General Chat

You know your from Vancouver when:

You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash
You see two Starbucks locations directly across the street from each other and think nothing of it
You use the statement “sunny break” and know what it means.
You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the “Walk” signal.
You consider that if it has no snow, it is not a real mountain.
You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Blenz, and Tim Horton’s.
Your concept of a city’s downtown core does not include freeways.
Living downtown and working in the suburbs does not seem like a strange idea.
You’ve seen enough bus drivers re-mount bus poles to overhead trolley wires that you think you could do it yourself.
You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon.
You know how to pronounce Squamish, Osoyoos, Coquitlam,
Nanaimo,Chilliwack, and Tsawwassen (although you might argue about the last one).
You consider swimming an indoor sport.
You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese,
Vietnamese,Korean, and Thai food as well as the languages, even if you don’t speak them.
In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark while only working eight-hour days.
You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
You are not fazed by “Today’s forecast: showers followed by rain,”and “Tomorrow’s forecast: rain followed by showers.”
You cannot wait for a day with “showers and sunny breaks.”
You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
You know that Dawson Creek is a town, not a TV show.
You can point to at least two ski mountains, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.
You notice “the mountains are out” when it is a pretty day and you can actually see them.
You’re comfortable living within sight of a 10,000-foot
glacier-clad volcano that could become active at any time˜and you know that its being in another country will be no help if it does. (but the wind will blow ash mostly east … eh?)
You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 5, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
You switch to your sandals when it gets about 10, but keep your socks on.
You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps, tourists, or smart locals who use them for sun protection in the summer.
You recognize the background shots in your favourite movies and TV shows.
You buy new sunglasses every year, because you can’t find the old ones after such a long time.
You measure distance in hours.
You often switch from “heat” to “a/c” in your car in the same day.
You use a down comforter in the summer.
You carry jumper cables in your car and your spouse knows how to use them.
You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), and Raining Again (Autumn).
You are aware that “curry” is not a spice, but a combination of spices.

Hi all...

Veronica Glad things are on the mend..Kieth will have periods of ups and down,,which are natural..my brother did to.. but in the end he will be a new man...just make sure that he dosent want a new woman...hee hee hee hee..At Christmas he will probably eat you out of house and home,,lol..

Fred Bet you ate my dinner and gave Hissy the rest..Just cant trust friends these day..Have a great day tomorrow and ya got a bit to do to catch up with me ...hee hee hee...65 ya just a kid...but have a lovely day and mind the diet..lol

Off to water jerks tomorrow and boy do I need the exercise..

Love Mary xxx

Hi All

Thanks for all the hugs and words of encouragement. Friday was a good day and the Dr was pleased with Keith's progress. Saturday not so good - he was very tired and cranky - today well the family all came by and I just did an impromptue dinner for 10!!!!! Thanks goodness for M & M's meatballs and a good supply of pasta. Arn't we Mums great!!!!! I wonder if either of my daughters or daughter in law would have been able to pull that off, I bet they couldn't.

But truly, it was lovely to see them all and they pitched in and helped so I wasn't stuck doing it all. The grandkids took Keith out for his 8 minute walk and where facinated by the heart pace monitor, so of courses they had to try it.

Fun had by all and now Keith is asleep in the chair. I just hope he sleeps tonight.

Off to take care of the last lot of dishes

Luv to all

V

Still sewing....have to set up for the Fair on Thursday at noon and then I think that will be it for now. I do actually quite enjoy it.....but I enjoy other stuff too. My house meanwhile is a shambles and the garden still not put to bed. Next week I plan on putting up my tree so that I have a good long while to enjoy it....old softie that I am!

Glad you had a good visit Mary and yes I will be along with you to Fred's for a yummy dinner except you can have my parsnips!!!

We went to Courtney yesterday and took in a xmas fair or two. It was good to have a day away. Came home thru Qualicum Beach but the tide was in so our Bella couldn't have her paddle....today she is sulking!!!

Had a chat with Edith, she is coping and is keeping faairly cheerful which is a good thing. She gets her second eye done next week and then in a little while she will be better than ever.

Hi to everyone else. Guess were I am off to????????
Lesxx

Hi all... Sorry haven't been here for a while but have had a visitor from New Zealand, A friend who I worked with 48 years ago in New Plymouth..NZ We had a great time and I took her out as John could not do any of the walking but it was good to catch up again as it is 3 years since we last met..

All the gallivanting left me a bit tired so am taking it easy for a couple of days..Tomorrow I will start on your Charles again Fred..Still cant find where you say you found him..but I will get back to it tomorrow.Hey hold dinner I am on my way..If I dont make it just keep it warm in the oven...

Edith Do hope you are ok and you have someone to look after you..big hugs xxxx

Veronica Sorry to hear about Kieth. My brother has just had a quad bypass op and is now on the mend..He has lost a lot of weight and suffered a lot of pain in his back,, which is funny as you would expect it to be in the front,,but that was ok,,He is ok now and doing rehab which is improving things a lot..Big hugs for you and him..


Well am off to bed so hi to all looking in and Les...How is the apron industry going..Have you made enough to come to OZ yet...lol..

Lotsa love Mary xxx

Good morning all,Fred has decided to have rthe day off from family history and is having a few minutes before planning todays dinner,one chicken to roast upon the orders of Chris lol.
Mud,Mud ,Glorious Mud ,from the show ,by Michael Flanders and Donald Swan,.
Hows that for a quick answer to a question,and showing my age at the same time he he.
How near are you to Finishing this sewing bee Les'? And what's next in line?
Hissy has been fed already,and is swanning around in the back garden somewhere,no doubt lurking amoung the brassica ,waiting for an unwary bird,but i have put a load bell on her collar ,so i think they will be okay.
She met her match yesterday ,ttrying to intimidate the two ,rather large magpies that frequent our back garden,she came barreling out of the hidey hole towards them,and to her suprise the two magpies actually hopped towards her beaks at the ready,he he,she skidded to a halt ,took one long look ,decided that discression was the order of the day,and scooted into the greenhouse and hid under the heater,,Laugh ? i nearly choked on my cuppa,i don't think Hissy likes being chased back lol
I think i will hit the cavity of the chicken with salt and pepper ,and leave it to absorb it for a while,and i will then cut an orange in half ,squeeze the juice into the inside too,cut up an apple and shove it in,and cook the chicken ,breast down for the first hour for the taste to slip into the flesh before turning it over to brown the top,which i will help on it's way by putting some oil on first ,then putting a lattice of streaky bacon on.the breast and thighs.
The stuffing ,weeell i'm cheating this week,taking some i made a couple of weeks ago from the freezer
The last hour of the cooking i will do some fluffy roasties round the bird,some roast parsnip,sweet potato,and sweet peppers,all that's left then is cabbage out of the garden,sweede ditto,and some mash,oh,and of course ,gravy,made with the gibblets of the said chicken,anyone wanting dinner had better get a move on ,it goes on the table sharp at twelve ,if you ain't here by then ,sorry ,you have had it ,lol.
Still the weather is pretty mild ,and i hope it will last a little longer,it would be nice if i could have a nice day for the shindig next Wednesday,i have the whole of the family ,including grandkids going for a meal at the metro centre my retirement celibration ,
A chinese buffet,and a nice birthday cake [ i hope] don't normally bother much with such things ,but ,well a 65 th is a little special after all,then ,a life of leasure ,huh ,wishfull thinking lol,but ,at least i can do the chores at my own pace from then on[he says hopefully]
Well,time to get the boss her cuppa,then i will get cracking and get the dinner prep' started.
Have a nice Sunday all,back later Fred.

VP you are sooo busy, busy busy -soon be Christmas and you can relax lol (JA ducks!!!)
Ouch Veronica - not good about Keith - sounds like a long road - hugs for both
~~~~~~~~~~~everyone else

JA

Hi Everyone,
Veronica, sorry to hear about Keith. However having gone thru similar myself and now this year with Norm, I can tell you that soon he will be just like a teenager again...hmmm!! You take of yourself, give yourself a little break each day where you can sit and ponder life or go for a walk...you know what I mean.

Diane I can make calls for you any time just let me know. I wonder if it is possible that these rellies are "snow birds" and have gone south for the winter??

I have no news at all. I am shackled to my sewing machine and the 21st. looms ever closer. My daily excitement is walking the dog and how sad is that!!! Well it was exciting two days ago as I slipped on all the wet grass and leaves and slid down an embankment. Bella enjoyed it hugely and pranced all around....and me??? Well I was covered from my shoe all the way up my left side to my back in glorious mud!!!!! and NO!! my blood was not cool!!!!
and who sang that again??

Have a great day you lot.
Lesxx

Hello everyone, just a quick word as we begin the weekend. Not much planned this weekend, may make my Christmas Cake. .. Thanks for the offer of making a phone call Lesley, may take you up on that if I don't hear anything shortly. Hope everyone is well, best wishes to your husband Veronica, hope he is soon feeling well again. You never know whats round the corner do you? Anyway take care all ......

Hi all

Have dropped by once in a while to read all the news but not so much recently.

I had to give up my job on Oct 28 (I was supposed to stay till end of December) as Keith had to have a quad bypass - came as quite a shock since he had minimal symptoms and even his medical in April showed nothing wrong on his ECG.

Any way we have a state of the art Heart unit at Hamilton General Hospital and he had his surgery on 4th November. He is home now and feeling pretty good. It will be a pretty long recuperation period as he has to be very careful about stuff and I am having to do simple things like helping him dress and fetching and carrying and changing the few remaining dressings on his wounds.

Amazing what they can do these days.

Will drop back again in a day or so

Luv to all

Veronica in Dundas

Hiya yawl or something like that our VP would say lol
Edith rang this morning - I was at work so OH spoke with her - she asked that I let you all know that she is having problens with her eyes and treatment - the upshot is she cannot see to post, or to drive
She wanted everyone to know she is still here but will not be back to post until early December. Sounds nasty

VP can you email me the phone number please so I can call back and give an update. The said OH has tidied my desk and whosh some dearly held nos have gone lol
~~~~~~~~ãll

JA

And a good morning to all,says Fred ,with a bounce in his step,mainly due to help from a certain lady on this thread as of late.
I have my connection with oz Mary [does a cartwheel in front of the puter ,[wahey].
I found my Gt Grandad many times removed In Wemyss Fife,along with his siblings and parents.
It Was Charles ,one of [Davids ] brothers who caught my eye and clinched it all.
Charles an older brother was also a mariner,and whereas David moved to Sunderland ,durham,brother Charles emigrated to N S W in 1940/41 on the ship Nantulus.
I think it may have been an aassisted passage Lol,because the junior master [captain] on this vessel was one Chas Munro Baird,hows that for nepotism he he.
I have to go to the council offices this morning to sort my pension out ,re the council tax,but after that ,carefully arranged and done houswork ovewrr the weekend leaves me free this afternoon to start looking for Charles ,in or around N S W 18400's onward.
We had Chris over the weekend ,and i did him his sunday roast before he went back[dad is under strict instructions NOT to pick him up until the afternoon lol.
Seing as the lad now loves his veggies ,i cooked a few for variety,roast Parsnip and sweet peppers,in with the fluffy roast potato's he loves,steamed savoy cabbage,carrot,and sweede,new potato's,all out of the garden apart from the parsnip.
To go with this i did a roast pork loin,with apple sauce and stuffing,all paid for stuff was the meat ,and parsnip.not bad ehhhh?
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your weather Mary,and the company you have or have just had.
Half of the fridge shelf is taken up by the corned beef ,lol,i made the ingedients up last afternoon,and have to say,it's looking good,one 7,pound slab of meat for christmas on the way he he.
Have to go and feed the pest ,no ,not the wife lol,see ya later.Fred.

Hi Everyone,

Yes Dorothy, it was pretty sad about that young boy. I think these are difficult times to be a parent, looking back I think when my kids were young it was easier. No xbox or other video stuff. The kids and I would often rent a movie in the evening and hunker down in front of the TV......good times.

I am still sewing my brains out. The next fair is on the 21st. and I need to replace the ones I sold....I am going cross eyed!!! I have had quite a few people ask for special orders but I am not doing that this year....too stressful. I still have to make the one for Edith's granddaughter and thats it!!

Norm and I have just got back from 2 days in Victoria. He took me to all the best fabric stores and so I was able to geta bit more "stuff". We were both horrified about the amount of homeless people in the downtown area. We even saw a whole family - Mom, Dad and Kids, wandering along pushing their shopping cart of wordly possessions. There were many people holed up in doorways surrounded by their "cart" and cardboard and anything else to keep them warm. Makes me appreciate what I have and makes me cross that the gov. doesn't DO something!!!

Diane if you would like me to make a phone call for you just ask. I have a free plan for all of North America so no problems there.

Enjoy your friend Mary....that's what life is really all about isn't....friendship.

Christine I forgot all about Guy Fawkes this year, that was fun as a kid wasn't it. We had fireworks last New Years, a friend brought them along. I probably told you this before but we all stood outside ooohing and aaahing being liberally coated with ash and other noxious firework emissions. We laugh often about this. Nice to know you can be silly even when you get old!!!! er!!!!

Hi to the rest of you. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.
More later
Lesxx

goodmorning from barrie a cold and sunless day we had more news on the young man who's body was found the other day aparently he must have climbed a tree to see where he was in the wooded area and fell the autopsy showed he died from chest injuries, it is so sad for his family , the building I now live in had a pot luck supper last night quite a good turnout and a very interesting menus. I now have lived here for two years after selling my house that was really too big for one person and am quite enjoying not having a garden to maintain and no snow shovelling, it is not a senior building so we have a good mix of ages and you can have animals so dogs and cats are welcome most of the dogs are small. bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone.. We are having such lovely weather and the days are quite perfect..I recon Sydney has the best temp I know,, Cool and no frosts in winter and mild and not to hot in summer..

Been having a busy time lately.. Got a friend arriving tomorrow ..I have known her for 48 years and we used to work together many years ago in New Zealand,, She is holidaying in Melbourne with her brother and sil and tomorrow she flies here to me in Sydney before flying back to her home in NZ on Friday..She was widowed about 5 years ago and this is her first trip out of New Zealand since her husband died..Will be lovely to see her..

Fred.. When is the wedding,, I have forgot the date.. bet you and Liz are looking forward to it..

Sylvia Hope you and Norman are ok,,

Les You still sewing....hee hee hee..

Hope all had a nice weekend,,

Love Mary xxxxx

goodmorning from another crazy weather day in barrie it is going to be 20 degree's again to-day very unusual for this time of year at the moment the sun is trying to shine through the morning mist and the remaining leaves are putting on a show of colour, off to get the car winterized for the winter that will surely come soon, the young lad that has been missing since thanksgiving was found yesterday and it was not good news he has died only 15 he went missing after a row with his parents re video games the whole town and area have been searching for him. on that sad note I will say bye for now dorothy

Hello everyone... Pleased all your sewing was not in vain Lesley.. Its rather miserable here today and my boy is having great pleasure in counting down the days to Christmas 49!!! Where has this year gone?? Still waiting for replies ref my Canadian relatives, perhaps they don't want to be found.... I too think Barak Obama seems to be the man but I also worry for his safety.. too many people simply did not want a coloured man to be president!! Hope he stays safe. Take care all....

Hi everyone Havent been around a bit as I have been very busy..
Had a lovely meet and greet for our new residents in the village and a lovely dinner afterwards.. Am now feeling very tired and ready for bed..

Been having a great time researching for a lovely friend and getting thouroughly crosseyed..hee hee hee..good fun..I am sure I will work it out soon...lol..lol..

Fred Johns cousin from nz has just been over to oz and bought himself a off road caravan,,19ft.with shower and toilet ,,washing machine,,sola panels on the roof.. in fact everything that opens and shuts..Would hate to think what it cost him..They are coming over next year to tour around for 2 years..not a bad life.....give me the small and cosy van ,,,like the one we had.I do miss it............

Well I hope all are well and I am now off to bed..See ya later
Love MAry xxxxx

Hi Guys,

Yes Dorothjy, I also stayed up to watch. Very pleased with the result...he has a lovely smile, doesn't he. I also will worry about his safety. At one point they showed a clip of Kennedy when elected and I thought....hmmmm!! BTW somebody should tell his wife not to wear balck and red......together!!!

Well first artisan show done and gone. It was a great weekend and I learned a lot about what people may buy or not when deciding. I sold about a dozen or so aprons so was not displeased with that. Next fair, Christmas Village at the Mill, starts on the 21st. Nov....so it is back to the sewing machine. I did get some tidying done in the yard yesterday but really must get at that machine.

They are calling for a little snow here today but I think it is all lies!! It was about -2 overnite so certainly could be cold enough.

Hi Fred, still haven't figured that blurry msn. Hi to all of you who are missing, hope everyone is safe and well.

Lesxx

hi another warm day in barrie 20 to-day so they say did any one else stay up late to watch the u.s. election I was up till 1am it was a very historical moment and I pray that he will do well and be safe. have to get the car winterized to-morrow for the weather that will surely come in this area bye for now dorothy