Master of Global Affairs

Tim graduated from the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto yesterday with his Masters and is now officially a "Master of Global Affairs". He will jet over to the UK to sort out Brexit just as soon as he has sorted out Trump over here. And after he's worked out how not to fall into the ornamental pond at the Graduation celebration...

On the occasion of Jim's 103rd and with Kate's centennial just around the corner, I was set to thinking how proud they would both be of all six of their wonderful grandchildren. Living in six different countries, happy and successful - I am sure that they are very content.

Happy Birthday, Pop 🥃

103 today!    Love you always xxxx

Can anyone believe Jim has been gone twelve years now ?  God bless... I miss you more than you could ever know....I hope you found some good fishing....In fact I think you took it with you !

Can anyone believe Jim has been gone twelve years now ?  God bless... I miss you more than you could ever know....I hope you found some good fishing....In fact I think you took it with you !

Pete.

O Sole Mio

Forty years ago I promised Dara that I would take her on a serenaded gondola ride in Venice before it sank beneath the waves... Just made it in time!

The Grandparents Memorial Bench

There is now a bench at the cottage overlooking the lake as a place to remember Jim and Kate. I think they would be very happy with the view and it's a nice place to think of good times...All are welcome to come visit and sit on the bench...

And a good time was had by all...except the chicken!

June 8th, 2016

Happy Birthday, Pop.........102 today!  🎉💕🥂🍾🍹 🥃🎂🎊🎈
Love you xxxxxx

PETE EVENTUALLY FINDS HIS CALLING ! ! !

AND THE VIEW FROM HERE IS SUBLIME …...

The Golden Road to Samarkand

JBeen following part of the old Silk Route through Uzbekistan........really friendly people and stunning architecture........Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent (and a desert!)

St Lucia Serenity

After two weeks of the most consistently cold temperatures we can ever remember in Toronto (-20 to -37), it was good to feel some Caribbean sunshine on the skin last week. We were recording an on-location Travel Show in St Lucia where we had the onerous task of experiencing a new luxury resort called Serenity at Coconut Bay. Recording interviews by the pool sure beats the dingy radio station studio in Toronto... Long sunset walks on the beach and our own butler to run our bath and mix our cocktails...maybe we should consider this place for the family gathering??

HOME AND AWAY !!!!

BELATED HAPPY NEW NEW YEAR FROM THE BOUGHTONIANS..........

NOT SURE WHO IS WHERE AT PRESENT  ( ABOUT PAR FOR THE COURSE ) BUT HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS ... OOOPS  DONT KNOW IF THAT WORD IS NOW OFFENSIVE OR NOT !!   WE SPENT OURS WITH JAMIE CLARE AND MAX IN PORTUGAL AND WERE BLESSED WITH BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND EVEN WARMER HOSPITALITY...A BIT DIFFERENT FROM HOME (THE WEATHER THAT IS ! ) .. JUST GUESSING AT EVERY ONES WHEREABOUTS  THE RAVENTHORPIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIGGING THEMSELVES OUT OF 20 FOOT SNOW DRIFTS IN THE ALPS ..SO THE SKIING WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT....THE SPRATTONIAN AND SINGAPORIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN MELTING IN 120 DEGREE AUSTRALIAN SUNSHINE TRYING TO AVOID BEING RUN DOWN BY KANGKAROOS...AND THE CANADIANS AND SWISSARIANS MUST HAVE SPENT ALL THE TIME DEFROSTING EACH OTHER FROM THE ICE STORMS THAT KEPT HITTING THEM  ( GREAT PIC OF YOU ALL IN THE PICKUP TRUCK....WHOS WAS THAT ? )  DID YOU HAVE A DIP IN THE LAKE ?  I WAS SURPRISED THAT YOU COULD REACH THE CABIN IN THOSE CONDITIONS.  THAT NOW ONLY LEAVES US WITH THE FLORIDIANS WHO I KNOW WENT SKIING AND HIKING IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH FRIENDS AND HAD A BALL. GOT INVITED TO A XMAS PARTY AT A CABIN ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE TO LAST A LIFETIME.....WISHED WE WERE WITH YOU FOR THAT ONE !    SO UNLESS I HAVE FORGOTTEN ANYONE...HOPE NOT    THAT SUMS UP CHRISTMAS FOR THE ROBINSON TRIBES........I NEARLY SPENT MINE IN HOSPITAL AS I WAS SHOWING MAX HOW GOOD I WAS AT DOING STOPPIES ON HIS BIKE AND WENT STRAIGHT OVER THE HANDLEBARS ONTO THE TARMAC......LUCKILY I GOT MY HANDS OUT BEFORE MY HEAD HIT THE ROAD..BUT SEVENTY YEAR OLD WRISTS WERE NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT !!!!  WE GOT A SWIM IN ON BOXING DAY AT THE OUTSIDE HOTEL POOL         ( TO KEEP KATES TRADITION GOING )  MUCH TO THE BEMUSEMENT OF THE OTHER GUESTS. .... SO ONWARDS AND UPWARDS TO ANOTHER NEW YEAR AND HOPEFULLY TO OUT BIG GET TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS....GOOD LUCK ..HEALTH AND FORTUNE TO YOU ALL...FROM THE OLD INCONTINENTS AT BOUGHTON.  LOADS OF LOVE PETE AND PAUL.  X X X X

Happy New Year from Canada

Happy New Year from Canadian Family Robinson at the Cottage Gathering! Looking forward to seeing everyone this time next year. xxx

Galapagos

Our Galapagos trip was as wonderful as we had hoped it would be...It has been on our Bucket List forever. The wildlife is weird: tropical penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, vampire finches... And it as all fearless - often you have to step over or around the giant tortoise or Galapagos sea lion. In the sea, it is just as amazing: we snorkeled within inches of sharks, penguins, iguanas, sea lions and giant manta rays. And those blue-footed boobies are the cutest of all...

Poland

Just back from Poland.......thought-provoking, sombre, uplifting, inspiring. We must never forget to count our blessings.    xxxxxx

Euro Family

Tim and Maddy's Excellent European Adventure has continued through Italy, Monaco, France, Spain and Morocco to Portugal where they are enjoying family hospitality with J, C & M in the Algarve. They have coordinated with Tyler to descend on our Portugeezers as you can see from the top pic. Earlier, Pip flew down from Zurich to spend the weekend with them in Seville, as per photo #2. Next on the itinerary is Lisbon and Porto before they fly back to Toronto on Aug 16th. Will get T to post a few pics on his return!