Welcome to this blog post that captures highlights from our 2023 Winter in Uaymitun, with an update from 2022!
Please allow me a deviation from my normal 1st blog post of the winter!
To describe the previous year, 2022, after returning from our Winter in Uaymitun, could be best summarized as the old saying goes, “May you live in interesting times”!
This is an English expression that is claimed to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. While seemingly a blessing, the expression is normally used ironically; life is better in “uninteresting times” of peace and tranquility than in “interesting” ones, which are usually times of trouble.
While it wasn’t really a time of “trouble”, it certainly was a time of change! It was full of UPs and DOWNs… full of JOY and STRESS!
The first few months after our return were filled with anticipation of two weddings! Our granddaughter Kirsten and husband Zack Thompson in June and our youngest daughter Kristy and husband Andy Powell in July! It was an especially busy time assisting Kris and Andy in their preparations!
Both weddings were marvelous and were in very unique locales!
Then in early August, a sudden torrential downpour one night caused flooded basements in several hundred houses in a very localized area in Sarnia. This included our house which had several inches of rain water flood the lower level. It came and went while we were sleeping but the damage was done. Almost 2 months passed during the time of waiting for remediation and insurance coverage to allow us the repair the damages.
In the middle of all that, we were fortunate enough to go through the process of selecting an apartment in the newly developed project, “The Bayfront”, in downtown Sarnia overlooking the St Clair River and Sarnia Bay. We had been watching the development for several years and it had been delayed due to COVID.
So, now we had to put our family home for almost 34 years house up for sale! But our plans were delayed for almost 2 months by the renovations of the basement. In any case, our home sold conditionally in a matter of days once it was listed. It was a waiting game as their was a string of conditional sales, but the dominoes finally fell and it closed in early December!
On the lighter side of things… in what seems like a lifetime ago, we had booked two weeks in our favourite condo in Litchfield, SC for late August 2020! The COVID pandemic out the kibosh to that in 2020 and 2021, so it was with great relief we were able to go this past August. Kerry, Bryan and the boys joined us for a week of that time!
In November, we flew out to Kelowna and Vernon to surprise my sister Val on her 80th birthday! It was a great surprise and a great time with family and friends!
Unfortunately, we returned home from BC with an unwanted guest that we had been able to avoid for over 2-1/2 years! It took 8-9 days to recover enough to finally test -ve! Thankfully we were fully boosted!
While we had prided ourselves on the house purging we had already done, it was another whole level of work to plan on moving from a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 4-level back-split home to a 2 bedroom apartment!
As our apartment won’t be ready for occupancy until Feb 3rd, all our belongings have now gone into storage! So our family will actually be managing our move from storage to apartment while we’re still here in Uaymitun!
While the house was in the last days before closing and a few days afterwards, we rented a cottage in Brights Grove, near Kristy, Andy and the girls, just to have somewhere to rest.
Then we spent the rest of the our time, before heading south, in Wellesley with Kerry, Bryan and the boys! Given the massive storm that hit Ontario over Christmas, it was a belated but wonderful Christmas the week afterwards.
Sorry to drone on, but that just covers some of the highlights and lowlights of a very “interesting time” for us this past year! For that reason, we’re counting on finding the next 3 months very “uninteresting” and a time to recuperate!
Now back to our Winter in Uaymitun!
Kerry & Bryan drove us to our airport hotel in Toronto on the afternoon before our WestJet flight to Mérida! Elaine had been chatting with Kari before hand, so we were able to have dinner with Kari & Paul Richer in Moxies that evening. It was great to catch up with them!
It was a mad house in Pearson Terminal 3, but we were able to check in and get through Security pretty quickly. It was nice to be able to relax in the Lounge until our flight was called. While waiting at the Gate we ran into Ross & Joan from down the beach and our neighbours Dave & Jeanette!
Our flight left basically on time and was uneventful. As it approached the Yucatan, we flew jut to the east of Progreso and I was able to get a pic of the Progreso Pier!
We arrived on time in Merida with a somewhat “interesting” landing as the left wing caught a wind gust at the last moment! Sudden intake of breath throughout the plane and then cheers when our pilot righted the ship and brought us down safely!
We were very fortunate to pass through Immigration, pick up our bags, get a Green light at Customs and proceeded out to meet Diego and get our car quickly! All in all, we were through in less than 20 minutes! Amazing!
A quick stop at Soriana to pick up a few essentials and out the Costera to Uaymitun and our winter home!
Last year, I posted a number of pictures of the construction next door and for our new gateway! Well, all that work is now done and here’s a few pics of the new entrance, both during the day and at night when it’s all lit up!
Our new house sign!
The new entrance and driveway…
… and at night!
Well, I think I’ll close out this very long blog for now! The next one will highlight the arrival of Val & George as well a very, very special day!
Cheers!
Love to all,
-Doug and Elaine
Fabulous post Doug, you managed to cover everything, and what a job that was.
Some fantastic pictures, we are planning to head south your way next year.
Rest well
2022 was an interesting year indeed!
Loved seeing all the pictures and the new sign and entrance! Looking forward to seeing you both at the end of February 2023