Merry Christmas from Deep River

When writing our Christmas letter last year, we were unaware that the next one would emanate from Deep River, Ontario. Andrew is spending a year as an executive assistant to a Vice President of AECL. We received the news of our impending move on December 17. It was the second, last day of school before Christmas and Leslie had to send a quick letter to the School Board pleading for release from her contract (the deadline for mid-year resignations was the last day November) and then not say anything until the whole thing 'became public'. Andrew s job in Deep River began March 1, so the beginning of 1993 was a frenzy of packing, planning and farewells. We expect to return to Pinawa in May.

Our (Deep River adventure began with a four-day car trip. Meghan performed magnificently when expected to sit in her car seat for several hours each day, eat in. restaurants and sleep in a new crib each night. We arrived early on a Sunday. Andrew promptly left for a business meeting. Meghan and Leslie consoled themselves by ordering in Chinese food and exploring the new apartment. Although it has been a disruption to our routines, there has been a silver fining. Being closer to Toronto has allowed us to spend more time with Andrew’s family and Meghan has gotten to know her Ontario cousins and grandparents. We are a lot farther from Leslie's family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, but we still managed to fly there, for a visit this summer.Meghan loves visiting both sets of grandparents. Leslie took advantage of the trip west to stop in Winnipeg on the way back. She was able to visit friends and family and get out to Pinawa to touch base with friends there.

Despite the demands of Andrew's new job, we have managed to spend time exploring our new home base, eastern Canada and the States. We’ve enjoyed camping and sightseeing in New York, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. We also met up with Andrew's parents for a week in the Gaspe Peninsula and attended the 40th anniversary celebration of Murdochville where Andrew spent his younger years.

It is now November and we have settled in well. We live in a two bedroom apartment in “downtown" Deep River. This is very convenient as, having sold our second car, Leslie can walk everywhere she needs to go. It was an adjustment to move from a house to a much smaller space and we've worked some real feats of organization to fit in as much stuff as we have. Furnishings are supplied by the company, but we brought our stereo, T.V. and many other bits we thought we couldn’t get on without (Andrew's pasta pot, for example). Leslie likes the convenience of the smaller place for cleaning and laundry. No longer employed-outside-the-home (but still working!), Leslie is impersonating a home-maker: mothering, cleaning, laundering, bookkeeping, and even cooking the occasional meal.

Leslie quickly found the Deep River Family Enrichment Network, which includes a daily drop-in centre, playgroup, workshops and free coffee (all for only $15/year!). 'This was an invaluable resource as it allowed her to get out of the “house” and. make some friends. One of her new friends has a one-year-old, Michael, whom she babysits three mornings a week. For additional amusement, she is continuing with university courses by correspondence (one at a time). She's still sewing and knitting but finding that she has a lot less time for her crafty pursuits!

Andrew is enjoying his job. He is kept busy with a variety of tasks ranging from preparing briefing material, through writing planning documents, to organizing talks and presentations. Sometimes the hours are long and Leslie even finds herself cooking some nights. Nevertheless, we're all enjoying a lot of time together as Andrew has a year off from his volunteer scouting duties. The respite is welcome, although he’ll be back at it when he returns to Manitoba for a term as provincial commissioner.

Outside of work and family activities, Andrew has managed to do some woodworking. Fortunately the apartment has its own garage, so Andrew had some of his tools moved, and has been using the garage as a workshop. Over the past five months the dust flew as a large desk was created for Leslie to use for her sewing in the bedroom. She was highly appreciative as she no longer needs to drag all her equipment out onto the kitchen table only to put it away again when Meghan wakes up. Leslie is already planning Andrew's next projects for an improved sewing centre when we return to our house.

Meghan has grown and changed considerably since we've been here. This is to be expected, of course, but her development never ceases to amaze and delight us. She chatters away constantly, loves to “read” and be read to, dances, runs, climbs, sings and does all the things that two year-olds do. We look forward to an exciting Christmas with her this year as she'll be much more aware of what's going on. She's already noticing that something's up and demands repeat singings of Jingle Bells. That’s our year in a nutshell. Hope yours has also been a year of growth and joy.