Almost summer

The weather hasn't been very consistent this summer (well, I guess it's been consistently cloudy and cool). But what is more annoying than crappy weather? Answer: the endless complaining about it. On and on and on. It's weather...nothing personal, nothing can be done...no one is in control. It's just weather. Please stop moaning about it. And if you're from the UK then you should be used to endless grey, damp days...year round. In fact, even if you're from Vancouver it should come as no surprise. Despite this erratic weather we have been able to enjoy some trips to the beach and to spend time with friends. And that is what summer is all about. Our friends Pete and Jenn and their kids Sapphire and River (another River!) are back in town for summer. We have had some fun hanging out and catching up.

Girls playing in the cold water at sunset

The baby and the bathwater...

The weekend after we got back from Saltery Bay was Vancouver's annual Folk Fest. It is usually great music, great atmosphere and a really eclectic mix of people. Unfortunately, this year was a bit of a wash-out, but it was still good fun. We didn't actually pay to go inside because we are broke...but next year (weather permitting) I think that we will. The girls had a money-making idea going where, for a donation, they would ask someone what animal they'd like them to be. The girls would then act like said animal for about 5 seconds. It was a cute and funny....scam. They made $30 in about two hours. 

Nicole getting her chakras cleansed by a man with a large didgeridoo

I did a quick camping trip this weekend. I went to Cascade Peninsula; somewhere I have not been before. A beautiful campsite 13km up a logging road and tucked beside the shores of Lake Harrison. For some reason I only did one night. Why the hell didn't I stay for 2...what is the matter with me? Stupid Vicky...stupid, stupid!

View of Harrison Lake from the campsite

Looking over Harrison Lake from the logging road

Harrison

But I enjoyed a day by the lake and on Sunday we had beautiful sunny day and a trip down to the beach.

Let Me Fade

by The Miserable Rich. A "chamber pop" band (whatever that is) from England. I think this is a great break-up song...and just a good song. The video of traumatized squirrels is hilarious.

Saltery Bay

Bronwyn and a Bull Whip Kelp

We were supposed to spend the whole of last week camping at Saltery Bay, but unfortunately, we had to cut it short. The trip started out well; sunshine and warmth on the journey there. Two beautiful ferry rides with a lovely drive in between. Even the 1000th listen through of "Rock the Casbah" (River's current favourite song) and "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele (Bronwyn's favourite) was okay. And we enjoyed a bright, sun-drenched afternoon in Mermaid Cove. Sunday was also a warm sunny-ish day. This is our 3rd trip to Saltery Bay and I think I covered the area and campground in previous posts. It is a beautiful place to visit. However, we'll probably have to go somewhere else next year, though Bronwyn loves it there. We like it too, but I am reluctant to go to the same place every year and so we're caught between making something a "family tradition" and exploring something new.

Earl's Cove ferry terminal

River loved the trip. For some reason that we can't quite figure out he calls camping "everyone". He kept saying, "I want to go back to everyone". I think it is something from last year. Sleeping was tough. River could not settle and appeared very anxious and agitated by the evening. This resulted in lots of silly behaviour; making noises, laughing, hand- flapping and screaming and babbling excitedly. It is very difficult to distract him. However, by the 3rd night he was settling in.

Bronwyn had a fabulous time jumping around the rocks and exploring the tide pools for crabs and starfish. But there is no question that it is also a lot of work...for us. It is the type of vacation where you need a vacation at the end. The old saying that a "family holiday"' is an oxymoron rings true. No way of getting around it; we were exhausted! We did get to do the things we wanted to: explored the rocks and shoreline, paddled in the kayak. I took Bronwyn out in the kayak for the first time together, which was fun...even if my arms felt like they were going to fall off by the end. We did a bit of swimming and made lots of fires. River was more adventurous this year, climbing and scrambling over the rocks. It was good to see him challenging himself, even if it was scary to watch. Visions of him falling off the rocks into deep water kept flashing before my eyes, making it difficult to relax. All thing considered, I think he preferred hanging around at the campsite where he could play around, line up the chairs and climb in and out of the van.

On Tuesday we woke to rain, but it cleared up in the afternoon. On Wednesday we woke to a solid downpour that had been going on all night. The forecast showed more of the same. We were not into completing any kind of survival challenge so, sadly, it was time to pack-up and make the journey back home. The weather has not been great this summer...I hope it picks up soon!

Bronwyn "roasted" fern branches

How to stop smoke getting in your eyes...wear goggles!

shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom

Whooohooo... School is out! Seeee ya Grade one!. Now onto summer. If someone could just turn on the sun we'll do fine. For some reason when I think of the end of the school year, I am always reminded of the final scene from Grease. Not sure why...perhaps as a young-un it gave me some kind of hope. Albeit fleeting...and false. At my school at the end of the year you just hid and tried to sneak out like a ninja so that no-one would throw eggs at you...or worse. But Grease showed us all that high school could be fun! Really. Teenage pregnancy, drugs, bullies, no future, ...none of that seemed to matter...it was about friends and being accepted for who you are. Unless who you are happened to be a friendly, shy girl...in which case you'd better change into a slut pretty damn quick if you want to get anywhere... Good memories...great lyrics too!

Beware the mob...

It was a scary scene. Crowds of people all gathered in one relatively small area, jostled and knocked against one another. Peace and harmony were purely reliant on a good outcome. There was a noticeable police presence. And of course all the onlookers who just stood around aimlessly taking pictures. Crazy music blared from loudspeakers while average looking people performed lively dances on top of tall platforms. Some spectators walked around in strange costumes talking to people and laughing. Alcohol was involved. Black smoke was rising visibly and everywhere there was the smell of fire and burning...and souvlaki. Yes, Greek Fest 2011: a mass of frustrated drooling proletariat wondering if they will ever, ever get their souvlaki. 100 people line-ups on a hot sunny day. Even regular Vancouverites who would never think of doing anything wrong or stealing stuff or being bad in any way, got caught up in in the tension. There were definitely people (obviously from out-of-town, or "anarchists") trying to jump the queues. A small mob who were set on making trouble, no matter who got souvlaki. You know the type, craftily pushing their way to the front of the line and then, when spotted, "Oh, isn't this the back of the line? Sorry, I didn't see the line-up of a 1000 people...silly me." Of course the hard core instigator looked menacing enough to be allowed his "small mistake". Even I felt the heat. I live a few blocks away, I can go get souvlaki any time I want to...but I don't. Why? Because I don't much care for it. But on THAT day, Greek Fest day, my senses overloaded with the smells and sights of 1000s of skewers of very tasty looking char-grilled chicken pieces, I wanted some souvlaki, godammit, and I wanted it fast! Good job I hadn't brought a lighter and a molotov cocktail along with me 'cos I was ready for a RIOT!

I tried to push River in his stroller through a sea of legs that wouldn't move. I hate crowds at the best of times. It was difficult for me to get us through and people looked at me with angry eyes, as if I had meant to smash their ankles with the stroller. Well, for the record, angry-eyed people, I am a Vancouverite (which if you are up-to-date on local current affairs, is similar to being a "good fairy"), not an out-of-towner intent on causing trouble, so look away and think nicely about me.

With little regard for his own safety, Mike took on the task of braving the lines to get souvlaki. I stayed behind with the kids and waited...and waited...it seemed hopeless. He'd obviously got caught by the mob. Grabbed and forced at skewer-point to dance, arms linked and feet kicking, to crazy Bourzouki music. The kids, bored of jumping on top of the newspaper stands, started swarming around me, whining like massive, prehistoric mosquitoes...I was starting to panic. Soon I was going to smash over stands and start looting. Finally, Mike returned, hands full of souvlaki. And there it was: a few pieces of Greek style barbequed chicken, looking like grilled baby gerbils, wrapped in pitta bread. Quite tasty, I suppose, though I still don't much care for it. But it just goes to show how easy it is to get caught up in the mob mentality. We must be ever vigilant.

Fortunately, the police didn't need to read the riot act or do much of anything...although we left relatively early. Most people walked back and forth eating Greek-style donuts, waited 2 hours for their souvlaki, then went home. Perhaps thinking they'd had a good time. But it could have been a lot worse if those lines had moved more slowly. I don't think we'll go next year.

The Party

Crazy week. Bronwyn turned 7 on Tuesday. The Canucks lost the Stanley Cup and Vancouver erupted in riots...again. I won't start ranting about that. Instead...some pictures from Bronwyn's birthday party. It was a lot of work...but fun. I think next year it will be pizza and a movie with a couple of good friends (actually, I said those exact words last year). I did a bit of preparation this time. The party had a dog theme, of course. I made a dog-bone shaped pinata, a dog-boned shaped cake, dog-boned shaped cookies...AND the pin-the-tail-on-the-dog poster. Oh yes, I was one of those mums. But it was all good fun and relatively easy stuff. Unfortunately, it rained on the day (two years in a row) and so we couldn't do some of the outside stuff we had planned. Oh well. Thanks to Emma, Virginia Mae, Gala, Nicky, and Callum for making the party so much fun. Here are some pictures.

First the pinata..shoe box, newspaper, duct tape and paint. It did take a while to break...

The cake was a mixture of "Devil's Food" and "Golden Yellow". I am not sure exactly what flavour "Golden Yellow" is. At first glance it sounds like some kind of fetish thing rather than the description of a cake. Devil's Food is Chocolate as you can tell by the translation into French on the packet. I'm the first to admit my French is bad, but even I know that Chocolat is not the French word for "Devil's Food". At least it describes it though. What flavour exactly is Yellow? It did taste good though.

The careful observer will note that the cake is a beach scene...you got that straight away, I'm sure.  More pics...

The ever-popular "dance-freeze"

 

pin-the-tail-on-the-dog...

Watermelon and candy...the perfect combination

 

The finale...present opening. Phew, almost there.

Unfortunately, Father's Day had to be postponed to a future weekend. Poor Mark! This weekend was too busy and anyway Mark had to work. So we will plan something for the next weekend or so.

Happy 7th Birthday Bronwyn!!!

Happy birthday to our beautiful, smart and amazing little girl. Time has passed so quickly. We told Bronwyn we could get a dog and she was thrilled. Her gift was a "sapphire" pendant and some books. She is quite the bookworm now. Her response is always a little underwhelmed..but we are used to that now. Her dog party will be on Saturday. It is crazy how fast the time goes. What is that saying, "The days are long, but the years are short." A few pics of Bronwyn through the years...

Happy birthday...loved beyond measure for ever and always xxxx

these children singing in stone

ee cummings

these children singing in stone a

silence of stone these

little children wound with stone

flowers opening for

ever these silently lit

tle children are petals

their song is a flower of

always their flowers

of stone are

silently singing

a song more silent

than silence these always

children forever

singing wreathed with singing

blossoms children of

stone with blossoming

eyes

know if a

lit tle

tree listens

forever to always children singing forever

a song made

of silent as stone silence of

song

ee cummings, “50 Poems” (1940)

Almost seven

Another rainy Monday...oh 2011, what did we do to piss you off?

My rubbish tribute to Andy Goldsworthy

Back from a fun and relaxing camping trip. I had Friday to read, write, and relax by the campfire and then my sister came up on Saturday and we shared beers, stories, and some good laughs. We also did a couple of hikes. We needed to do something to kill the time in between beers...eh eh. It was a lot of fun. It's been a long time since I have gone camping with another adult! Went to Sasquatch; the same old place I went to the last few times. Next trip will be somewhere different...promise. A couple of pics.

 in the clear-cuts...eerie and desolate

 For some reason Trini decides to dress like a Paintball player when she goes camping...or a member of (what is called in England) the Territorial Army. I had trouble finding her she was so camouflaged. Actually, she didn't wear all the stuff at the same time until I asked her to, for a laugh.

Where's Trini?

 I can't believe Bronwyn turns seven tomorrow. I told her that today is the last day she will be six, that she should make the most of it because she'll never be six ever again. "I never thought of that," she said. Hope I didn't put a damper on things. I don't think so...she is excited to turn seven. Kids don't seem to look back the way we do as adults. Can't wait to tell her we are getting a dog: the ace up our sleeves. I also have to plan a party for Saturday...better start doing something.

It's that time again...

Well, here we are again. A relatively quiet week. Stanley Cup fever is here, of course. But the truth is...I don't care. If that makes me the killjoy from hell who wants to rain on everyone's parade and doesn't understand what this event will do for the city, for Canada, for the world...hey...for the universe; all united in a big blue and white love-in, then so be it. The last time the Canucks were in the Stanley Cup final was 1994 and I'd only been in Vancouver for a few months. I had managed to pack a lot in though. I'd left my unhappy marriage, found my own place to live (11th and Granville) and got myself a low-paid, crappy job in a small, but dubious, accounting firm (at Seymour and Drake). None of those things are particularly easy, especially when you are new to Canada and get treated as if your life only began when you got of the plane. "Credit history? What credit history? I'm sorry, our technology is not advanced enough to check with your British bank account and visa that you were a good client. Let's just start from the beginning shall we? Let's see...hmmmm....no, you can't have any credit." Same goes for work history. Unless you had a real job before you arrived here, which I didn't.

So you beg someone to let you rent an apartment when you have no job history and no credit history...beg someone to give you a job when you've only been here a few months and have no working history or credit history. And so it goes on. I listened to Zooropa and Tragically Hip (Fully Completely) and read Margaret Atwood and other Canadian authors. There were quite a few hiccups along the way...but not such a bad trip...and here we are. Stanley Cup fever is back. Back then my sister came to visit me for the first time. At last, a friendly face after months of being scowled at by a couple of miserable chain-smoking office clerks and shunned by anyone who had anything to do with my ex. A good break from typing in numbers (wordperfect 3.1 dos...remember that?) and answering the phone. Sorting the (snail) mail, making cups of coffee for the boss (what decade was it?) and trying hard (not quite succeeding) to stop myself from going mad. And all the while enduring a crippling sense of loneliness and isolation. So all things considered I was very happy to get a visit from my sister. It is also the reason why the last time Vancouver was in the Stanley cup playoffs/final stands out so vividly in my memory. Trini and I really got into the games, watching them on TV in my little bachelor suite. Alas, she went home just before the final and couldn't find it on British TV. Anyway, the Canucks lost...Vancouver rioted...we all know the rest. And I still don't care for hockey.

Last weekend was our wedding anniversary so we celebrated this Saturday by going down to Acadia beach and watching the sunset. It was a beautiful evening. The tide was very high but we stayed dry; perched on a log and drinking wine. Watching the spectacular view. It is wonderful to be able to sit close to the water and listen to the ebb of the tide while watching the sun descend; the sky a blaze of oranges and pinks. Happy anniversary to us! And thanks to Trini for babysitting!

In other news I asked the landlord if we could have a dog (as I promised Bronwyn that I would) and much to our surprise he said, "Yes, you can." Amazing. We are not planning to tell Bronwyn until her birthday next week. Right now we're scanning the SPCA listings. I think we can only get a small dog, but it is sad to see how many larger dogs are waiting it out at the SPCA. There are a couple of cute ones...but we have yet to agree on one. We shall see. One thing for sure is that Bronwyn will be over the moon. I can hardly wait to tell her.

And other news...meeting up with Wendy tonight for our first "writing meet-up". As Wendy put it, "I am nerdily excited". Oh yes...it is time to embrace our inner nerd!

And in further news...we've had sun! And quite a few days of it. Yessss!