Birthday

Birthday Traditions

Happy Birthday to my Love.

I am informed that her mother had always made her yellow rice on her birthday so I woke up early and made yellow rice. 

 Oops I did not use coconut milk not the same but it is yellow. 

 Where is the cake – she wants a cake.. so I drive to the Save on Food's and buy a cake slice and a tart.

While there I see the roasted
chickens and think to my self – it is her birthday so she should not have to cook supper and so I buy one. 

 Later I am told it is also Chinese tradition to eat fried noodle on your birthday representing long life and success, so for our bed time snack we eat long noodles.

Long not cut noodle represents long – long life – don't cut the noodle so life will be long!

inbetween rain drops

The rain has ceased for a time – the sky is bright but growing darker by the minute so I decide we must get out and enjoy this while we still can, so Noni and Dalhouise and I go for a short walk. The mountains tops, now have a coating of snow that is very clearly seen, giving a warning of what is coming soon enough.

Home just before the rains fell

OFF

Closing day – Final – that is all their is folks ......Camp is finished.

Once again I am up before the alarm – I do not hear the splatter on the roof that I fell asleep too, but it is still very dark. I put on my rubber boots as the field has flooded from all the rain and it is impossible to get to the kitchen without walking in water.
I got permission from the owner yesterday to donate food to the local food bank so I phoned my friend who works there. He came at nine am – I empty the fourth freezer 

– it filled up his vehicle. Noni and I continued to clean and organize the kitchen taking this and that into the dry storage or one of the heated cabins for winter storage – we served lunch then the final shut down of the kitchen began. Cleaning the grease trap – man it was thick with goop considering that not long ago I had cleaned it. Then the switching of the switch to the Off position to the walk in cooler's exhaust and compressor - OFF – next turned off the gas value and out goes all the pilot lights – OFF.

Final switch I hit as I go out the door – lights are Off – That is that I am OFF.

More off is going on – but not a good kind of off. My muffler is dragging on the ground so I had to cut a rubber that was holding it onto the car. Off it fell. I have an appointment for Monday to have a semi seasonal and tire rotation – you know it is that time of year to have the snow tires placed back on the Vibe again and now I must pay for the exhaust system as well. Off - I think the vibe wants to be off too because after we had loaded it up to the brink – I turned the key – click, click, click, click – nothing. I try again and again and I have the same results. Boost – one of the staff brings over the camp vehicle and jump starts the Vibe.

Home – finally we unload the Vibe – the condo now is in a mess now and still it is not the final load – tomorrow I still need to return to the cabin to bring back more personal belongings.

Our final good byes are being said today and tomorrow – but for tonight we ate together for one last time at the Howe Sound Brew Pub – the food is Ok but not the best. It lacks seasoning.

 Some staff left from there to go their separate ways – majority were going after the meal to Vancouver to bowl together  and remain in the city afterwards the rest of the staff are returning back to camp for one last night. Tomorrow the remaining staff will say their final good byes after they pack up their belongings.

Reality has not really sunk in – even though I know the season is finished – even as staff leave and I realize I probably will never see some of them ever again – I can not get this reality to set that it is all over - |Finished.

Yes a piano is being stored in the kitchen.

Ice Machine

Unplugged one more piece of equipment today – our faithful ice machine. If any of the kitchen equipment deserves respect it would be this one for on those hot scorching summer days it has worked it's motor to limits and beyond. Twenty tables of ice water every lunch and supper meals and lets not forget the juice containers with ice to quench the parched throats of very thirsty campers – endless staff and guess asking for ice cubes all day for ice coffee or for a hurt body part. The days are cold: the tap water from the well is as ice and so the need for ice cubes have been dismissed. Ice coffee has been switched to hot coffee and so it is time – the reality is setting in only 1 1/2 days left before we say our final good byes.

Another morning

Mid week – hump day. Well at least at predawn, there is no splattering of rain drops hitting the tin roof of the cabin this is a good sign. I am awake before the alarm by a hour which is another good sign. True Silence – we are getting close. Tic tock – tic tock – tic tock goes the clock hanging over the sink above the window. And the computer itself has a slight hum that seems loud with the absence of other sounds. What is missing is the squawking of the refrigerator – remember I have mentioned in the past that it sounds like a squawking chicken? Ah I spoke too soon the chicken has woken up. I would say about forty five minutes I have been sitting here and just now the refrigerator has just came on.

Last night before I left the kitchen trailer I emptied and unplugged the third freezer placing all it's contents into the fourth and last remaining freezer that still connected to the power supply. The walk in cooler is looking sparse – the stress and skill to feed the guest well and yet not have much stock remaining is mounting. A grocery run to Squamish will be required before the week has ended.

Dark Mornings

Opening my eyes to darkness – transferring dream fantasy into factual reality all within seconds as I turn and look at the alarm clock sitting on the curtain less windowsill . I place my bare feet on to the cold hard wood floor and force my body to respond to my willpower to walk over to the alarm clock and turn it off before the sound of its buzzing yanks Noni from her sleep with a minute or two to spare. Not long ago I would be awake and out of bed at least an hour or so before the alarm clock's set time, but these last few weeks as the darkness prevails in the curtain less window; that is not so any more. There are no birds singing to greet the day at early dawn, nor the light of the sun lighting the skies with its cheeriness early in the morning. In fear of over sleeping I set the alarm at night before I collapse onto the bed – hoping I will not need it – but each day my eyes are opening to the darkness later and later and yet the breakfast time remains the same and I must leave the covers and comfort of my cozy blankets to earn a living.

Early Morning thoughts

Waking up to the sounds of the splattering on the sky lights and the new sound of wind roaring and as always the swoosh of cars on the freeway just out side. I make my way to the kitchen filling up the kettle with fresh cold water from the tap and flipping the switch to the on position to make a cup of instant coffee. My bare feet and arms can feel the coolness of the morning air and I am wondering why I did not stay undercover in the bed just a little bit longer snuggled up to Noni. The grey morning light continues to get lighter as I sip my instant coffee and I plan the day 's business.

Dalhouise has left his doggie bed in our bedroom to come and join me on the swivel chair next to my chair to keep me company in this early morning rising.    He is a good loyal companion.

Agenda – Sunday school begins at 9 am – Church 10:30 – 12 Lunch – Afternoon 1 to 5 not sure what we will do as of yet. From 5-6 pm Supper – then the possibility of Growth Group 6:30 -9 and then heading back to camp. Heading back to camp tonight because I must pull from the freezer food for Mondays lunch and supper.

Last Thursday Dalhouise had vomited on the couch (not so good) so on Friday before I left camp I placed the cushion out side and washed it with the garden hose and left it there to dry. I think it is fair to say that it is not drying... Oh the cabin will be so damp – cool – No: cold - as we had turn off all heat when we left to save money on electricity. Ah thinking about going to bed tonight – those covers are going to be chilly in comparison to the warm comforting ones I just vacated a hour ago or so.