Retirement introduces a strange paradox into social calendars. One assumes open days yield endless flexibility, yet coordinating the final "Duck Party" of the year proved remarkably elusive with everyone constantly drifting in separate directions. Today offered our final window to host for the season before the calendar closed. By the end of the evening, the traveling rubber ducks had migrated onwards to Richmond. Ed and Shinji now carry the solemn duty of hosting the gathering when spring returns.
Winter approaches swiftly along the West Coast. Everyone arrived before 3:30 in the afternoon to beat the fading October light. Outside, temperatures hovered around a brisk 8 Celsius, firmly dictating that hospitality remain indoors. An afternoon spread of chips, cheese, and crackers accompanied a sampling of robust Quebec ales. Unibroue's "Fin du Monde" and its fellow brews clock in at a formidable 9.0% ABV. They worked quickly.
Rather than braving an outdoor stroll, the gathering retreated to the soothing warmth of the hot tub for an hour. Steam rose against the thin glass panes while the chilly autumn air pressed against the outside. Water soothes weary bones. It took another full hour of lounging and conversation before everyone drifted back upstairs to assemble for the evening meal.
Jay orchestrated dinner from a methodical clear-out of the refrigerator. The resulting feast delivered comforting, layered flavours centered on chicken curry, yellow dhal curry, a sharp pineapple chutney, and a crisp salad. Rather than serving conventional rice, a quick trip to a local Ethiopian market secured a fresh stack of injera. Injera is a traditional sourdough flatbread made from fermented teff grain, recognized by its spongy, cratered texture and distinctive tartness that pairs exceptionally well with rich stews. Jay sliced, rolled, and briefly microwaved the delicate rolls just before serving. The meal vanished quickly, as did Jay's fruit cake and ice cream
Throughout the evening, the television cycled through vibrant slide reels of June's journey through Morocco before meandering into an eclectic archive spanning forty years of shared memories. Nonstop conversation anchored the room. The glowing gas fireplace maintained a welcoming sanctuary against one of the rare cool, rain-swept evenings of late October. The incoming BC Election results closed the evening. Twilight arrives abruptly now, unmitigated by any seasonal clock shift on our home turf, though boarding our winter flight will inevitably demand resetting watches during a Toronto stopover where switching to standard time remains entrenched. It drew to a tidy, earlier close than summer nights, but proved a thoroughly satisfying send-off for the flock.
