Cory married Gill on September 21, 2002. The event at the Edmonton Golf and Country Club was terrific. The fall colors, and the hall overlooking lush fairways were great. We celebrated the big day by dancing the night away. The newlyweds left for their Bali honeymoon and returned exuberant by their experience. Just 5 days after their return home, terrorist bombs in Bali changed lives forever. Saddened with random politically motivated violence, we were also very grateful this horrific event missed our family.
Back home things continued much as they were, Gill working as a graphic designer at Edmonton Public Schools and Cory as a Financial Planner with TD Waterhouse. Then Gillian enrolled in The University of Reading’s Master’s degree in Graphic Design and they departed for England. Gill’s course load was demanding while Cory’s role was more ho-hum. He was a Computer Technician—labourer--in a computer refurbishing firm.
In the spring, we joined them for a few weeks. The United Kingdom is very nice—and pricey. Prices are similar to Canadian prices but you pay in pounds sterling—about 2.5 times our costs. Thank goodness Cory was able to land a job and still had time to join a cycling club. We found the weather better, the economy vibrant, and the country full of great stuff--old and new. I loved the Football (soccer) game we attended, in part because of the food. Pub food was even better. We left the kids for a canal boat excursion of one week with friends Dave and Barb. Imagine one week on a house boat 55’ long and 6’8” wide. Top speed was 4 or 5 miles per hour. Traveling 50 miles and back through the English countryside and innumerable towns, cities, and villages is a great way to slow down. Cory and Gill joined us on the boat one night and then took us on an excursion to the Scottish Highlands, Glasgow and Edinburgh for another week. I loved the Glasgow design school and museum Gill introduced us to.
The photo above shows the canal boat and Captain Cory. Gill is working the gates on a lock. Dave and Dale are both teachers.
Dale is in a customary pose--at Joanne's feet. You can see by how we're dressed that it is cold in the Highlands. This is a spot is credited as the inspiration of a Robert Burns poem inspiration with "Aberfeldy" in the title. It has nothing to do with Aberfeldy being the location of a Dewar’s Whiskey distillery, although the distillery is very nice too!
I liked England in part because I felt tall. Joanne and I are standing under a roof timber. I had to duck. Joanne didn't. I laugher at the understated English reminder, two kinds of duck.
Reading and Sunderland face-off in a "Championship" Divison game, second level league. Sunderland was playing to move up to the Premiership or first division. We went to the game by double decker public bus. Madeski Stadium is fairly new, named after the team owner and founder of the "Auto Trader" franchise. We sat in the section for "Home Fans." Visitors sat elsewhere. A child's ticket was 13 pounds sterling. 18,000 saw Reading lose. Fans thought the game was terrible but I liked it and the concession pastry was absolutely wonderful.
Dave and Barb, Cory and Gill, and Dale and Joanne are saying our good-byes at a pub in Reading. It was a great trip!
Last fall, Cory and Gill returned to Edmonton. Cory is back at the bank. After a few months he returned to form, ranking 11 out of 356 financial planners nationwide. Gill returned part-time to Edmonton Public and to a new role, teaching at the University of Alberta. Wanting to work more in her field of interest, information design, she recently accepted a new job. We’ll soon see her work in Alberta Venture and other magazines.
Jodi and Adam Dale and Joanne OUR FAMILY: March 2005 Career Paths: Dale Boddy Realtor with Century 21 Lesand Advantage: 1996 to Today
Superintendent of Schools: 1984 to 1994
School and District Administration: 1976
to 1984
Classroom Teacher: 1970 to 1977
