Bye Bye Upper Bench Blues: Friday, January 16th!

A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience. -Miguel de Cervantes, novelist (1547-1616)

Hi Chris! Healthy New Year to you and your family! Just a quick note before we leave Summerland Waterfront Resort, making for home. We've been here for a few days with Clara and Dusty, wine-tasting and visiting friends.

Just wanted to draw your attention to "reduced" amount I received on 15th. Let me know what you think. We should be home by late afternoon today, traffic and weather co-operating. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Tasting at Poplar Grove; winter wonderland, view from PG; mouton on way to OK Falls; bridge and dinner in Naramata with close friends, Peter and Lynne Lighthall.              your ears must have been burning...........for reasons other than it looks very cold outside where 'you at' when you get home you will hear my phone message from 9:18 this very morning regarding the very same issue drive carefully, watch out for the dreaded black ice, and mercifully I will be gone to the ferry by 2pm please call me Monday if/when you thaw out xo

Conductoré No way MY mailbox overflowed - I have 5gb and I keep it tidy. I suspect it is something on your/UBC end because the email you sent was ENOURMUS. I will have to show you how to reduce the size of the photos you send. You end up sending far more info than a screen can handle, which can cause all kinds of problems.

I think we should create an iCloud for you ans switch you to mac mail - which handles the picture compression painlessly. We can put a autoreply on you UBC mail informont people of your new address and an autoforward so you don’t miss any email. I will also give you a quick iPhoto lesson / overview which will make you handling and organizing of photos more efficient. We’ll talk. Branko [*] No habrá paz para los malvados [*] 

Hi Ragin'! Message, [Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups: branko@ This message is larger than the size limit for messages. Please make it smaller and try sending it again.], is the one I received. I have had it a number of times before, specifically to your address but not to gmail holders in particular. Sometimes shaw.ca cannot handle size but this time message to Raymondo went through and his is a Shaw account. I'm not arguing, just curious. Thanks again for all the Office stuff. Certainly much appreciated. As well, I'm more than delighted to have you take me under your virtual wing and help organize my mail, picture compression, desk top management, malt cabinet maintenance, etc!

Just back from The Okanagan at a little after 3:00 pm today. Hope-Princeton was much, much drier and cleaner than I had expected as it started snowing, albeit lightly, and didn't stick on highway at any time, just before we left Summerland at 10:15 am this morning. On again, off again until after we left Princeton and then Manning Park behind. Was a bit worried, at times, when road surface was wet from melting snow on shoulders, passing a few semis that threw up a huge, dirty sprays. More concerned about the pebbles that their tires were bouncing around but fortunately, in spite of some unnerving thwacks, didn't sustain any windshield damage, at least none that I have discerned as of this writing! Once we descended Allison Pass we traded snowflakes for a bit of mist/drizzle but past Hope it turned into a gorgeous day, sun streaming into car made everyone peel off jackets for drive from Chilliwack to Port Mann, right into Vancouver.

Really needed the 70 minutes I spent at FCCC, after unloading car, on the elliptical machina, working off 1099 calories, travelling 3.44 miles. Sad to say I suppose that only accounted for a few drams! Nevertheless a pretty enjoyable road trip even if we didn't find our dream home, Yet! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello The Naramata! Thanks again for the more than wonderful night! Clara and Dusty never stopped raving about your incredible hospitality and your gorgeous home. I think they plan on staying with you next winter even if we are somewhere in the vicinity!  Again, thank you for having us all for such a delicious meal and delightful evening. Certainly much appreciated.
 

We'll be in touch about Desert Storm and JDP's business stay at The Islay Inn in the next little while. Mme Coriandre is already reading in bed but she sends along her thanks and fondestos to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Grumpy Narmatians giving The Freeloaders the heave-ho!

Thank you so much for having my mom and over last Friday.  You made my mom feel very special by wanting to find a day that would work before she left to go home.  So thank you so very much. As well, here is the recipe for the crackers.  I used asiago cheese instead of parmesan. Janet

http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=501&S=0

It was great to have you both over. Thanks so much for the recipe. We received a lovely card from your mom today. She is very special. Corinne

Hi Janet! Great to have The Pips over! As Cora Lee said, your Mom is a wonderful lady and we, along with Clara and Dusty certainly enjoy her company. Please thank her for the card. Thank you, as well, for recipe. Much appreciated. Now all I have to do is try making crackers! Keep in touch and we'll arrange more bridge with The Pitchforks before Clan Durston return to Manitoba. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

What about the India trip? Al Pat, Good luck with your attempt to switch locations. Naramata is a favourite place for me and you probably have a much superior climate than on the coast with many more clear days though somewhat cooler in winter. Great summers too and lots of cycling possibilities. You will need a decent mountain bike to ride the Kettle Valley. A fellow I played rugby with briefly in the 70's, Ro Hindson, is/was an orchardist in the town. Ray

Hi Sylvia and Raymond! Trust all goes well with you two. Busy last week, house hunting, as you know. Unfortunately, no time for riding, although most roads were clear of ice and snow and dry. Raw wind to be sure. Not sure what Kettle Valley Trail would have been like, however! Cheers, Patrizzio!
 

Wow. That will be a dramatic change! Sure you guys don't want to rent out there for a year and see how it goes before making the plunge? Of course David and I are mere stick in the muds compared to you daring adventurers. Canada is much more civilized than the US. There are places we would not dare to move in the US. Oh, and did I mention parts of Oakland??? Ah well.

2015 is plugging along. Yesterday we acquired a 2 year old Maine Coon mix feline. So far she is logging most her time under the bed. Last night was fairly traumatic. She must have realized that this was for real and spent 5 hours or so making all the noises she knows how to make. Well at at least in this house there are not two big sister Maine Coon cats beating her up all the time. We hope she will get more friendly with time.

Last night we attended the Berkeley Symphony Tchaikovsky No6 in B minor, "Pathetique." It was very well done. A lovely piece. Keep us apprised of the plans! Fondestos, Nancy

Hi Donna Florida and Cactus, or should I say, Cat People! Congratulations on the new feline! Trust all works out well. Pleased you enjoyed the symphony. My classical music comes mainly from listening to Julie Nesrallah, a Canadian mezzo-soprano and radio host of CBC's Tempo.  Fond regards to you both and Maine Coon. Cheers, Patrizzio! 
 

Bring on the Bubbly Mick's 70th birthday Hi Nicole! Devastated that Cora Lee and I won't be able to attend this marvellous party as we will be wine-tasting in California by then. Will be with you all, in spirit, so to speak, on the 8th, however. Thanks and have a fabulous bash! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Yes-1 year and a few days to go before being eligible for the 70's division. Have just finished tennis and a late breakfast, now for a walk and some swimming this afternoon. Went to the Tournament of Champions for the final round Monday and followed Nick Taylor for the front nine and Jason Day for the back-amazing golf as he shot 7 under on the back and tied the course record with a 62. Sounds as though there is a big move afoot for Patrick and Corinne, that will be quite a change. Have a great holiday and best wishes to everyone. Cheers, Rich

Hello Ricardo et al! Trust all went well in Hawaii and Viet Nam! Have more than a few for me at the Birthday Bubbly Bashorama! Cheers, Il Conduttore/Patrizzio!!!