Classic, nearing the end & Winston

Classic is well underway and has been great so far. Last night was the 24 night. The game started off as a press conference, as President David Palmer is given an address to the public he is attacked and kidnapped, the kids then had to go round 24 different stations which included rescuing people from a burning school bus, swimming in the lake undetected, a paint ball maze, storming and storage container, using GPRS systems, running after terrorists, all the stations were pretty sweet. Then the end show of Jack capturing the terrorists was cool he blew them up with a bazooka. I now this all seems very far fetched you really need to be here to see it they did such a good job. Tonight is Ghost busters and it sounds like its going to be just as good.

John Duncan and Lorna Mc Causeland are over for a few days nice once again to see people from home. I had some experience meeting them at the airport I got down there ok and met them, came back up to the car and it would not start, I spent 4.5 hours in the car running here there and every where on the phone off the phone- rent a car / stay the night / tow the car!! Eventually we got sorting with a ride back to camp and got the car towed. As the car is being towed out of the airport we get stopped and asked to prove that we own the car cut long story short… I got interrogated by airport police to prove I was not trying to steal the car, turned out the police officers grandparents were from Belfast and she had heard of Muskoka Woods so it was all rosey in the end. Always love a good story.

Here's to "All areas on radio, all areas on radio as far as the office is aware all guests have been accounted for", Aerosmith- I don't want to miss a thing, "Layin down the craic since 1979", "You are a fruit, fruit not like fruit fruit but fruit, the kind that you eat!", Clifford, how much I love and will miss my tuck staff, the late show, peer pressure blurt, the grind patrol, a year to the day on Thursday, bent river pie, Rosseau ice cream, going to Toronto and not knowing where I'm staying on Saturday night and to an out standing summer... and being in denial that its drawing to a close.

Ukraine

I’ve been pretty homesick for Ukraine the past few days, its come up a lot in conversations about our passions and things we have done in the past and what we hope for in the future. I can’t wait to go back, I can’t wait to have an opportunity to lead another team. I could look at the picture of these kids for hours and remember so many wonderful memories. I hope that all the experience and character building I have got here in Canada will go to good use in future.

Pulling muscles, famous dogs & Classic

Continuing to have good times in Canada despite missing Ukraine and ill admit it home a wee bit, most other people are leaving so hearing them talk about home has made me slightly want to come home at the end of the summer but I know its right for me to still be here until Christmas.

Went out on a speed boat to Port Carling for dinner the other night and ran out of petrol on the way back on the main channel of Lake Rosseau at 11pm at night, was pretty funny we had to phone the woods and get someone to come and tow us back in! Was pretty sweet lying in a boat drifting and looking at the stars, saw 3 shooting stars.

Went out for dinner last night to Bent River it was a normal night until my friend Caitlin said lets do a drive by of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s house which is 5 min drive from camp. We reach the entrance of their house which may I add you cant even see it from the road and 2 dogs come out Caitlin and Melissa jump out to play with them and as it turns out we (and by we I mean they) played with their dogs!! Next thing we hear a whistle and a guy shouting so we jumped in the car and legged it! Very very random!!

I can’t believe it’s the last week so summer next week. When I came back to Canada after Christmas I thought September was so far away and now I wish it would never come. The last week is called ‘classic’ and from what I’ve heard it’s going to be crazy!! They put 60% of the summer budget into classic alone! So the shows, games, snacks are going to be amazing! The theme nights from what I have heard so far include 24, Heroes and ghost busters and from what I’ve seen of Muskoka Woods so far they don’t do things by half its going to be a sweet week.

Here’s to “Hey I think we used to be related”, “Our cabin sucks… oh wait we have a black counselor SICK!!, The tuck staff playing pranks, driving to the airport on Saturday for the first time, impact, listening to fix you, watching the show at Cleveland’s house, seeing a snapping turtle, “imagine if I was this tall!?” and to pulling muscles.

Pictures: Top my good friends Chris, Erika & Joni, then Cailtin and I with possibly Goldie & Kurts dogs, then myself with 2 of the tuck girls.

"Yeah", beechwood banter & 16k

Been having the best time recently. Although I am for sure burning the candle on both ends. In bed earliest 12.30-1am and up everyday at 5.30am except for one day a week! All my own fault. I can’t believe that apart from being home at Christmas for 2 weeks I’ve pretty much now been here a year!! And what a fantastic year it has been!!

Have been tubing a few times… great banter one of the times I got thrown off we were going so fast that I skimmed across the water on my back- it was pretty sick! I’m going water skiing on Tuesday so hopefully that will be just as good fun. Hopefully going down to Toronto with the guys from Northern Ireland for a few days after the summer I’m really going to miss them when they go. But will be great to have get together at Christmas.

Still continuing to train for the Toronto half marathon, I’m running in the gym every morning and doing long runs every Sunday, last Sunday I ran 16k and I have to do the same this Sunday, my recovery time is getting better and I’m not in as much pain.

Work itself is sweet to the beat, I know what I’m doing and all the staff love me, I have to say I have become pretty attached to them will be very sad to say goodbye to them.

Here’s to “Yeah”, the Stanley cup being flown in with Brad May [Stanley cup is an ice hockey tournament, very big here, at home it would have been like Wayne Rooney flying in with the premiership trophy], “I resent that comment”, playing 1,2,3, to late night break out cabin chats which involved hiding from night watch, hiding behind a tree from night watch, to getting caught by night watch!, Johnny and his very annoying torch, not having to move house in the fall, Bex and Tash watching 24, falling asleep watching the Bourne Ultimatum- on both visits to the cinema, the boys spraying the van with fabreeze, to my first cup of tea, going to bent river for dinner, our day trip to Barrie and to lying in until 7.45am tomorrow!!

Pictures: Mike, myself and Johnny during beechwood banter, then Brad May with the Stanley cup.Would you belief the NHL employ 2 people full time to look after the cup?!

Good times

Had some great times recently, I went tubing and thought I was going to pull my arms out of their sockets, ran in a 10k race and finished, played some new games, made new friends and stayed up late to many nights. The latest news is that I have changed the dates of my flights and I’m coming home in December instead of September. So home in time for Christmas. I’m working at the Woods in September then I’m heading out west for a while not 100% of the plans yet apart from visiting my old bosses in Vancouver. Then if need be I can come back and work here until I fly home. It’s going to be very hard to leave this place…

Here’s to putting a bin with a dead rotting mouse floating in water in Luke’s cabin, creeping facebook, the ski show, free flurries, "If one of them accidently kissed you. would you be mad?!" driving to Bracebridge for the first time, golf cart creeping, hook, to how much I love all the Northern Ireland guys, falling asleep at the cinema, being shouted at in the cinema, the prank war between sizzle and andy, flurry dates, being the favorite, "You shut your mouth when your talking to me!", and to Lindsay wanting me to change the picture!!