Thursday 29 September 2011

IIDD, September 29th

Good evening Patrick (our time).

I have just exhausted myself further by re-reading your last communication. Now I know that an African grey is not an elephant, having followed the link. I understand you are using Apple's new automatic email generator and I feel inadequate without this technology. I understand one puts in Canada/travel/friends' names/single malt brands/fibs about Robo and Bob's your uncle. Incidentally Ray still denies your stories and I am left wondering whom to believe and what the motives are. I feel fortunate that I escaped the 5 hour marathons or triple latte rides.

As it has been a while since I emailed you I can confirm that the 40th in Kenilworth went well with only a minor hitch to the subterfuge from which we were distanced. I had a college rugby and soccer reunion at Cambridge which disappointed with so few representatives from my pre-war era. We also had a pleasant day in Scarborough on the North Yorks coast meeting friends just over an hour from here.

Chris and I had a leisurely 20km( sounds further than 12.5 miles) yesterday interrupted not by latte but by Americanos! I reported to Ray that I had to resort to dipsy doodles? round one of our "English virus" roundabouts before Chris caught up and directed me to the Bridge Hotel. Unknown to me she had secreted some cash with her so the only possible excuse was that she had brought less than the price of two "lattes". Fortunately the receptionist took pity on us and said "just give me what you have". I dissociated myself from this transaction.

Having refitted the dishwasher elsewhere I am close to completing work on the utility room. I have little aptitude for these things and don't really understand why I am spending time on my back fiddling with various tools to try and make connections. At least I have more of an appreciation  of how the average working man spends his time although they of course have the benefit of being paid for the discomfort. I now wake up at night worrying about leaking connections and the next day's work schedule.

These activities explain 1) why I am so tired 2) why my cycling is down to 12 mile stints and 3) why I have little to email you about.

Like yourselves we are having a late burst of good weather (26 degrees C today here) fondly but inaccurately called an Indian summer ( not sure what type of Indian but apparently they can only start in October) - one of the few in my memory. Having attached the taps to the supply without too many incidents I decided to treat Christine to an afternoon out- please see attached photos.  She packed us lunch which we ate looking across Thuscross reservoir outside Harrogate and on the way to the Yorkshire Dales National Park which we didn't reach. Incidentally the village of West End lies under the waters of the reservoir.We took it easy with a 3 mile walk through the woods alongside the water and then repaired to the Wellington public house in Nidderdale for an excellent pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord champion beer-note the working class beverage- unfortunately picture of pub out of focus.

After driving back through Nidderdale towards Harrogate  we stopped at Ripley- home of local gentry the Inglebys in Ripley Castle and indulged in our first try of their so called "world famous ice-cream". Then home for tea and some home-made scones. Chris refused to be photographed with her ice cream tub in front of the castle.

We felt fortunate to be able to enjoy the countryside in such wonderful conditions. As we are due another couple of days great weather (grateful for small mercies) we may make the best of it and revisit old haunts in North Yorkshire. I should have mentioned the trip started with a visit to a Harrogate DIY store.

Having acquired a bottle of blended whisky and then found I already had one we are no longer adulterating the Islay malt- as instructed by you. I was interested to hear that one can get non peaty Islays. Usually  Christine is leading the way in demolishing the malts while I finish off earlier nights' wine.

The new series of Downton Abbey and Spooks(MI5) have begun in Sunday night competition here- are you getting them via PSB? Some criticism of DA on basis of too many commercials and jumping about too quickly through First World War. Much of the cast of Spooks has changed from what I saw in Canada which I understand is par for the course.

My mother ( 96 next month)has made another remarkable recovery from her stay in the respite care home where they gave her anti-biotics which didn't agree with her. We shall be having her to stay in October when my sister is in the Lake District. Christine is having problems communicating with her mother who calls up without her hearing aids in. We use these issues as our poor excuse for not doing volunteering work at present.

I shall now endeavour to attach some photos as proof of our awfully grim northern conditions.

Best wishes to you both. Jim and Chris
 
Hi Chris and Jim!

Delighted to hear from you! Thanks for the marvelous snaps. You both look wonderful. I suspect this is due to the extended Canadian holiday which obviously removed all traces of stress, (Other than the trauma of your speeding ticket, that is!!!), from your otherwise daunting, demanding regimen of refitting dish washers and knocking back either Americanos or copious quantities of Timothy Taylors Landlord Champion Beer, (a pale bitter, if I'm not mistaken), or feasting on tubs of designer ice-cream! Your "local" travels sound delightful. Ray had mentioned Cambridge. Sorry to hear that it was a tad disappointing with so few Neanderthals, such as yourself, attending!

Glad your Mom is feeling better. We celebrated my Mother's 98th on September 22nd at Broadway Lodge where she resides. It went extremely well, I'm pleased to report. Rest of residents quite enjoyed my rousing round of For She's A Jolly Good Fellow..., so much so that had to do it a second time! Usually I'm too loud but with this crowd one can't be loud enough!! While cake was being consumed, I gave a brief chronology of Mom's life and many people, (those capable of understanding what I was saying, of course), were very interested to hear some of the details of her near century's worth of being. (Bit sad, as it was quite apparent that the lucid ones, and even the individuals seemingly not aware, are virtually starved for stimulation, simple human contact of one sort or another.) Of course, I enjoyed "working the crowd" and telling them about various aspects of her schooling, her love of bridge, her reasonably exotic travels, (She and Fernando, her younger, by five years, boyfriend, went to Yemen when she was 80!), not forgetting to mention her "perfect son", a phrase which, I need not tell anyone, has unhinged the rest of the my loving family and so-called friends from the first time she uttered it, a dinner, about ten years ago, I believe! Turned out that the lovely lady sitting right beside Mom today had trained as an RN at St Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg as well, although a decade or so later than Annie.

Cora Lee had picked up Alfred/Fernando and so it was terrific to have him there as well. They met at Kits CC, playing bridge, in the very early '90's. He actually wanted to marry her but she would have none of it. Didn't want to take care of him in their old age! Anyway, very pleased with how things went. Staff were wonderful and had Mom looking quite lovely, with lipstick and even borrowed earrings and a necklace! Clothes and costume jewelry seem to "float" from one resident to another. Nobody seems overly fussed as most people literally can't remember what belongs to them anyway! Cora Lee had bought a number of attractive new tops, (blouse and a chemise), a poncho, (easier than a sweater to put on), and a pair of cosy, slip-on shoes.

Mom had no trouble at all eating a large helping of her cake, although I had to feed her. This is the case with all her meals now but she still retains a healthy appetite. Les, one of nurses we know quite well, mentioned that she had enjoyed a substantial breakfast that morning as he had fed her himself. I had popped over before going to Costco to collect cake, to buzz her chin and upper lip so that she wouldn't run away to the circus to be The Bearded Lady of the Midway!

On the communication front, I sympathize with Chris as I'm having difficulty getting through to Cora Lee and she's only 64 with no hearing aids, yet! I did my first VIFF volunteer shift today and had arranged to catch a lift with her downtown. She was having lunch with a friend there so she said she would drop me off at noon as my shift started at 12:15pm. At 11:45am, she wasn't at The Island Inn so I called her on her cell only to reach her voice mail. She phoned back a minute later, from downtown, to say that she had completely forgotten about me! Fortunately, for both of us, she had time to zip home and I made it to the cinema with seconds to spare. Of course, I could have made my own way there, as I had done earlier this week, (See below!), but availed myself of a ride with her so that Whirlygig and I could ride around Stanley Park beforehand. We left our place at 8:00am and had a glorious ride: the sun was shining and there was little if any breeze, the freighters filling English Bay, the mountains shining. When we came to the point where we needed to head up to the road, if we were to ride over Lions Gate, Whirlygig nixed the idea as life was just so pleasant cycling on the Seawall. I didn't need to be convinced as I had had a pretty long ride the day before, (See Below, again!), and Giorgio, for his part, hasn't been riding much, of late, (visiting relatives, work, child care, etc.), so I gather he was in more of a latte mood than a double espresso!

On the matter of your cerebral exhaustion, (I it is quite obvious that you need to train for reading my email, just as you need to train for Seymour when next here. (As an aside, please provide your cycling distances in both mile and kilometres so we can compare apples to apples, so to speak.) As a consequence, I have included a fairly long missive which you should consider as homework. One concession I will make is that while you are swotting, (Please brush up on zoology while you are at it.), you are allowed as much Single Malt, (no blended, mind), as you wish while perusing!

Furthermore, you should know that I have nothing but utter disdain for any automated word processing technology and find that by simply relating the truth of one's life the results are far more fantastic and incredible than any algorithm could possibly assemble. Whether he will admit it or not, Robo Man is in deep denial, brought about, without question, from all the half-wheeling you subjected him to on the Yorkshire Dales! The triple latte rides were news to me and probably undertaken by Sylvia and Polly Carter. I have learned, from bitter experience, to choose routes which never pass by coffee or pastry shops. Liquor stores specializing in malt, are, of course, quite another matter!

Ray forwarded an article on the new series of DA and we can hardly wait. Will be watching MI-5 tonight so am curious to see which cast members remain or which have been replaced. Watched an Inspector Lewis last night and enjoyed it immensely. Looks like Lewis and Laura, Dr. Hobson, may finally get together!

Tuesday evening I curled our first match of season with Flamin' and Sarge. My version of dealing with ice, as opposed to paddling a so called one person, "pack-rat", inflatable dinghy/snub nosed kayak near a calving glacier in Alaska!!! Unfortunately, we lost our game in spite of my inspired performance! In fact, both Flaimin' and Sarge are very good curlers, (far better than I'll ever be), but were hard pressed to make most of their shots so it was a bitter pill indeed!

The forecast for Wednesday was very promising so had planned a long ride. Unfortunately Robo Man and Whirlygig were busy so they couldn't join. Two other friends, Big Al and Marcus Aurelius, said they wanted to cycle so I let them know where we would meet as they both live in Burnaby. As it turned out was one of the best rides I've had in some time. Weather was simply fabuloso! I left The Island Inn at about 8:35am and once past Kits Point, English Bay presented its shimmering, mirrored surface, the freighters cardboard cutouts against the magnificence of the mountains, a few fluffy clouds adorning their peaks, but otherwise the sky was blue, blue, blue! But a light head/cross wind and I after climbing the Foreshore Hill, I was hurtling along Marine Drive by 9:05am. Under Arthur Liang Bridge by 9:45am, or so, making for Kent Ave. Arrived at Boundary Road at 10:05am, five minutes late, to circle for another five minutes, hoping for a sign of Big Al and/or Marcus Aurelius, but no sightings!

Decided to wait until 10:30am so after I had made myself dizzy enough, looping around and around the Shell pump islands, (There is a commercial gas station here.), I took a short spin towards the Business Park further south along Boundary. Didn't go very far, just turned around past first small concrete island at entrance, as I didn't want to miss the latecomers or be out of sight should they come whizzing down hill. Back to sing the Gravol Blues in the Shell lot and then another foray into Business Park. Still no sign of the latecomer(s) so I repeated the entire routine a few more times, logging 6K by the time I decided there was no point in waiting any longer. (Found out after I was back home that Marcus decided he didn't have enough time for ride and Big Al had the wrong rendezvous spot! He was waiting at the bottom of Cambie Sky Train Bridge and we somehow missed each other on Kent, probably when he was on bike path closer to river! See below for more details.)

Dispirited, dejected and down-right disappointed, I made my way back along Kent, the slight breeze at my back, so it was a very pleasant ride. On way back towards CSTB, I decided to explore a bit and took a number of side trips, off Kent, towards the river, and enjoyed two different pedestrian/bike paths, the first, hard packed clay/gravel, between the river bank itself and the railroad tracks, and the second, almost a replica of the Seawall for the few blocks east of the Burrard Bridge, with condos looking out over the Fraser. Saw the log booms and tugs that we have usually seen from the south bank when riding along River Road. At one point there is a collection/stretch of partially submerged, fairly large craft, boats and scows of one sort or another, a marine graveyard of sorts. To me, the derelict hulks looked rather attractive rather than unsightly so I was pleased to have taken the time to lollygag! Didn't stop for a latte, however!

Back onto Kent and then over CSTB to have 50K on odometre. Intended to make for Iona Beach Regional Park and so cycled past River Rock Casino and over the Morey Channel Bridge, (I think this is the name!), to connect with bike path to Iona. WInd was helping me along for a bit but shifted just as a small, twin prop passenger plane was landing. Enjoyed watching the craft touchdown, along with a host of other "plane spotters!".

When I reached the parking lot I decided to ride out to the end of the outflow. Sign at entrance to spit said No Cycling on Pipe but there is an access road running alongside so I made for that. A chap in a pick-up had stopped inside gate to unlock barrier so I asked him if cycling was allowed on spit. In fact, he wasn't a Park employee, rather someone gathering water samples. He suggested that since one could drive on track he saw no reason why one couldn't ride. At any rate, the two tire tracks were well-packed gravel for the most part, so I made my way to the end. Think the sign mentioned it was 2.5K to tip of spit but by my reckoning, it is probably closer to 3K.

Very pleasant with mud flats and a few gulls sunning, off to my left. A few joggers, on road, and a few walkers on walkway but other than that, almost completely deserted. I frowned, accusingly, at a chap riding on concrete pipe but he and the dog in his basket ignored my dark looks. My kingdom for a cell phone! I would have reported him in a nano second given that I always obey all signs/rules, traffic or otherwise, Dear Reader!!!

Had 70K on the clock by the time I was back on the tarmac. Retraced my earlier route and really enjoyed having the wind at my back as I was starting to flag at bit. About 10K from bottom of CSTB to Iona so I had 81K on odometer as I climbed the ramp. Made my way to Cambie and up hill to 59th, crossing over there to head west to Heather and then back down to 70th. From there only needed a few dipsy doodles to make lights at Oak and then Granville and then I was home free on Marine Drive all the way to UBC. With a side trip to roundabout by TRIUMF and one up 16th to roundabout at entrance to Wesbrook Village, I had 107K on my odometre by time I was at the bottom of the Foreshore Hill. One loop around Kits Point and a bit more dipsy doodling on streets near Reckless and I pulled into the Heartbreak Parkade at Harbour Terrace with 121.33K on the clock. Best ride since returning from Winnipeg, in terms of both distance and weather. Absence of friends was unfortunate but at least I didn't have to suffer the slings and arrows of their barbs and jests mocking my penchant for not allowing my feet to touch the ground, my DDCS, Didpsy Doodle Circling Syndrome, Dear Reader!

Well, Jimbo, I trust this is enough homework to spoil your weekend. Fond regards from Cora Lee to you both. Cheers, Patrizio!

Hi Patrick:
 
I keep getting a request to open an e-mail from Corrine asking me to open up a You Tube video. Is Corrine sending them or do we have a spam problem? I had this once before from my nephew in Calgary and it was a hacker. So, before I open it I wanted to see if Corrine was sending me anything. It has come several times over the last few weeks.
 
Hope all is well with you guys. We are busy golfing and getting ready for the trek down south. I should say Denise is getting ready, I'm being left behind to do another small project. We are converting our laundry room into a Butlers Pantry and making a new laundry room in part of the garage. She won't let me go to AZ until I finish it.... she's a meanie!!!
 
All the best, Ken
  
Hi Ken!

Just confirmed that Cora Lee has not been sending you any messages!!! You both sound as busy as ever. Pretty hectic here as well.
Fond regards from Cora Lee to you both. Cheers, Patrizio!

Hi Big Al!

I think meeting on Kent might work for everyone who is interested in riding tomorrow. Just need to figure out time and exact location. Whirlygig has to drop his sister at airport tomorrow so not sure yet what time that will be. Tentatively, we could meet at Kent and Boundary Road at 10:00am. Will talk to Whirlissimo and then call you or send an email.

Hi Lads!

Big Al would like to join us for a ride tomorrow I think meeting on Kent might work for everyone who is interested in riding tomorrow. Just need to figure out time and exact location. Whirlygig has to drop his sister at airport tomorrow so not sure yet what time that will be. Tentatively, we could meet at Kent and Boundary Road at some point. Let me know if this will work.
 
Buongiorno !
 
Can I assume said intersection is down by the river at the south end of Boundary? If so, then whence to from Kent and Boundary? (I need to be home by 12:00), so am wondering hooking up will work.) Please advise.
    
cheers, Mark
 
Hi Marcus/Whirlygig!

Yes, there is a small lot just south of Marine where I will be circling. Big Al has to be back home around 12:00 himself so I thought we could go over Cambie Sky Train Bridge just to show him/you that way to gain access to Iona Island. Hope to see you around 10:00am.

I'm on for Thursday Whirlissimo so we'll chat. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
 
 
Hi Laddage!

I'm meeting Big Al at Kent and Boundary at 10:00am. I plan to ride out to UBC and MD and thence to Kent. I will check my email before leaving, around 8:30am or so, in case either of you respond and wish to connect. Cheers, Il Conductore!
 
P,

This ride won't work for me today. Enjoy. Give my regards to big Al.

Thursday and Friday actually look pretty good weather wise.

W

Patrick,
I think the timing is too tight for me today,so I'll have to pass.
maybe next time...
    
cheers, Mark
 
Hi Non-Riders of the Ghost Trails along Kent!

Really too, too bad that you were not able to join me as it was one of the best rides I've had in some time.

So, oh Syndromatic One,
We assume you're taking today off from long-distance cycling?
Your km.age is certainly more than my legs are up for at present...
I did ride up Cariboo Hill and then over to my old school at (Imperial and Gilley) for a meeting - net result, I've agreed to coach their boys' volleyball team this fall. From there I cycled with a colleague to drop her off near First and Commercial, then on down to Adanac and over to Spanish Banks. The west wind blowing up English Bay made it more of a workout than anticipated. Met Susan, Kathleen, and les mutts for a picnic dinner by the anchor, gave the dogs a sunset seaside romp, then loaded my bike on the car for the trip back to eat Burnaby. 37 km., according to Google Earth, which was enough for me yesterday. 
     L
et me know when you have a slightly less ambitious outing planned, eh? Susan and I are off to Victoria to tend two grandnieces while their parents frolic on mountain bikes in Utah, not back until Thusday pm.
 
cheers, BB

Hi Marcus Aurelius and Whirlissiomo!

I'm very impressed with your ride, Marcus. Great work. Next Thursday seems a tad far off but perhaps we could plan some a variation of Iona, weather depending. As well, I have a VIFF shift from 2-5pm on Thursday but you probably wouldn't be up for a jaunt that day anyway.

Cheers, Il Conduttore!
 
Hi Sandra!

Cora Lee will be making the quick run tomorrow, sometime after 10:00am. I'm still working on the spreadsheet and I'll pop by to chat about it in next day or so. Cheers, Patrizio!
 
 
hello Patrick
How about I come meet you at your place around 4:15pm Saturday october 1st. I'm looking forward to interviewing you. 
Teela-Dawn Man
Hi Teela-Dawn:

Sounds fine! See you at 4:15pm on Saturday. I assume you know where we live but in case you don't: #20-1425 Lamey's Mill Road, phone number, 604-734-9200. Cheers, Patrizio!

Hi Patrick,

Thank you for taking the time to get back to me.  As luck would have it, I left the gift getting until the last minute.  My parents left today (Tues) so I had to go out at lunch yesterday and pick up a bottle for my Dad.  I can't recall the name of the scotch that I bought him, but he was surprised to receive it.  And it was a brand that he had not enjoyed before.  So all in all I think it was a successful mission.  That is a good tip about the Legacy Liquor Store though.  I will have to keep it in mind for future purchases.

Glad to hear you managed to get out and go for a bike ride.  With M+D in town I have cut back on my training to spend more time with them.  With the excelled weather on Saturday though, I'm sure the roads were full of others out enjoying the nice weather.

And I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the book.  I'm currently reading King Leopold's Ghost.  It's a great, if not distributing, book.

Thanks again Patrick.  Have a great day,
..Dave
 
Hi Dave!

Sorry that timing was off to get together at Legacy for a crash course in malt! Glad you picked up something your Dad liked, however.

As you mentioned, regarding weather last Saturday, I don't think I've ever seen so many groups, large peletons, out before. Cheers, Patrizio!
 
It is so nice to hear via a real message.  I note that yesterday I had 0 emails and today I have 41.  Most are jokes or messages that it is time to pay bills.  The jokes tell me that the sender is still alive. 
 
We will be going to our condo in Florida and of Oct.  Let us know if you have an itch to collect shells.  That is what we brag about with Marco Island.  It is very layed back with little excitement and almost the end of the road so it isn't a good place to take trips outward unless you are interested in the everglades.  That takes a couple of  days to get a pretty good idea about how it works. 
 
Jack tries to fish.  Due to the last few years of really cold weather, they have reduced what you can catch.  A couple of years ago the cold killed scads of fish.  I think their numbers are increasing-----I hope.  I intend to see that Jack at least practices fly fishing so he will be ready when the fish are back. 
 
Anyway, keep in touch.  I am finding it is very important.  One day someone is missing.
 
Gail 
 
Hi Gail!

Would love to join you in Florida but Cora Lee has to undergo some foot surgery then so she'll be the more than difficult patient for six weeks after that, asking for this, whining about that, from her chair in the living room, beside our electric fireplace. Good Luck to Jack with fishing! Cheers, Patrizio! 

Hi! This was interesting and of course you are to send it along but I omitted that part
 so just injoy the read ha ha
Luv
Wendy

 Subj: Chinese Numerology

      Chinese numerology and Feng Shui for 2011 This year we are going to
      experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11,
      and that's not all; Take the last two digits of the year you were
      born and the age you will be this year and the result will add up to
      111 for everyone!!!! This is the year of MONEY. Also, this year,
      October will have 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays & 5 Saturdays. This happens
      only once every 823 years. These particular years are known as
      Moneybag years. 
 
Hi Wendy!

Trust you and Wayne are well. Going to need the Moneybag years as we have finally finalized next year's trip: leave on March 5th for Hong Kong, (five nights), Australia, (March 12th-May 11th), and Japan, (May 12-31st), traveling in Oz with friends, Flamin' and Sarge. We plan to be in Japan at the start of the second week in May in order to miss cherry blossom festivals. Toshi, a former boarder, with whom we will stay for part of our visit, suggested timing as apparently rates are much higher until various festivals are over and country is like Whistler at Christmas! Do you plan to return to Mexico?

At present, 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 foot, (first three toes), 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!!!after that. She'll be asking for this, whining about that, from her chair in the living room, beside our electric fireplace.

Cheers, Patrizio!
 
Patrick, 

Every Writers Festival volunteer serving a minimum of 12 hours during the Festival Week or 15-20 hours pre-festival is entitled to one hard complimentary ticket to a Festival event. Which ticket is awarded is determined by lottery based on event choices submitted on the Ticket Lottery form.
Go to the Festival volunteer webpages and find the Ticket Lottery Request Form. Please submit 5 choices no later than Oct 7th.
Your winning ticket will be included in your volunteer package, available for pick-up at Orientation Oct 12.

Hi Raymond!

Trust all your tests went well. Give me a shout about next possible ride. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Hello Patrick,
What wonderful photos of your Mom! She looks wonderful and I can see she is
a lucky lady to have someone in love with her so late in her years. I
really enjoyed reading your message, as I always do. You are so busy and
have so many exciting things planned. Thank you for having a look at the
fundraising. The items in the printed catalogue look much better than how
they appear online, so hopefully you will be pleased. I just had the boys
over to Merritt for a couple of days and we went to the farmer's market.
They picked their Halloween pumpkins from our friend Lucas. So they were
quite pleased with themselves. They also managed to see the cows that are
now coming down from a summer on the mountain, and one walked up to Corben
and stuck it's nose on his fingers. They are doing really well with their
new skill of using the toilet all the time now. I still worry and feel the
need to keep reminding them, but they seem to have it under control.
Pro D at work tomorrow, so I'll have training on the program for writing
student education plans. I can't believe it is almost October.... time to
start raking leaves and cleaning the garden soon!
Please say Hi to Corinne for us and have a great time at the film festival!
Love,
Ariane & the boys!

Hi Ariane!

Saw my first pumpkins, outside display at Save-On-Foods in UBC's Wesbrook Village, earlier this week. Boys are brave with cows. They are huge beasts, even if friendly! I can remember being simply terrified by a horse when I was about three years old. It seemed gigantic!! Stamping and pawing the cobblestones with its hooves, I think sparks flew from the horseshoes and I was mortified that the older girls, who rode, that I was with would try to put me in the saddle.

Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!
 




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