Gary Rolfe.indd

60
Dogs Today December 2005
d
Blitz an
Spoons,
FRIDAY
Ran at 5 NOVEMBER
them w 6am, walked th
ith m
e p
By noon e for the fir uppies on the
st time.
lake and
A couple , I was on
filmed
Pr
the near of snowmobile the east chan oud dad.
n
ice road est community s passed us, t el with the ad
h
off, jus is usually a d to Inuvik. The en a car. Akla ults.
are in a
t in ca
vik is
se there
n old c first drive on
The roa
’s
a
the
r
a
d from
w
ice road
Inuvik t need for a qu ith the roof
in
o Tukto
ick exit
the wor
100,000
.
ld,
yuk
that ma lb can drive ov 100 miles whe tuk is the long
r
kes up
e
e
e
used by
the intr r ice. The maz vehicles up t st
o
ic
t
e
h
a
e
t
o
e
f
I
n
Mackenz
waterwa
uit for
communic
ie
y
- by bo ation between thousands of y Delta have be s
e
en
a
a
c
t
r
o
s
m
in the
winter.
summer munities and hu as a form of
N
o
v
e
mber to
nting gr
and by
the Mac
ound
dog
M
Not so kenzie River us arch sees the team during t s
h
e
of the dangerous when ed as a tempor ast and middle e
ic
a
Decembe e reaches 15 you consider t ry road system of
he
r.
feet on
.
these ic average thickne
e
ss
roads by
SUNDAY
m
id
7
NOVEMB
Blitz he
ER
lp
this mor ed me with a
“What h ning. I put him few training
s
“Bloke s ave you been d back with Sp led maintenance
o
t
in
u
gets int ff.” He mak g?” He looke oons. She aske jobs
d
o
e
d
so funn all sorts of s me laugh. H at her and s ,
y - like
e
a
p
’s
id
r
e
d
powder
rolling a icaments that so serious, bu ,
snow.
nd tumb
t
m
ling, get ake him look
I bought
t
in
g
20
Gwitch’i
covered
n Indian whitefish fro
in
m Alber
friend.
t, a
three
right’
y ‘turn
m
o
t
R
E
tly
to
OB
consisten
29 OCT
he turn
FRIDAY arted responding right makes t consistently
Thule st s. Kavik on the her to do this urns. I’ll swap
t
command her. I’ll get ake left-hand wizzle sits on
e
T
g
m
a
om him
encour sking her to ncourage her.
walk fr
a
e
I
o
t
e
il
t
h
f
before
w
the le
l stay
Kavik to instantly. He’l sing start.
a
command steps - a ple
s
r
u
o
f
or
e puppie a
h
T
.
y
R
a
E
d
o
old t
OCTOB
across
AY 30 is four months today, walking
D
R
U
T
A
S
Twizzle
pedition
-22ºC. their first ex day.
went on ke. Snowed all
lights
frozen la
orthern dead
n
e
h
t
BER
. A
meant
1 NOVEMhe full moon wisps of green n solid.
Y
A
D
N
T
O
e
z
M
.
eir vague
ere, fro
st thing
Ran fir to perform th ht was still th ravens chiselling
struggled n past last nig the result of
a
ell.
fox I r its body was ent beaks.
in
sitting w
sist
ll
r
it
a
e
p
p
s
A
p
ir
u
e
p
h th
the
away witk sessions had
ic
Qu
Gary with Blitz
Teachin
g
T
w
izzle to
stay on
comma
nd
FRIDAY
Snowed 1 OCTOBER
thermom all day. It’s ge
t
e
into the ter will gradua ting colder. Th
e
lly short
b
u
lb
.
More ch
It’s only
en until blood-red liquid
a
and I s insawing to cle calibrated to it sinks no f
t
out. It’s arted digging in ar the kennel drop 40 below urther
the fou like hacking cto permafrost area for my d zero.
r
o
t
Saxon an dogs that are oncrete. I decid o secure the gs,
s
d Twizz
e
s
t
o
il
n
l
with Jo
names f takele.
K
e
ll
y
:
Blitz, S or
SATURD
poons,
A
-14ºC. D Y 2 OCTOBE
R
u
r
and snow ing my morn
in
tundra f shoe hare trac g run, I notic
ks in t
loor spa
he snow e Arctic fox,
ngle as
if
c
rafted f . The sun m lynx
WEDNES
ade
rom cut
D
A
Y
13
The last
diamonds the
OCTOBE
.
shore. N couple of nigh R
o
t
s
Ice cove ice. This mo , I’ve walked
r
doesn’t r is measured ning it was nin the Mackenzie
m
in
e-te
Rive
e
a
te
n
IN SEPTEMBER 2004, on foot with two Huskies, explorer Gary Rolfe
I’ll soon it’s safe to nths, though c nths covered. r
t
o
r
m
ask Jo
avel over
plete ic
reached the end of a 400-mile journey in the central Arctic community
into Inu
Ke
.
e cover
located vik to register lly to send the
of Kugluktuk. He flew on to Yellowknife where one of the last remaining
legally in
a
nd pay
dogs, s
standards
Canadian Kennel Club registered gene pools of Canadian Eskimo Dogs
; fines Inuvik. I had for them, so o I walked
w
(CED) remains. Only 300 exist, making it one of the rarest dog breeds
to sign
are issu
they ca
as all
and sociaabout adequate ed if I don’t a list of dog n be
in the world.
ad
shelter,
t
lisin
feeding, here to them. eam
Gary flew further north into Canada’s western Arctic and prepared a
Inuvik is g the dogs.
It
r
e
s
p
onsible
be
serious
base-camp in the community of Inuvik for the coming winter. Gary and
breeding
oil, gas ing hailed as a
The who
and min
frontier
his dogs covered 3,000 training miles throughout that difficult winter,
2009 a le Mackenzie V eral exploration town with so
facing perpetual darkness, often at 40 below zero.
n
dollars). d is estimated alley Pipeline pr going on right me
worth $ The reserves of to cost $7 bil oject is planned now.
2
an influ .9 trillion. Inu gas and oil a lion (in Canadia for
re
x of 20
vik
n
nudging
,000 p may become deemed to be
as
h
3
ip
,0
a
is
e
h
0
li
t
b
n
0
e
o
omt
folks at
em
had
R
e past
present. ployees. The to own with
OCTOBEfternoon. In th d to ask if I
19
wn is
Y
A
e
TUESD y hair this a s. People us
lt
m
u
s
e
g r
I cut
upsettin
produced
knife.
mange!
m Yellow
o
r
f
in
fly
OBER
22 OCT ons and Twizzle in.
Y
A
D
I
R
a
o
F
same ag
litz, Sp
Saxon, Bl never be the
n.
Life wil
afternoo avel
is
h
t
R
o
r
E
g
t
r
B
a
4 OCTO m Inuvik air c snowmobiles to up and
2
Y
A
D
r
o
r
oa
SUN
Thule fr
thick fo
racers r
Collected is sufficiently channel. Boy elow zero, this
t
The ice Mackenzie eas At only 10 b
.
s
e
e
h
over t their machin
n
o
mild.
down
is still
to pull
winter
r own t a
e
h
R
E
n
o
B
O
t
CT
kep
Thule ou
y. She
Y 26 O
TUESDA ll when I took d. She did oka ing and staying.
Snow fe ight training slerk on her sitt dividually for a
e
o
a lightw e, but we’ll w Twizzle out in ‘sit’.
n
d
li
n
rd
a
tight
Spoons g with the wo
,
z
t
li
B
in
tart
Took
aining, s
little tr
n lake
on froze
Twizzle
Training trial
Gary’s
place.
Nothin
g is safe
OCTOBER
and Kavik.
WEDNESDAY 27 as a team with Thule, Saxon
od friend,
First time out ed leader and belongs to a go enced leader
on
ide an experi
Kavik is a seas
get Thule alongs direction commands.
to
al
vit
’s
It
my
Judi.
and to
r response to
to strengthen he are busy learning lead training . Spoons
te
s
ie
The pupp
incredibly cu
She has
- while looking
d
an
m
m
co
her, I’m sure.
on
t
at
si
g
lin
st
hi
w
hold her
e boys
will have all th eyes that make me want to izzle is
y
infectiously happ a very serious young man. Tw awesome
s
ok
lo
z
lit
pup. He’s an
tight. B
ighty, powerful months of age. He’s
m
a
to
in
ng
ti
ur
genera
y approaching fo
wing him to
size for a pupp d I’ve not been afraid of allo black as
as
fast to learn an ders on the stake-out. He’s ake out if
el
m
s
run around hi and it’s not always easy to
a sack of coal way or not.
he’s looking my
OCTOBER
l. Thule
THURSDAY 28 urs again on the east channe own. I
ho
r
Out for three ent right-handed turns on he
id
ft that she
le
nf
g
co
in
e
go
m
so
’s
It
e
.
mad
rn
tu
e
th
art enough
her for
say “Chee” to e “Chow” command. She’s sm e too long,
th
or
struggles with, the centre of attention. Bef receptive
e
or
be
m
to
e
m
and likes
se and will beco
ea
pl
to
r
ge
ea
she’ll be
ds.
to new comman
Pups in
side
Feature and photography by Gary Rolfe
61
WEDNES
Went fo DAY 17 NOVEM
realise t r a run and t BER
o
me teac hat every time ok Thule with
h
in
g
h
er new we’re togethe me. I want
and have
r it’s n
her to
things. I
a
p
la
ot
y
and cam
e back too. We ran o want her to s all about
witch o
n the r
every tim
I to
some re ok Blitz out f e I asked he iver. She ran a ff
r
a
head
approach son, he has be or some extra to.
. Kids.
come a
attention
.
little dis
tant and For
THURSD
hard to
I now AY 18 NOVEMB
split adu
E
on rest
lt food R
plummet days to fuel t into morning a
in
to gain g temperatures heir increased t nd evening feeds
rainin
. I’l
and
Email fr maintain more l keep this up g runs and
o
m
until th
m
uscle.
Canadian
a contac
ey start
E
t
s
k
in
im
o
Iqualuit
were bo
Dogs fo
u
w
g
r
it
h
h three
sale. Or
Novembe t from an
igina
sibli
I
r
harnessed 2003. Appare nuit gentleman lly the brothers ng
ntly
in P
for
The sun the first tim they’re strong ond Inlet. Born
e
pullers a
rose at
nd were
11.25am last April.
and set
at 3.55
pm.
Gary with Blitz and Spoons
NOVEMBER
walk with
SATURDAY 20 izzle and Spoons out for a cialising
I took Blitz, Tw kids. It was an important so to being
l
r
friends and thei ppies and they responded wel to reward
pu
ds
e
ki
th
e
r
th
fo
for
lesson
out milk bones
alongside one
handled. I handed long they were all running
e
the pups. Befor g in the snow.
in
ay
pl
another and
NOVEMBER
to add
WEDNESDAY 24 om the UK email, asking me helicopters
fr
ericans in
I had someone
tion to stop Am
ti
pe
a
to
e
m
my na
in the
I replied:
shooting wolves. your ‘petition email’. I’m still last time,
r
e
“Thanks fo
e sun for th
eek we’ll see th year, since the freezew
a
In
.
ic
ct
Ar
As usual every
ity here and
until next year. been coming into the commun es here and
bi
up, wolves have penned pups. Wolves carry ra especially
y,
it
en
ev
un
m
,
m
gs
co
killing do
l threat in the
ia
nt
te
s this too.
er
po
ff
a
su
s
ay
ka
are alw
ol. Alas
ho
sc
to
ay
w
that not
r
to kids on thei
recent signatures ry easy
t
os
m
e
th
om
ve
I did notice fr from a northern state. It’s
gripe doesn’t
a single one is say ban something when the
sign the
for someone to yday lives. Sorry, but I won’t eat and a
WEDNES
er
affect their ev fur and feed my dogs seal m o. You’ve
Canadian DAY 1 DECEM
r
petition. I wea ould fail to understand that to
give a w Eskimo Dogs BER
w
le
op
pe
lot of
Spoons arning ‘gruff’ don’t bark. Th
see why.”
e-out
ak
to
st
re
ld
he
ou
w
e
liv
t
ui
In
sparkled ‘gruffed’. We to anything u ey sing, howl
got to
y the ancient
with her.
n
w
o
They used to sa s for a male wolf to mate in that
A wolf. yellow and van ere being wat toward. Tonigh r
he
tc
ue
t
bi
iq
is
c
un
n
wolves are
window Whatever the hed. I inspec hed. The eyes
their in-seaso
nonsense. Male mes of the year. Instead
te
op
t
’s
at
th
y
it
al
re
ti
m
In
yself fo en and chain- emperature, I d the prints.
n.
certain
te
at
ea
ile
be
rt
to
fe
lo
alw
r
y
ly
el
c
lik
k
not pra
the inst
they are on
ising Sp the puppy p ays leave a
ed-out bitch is s sled dogs. They’re
ak
st
a
a
,
n
te
t
bi
e
she did
oons fo
e useles
of a love
r raisin ns. I kicked
it.
brid progeny mak
g the a
T
In any case, hy ’t breed.
H
U
RSD
larm
uvik every
on
Saw th AY 2 DECEM
antisocial and w channel freezes, wolves hit In the
r
B
e
st
E
ut
R
Once the ea
puppies. e wolves on
appear througho
the fro
areness posters gs here in the winter
T
aw
w
s
ie
iz
ab
R
z
r.
le
t
zen lake
te
he huge
do
win
was par
s slaughtered 18 to die.
ve
p
t
ol
a
W
ic
d
y.
u
it
la
un
t
is
m
r
rly upse when walking
m
ail. His
co
usually
r a dog
fo
ay
w
t when
a
the
t
t
a
a
ha
il, a
tigh
relaxed.
of 2001. W
This mo t scythe shap sensitive moo he sniffed
e when
d indica
rning h
On
Apparent the phone I m e was anything he’s happy an tor,
d
but.
from his ly a wolf pac entioned this
t
k
o
by a th mum. I have tried to sep Jo Kelly.
n
his fath ing, but I kn ’t noticed Sax arate Twizzle
o
on b
e
r
.
A bount w that wo
Forty-fiv
lves in eing bothered
y was
e
d
a
Chu
o
ys
n
killer w
as shot and nights of the head of t rchill ate
he
waiting
dead.
and the killer.
dog
An excited Twizzle
Saxon eats his frozen fish
le up
for Thu und,
R
e
E
B
im
t
M
E
NOV
First
g aro t
r
DAY 10
h, messin
e hours.
WEDNES adults for fiv complete bitc know she’s sma h
it
a
e
I
h
w
t
s
.
a
w
and
dem
Ran
of
ne. She
ry comm
d in tan
front alo ith almost eve g. She’s worke to having plenty y
w
defiant apable of leadinonly pup, used g. She’s mentall
and is c er, Chilly. An rive from leadin her strengths.
h
l
her mot , Thule will th have to channe
n
I
io
t
atten nd dominant;
cared
n’t have e good
ld
u
o
c
strong a
s
R
MBE
puppie ule made som ,
12 NOVE
h
ut the
is
FRIDAY cold -42°C, b r two hours. T s. I ignored th
e
o
ly
n
f
s
o
u
ous
dults
Serio
ome hide
n the a
e end.
less. Ra he also made s it right in th
moves. Se sure she got
himself
shamed o the
e
but mad
h
R
E
il
B
t
M
un
int
14 NOVE
an hour
straight
SUNDAY zle inside for The wet ran
iz
.
rgery in
Had Tw g on my floor ck.
as a su every two
h
a
in
s
s
ll
is
e
r
r
p
u
e
v
O
flo
by
rive here
. John
of my
efore
bottom vet is in town two days to d for a week b g
in
s
e
d
e
ik
h
T
tak
Inuv
t fee
said
ns abou
City and
ctice in
Dawson He runs a pra ad some questio y I did, as he f
k
o
months. outh again. I h nzie River. Luc nasty strain . I
a
s
e
s
g
k
o
g
r
c
d
u
a
in
o
d
M
to
arb
hea
of the
if fed
nd to h
fish out ’s whitefish te lt to eradicate
iated
the river that’s difficu ach.
I apprec
s
tapeworm my own stom until January. The effort wa
k
f
.
c
o
e
a
r
b
think
get he
n’t be
John wo had taken to
e.
ort it
the eff ted in the pric
a
reciproc
riting
Busy w
out
le heart
her litt
running
Spoons
ice
62
Pulling
fish fro
m a ne
t
se
t
u
nder th
e Mack
enzie R
iver
e northern
VEMBER
MONDAY 8 NO ok at the sky. I’d noticed th ptured my
ca
lo
Took time to as the volume of stars that
shot across
w
rs
it
eo
t
et
M
bu
e.
s,
er
w
light
ey
th
w bright
quiet, but, as
attention and ho led into black. It was very e. Wolves,
zz
my view and fi a feeling that I wasn’t alon too, if you
as
w
e
er
spirits,
always, th
on the move l
al
e
ar
nx
ly
foxes and
sort of thing.
believe in that
VEMBER
save fish for
TUESDAY 9 NO rt’s cabin and asked him to axed and
be
I walked to Al s net set under the ice. We pulled it
hi
om
fr
of the net,
my dogs
les either end hing dead, and reset
ho
at
n
w
do
d
eryt
chiselle
ice, clobbered ev
rday. By the
from under the r another inspection on Satu
fo
frozen solid.
the net ready
, our 12 were
go
to
y
ad
re
e
time we wer
ne on
nning alo contain
ER
u
r
B
M
r
E
e
t
V
f
O
a
N
n’t
gel does
AY 25
ply it
my face
THURSD Bag Balm on This protective my face. I ap it
d
r
n
o
.
I smea this morning wise freeze t st with it a y get
a
e
the river at would other wounds heal f happens if th
h
n
t
is
e
h
.
p
T
r
it
k.
ut
o. O
wate
itten dic
dogs, to
king abo
to the a dog’s frostb and keep thin
protects ion in the cold
an erect
Dogs Today December 2005
Dogs Today December 2005
63
Gary sewing a new canvas sled bag
es
stretch
Piston
Return
of the
sun
EMBER
time at
TUESDAY 7 DEC1.31pm and set for the last
I was up
Sunrise was at appear now for six weeks. d mending.
an
’t
1.57pm. It won wing, making gear alterations
Sham 69.
until 2.30am, se orhead, Sex Pistols, GBH and
Listened to Mot
DECEMBER
sed Twizzle
WEDNESDAY 8 run with the adults, I harnes ults for a
ad
After an hour’s me. I took him alongside the . He took
ad
ti
lo
t
a
rs
fi
d
ce
e
for th
experien
r him to have
mile, enough fo
on the
to it instantly. without mercy in the dark, like sticky
f
,
el
ey
ys
I ran m
elids felt glu
lt cruel. My ey
ng together.
river ice. It fe and were in danger of freezi
clotting wounds,
MONDA
Y 20 D
-40ºC.
ECEMB
individua Walked new b ER
ll
stainless y on a lead. oys Marshall a
him. Po steel collar Cream followe nd Piston
d
r
o
worst. r guy. He’s o ing and would . He snapped
n’t let
bviously
h
me cat is
taken t
I moved
c
h
h
e
M
u
pheaval
my bac
k door. arshall and Pis
kennel
t
on dire
Cream
a
Later I nd settled. I crept into M ctly in front
arshall’s
watched
of
talked
lay it
down ag quietly to him him nap and strawed
hour I
ain. I
, he r
left h
le
collar. knelt down an ft him again. aised his head im.
d he le
t me c After another and
I moved
ollect h
M
was. Q
im by
uiet voicarshall and let
the
e with
Piston
s
n
t
o
a
y
fast ha
TUESDA
nd move where he
Y
s calms
Ran Pis 21 DECEMBE
t
him.
swapped on and Marsha R
ll side b
P
is
t
o
n
Cream is
y side.
and Mar
Shor
shall
fin
Walked ding re-adjustm for Twizzle a t run then
twins B
ent diff
nd Crea
stopped
litz
m.
icult
things I and I settled t and Spoons on . He’ll be oka Poor
y
their aw couldn’t determ hem. They saw a moonlit lake .
.
areness
ine. Wolv
a
n
We
d
‘g
ruffed’
and we
es? Pro
There w
at
b
m
a
o
b
v
a
ly
e
s
d
.
at today
a
o
I praise
’s temp 30-minute po n.
d
erature
wer-cut
of -39º
in
Inuv
C was
no joke. ik. No heat
64
Cream
.
in Inuvik
e
ic
v
r
e
s
MBER
e carol
o. Inuit
12 DECE nt along to th ed like an iglo l language
Y
A
D
N
e
ap
icia
SU
in
the off
ning I w
l and sh
This eve ch is beautifu in Inuktitut, t of my folks
r
h
t
u
g
h
h
The c ng Silent Nig , and I thou
elders saern Arctic Inuit
of west
I
the UK.
airport. to
BER
ik
M
v
E
u
n
C
I
E
D
u,
AY 18
rs from
and Sik ream. They
SATURDd three brothe names, Nixee
C
w
no
he
Collecte their original apu’s name is first time t
N
e
y
d
h
r
e
.
t’s t ll appear ve
chang
rshall
and Ma
lighty. I
a
Piston derstandably f es. It must
e
n
r
u
t
.
e
s
n
dog
wer
have see
autiful
brothers They look be
strange.
ats
Saxon e
snow
Saxon enjoying himself with his Ruff Wear pack
DECEMBER
them over
THURSDAY 23 and said I’ll be thinking of
s
Phoned my folk
my place
.
as
Christm
and Marshall into oser to
am
re
C
,
on
st
Pi
I brought
em to get cl
d encouraged th e best for them. For
an
e
m
ti
a
at
one
t th
eir dad and wan sniffing, wide eyes and
th
I’m
g
vin
lie
be
ith piss. I
ere was lots of
half an hour th flood the poor flour sack w I’m so
d.
Marshall tried to I lay on the floor and doze
as
t
rs
s.
fi
st
0mph gu
smelt it
ows in with 5
tired. Blizzard bl
ght and
RISTMAS EVE
FRIDAY 24 CH me a couple of times last ni made a
d
e
an
The wind wok foot of snow. Fed puppies
I walked
r
k.
he
in
to dr
ts
ul
brought anot
ad
e
th
e
ag
ik this
encour
l and into Inuv ent to
ne
soup broth to
an
ch
st
ea
e
th
W
along the ice of darker than ever and snowing.
as
w
It
.
morning
so tired.
bed at 8pm. I’m
TUESDA
Thule b Y 28 DECEMB
r
her the eaks through ER
re’s no
he
prize fo r third collar
Saxon w
r this.
this win
o
n’t use
to be h
ter. I
h
is
is
told
k
p
e
is
n
s post.
nel at
create
all. It’s
a deep
I dig do
nest of
wn
tu
straw f into packed rned out
WEDNE
o
snow to
r
him.
S
Up at DAY 29 DEC
E
river. I 6am. Ran by MBER
moonlig
c
o
u
ld
n’t
throwin
g firew believe two ht for an hou
and ice
. Drugg orks horizonta riders on sno r on the
ll
ed up,
w
drunk o y, careering o mobiles
FRIDAY
ff snow
r stupid
snowmo
Ran alo 31 DECEMBE
bilers.
today w ne this morninR
supplies hile I unloade g on the rive
d six t
r
by hand
ons of . Rested my
.
do
my dog
food an gs
d
DAY.
as cold.
STMAS out and it w old today.
I
R
H
C
onths
e was
AY 25
istmas
SATURD 7am. My stov wizzle is six m. The last Chr to
T
Woke at and Spoons. one feed a day y from Alaska
z
t
ne
w
t
li
e
B
g
l
d
Fe
he’l
g a jour ’d forgotten ho
in
n
r
o
u
d
w
o
s
n
a
I
w
1.
m
e
o
0
r
n
F
s in 20
nced alo
I experie hwest Territorie
e, the
t
first bik es I covered.
y
m
the Nor hits.
t
distanc
ht abou
hard it y, but I thoug , and the huge id. I thank my
Funn
as a k
ave me
ce it g eel held back
n
ially
e
d
n
e
p
e
ind
n, espec
I f
w
o
id
d
r
u
e
o
.
c
y
Not on rever for that e to be on
folks fo tmas is no tim
Chris es.
tim
m
iver.
at eal
n the r oose bone.
Y
o
A
D
n
o
x
G
a
S
N
m
I
h
26 BOX
oon wit
ely.
hewing a
SUNDAY light of the m e lay down, c of himself lat kled
c
H
l
u
a
y
Ran b wizzle inside. g a great de wizzle soon b l.
T
in
T
il
k
t
s
Bought has been thin . Submissive, eye. Warm
n
Twizzle him with Saxo Saxon in the
o
d
e
lo
ir
a
o k
I p
daring t is afternoon.
t
o
n
n
th
dow
a little
Snowed
CONTINUED NEXT MONTH...
66
Gary Rolfe’s diary continues next month. For more information about
his expeditions and adventures, visit www.garyrolfe.com
Dogs Today December 2005