So, a big part of the return here has been dealing with Stormy's affairs. Banking, arranging payment of the home, visiting - and - after a fashion he seems to be settling in, he introduces me to some new friends he's made, a husband and wife, others, takes me on a tour of the facilities, shows me his "haunts".
After catching up I promise to take him into Nelson Friday to run some errands and see some of his friends.
And when I arrive on Friday he's packed. Ready to go. He's running away, never coming back, he's packed his cherished possessions into a couple of cardboard boxes, he's going to have me drop him at the bank, he'll find a room or place to live...
I hate breaking the bad news, but if I'm signing him out I got to sign him back in.
He's not happy, but that's the deal.
With that understanding we set out.
A long drive for not a lot of visiting, frequent stops for bathroom, cigarettes, lunch at McDonalds (and he's impressed, loves it, can't remember when last he was here), on to Nelson where we go to the bank, grab coffee, do some thrifting - he finds a pair of shoes he's chuffed with, and other trifling errands. We look for some of his friends, few of them are anywhere to be found over the holidays, then he's done. We head back to Trail.
He's a charming host, guest, after his fashion, although he substantially overrated his walking skills (about 20 yards before he's exhausted), and seems reluctant to let me go - rare for him, generally he visits for a bit and is finished. And seeing - that despite he protests he hates Trail, and I understand why, he's nonetheless making friends, I'm not leaving him in the best of hands but - there are worse hands for sure.