Wishing You a Happy New Year

 On New Years Eve I went down the City Hall and they had a party just getting started for the City TV concert. The skaters were out and it was beautiful!

  

From the City Hall blurb: "But it's known all over the city that after the rink guards leave at night (usually 10 pm), shinny hockey often breaks out on the rink -- a very good game, lit by the hotel windows across the street. The game doesn't usually go later than 1.30 am because by then too many lights are out at the Sheraton Hotel and skaters can't see the puck."   Is this funny, or what? 

After a while, they cleared the rink for the zamboni. It left the ice and people returned to skating. (I took this with a cell phone -- and it was impossible).

The Concert was beginning and I made it home.

On New Years Day I went to pick up Erin and Dan at their house. Rory and Hayley were having a dinner for all of us. I hadn't had leg of lamb before with potatoes with cheese, sweet potatoes, carrots, salad, Plum Pudding with sauce, Peppermint ice cream and wine.

Erin's cat, Morgie, showed off his silver bow  

Rory and Hayley are wearing antlers - you can't see the antlers,
but they are there!

Erin kissing Dan

A wine stopper - Believe it or not 

All DONE. Happy New Years to all of you! 

The Zoo - Christmas Treats Walk - December 26th

I went to the zoo with Erin and Dan on Monday, Christmas treats day. The animals are given treats from the zoo to enjoy. Here, Erin and Dan were watching the very tiny little monkey with his eyes on the treat.

It was a beautiful day with the sun shining through most of the day. We went outside, to the polar bears, penguins, giraffes (they weren't there, of course) and the elephants (they weren't there. I haven't heard whether the elephants are still there or not but the elephant building was locked) and inside to the five pavilions and one rhinoceros building.

 

Sheridan Nurseries Lunch - Dec 20th 2011

Ah, that I shouldn't have a problem being late for lunch ... taking the streetcar, subway and bus from my place to Sheridan is always a problem ... but it was anyways. I made it on time. The nurseries are empty and the blue sky with clouds. Anne showed me a picture of what it what it will look like after the renovations and it looks kind of cute with garage doors around the place making it warm (or at least not cold) in the winter and spring. This is the scene before it gets renovated...

This is where I used to work before Christmas 2011. It can be wild sometimes, it can be crazy but, in fact, is all about working at Christmas. And I LOVED it. It is so empty now! Just a few people buying their final Christmas tree.

We get together for lunch. The staff are doing their a half hour and I can stay for the little bit longer. The food is lovely.

At the end, I go back outside and take pictures of the place and the people that I know.

Brent with the Christmas hat bundling up Christmas Trees

Andrew working on a Christmas tree

Nadine

Mike

Trees - there were very few trees left 

This is Anne 

Two huge wreaths - They didn't sell for Christmas.

Trees... on ropes