Rachel Patti Petawawa Blues: Tuesday, January 20th

The words of some men are thrown forcibly against you and adhere like burrs. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)   

J.E.H. MacDonald Untitled (Batchawana Rapids), c. 1919.

Patrick, Not bad for a rookie. Hope you had a good time playing with my buddy Byron. By the way, thanks again for the bottle of Highland Park Dark Origins. I confirmed last night that it is an intensely flavoured, great sipping whisky. Cheers, Peter

Hi JDP! Really enjoyed last night's play. Lads are great to play with and against. Think it will be extremely good for my bridge if I can continue to play with them. Quite liked the various conventions that were used and everyone was very good about explaining/walking me through when played. Clive provided a wonderful supper, (meat pies, mashed spuds, (with gravy especially for Robert!), and mixed steamed vegetables, with an incredible rhubarb/cherry crumble with ice-cream and/or custard for dessert!

Must say that although Byron seems to get a bit of a bad rap from the lads it seems to me that he is perhaps one the most knowledgeable of the group. Very, very impressed with his ability to discuss innumerable conventions and suggest correct bids, given point count, etc. Not to say that the rest of group aren't well versed because they are, of course. Really like the Excel spreadsheet that Robert came up with. He said he would send along a copy as it would be fun to use here.
 

Byron did yeoman's service as chauffeur and on the way home the topic of his sea voyages came up. I had no idea of this aspect of their lives. What a story! Hope to be able to learn more about some of the various "legs", in more detail, as really only had a chance to quiz him about the overview, the years that they were working in England in the winter and sailing in the summer, back and forth across the Atlantic, Med, Panama Canal, etc.

Glad you are enjoying the Dark Origins. We are sipping a Meyer 2012 Chardonnay, 13%, picked up this past July, as Patti and Rachel, Cora Lee's sister and niece are here from Petawawa, this morning, along with Pamela, youngest sibling, and Loreen, Spumoni's work colleague, both in town, yesterday, on business, siblings for Clarisse's 90th! Must away as we need to set the table. Will be in touch about Inja but what Lynne sent seems fine with us. As soon as we have a moment will do as requested so that we can start to tie things down. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!  Pics: Bridge last night!

Hello Vittorino! Am planning a longish ride tomorrow so hook up if it suits. Let me know if you are on and I'll plan accordingly. As always, extremely flexible! Anyone others are most welcome! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: When not cycling, I'm bidding! Heavy Duty Opponents so it was very tense!

Hi Pat, I can't ride tomorrow, but will be free next tuesday if you are free then and weather is not horrendous take care, VL                                    Hi Corinne--I've been checking websites, etc. and have discovered that there is a flight that I can get on points from Vancouver to Chennai. It's on Lufthansa and departs Vancouver at 2:25 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 and arrives in Frankfurt at 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28. 

The ongoing flight leaves Frankfurt at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Chennai at 11:50 p.m. still on Wednesday, October 28. (If I recall correctly, Peter found a possible flight for you and Patrick that arrived in Chennai about the same time or a little bit earlier.)  I think this means we are going to have to stay overnight in Chennai rather than meeting up with our guide right away and getting on the road to Malhabalipuram, which is about 2 hours away. I don't think we want to get into a car in the middle of the night for a two-hour drive after being on an airplane for over 20 hours! I also suspect that it is unlikely our guide would meet us and drive away with us at that time of night. But who knows? Perhaps I am wrong about this. 

On the chance that we are all agreed that an overnight stay in Chennai is in order, I've tentatively booked two rooms at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which is close to the airport and has a free shuttle service. We don't have to pay for the rooms ($130.00 CDN each + taxes and such) until October 25 so we have lots of time to ponder our moves.

Corinne, could you please check with your contact as to what he advises about our arrival in Chennai now that we know the approximate time we will get in? If he has another plan for our pick-up, whether or not we should stay over in Chennai for that one night and, if so, what hotel we should stay at, etc., he can let us know. I guess part of the answer will depend upon how much we will need someone to assist us on our arrival and whether or not we really need someone from Luxe India to take us in hand immediately upon our arrival.  

I will go ahead and book my flight from Vancouver to Chennai with departure on Tuesday, October 27 and arrival on Wednesday, October 28 when I hear back from everyone that this is okay. Cheers … or should I say, Namaste? Lynnie

Hi Chennai Chick et al! Am replying, on behalf of Mme Coriandre, as she is pretty busy with family matters, so to speak! Tina, friend from Adelaide, arrives on Friday, en route to join Trevor, her husband, at Sun Peaks, so another Freeloader to deal with! In fact, Tina will be staying with Flamin' and Sarge as Spumoni will be in or guest room. Patti and Rachel are ensconced at Jo-anne's, upstairs, as she has very kindly allowed them to stay. She is in Arizona and we might see her when down with you two, depends on timing, etc.

Hope to be able to spend more time on Inja after weekend as everyone decamps on Sunday. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Loreen, Pamela and Patti; a moment's repose!