Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
John & Eleanor Coulthard
December, 2006
Christmas greetings! We always
enjoy hearing from our friends at least once a year and we hope you do
too! This season finds us healthy and happy once again. We are still
doing our cruising and singing our hearts out.
A highlight for us this year was a wonderful singing trip to the Czech
Republic in July, mainly Prague but including trips to Saltzburg and
Budapest. The three weeks were both a travel and a musical delight. We
were able to sing our hearts out in the largest choir (almost 50
people) we have participated in yet and were able to do so in a variety
of gorgeous historical churches. What fun! The above picture was taken
in the church we sang in at Saltzburg. We are circled to make it easier
for you to pick us out. Our final performance, complete with a small
orchestra, was in the St. Nicholas Church in Prague. Here is an
example of our choir singing.(3mb mp3 file - 2.57 min).If you are
interested in hearing more musical selections from our tour
check out Peter Dent's website at www.peterdent.com
near the bottom of the page. 
In the spring we organized a "Celebration of Life" for Eleanor's
Mom, Margie, who passed away at the age of 93 in Oliver on
November 28, last year. The weekend turned into a marvelous family get
together for Margie's side of the family, the McConnachies, and
was greatly enjoyed by all. The McConnachies were originally from
Scotland. The original McConnachie homestead near the site of the
Auchidoun Castle, north of Aberdeen is still operating and a trip to
the old farm and castle may be in our future.
The summer choir
tour cut into our cruising time on our sailboat Galiander but we did
get some local cruising done around the Southern Gulf Islands before
and after we went to Europe. We especially enjoyed entertaining friends
in the Desolation Sound area. As a bonus the sailing was great during
our passages. The picture on the right shows Eleanor and John with
Poppy and Hans (Christy's parents) at the Heriot Bay Inn on Quadra
Island during one of our stop overs.We were away during the big forest
fire on Galiano, which thankfully, was never close to our home.
We are certainly happy with our wonderful family and grandchildren. On
November 14th this year Mike and Christy blessed us with a fourth
beautiful grandchild, Jessica Francis (below).On the right is a picture
taken in Oliver this spring of our offspring: Mike, Christy with
Tyler(2) on top and Kathy, Doug, Michaela(4) and Maile(2).
When we are not traveling we keep active in the arts
community on Galiano and John continues to volunteer at the local
library and is the Coordinator (President) of the local recycling
society.
Live is good! Long live the warmth and comfort of family and friends.
Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
John & Eleanor.
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