Monday, December 22 to Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (Coquitlam and Courtenay)

As we were getting packed and ready to leave Rob and Angie's Monday morning (Dec. 22), we heard that all ferries going to the mainland had been cancelled due to wind. We thought this rather odd since it wasn't at all windy here, but I guess the wind is at the mainland end (Tsawwassen Terminal). We decided to go to the Swartz Bay Terminal anyway. We had reservations for the 11:00 sailing, so arrived at the terminal at 10:00. The lineup outside the terminal was slow going but when we finally got up to the wicket we were told that our reservation was automatically cancelled when the sailing was cancelled and that a refund would be processed within the next few days. We had the option of coming into the compound and waiting...at this point all sailings had been cancelled until 7:00 p.m., or make a reservation for another day. We decided to wait, so paid and went into the compound. Steve has a dermatology appointment tomorrow morning and besides, trying to book on a future sailing would be nearly impossible. I went on the BC Ferry app to find that there were over 6,000 people waiting in the que to make reservations. So began our day waiting...ugh!

We did find out that as long as you have your ticket receipt with you, you are able to leave the compound (on foot). So just before noon, we left the car and compound and walked the 12 minutes to the Stonehouse Restaurant and Pub, located at Canoe Cove Marina.

Luckily it wasn't busy when we arrived but that soon changed...

We enjoyed the burger and beer special and then walked back up the hill to the ferry terminal and compound where we sat in the car filling our time watching TV on Steve's iPad.

At about 4:30 I received a text from Chris (our son) that it looked like they had now put on a 6:00 sailing. I double checked the app and sure enough, instead of the next sailing at 7:00, it had been changed to 6:00. Yay! Not having reservations for the 6:00 sailing, we weren't sure if we would make it but luckily we did. As a matter of fact, some vehicles in our line didn't have drivers...I guess they had left the compound thinking the sailing wouldn't be until 7:00 and weren't back yet. 

We arrived at Chris and Angela's at 8:30...glad to finally be there!

Tuesday morning (Dec. 23) Steve had an appointment with his dermatologist. He "zapped" (with nitrogen) a spot on his face that he had removed last month and then removed another spot from his chest. We'll wait for the pathology results on it.

Once back at Chris's, we relaxed for a bit and then the five of us went to Browns Social House for lunch...

Afterwards, Angela and I went to do some final grocery shopping for Christmas Eve and Day.

Wednesday morning (Dec. 24)...Christmas Eve Day...was spent preparing dishes for both tonight and breakfast tomorrow. 

By 4:30 we were all cleaned up and ready to head over to Angela's parents place for a huge family dinner and White Elephant gift exchange. Isaac's all ready to go!

The table is set for 22...

A short 9 second video with all the family at the table. Our hosts, Angela's parents Luigi and Lucy at the start... 

After dinner, there was a knock on the door...and who was it? Santa! Handing out candy canes...

Goodbye Santa!

The menu was seafood which everyone brought...from spaghetti with baby clams in the shell, bacon-wrapped scallops, salmon, garlic tiger prawns to mixed seafood buns....oh and so much more! And all so delicious!

After stuffing ourselves, we headed upstairs to the living room and the White Elephant gift exchange. We're ready!

But first, the kids (Isaac and Olivia) were allowed to open their gifts from under the tree. Angela with her brother Joe, wife Amanda and daughter Olivia...and Isaac checking out the gifts...

Angela's other brother, Marco, added to the picture above...

A 17 second video of the folks in the room and Isaac opening a gift...

It was a pretty wild time with gift choosing and stealing...a very boisterous time! But so much fun! At one point, there was one gift that was being stolen by each of Angela's brothers and cousins...too funny!

Family on the left...Amanda, Joe, with Olivia in front; centre...Marco and Dorothy in front; and right...Chris, Angela with Isaac in front...

After a fabulous time, it was time to get home before Santa came! Thanks so much to the Marzitelli family....what a feast and what a blast!

Back home at Chris's, before going in we had to take a look (and some pictures) of the light display two doors down...

Wow!

Cookies and eggnog put out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer outside on the porch...

Thursday (Dec. 25)....

Christmas morning at Chris and Angela's with a very excited Isaac...

He even read the Christmas cards he received...

Thank you Chris and Angela!

We cooked our traditional Christmas morning dish...known widely as 'Wife Saver' (I just call it egg puff), along with bacon and English muffins.

Then it was time to get the turkey in the oven...Angela had prepare the stuffing yesterday... a sausage, bread and mozzarella recipe from her mom. Chris used the wireless meat thermometer we gave him for his birthday last July. It worked well and certainly took the guess work out of it.

There was the usual scramble at the last minute, trying to get everything on the table. But there was lots of help! In addition to turkey, Joe and Amanda brought ham, and we had all of the wonderful sides.

Steve took a picture from each end of the table...left to right around the table...Olivia, Amanda, Lucy (Angela's mom), Marion and Danny (Amanda's parents), Luigi (Angela's dad), me, Chris, Joe...

...and Angela and Isaac...

A lovely Christmas!

Although there was rain in the forecast, it wasn't raining Friday morning (Dec. 26) when we decided to go to Mundy Park for a walk. 

Another small lake...

Unfortunately, it started misting lightly occasionally, so we headed back to the car but we still managed just shy of a 3 km (1.86 mile) walk...

We went to Mariner Brewing for a brew and a snack (Isaac had the most delicious looking smash burger)...

Saturday (Dec. 27) was a very cool day but there was some much welcomed blue sky breaking through the clouds. We went to Rocky Point Park for a walk first along a forested trail. The snow topped mountains are beautiful...

On our return we headed to the pier...

Walking down the pier...

We were surprised to see a few guys Hydrofoil Boarding so stopped to watch. A 1:01 minute video...

Birdhouses on the wooden piling...

And of course, a selfie...but it was really hard looking into the sun (Steve was the only one with sunglasses!)...

Sunday (Dec. 28)  we had a pretty chill day...until 4:00 when we headed out to Lafarge Lake to see the light display...

Lafarge Lake lights (Lights at Lafarge) is a popular, free annual winter event in Coquitlam, BC, featuring over 100,000 festive lights and displays around the lake from late November to mid-February, offering a magical, illuminated walk with photo opportunities and themed zones for families and visitors to enjoy. The lights are on nightly from around 4 PM to 11 PM, with extended hours on New Year's Eve, and visitors can enjoy the illuminated 1.2 km pathway around the lake, often with food vendors and easy access via SkyTrain

Here is a 30 second video of Lafarge Lake Christmas display ...

This was the start...

If you'd like to see all the pictures Steve took check out this album... 2025 Christmas Light Display at Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam. Very impressive...but very, very busy!

Monday (Dec. 29) and time to head back to Vancouver Island. We had reservations on the 12:45 ferry to Duke Point, just south of Nanaimo. So at about 10:30 Steve had the car packed and with big hugs, we said goodbye to Chris, Angela and Isaac. Thanks so much for a wonderful week! It was great spending Christmas with you and the Marzitelli family!

Now that Buster is sold, we are starting to look for a used pickup truck and both Steve and I spent a fair amount of time researching websites, especially since we are on the mainland where there is more of a selection. There was one that caught our eye and it ended up being in Duncan, on Vancouver Island. Since we were a little early for our reservation window for the ferry, we stopped at Tsawwassen Mills (a huge mall near the ferry terminal) and called the dealership in Duncan. The truck was still available, so we said we'd be there at about 3:45...it's a 2 hour ferry ride, plus another 40 minute drive out of our way down to Duncan. 

Well...guess what? We both loved the truck! It's a 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 5.3L 4X4 with the advanced trailering system, was first registered in 2023 and has less than 25,000 km/15,534 miles on it. Apparently the average yearly mileage driven in BC is 20,000 km/12,427 miles. It's in showroom condition with not a mark on it inside or out! Steve was actually looking for a 2020ish GMC but we couldn't turn this one down. 

I had been texting with Deb (and Ray) who live in Lake Cowichan, 25 minutes away and she suggested we come stay the night with them rather than drive the 2 hours home in the dark. We took them up on their offer! So with financing in place (we also had to go to our bank for a bank draft as our down payment), and insurance purchased, we pulled out of Island Chevrolet Buick and GMC just before 6:30 and were on our way to Ray and Deb's. I led the way in the car with Steve following in our new truck.

Ray had picked up a couple of pizzas for dinner and had poured cold beer ready for us. What service! So very glad we didn't drive home...it was nice to relax after quite a frenzy few hours at the dealership.

Tuesday morning (Dec. 30) as we were getting ready to leave Steve took this picture of our new purchase. Ray and Deb had even placed a red bow on the windshield!

We said goodbye and were on the road heading home just after 9:30. Thanks so very much for your hospitality Deb and Ray, we truly appreciated it!

Wednesday (Dec. 31) I picked up some groceries, leaving Steve at home to read the truck manual...there are so many bells and whistles! It's going to take us awhile to learn all this new technology.

That evening, we headed over to Earl and Allison's for New Year's Eve...friends of theirs, Barb and Michelle also joined us. We had a wonderful feast of Chinese Food...Allison, Michelle, Earl, Barb, me and Steve...

After dinner we relaxed in front of the TV watching NYE celebrations around the world. We wished everyone all the best in 2026 and headed home just after 9:30.