Islay Inn Drop-in Blues: Tuesday, December 23rd!

Every noon as the clock hands arrive at twelve, / I want to tie the two arms together, / And walk out of the bank carrying time in bags. -Robert Bly, poet (b. 1926) 

 

P, Regret to inform you that I wont make it to the open house. I am hunkered down here at Ukiyo with my kids. You can be sure we will be into the malt in your honour - and think what my absence will save the malt cupboard. Fond regards to you and yours and all the crew, W

Hi Bunker Hunker! Too, too bad that we won't be able to visit and tipple and tipple and tipple and eventually topple! Understand completely, however! Kids today! We've had a bit of fussology here, inasmuch, as Los Horridos have annoyed their Mother, The Drama Queen, with some good cause, I might add. 

Graphic: Wikimedia

[Hypocenter, Pierre, Epicenter, Ayn!]

You may recall that Cora Lee and Chloë drove down to Bellingham to collect Ayn this past Saturday. It had always been the case that The Lost Burritos were going to stay with their Dad until reasonably this morning and then someone would drive to Bellingham to pick them up. Apparently, they had not told Melvin about the Open House and that they were The Guests of Honour, so to speak.  As he is working he wasn't planning to drive them to rendezvous spot until 4:00 pm. This, of course, would mean that driver would be away from party for much of the afternoon and the lads probably wouldn't be here until after 7:00 pm, all going well with traffic and border crossing.

Added to the mix was the fact that the Bank Of Montreal "lost" all the papers that Ayn had been required to file, from LA, these past few months, in order to close out her father's bank account. (I won't even go into this institution's shocking incompetence!) This meant that she and Cora Lee had to scramble to find another lawyer, (Not an easy feat given that many are gone for hols.), and pay another $100 for necessary documents. Pierre's call came in the middle of all of the above kerfuffle so Ayn was in no mood to hear what Pierre had to say and hung up with a few unprintable words.

I was completely unaware of most of this. I had heard from Chloë that there was some sort of "delay" with lawyer but had no idea what had caused it. I had talked to Pierre earlier in morning and advised him that if someone was going to collect them it would need to be very, very early this morning in order to be back from Everett, now, not Bellingham. That was my opinion but I felt he needed to let his Mother know. Anyway, Corinne and Ayn made it home around 5:00 pm. I'd been back from my series of errands by 4:00 pm and was doing more prep work for some of today's dishes, (sustainable salmon for one!), when The Sisterhood vented their considerable frustrations on The Brotherhood Scapegoat! 

Ayn changed into her sneakers and headed off to walk the Seawall and scream at the sky. While she was out, a rather sheepish, subdued Pierre called to say that he and Alejandro would be taking the train to Vancouver and could someone please meet them at  Pacific Central Station at 11:30 am! When Ayn heard this her very words were: "They can take the F***ing Bus!" Never a dull moment at the Islay Inn. Perhaps it is better that you and Ukiyo-ites and Easter Townships Woman are far away. Collateral damage is still a very real possibility! I plan to wear my bicycle helmet when the Lads walk in the door in case any sharp objects or other projectiles start flying. I've already put sheets of plywood around malt cabinet so unless handguns figure in fray the chain cleaner should be fine!
 

Must away as lots to do before "loyal" friends come aknockin'! Once again, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Christmas to one and all from the harried and emotionally drained staff at The Heartbreak Terrace! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: Let The Open House begin!

Thanks Patrick and Happy Christmas to you and Corinne. All the best for 2015 Jan       Hi Derek and Gayle! Just a quick note to thank you for the lovely letter. Unfortunately, none of the pictures or card came through! Don't have time to relate much about busy times of late here as we are hosting an Open House from 2:00 pm-until hootch is gone, today! Looking forward to seeing Krissy and Mark at some point. Once again, Happy Christmas to one and all from the harried and emotionally drained staff at The Heartbreak Terrace! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Thanks Patrick. The current plan is to show up around 5:30 if this is not too late (Liisa is at work in the afternoon). See you soon. Cheers....Paul

Hi Paolo, et al! Great that you can come. Any time you can pop by will be more than fine. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello to our Christmas Naramatians! Just a quick note to thank you for the lovely letter and card. Don't have time to relate much about busy times, of late, here as we are hosting an Open House from 2:00 pm-until hootch is gone, today! Looking forward to seeing The Whitney's along with Brenda and Liisa. Latter hosted a lovely drop-in this past Saturday. Cora Lee couldn't attend as she and Chloë were in Bellingham collecting Ayn and Los Horridos!

On another, fairly significant note, Mme Coriandre and I are seriously thinking of moving to The Naramata! We wondered if we could rent your garage and do a few small renovations! Actually, we do want to talk with you about this so just wanted to let you know we will be in touch with more details as soon as we have a moment. For her part, brenda is against it as far as water issue is concerned. So we need to hear your opinion on this and many other matters, of course. If Cora Lee has her way we will be flying to India from Penticton with you two! Ayn and Coramandel are at Costco fighting the hordes but I know they would send their greetings.

Must away as lots to do before friends come aknockin'! Once again, Happy Christmas to one and all from the harried and emotionally drained, underpaid, overworked, brow-beaten, tyrannized, harassed, intimidated, tormented, persecuted, continually reprimanded, relentlessly scolded staff at the maximum security compound known to the footloose and fancy free as the one and only, 'ain't no other one in 'yer wildest dreams, The Heartbreak Terrace! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Trinity Festival of Lights, late Saturday afternoon, near Cottage Hospice which Flamin' is in charge of.  Sarge and I went along to help her set up a fund raising booth selling hot chocolate, cookies, etc. Unfortunately it was pelting rain so not as large a turnout as could otherwise have been expected.

Merry Christmas family and friends! I'm sending this both to wish you Merry Christmas and to let you know that I have moved to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and have a new address. I've had a really busy year and next year I hope to have many of you come and visit me here at my new beach house! Lots of love, Jane 

Emma, Richard and Jake

They do say that Christmas with families can be one of the most stressful times of the year and after reading your email it would appear the theory could be correct!! I do hope the rest of your Christmas is peaceful!

 Strange about the pictures since none of the ones you attached to your email came through either! Will try attaching a few again! We had Krissy's friend Emma, her husband Richard and son Jake over for dinner. Emma was the one that was supposed to live with us for a few weeks and ended up staying three years! Lovely girl. 

Our cabin on Queen Elizabeth

Won't keep you since I am sure you will need to get back to being the family referee! Cheers Derekached to your email came through either! Will try attaching a few again! We had Krissy's friend Emma, her husband Richard and son Jake over for dinner. Emma was the one that was supposed to live with us for a few weeks and ended up staying three years! Lovely girl. Won't keep you since I am sure you will need to get back to being the family referee! Cheers Derek               Patrick, thanks for the note. We're back home safe and sound, preparing for my two sisters and their husbands and my niece and her two wee ones to all converge on us tomorrow for a 2-day wine and food Christmas fest! 

At dinner on Queen Elizabeth with our modest bottle of Shiraz!

Of course, Susie is home with us now and Kate will be arriving tomorrow as well. We will have some grand times, I'm sure. Time did not allow a trip over the border this time around....maybe next year. Our journey to and from was pretty smooth and uneventful, though we did encounter many rainy days of driving....luckily no snow.

Enjoyed reading your recent bicycling adventures and various other updates. Who is RoboMan? And was Whirleygig one of the gents who was with you when you last visited? 

Attended a performance in the Queens room Ukrainian string quartet

Your two singalong experiences seemed quite different and unique from one another! Seems like life is busy at the Island Inn, as always. Say hello and give our best Christmas wishes to Corinne, Chloe and the rest of the family and friends. Hope all's well with Sarge and he is completely recovered.

All the best for a happy, healthy 2015!! Pat               Bonjour Pat and George, That's quite a story Pat. What are the holidays without a bit of drama!! I imagine all the tippling will help quell the bad feelings and all will be forgotten. Hope you are having a marvellous afternoon with your family and friends!! Salut from Quebec���� Jane

Gayle in Bruges tucking into her Belgium waffles with warm cherries

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  Chloe Alexis Dunn

  
  This is what happens when you drink to much...... Merry Merry!!🍷🍷 — with Pierre Prince and Alejandro Prince!
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Patrick James Dunn They are not suffering from overhangs but just being good little boys going to bed early to wait for Santa to arrive! Nothing but dreams of sugar plums in their pounding heads, you can rest assured, Dear Reader and fellow drunkening red water, (as a former ESL boarder was fond of saying), over-imbibers!!!

Hi Pat! Thanks for the email and the newsy info on the bike ride and the movie.. I am going to forward your pics on to my brother Murray just to make him jealous of us here in Vancouver while he is in Saskatoon!   
 

So, Joanne and I made it to Indio and the time share .. she is a great driver and of course I know my scintillating company was enjoyed by her.. tee hee. I only drove for about an hour , if that, I chickened out at the entrance to the freeway into LA.. Night time and several lanes of highway going to god knows where..So kuddos to Joanne!  
 
The date is now Dec. 23rd and I have just arrived back today from Palm Springs where the sun was shining in 80 degree weather… Oh well.. we have some too. Merry Xmas to you and Cora Lee and I hope to see you around in the near future!
Joan