2011 NWT FireFighters Playdown in Fort Smith




Me, Leah and Al driking coffee and Bailey's on the plane ride for Fort Smith.

 

This past weekend was a blast.  Myself, Leah and the Fire Chief, Al German, travelled to Fort Smith for a pretty major bonspiel event.  Five teams from Hay River, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, an alumni team and Inuvik played for three days straight. 




Team Inuvik winning their one and only game.







Hey River winners.



Hay River took home the trophy.  Team Inuvik took home nothing but a hangover (and 4th place).  The winner gets to go to the firefighter nationals in Calgary at the end of March.  This event is a 10day competition involving departments across Canada. 

... another great lights night



Look really hard to see the Northern Lights.  (I'm still figuring out how to lengthen exposure!)

 So I finally figured out how to use my new camera. Funny that it is so hard to take simple photos.  This first photo includes a view of our new house (to the left). 

View from our back yard facing West. 

I should be sleeping right now instead of blogging.  My work day starts in 6 hours.  Good night!

Northern Lights

Photo taken from the ice road with a great view of the Inuvik town lights.

The past week has seen the most amazing Northern Lights.  Unfortunatlely I have been at work, and there is too much light to see them this well.  Photos are courtesy of Matt Hamilton, one of the ER nurses I work with.  Enjoy.

AMAZING

Government Curling Bonspiel

This past weekend myself and most of our nurse and doctor friends signed up for the annual Government Curling Bonspiel.  Unfortunately our team was absolutely horrible.  We were guaranteed three games, and yes, we lost all three of them.  I've decided that I am a terrible skip and it stresses me out.  I'm far too competitive!  We had mostly fun (when our skip wasn't screaming "hury hard!!!" at the top of her lungs).

Dr Bill, Amy, Lianne, Me and Dr Joe

...more sunrise festival.

 A couple of great shots taken by Shelter Lee, one of the locum physicians working at the hospital.  Enjoy!

My new house

new improved living room

NYE house party in the kitchen

As promised, I am catching up on some long over due blogging.  We officially moved into our new house on Boxing Day.  The upgrade was noticeable right away.  A heated garage for our boat, dishwasher, extra bedroom, huge living room, an actual dinning room for our kitchen table instead of a corner in the crammed living room, and best of all, no shared walls with other houses!

 The first photo is from NYE, we had a few people over first and then went to the Legion to dance up a storm.  From what I can remember, it was lots of fun



community at the huge bon fire; pre fireworks



pancake breakfast











. 

Yesterday, Saturday, was the towns big community celebration to welcome back the sunrise. It all starts with a free pancake breakfast at the Legion.  Later in the day,tThe fire department always puts together a huge bon fire and fireworks show.  This year it lasted almost a full half hour, not bad for a small town.  Everyone from town comes down to the golf course (yes, it has three holes, with three different tees at each; 9 holes!) to enjoy hot dogs, hot chocolate and warmth from the fire before the big show. This is the one and only time I have EVER seen a trafic jam in Inuvik.

relaxing after the fireworks show

Tomorrow a few of us are heading up to Tuktoyuktuk for a road trip. It's always fun going there with people who have never driven on the ice road. 

lights from the traffic jam heading back into town after the fireworks



YAHOO, THE SUN IS BACK!



Lunar Ecliple and Christmas at 12 Nanuk (the old house)



This past month of December has been by far the busiest of my life.  Busy with Christmas parties, gatherings and work.  During the full moon this winter we decided to go sliding on Boot Lake hill then go for hot chocolate and Bailey's at Judy and Nadine's.  This is the best group shot of us before the moon fully eclipsed.  It took a little longer than we anticipated, so we ended up horsing around for the most part.

Christmas this year was very rushed.  Both Meegan and I had to work, and all of the Bishop clan was up from Nova Sotia.  So while we worked, a fantastic meal was made including turkey, stuffing, and a few of our good friends.  We openned all of our gifts on Christmas eve, and had a good time sitting around and chatting. 

We moved into our new house on Boxing day, and I promise, the next posting will be soon and it will include photos of New Years Eve and of our new improved house. 

As for early January, the sun is back and we are having a big town celebration here tomorrow to welcome the light back.  I'll be busy with the fire department most of the day preparing fire works and a huge 250 wood palate bon fire.  Photos to come.

I miss you all!



 



Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!