Thursday 31 July 2014

St Michael Road Blues: Thursday, July 31st!

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. -J.K. Rowling, author (b. 1965) 


P, Thanks for keeping me posted. My notes will be short as I have only my cell phone to input by single digit.

I will be thinking of you and Shark Tooth this weekend. Hope that all goes well. Please wish Dusty and Clare my congrats as well.
 

Would love to do the training ride to Whistler. Let me know the dates. You are on team Jackal. I will find out how the roster is looking - to see if Sara can get in. Enviable rides you are having and the stats are not bad either. Imagine if you did not stop for lattes? Buddy Neil rides the Pan Mass this weekend for the 16th time. Amazing fund raiser for cancer. Biggest in the world now. Be well, ride safe, W

Hi Deborah! First an foremost, I apologize for not replying sooner. Your  email arrived on July 20th, but two days before we left for our trip to Winnipeg.

Patrick James Dunn tell Clara about these!!

Patrick James Dunn Made with zucchini from Dusty's garden! We might never come back to Vancouver!]
Sorry to hear about your myriad difficulties with your Mother and Father. Don't know how you can manage. I was very, very fortunate with the care my own Mother received during the last few years of her life. She lived but a block away from us so it was very easy to visit and up until she became too frail, I was able to bring her to our place for meals, etc. Your mortgage nightmare is just that! I cannot believe that this terrible situation has not received more coverage. It is beyond shameful. If anyone can fight this monster it is you with your track record of taking on rapacious corporations! Onward! Fight! Bravo!!! Buona Fortuna indeed!


 
Loved the trailer. Did you have to drink yourself silly to prepare for part? Sad situation with your garden. Have seem similar, weather related problems across the Prairies, more to do with incredible rainfall/flooding, in this case, where many farmers have not been able to plant for four years or more. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you.  Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Fellow Folkies!!! As you know, we were on the road until Friday, July 25th, when we arrived here in Falcon Lake at Cora Lee's parents. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both, living the Good Life on Hornby!  Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pic: Wagon with new manager!

Hi New Email Addressees! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Kjell!!!Trust you are well. Jane called us the week before the Folk Fest, to invite us to join her for a picnic at the beach. Unfortunately, we were not able to do so. Nevertheless, appreciated the thought. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you.  Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Texas Tornadoes!!! Trust everyone is well.  Hello from all the Gang! Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both.  Cheers, Patrizzio!

Are these the same ones you sent before? If so u already printed 6 copies and they are packed along with grames. 

Hi Chloe! Yes, thanks! I just sent them to Nana so thought I'd include you and Ayn, just in case. Greetings from the pancake breakfast table. Los Horridos will load your grandparent's car after eating to take all the pictures to church, for set up by The Drama Queen and Exhibition Curator. I'm off to Winnipeg as soon as I pack overlefts. None at Pam's since she's been away on hols. See you tonight, round midnight! Love Dad! sounds good!! xx

Dear Busy Beaver(not to be confused with split beaver): Glad to hear all is well and that you’re having fun—at least when not being attacked by black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, horse flies, wasps, hornets, no-see-ums, house flies, yellow jackets, flying ants and even flying squirrels.

I have communicated briefly with George. He seems to be in a blissful state. Not too sure how Kerry and Tia are doing at this point. It’s a bit of a logistical nightmare for me to get to Galiano from Nanaimo. A lot easier from Vancouver to Galiano. George and I may meet in Victoria some day when he goes into town to pick up supplies.

Natalia and I are busy as usual doing odd jobs around the house: the last major one was pointing the gaps in the fireplace chimney and priming and then painting the chimney with a couple of coats of elastomeric paint.


Nizza!
The veggie garden has really taken off and we are enjoying the fruits of our labour as I write this: radishes, sweet peas, zucchinis, peppers and tomatoes have already passed through our greedy palates. It looks like we also have a bumper crop of potatoes but haven’t dug them out yet.

We went to a bluegrass festival in Chemainus that we really enjoyed. A great venue in Waterwheel Park sheltered from the harsh rays of the sun by tall cedars/pines. Really enjoyed a Vancouver band that you may have heard off(?): Tishomingo String Band.


When Natalia packs it in after work, we’ve been going for a daily swim at a beach off Piper’s Lagoon Park. It is absolutely gorgeous cooling off in the waters looking at the snow-capped coastal mountains (Whistler/Sechelt).

Natalia’s parents have received their visas and will be visiting us from Sept 20 –Nov 20.That’s it for now. I look forward to your next update. Best,--Kurt 


Hi.Patrice, I think we should probably both forgo apologies to eachother for late replies from now on as I think we both know that the other will reply at the first opportunity as we are both men of integrity and will follow through. I knew you were on the road with a busy social calender and as such didn't expect to hear from you in a while. I am glad you made it there without incident and are catching up with friends and family.
 
I had forgotten that you were doing a memorial for your mom which is very nice but I'm sure comes with much stress and emotion at getting eveything organized and reminiscing . I hope that it goes very well and our blessings to her and you and yours for peace and rest. One thing I have to ask from Colleen is did you save the shark teeth? Lol. 

Glad to hear that you are able to get out riding a lot despite the flying insects which would drive me around the bend as I have an extremely low tolerance to those things and would probably not even be able to get out of the car in the first place!! 

Please pass along our congratulations to Rosie and Dusty, it's really great to hear that they are still as busy and creative as ever and hold up an example of how to enjoy life to it's fullest .I'm assuming that they have had an influence on you guys in that regard!

We are just packing up this morning to head from Shuswap to Osoyoos where we will stay for a couple nights with another group that stay at the Richter pass motel and basically take the place over for ten days a year. Will enjoy a couple days there with more socializing and beach activities before picking up a friend of Jakes who is visiting his grandmother in Oliver and bringing him back with us to the cabin for the long weekend. Oliver is being cat sit there by a neighbour who has his granddaughter and friend looking after him . Hope we will have time to have a weekend atmthe cabin with you guys when you get back. Give our love to all. Take care and talk soon. A, C, J & J Pics: enjoying the cabin and beach at Shuswap.


Has been a busy past few days. I think I mentioned that I was driving into Winnipeg on Thursday. Did just that and arrived there at 12:30 pm to have a haircut and beard trim from Wendy, friend and neighbour, of Pam's/Greg's, who lives just around the corner from their house in St Vital. I've been to her on previous visits and like her very much. Spent the rest of the day working on the remarks I wanted to make at Mom's memorial service as well as those I've been asked to deliver, tonight, on Dusty's 90th. No riding as I didn't bring my bike along but I did cut the front lawn. Quite enjoyed doing so as last time I used a power mower was in 1998, year we sold our house in Kits!

After Greg left for War Eagle, around 5:00 pm, I was alone for most of rest of the evening. Spent a bit of time cleaning out Pam's fridge, (Greg and his two sons, Cody and Dustan haven't a clue about "fridge management". Pam is on holiday at War Eagle but Greg comes into Winnipeg during the week to work. Cody does the opposite, going to War Eagle on weekends while Dustan, youngest, who has a summer job at Falcon, cutting grass on the gold course, comes into city, from time to time, to see friends), as I'm happy to organize things as a small thank you for staying. Managed to "save" enough vegetables from crisper to make quite a tasty stir fry. I'd brought a few pieces of chicken and pork from Falcon food chest of "overlefts" and added them into mix.



Would take a break from my composing and tackle one shelf at a time, cleaning various surfaces, wipe sticky bottles of jam or greasy salad dressing jars and then re-arrange things so one didn't have to be a contortionist or a juggler to get the Ketchup! After fridge was emptied of various mould encrusted penicillin factories, containers of sour milk, rotting tomatoes and wilted lettuce, I took a quick trip to a very good wine store, Banville & Jones, not too, too far away, where I found some great, (I hope!), Argentinian and Chilean wines for very reasonable prices. Have not seen many of these labels in Vancouver so was curious to try them. Put three whites in the fridge, (which now had room to hold them!), so Chloë could choose one when she arrived.

Her flight was to land at 11:40 pm and hse had arranged for her cousin, Cody, to collect her. Her returned to the house at close to 11:00 pm and we had a brief visit before he set off for the airport. I continued to work away at email as I'd completed what I wanted to say at memorial and at anniversary dinner. 


As it turned out, lucky that I was at my computer rather than reading as I might well have been, enjoying my latest, Istanbul Passage very, very much. Here is a "transcript" of what ensued, a melange of Facebook entries and email/text messages, almost a "black box" recorder:
Chloe Alexis Dunn Winnipeg ·Just landed. Now let's see who wins the pick up game? Cody Ziemanski or Patrick James Dunn ...Patrick James Dunn Cody, it seems. At least for now!
Can u pick me up at the airport? Cody's car died  Now he said he can get here. So disregard last email sorry Buona Fortuna! I'll be here if you need me! Cheers, Dad! Keep on the computer as I hear they have no house phone. Do you have your cell with you? If so maybe keep that on hand. But let me know. See you soon hopefully.  Hi Chloë: There is a house phone. I used it earlier this evening. I assume number is the same as the one I have in my address book.
Phone does not work. Please come get us. Cody's car just died Please bring jumper cables! Just read your message. I'm walking out the door.

Long and the short of it meant that at 12:30 am I set out for the airport, about 25 minutes way, to collect Chloë and try to get Dustan's car started. Just glad I had not had anything to drink beforehand. At any rate, once there, I missed the car, (Airport has undergone considerable changes over last few years and I'm really not familiar with new approach lanes. On second pass Chloë came running out, waving her arms to stop me but because I was in a lane, one over from where Cody's car had stalled, I had to make another complete loop to be able to pull up beside it, in order to attach jumper cables.

Fortunately, there wasn't all that much traffic by this time so I was bale to "squeeze" beside his vehicle. Once we hooked up jumper cables his car started right away. Decided it best if I followed them in case car died again. Good thing as about a third of way home this is what happened. Right at a normally busy intersection but again, quite quiet at this time of night. A very kind lad, operating a street sweeper stopped his machine and helped Chloë and Cody push his car around the corner, (I had my emergency flashers on as it is still a busy thoroughfare.), so that we could use jumper cables. Just before repeating this whole process, I thanked city worker and told him that in the '60's I used to be the timekeeper for the street cleaning crews. I would take the hours supervisors passed along to me for the machines and drivers working in different parts of the city and enter them onto sheets for data entry next day. Anyway, bit of a needed laugh!


Almost home and car died again! Thought, by then, that problem is probably with alternator as battery was obviously not charging. Another hook-up and then Cody was off, to make it back to house. By this time it was after 2:00 pm and we all really needed a drink so Chloë chose a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and we toasted our success! Everyone was tired by then, as you can imagine, but we didn't manage to get into bed until just before 3:00 am.
Chloe Alexis Dunn Heading to the airport just waiting for Brie Marriott to come get me.
  • Patrick James Dunn Just heading to Banville & Jones to pick up some wine to have when you arrive! Travel safely! Cheers!
Ayn and I cannot open this file.      Hi Goils! Chloë is bringing copies but I've included a text version so that you can read your selection sooner, Cora Lee. Greg's brother, Jeff, and his wife, Donna, just popped by to collect their possessions. They will spend the night at War Eagle, en route to Thunder Bay for a wedding. This means that there will be beds here for everyone tonight.


Was only a few minutes after 12:30 pm when I pulled up at Wendy's. Her mother seems to be recovering well from the stroke. She is 72, I believe. Her speech has been affected. Met her sister, visiting from Calgary. She lives not far from Jan. Grog will be leaving soon. Not sure where Cody is, although his car is here. Must away as I'm going to cut front lawn. Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio!
Chloe Alexis Dunn at Vancouver International Airport Heading to the Peg!! Falcon Lake I'll be seeing you soon!!! Patrick James Dunn Bugs are waiting!

Chloe Alexis Dunn Tell them to buzz off!!
Patrick James Dunn You'll be talking to them shortly so you can tell them how you feel. Mosquitoes have feelings too, I might remind you!
  • Delia Thompson Not sure if this news hit the West coast but eggs from five years ago are hatching this year. It's been awful. Have an amazing time at the lake though!!!!
  • Patrick James Dunn At least it's not The Seven Year Itch!

Chloe Alexis Dunn Yikes!!! You are scaring me Delia!!!

Who else is coming in tonight?? Hi Chloë et al: Dustan is here for the night. Just back from Banville & Jones where I found some great, (I hope!), Argentinian and Chilean wines for very reasonable prices. Have not seen many of these labels in Vancouver so curious to try them. Will put the whites in the fridge so you can choose when you arrive. When does your flight land in Winnipeg? Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio!  Just you. mom 

Chloe Alexis Dunn Winnipeg ·Just landed. Now let's see who wins the pick up game? Cody Ziemanski or Patrick James Dunn ...Patrick James Dunn Cody, it seems. At least for now!
Can u pick me up at the airport? Cody's car died  Now he said he can get here. So disregard last email sorry Buona Fortuna! I'll be here if you need me! Cheers, Dad! K keep on the computer as I hear they have no house phone. Do you have your cell with you? If so maybe keep that on hand. But let me know.
See you soon hopefully.  Hi Chloë: There is a house phone. I used it earlier this evening. I assume number is the same as the one I have in my address book.

Phone does not work. Please come get us. Cody's car just died Please bring jumper cables  

http://www.worldwidequest.com/?page=trips&cmd=review&key=203_south_india#ad-image-0

Check this out for an interesting itinerary for southern India. Perhaps we could incorporate some or all of it in our "customized" itinerary. It would be interesting to see if Corinne's friend's tour operator can offer something similar and/or comment on whether or not this is a good plan.
 

Cheers from The Naramata where it continues hot and sunny. Yeah!! Lynnie and Dom Pedro XOXO

P.S. P just opened a bottle from our cellar of Poplar Grove's 2001 Benchmark Cab Franc. Yum-m-m!!! It should go really well with barbecued strip loin steaks, green beans from our garden, grilled tomato halves with seasoned bread crumbs and parmesan (tomato from our garden), and stuffed baked potato. There are apricots from our tree for dessert … if such is necessary. ;-)


 
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Hi Charles! Trust you are well. Had been meaning to try to get in for a rum tasting but time simply evaporated! When I say "No excuses, but plenty of reasons", I'm actually telling the truth. Were on the road from Tuesday, July 22nd until Friday, July 25th, when we arrived here in Falcon Lake, Manitoba, at Cora Lee's parents, for a large family gathering to celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary.

Also wanted to congratulate you on seeing Long Table featured in Legacy Liquor Store's Unique Spirits column. Now I guess you'll always be sold out of product with the exposure. At least you'll have time to taste a little Diplomatico rum by the time we return to Vancouver! Funnily enough, I was able to pick up a bottle of the Reserva
Exclusiva at Kennsington Wine Market on our way through Calgary, two weeks ago. Legacy had sold out their allotment not long after the tasting store hosted.


Must away as time to go for a ride. Great cycling along country roads between lakes here. Strong prevailing westerlies keep the pesky deer flies away so worth battling fierce head winds! Cheers, Patrizzio!

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