WOW!!!! only 34 days to go..

Where did the summer go??   34 days before I leave for England to see my family.

Another golden oldie.. My Grandma and Grandad Pearson….

Zach’s day of golf…

Took my little friend Zach out for a round of golf at a beautiful golf course in Nanoose.  The pictures speak for themselves and I am sure you can tell which was the one hole I managed to win!!!!!   

3 guesses which airline I booked my October trip to England with??

 

CUSTOMER ANNOUCEMENT
Zoom Airlines sincerely regrets to advise its customers that it has suspended operations with effect from 19:00 hrs on Thursday 28 August 2008. Both Zoom Airlines Inc and Zoom Airlines Ltd, the Canadian and UK airlines, have started administration proceedings in their home countries.
All Zoom flights have been cancelled and aircraft grounded.
For customers who have future travel plans involving a Zoom flight for which reservations and payment have been made, you should refer to your credit or debit card company to apply for a refund.
We have set out details of other airlines who operate the same or similar routes to those flown with Zoom in the hope that this may assist you in making alternative travel plans to replace the flights that you had booked with Zoom.
If your travel arrangements have been made as part of a holiday package originating in the UK and booked through a holiday company, you may be able to make a claim under the CAA's Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme. For information on this, please consult the CAA ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
Hugh and John Boyle, the founders of Zoom, said tonight: "We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff.
"We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights.
"We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying. Even late today we believed we had secured a new investment package to ensure future operations but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying. Having been unable to complete the investment package the directors of Zoom had no option but to instigate administration proceedings.
"The suspension of operations is a result of the exceptionally difficult trading conditions which have affected all airlines over the last 12 months. We have worked hard over the last seven years to build up a successful business but have incurred losses in the current year due to the unprecedented increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate. The increase in the price of oil has added around $50 million to our annual operating costs and we could not recover that from passengers who had already booked their flights.
"We would like to thank the many thousands of passengers who chose to travel with Zoom during the last seven years and efforts of the airline's staff. We are extremely sorry for today's unavoidable actions."

Mr.Martha Stewart..

Thank you Mary for the cooking lesson this morning, the cookies were wonderful!!!!  Sorry I messed up your kitchen.  I think I may be setting up a cookie stand on the road in Mexico this winter!!!!!

The girls in my life!!!!

Penny is the Border collie and Casey the Labradoodle and they are my companions whilst house sitting.  Casey especially is very attached to me already and follows me everywhere.  They are fun and I enjoy their company, perhaps not at 3.30am when Casey comes to check that I am still sleeping!!!!!!!

One of the few times I wore a suit!!

This photo was taken in Bermuda around 1973.  My friend here, Val, had an accident and had broken her leg and arm in a traffic accident.

The Eiffel Tower, this would be around 1958, Mum, little old me and my taller and older brother.  I can remember my Dad taking this photo, good memories!!!

Joke of the day!!

A  SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that, in  Spanish,
unlike English, nouns are designated as either  masculine or feminine.
'House' for instance, is feminine:  'la casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'  
So, a student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?'  
Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the  class into
two groups, male and female, and asked them to  decide for themselves
whether 'computer' should be a masculine  or a feminine noun.
Each group was asked to give four  reasons for its
recommendation. The men's group decided that  'computer' should
definitely be of the feminine gender ('la  Computadora'), because:
1. No one but their creator  understands their internal logic;
2. The native  language they use to communicate with other
computers is  incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the  smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for
possible  later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a  commitment to one, you find yourself
spending half your  paycheck on accessories for it.
(THIS GETS BETTER!)  
The women's group, however, concluded that computers  should be
Masculine
('el computador'), because:
1.  In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;  
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for  themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve  problems, but half the
time they ARE the problem; and  
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if  you had
waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better  model.
The women won.

Back in Nanaimo..

  I am now back in Nanaimo for 6 weeks and I am house sitting this lovely house with these million dollar views…  

 

 

 

Kelowna’s best camp ground!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Gail and Larry’s front yard!!!!!!!!!!   Thanks for another great visit.

Yet another oldie..

This is a photo of my Grandma and Grandad Hallgate, my Mum’s parents.  I remember as kids we used to go to their house for tea every Tuesday after school, the good old days!!!

The original Pearson BOYS!!

My brother, Malc and I are not the original Pearson boys, these two guys are…

This photo is taken on my parent’s 50th  Wedding anniversary in 1992.

My Dad on the left,  then my gorgeous Mum,  beautiful Auntie Rita and the other Pearson boy my Dad’s younger brother Bram.

Rita and Bram are an amazing couple and I look forward to seeing them again when I go to England in October.  Looking at this photo does anyone else think I look like my Dad??

Sunday night in Kelowna..

Enjoyed the three days in Penticton and all my games went well, we just finished the last game this afternoon before the thunder showers and lightening.

I am now staying with my great friends in Kelowna before heading back home Wednesday evening.

 

Another blast from the past!!

The good uncle!!!  Here I am with my little guys, Samantha, Andy and Mark!!!

I love endings like this!!!

• I do so admire this lady and her accomplishments!!!!

 

Torres settles for silvers – barely

 

Dara Torres.

• Olympics Gallery

BEIJING — Dara Torres lost an improbable gold medal Sunday morning by one-hundredth of a second — the same margin that kept Michael Phelps on course to break Mark Spitz’s record.

The 41-year-old Torres, a five-time Olympian and the oldest American swimmer ever, settled for two more silver medals on the final day of swimming at the Water Cube.

She had three runner-up finishes in all, but was oh-so-close to a gold in the 50-meter freestyle.

Germany’s Britta Steffen nipped Torres at the wall to complete a sweep of the women’s sprint events in Beijing. The middle-aged American smiled, her head dropping back, when she saw a time of 24.07 seconds — just behind Steffen’s winning effort of 24.06. The German added to her gold in the 100 free.

Torres received her silver, then hustled back to the locker room to grab her cap and goggles. She anchored the U.S. to a second-place finish in the 400 medley relay, unable to catch Libby Trickett on a frantic sprint to the wall.

Still, not bad considering she had retired a second time after the 2000 Sydney Games, then got the urge to compete again after having her first child two years ago. Not content swimming in the old-timers’ division, she set out to prove that age is only a number.

Consider that point made.

Torres got off to a good start in the 50 and appeared to be leading midway through the race, a frenetic sprint from one end of the pool to the other.

As they came to the wall, Torres and Steffen were stroke for stroke. The German reached out with her left hand and Torres stretched with her right. Steffen’s fingertip got there first.

Completing a race for all ages, 16-year-old Australian Cate Campbell claimed the bronze in 24.17.

In the relay, Torres claimed the 12th — and surely last — medal of her career.

Then again, never count this woman out. She’ll only be 45 for the London Games.

UP THE TIGERS>>>

 

This is the result of my brother and his family and of course my soccer team in England.  A land mark victory their first in the highest level of soccer in England.  So please allow us to gloat for a while!!!!

 

Explore the BBC

BBC Sport football

 

 

Page last updated at 16:04 GMT, Saturday, 16 August 2008 17:04 UK

 

Hull City 2-1 Fulham

By John May

Caleb Folan celebrates his historic winning goal for Hull City

Hull City marked their first appearance in English football's top-flight by coming from behind to beat Fulham.

Substitute Caleb Folan side-footed home the winner after fellow sub Craig Fagan caught Fulham defender Paul Konchesky in possession in his own penalty area.

Brazilian striker Geovanni had brought the Tigers level before half-time with an exquisite curling shot round Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Hull had earlier fallen behind to Seol Ki-Hyeon's header.

A full house at the KC Stadium greeted the Premier League newcomers with a rapturous reception but it did not take long for Fulham to burst the bubble of euphoria.

Simon Davies let Hull off the hook when he planted his volley into the ground from Seol Ki-Hyeon's dangerous cross.

Hull were then denied the lead when Mark Schwarzer dived full-length to claw away Geovanni's header, and the Fulham keeper then combined with John Pantsil to block Ian Ashbee's follow-up.

Brown hails battling Tigers

Fulham had the honour of scoring the first Premier League goal at the KC stadium, as Hull's defending left a plenty to be desired.

Jimmy Bullard was given too much freedom to pick out his cross and he found Seol Ki-Hyeon, and the South Korean rose to plant a header wide of Boaz Myhil's desperate dive.

Fulham were exploiting the space they were finding down the flanks and after Ashbee threw himself in front of Davies' shot, a training-ground routine saw Bullard drive a corner to the edge of the box where Davies thumped a spectacular volley just over.

The Tigers were living dangerously as Bullard again found space down the right to pick out Zoltan Gera at the far post, only for the Hungarian to fluff his volley.

But from a position where the game might have been beyond them, Hull roared back to level with an exquisite goal from Geovanni.

The Brazilian picked up a loose ball 15 yards inside the Fulham half, drove forward and worked the ball on to his left foot to curl his shot around Schwarzer from 22 yards.

Hodgson disappointed with second-half show

The goal gave Hull the confidence-booster they needed and they finished the first-half the stronger, with Nick Barmby finding space to power a header inches wide of the target.

Hull's defending still had an air of naivety about it and when Bullard's cross was flicked on Gera found himself in acres of space at the far post and with the assistant's flag staying down the Hungarian wasted a golden opportunity from six yards.

The Tigers' defenders were a threat in the Fulham area, though and Michael Turner rose to power a header inches over the bar.

Geovanni was guilty of an even worse miss, when he found himself with time and space but side-footed Nick Barmby's cross wide from five yards out.

606: DEBATE

I love newly promoted teams winning

SSME

Hull were now playing without fear and substitute Peter Halmosi drilled the ball across goal and Richard Garcia met it first-time to draw another fine save from Schwarzer.

Hull manager Phil Brown's substitutions paid dividends when the Tigers clinched a dream victory eight minutes from time.

Fulham defender Konchesky was caught badly in possession in his own penalty area by Fagan who crossed for Folan to tap into an empty net.

Saturday in Penticton..

    Had a great sleep and my first game is not till 1.30pm so I walked into downtown Penticton checked out the farmers market and the lake front.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do want to mention that this afternoon was the celebration of life of a dear friend’s father, so Heather, Kirby and boys and family my thoughts and blessings were with you today.

Let the games begin..

This is the spot where I stopped and had breakfast on my way to Penticton.

The beautiful lakeside road.

This is where Ramona is parked for the next two nights, pretty close to the action I think!!

Had three games to do this afternoon and evening and it was hot but with plenty of fluids quite bearable.

Another archive photo, this one taken in 1975 on my trip to South Africa, you can put your own caption to this one!!

 

As Willie Nelson would sing “On the road again…”

Had a very easy driving day leaving on the 10.15am Ferry and going into Bellingham in the States to return an item I bought last month.  Then up to the border crossing at Summas and onto Highway 5 and I am parked in a rest area just by the toll bridge of the Coquihalla.  The rest area is quiet and quite pretty as the two photos show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had a great supper (thanks for the left over meatloaf Heather and Kirby), a good shower, peach pie (thanks Pat and Eric, although I don’t know what contribution Eric made) and now going to watch a movie. 

It feels good to be on the road once more and I am reminded of how special Ramona continues to be.

 

Another photo from the archives…

Celebrating another soccer victory the two nice boys on the right and myself and Dave, the hairy ones!!

Time for another road trip…

I leave tomorrow for another short road trip, this time to Penticton for a huge soccer tournament.  I have games to referee on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  It is supposed to be hot and sunny and I look forward to the games.  Heading into Kelowna for a couple of days afterwards and back home on Wednesday.  Want to wish you all a great,  happy and safe weekend, Pura Vida!!

Just when I thought I would never come into contact with a paint brush again!!!!!!

This time on the roof!!!!!!

This Is Zach and he is holding was what once my loonie!!!  This kid is a phenomenal golfer and I was stupid enough to bet when he and his brothers and I went to crazy golf, I only lost by one shot but enough to fork over the dollar!!