IIDD, July 24th

Hi Whirlygig!

Quite pleased, in fact, with how I felt on Saturday morning! Up at 8:00am to have a delicious breakfast with Dom Pedro and Electric Avenue. Cora Lee whipped up more than scrumptious scrambled egg dish and we augmented cackleberries with over-left, sustainably harvested sausages. Spent rest of morning putting Island Inn back in order, (took three trips to recycling bins to get rid of incriminating evidence), and returning tasting glasses. En route to rental place I felt like I was inside the empty Bunnahabhain bottle and Breakfast Club at Go Green kept milling around Titanium Green as I unloaded recyclables afterwards!

Back home for a quick shower and then Flamin' joined us to walk up to 4th to take in Kits Days. Great day for street event, as I'm sure you know. We had arranged to meet our friends, Donna Maria and Herardo, in from Terrace, at some point. As soon as we crossed Burrard, I knew that we might not bump into them as crowd was pretty thick. I suggested they walk down from their place near 2nd and Vine, keeping to the northside of street. We would do the same, walking uphill. At any rate, we did find each other and spent the next hour or so popping into stores, tasting food samples, etc. Once we reached Safeway, had seen most of what there was to see. From there, west to MacDonald was more of a flea market, I believe.

Famiglia Martini invited us back to their place for wine and cheese and we had a lovely time visiting and enjoying the simply spectacular view from their very, very comfortable 17th floor apartment. Stacee, their daughter, and Sean, her boyfriend, were along as well and after they left, we suggested that DM/H join us for dinner. They were delighted to do so but insisted on contributing to meal. Flamin' and I set out ahead of rest of gang as there was a line-up for bathroom and I was prepared to water the rosebushes in front of their building!

Flamin' had phoned Sarge, who was just back from Canadian Open, and he had come upstairs to take some steaks out of our freezer, and then come to collect us. We bumped into us near Yew, I think, but since DM/H/CL were nowhere in sight behind us, we clambered aboard and made for Harbour Terrace. By the time I had meat defrosted latecomers arrived, bearing fresh corn, mushrooms and blueberries scored at GI Market. We made our way downstairs and had a lovely time on their patio, sipping more wine and nibbling on more hors d'oeuvres.

At some point, Molly Mop was frolicking on the grass beyond the embankment which hides their deck from view and Flamin' went to bring her back as she refused to answer the repeated calls to come home. Two Italian tourists were playing with Molly when Flamin' went to collect her and she invited Micol and Valerio to join us for a drink. He, (V), is here studying to become a sommelier, she and her boyfriend, (he was working), are here visiting. Everyone friends from Milano so that was original connection. Great time quizzing them until they had to leave. Hope to see them again as they were lots of fun.

Sarge did a stellar job on steaks, I had made a green salad, corn was more than delicous and Flamin's roasted spuds were divine. For dessert we poured some very good ice-wine, (a birthday present to CL from her friend Agneta), over the fresh blueberries. Another wonderful meal indeed!
Everyone was tired by about 9:30pm so we thanked one another and said goodnight to make for home. Another full day!

Plan to go for a ride later this afternoon after I run a few errands. Want to visit both my Mom and friend Imre. I'm up for a ride tomorrow. Jim is busy with one thing and another, (off to Whistler tomorrow, Deep Cove, and elsewhere, at some point later in week), so Thursday is first day he will be free. Plan on an early ride then, probably around Stanley Park, so please join us if that works for you. Let me know about tomorrow. Cheers, Patrizio!

Hello, again, Malt Drinkers and Unaccredited Observers!

Trust everyone made it home safely! Just a quick note to thank everyone for all the wonderful food and marvelous company. Three "official" tasters, (Dom Marcellino, Big Molly and Whirlygig), left their malts behind. Cora Lee "insists" you claim them when convenient. Perhaps I could arrange for Howling 101: An Introductory Course in Call and Response, when you pop by to repatriate your hootch!

A special thank you to The Sisterhood for the terrific job of pouring and serving, under rather trying and difficult circumstances, as well as to Per for introducing us to one of Sweden's finest malts. I know that a number of you, Dom Marcellino, in particulare, were fussed about not ranking the malts, the blind tasting protocols, and the like. Rest assured, I will call for a Royal Commission to investigate the evening and hope to table the report before the next gathering! One trusts that the findings will inform the manner and order of tasting and suggest an approach which does not rely upon the whimsy, idiosyncrasy and obvious lack of knowledge, (as evidenced by failing grade on identification exam), on the part of the principal organizer!

Once again, thank you all for coming and making the evening as enjoyable as it was. Onward! Fight!! Cheers, Patrizio!

PS: First person to correctly identify distillery in attached photo wins the right to determine which malts will be tasted in next go around!

Hello Jugos Dom Pedro et al!

Glad you found your passport, Dom Pedro. I suspected, when I listened to your first phone message that it was, as you eventually discovered, nestled up against the Tullibardine in your bag!

Bridge is on for Tuesday at 6:30pm. Unfortunately, for the bridge wizards, Sarge has a regular summer league ball game on Tuesday so he won't be able to join us for most of evening, I suspect. Depending on weather, when game finishes, post-game analysis in pub, etc., he may well pop by to say hello. Not sure what Coriandre has planned for evening but if home perhaps she can be persuaded to play until Robert arrives. If not, then we can play three-handed bridge, à la Guayabitos with Ragin' Bull/Barnacle Branymir!

With respect to parking, it shouldn't be too, too difficult to find on-street space. However, if either Cora Lee or Chloë will be out then we will have a space available inside. Furthermore, I can always move my vehicle outside at just before 6:00pm and/or ask Sarge if we can use his space while he is out chasing fly balls! Not to worry, either way as we'll work something out. Further to this, I'll send another email once I know about everyone's likely schedule, etc.

Looking forward to seeing you both, Clive and Robert, after not connecting for a number of years. Not so sure about Dom Pedro, however, as I thought we just rid ourselves of him a few days ago! Cheers, Patrizio!


Hi again, Dimentico Jugos!

Received same message from Robertito. Are you two twins? If you are so inclined, I'd catch the Aquabus and take it across to Granville Island. You can catch it at Plaza of Nations, probably the closest stop to Arena. Let me know if there is anything I can do for evening, (shopping, etc.), if you are going to be pressed for time or otherwise busy/delayed. Furthermore, I'm happy to pop you at Olympic Village on Wednesday morning, whenever you'd like to leave, if you want to take Sky Train. We can chat about that on Tuesday.

Sorry, no sign of iPod in your room. Probably with your passport!!!

Hello to Lynne Lurking in the Shadows! Cheers, Patrizio!