2014 Collishaw Christmas letter

Dear friends and family,

It's December! Time for birthdays (Neil's and mine, adding up to 136 years between us, with Laura's 31st just a few days earlier) and time to get ready for winter and Christmas. And time we reconnected with friends and family.

In January 2014 we went to visit Kevin and Kat in their newest location: the west coast of Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta. What a beautiful place! They are renting a very nice beach house just a short walk to work. We went with Neil's brother Ross and his wife Laurie, and had a great family time, and pre-celebrated Kevin's 42nd and Ross's 50th birthdays. Neil and I went diving with Kevin: we had a great time and took some good pictures. We all went whale watching and snorkelling. Several days were spent lounging by the pool at the Iberostar. Kat is the manager for Dressel Divers at the hotel, and Kevin is her right-hand man, lead instructor, and general support.

   Kevin and Kat "commuting" to work

 

Enjoying the sunset

Neil has been working behind the scenes on a major tobacco trial in Montreal. It kept him very busy but has now wrapped up and we are just waiting for the judge to render his verdict. Neil is easing into retirement... maybe.

                      Neil doing some handyman chores at the cottage

Rachel is still glowing from winning the Governor General's Award for History Teaching in November 2013. She's very busy with curriculum development, textbook writing and giving seminars to teachers, as well as actually teaching students.

Craig and Rachel at Rideau Hall

 

Barb, Rachel and Beatrix at the gala

 

 One part of her prize was a trip to Europe, including the D-Day commemorations. In 2015 she'll be leading a similar trip.  Craig continues operating Ottawa Swordplay and business is steady. The kids are growing fast, of course. Beatrix, 14, is in high school and Cole, 11, is in Grade 6. Both keep busy with swords and other activities. Bea went on a Girl Guide Pathfinder trip to Mexico.

Mary Ann is still in Whistler, still enjoying the lifestyle and her work as Member Relations manager for Tourism Whistler. Her marriage to Tony (Antoine) ended in divorce a year or so ago, but she has lots of friends and activities (Rotary Club, pottery, and more) and a close friend, Pete, who—with lots of help from Mary Ann—ran in the municipal election this fall: more adventures! And at Christmas, she transforms into Merry Elf, and she and Santa (another Rotary member) make appearances at many parties and events around Whistler.

Laura is teaching aviation in Windsor this year. It's nice to have her closer than when she was in Vancouver, but it is still a long trek to come back to Ottawa and see Patrick, their kitty, and us.

It was a pretty good year for getting the family together. Kevin came for a couple of weeks in June and July, relaxed, had a little time at the cottage, went diving in the St. Lawrence with Rachel, and made himself very useful. 

Kevin and Beatrix at Bea's Grade 8 graduation (at Kevin's former high school)

Mary Ann and Pete joined the rest of us (except Kevin and Beatrix--they were in Mexico, but not together) at Jillian Varty's wedding in London, Ontario. Lots of cousin-time, dancing and intense visiting: a regular Varty Party.

 Cole, Rachel and Craig

 

Patrick and Laura

 

Jillian with her parents and with Steven

 Pete and Mary Ann

Barb and Doug

It's been quite a year for me. In April I had my right foot operated on to correct the bunion and some other misplaced bones, and was off my feet for 5 weeks. I was in a series of non-walking casts and Neil had lots to do to look after me; he did it very well and mostly cheerfully. (I had the left foot done, in a simpler operation, in August 2013, and it has turned out well.)

 

 

Both feet "before" and the right one "after"

But even as I began my recovery from the foot operation, along came the cervical cancer. That called for a hysterectomy, 3 + 10 days in hospital, a summer of carrying around a wound-evacuating vacuum pump (“the electric leech”), and frequent visits from the home care nurses, all for care of the infected incision that healed only slowly. The fall was taken up with six rounds of chemotherapy over 18 weeks , finishing up in December. The good news is that the chemo was not too hard on me and it is over!  The cancer is gone and my feet work properly once again.  Only the scars remain. I'm trying to regain fitness, after all this limited mobility. I'll be having radiation treatments in  February (just to be sure).

We are good to go. So we are going!   

In January we're going back to see Kevin and Kat: this time we'll stay at the hotel. Then we'll be going to Jamaica for a Canadian Blues event (my brother Doug is playing, among others) at a resort.

Who knows what else 2015 will bring? We're hoping for a less stressful year and wishing you a new year filled with health, happiness, travel and friendship!