Friday 31st July 2009…..swimming day

 

Had my first swim in the ocean since Mexico..a difference of about 3500kms and 20 degrees in warmth……

Nanaimo is the top stick pin and Barra de Navidad the lower red pin

still enjoying this great heat wave, have a great weekend….

Thursday 30th July 2009…the remarkable Internet

I posted the deer photo post about 90 minutes ago and I know that Paola and Daniela are at English class and I just received this letter from them….

 

Hello dear Les,
Both of us are doing great!  We are having fun at our school with Ms. Josefina. 
We loved the pictures of the little deer. It is so sweet! Thank you.
This week has been very busy.  We study English and we make all kinds of hand crafts. We made paper flowers, a flower vase using our juice bottles and egg shells and we went to a bakery to bake cookies and today we are making a nice bag  and also flowers with marshmallows.  We also sing and play a lot.
We like everything we do but we would like to see you again and go the park and to swim and spend time with you.
We love you,
Paola and Daniela

 

The modern day technology is amazing and so are my girls….thanks Paola and Daniela!!!

Thursday 30th July 2009…for Paola and Daniela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little baby deer was born early after losing it’s Mum…I thought you would like the photos…I hope you have a great day and study hard in your English class this afternoon….miss you both!!!!

Tuesday 28th July 2009…. a driving day

A long driving day today went to Bamfield to pick up Kirby and Ben from their 6 day West Coast Trail hike.

Views on the way

 

 

 

2 hours each way of this kind of road!!!

Picked up the boys and brought them home.

 

Another letter waiting for me from my girls!!!!

 

Hello Les,
Thank you for your e-mail and photos. We loved to look at the places you go.  The black bear looks big! Were you afraid?
I loved to look at he eagle with pictures (drawins) on his or her wings. Daniela
How many people were there with you on the big ship? 
We are about to finish our day at Ms. Josefina´s school.  Today was fun!  We baked cookies and played and sang. We are tired and ready to go home.  We also played a memory game.  We are enjoying our summer time.  Early in the morning from 9-11 AM we have our English class.  Right now we are going home. 
We love you and miss you very much. Please hurry up!
Hugs and kisses,
Paola and Daniela

They are so lovely..

This photo was sent to me it is taken at the harbour here in Nanaimo with the fire works and lightening, an amazing photo!!!!

 

Monday 27th July 20009 …..thanks to my friend Croft!!!

 

Come join me in Mexico for a few minutes!!!!!

Sunday 26th July 2009…….neat sight from the house deck

Tonight this cruise ship passed as close as I have ever seen a ship come in.  the photos don’t do it justice….it really was an incredible sight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 26th July 2009…….LOVE!!!!!!

 

A man was sitting on the settee watching TV when he heard his wife’s voice from the kitchen.

“What would you like for dinner Love ? Chicken, beef or lamb ?”

He said, “Thank you, I’ll have chicken.”

Be quiet…..

You’re having soup. I was talking to the cat.”

 

Have a great night!!!

Saturday 25th July 2009…..a very hot day!!

Did some chores this morning then drove Ramona to the farm where I keep here when in town and walked the 4 miles back to the house.

Late afternoon I went down town to see what was happening with Bath Tub weekend.

This is the sort of boat they have in the racesThis is the former Mayor of Nanaimo, Frank Ney and I think he played a large role in the organization of the original bath tub days. 

The RCMP were out in force…

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the sea wall sights….

 

 

 

I like this photo…

Then it was time for supper

 

The best fish and chips in town!!!

 

I received this e mail tonight from Ms.Josefina, she is the lovely owner of the English/Spanish school in SMA, where I had my lessons and where my girls go for English classes.  When the girls go to class Ms.Josefina gets them and takes them into the office and show them my blog.

This is the e mail she sent me!!!!

 

 

Hola Senior Les,

I will be very happy to show the girls the photos and translate your letter. They run to the office when I tell them they have an e´mail from you. Thank you for keeping them in your heart. They also love you. And the first question each time they come to my desk and look at your e-mail is "When is he coming back?"  Another request is: "show us a photo of Les"  and they love to look at the photographs you send. They talk and talk and make questions about them.  They are anxious to see you!
They are enjoying their summer very much.  They are very active and love to participate in all the activities. 
I hope you are having a very nice time too and remember that we all look forward to seeing you again.
God bless you,
Josefina

I am having a great day I hope you are too!!!!

Friday 24th July 2009…a typical Nanaimo day!!

Some very wealthy people from back east  bought the house next door last fall and immediately demolished the house and the last few weeks they have started to build a new home.  As the house is perched high on the ocean bank the local bylaws have forced them into re-enforcing the bank.

So for the past few days this is the scene at the bottom of our garden.

The huge rocks on the barge have been used as fill.  Interesting is the Canadian navy vessel in the background.

Of course about 6 doors away the local deer are having lunch, first time I have seen the babies I would guess about three weeks old.

Rode Bonita into town this afternoon to hear the 

in concert at the pavilion by the sea wall.

This weekend is the famous bath tub races.  A wild weekend when actual modified bath tubs race part way down the island.  The band was part of the festival.

I really enjoyed the concert…

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the concert I had a walk on the sea wall, Mexico is never far away from my thoughts.

A colourful local busker.

It was enjoyable afternoon.  I rode Bonita down town I have already put over 125 km on her and she is fun to ride BUT I had to go to the gas station this afternoon.  The cost to fill up the gas tank…..$4.45 cents!!!!  About 115km to the gallon, not bad eh????

Have a great weekend the forecast here is for extremely hot weather, love it!!!!

Thursday 23rd July 2009….those girls again!!!!!

My day is always brighter when I hear from my girls.  I received this letter this morning…

Hola, hola Les,
We are so happy to get your e-mails! 
We saw your photos and we would like to share an ice-cream with you!  The waves look so nice! 
We are having a very nice time this summer.  We went camping to a ranch and it was very nice.  We played a lot and at the end we had a party with piñatas and games. It was great!
This week we are attending our English school. We come to school from 9-1:00 and we study English for two hours daily and then we have lunch all together and for two hours we do other activities: we make piñatas, bracelets, puppets, paint, and of course we sing and play a lot. We are very happy.
We miss you too and we know that in about 100 days you will be here with us. Correct?
We send you hugs and kisses. 
Paola and Daniela

Wednesday 22nd July 2009……bear day

Drove down with my “adoptive” family to Port Renfrew

where Kirby and Ben were going on the West Coast Trail for 6 days.

On the drive down saw this car

 

 

 

 

 

identical in make and colour to my car in Bermuda all those years ago.

Whilst driving through the pass outside of Port Renfrew turned the corner and was greeted by this baby!!!!

I have only seen a black bear a couple of times so I was thrilled to see this one so close and completely unfazed by all the vehicles that had stopped and the people  taking photos.

This is close to where the trail head starts….

What is a day without ice cream….

It was another long but wonderful day!!

Monday 20th July 2009…another day out

Took Zach up to Courtney today as he was competing in a golf Tournament.

Whilst Zach was following the little white ball all over I went exploring first to

this was a nice easy hike on well made trails down to the ocean….

I then went into down town Courtney and then along the..

This was a peaceful walk along the river 

This reminds me of an English country garden.

Tried my close up shots…

 

 

 

 

 

The first blackberry…

Native carving…

Zach had a good day of golf and I enjoyed my exploring…..have a great evening.