Post Mama's Day Blues: Monday, May 12th!

I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun. -Katharine Hepburn, actress (1907-2003)

P, I will have to pass on the ride today. I am meeting Cobby late morning for what may be a hard drinking day. I have a few things to do before then.

I will be riding to the East side for festivities and can deliver Decoded to the Highland Inn. Cobby would probably make use of your old hard drive if you have no other salvager.

Hope to do a short ride Tuesday -- I play a match at 6:PM that night in the Spring back, fall forward doubles tourney. W

Hi Forked Tongue Man!

Too, too bad about ride but when the hootch calls how can one but not heed the flagon's allure! We'll probably be home for next few hours so if convenient pop by and leave Decoded and pick up hard drive. Call ahead and I'll be waiting at the end of walkway off patio and you won't even have to stop to touch The Burning Ground!

Had a grand ride out to Iona and environs lasterday, via Marine, which was fairly quiet. Back up Cambie so some benefits for being solo! Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/497903772#.U3A7aKuJF9I.email
 

Ski might stay here tonight so if she does then a reasonably early ride, 8:00ish, might work for everyone. She has a lunch date with her sister as noon, downtown.

Chloë's Spot Prawns were simply delectable. We had appetizers, (whole SP in butter, garlic, jalapeño peppers and parsley), on patio, followed by peeled SP in risotto with julienned asparagus, fabuloso! GF macaroons for dessert so a  feast all around! Talk soon. Cheers, Il Conduttore! 

Patrick James Dunnposted to‎Melanie Marie Novelli

Hi Melanie! Trust everything goes well back home. Bit hard to readjust to not being at resort. We have been invited to Sutherland's for dinner tonight so have to have a shower and change after my bike ride out to UBC. Stats for ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/498503555# You can follow link to see route. Gorgeous day here. Fond regards to both you and your Mom from Corinne. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Gayle and Derek!

Trust you are both well! I mentioned, to Chloë, last evening when she was preparing dinner, that you had not received any Mother's Day greetings from Krissy and she replied that the holiday wasn't celebrated in England! I gather she saw both her and Mark on Saturday night.

Once my gardening chores were discharged I was free as a bird so suited up and headed out to UBC, via Spanish Banks. Loads of people enjoying the sun and sand and many playing beach volleyball at the numerous nets set up there. Continued along Marine to Kent Ave and then over Cambie SkyTrain Bridge to Iona and environs. Back up Cambie and then down to Olympic Village and then home. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/497903772#.U3A7aKuJF9I.email

Found Chloë busy preparing fresh Spot Prawns, by request, from Fisherman's Wharf, just west of entrance to GI, for her mother's Mother's Day treat. (Thought I wouldn't have kitchen duty but somehow I was dragooned into being Chief Scullion!)

Chloë's Spot Prawns were simply delectable. We had appetizers, (whole SP in butter, garlic, jalapeño peppers and parsley), with a couple of bottles of white, on patio, (First time it has been warm enough to sit outside comfortably!), followed by peeled SP in risotto with julienned asparagus, topped with Parmesano. A very tasty 2009 Sandhill, Small Lots Malbec, 13%, that Chloë had been saving so everything was Fabuloso! 

We ate last course inside while watching last two episodes of Game of Thrones! (You can watch series when here, if you wish, as Chloë has Third Season on a memory stick and we have current one recorded.) Dessert consisted off fresh strawberries, gluten-free macaroons and almond cookies. Just a snort of malt to make everything blend in. Fondestos from everyone at The Islay Inn to everyone in Cornwall. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Spot Prawns, one in frying pan even tried to jump out! While cleaning first batch Chloë almost took the door off the fridge as she jumped back into it when one of the heads kept jerking after she had twisted it off its body! She certainly has re-defined "squeamish"! A few snaps from Mexico: Chorus line in pool; local wildlife, Marvin, groom, at his stag, croc under bridge leading to wedding pavillion; couple blending sand as a symbol of their union; wedding photo shoot after ceremony; illuminated dance floor; Mayan Tour de Coba, note helmet and cycling shoes, never mind rusty bike with non-adjustable seat! Still, loads of fun as it was a good hike into temple we climbed and on bikes it was far cooler!

P, Cobby showed with his buddy Blaze at about 2PM and left after 6PM. A yarn or two was exchanged and maybe a few drams. As you might expect I did not get out of the house/chair.

Did Dusty play on the Smoke Eaters? Just learned tonight that Charlie's firm is doing a museum in Trail and he thinks that the Smoke Eaters is a significant part of the display. Charlie wondered what memorabilia Dusty might have around. The museum would probably be all over it. W                                           Stats for today's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/498503555#

Can hardly wait! Dinner was wonderful and play, Kim's Convenience, about a Korean family who own a convenience store in Toronto's Regent Park, a wonderful piece. Both a hilarious and touching glimpse of the small business and the community it serves as well as the often difficult family dynamics. The Arts Club Theatre is only five minutes from our place so Sarge and I strolled over ten minutes before show time. Avery at dinner. Cheers! 

Patrick James Dunn I'm surprised you even surfaced, Mr Fjord! But since you are around, do you mind flying over to help Cora Lee put together her new red bbq?

Hi Couch Potatoe Poltroon!

Glad to hear that birthday celebratory quaffage went well with loads, if not spools, of yarn lies. Will ask The Dustman, next time we chat on the phone, about Trail Smoke Eaters as he worked there and played for them before enlisting in the Navy.

While you were downing flagons, I was touring route regulare at UBC, Musqueam, St George's, (Was this elite, private school named after you, perchance?), Wesbrook Village and West Mall. Simply gorgeous day for an outing and I was quite philosophical about head wind along Spanish Banks and then on return leg on Marine. 

Managed to achieve an AVG of 22 km/hr in spite of bucking it for a goodly portion of ride. Even did a bit of draftage for a few km on way to Crown and then again once I was at bottom of Foreshore Hill. Think I intimidated both riders as each one pulled over once they determined they couldn't outrun Il Conduttore!

Back home just after 4:00 pm and helped Sarge to load our "elder" bbq into Kid Chelene's pick-up. He'd borrowed it to take his "elder" bbq, and a bar fridge, to the recycling depot off Terminal Ave. Once we had the fridge and our bbq loaded, (He'd dropped off his bbq on way back from work.), he headed for the depot. Said he didn't need me along as chap there had helped him unload the first bbq. Bumped into Kid Chelene, Beckster and Avery coming back into building. They'd spent the day at Kits Beach and were staying for supper. Once I was back at our place I told Cora Lee they were there if she wanted to say hello so she went downstairs. A few minutes later she called to say that we had been invited for dinner! 

Flamin' thought that Book Club was tonight and she had prepared extra chicken to take for The Sisterhood. Furthermore, they had tickets to the Arts Club and earlier, Sarge had invited me to join him since Flamin' thought she was otherwise engaged. Even when Cora Lee told her that the Book Club wasn't for another two weeks she'd already decided to stay home and catch up on her TV shows.

Dinner was scrumptious and since the performance was at the Arts Club Theatre, only five minutes from our place, as you know, Sarge and I strolled over ten minutes before show time. Must say it was a wonderful play. Kim's Convenience is about a Korean family who own a convenience store in Toronto's Regent Park. Both a hilarious and touching glimpse of the small business and the community it serves as well as the often difficult family dynamics. If you have time and inclination, I recommend it highly.

Back home I invited Sarge in for a snort but he declined as he'd a busy work day on the morrow. Just as well as I had to re-attach the shower in the guest bathroom as Cora Lee had been able to find the correct fitting to replace one Grogg inadvertently broke on his last day here, Thursday of last week. Didn't take too long and I was relieved that this was the case as I had visions of having to call in a plumber and then have to rob a bank to pay for bill!

Once that was accomplished, I helped Coriandre bring in the new red bbq she had picked up at Home Depot this afternoon. She had started assembling some of the smaller pieces while we were at the play but needed the body itself and it was too heavy for her to move and lift herself. It is now a "work-in-progress" in the living room! Shortly after we had set it up, on top of large box it came in, Ski phoned. She was outside, waiting in the Heartbreak Parkade, having driven from New West. She was to stay the night.
 

We had a short visit and then she headed for bed as it had been a long day for her, visiting with friends and relatives. She is keen to ride around Stanley Park so we plan to leave around 8:00 am. I thought we might take a detour to show her Seawall to Canada Place before doing Prospect Point Hill. Hope you can join us. Let me know, either a message or a call as we'll be up around 7:00 am. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

That was very nice Patrick. Much nicer than Gerry who states very clearly, "Why would I do anything, you are not my mother". We are exploring Dallas and it just started to rain so we are escaping the rain in a bar with a delicious glass of Pinot Grigio. Cheers and hugs, Dawn 

Thank you for the Spa! Enjoy the champagne! A big hug from Margareta