on thursday, we returned to fintry.

we heard about the all clear, and debated what was the best thing to do. leave and risk evac three? or stay on at predator ridge? at the end, we decided to take it to the kids. (left: the cottage at fintry as seen from the water during the wonderful cruise we took courtesy of charles’ sister penny in july; maureen toasting the start of fintry way back at the beginning of july)

i briefly explained to them the options. at the end, i said, “what do you want to do, team?” and very quickly they all answered the same.
“go to fintry”
“fintry”
“i want to go back to fintry”
“can we go to fintry?”

it just proves that kids don’t need glamour. predator ridge is glamorous, fantastic, groomed, the units are excellent, with jetted tubs, aveda products, and so many other bonuses. fintry is none of this, and so much else. rooms to creep through, stories to make, docks to sit under, water to swim in or play with. (left: seb is thrown in the air by a friend at predator ridge after the 2nd evacuation from fintry; patrick, one of the many wonderful staff at predator ridge, takes the kids for a ride.)

after repeatedly and sincerely thanking the great staff at predator ridge, we headed into vernon, grabbed a&w drivethrough, and drove to fintry. we had to show a letter at the rcmp roadblock proving that we were indeed allowed to be at fintry, and then, we kept driving.

we drove down fintry delta road, saw how again how the park had turned into a base for the helicopters (one of them looked like mr snuffalufagus). then we parked, hauled in our suitcases (didn’t bother unpacking, we were still on alert), plunked down the a&w and told the kids to start eating. and then mum and i got to work.

the least pleasant job (and therefore the one we did first) was cleaning out both fridges. pretty vile. lettuces swimming in green water, mouldy meats, apples that collapsed when i touched them, cheese that was wearing a new white coat. milk that had turned, like darth vader, to the baddie side. but in time, we took care of this, and put in our newer groceries. tried to imagine how we were going to eat all the food and yet at the same time, what sort of meals we could make. after all, we were leaving on sunday! (left, cleaning the kitchen; the bbq splattered with fire retardant.)

lunch finished, the kids began playing, an intricate game of make believe.

then there was cleaning of the lawns, which had been deserted mid play. there were shirts, toys, shorts, (don’t’ forget, my kids are exhibitionists, clothes are shucked faster than corn) all over the lawn, now liberally sprinkled with fire retardant. the lawns needed watering. the flowers needed last rites. the bedrooms needed new sheets as they smelt like smoke. the whole place needed dusting as we had left some windows open. and the
kids played on except for one task (left) when they enthusiastically cleaned fire retardant off the lawn chairs and tables.

we stopped working, because we needed to savour our absolute contentment. even while we bustled about, pushing items in and out of the washing machine or dryer, we said to each other, “i am so happy to be here”. and we made countless cups of tea. (left, a typical content fintry moment at the end of the dock. unfortunately this was just prior to the 2nd evac; being with my dear friend charmaine, who kidnapped me from predator ridge for a day out after the 2nd evac, brought loads of contentment)

and the kids played on. changed games many times, but never once did they bother us unless it was to ask if we knew where something was. and if we didnt, they didn’t care.

dinner was so simple. can’t even remember what it was, but it was pretty effortless. there were three dozen eggs, so i am guessing eggs and toast soldiers, possibly??

and the rain was coming down. heavy. our fears of evacuation three dissolved as the much prayed for rain pelted into the scorched ground.

and did i mention that graeme arrived? we sat around and played a trivia game, and marvelled at blake’s myriad of useless information and how graeme can lipread. played it for two hours.

and that thursday night, as charles and i were reading in bed i heard a tread coming up the steps and it was pam and her boyfriend bob, who had left us 48 hours earlier from predator ridge…back! “the summer just didn’t feel over,” she said. (she’s having a baby in 16 days!!!) (left, mandy and I with pam just prior to her departure from predator ridge… but she couldn’t stay away!)

friday was blissful. a great day. pancakes, haircuts, fun. and the rain was coming down. friday night we had dinner with my friend derek. one of the highlights of this summer, one of the blessings of the evacuations was getting to know him again, if indeed we ever really knew each other! what a great guy. and eating indian food! it had been nearly a month since i had eaten indian!!

saturday, we started doing the clearing up work. packing up. cleaning. washing towels. scrubbing. graeme mowed the lawns. i still prayed over the flowers, because nothing else was going to save them!

and then, at 4.30, mum and i stopped working, (charles was still at the go karts with all four kids and bob) and we got all glam (ie: i put on a new shirt AND chapstick) and you ask why? well, because we were going to see rod stewart! my lovely husband bought us 11th row tickets!

it was a great concert. he played my three fave songs: 1) downtown train  2) rhythm of my heart  3) forever young

rod’s voice certainly shows his age (64!!) and in the early 2000’s, he had cancer of the larnyx, and had to re-learn how to sing. but i tell you, he has such charisma, that he could talk the lyrics and we would still be screaming. and scream we did. he still looks like a grasshopper, and makes me smile. a great concert, mum and i had a fabu time.

(from above left, the terrace mountain fire during the first evac; choppers re-loading near the fintry cottage afternoon of the second evac (bob crept through the woods to capture that pic!); driving during the second evac)

with the concert over rod begged us to stay and party with him but instead we drove home, ate a quick meal, and the next morning, we left fintry.

summer 2009 – not what we planned for, paid for…but looking back, there were some very good times. having such a wonderful first 10 days at fintry (the pirate party! karen, nearly naked grant, penny, doug, lita!) and then leaving, was tough…but our two short returns and the gorgeous people there, (wendy! robert!) made our time far precious and so appreciated. (left, penny’s daughter, emma, managed to drop by for a few minutes to greet us as we arrived at the vancouver airport in july. she poses here as mo and blake look on; the july fintry gang after a grand water fight where the kids ‘secured the creek’; pirate sela)

(above, grant on the boat ride; mom and me; penny with the triplets… all from the first part of the summer.)

thank you mum and dad for bearing with me, for staying and helping. for holding your tongues when i didn’t.

much more soon.