Friday 17th January 2014…a hiking day!!!

As per my new year’s resolutions Friday's remain a Pearson day…..no appointments, no driving around and if fact today I have not spoken to one person and the scooter remained home….

Had a good breakfast and a bit of a easy morning and at 11 am I was out the door for my hike…..

It is time to crank up my training for the Camino in the summer so today I put some weight in my back pack..   for the 6 weeks on the Camino I shall have to carry everything I take every day in my back pack so weight is paramount.  The forums and blogs that I read all suggest that you carry no more than 10% of your body weight so I am looking at about 19 pounds…some folks are so aware of weight they even do things like cutting their tooth brush in half and throwing the bottom half away….. I do not have a scale so I put 3 of my big travel guide books in my pack….

I had a route planned and the first few km were on the highway but I then got onto this nice gravel road…

Met a few other hikers

I have been down this path a few times but I was not prepared for what I found…the whole area was completely flooded

This is the path I normally take but obviously I could not get through so I had to turn around and retrace my steps

An old hacienda

So I came back to the highway and walked a few km on the highway and then back into the hills and I figured if this guy could have his lunch so could I….

It was a long walk and I have to admit these boots are not doing it for me…they feel very heavy and just not comfortable and I also could feel the extra weight I was carrying.

I arrived home after 4pm and had walked about 23 km or 14 miles and I was tired.

I relaxed with a long drink and iced my knees down…

Now I have had supper and a wonderful long soak in the tub and having my tea and watching tennis!!!!

Strange day not talking to anyone!!!!

Yashi Koschi!!

Thursday 16th January 2014…….an easy day.

So after three days of going around to all my activities today was easy and started at the tennis courts for two hours of as always great tennis…I do enjoy these mornings…the sunshine, the people I play with and the exercise.

Came home and had lunch and then went into town to a local hotel where there was a meeting for Canadians living in SMA hosted by the Canadian consul officials from Mexico city…it was an informative meeting and well attended.

After the meeting I went for a visit with Linda and Guy and they are doing well but Guy did not care for the cold weather last night.

Had a craving for hotdogs so I fired up the BBQ and they were good.

So now settled in watching tennis and life is good!!!

This was taken from the Travel weekly magazine

 

 

Mayor of central Mexico city sees opportunities in honor

By Johanna Jainchill

When San Miguel de Allende took the No. 1 spot in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for the "Top 25 Cities in the World" category, nobody was more triumphant than the city's mayor of one year, Mauricio Trejo.
The central Mexican city, a Unesco World Heritage Site, moved up from No. 8 in 2012's awards and this year topped Budapest and Florence, which tied for second, and last year's winner, Charleston, S.C., which tied for fifth this time.
Such a lofty award, Trejo said, should encourage Mexico to promote its cultural gems and not just its coastal regions, where the majority of the country's tourism promotion budget (70%) goes, according to the San Miguel de Allende Tourism Board.
San Miguel is famous for its fortified old town, which boasts 16th century Baroque architecture and has long been popular with U.S. expats.
Trejo, in New York in November to accept the award, said that San Miguel was a model for Mexican tourism, one that focuses on tradition and culture, not sun and sand.
"There are only 226 World Heritage cities in the world, and Mexico has 10 of them," he said. "Mexico offers sun and sand, but there are thousands of places around the world that offer beaches. Our biggest opportunity is in promoting our cultural cities."
Travel agents who specialize in Mexico say it can take some effort to persuade clients to experience the country's culture and traditions.
"I must educate my clients about the value of visiting the colonial cities of Mexico, and the art, history, food and the wonderful Mexican people," said Marianne Braly, owner of Now Voyager Travel in Huntington Beach, Calif. "San Miguel is a much more realistic Mexican experience than any of the beach resort cities. Unfortunately, most Americans want to only visit the beach resorts of Mexico, so many times I will try to incorporate a colonial city with a beach resort to give them a taste of real Mexico."
She said that San Miguel appeals to tourists who are "a little more well traveled and confident. … Always, when they return, they are so happy that I suggested a town like San Miguel to them."
Trejo, a former cable TV executive who said he left the private sector to help San Miguel "achieve its potential," said changes are in store that are making San Miguel more appealing to tourists. The Conde Nast award, he said, was the result of the hard work his team had done since he took office in October 2012.
"San Miguel is a different city now," he said. "Most of the budget goes to economic development, public spaces, education."
Noting that 83% of San Miguel's income derives from tourism, Trejo said that if the businesses keep up the tourist offerings — the hotels, restaurants, clubs and spas — while the city takes care of its poorer neighborhoods, San Miguel will be better for everyone.
"All areas of the city are connected," he said. "We have to invest in better classrooms and public spaces."
A large part of the new strategy, he said, was to invite all residents to be stakeholders, from street sweepers to businessmen.
"If you take care of people and invest in infrastructure in poor places, people will be happier and have bigger smiles for tourists," he said.
The city is home to international events such as the Guanajuato International Film Festival, a jazz and blues festival and the La Calaca cultural festival, along with more than more than 90 hotels, including the luxurious Rosewood, the Casa Sierra Nevada and many boutique properties. Trejo said that the changes his administration put into place are working, evidenced by a 35% jump in hotel reservations over the last year, with 236,638 national and international tourists.
In addition, the city's hotel occupancy rate during summer weekends, its high season, was 82.9%, an 11.5% jump over 2012.
Trejo said the city has also done a better job of promoting how safe it is.
"San Miguel is one of the safest cities in the world," he said. "It's safer than Santa Fe, San Diego, of course safer than New York or Miami. … The biggest risk is you will never want to come home."
According to Braly, tourists are still jittery about Mexico in general.
"We are still fighting against the bad press and problems of violence and misconceptions towards Mexico in general," she said. "Travel to Mexico still has not returned to what is was, say, 10 years ago."
San Miguel will open its first convention center this year, giving it access to the meetings, conventions and incentives market.
Trejo said the center would not blemish the unique character of San Miguel, as it was purposefully kept small, holding only 1,200 people. He said San Miguel would attract high-quality, rather than high-volume meetings.
Trejo is also targeting the medical tourism market by investing $40 million to build a retirement center. He also signed an agreement with the state to invest $54 million into rebuilding San Miguel's art and design school and adding performance spaces. Trejo wants the city to attract artists.
"In the 1970s San Miguel was the capital of art in the Americas," he said. "We want that title back

Yashi Koshi!!!

Wednesday 15th January 2014……a bit of everything!!!!

Well it was sunny when I woke up but a bit cool and the forecast for the day is sunny but quite cold…..I had the morning free so did a few domestic chores and then prepared my lesson for class tonight and I also each day try and do a little planning for my summer adventure when I get a slow day I will write about my itinerary for that trip.

I had some chores to do in town and at 1pm I was at the restaurant for an afternoon of poker my first of the year and very happy to report that the winning ways continued with a 75 pesos win!!!

After poker my day got a lot busier I had to get Paola and take her to her dance class she was waiting for me with a smile on her face she really enjoys these classes and they are good for her she mixes with other children her age both Mexican and American and she really is very strong…..her class finished at 5.30pm and I drove her home and then went straight to my class I got there just before it starts and I explained to the students my situation that at times I may a couple of minutes late some days.

Class was again great I hope…I try to make it different each week, fun and light and after doing the workbook we talked about Martin Luther King….I printed off some facts about him and we talked about his life we all me included did not know how intelligent and compassionate a man he was…they  seemed to enjoy the hand outs and we ended the class with a game and chocolates as the reward…..I can tell from their comments and their actions they do enjoy the class.

It was cold riding home and I found I have another flat rear tire so I have called my handy man Silvestre to come in the morning and take the scooter and fix it which means I shall have to take a taxi to tennis.

Now relaxing watching hockey and tennis.

Today is the birthday of MLK… 

 

I Have a Dream

delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

                Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!³

 

Yashi Koshi!!!

---

Tuesday 14th January 2014…blink and the day is done!!!

I knew today was going to be really busy and it started by me leaving the house at 7.30am to go get the car and then to the food bank to pick up the food and to take it to the school….then back to get the scooter and be on the tennis courts by 9am…lovely and sunny and two hours of great tennis.

Dashed straight from the courts to my Doctor’s appointment where I am happy to report all my tests from the scopes last week are really good and I am in great health, his words!!!!

From there I went up to the big open Tuesday market and looked for training shoes but even though there were many shoe stalls I did not see what I wanted.

The market is very large and the local feeling is that if you cannot find what you want at this market it does not exist!!!

You just know I bought some of these….

Then it was back to get the car as a friend had offered to give me a couple of small tables, lights and a really warm blanket…so I went and picked them up and delivered them to paola’s house..she was home and was happy with the new gifts and her eyes lit up at the lovely blanket.

Next stop was my casita and I arrived there at 3pm…..had a late lunch and back into town for the 4.30pm teachers meeting at the school…..it lasted about one hour and then finally back to drop off the car and pick the scooter up again and head back into town for yoga class…………

So now it is 8.30pm and I am glad to be home…had a light sandwich and tea and now watching tennis and then will head into the bath tub!!!

What a day!!

Yashi Koshi!!!

Monday 13th January 2014……The start of the week

I knew from my calendar that today was the start of my week when all classes and driving for Paola start and that the first three days of the week are going to be busy…so with it being Monday and Paty comes to clean you can guess what I did before she came……and then it was off to my first yoga class of the year….I have missed the classes over the holidays and it was good to get back into the routine and it was nice to see my teacher again.

From class I went to the bank and some grocery shopping and back home around 1.30pm and time for lunch.

Next on my agenda was getting my lesson prepared for my class tonight and then off to get Paola and took her to her dance class.  They have moved her up into a class with children around 13 and 14 years which is good but they have also changed the days so her new class is Monday and Wednesday which is one reason why these days are busy.

She really enjoys the class and is very strong even though she is so skinny!!!

After her class I drove her home and then went straight to my English class getting there just in time.

The students are always on time and they seem to enjoy the format of the class which includes some work from the required exercise book but I always include lots of reading for them individually out aloud and I always finish with a story and I have decided I am going to tell them week by week about my trip coming up in the summer so today I printed off some information on Iceland…….I do enjoy this class and my students are wonderful people and I so admire them coming to class 3 times in a week when they have such busy lives and families.

I was home by 8pm and relaxed with something to eat and now watching tennis from Australia…..so a good but busy day and more to follow.

Yashi Koshi!!!

Sunday 12th January 2014…..a lovely day!!

I had one of those wonderful sleeps last night..went to bed fairly tired and slept so well and woke up refreshed and feeling great…..had a nice breakfast of eggs, homemade bread and jam and now watching a great live soccer game from England.  The sun is shining and it is indeed a wonderful day.

At 12.30 I left for a long hike and took a different route which took me on the main highway and then into the campo and saw this house which I am sure is some type of solar energy saving design.

 

It was a quiet path I took with not too much to see

I then came to a little village

Then back into the hills

Shared my lunch with this guy

The long and not so winding road!!!

For the first time in all my hiking I had to use my stick this afternoon

I was on this gravel road passing some houses when a pack of dogs at least 14 came after me this has never happened before the lead dog was small but nasty and he was sure going to take a piece of me but the reliable Pearson forehand down the line tennis shot to his nose turned him around but it was a bit of a scary time!!!

I was home four hours later and according to my new pedometer I walked 12 miles……the good news is the blister that I got last week did not come back..the bad news is that the jury is still out on these new hiking boots and if I am to be really honest I do not feel that I can walk 550miles on the Camino in these boots without problems…so may have to go to plan B except I don’t have a plan B yet.

Enjoyed some soup that Linda made for me last week…. a long hot soak in the tub and just when you thought all I do is watch soccer and hockey on TV…what starts today for 2 weeks….tennis from down under!!!!!the shot at the top of the blog was my first post and taken in NOvember 2006 and this was before Ramona and it is the VAN and the snow!!!

Yashi Koshi!!!!

Saturday 11th January 2014…..Saturday so it just has to be sports day!!!

I got up early at 7am to watch my brother’s soccer team on TV live from England..it was a god game but a bit one sided.

The game finished in time for me to get to the tennis courts by 9am for two hours of great tennis…after tennis I went to the local farmer’s market and bought some bread and meat and home for lunch.

In the afternoon I went to pick up Paola and we went and got the car and put her bike back in the back and went to the local park that she likes and she rode her bike for over 2 hours only stopping for a sandwich and a

I think it is true to say she looks happy!!!

We went from the park to the grocery store and I got a few things for her take home and she was good company.

It turned cloudy and cold again and I am home for the night..had supper now going to have a long soak in the tub and then I have another soccer game to watch and the finale for the night a live hockey game…..told you it was a sorts day!!!

Yashi Koshi!!

Friday 10th January 2014….Granny Pearson was right…”Count your blessings”

If this blog post does not stir those emotions deep inside of you and make you feel so grateful for what you have..then I don’t know!!!!

You often hear me talk and write about Linda and Guy and our 14 year friendship what you don’t hear is all the deeds that these special folks do in this community and other parts of Mexico where they have resided.  They don’t make a big fuss but do what the Nike slogan suggests…”Just do it”.

I have been privileged to help in some of their projects and this morning was another one of those times.

This building

is in the town of Celaya about 30 miles from SMA

The clinic is volunteer based and is a day treatment center for all the children in the State of Guanajuato who suffer from cancer and need treatment regularly.

We have been involved with this clinic for a few years now and Linda and Guy decided a few months ago it would be wonderful if the children who come to the clinic who come from the very poor communities could have a snuggly happy bear…so the bear program was launched and with all the help of Linda and Guy’s children including their Grand daughter, Muri, became involved to raise the money to buy the bears.

Here is Muri at her Lemonade and brownie sale

With the families help 150 bears were purchased and shipped to SMA

the bears are really good quality and very cuddly.

So this morning I went to Linda and Guy’s casa loaded up with bear we met another wonderful couple Sharon and John who organized the Three kings toy project that you read about last week, and off to the clinic.

We were met by the wonderful staff and director of the clinic given refreshments and we talked about ways the community may be able to get involved.

What is going to happen is when the kids come to the clinic they will be given a bear to take home with them…..the staff were thrilled.

Sharon and john had not been to the clinic before so they were given a private tour and we joined them…..I cannot put into words how it churns my heart to see these kids having their treatments and their smiles are so wonderful…of course I know it is not always this pleasant but the facility is spotless and state of the art…here are a few shots of the kids starting with Alexandjro who is one year old…

I challenge you to look at the shot above and below and not be moved to tears by the looks on the Mother’s faces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can only say what a wonderful caring and special staff work and volunteer at this clinic…….I tip my hat to the Scholey family!!!!!!

When we got home I went to pick up Paola and we did a few chores in town and I went into the market to see one of my students who owns a shoe store in the market and whilst I was there I met two of her grand daughters..boy are they gorgeous!!!

Paola had an appointment so I did something I have not done for a long time but will do more of…..just went and sat in the main Jardin and took in the flavor of everything and everyone!!

So I am doing what my Granny said …and counting my many blessings!!!!!!les

Thursday 9th January 2014….sunny and warm!!!

Just a beautiful morning so lucky to be here when I read about all the problems and nasty weather back in Canada and the States.

I had a good sleep and apart from being a little tired I feel great I did cancel tennis for this morning and just relaxed doing some laundry, cleaning and sorting and then spent some time working on my Camino trip….I have enjoyed being quiet and staying home and not dashing around like I seem to be always doing….lots of time to think about life and how lucky I am for many great blessings.

Went up onto the roof and did some reading and some Spanish and I think I may have even had a little nap.

Then it was time to do my class preparation for tonight..two of my class had Birthdays so before class I stopped at the bakery and bought two small iced cakes….

Class was wonderful and to see all my students so happy to be there we had a good time got them to do lots of talking and we celebrated the birthdays..it was fun…this has added a new dimension to my life and it is special to connect with these fine people.

Was home by 8pm and it was not cold on the scooter.

Well it has been a different few days and I feel happy it is all behind(pun intended) me.

Yashi Koshi!!!

Wednesday 8th January 2014….doctor day!!!

Well I had a good sleep and only interrupted twice….had a shower and was in the doctor’s office by 8.45am………

It was all very professional and I was greeted by his young female helper who instructed me about undressing I could keep my parent’s rings on my neck and of course had to wear you know what!!!

I was settled in the bed and a really nice touch was that the blankets were somehow heated which was well received.

My Doctor who is in his early thirties started my IV and then two other young men came in and took care of putting me out….he asked me about the Camino I was going to walk and when I was doing it…I am sure I was out before I answered him.

They told me they were going to do the throat scope first and altogether it should be about 45 minutes.

The next thing I knew I was still in the same room and a smile on my face…got to love those drugs!!!!!

I was then placed on another bed and wheeled into the recovery room…..here I stayed for a while and then the IV was taken out and I was told I could get dressed.

Then I was invited into the Doctor’s office and he handed me a dvd and a report which I have to translate and watch but he told me the colon scope was good and the other scope they will send a small biopsy away but he is pretty sure all is fine.  I have to go back next Tuesday to see him……I paid and left.

It was a great first experience of the Mexican health care system and I was impressed. The total was 10,500 pesos about 800 dollars.

I took a taxi home and will admit I did have some stomach cramps and was tired so I had a nap but strangely enough after 3 days of fasting I was not hungry!!!

I had a long nap and thought I needed to get moving a bit more so I went for a short walk to the local store….came back and made a really good protein shake, a nice hot bath and now 8.30m watching a hockey game and I feel good.

So a different three days and glad it is over with.

I did change my teaching class tonight and the teachers from Thursday  and I do their class tomorrow and I look forward to seeing them all again.

Thank you for all the e mails of best wishes it means a great deal to me.

Yashi Koshi!!!

Tuesday 7th January 2014…..I was trying to think of a funny but not rude heading…..

Well what can I say today was the flushing out medicine day and trust me it did the trick!!!!

Actually it was nice to have a day at home and I spent the morning printing out and planning some of my time when I go to Iceland in May…I also made some bookings there.  Iceland is a very expensive place to visit but I did really well with a car hire and a place to stay but more about that in weeks to come.

I also did a little planning for the Camino in June and also more about that in weeks coming up.

It turned out to be a sunny afternoon and I did spend some time sitting outside but I could not go up to the roof..too far to come back for the loo…

My neighbors downstairs Serena and Scott came up in the afternoon and we played Mexican train for an hour it was fun even if I had to be excused quite often..I enjoy that game.

Linda bless her came over with home made pea soup for me to eat tomorrow night..thanks so much.

So it is now 7.30pm and I think I can happily say the trek to the bano is almost finished…funny I have not felt hungry today.

So tomorrow is the Doctor day my appointment is for 9am and I will then take a taxi home and stay put the rest of the day….tomorrow is the first day of English class but I arranged with the Thursday teachers to switch days so that is good.

Going for a hot bath and then the Canucks are on TV at 9pm playing the penguins should be a great game.

I want to thanks all my lovely friends for all their e mails of best wishes even those friends who have The Pearson sense of humor!!!!

Yashi Koshi!!