IIDD, Aug 16th

Hi Big Al:

Enjoyed your retelling of your brush with Tonto and company! Maybe the Musqueam and Lummi Bands have adopted something from the good burghers of Shaughnessey Golf and Country Club, although I have never been approached, in like manner, when I've cycled past the sign "Members Only" to catch a glimpse of the Lives of the Rich and Famous! As a direct result, cycled out to Iona Island yesterday morning, with Flamin'/Sarge/and Robo Ray, just back from England on Thursday, to transgress on GVRD property but only had to contend with some annoyed, indigenous Canada Geese, honking loudly at us as we cycled past!

On a much, much brighter note, Ray brought me a bottle of the Bunnahabhain Daruch Ùr, 46.3%, 1L, the malt we sampled at the very end of the tasting, if you recall. I never expected to see another bottle of same so was quite literally bowled over with sheer delight when he presented me with the wonderful gift. Funnily enough, Ray doesn't drink malt at all so it was by sheer chance that he should have selected one he did! Must have been my reward for my unjust/unwarranted ejection from The Rez. Cheers, Patrizio!


Hi Zircon!

Trust you are well and back into the swing of things Calgarian/Cochranian!

You mentioned that after your most recent love affair with Vancouver that you would be back soon. Well, it may come as a bit of a surprise, but we may well be visiting you first! The Sisterhood has just announced/ordained a whirlwind, (as opposed to a "Whirlygig"), trip to The Peg, (We blast off at some ungodly hour on the morn of Tuesday, August 23rd!), to attend a shower for her grand-niece on Thursday, August 25th. At this point, given logistics/timetable, I'm not even sure how I will manage a stop at Kennsington Wine Market or Willow Park, to stock up on the malt I'll need to make it through trip and compensate for hootch I'll miss at a gathering of the The Brotherhood, scheduled for Thursday, September 1st! O woe is me! We Who are about to do Battle with The Sirens of The Sisterhood, Salute You!

At any rate, if convenient, we'd like to camp out with you for Tuesday night. I do hope to leave about 4:00am, if only to clear city before rush hour. Even going east, traffic is heavy until Abbotsford! With two drivers we can switch off and cat nap, all the way to Calgary. By so doing, I'm hoping to be able to hit Kennsington before coming out to Cochrane. Again, we could probably manage to have Betty's son let us in to her place if you will not be around. She will be in Falcon, herself, until after long weekend. We intend to make our way back to Vancouver, from Falcon Lake or Winnipeg, (not sure if we will spend a day or two there on way back), after Labour Day so will most likely stay with Betty then. We'll try to arrange to have a bridge night with you, (and Jan, of course, if she is able and willing), if everyone's schedules allow.

Anyway, let us know about the 23rd and we'll plan accordingly. Fondestos and Cheers., Patrizio!

I would love to see you guys on Tuesday, Aug 23--en route to Wpg.

Address is 2306-505 Railway St W.

Cell # 403.540.5966

I am supposed to be at a Worship Com meeting that nite--I may see if we can shift it so I can have the nite off.

I will plan to throw some red meat on the grill--unfortunately I cannot begin to compete with the cuisine of Island Inn.

So mark accommodation for Aug 23 as confirmed and let me know if you might need a bed for the return trip as well.

jhh

I have invited Jan to come out for dinner on Tues. It is possible she will have to decline. She flies to Munich the next day. She will not be available for bridge on your return journey. Innsbruck, Vienna plus family in England seem to be higher priority than playing bridge with us. Another time.

PS Worship Committee has been moved to the following week, so I am clear for the evening of Aug 23.

 Hello Kentonites!

Trust everyone is well and enjoying what is left of summer!

Had mentioned in last email message that we didn't expect to be back east this year if you recall. Well, it may come as a bit of a surprise, but we may well be visiting you! The Sisterhood has just announced/ordained a whirlwind trip to The Peg, (We blast off at some ungodly hour on the morn of Tuesday, August 23rd!), to attend a shower for her new grand-niece on Thursday, August 25th. At this point, given logistics/timetable, I'm not even sure how I will manage a stop at Kennsington Wine Market or Willow Park, in Calgary, to stock up on the malt I'll need to make it through trip and compensate for hootch I'll miss at a gathering of the The Brotherhood, scheduled for Thursday, September 1st! O woe is me! We Who are about to do Battle with The Sirens of The Sisterhood, Salute You!

At any rate, if convenient, we'd like to camp out with you on the night of Wednesday , August 24th. Given length of drive from Calgary, not sure when we'd arrive so if you'd like to have us stay, please don't wait on us for dinner, etc. I do hope to leave between 7:00am-8:00am but since we will probably be staying overnight in Cochrane, we probably wouldn't be knocking on your door until about 9:00pm at earliest, given time change. If it turns out that you will be away, we'll simply push on in to Winnipeg or sleep in a water filled ditch somewhere near Rivers!

Anyway, let us know about the 24th and we'll plan accordingly. Fondestos and Cheers., Patrizio!

Hello Wildwood Park!

Trust everyone is well and enjoying what is left of summer!

Think I might have mentioned in an earlier email message that we didn't expect to be back east this year. Well, it may come as a bit of a surprise, but we are hoping to visit you! The Sisterhood has just announced/ordained a whirlwind trip to The Peg, (We blast off at some ungodly hour on the morn of Tuesday, August 23rd!), to attend a shower for her new grand-niece on Thursday, August 25th. At this point, given logistics/timetable, I'm not even sure how I will manage a stop at Kennsington Wine Market or Willow Park, in Calgary, to stock up on the malt I'll need to make it through trip and compensate for hootch I'll miss at a gathering of the The Brotherhood, scheduled for Thursday, September 1st! O woe is me! We Who are about to do Battle with The Sirens of The Sisterhood, Salute You!

At any rate, we do hope to be able to see you, at some point, over our stay. We intend to make our way back to Vancouver, from Falcon Lake or Winnipeg, (not sure if we will spend a day or two, or more there on way back), after Labour Day. Will you be in town over the time span mentioned above? Anyway, let us know and we'll plan accordingly. Fondestos and Cheers., Patrizio!

Hi Pat,

Good timing!

Tiernan's here until 02 Sept & my sister Glenna, who now lives in Prague is scheduled to visit our fair 'burg from 25 Aug to 01 Sept.

Hope you can make it. Please give us a call when you hit town.

Safe Travels,

Hi Filmer!

Great to learn that we will be able to see Tiernan and meet your sister, Glenna. Will call when we are settled in Winnipeg. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Hello Cruel Swiss et al!

Some snaps taken with latest wine coolers on Clan Sutherland's patio! Cheers, Il Conduttore!

PS: Kid Chelene is grumpy because he doesn't live at home, on the halves, anymore! 

Hi again, Cruel Swiss, Ozzities et al!

Snaps from yesterday's Farewell BBQ for Fabienne, Ursula and Valentino and Welcoming BBQ for Zoe and Matt! Cheers, Patrizio!

PS: Sorry, Zoe, I thought I had your email address in my electronic address book but don't!

Hi Zoe and Matt!

Snaps from Sunday's Farewell BBQ for Fabienne, Ursula and Valentino and Welcoming BBQ for Zoe and Matt! Sorry for not sending these along directly, Zoe, but I thought I had your email address in my electronic address book but didn't!

At any rate it was a delight to meet Matt and see you again, after so many years. Thank you both for lovely bouquet, tasty cheese and delicious crackers! Glad you enjoyed the Fox Creek Shiraz. Don't feel homesick about Australian wine. Plenty here and you can insist your parents bring loads when they come!

We'll give you a shout when we are back from Winnipeg. Buona Fortuna to Matt with new job and same to you at UBC with your program and TA responsibilities. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Pat:

Sounds good We're off to Calgary on the 12/13 and staying at the Royal Execitive pet-friendly Inn until the 15/16 but will be around other than that . We may take the R-pod out one more time in September... I have to get back to packing now as we leave bright and early tomorrow morning. Just tried Facetime on my ipad with my sister who just got an ipad 2 as well. Aside from looking like something the cat dragged in, I enjoyed the chance to see her.
We have Pic with us so leaving him in the r-pod for any length of time isn't feasible but thanks for the invite anyway.

Hi Brenda Louise!

You sound pretty damn busy with all your r-Pod trips and i-Pad II telecommunications!

Had an unexpected visit from Rhoda MacCormick, now living in Sydney, Cape Breton, yesterday. She was in town, over weekend, to attend a family wedding and missed her flight. She thought it left at 3:00pm and discovered it flew out of YVR at 7:00am! At any rate, after she managed to wheedle a red-eye out of WestJet, she took Canada Line to Olympic Village and fetched up on our patio around 5:00pm. Cora Lee was just leaving for her shift at WISH so Ski, (Her nickname from when she worked for me at a student assistant back in '78 in the Curric Lab! at UBC!), accompanied me on a number of errands. I had to take my car in for an oil change so put two bikes on the rack and drove to dealership, a few blocks past Main/Terminal.

After dropping car off we cycled through Olympic Village as last time she was here it was still under construction. On to London Drugs, near Broadway/Cambie, to compare price for Canon G12, (I bought the G11 before going to Europe last year and was very pleased with it, when I could pry it out of Chloë's mitts!), I want to give Chloë for her 35th birthday, tomorrow. I had found one on sale at Future Shop when I stopped in at the store near Broadway/Burrard, at the end of my ride with Raymundo out to UBC and environs, earlier that afternoon. As things turned out, their sale price was $50 more than at Future Shop. When I mentioned this to very helpful salesperson, he said that they would match price so he started to ring up sale and then discovered that only had display model in stock. Given price margins he couldn't give me an additional discount below matched sale price so he arranged for one to be put on hold at store in Kerrisdale, for pick-up today. Future Shop didn't have the high-speed, 32G card, (Cameras, typically, no longer come with cards, in case you have not bought one of late!), I wanted anyway, so thought I'd go for one stop, bargain-hunter shopping!

After making all the arrangements, we headed home, stopping at GIB to buy a bottle of Sandhill Viognier, (with Chloë's discount), for dinner. We stopped in at Sutherland's, (Ski had used Flamin's bike as my secondo's frame was bit too large for her petite frame), to invite them for a drink. Not sure if I ever mentioned that we discovered, a number of years ago, that Ronaldo, Ski's husband, originally from Cape Breton, had been Flamin's paddling coach back in Dartmouth when they were both in school. She was twelve or thirteen, at the time, with ragin' hormones. He was a "hunk" and an "older man" at 16! They had finished supper by time we arrived but visited upstairs while I served "over-lefts" from Sunday's Farewell bbq for Swiss/Welcome bbq for Zoe/Matt, daughter/son-in-law, of close friends, Kathleen/Steve, in Melbourne. Zoe is here for two years to do a Masters in English Literature at UBC while Matt has a job at a local BMW dealership as a skilled, much sought after, mechanic.

We had a wonderful visit and then Sarge drove Ski to Olympic Village Station in plenty of time for her flight as she was petrified that she would miss the flight again. It was almost as if she was the White Rabbit in Alice as she kept looking at her watch, every few minutes, on bike ride, at drugstore, during meal, thinking, if not mouthing: "I'm late! I'm late for a very important date!", traumatized by her earlier blunder and all the ripple-effects it had caused back home in Nova Scotia!

Cora Lee returned just after they left so we watched another episode of MI-5. I'm wondering when we'll come across the one in which Tom, his girlfriend and Tessa make their final exits! Tessa seems to be in hot water at moment. Something to do with phantom agents, Zoe, (funnily enough!), has discovered. Enjoy your hol by the lake and will be in touch about our return from Winnipeg. WE have to be back in Vancouver by Saturday, September 10th so I guess you will be at home until then, if I am interpreting your itinerary correctly! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Snaps: Fancy new ice moulds; Cruel Swiss: Valentino, Ursula, Fabienne; Matt/Zoe


Hi Pat;

Just had Corinne's friend Sheila, and most of her family here, for a big brunch. She came with her three grown-up children from Baltimore, Durham and SF. There is a wedding in town, which i declined as i needed a quiet day yesterday for unpacking, chores and getting the brunch ready. The visitors just left.

Regretfully, Corinne will in all likelihood be busy this coming Friday, as something was planned sometime back, with her son. If that gets cancelled maybe she can still come – does that work?

Corinne is having a nap write now and then we are going to van Dusen for some live music from Cuba, which is part of the Vancouver Festival. Will take a picnic supper for this musical experience al fresco style.

Look forward to Friday but what time?

bob

ps: photos from concerts at Olsen Farm, pop-up concerts in unusual places (to promote actual shows), Ruth's place where we stayed, drive-by haircut and of course the amazing seacoast of Hornby Island.

Hi Bob!

Great snaps! Wonderful to be whisked back in time to looking over the shoulders of the Impressionists or Van Gogh painting in the fields or on river banks/seashores! Too, too bad about Corinne. Anytime after 6:00pm on Friday.


Hi Pat!

Just got back from a week kayak trip...paddled 20 miles yesterday.

BBQ starts about 4.  If you would like to bring a salad that would be great!

cheers

Ron

Hi Mr Grizzle!

I spit on your 20 mile kayak feat! See odometre below, for proof of my best ride to date! A salad it is! See you on Sunday, around 4:00pm. Cheers, Patrizio!

Hi Pat,

Kjell tells me you have come to like Mackmyra. Enclosed is the latest news.

I also hears you still dedicated to your late (?) bike career. I don’t bike (more than to the local supermarket), but I like walking (golf) and running so I focus on that.

Take care and have a nice summer (what’s left of it).

Send my regards to Corinne. Kerstin gives you distant hug. Per

Hi Per et al!

Great to hear from you and receive both the news of Mackmyra's impressive awards and Kersten's distant hug! Lovely to meet you and get to know both Kersten and you a little better. Did Dom Marcellino/Vasil forward you the snaps I sent along, taken the evening of your lovely soirée? If not, let me know and I'll send along pics.

Snaps: Odometer after last Wednesday's ride, similar to one, in terms of distance, with Kjell last Friday, although he had to take Sky Train to Olympic Village from Richmond!

Patrizio!

Thanks for pleasant gathering (and bike ride) last Friday. Already looking forward to next.

Marcello, aka Basil

Hello Patrick and Corinne

Thank you for sending us the photos, but thank you very much espacially that
Michèle and Nicole could stay with you the last days.
I send you some picture of our holidays in the east of canada. We enjoyed it
very much. The landscape was great and the people were very friendly.
I think that we will come back to Canada.
Many greetings from switzerland.
Renate and Roland

Hi Rolando and Renate!

We certainly enjoyed seeing Fabienne and Ursula again, and meeting Valentino. Great kids, indeed! Wonderful visit! Glad you enjoyed your holiday in Eastern Canada and that you plan to return. You are always welcome here!

Patrizio:

Very nice :) can't wait to see the Swiss in 2 days! Hope you are all well. 

Hi European Touristii!

Enjoy your visit with the Cruel Swiss!