Homes and the Harbour

Preparing the house for sale has been taking a lot of time lately, and now is the time for the showings. Four or five families have been in so far and there is an Open House this Sunday afternoon. No offers yet.

Jeanine and Steve and I have got the house looking so smart and welcoming inside that I'm no longer sure I really want to leave (just kidding!). But throwing things away (we have a dumpster in the driveway) has been more fun than I had expected, and having the house clean and without too much clutter is a delight. Jane would have loved it I think. There must be some spiritual analogy here. We think we'll miss the mess we cherish in our lives and we hang on to habits which we'd actually be much happier without. (But I've also discovered that it takes a surprising amount of time keeping the place clean and tidy.) This business of having the house always ready for prospective buyers - I think Jesus had some things to say about that.

I did get out to a couple of worship srvices at Port Hope nursing homes this week and took time for a couple of pictures at Extendacare. Here Deacon Barb shares the word.

This very cold Saturday afternoon I went for a short walk with neighbours down at the harbour. The ducks and geese and swans were there and a few other humans, but nothing was moving very fast.

Then we went to have a look at my intended new home which is progressing on schedule and could be ready for me to move in in six weeks. What do you think of the colour - yuk!

The Week In Review

Was the highlight of my week really sleeping while one year passed and the next arrived? It's some time since I celebrated the new year coming - the opportunity for making resolutions seems too depressing.

I missed church last Sunday. The power went out and by the time everything was looked after (we have a sump pump) it was too late.

My current Canadian hero, Derek Hatfield from New Brunswick, got knocked out of the Vendee Cup, an amazing single-handed around-the-world sailboat race. http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/edition-2008/skippers/21/derek-hatfield.html
Thirty boats started and now, just over half way through, there are only fourteen still left in the race, all the rest having had to abandon.

The Canadian Junior Hockey team fared better last night, being down by one goal with just seconds left against the Russians. They tied it, played a scoreless ten minute overtime, and then won on a shootout. Great excitement in Ottawa. Next it's the final against Sweden on Monday.

This week I have to get serious about preparing my house for sale. It's supposed to go on the maket on the 15th. If you know anyone who needs furniture or books or stamps, let me know.

Enough for this diary update, except for another forward from 2006: