I am currently sitting in the Viarail train on my way back to MTL with the kids, listening to a philosophy podcast. The change of scenery was pretty drastic, falling asleep with tons of greenery and creeks in NB and waking up to massive snow in QC. I’m quite excited to finally take out my new cross country skis.

We left Montreal on Friday the 27, not really knowing what to expect on a 24 hours train ride Next thing you know, Nox is annoying everyone and eating was quite expensive. I felt like I gained 10 lbs eating train food, and I’m serious, as right now the clothes I’m wearing got really uncomfortable in a week.

Rachelle was waiting for us at Halifax train station the next day, and the station kind of disappointed me. as there isn’t even a digital clock. It doesn’t really matter but coming from MTL, it was kind of a culture shock. We got there very l;ate, the car pick up was a failure and we went to bed really late.

First thing I noticed is how I NEED my very precise routine and schedule to function.

On Sunday Rachelle organized a kid party and the appartment quickly turned into an absolute disaster. It was worth it though, the kids were enraged and had the time of their lives. I got to walk around the neighbourhood in the morning to run some errands and I was surprised how close to everything Rachelle actually lives. I tried to study and work on a homework but it didn’t really happened as I got distracted by a lot of things like Discord calls, Squid Game season 2 (I am absolutely obsessed about the new love of my life, #120), trying to arrange a 3 monitors setting without 3 monitors….

On Monday nothing much happened, but I didn’t mind. I no longer feel the need to be all over the place and go on 3 adventures per day. I was mostly reflecting on my achievements of the year and listening to podcasts on minimalism and philosophy. I was actually getting pretty excited about all the intense studying coming up this year.

On the 31st we went to Playdium where the kids got so insanely turnt that Nox seemed to be straight out of a zombie movie and passed out on the floor. Joe kept partying with her new friends at their place as I stayed home with Nox, who was starting to get really sick. I also didn’t want to go to bed late. I have to admin, I didn’t care about the countdown for 2025. I was happy just existing and vibing. I still ended up being up for midnight, when Rachelle and Joe were watching a movie.

On the first I wanted to get out there and see the Atlantic ocean, so we went for a hike at York Redoubt. I really liked it but the kids didn’t, as it was too windy and cold for them and we all know how lazy Nox can get. I still got some nice pictures and I picked up a few rocks as (free!) souvenirs.

I ended up going downtown on my own but even though some websites said a few places were open, nothing was, except for Tim Hortons and a pub I found after walking a long time under the rain. I was completely drenched when I got in. I was still satisfied with my outings, even though the mussels I ate were disappointing.

The last night there I splurged at an all you can eat sushi place that was FANTASTIC! Definetly coming back everytime we go from now on. Our trip was short but Joe and I are already excited about coming back.

There is a lot of things I didn’t need to bring. I ended up not even using half of my camera gear. I took pictures with my phone and my Canon Rebel 7i and nothing else, and it was too windy to use my new drone. I also didn’t do any of my math assignments, and I brought way more clothes than I needed for a week.

I still wish I brought a more convenient crossbody bag, one of my inflatable camping pillow (for the train ride), slippers, allergy pills and cold medicine.

YouTube video coming soon! I also decided to keep my videos silent from now on… I really can’t do the talking to the camera thing.

To review 2024, I am proud that I walked away from people who don’t bring value or joy in my life and judge me without even knowing how I live my everyday life, beating anxiety, decluttering, spending my time and energy doing and learning things I like, reading and journaling again, getting back into philosophy, setting up a massive indoor garden (maybe that’s why I’m not feeling the winter blues this year), no fomo and learning to say no.

For 2025, I am looking forward to studying even more (applying for college this month and transfering into programming in a year), my release date this summer, planning my celebratory trip to Asia, more adventures, more declutter and meeting more degen gamer nerds like me.

I hope you all have a fantastic year, full of health, fun and love. xox, Emma

Oh! I forgot to post my first hunting trip video!