 2014.

We're both very much looking forward to spending Christmas in Nuevo Vallarta with the rest of the Ballacheys!  In early 2015 we're also hoping to visit Dustin's sister Breanna in Prague, incorporating visits to Amsterdam, Vienna and Budapest.  Our time is limited, but recommendations on "must see" places are most welcome!

 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Lots of love from,
Heather & Dustin

Graham Update - Holidays 2014

Hello there! It's once again time again to update the family christmas blog, so here's my go:

2014 was a year where I saw my Dad go from barely walking with a cane to tearing through yard work at the cottage like it was no big deal through the miracles of modern science, which was awesome. It was also a year where I had bounced around work-wise and poured a lot of energy into a side business (that I'm still pursuing) and a blog that I write with my friends, Sustainable Balance.

I started the year as an independent Science and Math Tutor and part-time Energy Consultant for ClearLead Consulting which lead to the opportunity to take on the role of Energy Manager for Tree Island Steel in Richmond, BC. I started that gig a few weeks ago, and it's going well!

Otherwise, I pursued my favourite hobbies of music and ultimate frisbee, and spent a lot of time with friends and family, and went on some great trips including California, Jasper, and the cottage in Ontario. Highlights from the summer include being a groomsman at my very good friend Chris Gordon's wedding, and as a few-weeks-later-post-wedding-celebration, hiking the gorgeous West Coast Trail!

The Fleet

The tide was out for this shot. Our timing was perfect.

Now I'm getting set to spend a week in Mexico with the family before coming back to begin 2015 in Canada. I'm sure 2015 will be an exciting year. 

Until next year,

Graham

Catherine's 2014 Updates!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Like last year, I'm writing this post from my apartment in snowy Ottawa. I'm surprised Lily managed to sneak on my laptop and write the introductory post this year. Who knows what our pets get up to when we're not home?! Pretty impressive considering she has no opposable thumbs, I think.

So what's been going on with me this year? I'm still working away on my Masters at the University of Ottawa. In January, I scored a part-time gig in the box office of a local theatre, the Great Canadian Theatre Company (Or GCTC for short). It's been a great way to meet people in the local theatre community. Basically, I've been working there and chipping away at my thesis. It doesn't seem particularly exciting, but it's taken up most of my time, energy, and focus this year. Don't worry. I managed to take lots of trips to Townsend Lake too. (A serious perk of moving back east)

Ottawa's been treating me well, but I certainly miss Vancouver. Besides the mild weather, my theatre company, Resounding Scream Theatre, has been continuing the tradition of producing thought-provoking theatre. I've been helping as much as I can via email and social media out east, but I'm proud they've managed to keep up the momentum. I've worked as a dramaturg on a few plays here in Ottawa and I have a few more lined up for the New Year, but I miss working with those bold and creative ladies. 

Wait. Dramaturg? Wondering what that means? If you're curious, let me refer you to the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America. I presented my thesis proposal at their annual conference in Boston. Fun stuff! It's what I'm hoping to be "when I grow up". 

Anyway, that's enough about me! I hope everyone had a happy and healthy 2014 and I wish you all the best in 2015! To sign off, here's a photo of my canine companion getting ready to jump into the Rideau River. Despite common misconceptions, Ottawa can be a beautiful city. Take care, everyone!

Merry Christmas from Peter !

Best of the season to one and all!  Here we are again, writing to our friends and outlining where we're at and what we've accomplished this year.  So, what about 2014?

The outset of the year was dramatic and those events dominated the balance of the year.  Through the good efforts of Dr. Steven Kassman and the good folks at The Surgical Hospital of Phoenix, I had my hips 'swapped out' at the start of the year - one at the first of January; the second in early February. We had planned to spend the winter down south, but the opportunity to get the hip situation fixed just arose in late 2013.  After waiting beyond the expected timeframe in BC and then being told that it could be a further six months, we opted to 'git 'er done' and not sit out another summer.  Susan was the rock upon which I rested during the healing process.  I cannot ever thank her enough for all that she did.  Rehabbing in the warm sunny southwest US was an added bonus.  

The surgery went famously.  I was able to get on the dance floor at an event on the first weekend of March for one very slow and careful dance, but that was a goal met!  Since then, it's just been nothing short of miraculous - I've walked hilly golf courses, jumped in Townsend Lake, pushed the lawn mower up and down the hill at the cottage and have now resumed normal activities with only those restrictions that those of us over forty choose.

Now back in North Vancouver, I'm working away at several projects in my role as part-time CFO. Opportunities are being put before me, which is gratifying and my schedule is gradually filling up.

I know that the rest of the clan will be writing their own notes, but I do want to say to all how very grateful I am for all of their support to me through the early part of this year.  I am blessed to have them all in my life.

Peter