Hello. This blog is very late. I’m sorry! Here’s what I did the December 14-15 weekend 🙂
Friday
Sylvia… Friday isn’t the weekend yet.
I know. BUT I went to the Spruce Kings’ Drop the Gloves and Sock It To ‘Em with some of my friends! I was pretty excited because all of the mitts, socks, scarves, okay you get the point, goes to the St. Vincent de Paul Society! So it stays local and helps people, which is amazing!
The game was fun, asides from the fact that I was frantically trying to finish my last university assignment during intermission hehe.
The Kings won the game and when the first goal was scored, lots of mitts and toques (amongst other things) were thrown onto the ice. It was exciting!
Saturday
I started the day off at the Winterfest Craft Fair at the Civic Centre!
I walk in, and right away I see one of my mom’s really good friends. I spent some time chatting with her, tried an amazing cupcake and then started to explore to see what other vendors were set up at the fair.
I had a blast. After going to so many craft fairs in a short period of time, I became friends with a lot of the vendors. They are so friendly and nice and I could honestly just spend the rest of the day talking with all of them (and other people who I run in to!)
I ran into Andrew, who taught me how to shoot a gun (remember that time??), my friends who I met at the Ferndale Craft fair, the awesome guy from Mountain Air Kettle Corn (he gave me a snowcone and everyone was laughing at how blue my mouth was!) and others who I’ve met over the past few months (the list could go on and on!). And like always, I ran into some other friends!
When I told people about this craft fair, I described it as “if you haven’t found a Christmas present for someone yet, you’ll find it here.” There was something for everyone there and it wasn’t overwhelmingly packed. At times I wish I brought money, but like I’ve said before, I would have spent it all!
After spending some time at the Civic Centre, I made my way up to the Small Business Fair at the Roll-A-Dome!
Again, lots of great vendors there! I even ran into Sam, who I hung out with on the second day of Hit to Pass and she gave me the whole rundown on the event (Hit to Pass, not the Small Business Fair). I took pictures, looked at all the neat stuff that was for sale and made my way over to Peden Hill Elementary School.
Sylvia… it’s a Saturday. Why are you going to an elementary school on a weekend. And aren’t you an adult?
Yes. I’m “technically” an adult but the Special Olympics Floor Hockey team was taking on the Cariboo Cougars and I did not want to miss it!
I walked in as they were in the middle of play, but when Marinka saw me, she yelled out my name, and I didn’t intend for this to happen, but the game just stopped. I’M SORRY OKAY!!😭
They took a break and we got a big team picture. It was awesome! Everyone’s spirits were high and I was so excited to watch some of my favourite people go up against the Cariboo Cougars!
After hanging out at Peden Hill for a bit, I made my way over to the oval for pictures with Santa!
I was instantly excited because I saw my really good friend Dick! I then got a picture with Santa and the Elf and then one with Santa, the Elf and Dick! It was awesome. There were lots of people skating around and getting pictures, even a family from Australia! I spoke to one of them and she was telling me that this was one of her first times on her skates (and that she was having a blast!)
I love the oval. I have really great memories there and it makes me really happy to see so many people use it!
To end the day, I went up to Petland to say hi to Rick who was on location and say hi to Andrea from Luv 4 Paws. She was hosting a fundraiser for her organization with pictures with Santa!
Sunday
Like the day before, I started my day at Winterfest. There were some new vendors there, I ran into one of my former teachers and spoke to more vendors. I wasn’t there for very long this time, but had a blast while I was there!
I then made my way up to the Small Business Fair, again. I walked around a little more than the day before and spoke many different vendors, including local artist Hannah Mink, who had just gotten back from California an art convention!
Before heading up to the Hart, I made a quick stop at the Connaught Youth Centre for another Jumpy Fun Kids Weekend event with big jumpy castles. The kids who were there were definitely having a blast!
After spending some time there, I drove up to the Hart Ski Hill…
And…
I got lost first…
I’M SORRY!!! I’m never in the Hart and I had never been to the Hart Ski Hill! I kn0w, it’s terrible.
So when I finally get there, some random guy starts waving at me. I promise, I don’t need glasses; I was just too far away to see who it was. Well, turns out it was my friend Angus, so it wasn’t a random guy! Pweph!
When I was there, I realized that I really want to learn how to snowboard. SO BADLY! Okay, it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do since I was 7…. maybe I’ll around to learning how to do it over sometime this winter…
I ran into Mandy from MP Makeup Artistry and a few other friends, and talked to some very excited kids who were PUMPED that the ski hill was open!
After hanging out in the Hart for a bit, (I’ll be honest, I’ve spent more time in the Hart because of FunChasing than I ever have in my life!) and went to Otway for the Winter Nordic Festival, where the jolly old man himself was going to be there!
I get to Otway, grab my signs, go into the hut and discover that Santa’s hut is 1KM down the trail.
Okay, so it’s not *that big of a deal.* But I was only wearing my Stan Smiths and wool socks. Not ideal footwear for walking in the snow. But, I did not let that stop me and started walking.
As I was walking, I met some really cool people and had great conversations with them. The kids were really excited that I worked for 101.3 The River.
My walk seemed to go on for forever. I didn’t think there would be an end! Thankfully, my feet were not getting cold and the sun hadn’t completely disappeared!
And then…
I turned a corner…
And boom. People. Skis. Hot cider (that was NOT spiked. Don’t worry, I’m a responsible 18 year old). And. Santa’s. Hut.
I was there.
I ran into… are you ready?? Can you handle what I’m about to say?
I ran into some kids I coached and people I know!
WOW WHAT A SHOCKER!
It was really nice to see them and see how they are doing and how they’re winter was going!
After talking for a bit, I went into Santa’s hut. I was very excited to see Santa!
And then I realized who Santa was and I was even more excited!
It was my good friend Dick!
I got to talk with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a bit and see how they were doing.
I ran into some more kids who I coached and they didn’t recognize me because apparently I don’t look like Sylvia with a toque on??? The things you learn…
Once I had some non-spiked cider, talked to my good friend Susanne, and had a few cookies (which were AMAZING!), I made the dreaded trek back to the Jeep. In the dark. In the woods. In sneakers. Was I regretting my decision? No. I was not. Because I love my Stan Smiths.
So I headed back. And I kept going. Walking in the dark, in an unfamiliar forest, with skiers and walkers everywhere, was interesting. I didn’t want to get runover!
I made my way back to the Jeep and then back to the station. By then, I was getting a little cold, but the FunChaser has heated seats so I was fine 😉
See you next weekend PG✌️
Sylvia, the FunChaser