Merry Christmas to All!
We hope all is well with you and your family as you prepare for 2017.
2016 has been a busy year with quite a few changes. In early March, Meghan signed a job offer to
join a new non-profit, Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping, as the Research
Manager. She loves her new job, immersed in how to make Canadian shipping safer and more
sustainable.
In April, we joined Driftwood Village Cohousing to create a community with others who share our
values and interests – kayaking, gardening, cycling – and a lifestyle based on cooperation,
sustainability, and caring for our neighbours. We are now closing in on land to purchase in North
Vancouver for our eventual new home with about 20 other households.
In May, Matt presented his first co-authored paper at a conference as a first step toward his
Master’s program. Cunningly, one of his co-authors was his intended supervisor, and as planned,
his application to undertake an M.A.Sc. in the UBC Mining Engineering program was accepted for
September. He’s balancing school and work with a 40/60 split of his time and will start TA’ing in
January. His supervisor is looking forward to taking advantage of Matt’s “senior engineer” skills!
We never get enough kayaking in, but we did do three-day trips from Saltspring Island on the May
and September long weekends (taking advantage of Matt’s parents’ wonderful hospitality both
times), a two-day trip up Indian Arm on the July long weekend, day excursions from PEI, the Bay of
Fundy, and our most ambitious kayaking day yet: the Round Bowen Challenge of 35 nautical miles
in 5 hours. We were the only participants relaxed (or slackers) enough to stop for lunch!
In June, we again participated in the MS Bike Tour to raise money for MS research and treatment
– this year, Meghan was well enough to get back on her bike and Matt cycled behind her to carry
snacks and provide encouragement.
On Father’s day weekend, we shared our big news with our families by giving each of the
prospective grandparents a sign. However, “Grandma’s Kitchen”, “Grandpa’s Fishing Spot”,
“Grandma’s Garden”, and “Grandpa’s Workshop” were overly subtle clues, so we had to tell our
niece Hannah she was getting a new cousin for Christmas before the penny dropped. We went to
the Forest Museum for a picnic the next day, and Matt got his very first parenting perk – the
Father’s Day discount.
We became recurring Vancouver Symphony Orchestra patrons this year to take advantage of
shows like Rocket Man featuring astronaut Chris Hadfield, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s
Stone, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. We’re looking forward to the VSO
version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in April.
In August, we spent two weeks touring the Maritimes with our friends Tish, James, and their
daughter Charlotte. We stayed in Halifax, Cape Breton, Cavendish on PEI, the Bay of Fundy, and
Lunenberg, eating lobster and looking at rocks pretty much everywhere we stopped. Matt has
decided we need to return to the Bay of Fundy so we can discover a dinosaur fossil and really good
amethyst samples. Meghan can always eat more lobster.
The fall has been busy with Matt’s schoolwork and preparing for our biggest life-change yet.
People keep asking us if we’re ready – we don’t think anyone ever really is.
We hope 2017 brings you the very best!
We hope all is well with you and your family as you prepare for 2017.
2016 has been a busy year with quite a few changes. In early March, Meghan signed a job offer to
join a new non-profit, Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping, as the Research
Manager. She loves her new job, immersed in how to make Canadian shipping safer and more
sustainable.
In April, we joined Driftwood Village Cohousing to create a community with others who share our
values and interests – kayaking, gardening, cycling – and a lifestyle based on cooperation,
sustainability, and caring for our neighbours. We are now closing in on land to purchase in North
Vancouver for our eventual new home with about 20 other households.
In May, Matt presented his first co-authored paper at a conference as a first step toward his
Master’s program. Cunningly, one of his co-authors was his intended supervisor, and as planned,
his application to undertake an M.A.Sc. in the UBC Mining Engineering program was accepted for
September. He’s balancing school and work with a 40/60 split of his time and will start TA’ing in
January. His supervisor is looking forward to taking advantage of Matt’s “senior engineer” skills!
We never get enough kayaking in, but we did do three-day trips from Saltspring Island on the May
and September long weekends (taking advantage of Matt’s parents’ wonderful hospitality both
times), a two-day trip up Indian Arm on the July long weekend, day excursions from PEI, the Bay of
Fundy, and our most ambitious kayaking day yet: the Round Bowen Challenge of 35 nautical miles
in 5 hours. We were the only participants relaxed (or slackers) enough to stop for lunch!
In June, we again participated in the MS Bike Tour to raise money for MS research and treatment
– this year, Meghan was well enough to get back on her bike and Matt cycled behind her to carry
snacks and provide encouragement.
On Father’s day weekend, we shared our big news with our families by giving each of the
prospective grandparents a sign. However, “Grandma’s Kitchen”, “Grandpa’s Fishing Spot”,
“Grandma’s Garden”, and “Grandpa’s Workshop” were overly subtle clues, so we had to tell our
niece Hannah she was getting a new cousin for Christmas before the penny dropped. We went to
the Forest Museum for a picnic the next day, and Matt got his very first parenting perk – the
Father’s Day discount.
We became recurring Vancouver Symphony Orchestra patrons this year to take advantage of
shows like Rocket Man featuring astronaut Chris Hadfield, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s
Stone, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. We’re looking forward to the VSO
version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in April.
In August, we spent two weeks touring the Maritimes with our friends Tish, James, and their
daughter Charlotte. We stayed in Halifax, Cape Breton, Cavendish on PEI, the Bay of Fundy, and
Lunenberg, eating lobster and looking at rocks pretty much everywhere we stopped. Matt has
decided we need to return to the Bay of Fundy so we can discover a dinosaur fossil and really good
amethyst samples. Meghan can always eat more lobster.
The fall has been busy with Matt’s schoolwork and preparing for our biggest life-change yet.
People keep asking us if we’re ready – we don’t think anyone ever really is.
We hope 2017 brings you the very best!