Click here to view all the notes from January and past months. Check out the comments from your many relatives - just scroll further down this page.  (Your web editor is departing for a work week away from home and thus the early start of the new month..:)

Hey!

It isn't February yet! February doesn't start until Tuesday!

Thirty days has September,
April, June and November.
All the rest have 31...
Except February which has 29,
Except when leap year gives it 28.

But, if this counts as the official start of Feb. in the Gill Net...I BEAT TOMMY! :-)

Mary W.

Monday, January 31, 2000 - 08:08:26 am:
Message from Kevin VICKERS at kv113479@cyberus.ca:

John,
re my email = I can be reached at kv113479@cyberus.ca

Kevin

(Thanks Kevin!)

Mary W, no I don't think Jan. 30 counts for Feb. 1st.

Hello from all the Kelly's of Glencoe Ontario. I didn't get to view all the Lassie movies yet but I will. Patty

Hello,

Went for a walk from my hotel and low and behold, there was the internet coffee shop I use to stop at last year. I feel like a real Gill Net visitor now..:) Feels funny not to be doing my regular straightening up in here.

Aunt Patty were you thinking of visiting Florida this spring?  Sounds like the folks are enjoying another great winter down there.  Will is heading down for two whole weeks.  Clearwater Beach sounds pretty good right about now.

John V

Where is Tommy? ....ME

ME,

I think Tommy has turned into one of those dreadful LURKERS!

Mary W.

Hello,

It's about six months or so from today and the Kingston reunion is a reality.  Considering The Gill Net Lodge opened it's doors about sixteen months ago, time sure flys!  We'll all be there before ya know it! 

My visitor stats inform me as many as 35 people a day now visit the Gill Net.  I was thinking we'd better be careful you guys about firing up those lurkers.  That's a pretty big gang to be faced with!

 

Stephen Kingston,

A little while back you mentioned you were working for a new company, and were busy preparing for initial public offering (IPO).  I would like to know what this company does - programs / Internet.  What is the name of this company you working for and when will the IPO take place?

Thanks

Kevin

Hi Everyone,

Sounds like everyone is gearing up for the big event.  Mom flew out to Calgary to babysit for Mark and Martha who had to fly east.  John and his family came down to visit from Sherwood Park and we spent yesterday talking about plans and presenting suggestions to the Chair of organizing commitee.  All here are excited about meeting cousins.  Sam, my son, turned 27 on Saturday and is the eldest of the great grandkids. Hard to believe!!!

Calgary's weather strikes again hardly any snow and around +3 to +7 this week.  Chinooks are wonderful.

I'm dogsitting two ancient poodles, Sheba and Tiki, until Thursday then a Jack Russell look a like, Buddy,  until end of February.  Then in mid-March a german shepherd, Chimo, and a terrier, Baby, (can you believe some would choose that name) for two weeks.

Tom is just hiding out in the deep dark winter of the north.  He does this once and awhile to keep us on our toes.

Anne Marie

Hi Again,

I was out walking around a nearby park today and took some pictures - I couldn't get over all the robins!  My mother would say it's a sure sign that spring was well in hand.
 

The pussy willows are also sprouting up everywhere.
 

Anne Marie I use to love those chinooks in Calgary. It could be so cold and then bang, instant summer in a matter of hours..:)  I lucked out and was able to use my travel points to purchase my ticket home.  With Canadian Airlines out of commission in the east, it's kind of a drag not being able to fly into Chatham - I actually have to fly to Halifax and then backwards to Moncton.  If anyone is thinking of flying to the Maritimes for the reunion, I would highly encourage them to investigate airline tickets soon - there isn't much to pick from as it is right now!

John V

John, I can't believe the photos you put in.  Robins already!

I was walking home this evening and the northern lights were out.  They were like horizontal tornadoes in the sky.  As soon as one would fade another would come blasting in.

Off to Florida on the 3rd of March.  Great Photo of the the folks, Sister Charlotte Vickers and the Sullivans this afternoon!

Hi all,

I am so envious of the warm weather you guys are talking about. It is freezing here.  Tonight they are predicting -22 plus there will be gusts of up to 80km + so with the wind chill it is going to be awful.

Elvis-Noel is happy about the weather.  He gets to move into the main part of the house.  Funny, he kind of slinks real low when I come near him.  I think I have put the fear of God into him with the "back,back, back"s I give him in the morning as I am trying to get baby and bags into the garage.

Katie-Rose is being baptized this weekend and JoAnn and family are coming up for it.  It should be a lot of fun.  I am a little concerned about whether Katie-Rose will fit into the baptismal gown as she is over 17 pounds and 28 inches in length (That's my Rosie! :))  She may end up being baptized in her white underwear.

Still, no Tommy, eh? ....ME

Stephen,

I got your message.  Since installing windows 98 I have had trouble sending messages.  I should have things going in a day or two and will be back to you.

Kevin

Hi Mary Ellen,

Tom left a message on my answering machine to say he was going to be leaving a note at Gill Net Lodge.  Time will tell if the notorious Mr. Kingston will emerge. :)

John V

Brother Will,

I checked your weather today . Lets see, you are having a sunny day, and we are having a sunny day down here too.  There is a slight difference in temperature though.  Your daytime high is -24C, our day time high is going to be about 22C.  Think I might grab my walkman and walk to the beach... get some rays.. maybe go to Crabby Bill's and have a nice cold beer with some raw oysters... then come back and take a snooze on my hammock out on the dock.

You dress warm now Will.  Remember, the secret is to dress in layers. (The only layers I really think about are sunscreen layers..)

TsssAhhh...

(Watch that beer Kingston as I understand Will be joining you shortly...jv)

Howdy all!

ME, it sounds as though Rosie has totally overcome her weight problem and is THRIVING!  I do hope she won't be reduced to being baptized in her skivies though. :-)  My sister Suzanne has a Rhodesian Ridgeback (dog) named Rosie and she is such a love-muffin!  I am clapping and sending big hugs to Elvis-Noel for his newfound warm quarters!

John...the pictures were beautiful.  You are quite handy with the camera!  The robin gave me hope that Spring WILL come.  We have had a fairly mild winter, actually, but anything below 70* is too cold for me.  Kingston, I HATE YOU!!! :-D

Mary W.

Mary, at least you can rest in the fact spring is getting a whole lot closer..:)  I have been getting emails of late from others all talking about their reunion plans - it seems everyone is taking every possible mode of transportation getting there - actually no one has mentioned motorcycling yet!

I found this really cool software program on the web where you can transcribe anyone's picture into a three dimensional layout you can then carve into a pumpkin. (Being a mad pumpkin carver at Halloween time, you can appreciate what such a great find this is in my life..:)

It even shows you a mock up of what your pumpkin would look like.  I scanned a picture and entered it into the program and this is the result!  What do ya know - it was a mystery man..:)
 

It's so great! :):)  JV

That was so fun I decided to do another...any guesses Mary? :)
 

I can only imagine what my front yard will look like this halloween!

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John, Jack and I are looking at those pumpkins and ROARING!  It's Tommy and The Joe!  Where the heck is this software???

Mary W.

Mary, I had to buy and order it through a site down south somewhere.   If you ever wish to email me a picture, I can process it and send it back to you in a "dot page" like your carving kit from last fall.

I created a Kingston Pumpkin Page this morning.  (It took forever but when I start something, I have to finish it!)  Anyhow, click here and you can view it..:)

John V

JOHN what can we say but go to the TOP of the Class' - your Kingston Pumpkin page says it all.
I notice you saved the best picture for last. (only joking) We all look great.  Patty K.
(Glad you like them Patty!...jv)

Love to all on this eve of St. Valentine's.

John, that pumpkin stuff is just too cool.  Imagine having your grandmother, grandfather, your Dad and your uncles and aunts on your front step at Hallowe'en.  It would be interesting to listen to people's responses.  I am sure they would try to identify them as some famous personality and with those photos, they would think you are having flashbacks to the 50's.  Let us know the results if you try it next year.  Looks too complicated for my left hand to tackle.

And speaking of left-handedness, I would be interested in all the left-handers who visit the site, would identify themselves.

Cheers and love,
Brenda

Hi Brenda....just to let you know that I'm left handed.  That is play golf left, bat left, throw left but I hold my pen with my right!

Cool day in Yellowknife......... -35 with the windchill.  Great Pumpkins John!

That's interesting Will.  I am right handed and write with my right, however bat left (swing left) but throw right...or maybe that is the way it is supposed to be.

JOhn V

Howdy,

I am home for the afternoon as we are in the midst of a winter storm.  I checked out the Kingston Pumpkin site and I must say that the pumpkin image of Grandfather looks just like my dear dad today.  It is unreal.

Hope everyone is having a great Valentine's day.

Brenda, in the A. Kingston family we are all right-handed except Kenny who is ampidextrous.  He would drive me crazy by switching to which ever hand would cause the greatest irritation to me while eating meals.  He is so quiet, you would never suspect that he could be so devious :)

In my little family, Rebecca is right handed and, although too soon to know for sure, Katie-Rose favours her left.  I recently read that left-handed people are better able to make full recovery after a head injury.  Hmmmm. T alk to you later.

  

 

Hello,

I was curious to know what the current total number of descendants of Sam & Lillian would be.  Mary Ellen - didn't you have that information at one point?

John V

Welcome to the world CHARLES GEORGE KINGSTON LABILLOIS!!!!

Howard and Suzanne,

I would believe that Charles will be the youngest descendant of Sam and Lillian at the reunion - is that the case???  If so, that is quite the distinction!  Glad to hear that Mother and Son are doing fine.

Saint John made the news out here earlier this winter will all the snow - when I lived there I don't recall the port city being a snowy place - just FOG!  I have very fond memories about my time there - I always use to say that the people there are very special.  Land of the loyalists..:)

JOhn V

P.S. - Will, when do you leave for Florida?
P.P.S. - I have received word from Uncle George that Charles distinction as the youngest will be shortlived - Patricia is expecting very soon...:)

Charles is #189. He won't be the youngest at the reunion, though. Patricia's #190, who is due on March 3rd will be.

Hope everyone is doing well....ME

Hi John, I am envious of your ability to see a robin and pussy willows this time of year.  On the February 14th snow storm we received 52 cm, on top of what was already down.  As I write this though I have just seen from my office window a bald eagle.  The coast guard ice cutter was by this morning and the river is open in parts, so he must be searching for food.  Brenda, I am left handed too.  We have been doing lots of cross country skiing, there is enough snow.

Hello to everyone.  By the way if anyone has a hankering for a personally made Christmas CD, Tom Kingston is the person to contact.  He does a wonderful job.

Hi everyone!

We just wanted  to add our congratulations to Suzie & Howard on their first born.  Welcome to the clan,Charles George!!

I was thinking it is going to be so great meeting so many relatives this summer.  The great thing about reunions is that you are brought back to your roots - roots can be a very balancing life experience.  It is cherisable when you see so many people who have like 3 cousins and the like. It's almost like it is impossible to convey how wonderful it is to have so many relatives..:)

John V

Lurkers of the Kingston Reunion site unite and rise up against your oppressors!  Bring down the few to unite the many!

Hello out there to all you PET lovers on Pet Day.  Love from LASSIE.

 

Hi y'all!

Happy Birthday to Patricia and John and welcome to the big bad world Charles!  Aunt Patty, I had not known Sunday was Pet's Day...I have never even heard of Pet's Day but am sure glad to know it exists.  We will just have to have a little belated party with our pets.

John, speaking of our roots, I have just finished an EXCELLENT book called "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt.  Never has anything reminded me so much of my mother's family and the people in New Brunswick. It's a biography of the author's childhood growing up in desperate poverty in Ireland.   Contrary to what you might think, although often grim, it is written with such love and charming humor you find yourself crying and laughing at the same time.  Now I know where so many of those Kingston sayings came from and the origins of that Irish Catholic culture.  It's a truly beautiful book (won the Pulitzer Prize) and I would highly recommend it to all of you.  You will see yourself and our family in it's pages.

Mary W.

Hi Mary W - that book sounds like a must read!   I'll see if I can track it down..:)   My next door neighbor was mowing his grass when I got home this evening - that's a telltale sign summer must be a coming!...and to think we'll soon all be enjoying those nice summer evenings home on the Miramichi around a big camp fire...It would be my wish to see a big camp fire each evening (and I certainly don't mind helping haul the logs!)

John V

Hi all:

Mary W...Mom and Dad just finished reading 'Tis, Frank McCourt's as well and they really liked it so I borrowed it.  Maybe someday I will read "Angela's Ashes" too.  Now it's a movie and I understand McCourt's mother was not very happy with it.  Funny how the Celtic appeals to so many people today.  Are we really Irish?  I thought the Kingstons came from England originally.  Perhaps the Crowes were Irish.  And I would think that the name Loggie is very English.....help us out here, Uncle George.

On another note, I thought it might be neat if people would start sending in traditional Miramichi sayings.  Some of them are so wonderful....Dennis and I were talking about it and how people always say "the food was beeeautiful" so maybe we can start exchanging a few sayings, some Miramichi dialect especially from those on the River.

Cheers,
Brenda 

Brenda,

"How she goin'? The very best." These are two that come to mind.  Also, I remember a woman I worked with from Ontario, used to laugh whenever someone would say, "I was some ugly!" when referring to how angry they were.

Great idea to collect these.....ME

Hi Brenda!

"Tis" is next on my list of reads...I understand that book picks up where Angela's Ashes leaves off. I do intend to see the movie although the reviews have not been so good...it evidently lacks the humor and charm with which the book is written and is a sad study in gloom and doom.

I always thought we were Irish, English and Scotch.  That's just what I remember my mother telling me.  Uncle George, set us straight on this one!

As for sayings, whenever a tragedy happens "I'm sorry for your troubles"; a boy is always a "by"; "I'll give you a hot ear". :-)

Mary W.

Hi! My favourite always was "how ya makin' er?", another version I guess of "how ya doin?"

How ya makin' er taday anyways?

John V

Pleased to meetchus all.  The first Homo-Sapien stood up and walked someplace in Africa and then multiplied and migrated north through Greece, Italy, split up here and there some went to Spain , a great number went to France, to Scandinavia and from at least one and probably more than one of these migrated to England and then to Scotland and Ireland.  Evidence can be found that they went visa versa etc etc

I like some of the family names even though corrupted by people who could not write from :-

Cinnseanm
MacOinmseamn   (Galic)
Cloughry   (Clough = worker in stone & ri = King hence Kingstone)
de Kyngeston  (in 13th century England) (probalily originally from France, and certainly Norman origns from Normandy) (a few of the descendants of these went back to Normandy 1939 - 1945 war and fought against their long ago relatives)
MacCloughry    (from Scotland)
Kingston or Kingstone is synomous with MacCloughry in County Gallway
There was a Richard de Kyngeston in Dublin in 1297
John Kingston was appointed Chaplin of Holy Trinity (Christ Church) in Cork in 1381
When Cromwell's army were paid off with confiscated Irish peoples land The only Kingston to get any of that confiscated land was, guess who, it was none other than a person named Samuel Kingston. This could be our ancestor.

Jimmy

Welcome Jimmy!

Now that you have joined the Gill Net would you mind telling me just who you are?  There are so many it's hard to keep track of everyone...sorry for my ignorance. :-)  Thank you for all the info!

Mary W.

(Sounds like Jimmy and your Uncle George have a lot in common Mary...:) jv)

Hee hee

Unca George!

Why would you choose to write under such a strange surname as "Jimmy"? :-)

Mary W.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!!  WE WISH YOU WERE HERE FOR THE BIG "4 -OH"!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!!!!!!!!

You sure kept the lid on this monumental event!  Have a good one!

Mary W.

John......As I mentioned to you yesterday Happy 40th and to Patrica Kingston(Boyle)Happy 40th as well.

4 days to see the folks in Florida!

Will

I think there is SOME kinda fun being had is Florida!  And I want to hear ALLLLL about it! :-)

Mary W.

Tuesday, Febraury 29, 2000 - 07:42:11 pm:
Message from John Vickers at jvickers@home.com:

I agree Mary!  I believe Kingston and Will will be sipping the suds down there...actually come to think about it Spring Break time is coming up as well..:)

John V