Boxing Day Epic

Yesterday was our busiest and noisiest day yet of the Christmas holidays in that we were at my sister in law, Valerie’s place, for the family dinner — which is normally on Christmas Eve but, because of work and other commitments by the young’uns, everything was moved.

It also meant my sister in law was the one on driving duties. She had to come all the way from to Beaupre coast to pick us up, and then, head out of town into the sticks to collect my nephew, Cedrik. Before taking us all back up the coast to collect the mother in law. This journey, on a good day, would normally take about 45 minutes (with clear roads) but, due to it being early morning, Boxing Day, the plan went out the window, as it were, and the journey, due to traffic snarls at all the major intersections, took us an twice as long: 95 minutes to be exact.

Truely I have never seen so much traffic on the road. Everyone, and I mean half the population of the city, were in their cars determined to go to the Boxing Day sales at one mall or another.

It. Was. Insane. Out. There!

Crazies aside. Being late back to Valerie’s meant all hands on deck to start peeling veggies and getting various things ready and or cooked; except the turkey, thank god, which Valerie had cooked Christmas Eve. Throw in two LARGE excitable Newfoundland dogs demanding attention and belly rubs, and it was none stop chaos.

All the rushing was for naught as my nephews partner was working and got off work late, and then, had to drive out of town just as everyone else were leaving the malls for home. So, of course, it took her twice as long to get to us. I guess a late dinner is better than no dinner, right?

Anyway, in the end, all was well, we ate, we drank, and we made merry as if it were Christmas Eve, and enjoyed ourselves. Oh, and what did I get for Christmas from everyone?