Welcome back. I have had a bad case of the flu over the past couple of days - starting on Christmas Day (ps I had the flu shot and it didn't work!). After being in the house for so many days I started to feel better enough to return to work (that always happens) and now I am in a vacation period based around the soon to be New Years Day.

The weather has mirrored my health and it has been wet, grey and cold. Uncle Joe has decided to rescue us and proposes a far journey to the north to visit the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. He promises it would be sunny. Ann and Kevin are working so Erin and I join Joe and make the trek, passing through several weather systems along the way - mostly cloudy and snowy. North of Orillia the sun does come out to play and it turns into a beautiful day. It looks like this section of Muskoka had quite a snowfall the previous day, trees are covered with snow along one face, and the drifts look menacing.

Passing the Severn bridge along Highway 11 we come upon the Centre and are the first customers, waiting in the car for the place to open at 12 noon. The entrance costs are reasonable and we wander inside the entrance building looking at snakes, skunks and turtles then head outside, suitably bundled for hours out in the cold, and wander the paths looking at all the animals. The animals are all natural to Canada and for whatever reason cannot be released into the wilds so they are looked after at the centre. We find wolverines, moose, lynx, eagles, wolves, cougar and fisher. We missed the beaver, fox, bear and raccoon because they would not come out of hiding (or sleeping).

Joe and Erin sit in the snow bank beside the cougar and bear pen. The bear did not come out to play but the cougar wandered the cage. The cougar's name was Kokanee and when Joe made a huffing sound as the cougar passed, the cougar dropped to his back and side on the snow and acted just like a house cat about to be petted, although we did not hear him purr.

We wander back inside for a "Meet the Creature" event where they bring out a snake, a famous groundhog (he was in a Tim Hortons commercial, see above - no, higher than Erin) and a skunk - descented luckily. The groundhog was very cute and just sat up chewing on some food while we got a close up look.

Our plans for New Years Eve just had us going to the Dodge Rodeo, but we found out it is a big event including dinner, dance and fireworks and so have decided not to go. I hope your plans for the night work out - have fun.

A cutout of a fisherman waits patiently along the edges of a frozen Fairy Lake - hoping for a big strike. Most of the lake is frozen and I count three skating rinks, existing or being built, during this fantastic, sunny, winter day in early January 2009. A couple of ice fishermen, below, are taking their gear out onto the ice. They make a quick detour to talk to one guy building an ice rink.

The water at the dam beside Mill Street West continues to run as the spray freezes onto the low hanging branches.

A blast from our past, Sue W, drops by for a quick visit in between her volunteer duties for the Humane Society. Ann and I worked with Sue at the famous and fun Brampton Keg when it was located at the four corners. There are a few pictures of the Keg staff, including Sue, at my bothers webpage here. Sue was amazing - favourite to both staff and customers, always friendly and in a great mood.

I went with Joe to the Canadian Motorsports Expo at the Toronto Congress Centre and there were some Hooters girls greeting the crowds - I think there also may have been some racecars at the show!