MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASONS GREETINGS
HAPPY HANNUKAH Eid ul-Adha Bodhi Day

December 2007

With the massive snowfall that has enveloped us this month, we have every reason to be filled with Christmas cheer and yet this year, have been slower off the mark, possibly because none of our far-flung family will be with us, possibly because this has been such a remarkable year in many ways that the holiday season comes almost as an anticlimax, and possibly because we are increasingly depressed by humankind’s inability to get things right. Whether it is the prolongation of the human misery of Darfur, the morass of the Middle East or the obtuse positions of the Canadian and U.S. governments on environment issues, there is not much cause for shouting Hallelujah.
Nonetheless, we take great comfort and joy in the intellect, talent and success of our family and many friends around the world, who strive both publicly and quietly for excellence in numerous fields, political and societal: in education, health, human rights, the arts, the environment, the media and almost any other sector. We cheer them on and bask in their reflected glory.

Nicholsons & friends

An artistic family friend used to design wonderful Christmas cards whose line drawings were made of the first names of all their friends. If we had her gift, the tree above would be the perfect illustration of the Tree of Friends in all its complex circuitry, - a symbol not only of the focus of this season, but of every day of the year.

Maya Tebo mother Jean photos

The highlight of our year was the celebration on March 7 of 25 years of Wednesday Nights. Marvellously organized by what the UN would call “Friends of the Chair”, it was a glorious evening, made all the more special by the arrival of Marc and Fiona from Singapore and Alberta respectively. Although billed as a tribute to us, in reality it paid homage to the hundreds - thousands - of people who over thirteen hundred and five Wednesday evenings have shared their knowledge, wisdom, experiences and emotions, sometimes quietly assessing and sometimes hotly debating the issues of the day. We are immensely grateful to each and every one. We never set out to make Wednesday Night an institution, but the devotion of so many has made it so. It is hard to do that wonderful evening of March 7 justice, but we have shared the experience on our websites for all to see. Just look for Wednesday Night 1305.
Ah yes! We now have His and Hers websites; www.wednesday-night.com takes you to David’s incredibly complex oeuvre where there is something for everyone’s taste. www.dianaswednesday.com is a more modest work in progress, striving for content on selected issues and indulging the owner/editor’s obsession with abstruse news sources. We are not in competition and freely link back and forth.

Tad photos

Maya photos

Although this isn’t the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar, the second most important event of the year was the arrival on July 8 of an unbelievable 5 lbs of black, self-possessed (we took him to a garden party the afternoon he arrived) puppy. Highland Fling is the product of an unauthorized alliance between a Westie and a very handsome caramel Scottish terrier. He could earn his keep as an industrial paper shredder (does well on aluminum cans too, not to mention leather), has all of the delightful characteristics of a terrier and is a total joy, except perhaps to our elderly Schnauzer, Tinker, who is often not amused. And, as we write, the Singapore family has just added a grandpuppy to the clan. “Chewie”, short for Chewbacca (for Star Wars fans), is a Maltese/ Shihtsu cross. He’s an adorable bundle of fluff, who sort-of came with the new house that Marc and Jean have just bought.

Tad

All is well with Fiona in Canmore, Alberta. She continues to travel the western provinces working as a corporate team-builder and leadership coach, and has had some fascinating experiences including three trips to the Diavik Diamond Mine, 300 km northeast of Yellowknife, while her partner, Heather, has become a very successful real estate agent.
Marc, Jean, Maya and Bo Family Photo Shoot are all flourishing in Singapore. Marc’s little ad-agency-that- could, Rocket-X Media, is doing very well; Jean loves her job; and the kids are gorgeous, bright, funny and showing some interesting talents. They are all coming to Montreal next summer (July) and we can’t wait for what promises to be a gathering of the clan.

In closing, we send our fondest wishes to you and yours for the happiest of Christmases and a New Year filled with joy, success, health and, above all, many moments of shared warmth and laughter with friends.
Love,
D&D

Diana and David

Letter from sister Fiona

Diana Mouse click to play

David

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by Fiona Nicholson and Canmore Oct 2006 | Fi home page merlin performance solutions.com

Tinker

Xmas past
1998 | 2000 Wed981 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006

Appropriately, the symbol of Wednesday Night is a glowing candle, as much a symbol of the warm, candle-lit atmosphere of Wednesday Night, as of the flame of wisdom, sparked by the many fine minds that are so much a part of these unique evenings.
With a Julius Grey comment.