December 31, 2025

Finally you will be home in your quiet corner of Almonte with the calming beautiful views. 

I am sure on your return to Pembroke you will be able to enjoy the same situation for a few more hours. 

I wish you and Denis a Happy and Healthy New year.

Hugs, Suzanne

December 30, 2025

So glad to know you had an excellent day;  Quite a mixture of excellence, especially to play on a good piano. You have not forgotten and your fingers moved accordingly!

Also the swim in salt water should certainly help aching muscles and bones.

I'm sure you remember Marvin and Joy Sheets  in #101, Joy used to swim almost every day, she has cut it back a bit now, mainly because of the winter driving.

Hopefully all goes well for you today.

Stay under Dr's orders and your recovery should be good, but possibly not as quickly as you would like. Remember the older we are, the longer it Takes!! 

You are not alone, St. Denis is always understanding.

Hugs to Both.  Suzanne

December 27, 2025 v3

Please take the greatest care when driving.  Yesterday within a couple of Klms 

the roads almost suddenly changed. 

You were Both wise to start out before Freezing rain etc

Enjoy a few hours of playing a good piano, and eating excellent food 

that Denis will not have cooked, a good change for him ! 

Best of luck with the surgery, also the recovery procedure.  

I will keep you in my prayers for the next few days. 

Hugs,  Suzanne

December 27, 2025 v2

Thanks Bill, you are too kind.

It is a beautiful sunny cold day, I will not bother to get dressed up just to go outside for

a few minutes.  However I hope you and Denis enjoy the sun on your lovely corner.

The last few seconds of sun eventually reaches the balcony; that is when I shall put on

my special "Yellowknife" sweater and plug in the lights on my Christmas tree.

At St.George's early tomorrow morning, it is still "Christmas Season" for a few more days.

December 27, 2025

Very thoughtful good wishes, no matter the unavoidable distance.

To-day, 27th is son Ian's 58th Birthday. How quickly those years have passed, remembering that tiny 4¼ lb healthy baby, now living in Nova Scotia, and Mum realizing how much he has achieved during those past years.

Hopefully even more worldwide recognition for him in the coming years.

Time for a long Happy Birthday phone call! 

Suzanne

December 12, 2025

 I wrote a long letter re; My father's Rolex watch  which he had until he swam

 in the Indian Ocean  a few years after W.W,1,  all after the "Mock Beggar 

Rebellion when , as the first British officer he managed to Nab  "Mahatma Gandhi"

Some time later the weather became unusually extra hot. My Father drove to

the Indian Ocean and managed to swim in the cooler water for a long time.

Needless to say that was the end of his Rolex, but he still had the gold chain

which he always wore with his waistcoat and different watch, also attached 

with his house key !

What happened to Wilson Basille  ?  Tony and I rented a house on Water St,

Almonte, for a few months that Wilson had partially repaired after a fire there.

It was comfortable for the winter; during which time I flew up to Yellowknife to

 help look after Tony's 3 grandchildren while Their Mother Katie ,tried to find

a reasonable workplace. Her Husband had a new position attached to the Cdn

Army in Northwest Territories. When I arrived there a week after they found a

house, it was -72* and stayed that way for almost 2 months ! I returned to Almonte

3 months later in Spring time, OH ! It was so nice to be warm again!  Then Tony

and I found the 25 acres of land in Clayton.  Would you believe Wilson had almost

finished building a new house, overlooking Clayton Lake much too close to the water,

he and the then official inspector (I forget his well known name) almost came to 

Fisty-Cuffs as he refused to move the house back to the edge of Tatlock Rd.

Post Scriptum:

December 13, 2025

Thank you Bill, yes it certainly was Bruce Monteith.  We became friendly with both

Bruce and his wife Anne,  especially after Bruce learned that I had several relations,

long gone by that time;  Alexander (Graham) Bell, and Duke of Montrose, both of whom

 were first cousins to my Father's Father.  Alexander chose the "Graham" to add 

to his name once he was beginning to be well known, just a might "snobbish" !

December 8 , 2025

A great winter afternoon ! That was just what you needed after the last few days.

I haven't seen dear Shirley Duego for a number of years, especially since she

is now a twice over widow. We go back a long way, even when she was still a

nurse in A.G.H.

Memories, memories; even Stephen 

Brathwaite and his renowned sister , whom

for several summers, invited Tony and I plus Our Grandchildren from Yellowknife,

to spend a day with Puppets, learning how to make and play with them.  Those

now 30 year old's have never forgotten the joy that it all gave them.      

Now back to cooking for tomorrow evening; It is the Christmas Tuesday Dinner 

with the Condo owners, we now have 6 new ones in the last 2 months, trying to

put names to faces is not easy at times !

Back to work ! 

December 7, 2025 v2

I wondered at first if this photo was of St.Paul's ,Almonte,

after changing my glasses the answer. was No !.

The afternoon Service went very well, unfortunately due to the snow 

there were very few visitors.  

I read the 9th Lesson from John, re:The great mystery of the Incarnation. 

The last Carol, afterwards was "Joy to the world". 

Reading through all 9 Lessons before which one I should read, it was

amazing to find that in centuries ago especially in the same old countries ,

 nothing much has changed, wars and fighting, loss of homes, food 

shortages and uncomfortable lives under hated rulers. 

Keep warm, cold winter is with us for the next two weeks.O

December 7, 2025

Another beautiful, appropriate winter photo, Thank you.

This afternoon we are having "A Lessons and Carols 

Service", in which I shall read the last Lesson and

(hopefully) sing with a mixed group of people, who after 3/4 hour

practice together, should be able to sound like a choir ! 

St. George's has offered this start to the Christmas Season for

the last few years, then tea and cookies in Grace Hall.

The last one we had a full Church, but with Cold weather who Knows !

December 6, 2025

Today's photo is a beautiful old gnarled tree, maybe a maple ?

OThere are times when I feel almost the same as the tree. ! 

How ever life continues on, whether we like it or not, so we

just have to manage the best way we can; certainly not as

quickly as years gone by.  I know I am fortunate at the moment

but for how much. longer; last Thursday afternoon I drove into

Carleton Place for groceries that I cannot buy in Almonte, 3 hours 

later,after having to lign up to pay in each store, it was almost dark,

driving home was horrendous.  2 years ago when I moved back into

Almonte I told my friends, please no more invitations once darkness

is upon us, especially in Winter , also my Family is concerned enough

about me even driving at all !

Now my rule is : If I need more groceries in C.P Mornings only and in

Good luck with the tooth;  I think I have to wait until the New year to have

the " bridge" attached to the good tooth next to the now "Gap", I'm just 

careful not to smile too broadly or eat hard nuts ! 

Wednesday I go to the local Optometrist to check the slight pressure in my

Eyes,  one thing after another, hardly surprising @ almost 93 !

OhYes, is your Birthday Tomorrow  11th ?

December 5, 2025

That was quite a day!  So glad that all went well, apart from having to walk down a corridor, another time hopefully you will have a volunteer to push you in a special chair.

In my Top Volunteer time  I remember there were two separate hospitals, one

Roman Catholic and the other "Normal" as they called it !  Both fairly close to

the other.   Almost everyone had true Ottawa Valley accents; at breakfast  just

before the special large Convention, at which I was the Chairmen, a lady with 

an Irish accent suddenly asked "May I call you Queen ?"!!   It was hilarious!

We remained good friends for a number of years, meeting in Toronto for more conventions! 

By the weeks you mention, that must be almost Christmas.  Glad to know you

booked into a hotel.  Once more Denis becomes St.! 

Today's photo is beautiful, Wintertime. Far more picturest than the previous day,

A solemn, worried, nervous face.

Take care,  Suzanne