Button-Hole Blues: Wednesday, November 18th!

If you hire only those people you understand, the company will never get people better than you are. Always remember that you often find outstanding people among those you don't particularly like. -Soichiro Honda, industrialist (17 Nov 1906-1991) 

If he could have seen how correct he was..Cheers, Roger Perfect Irony Hi Jugos! Thanks for forwarding this picture. Eric Arthur Blair actually served in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, not India as I had thought. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Thali a meal made up of a selection of various dishes. It simply means a round platter used to serve food. The idea behind a Thali is to offer all the 6 different flavours of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy on one single plate. According to Indian food serving customs, a proper meal should be a perfect balance of all these 6 flavours. A fruit is often served at the end of meal.

Hello Kids! Finally managed to "capture" yesterday's events as well as uploading a video to YouTube, (https://youtu.be/QfYZ8P4FCko Warning, scenes of violence and nudity. Viewer discretion advised!), having spent most of this morning and early afternoon beside the pool. There is a lovely cool breeze and the attentive staff come by, every so ofter, to move the large umbrella to keep me in the shade. The Gang of Three are having a light lunch, as I scribe, but I'm still full from my Full English Breakfast, (minus baked beans, unfortunately), starting with muesli and hot milk. Java is excellent and I have taken to drinking it with the aforementioned hot milk. Once I send a few more messages I will hit the Elliptizer. Going to miss it as I've will have had three good workouts since being here. If I manage to rouse myself early enough tomorrow morning I might try to use it before breakfast. I don't think we will be leaving until around 10:00 am, plenty of time, apparently to get to the airport, flying to Mumbai, for three nights, the start of our three weeks in Northern India. hard to believe that the holiday is half-over already!

Really need to stay here for a week or more, the accommodation, the staff, the facilities, not to mention the fantabulous cuisine, are so inviting and jsut doing "nothing" I would be able to scribe to my heart's content. As it is, an on-going struggle to try and record the kaleidoscope of experiences we encounter, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whether visiting magnificent temples or driving through villages, dodging goats, cows and dogs, whether strolling through flower markets or fish markets, or simply enjoying a tasty Thali, ("A meal made up of a selection of various dishes. It simply means a round platter used to serve food. The idea behind a Thali is to offer all the 6 different flavours of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy on one single plate. According to Indian food serving customs, a proper meal should be a perfect balance of all these 6 flavours. A fruit is often served at the end of meal."), or Gobi Manchurian, at some restaurant selected for us by our competent, ever helpful drivers.

I have so much to tell, so many pictures to share but really, I know this full well, simply not enough time to relate our travels as I would, ideally, like to do. Nevertheless, here is my latest effort for those of you who might wish to catch but a glimpse of out Magical Mystery Traveling India Road Show.  I apologize for the group posting but figure a mass mailing is, perhaps, better than no news at all. That is for you, Dear Readers All, to decide to plough on or delete upon receipt. Yours truly, yer ever so 'umble Undersecretary and much put upon General Factotum to Lady Darjeeling! Cheers, Patrizzio "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Grappa When Goan Fenny is Cheaper Than Water", Cashew Dunn!

So I think the Muesli and hot milk sounds good. The You Tube video reminds me that I really should never have given up being a vegetarian. In the meantime I am caught up with the local organizing group getting ready to welcome 200 Syrians to Medicine Hat. Have a great trip. Love to you both.

No snow yet .maybe tonight. just rain. barb working in WPG Tuesday! Wednesday Thrusday .home weekends .Bella stays with us .so ouiet  Sent from my iPadnow,Clara. 

Wonderful, dear Patrick! I'm sure you're having real good time in India. And you are a good writer too; so much of patience to compose such beautifully descriptive messages! Enjoy Pradeep 

We're in for a treat this week (ie: next Monday). Otto Strobel will take us on a hike from his place in Penticton at 144 Evergreen Crescent and afterwards we will descend on Dorothy and Ret Tinning's place for coffee and cookies at 168 Wiltse Place. So we will leave Home Hardware in Penticton at 9am and Summerlanders can carpool from IGA at 8:40. Pam

 

Attached please find invitation to the Christmas potluck on Cartwright Mt (not Campbell Mt. as written). If you are coming please tell Rick what you are bringing. 

 

Annual OF Christmas picnic........is scheduled for 17 December. This is a potluck affair, on Campbell Mt near Summerland. If you wish to participate please let me know how many are coming, and what you will bring. I will begin a spread sheet showing both pieces of information, circulated regularly, so you can plan accordingly. Hope to see you there. There is usually a bonfire (and snow), good cheer, and often some singing and general carrying on, so plan to attend.

Two other dates to keep in mind: 1) 26 Nov, we will commence snowshoeing, so dig out your winter equipment; and 2) the annual Winter Solstice snowshoe hike will occur 22 December on Green Mountain, meeting at 1900h at Home Hardware to carpool (solstice occurs 0448 UTC that day). Details to follow. Rick 

 

Hi Patriandi, Great to read your story! Good writer as I observed before. I did not realize you have barbaric instincts and live a colonial life style! We look forward to see you again and hear the "other" stories! Hugs for Corriander and Patriandi from Aarturo and Jossefoss from the Valley of Heaven 

Patrick, That's a terrifying video! I just about lost my breakfast. Not sure if I can eat chicken ever again ... Envious of your adventure! Saw a FB posting of our beautiful Corinne. I'm amazed at all your energy too! 

 

Just got back from a 10-day Taiwan/Hong Kong trip, and I think that's all for me for a little while :-) Trip was mainly for my dad's 80th birthday, and we organized a wonderful weekend trip (Randy's idea) with parents, brothers and their families. Great time! Randy and I took a short excursion to Hong Kong, partly for his schmoozing of university donors. Had a great time! It has been a long time since we catch up. When do you head back home? When are you coming to Texas/Colorado? Happy Travels! We don't write enough, but we think about you all the time! Love, Ruth 

 

Thx for update. First w have received but happy to be included on your travels. You certainly lead a full life! How are you enjoying Penticton? I do hear about your many biking trips. How about Mme?

If you have seen The Sheilings, an original Panabode design, once Autocourt, near Joey's Fish restaurant, you have seen what appears to be a log, tongue in groove row of small, motel cabins. They were built by my two Uncles Jack & Roy MacGregor Leslie and overseen by Grandpa John Leslie in about 1951. Sadly, it is now home to low income families and much in need of repair. My brother, Roy McGregor (because my parents did not know the difference between the Scottish & Irish spellings)/Linda, who lives in Victoria, inherited Uncle Roy/Auntie Pat's home at 1195 Kilwinning St. Roy recently undertook the task of updating the city on the history of said heritage buildings.

Frank & I spent many a holiday in Penticton when the kids were young, staying mainly with Uncle Jack, born Aug 4, 1914, start of WWI, and Auntie Mae. Uncle Jack was the entertainer and story teller in the family. Our girls loved him and Auntie Mae too. Jack's walnut trophies sprayed gold for effect were the grand prize of many a celebration. The walnuts, which were huge, came from the tree in their back yard at ?617 Victoria St. I think their little house is still there, sandwiched in between two monsters. Breakfast was often preceded by a half grapefruit, always scored & served with a half maraschino cherry atop.

 

I can still picture Uncle Jack wearing his old Auntie's ringlets from the shoebox where they were stored, ready for our visit and belting out some story into the lamp stand used as a microphone. Auntie Mae was a hit because she would take us to Sunoka, sp? Beach for picnics or down to Okanagan Lake and help supervise the swimming, since I don't swim. Frank was usually golfing with the Uncles who both belonged to Penticton Golf & Country Club. How i miss them. It was easier staying with them because their home was decorated with kids in mind, i.e. nothing precious to worry about knocking over and breaking, like Auntie Pat/Uncle Roy's house. I think my Mom especially was jealous that we would spend more hols in Penticton than Wpg. I mean, what choice, beaches/Uncle Jack or mozzies and stuck in the city visiting with boring relatives.

We are loving the island and have already had our youngest dtr, Beth/Terry and 3 kids, Kennedy- almost 8, Oliver aka Oliie-5 & Katelyn-2 to visit the end of July which was only 2 weeks after we moved in as well as our eldest dtr, Allison and her two children, Indikah- almost 7 & Cassius aka Cash- 4 (Jake had to work) this past week. Alli et al flew into Vancouver and were picked up by Alli's long time girlfriend, Kim from high school days and her two children, Atticus-4 aka Atti (Frank call the boys the Senators) and Xaviera aka Xavi-8 months. Kim rented a cottage at Oceanside Resort Village where they stayed the 3 nights. Kim et al left Sunday so then Alli & crew moved in with us. Indi slept 3 notes at our place to hang with Grammie aka moi. 

 

Since her bday is Nov 22 , i had bought her a very pretty red/black taffeta party dress complete with black velvet shrug and black net crinoline from a local kids' consignment shop. I am big into consignment. I mean, it cost 11 dollars. It will only fit her for a few months so great deal! Indi looked quite resplendent in her new frock, completed with the black tights & black/silver slip on 'Tom' look alike shoes I bought at Fields. At her request, she came to church with me on Sunday. I have joined the choir at Knox United but since I was with Indi, I sat in church. She was the only child. Parksville has the 2nd largest Senior community in Canada, nearby Qualicum Beach being number 1.

Frank & I have setled in nicely although there is much yet to be done, like paint or hang pictures-photographs/Art. We are much too busy to worry about how quickly some of that happens. I am taking Zumba and ;Latin line dancing at Forever Yung Dance Studio, the latter with Ken Yung the owner. We both golf, Frank more than I and although Pickleball is over outside, we both did join the local club. Frank played a lot while I dropped in when the mood struck. I have discovered favorite shops already since I am a shopaholic as well as favorite restaurants. Frank is thrilled with his double garage which still doesn't have room for our van.

 

After we sold the big house to move to an apt/condo in 2002, Frank gave away most of his tools. Of course, now he has bought even more tools so he could build the wine rack holding the 150 bottles of vino, at least 5? reds and one white variety, which we made at the local UBrew. Currently, he is perfecting his cabinet design to surround the racks for both security and insulation. Since the temperature is getting much cooler with winter approaching, maintaining the temperature for the wines to age is so important. As a result, we are still purchasing wine to drink and saving the bottles although we have more than enough now.

Perhaps, you have surmised that we are still in Parksville and not enjoying the sunny south. When the CAD continued its slow decline and when we took on a small mortgage here at 241- 330 Dogwood St, we reluctantly made the decision to enjoy an island winter. This would have been our 10 season in Yuma. We do miss our friends there but we have new friends and old since many of the AZ folks live in Nanaimo, 40 mins from us. There is a small group who don't leave until after Christmas.

Anyway, must run as have an apptmt at the local consignment shop to see if I can sell some of my previous purchases in order to justify new ones!! Life is good and we are well!! Ciao, Maggie

 

Pat, I always thought that Goa would be an excellent place to visit and it certainly sounds as though you are involved with their culture. Must admit to avoiding the demise of the chicken youtube.

 

Decent day today but we have some intense rain over the past few weeks. You wonder how there is ever a need for water restrictions here. Glad you are able to make use of the MEC gear. Busy day as usual. Looking forward to Christmas for a break. No biking of late other than a few functional rides of short duration. Might get out over the holidays if the weather cooperates. Enjoy the remainder of your trip. Ray  Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! T&M

Thanks for sharing a slice of your trip in India. I hope you intend to visit Rajasthan......Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Pali. Enjoy the onslaught of stimuli to all the senses; which is so India!! Namasta, Lynette                  Hi Daddy O,
Sounds like you are having a fabulous time, you four will have to cook me a meal when I'm in Penticton for Christmas. Will your next trip be producing a film with Mr. Lord of the Rings in Dubai? Love to you all!!