IIDD, June 6th

Hi Toshi!

Very pleased to learn that you are back safely! Also, wonderful to hear that your Mother is well. Thanks again for all the lovely presents. Furthermore, thank you for already arranging what sounds like a more than wonderful visit to Japan. Please pass along our fond regards to everyone.

Saturday's bbq was loads of fun. Weather cooperated so we were able to spend a good part of the evening on the patio. Corinne did wonderful appetizers: small pizzas with mozzarella/tomatoe/fresh basil topping, bbq'd chicken wings, all sorts of dips with potatoe chips/tortilla chips. As if this wasn't enough, she did numerous different sausages, (turkey/chicken/pork), and more chicken thighs on bbq, along with salmon filets for non-meat eaters. I made two potatoe salads, one with non-dairy mayonnaise for vegans, plus a really delicious lentil/cherry tomatoe salad, again, courtesy of Cora Lee. Agneta brought a tasty deep dish cheery pie/cake and Gillian, a wonderful carrot cake. Plenty of wine, red and white, so more than a lovely evening all around. Pierrre, Chloë and Corinne watched a movie until about 12:30am, but I went to bed to read after I had put away leftovers and loaded dishwasher.

Enjoyed another fine evening, last night, at the apartment, (high rise on Frances, not far from Commercial Drive in East Van), of a fairly new member to our Book Club. Milton, (Kiang), practiced law in Hong Kong for 13 years and finally tired of the rat race there. Back home to Vancouver, about two years or so ago, trying to survive as a freelance writer. Lovely chap but I give him a hard time, from cycling, (He left his bike locked to bench on our deck for over a week, after a bike ride together, a few weeks ago!), to his predilection for bourbon over malt! At any rate, view from 11th floor is simply stunning and we had a wonderful time, along with Whirlygig/Kerry and her 7 year old daughter Tia. Milton had yummy hors d'oeuvres: jumbo stuffed green olives, crackers and a beguiling, smoked Gouda, I think; delicious salmon/chicken on bbq, with rice; I made a cabbage salad with Japanese noodles/sunflower seeds/sliced almonds, rice vinegar/olive oil dressing and Kerry made a wonderful deep dish raspberry dessert with mountains of whipped cream. Malt, (I brought tail end of a bottle as I knew he would only have blended whiskey!), to settle our tummies and all was well with the world!

His apartment is quite roomy and comfortable but rather a mess, to put it lightly! One more thing to chastise him about. I sent this message earlier this morning:

Foist and foremost, both Cora Lee and I want to thank you for the more than lovely evening: splendiferous view, gorgeous appetizers, fabuloso bbq, plentious appealing hootch, (blended scotch excepted!), and, of course, the more than scintillating conversation, animated, witty repartee! Other than the fact that the evening was spoiled by having to spend hours on kitchen decontamination duty, the gathering was a singular success, probably the highlight of our social calendar. Can barely remember last time we have dined in less salubrious circumstances, except, perhaps, aboard Barnacle Branko's Inside Passage, and survived, lived to tell the sad tale of bachelor slovenliness and terminal clutter. Please expect a delivery from FedEx, early this coming week, an assortment of industrial strength cleansers and fumigants, which I trust you will put to good use if you ever manage to rouse yourself from your Lay Z Boy and apply a little elbow grease to each and every corner of your apartment. I spit on teenagers' rooms now that I have seen your pad! Have you bothered to apply for the reality TV show, Hoarders? Use what you have even if it is, especially since it is, in this case, a pigsty!

I remain, as ever, your Faithful and Humble Servant, Patrizio Dunn, Director, Hazardous Waste and Toxic Site Cleanup, Molly Maid, Inc.

His reply:

Hi Patrick,

I enjoyed having you all over last night. I had a lot of fun as well!

When I woke up this morning, I was surprised to see how clean my kitchen
was, and for a moment, thought that the kitchen fairy had come along last
night.

But then, I remembered how you and Corinne helped me to clean the place.
Thank you - I must host these gathering more often!

Went for a grand ride out to Steveston today. (Parenthetically, I am the proud wearer of many sweatshirts and jackets, per esempio, no longer deemed "in vogue" by the Fashion Polizei. I wear them, and delightedly so, for cycling, as I spit on the lycra clad riders in their sponsor plastered, skin tight garb! The fact that such cyclisti whizzzzzzzzz by me and I can't even dream of keeping up with them has nothing to do with my dislike of their streamlined, form fitting garments. (Must say, however, that last Saturday we were passed by a group of four female sveltoids and The Brotherhood managed to up the pace for a few kilometres, drawn into the chase by the rather attractive posteriors which presented themselves to us, wiggling ever so deliciously, like a carrot before a donkey's nose!) Left at 11:30am, (Whirlygig had a few commitments in morning), and made for UBC, out Marine to Arthur Lang and thence to marina to pop in on Barnacle Man. Found him on ladder, scraping paint above water line. Progress is slow but he is making headway. While we were chatting, welder came by to see about part Branymir wants to have added to rudder. Quite a small job, in scheme of things, and so low priority for welder. Ragin' has been after him for some time so he was very pleased when he stopped by.

Based on work yet to accomplish, he feels he'll have boat back in water by early next week. Delighted for him as it has been quite an ordeal. I didn't mind working on Milton's ceramic stove top for 15 or 20 minutes but I'm not prepared to spend days, or even hours, scraping paint! His boat, his task alone, as far as i"m concerned. Also glad to learn that his arthritis has not really hampered him on this latest project. Truly happy that this is the case as work is grueling, laborious and boring enough without having to endure debilitating arthritic pain. By the time I was back home, with a bit of dips-doodling, had logged 72K.

Once again, will be in touch as soon as we have made more definite plans. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Pics of Milton's apartmento. Now I know why it's such a mess. He's actually blind!!!