I haven’t left London yet, I had planned to depart this morning but heavy fog made me decide to remain an extra day. I really hate travelling when visibility is reduced. My sister tells me she was glad that I was staying another day and it has been fun spending some more time with my great-nephew Apollo. It’s only  the second time I’ve seen him and he’s almost 2 years old.

As we were kicked back yesterday enjoying the post Christmas lull word came through my email that the peace of the season had been broken by the death of yet another Canadian soldier in Afghanistan. The young man is from Peterborough which is only about an hour from where I live. Pte Freeman had just returned to Afghanistan after having a home leave which allowed him to celebrate with his family what would turn out to be his final Christmas.

I’ll be heading for home for sure tomorrow, in part because it is calling for snow instead of rain for Monday and in part because I don’t yet know if Pte Freeman will be arriving in Canada on Monday or Tuesday. Whichever day it is, I’ll be on one of the bridges on the Highway of Heroes to salute his service and show support to his family, holiday time not withstanding. Our soldiers service didn’t stop for the holiday nor will our support.

We also have New Years Eve to prepare for and the President’s Levee at the Branch the following day. Food has to be prepped so that attending to the ‘house party’ will be as easy as possible and those doing the prep can enjoy the evening.

It’s been good spending what seems like an all too brief time with not only my sister by her two children, who are now adults. Lynn and I were able to have dinner with Megan on Christmas Eve, we did it really fancy, we ordered in Chinese at Megan’s place. I didn’t Max until Christmas dinner. The great-nephew is Max’s son yet he seems like a mix of the personalities of both his dad and his aunt. Apollo has a great temperment, notwithstanding that he seems to be cutting some teeth right now.

If all goes well and gas prices stay low like they are right now, I should be able to come back down for Easter. Lynn is also wanting to get a trip home in too, as she moved from Colborne to London years ago and still sees Colborne as ‘home’.