Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wednesday 29th April…My girls

Just want to let you know that PaolaIMG_2868

and DanielaIMG_2865

are both OK and although the problems of the Swine Flu in Mexico is huge their town seems to be free of any cases.  They do take precautions with masks and some school activities have been cancelled.

The news changes each day but I hope that the authorities can deal with this terrible out break….

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Saturday 25th April….short and sweet

This is where Ramona and I stayed last night and where we will stay tonight.IMG_6702

Ramona watching a game..IMG_6713

The Island has a great market every SaturdayIMG_6704 IMG_6707

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A couple of shots on the way to my gamesIMG_6709

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I reffed three games this afternoon and then relaxed and went to a concert tonight.

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It was very entertainingIMG_6719

So ends another great day….hope you have a lovely Sunday.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Friday 24th April…..this and that..

This is the view I wake up to every morning, not a bad way to start a day!IMG_6683

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I took Ken for a drive this morning and we stopped at Long LakeIMG_6685

This is the condo building where I bought my condo in 2000.

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My condo was on the third floor just by the tree to the left.  I was so fortunate to buy the condo at a low price and I sold in 2006 for a great price.

I am now on Salt Spring Island for the soccer tournament which starts tomorrow.  I thought it a lot easier to come over tonight rather than fight the ferry traffic in the morning and besides Ramona missed me.

Salt Spring is a small island about a 40 minute drive from Nanaimo.  Then it is a 20 minute ferry ride on this small ferry below.

 

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Sunset from the ferryIMG_6697

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So I am now parked in the school yard where my games are tomorrow.

Feels good to be back on the road again if only for the weekend.  Hard to believe I have been back almost one week.  It went by very fast and I was very busy as I am next week too.

Wish you a great weekend….

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thursday 23rd April…..ARE THEY CUTE OR WHAT!!!!!!!!

When I was in Arizona earlier this month I saw these great T shirts and thought  Paola and Daniela would love to have them.  I bought them and mailed them to the girls not really knowing if they would arrive as the post in Mexico can be a bit iffy.

I received an e mail from Robin, the coordinator of the home where the girls live, with this photo….ts

Angels in the making!!!!!

 

Tonight is my poker night so I suppose I shall go and donate my 20 dollars because those guys will have no mercy for me.

Tomorrow evening Ramona and I leave for Salt Spring Island for three days of soccer.  I have been going to this tournament for years now and I enjoy the games and the island is like a throw back from the 70’s..have a great weekend.

Map picture

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Wednesday 22nd April….birthday boy..

Today is Alex’s birthday he is 15 years old.  Alex is Heather and Kirby’s middle son and he is a great kid!!IMG_6672

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There was a small party tonight and the cake was really good.

Happy Birthday Alex…

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Tuesday 21st April…..Tuesday’s chuckle…



Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year,
And every year Morris would say,
'Esther,I'd like to ride in that helicopter.'

Esther always replied,
'I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars,
And fifty dollars is fifty dollars'

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said,
'Esther, I'm 85 years old.
If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.'

To this, Esther replied,
'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.'

The pilot overheard the couple and said,
'Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny!
But if you say one word it's fifty dollars.'

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard.
He did his daredevil tricks over and over again,
But still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said,
'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't.
I'm impressed!'


Morris replied,
'Well, to tell you the truth,
I almost said something when Esther fell out,
But you know,
fifty dollars is fifty dollars!'

Beautiful sunny and warm day and I am slowly getting back into home mode.  Gave RamonaIMG_6667

IMG_6669 and Pili the spa treatment don’t they look good?   What a great tree too!!!!

Off now to referee my first soccer game of the year.  I am as most of you know passionate about this sport and I really enjoy the officiating.ETC08_L

Hope the day is going well for all my readers.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sunday 19th April…..Spring Tea

Well been home now 24 hours and I feel really good just a little cold.

This afternoon was Spring Tea at the Manor where my friend Ken lives.IMG_6660

Here is Ken with his daughter in law Heather on the right and a good family friend Edie on the left.

It was a really nice afternoon the staff here are so wonderful with the residents.IMG_6661

Before any body asks NO I have not had Botox implants in my cheeks!!!!!!

Ok have a great evening….Les

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Saturday 18th April……HOME!!!!!

Well my last sleep was of course a great one and I was on the road by 7.30am listening on the radio to a live soccer broadcast from England of the Mighty Hull Tigers, sorry Mally and Andy that they lost again!!!!

I had a drive of about 400 miles and the day was sunny and very nice and the scenery in Washington State very pretty.IMG_6613

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I passed an Army convey of about 40 vehicles and some of the soldiers were standing in the open backs of the vehicles and I waved to every one and they all waved back, God Bless them.IMG_6626

I don’t think this person was feeling lucky.IMG_6630

The first Vancouver sign……but wait this is a trick..this sign is for the American city of Vancouver.

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This is the real deal…..IMG_6633

I made really good time filled up the gas tank to the brim with cheap gas and was at the Peace Arch Border crossing by 4pm.IMG_6635

A bit of a line up..IMG_6636

getting there..IMG_6637

I am next…IMG_6639

The young man in the Customs booth was very pleasant and I was happy to hear him say, “Welcome Home” and here I am in

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My amazing luck at the Ferry Terminal continuesIMG_6642

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paid my money and 30 minutes later on the ferryIMG_6645 IMG_6647

This is Ramona on the ferry deck and I want to say how proud and happy I am with her.  She has been an amazing friend and taken me over 8000 miles without one problem or head ache.  The fridge problem I had a few months ago was my fault.

Some shots taken on the ferry.IMG_6653

They were even showing a hockey game on board.IMG_6649 

A lovely sunset to welcome me home.IMG_6655

 

This is me November 6th the morning I left Nanaimopplm 004

and this taken about 1 hour ago.IMG_6658

I am blessed to have so many friends both here and in other countries who have helped, guided and just been a great friend to me and I thank you all.  I also want to thank all the people who have kept in touch with me your kind words mean so much to me.

I feel really good,  healthy and happy and ready to spend the next 6 months here.  Already I have many soccer games to referee lined up and I look forward to those.

I also look forward to connecting with all my friends here and I will continue with the blog but not every day, so check in once every few days and see what is happening.

Heather and Kirby have opened up their home to me so I am very grateful and look forward to enjoying my time at your beautiful casa and getting involved with your boys.

It was an amazing adventure and I shall relive many of the wonderful sights and people I have met many times over these next few months.

I have to confess on the drive home today I was already planning in my head the next adventure starting in November.  No fixed plans except that I am going to spend a lot of time with my girls in SMA.

Have a great Sunday and I want to say thank you and blessings to everyone…..Les

Thursday 5 th January 2023…it was a great run!!!

 This was my first ever blog post back in November of 2006!!! With just a couple of days off I have written a blog every day since and I hav...