Thanks for the news about recent travels. Yes, the Swayzes have moved on, and the former homestead is in other hands. David's sister has had her hands full managing everything and David has also been back to Winnipeg a couple of times this year to help Nan sort through all
the stuff. Margaret is still lively, but Walter had a fall as they were preparing to move, and this has just exacerbated the already noticeable deterioration in his capacities. He is out of the hospital now, but really is not the same man any more.
Our daughter Emma, who now resides in Winnipeg as you may recall, is
expecting, and the due date still holds at January 1st. We are planning a
trip to the Peg and probably an extended stay for early January. Our
niece's son was also born last January, so I actually started knitting again
last year. The work continues now with added fervour.
Daniel is now in Japan. He was accepted into the JET program and is
teaching in a middle school in a city in south Japan. We just had another
Skype chat with him, and we are also planning another trip to Asia to visit
him next spring. It'd be great if we could time it with the cherry
blossoms, but it will depend on his teaching schedule. He makes good money
there, and is as happy as a clam, being an honorary Asian himself.
I haven't been good at keeping in touch generally in recent months, as this
has been a crazy year for me for elections work. I've gone directly from
working at full-bore at Elections Canada to preparing to open my office for
Elections Ontario. Yesterday, I got my furniture, and then later this week
everything else comes. I won't really come up for air again until late
October.
In fact, I am hoping to find some other line of work in the new year. This
elections stuff has just been too taxing - they ask for 100% commitment and
treat you like an indentured slave. We shall see what happens, as this
promises to be a busy winter too.
Happy trails. Will try to keep the smoke signals going, even if they become
sporadic and hard to read!
Maret
Hi Maret and David!
Lovely to hear from you and catch up. I did not know about Walter's fall and am sorry to hear about it and the aftereffects. I could tell that he was frustrated at not being able to talk on the phone and I suppose that this is probably one of the least of his inabilities, given what you have mentioned.I'm struggling with Mom's deterioration as well. She will turn 98 this September 22nd and to be quite frank, I am wondering just how long she will continue to live. Each time we go away, (even for such a relatively short trip as this one), I'm never sure if she will be alive when we return. (This, of course, is always in the back of my mind whenever we plan a more extended holiday, [See below for more details.], even though I know I cannot put my life on hold. As it is, there is very little, if any, recognition, at this point. More a question of holding her hands and talking to her, hoping something will register although there are very little outward signs that this is the case. Still, she seems comfortable, both physically and emotionally, and shows no evidence of the frustration and obvious dementia which many of her fellow residents display. For this, of course, I am most grateful, given that it is distressing enough to see one's loving and loved mother slip away in such a fashion.
On a more positive note, as you know, we are now enjoying the good life in Falcon with Clarisse and Dusty! They are both remarkably well, going strong, far to, too busy, it seems, to slow down! Have played bridge and sipped malt, (Bruichladdich Waves and Laphroaig Quarter Cask), last two nights, or so, so that has been fun. With George, (Corinne's brother who lives in cabin next door), on Monday, when we arrived and on Tuesday afternoon/evening with Sarge and Prince Valiant, friends from our building. They left Vancouver on Monday, stayed overnight in Regina and pulled into Ace Bay at 3:30pm. I made it back a few minutes later after riding to Rennie, about 45K from Falcon, for a round trip of 103.33K, my longest ride since leaving Vancouver. Quite overcast so it was a great day for riding, other than bucking quite strong headwind, both ways!!! How does that happen? Life just 'ain't fair!
Sarge is driving with Ryan as far as Toronto since he is returning to Halifax to start Engineering at Dalhousie. Sarge will fly from Pearson to meet Flamin' in St John's for a wedding and then they will visit other friends and relatives in and around Halifax before returning to Vancouver. Lads left at 4:00am this morning, (crossing over into US at International Falls, south of Kenora), hoping to be in Windsor by 6:00pm!
Will be here until the Tuesday following Labour Day, when we will start our journey home. First night will be in Kenton, about 70K west of Brandon, where we will stay with Judy/Dallas, Mom's second cousins for the night. Wednesday we will drive to Calgary to spend the night with Betty Hughes, close friend of the Durstons from Falcon. Zircon, with whom we stayed on way east, will join us for dinner and bridge that evening, at Betty's place. We are planning to bring pickerel filets for dinner on Wednesday. Will buy them, frozen, in Winnipeg, from Gimli Fish Market, (Hoping to pop in to see Noreen Sanders, Rocky Sander's widow. Did you know him? He taught at English at U of M at University College and we met when I was working on my MA there. We had arranged to see Noreen before we left city for lake but she came down with a stomach bug.), en route to Kenton and will let them thaw out on drive to Calgary. Hope to bring some potatoes, vegetables and other salad fixings from Dusty's garden so we have asked Zircon to bring a small/medium tub of ice cream from Cochrane's famous MacKay's! If not, we'll drown our sorrows with malt. Next day, Thursday, on to Kamloops where we will overnight with more close friends, Brenda Louise and Wally.
Will probably be home on Friday unless we decide to try and visit Dave McDougal, in Kamloops as well, who was student with us when he was in Law School, at UBC, back in 1976/1977. Told Chloë to start vacuuming on Wednesday! Need to be home by Saturday to attend Kari's wedding reception that evening, at Granville Island Brewery. She is Chloë's school chum and Chloë was part of wedding party in Las Vegas this past June.
Once back in Vancouver we are, more or less, home until mid-March, 2012, when we are off to Hong Kong, (four or five days), Australia, (three months), and Japan, (three weeks), traveling with friends, Flamin' and Sarge for time in Australia. We plan to be in Japan at the start of the second week in May in order to miss cherry blossoms. Toshi, a former boarder, suggested timing as apparently rates are much higher until various festivals are over and country is like Whistler at Christmas, if you catch my drift. Of course, you may be be better able to negotiate these extremes, having the now wealthy Daniel there to shepherd/chauffeur you around! Toshi will be our guide for about half our stay so very pleased about that. At any rate, would be terrific if we could manage to meet, at some point, so let us know as your plans develop.
I'm volunteering with Vancouver International Film Festival from September 29th-October 14th and then both of us are volunteers for the Vancouver International Writers Festival from October 18th-23rd. Cora Lee is supposed to have some corrective surgery on her right big toe towards the end of October so that will probably keep her laid up for about six weeks or more. Although she wants to have it done, I know she is not looking forward to recuperative period as it is usually quite painful. Guess I'll need to chain my malt cabinet once she finishes her heavy duty pain killers!!!
Wonderful news about Emma's pregnancy. How is she enjoying life in The Peg? What is Jonathon doing? Hope things work out with finding something after you finish with both Elections Canada/Elections Ontario. How is Mr Consultant Extraordinaire and his hectic schedule?
Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!
Pics: Dusty's hot-house for tomatoes; one of his "babies"; Clarisse and Dusty buying beets at the Kenora Farmer's Market yesterday morning. Coriandre wants to learn how to pickle beets while here so needed to buy raw ingredients! Mr Big and two of his brothers waiting to go to the Ketchup Factory!!! Actually, Dusty will remove seeds first and plant them next spring.
Hi Polly and Mick!
Great to hear from you and catch up. Shiraz sounded wonderful! I don't think I've seen it. One which might be similar is called The Boxer, by Molly Dooker Winery, I believe. Love their stuff but very pricey, last time I looked. Heard from Ray about The Sisterhood and their latte ride! (Parenthetically, yesterday Cora Lee and I cycled along the South Shore of Falcon. About 20K return so a fairly long ride for Mme Coriandre. (I continued on, after she returned to cabin, to do part of my regular route. wanted to stretch my legs after ride of day before. See below for details!) We re-acquainted ourselves with the deer population, (first we'd seen since arriving), on this part of lake, as we saw about twelve of these gorgeous creatures grazing in the shallow ditches running along the roadway. None moved a muscle as we cycled by but kept us fixed in their vision all the while, large ears twitching, on the alert. Hunting is not allowed in Whiteshell Provincial Park so they are protected and obviously know it. (As well, they are used to people. Last year, on one of my rides, I saw a cottager trying to shoo away a doe trying to nibble her flowers. Woman wasn't having much luck either!) One group, a doe with her offspring, I think, a young male, the fuzz still on its small horns, and a fawn, still with the white dots on its coat, were such a treat that I wished I'd had my camera to capture the Bambi-moment!)
As you know, we are now enjoying the good life in Falcon with Clarisse and Dusty! They both say thanks for greetings and, likewise, send their regards to you two. You should visit as you can golf on course here. 17th hole is just over their back fence and Dusty collect buckets of balls from his raspberry patch/vegetable garden every year! Rated as one of best, not only in Manitoba, but the country, according to locals, if they are to be believed. They are both remarkably well, going strong, far to, too busy, it seems, to slow down!
Say hello to The Pottingers for me! Cheers, Patrizio!
Gentlemen
A few of the pictures Chris took over the week-end. I forgot to mention we cycled from 10.20 to 18.30, then 09.15 to 1900 and then 09.30 to 14.30. Of course we consumed one or two lattes and other beverages during this time. This was longer than I had expected. One major dipsy whilst attending to my tyre.
Will send one or two of Laura's when I receive them.
Please note the yellow jersey. Regards Jim
Hi Christine and Jim/Sylvia and Ray!
Hello, one and all!
Congratulations on completing C2C and managing to survive, Jim! I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible without The Sisterhood's hectoring!!! Thoroughly enjoyed your extremely informative social, political and historical narrative, not to say wonderfully amusing account of the trials and tribulations and benefits, (Mainly stopping at pubs, I gather!), of junket. Unfortunately, now I have not only to worry about half-wheeling you, Ray, but also to half-pen you, Jim!!! Distressed to learn that you had suffered what seemed like a reasonably serious reaction to stiff climb. Other than to say that I was pleased to learn that this acute fatigue/stress did not repeat itself, I must add that if you had opted for the ascent of Seymour, you would have been able to tackle any and all hills on the C2C!
Off shortly to try and better my 103.33K ride, once I lube up with deer repellent! Fortunately, it has been so dry these past few months that there are literally no mosquitoes or even the dreaded horseflies, as big or bigger than Bluebottles! (Fire hazard is Extreme, of course!) Will head to Rennie but will take a 5K dipsy doodle about 1K from town's limits, to Brereton Lake, a lake where I spent some time camping with the family of a school chum during the summer between Grade 7 and Grade 8. There is a government dock at the beach there and all the kids would swim from it. I remember our stay happened to coincide with the height of the horsefly season and there were thousands of them swarming over the dock, all day, every day. We would run the length of the dock, as fast as we could, our soles literally scrunching the hundreds of corpses of the unlucky ones we'd batted out of the air, our arms flailing about our heads in protective reflex, as we revved up for take-off. We'd leap off the end of the dock, screaming/shrieking, "Geronimo", and try to stay submerged as long as our lungs would allow for as soon as we surfaced, clouds of the nasty, unbelievably aggressive insects would descend and proceed to bite our scalps through our matted, wet hair! We tried to imitate harbour seals, popping up in different locations but the horrid beasties always seemed to know where to be to continue our torment.
Cora Lee sends her regards to Vancouver and Wetherby! Cheers, Patrizio!
Pics: For Master Gardeners and Elite Cyclistii: Dusty's hot-house for tomatoes; one of his "babies"; vegetables at Kenora's Farmer's Market; Clarisse and Dusty buying beets at the KFM yesterday morning. Coriandre wants to learn how to pickle beets while here so needed to buy raw ingredients! Mr Big and two of his brothers waiting to go to the Ketchup Factory!!! Actually, Dusty will remove seeds first and plant them next spring. Odometer evidence!
Hello, one and all!
Congratulations on completing C2C and managing to survive, Jim! I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible without The Sisterhood's hectoring!!! Thoroughly enjoyed your extremely informative social, political and historical narrative, not to say wonderfully amusing account of the trials and tribulations and benefits, (Mainly stopping at pubs, I gather!), of junket. Unfortunately, now I have not only to worry about half-wheeling you, Ray, but also to half-pen you, Jim!!! Distressed to learn that you had suffered what seemed like a reasonably serious reaction to stiff climb. Other than to say that I was pleased to learn that this acute fatigue/stress did not repeat itself, I must add that if you had opted for the ascent of Seymour, you would have been able to tackle any and all hills on the C2C!
Off shortly to try and better my 103.33K ride, once I lube up with deer repellent! Fortunately, it has been so dry these past few months that there are literally no mosquitoes or even the dreaded horseflies, as big or bigger than Bluebottles! (Fire hazard is Extreme, of course!) Will head to Rennie but will take a 5K dipsy doodle about 1K from town's limits, to Brereton Lake, a lake where I spent some time camping with the family of a school chum during the summer between Grade 7 and Grade 8. There is a government dock at the beach there and all the kids would swim from it. I remember our stay happened to coincide with the height of the horsefly season and there were thousands of them swarming over the dock, all day, every day. We would run the length of the dock, as fast as we could, our soles literally scrunching the hundreds of corpses of the unlucky ones we'd batted out of the air, our arms flailing about our heads in protective reflex, as we revved up for take-off. We'd leap off the end of the dock, screaming/shrieking, "Geronimo", and try to stay submerged as long as our lungs would allow for as soon as we surfaced, clouds of the nasty, unbelievably aggressive insects would descend and proceed to bite our scalps through our matted, wet hair! We tried to imitate harbour seals, popping up in different locations but the horrid beasties always seemed to know where to be to continue our torment.
Cora Lee sends her regards to Vancouver and Wetherby! Cheers, Patrizio!
Pics: For Master Gardeners and Elite Cyclistii: Dusty's hot-house for tomatoes; one of his "babies"; vegetables at Kenora's Farmer's Market; Clarisse and Dusty buying beets at the KFM yesterday morning. Coriandre wants to learn how to pickle beets while here so needed to buy raw ingredients! Mr Big and two of his brothers waiting to go to the Ketchup Factory!!! Actually, Dusty will remove seeds first and plant them next spring. Odometer evidence!
No comments:
Post a Comment