IIDD, Chill November: Friday, November 30th

Nothing ruins a face so fast as double-dealing. Your face telling one story to the world. Your heart yanking your face to pieces, trying to let the truth be known. Jessamyn West, novelist (1902-1984) 

Phantasmagoria

Dear sirs:

With respect to the referenced paragraph (i.e., Section VI, paragraph iii) in our Sainted Constitution, I feel compelled to call for an Emergency Special General Meeting, this to preceed the Call to Order for our [ir]regular session scheduled for December 3rd, 2012, C.E.  As you know, the calling of such is provided for in in the First Amendment to our Constitution, from which I quote (selectively) here:

i)  And where there are grounds of any sort [emphasis added], be they spurious or profound (or anywhere in between), to suspect that any Member of the NRBC is undertaking to bend or otherwise distort or destroy the intent of this constitution by making autocratic, dictatorial, unilateral or whimsical declarations**, which seek to proscribe the enjoyment of certain fundamental pleasures of and by the membership, any member can call for and shall have convened a Special General Meeting. The purposes of that meeting will be twofold:

1. to overturn and nullify such declarations
2. to slap the offending and offensive Member of the Executive upside the head, either literally, or metaphorically, or both

 ii) If it should be the case that the aforementioned declarations** seek specifically to proscribe pleasures which offer the prospect of psychic ease or satisfaction, (as, for example, would be the effect of imposing teetotalling) [teetoalling !?! I mean WTF?]., then such a meeting will be termed an Emergency [original emphasis] Special General Meeting, and a third purpose will be added to the two outlined above, to whit:

1. to kick the same offending and offensive Member of the Executive  either literally, or metaphorically, or both, in his gluteus maximus.

iii) Such dissuasions from further malfeasance shall proceed regardless of whether the offending declarations were uttered by the Member of his own volition or in response to coercive and/or nefarious actions of The [infamous] Siterhood. If the latter be the case, then the intensity of the blows shall be moderated, this in recognition of the fact that the Member will suffer shame and ignominy each time he looks in the mirror.

  

8^) Slainte Mhor, Mark

The previous missive shall be deemed to extend and apply to December 2nd 2012.
    
8^) cheers, Mark

Herewith biographical information for the other new non reader who will be joining us Sunday -- if the ferries are running: Kurt Rathfelder. Kurt is from away -- an expat Pefferlawnian.

Early years in the '50s spent in Montreal where I expressly enjoyed family picnics on Beaver Lake at the top of Mont Royal. Quickly learned that religion didn't fit into my life after witnessing hordes of people kneeling up the stone stairway (some 283, or so steps) at St. Joseph's Oratory of Mont Royal  to ‘atone’ for their sins.  Pubescent years spent in a one-horse town in Central Ontario inhabited by more than one village idiot. Lived in Rochester, New York, for a year and left in a hurry after being notified that I had to register for the draft. Spent the next two decades, or so, in Toronto. For the past seventeen years, I have lived on a 10-acre parcel of land surrounded by a 1,400-acre regional forest. At some point, I had expected a visit from an 18-year-old version of Little Red Riding Hood,  but no show. Very recently, October of 2012, self-exiled from Ontario and now perched on the side of Sugar Loaf Mountain in Nanaimo watching the marine activities in Departure Bay.

 Without officious reference to the constitution, I will remind the Conductor, in his capacity as the Inquisitor, that he will be limited to 100 short questions to each of the new applicants.

Wassail, W

Please no tee totaling on account of my absent over indulgent self. I think you should read the subtext of Patrick's email ironically.  I am unfamiliar with the rituals of Advent but assume they can accommodate or even appropriate the local rites of John Barleycorn.  We patrons of the Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum encourage you to indulge yourselves, and regret we won't be joining in.  Look forward to perusing the minutes at the next meeting. Guy

Dear Capi di tutti,

I have run out of available time to successfully complete a thorough analysis of the book in question. It is my raisin tetra to shine  light on the subtle and layered themes of great literature but alas my batteries  run low and my bulb glows dim. Of course I have been regularly accused of  being a dim bulb but that has not deterred me from weighing in on heavy philosophical discussions. (See previous observations made by yours truly regarding the requirement of voluptuous volumes of hot air to lift the level of discourse from the banal to the sublime.

Speaking of 10 course meals, is there an obvious hole in the current status of lucky pot offerings? I can bring a Waldorf salad (for those of us lusting after the big apple...delicately diced). If there are already too many nuts attending (walnuts...coarsely chopped) then I can bring one of my favorite rib stickers ... sweet potato, chick pea curry on rice. The base is medium mild but it can be doctored in situ to "heat it up". Let me know.

Also, can it be true that this is a dry event? Please illuminate the situation for me as I have not been able to decode the true meaning of our Padrones latest parable. I grasp the pot luck/ loaves and fishes analogy but this water into wine thingy risks leaving me parched even though it is the first Sunday of Advent and I will be partaking in communion at our church in the a.m. Patiently waiting for the light, Stephen

Then we will see you on Sunday for analysis, examination of our book. Cheers, Moe

Dear Loco, (emphasis on "Loco") a Legisperitum, et al:

Given the fact that your pedantically worded, loop-hole riddled and hastily amended legal-speak disputation was incorrectly dated, in the first instance,  I hardly need bother rebutting your desperate attempt to waive punitive damages, inasmuch as I believe that you have not even managed to listen to the book for this coming meeting, let alone read the tome from cover to cover,. A work of such dense and impenetrable writing that only the most devoted of bibliophiles will have had the fortitude and discipline to digest and understand whilst you, my distempered Unlearned Colleague, did suggest to our august and civil society, with much malice of forethought. It is quite obvious that any reasonable lay-person would expect that you, of all people, would have devoured this magnum opus yet methinks thou dost protest too much. Hide behind the letter of The Law, cowardly and base non-Reader that you are and in so doing stand exposed for the craven knave you pretend and posture not to be, yet are clearly seen, by all the world, to be none other than a mealy-mouthed pettifogger, a bounder and a blighter, a dissembler and a rapscallion, a flim-flam man extraordinaire!

As if your miscreancy and chicanery were not, in and of themselves, enough, you have tainted the very souls of the newest and most tender Applicants who seek Elevation to the Olympian heights of the pinnacle of Mount NRBC, causing them, in their simple-mindedness, on the one hand, (Acolyte Stefano), to follow your pleonastic bent so that he can but write maundering, tautological drivel while on the other, your challenge to the good and divinely sanctioned order of the NRBC, hath caused, on the other, (Acolyte Kurtz Field of Wrath), to depart Departure Bay, to leave his loafing, lazy-bones existence on Sugar Plum Hill for the company of the Lotus Eaters he expects to find within the ranks of the NRBC, given the anarchy you preach, the topsy-turvey punishments you would see unleashed. You Sir, (Dare I soil the appelation?), deserve to have your tight Gluteus Maximus flaggelated by none other than the Assembled Sisterhood, scourged until you admit your cozenage and we shall see who suffers shame and ignominy, who rues the day that he dared and presumed to hatch this vile and cunning roguery, deep within the blackness and void of his necromancer's heart.

PS: Word of Warning to Secretary, Pro Tem, WhirlishWassailovitch: Please be so kind as to refer to me as The Excruciator in Excelcis as I cast off my Inquisitor's robes lo these many years ago, or else you may yet feel the lash of the cat o' nine tails, with bilge water poured over your torn skin to resuscitate your disrespectful self for more flailing! 100 short questions! I'll let you taste 100 short strokes of the knout, you impudent scoundrel!

Other than that, I trust everyone is well and busy reading like veddy, veddy good little boys! Wassail to you me Mateys! AAAAAARRRRRR!

PPS: I dream about Emergency Meetings! Be sure to bring your Emergency First Aid Kits!!!

PPPS:  Methinks a good meeting to miss, Titanium Man. At least you will be spared the cruel and unusual punishments. Foist you are unemployed and now you are working around the clock, with a "code in jour knowz!" Oi Vey! Get the chicken soup, already!

PPPPS: Dear Quisling Arnold at the CFA@BM: Didn't take long for you to show your true colours, I must say. The kindest interpretation is that Naughty Nancy hath seduced you with long draughts of the aforementioned John Barleycorn, the cynical one being that you are a double-agent feeding sensitive material to The Sisterhood. You will be tried in absentia! Read the minutes to learn of your sentence, Brutus!

Thanks Pat and Corinne  for the invite. We would love to come.  What can we bring?  Just got back from England last night.  Pauline and Mick 

Hi The pictures are so good, you are quite the photographer.  Thanks for a lovely time, I loved our bike ride.  I mentioned in my other email, that I am going to try to find a bike, but it might be difficult. Are you interested in renting a bike when you visit?  I hope you have fun at your party- wish I could be there! Rhoda 


Hi Ski!

I take it you finally made it out of YVR and safely back home! It was a delightful visit and so wonderful to see Dinao and Al as well. I am also very pleased that we were able to ride together. Further, longer next visit! Glad you enjoyed snapolas although I'm really don't have all that good an eye. I just think it is important to record people and events, at least, as a first step. Art can come later!

Sorry for taking so long to reply but it has been non-stop ever since you left! Just to reiterate, I think our dates for St Maarten will still be January 28th-February 7th, +/- by a day or so, each end. We hope to iron out details of where we will be flying from , (Dallas vs Miami), as if the latter we need to reconfigure earlier stages of trip. Hope to do this next week and will let you know before we book to make sure dates work for you. I am interested in renting a bike but it really isn't a big deal. I'm happy to swim with the barracudas and Cora Lee is most keen to have me do so! Let me know what you find out. It might be worthwhile to rent for a month or so and other visitors could share the cost. Just an idea.

Due to heavy rain of late I have been swimming over last few days. On Thursday I did 3.5 miles and yesterday I managed 3.75 miles. I think I have reached a new plateau as far as my bilateral breathing is concerned. While I have utilized this method for quite a few years I have never really breathed as smoothly and consistently as I would have liked. Whether my biking has given me a larger lung capacity or not, I am now breathing bilaterally and holding my breath between each intake. This allows me more buoyancy and my kick is more effective to keep me planing. I hope, if I can maintain this that I will be able to reduce my time, over time, of course. My goal is to do 5 miles before we head south. Hope to add .25 miles on each subsequent swim. Slow but steady. Wish me luck! I'll need it.

On another matter, riding mate, Ray Banks, passed along the following:

Pat,

    The recent mauling by a grizzlie in Kimberley was done to Peter Moody and his wife, unfortunately. I think you knew him from your days at the Ed. Library.

Did you know either Peter Moody or Gary Pennington, Ski. At any rate, I later learned, from Ray, [Pat, We received the message about Peter from Sylvia's friends in Vancouver, Washington. Her brothers also know him very well. Tough old boy, Peter, I'm sure. Speak with you later in the week. Ray], that Peter tried to fight off the grizzly with his Nordic Ski Poles, ones used for walking, I gather! When I told Chloë about the terrifying encounter and that it was reported that the victims were "distraught" she said, "Distraught! I guess they'd be distraught!!!" Sounded so funny in the telling/re-telling but can hardly imagine the terror of the reality! Better to be a sloth at YVR than a mouthful of a grizzly's meal!

We are in petty good shape for tomorrow's bash. Cora Lee will bake two hams in the morning but other than that most everything else is already prepared; chicken wings, salmon, (CL), meatballs and baked beans , (Clarisse), both in large electric crock pots. Did most of our shopping for dips, crackers, cheese, nuts, shortbread and tarts at Costco on Friday morning, hootch at Marquis Wines on Thursday. Rolled up the rug in the living room tonight and arranged chairs, etc., so not even much to do on that score. Hope to either swim at Aquatic Centre or ride stationary bike at False Creek CC, just across the way, in the morning while Coriandre prays for my black soul at church!

Hello the The Great Ronaldo and fondestos to you both from Cora Lee. Cheers, Patrizzio!


RE: the n-n-n-naming disorder-der-der-der--wassail

Hello Wassail BenennungStörungMensch!

I fully believe that a hearty ration of tarry, biscuity, lime-infused grog will cure, or at least alleviate, the werewolf-like symptoms that you are experiencing, at present. I suggest that at the NRBC pre-Yuletide gathering, we test the efficacy of the antidote and seek the endorsement of The Impatience of Sisters present. We can, after appropriate lubrication of our tongue-tied speech delivery systems, try wassails, (the howls of lasterday), of various pitch and duration, to seek both the legitimization of such salutations, the stamp of approval, so to speak, the steel boot on the back of the oppressed Brotherhood, from our harshest critics. What think you? Cheers, (oops, I really meant to say), Wassail on Whirlygig! 

PS: It occurs to me, upon seeing "Wassail" followed by your abbreviated signature, "W", that this affection is nothing but an overly self=indulgent, Hungerford-like, egomaniacal signing disorder to be added to your already overflowing basket of morbid disorders. Sieg Heil Wassail! 

cccccures and stalwarts and hard core logo

P,

I ddddd do look ssssssso forward ttttto to ttttryin the cccure, of cccccourse, under the FFFFFFFing auspices of the ssssssaid sssssisterhood..

I thank you for the compliment re: Hungerfordism – a stalwart character if I have ever known one.  

I think the Wassail image that you have unearthed might have to become the NRBC logo. W,W

 

IIDD, Chill November: Thursday, November 29th

When money speaks, the truth keeps silent. -Russian proverb 

Wassail

P,

This word just sets off my naming disorder like a stuttering turrets victim. Ahhh wassail doc? Wass-ale vas das? Wassailing you? Wassailed right out the door. Wassailing mit der Barnacle when I noticed der skipper wassailing rum at the helm.

The howl is now legitimized as wassailing – an ancient (or modern) form of carolling.

Thankfully people will stop using cheers and will adopt wassail as a salutation. Wassail, W

 Hello Wassail BenennungStörungMensch!

I fully believe that a hearty ration of tarry, biscuity, lime-infused grog will cure, or at least alleviate, the werewolf-like symptoms that you are experiencing, at present. I suggest that at the NRBC pre-Yuletide gathering, we test the efficacy of the antidote and seek the endorsement of The Impatience of Sisters present. We can, after appropriate lubrication of our tongue-tied speech delivery systems, try wassails, (the howls of lasterday), of various pitch and duration, to seek both the legitimization of such salutations, the stamp of approval, so to speak, the steel boot on the back of the oppressed Brotherhood, from our harshest critics. What think you? Cheers, (oops, I really meant to say), Wassail on Whirlygig! 

PS: It occurs to me, upon seeing "Wassail" followed by your abbreviated signature, "W", that this affection is nothing but an overly self=indulgent, Hungerford-like, egomaniacal signing disorder to be added to your already overflowing basket of morbid disorders. Sieg Heil Wassail! 

Midnight's Children

The film follows the destinies of a pair of children born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the very moment that India claimed its independence from Great Britain - a coincidence of profound consequence for both. "Handcuffed to history," and switched at birth by a nurse in a Bombay hospital, Saleem Sinai, the son of a poor single mother, and Shiva, scion of a wealthy family, are condemned to live out the fate intended for the other. Imbued with mysterious telepathic powers, their lives become strangely intertwined and inextricably linked to their country's careening journey through the tumultuous twentieth century.

P,

We should be in the product testing/writing department or failing that in the hyperbole police.

Warm gold to bronze
Nose:	Sweet yet pungently smoky: lime marmalade and peat fires on the beach, malt, cocoa powder, salted herring
Body:	Powerfully full
Palate:	Rich, concentrated and powerful, sooty with light tarry/liquorish touches, the lime returns, great presence but subtle in its own way.
Finish:	Long, biscuity, malty Hyperbolically yours, W

Hi Product Placement Man!

Just back from seeing Midnight's Children with Kjell and Jane. Thoroughly enjoyed the epic! Wow!!! Had a lovely dinner, here, afterwards.

I suspect, from all the obvious clues, that it is Captain Barnacles' choice of malts, (peat fires on the beach, light tarry,the lime returns, biscuity), not that he can afford it, but obviously an Islay, probably an Ardbeg, most likely their Uigeadail as Ragin' needs high octane to keep his prop revs up! Some damn dram but what do I know! Preposterously Yours, Il Conduttore!

PS: Where are you and do you have charts?

P,

I have no idea where the F we are. What are charts? Can you give me a bearing? The Captain is passed out at the helm.

And yes, that is the Barnacle reference except he chooses to light the fire with Ardbeg then drinks cheap rum and bilge water – maybe overdoes the bilge water a little.

Was the Ardbeg U. just a wild guess, or what? I have to say the pinpoint accuracy a little un-nerving. I think you must have Googled the phrases or did you go straight into the malt cupboard to find the flavours that fit? Or was it my refined taste in malt that led you to an easy target? W

Hello Patrick

On another note, I plan to bring meat (beef) and spinach lasagna for Sunday evening if it matches your plans. Are our spouses supposed to come with us at 3:00 or they must come later so we have our discussion of our book undisturbed? Cheers, Moe

 Hi Moe et al!

The lasagna sounds fabulous! Very kind of you, indeed. Spouses, significant others, partners in crime and other hangers-on are all more than welcome at 3:00pm, to join in the serious book discussion, learned dialogue, critical analysis and close textual examination, or not, as the mood takes The Sisterhood. According to Section VI, paragraph iii, of the NRBC Constitution, Absent Members, this will be a teetotal session out of respect for AWOL, (pronounced "Aaoooooo"), Guy, overindulging himself in The Big Apple. Wassail, Patrizzio!

Mary Carmen Graham Hi Patrick, For sure you have been very busy. No doubt the year has passed quite fast. It is good to hear that your mom did not die in a hospital. As for Sunday, it is unfortunate but with the flooding of the ER and Medical Imaging departments at work, I am on call this weekend and actually I am working on Saturday and Sunday as we are opening the ER on Monday morning and there is still a bunch of things to do over there. I also worked last weekend. After all this is over, I will have a time to rest and relax but for this last two weeks, this has not been possible. Michele and I work at the same place and I have not been able to have lunch with her since the flooding happened. However, we wish you have a great time on Sunday. Please don't feel bad for not getting in touch with us before. We really appreciate your message and we just hope that one day you come and visit our home. The doors are open at any time. A big hug for you and the best wishes. With warm affection, Carmen Miranda and Johnny Boy Patrick James Dunn Hi Carmen Miranda! Sorry that you won't be able to join us on Sunday but certainly understand, given your back-to-back weekend shifts. Thanks for your on-going gracious invitation. We certainly look forward to doing just that, sometime after we are back in Vancouver, probably at the end of February. Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year to you and Johnny Boy! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

IIDD, Chill November: Wednesday, November 28th

Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences. -Robert Louis Stevenson, novelist, essayist, and poet (1850-1894) 

Illustration: Leah Palmer Preiss

You didn't answer my question about Bart.

Pat,

    Too bad on the dinner date but we'll catch you on return.

    We received the message about Peter from Sylvia's friends in Vancouver, Washington. Her brothers also know him very well. Tough old boy, Peter, I'm sure.

    Speak with you later in the week.

Ray

Patriçio,

All very well, but even one photo of you, a bicycle and your feet on the ground is disturbing.  I felt honour bound to report this to Guinness, which could severely set back your ultimate quest.  Lo siento.

más adelante//bjp

Hi Goils!

This exchange with Ray Banks:

P,

Thanks for helping the sisterhood yesterday. She really appreciated the assistance. Now you know why I have such incredible core strength – from carrying all those boxes low those many years.

And thanks for delivering the hooch which I finished late last night. Delicious.  Let me know what I owe you in Squamish pesos and I will bring the money to our next ride in April.

Spoke to Casper lasterday from his new palace in Ajijic. I told him you had friends in Ajijic and thought we should try to connect your friends him.

Also, I would really be curious to know if Ski knows of these famous nude beaches in St Martin where my parents used to go.

Weather looks swimmingly for the next few days. W

Hi Abdomen of Steel Man!

Thanks very much for putting me smack dab in the middle of a nest of Sisterhood Vipers! Talk about  A Superfluity of Sistershood. I was completely outnumbered and surrounded, encircled even, by Krypton Woman and her Three Wicked Helpmates! (Wicked yes, but ever so alluring, in a Siren-like way!)

I'm glad you enjoyed the Squamish muleage! I suspect your own home-brew is bubbling away as we correspond, accounting for the need to empty the large bottles immediately upon delivery! Cost worked out to $7/btl, $25/btl muleage fee! If you are still planning to obtain cinema tickets, or have already done so, (not a big deal if you were unable to acquire said tickets), we can settle up then. I suspect I'll owe you even considering the paltry muleage tax!

I'd be delighted to try to connect The Friendly Ghost with our friends, Harriet and Paul Hart. I assume, hope, they are still in Ajijic. Harriet is a terrible correspondent and I have not received an answer to my last few messages. I can pass along their email address to Casparino. I'm sure he could track them down through the ex-pat community there as they are both very active. Harriet is a volunteer on an information desk and in a number of creative writing groups. Paul plays tennis regularly. When we visited, we were always bumping into their friends on the street or in cafes so it is a fairly small place, quite difficult to avoid the likes of 'Oribble!

Funnily enough, there was a Facebook posting from Corey, (F's/S's son in RCMP), lasterday. He and Rebecca, his girlfriend, were in St Maarten. Think they are on a cruise for a week or so. I'll ask Ski about St Martin's equivalent of Wreck Beach as we are trying to iron out dates of our visit.

Am hoping to dodge the raindrops later as I have been instructed to lose The Shaggy Dog/Wild Man of Borneo/Seymour Demo Forest Look by the Strangle of Sisters here at the Islay Inn! I am planning to ride in my swimming trunks in case I do get caught in a deluge. Will save on Aquatic Centre fee so will have a few more pennies for maltage! Cheers, Patrizzio!

P,

That is too funny about the sisterhood. She gets very twitchy about the use of the term sisterhood however she stooped to using the term brotherhood this morning so we are into a new stage, so to speak.

Cinema tickets have been ordered (several weeks ago) but you know how these things go. It is managed (or not) by VRC.

St Maarten: is that how it is schpelt. Are you going to do a bit of training at Wreck Beach?

I did hear the grizzly story on the radio. I guess Ray did not know the story or the identity of the victims until after our ride. How are the victims doing? W

Hi again, Maggie!

Sorry about not mentioning Bart Sackrule but I was never in contact with him after leaving U of Wpg. Where was he living when you lost touch?

This past Saturday we drove up to Squamish to spend the night with close friends, Ruth/Rick. I took my bike along as I hoped to be able to ride the Sea to Sky Highway back from there, weather permitting. As things turned out, the day was simply glorious so I was able to cycle back to Vancouver. Had never ridden that section of highway before so it was quite an adventure. Very busy, with plenty of traffic so I had to really keep my wits about me. That being the case, I couldn't enjoy the spectacular vistas, (Howe Sound with Gabriola and Bowen Island after the magnificent peaks surrounding Squamish itself), in the way one can when a car passenger. Fortunately, shoulder is reasonably wide for most of the way, (Quite narrow along cliff face near Porteau Cove, going north, and right next to railroad tracks, going south. Trains don't bother me, there are few in any event, but reasonably large stones from railway road bed often find there way onto the highway. It would not be a good idea to hit or even run over one as who knows what might happen, particularly since it is single lane traffic in either direction at this point!), and I managed to reach Horsehoe Bay without any mishaps. From there one takes Marine Drive and it is a reasonably quiet thoroughfare, particularly on the weekends. Furthermore, I am familiar with the route and enjoy it immensely. Arrived home just after 4:00pm to find Cora Lee and her parents, Dusty and Clara, watching the Grey Cup!

That evening we had tickets to a Jill Barber concert at a terrific club called the Electric Owl, on Main Street not far from Science World or the Georgia Viaduct. When I was there for a Macallan's Malt Tasting a month or so ago, I noticed a poster advertising her appearance.  This time I was taking Madame Coriandre there for dinner and show as my 41st Anniversary of Meeting, (Halloween, 1971, Champs Motor Inn, beer parlour, Wpg, 1971!), present. She gave me a pair of spiffy, quick wash/dry travel underwear and Rick Steves Eastern Europe, to help with next year's travel planning. Latter is really for her but I didn't make mention of that fact! The Sisterhood is quite sly about managing to buy what they want under all sorts of false pretenses!!!Anyway, dinner was delicious and concert simply wonderful. JIll deviated from her signature lush retro-jazz repertoire for an evening exploring classic country tunes of the 50s with a special tribute to the music of Hank Williams. The evening opened with a set with Steve Dawson and the Black Hen house band performing both archival and contemporary country and Americana material to complement the full set with Jill Barber. Steve is an incredible guitarist and the rest of his band were just as talented so it was a more than a riveting, energized and energizing performance. Audience didn't want to let them off the stage!Last night I attended a public lecture at VPL where I helped Kerry, (Whirlygig's amore), unload the cartons of books on sale for David Boyd's talk on the right to a healthy environment. (UBC Press publishes his work and Kerry works in Marketing there.) David Suzuki was supposed to be there but was taken ill, suddenly, so Peter Robinson, new CEO of the DSF stepped in. Simply spell-binding talk. David Boyd is a wonderful speaker and presented a fairly complex subject in a way that was both accessible and engaging:

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides every Canadian with freedom of expression, equal protection from discrimination and the right to life, liberty and security. But it has nothing to say about our right to a healthy environment.

Everyone needs access to clean air, safe water, fertile soil, and nutritious food, to survive and to thrive. The natural environment, made up of complex and diverse ecosystems, provide these most basic needs.

The David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice Canada are working together to ensure every Canadian receives legal protection of their right to a healthy environment. 

It was part of the launch of his new book: The Right to a Healthy Environment. In spite of the fact that this lecture was the culminating event in a national book tour Boyd didn't seem at all exhausted. He spoke passionately, always lucidly and peppered his talk with humour and fascinating examples of what embedding legal protection into the constitution can and has done in many, many jurisdictions around the world. Sadly, Canada is not one of those national jurisdictions. Place was packed. I invited Kjell, (Swedish friend in town visiting his amore!), along as Coriandre had another meeting! Sweden was cited specifically as an example of one of the leading countries with respect to environmental law and enforcement but ironically, not via its constitution. Kjell was quite aware of both facts. He was simply delighted to have been able to attend. Most worthwhile indeed! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics and Official stats: Squamish to home, Sunday, 11:22am departure, with a few extra dipsy doodles, around Stanley Park, for a grand totale of 100.4K over 4:59:34, AVG 20.0KPH, MAX 50.2KPH. Ride fantastique! Non-Support Team outside the Squamish Waldorf with Rider Intrepide! 

Why did I think you kept up with him! My Mom adored Bart and she used to call him from time to time when she was alive and in good health.He called her Mummy and phoned her often. I think he was the DM or ADM of Human Rights and lived in Ontario, maybe Pickering, not sure. Mom visited them once in their palatial home when she was out east to see her family in London. Bart had a bit, or more, of a roving eye and who knows what happened to the marriage. I spoke to him when Mom was dying in the hospice but he has never gotten back to me after that. I knew that he was moving out and selling the house. Mary Lynn was a cute, petite redhead and they had 2 children together, a boy and a girl, now grown, maybe early 20s. Mary Lynn's family disowned her after the marriage, sad! Bart used to disappear to Trinidad every now and then to build or do what I don't know. I got the feeling that maybe there was someone special down there. He would often come on to me when I saw him. He drove me to the U of W reunion which was the 25th anniversary of the U of W graduating class. A few of our class, the class of '67, the final graduating class of United (U of M) walked behind the class of '92. We wore cap and gown and tossed our caps after the ceremony. It was pretty special. Dr. Robin Farquhar was the U of W President at the time and hosted our group. I can't remember who all came , about 15 of us. We made a weekend of it. I stayed with my parents. Mom came to the tea and was properly charmed by Bart. When I was in collegiate, grade 12 and in Year I, I casually dated a few Trinidadian boys. They used to live in residence and I often brought them home to meet Mom and give them a home cooked meal. There was one name I recall, Yussof Akbar.

The two of you might find this of interest. Ray

Subject: Books news, reviews and author interviews | Books | The Guardian

Margaret uses the guardian books section as her " authority" on new books
coming out.... 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books= 

Hi Raymond!

Funny to run into you today! Even funnier, I had literally just walked in the door when Whirlygig and Tia Maria pushed their bikes onto the patio! They popped down to deliver me a copy of David Boyd's The Right To A Healthy Environment: Revitalizing Canada's Constitution. Kerry wanted to thank me for my assistance last night! I certainly didn't expect anything as it was enjoyable and I was glad to help a bit. Nevertheless, I'm delighted to have his work, particularly since it sells for $30!

Clara had just brought me a container of "overlefts" so I put them in the microwave and had my lunch while Giorgio sipped tea and Tia munched on the freshly baked chocolate oatmeal cookies, again, courtesy of Clarisse!  They left about 4:00pm as Tia had to get ready for a Parent-Teacher Conference this evening. Giorgio was going to have a nap as he had wanted one earlier but Tia insisted they ride to HBT, in the rain, no less.

Finally managed to take a look at the link you sent but it isn't available. 

The following message comes up:

Sorry - we haven't been able to serve the page you asked for.You may have followed a broken link, an outdated search result, or there may be an error on our site.

Just wondering if it is outdated. I'd like to look at it if is just a question of link being typed incorrectly. Let me know when you have a moment. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Pat,

    I just tried the site again and had no problems.

 

        www.guardian.co.uk/books

 

    If this doesn't work, access The Guardian, click on Culture and then Books. Hope that gets you access. It looks like a worthwhile site.

Ray

Hi Carmen Miranda and Southside Johnny!

I trust that you are both well. I must apologize profusely for not writing sooner. I simply do not know where the time has gone for I had fully intended to send along my thanks for your kind words and sympathy upon learning of Mom's death, long, long before now.

In mid-August we had planned a short driving trip to Winnipeg. Given Mom's seeming "robustness" at that time we decided we could take the three weeks or so that we had originally planned and spent a wonderful time, visiting other friends and relatives across the country.

We returned on August 26th, in part because Corinne had an important meeting, the following week, for Friends of Vancouver Public Library, a volunteer association she has been President of for past number of years. Furthermore, good friends, from Perth, Australia, were arriving on the 31st for two weeks. It was quite late in the day when we arrived back home and since Chloë had been to visit Mom over the course of the day, we decided not to see her as staff had taken to put her to bed shortly after the evening meal, ever since the time we returned from Japan. Next morning we were just about to walk over to Broadway Lodge to see her when we received a call telling us that she had been taken to Vancouver General Hospital for an x-ray. Staff suspected pneumonia and Chloë had mentioned that Mom's breathing seemed a bit "wheezy" the night before.

I visited her there and in discussion with doctor we agreed that it was best to return her to Broadway Lodge. He said he couldn't say for sure but he didn't think she would last more than a few days, if that. I visited her again, in the early afternoon as I had asked to be phoned when she arrived back in her room. I came home around 4:30pm to pick up a few things to read while I sat with her and held her hand. While her breathing was extremely laboured, her grip was very firm. On a slightly lighter note, I told her that she looked like Mother Teresa when I walked into her room. The staff had wrapped her up with a blanket as she was shivering when she was delivered by ambulance. Coriandre came with me when I went back and she dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth while I cut her nails.

I stayed at Mom's bedside and spooned her an enriched drink. She seemed to relish the thickened liquid and I was very pleased to see that her swallowing reflex was not impaired. As well, she drank about half a glass of juice through a straw. If she could continue to take in such liquid nourishment the staff planned to give her a course of antibiotics. Given her state of health and age, (She was to turn 99 on September 22nd.), IV's were not be used but if she could manage to take in food orally, mixed with the medication, everyone felt she might well fight the pneumonia. She had demonstrated just how tough she was, coming back from the above mentioned a heart attack. Nevertheless, keeping her as comfortable as possible was really our main concern.

I spent about three hours at her bedside on Tuesday morning/afternoon and was very pleased that I was able to spoon her all of her protein shake and a full glass of thickened juice. Her blood pressure had gone up from the night before when Chloë visited so that was a good sign. Her breathing was still laboured but she seem comfortable when sleeping. Cora Lee hosted a Friends of VPL bbq that evening and it was a lovely affair. We went downstairs afterwards to say hello to Flamin' and Sarge, (friends we traveled with in Australia before coming to Darwin),  just back from California that afternoon. Chloë came down after visiting Mom, at the end her evening shift, and reported that her blood pressure was holding in spite of her difficult respiration. Everyone was heartened and we all went to bed not dreading a call in the middle of the night.

Sad to report, (as you know), that Mom died the next day around 1:00pm. It was a bit of a shock inasmuch as Corinne and I went over in the morning to see her and staff reported that she was very much improved. She had eaten most of a bowl of porridge, (one of her favourite foods), and downed a full glass of juice. Delighted with the news, we went to see her but the staff were changing her so we decided to deliver Vancouver Writers Festival programs on Granville Island, (one of our volunteer duties), before coming back. Finished around 12:30pm and came home for a bite of lunch and shortly thereafter we received a call to inform us that she was slipping away. We dropped everything and hurried over to find that she has stopped breathing moments before we arrived. Staff were very considerate and left us to sit with Mom after they had changed her gown. Even though we knew things might well happen like this, at any time, it was still tough, as I'm sure you can appreciate. Just very glad that we were home to be with her for even a few days.

As I mentioned above, given her seeming "rally" in the face of the very serious pneumonia, I suppose we all felt that she might pull through, much as she'd done last April/May when she suffered a heart attack while we were in Darwin. I don't know for sure but I surmise that her poor heart may simply have finally not been strong enough after putting up such a valiant fight.

Given all of the above and the Wittwer's visit, (just two days after Mom's death), we never really seemed to have a moment to catch our collective breath, after they left on the 14th, as we had promised to house/cat sit for Gregg and Franchesca from September 15th to the 26th. Weather there was wonderful, an Indian Summer, and we were able to relax and recover somewhat from the loss of Mother. However, once back, I was a volunteer for the Van Int Film Festival, from the 27th to October 12th. My second year as a volunteer and I was able to see many wonderful, wonderful films.

That weekend, Sunday, the 14th, we held Mom's Memorial Service at Trinity United, the church Mom had attended ever since she moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver in 1989. Everything went off very well so quite pleased with the Service itself as well as the gathering at the church afterward and then the Wake at our place. We will have a graveside service in Winnipeg next summer as it was Mom's wish to be buried beside her husband. My Dad died in 1966. Given that Mom died but three weeks or so short of her 99th birthday, she had an amazingly long, full, exciting and adventuresome life and I choose to celebrate and remember this rather than the fact of her death.

Few days later, the Van Writers Festival started and both Corinne and I were volunteers. We've done if for quite some time and this year we were once again in charge of the bar at Studio 1398, one of the smaller venues on Granville Island where most of the events take place. Since we live but three minutes from GI it is very, very convenient for us to be volunteers. The duties are not particularly onerous, indeed, more fun than anything else, and, of course, we were able, as volunteers, to attend any events that are not completely sold out. (Same is true for VIFF.) In fact, we were able to go to every reading that we wished to hear in spite of the fact that this year's festival was the best ever, in terms of overall attendance. Listened to some remarkable, remarkable authors so feel a bit guilty as we feel we hardly did anything for such a wonderful privilege.

I guess all of this is my explanation for not being in touch sooner! No excuses but plenty of reasons! Since then Cora Lee has been attending meetings, sometimes two or three nights a week, (church, Friends of VPL, and the like), and we have had more visitors from France/England and this past Wednesday we had a visit from a close friend, Rhoda Benson, in town from Cape Breton, to visit her eldest daughter, Dinao, who is taking an Art Therapy course here. I met Rhoda when I worked at the Curric Lab, (now the Education Library), at UBC and she was a Student Assistant, back in the late '70's! She came for dinner with her daughter, Dinao. Funnily enough, Rhoda's husband, Ron, was Flamin's paddling coach in Dartmouth when Flamin' was 13. He is now an oncologist and when at UBC, on sabbatical, about seven years ago, now, I invited the Sutherlands to dinner to meet the MacCormacks, as Flamin' had lived in Sydney at one point. We discovered, before the day of the dinner, their connection when I told Flamin' some of the details of how I met Rhoda and how she met Ron, etc.

Over the course of the evening Rhoda mentioned that she and Ron will be spending three months in Saint Maarten/Saint Martin, beginning in January. Ron will be teaching there and they have a two-bedroom place provided. She invited us to visit. We are scheduled to leave Vancouver, (as of this writing!), on December 12th. We want to take our time driving south to LA to spend Christmas with Ayn and Los Horridos. Chloë, Clarisse and Dusty  will fly down. We are actually house-sitting for Ayn's cousin, Rick, who has a gorgeous home in Simi Valley. He and his family will spend holidays in Bora Bora to celebrate his 60th. Have already been in touch with David and Nancy, friends in Berkeley, and mentioned that we will probably arrive on their doorstep sometime around the 18th/19th/20th, depending on how long we spend wine-tasting in Sonoma and Napa!

A day or so after the 10th of January we are planning to continue driving south and east with a mind to seeing New Orleans, as one goal. I'd like to visit some bourbon distilleries in Tennessee and Kentucky but whether this transpires or not, remains to be decided. We hope to see Randy and Ruth, formerly living in San Antonio, now in Dallas, en route to New Orleans. Now that the possibility of going to the Caribbean exists, we are trying to determine where best to fly from in the US. At any rate, the thought of seeing some of the places in The Deep South is starting to make us both shiver with anticipation.This past Saturday we drove up to Squamish to spend the night with close friends, Ruth/Rick. I took my bike along as I hoped to be able to ride the Sea to Sky Highway back from there, weather permitting. As things turned out, the day was simply glorious so I was able to cycle back to Vancouver. Had never ridden that section of highway before so it was quite an adventure. Very busy, with plenty of traffic so I had to really keep my wits about me. That being the case, I couldn't enjoy the spectacular vistas, (Howe Sound with Gabriola and Bowen Island after the magnificent peaks surrounding Squamish itself), in the way one can when a car passenger. Fortunately, shoulder is reasonably wide for most of the way, (Quite narrow along cliff face near Porteau Cove, going north, and right next to railroad tracks, going south. Trains don't bother me, there are few in any event, but reasonably large stones from railway road bed often find there way onto the highway. It would not be a good idea to hit or even run over one as who knows what might happen, particularly since it is single lane traffic in either direction at this point!), and I managed to reach Horsehoe Bay without any mishaps. From there one takes Marine Drive and it is a reasonably quiet thoroughfare, particularly on the weekends. Furthermore, I am familiar with the route and enjoy it immensely. Arrived home just after 4:00pm to find Cora Lee and her parents, Dusty and Clara, watching the Grey Cup!

That evening we had tickets to a Jill Barber concert at a terrific club called the Electric Owl, on Main Street not far from Science World or the Georgia Viaduct. When I was there for a Macallan's Malt Tasting a month or so ago, I noticed a poster advertising her appearance.  This time I was taking Madame Coriandre there for dinner and show as my 41st Anniversary of Meeting, (Halloween, 1971, Champs Motor Inn, beer parlour, Wpg, 1971!), present. She gave me a pair of spiffy, quick wash/dry travel underwear and Rick Steves Eastern Europe, to help with next year's travel planning. Latter is really for her but I didn't make mention of that fact! The Sisterhood is quite sly about managing to buy what they want under all sorts of false pretenses!!!

Anyway, dinner was delicious and concert simply wonderful. Jill deviated from her signature lush retro-jazz repertoire for an evening exploring classic country tunes of the 50s with a special tribute to the music of Hank Williams. The evening opened with a set with Steve Dawson and the Black Hen house band performing both archival and contemporary country and Americana material to complement the full set with Jill Barber. Steve is an incredible guitarist and the rest of his band were just as talented so it was a more than a riveting, energized and energizing performance. Audience didn't want to let them off the stage!Finally, we are hosting a pre-Yuletide Open House on December 2nd. Starting with a meeting of my Book Club at 3:00pm to be followed by the Open House proper at 5:00pm. I plan a bit of a malt surprise for some of the malt aficionados who will be attending. Not sure if you have heard about this particular malt or not but I picked up a bottle of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt, apparently a meticulous re-creation of the original malt whisky shipped to Antarctica in 1907 by the explorer Ernest Shackleton to fortify his 'Nimrod' expedition. Several wooden crates of this precious whisky were abandoned to the Antarctic winter in early 1909, then rediscovered over a century later. Quite a story, one that celebrates the enduring spirit of both man and malt.

At any rate, thank you again for your condolences. I  only trust you understand how badly I feel for taking so long to acknowledge them . On a more positive note, we do hope you will be able to join us for a glass of wine and/or a wee dram and a bite on the 2nd! Fondestos and Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!

A couple of pics from our room/deck in St Helena.
15 years since out last visit!

Enjoying the great wines of several great vintages, and found some wonderful eateries, some with free corkage, excellent and reasonably priced meals.

Nice time of year to be here, with no crowds, although we have several major storms coming.

Seem to have some nice breaks between-we just have to pick our times to go tasting.

Sipping a Martinelli 2008 Jackass Vineyard Zin- 16.6 per cent beautiful !

Tasted at Martinelli on way over from coast via Russian River, which may hit close to flood level this week.

It was at 1.5 ft yesterday, and may hit almost 20 ft by Sunday-flood level is about 21 ft!

Remembering our many fun times in the area-can't seem to handle the volume of wine/tastings as we did back in early 90's, but still a great experience here.

See you soon.

Grog and Lurch

(Found Lurch on back deck at 3:00AM curled up with a big format bottle of Night Train!!)
  

Hi Napa Kids!

Glad you are enjoying being back in wine country! Can only imagine what the Russian River looks like. No wonder the beach area where we often had picnics was changed from year to year, depending on flood levels. Looks like there has been rain from the water one can see in the vineyard.

Been pretty busy ever since we last saw you. Cora Lee has been attending meetings, sometimes two or three nights a week, (church, Friends of VPL, and the like), and we have had more visitors from France/England, (Andre, where we stayed with F/S in 2010) and this past Wednesday we saw close friend, Rhoda Benson, in town from Cape Breton, to visit her eldest daughter, Dinao, who is taking an Art Therapy course here. I met Rhoda when I worked at the Curric Lab, (now the Education Library), at UBC and she was a Student Assistant, back in the late '70's! She came for dinner with her daughter, Dinao. Funnily enough, Rhoda's husband, Ron, was Flamin's paddling coach in Dartmouth when Flamin' was 13. He is now an oncologist and when at UBC, on sabbatical, about seven years ago, now, I invited the Sutherlands to dinner to meet the MacCormacks, as Flamin' had lived in Sydney at one point. We discovered, before the day of the dinner, their connection when I told Flamin' some of the details of how I met Rhoda and how she met Ron, etc.

Over the course of the evening Rhoda mentioned that she and Ron will be spending three months in Saint Maarten/Saint Martin, beginning in January. Ron will be teaching there and they have a two-bedroom place provided. She invited us to visit. AS I think you know, we are scheduled to leave Vancouver, (as of this writing!), on December 12th. We want to take our time driving south to LA to spend Christmas with Ayn and Los Horridos. Chloë, Clarisse and Dusty  will fly down. We are actually house-sitting for Ayn's cousin, Rick, who has a gorgeous home in Simi Valley. He and his family will spend holidays in Bora Bora to celebrate his 60th. Have already been in touch with David and Nancy, (Did you connect?), and mentioned that we will probably arrive on their doorstep sometime around the 18th/19th/20th, depending on how long we spend wine-tasting in Sonoma and Napa! Leave some Jackass!

A day or so after the 10th of January we are planning to continue driving south and east with a mind to seeing New Orleans, as one goal. I'd like to visit some bourbon distilleries in Tennessee and Kentucky but whether this transpires or not, remains to be decided. We hope to see Randy and Ruth, formerly living in San Antonio, now in Dallas, en route to New Orleans. Now that the possibility of going to the Caribbean exists, we are trying to determine where best to fly from in the US. At any rate, the thought of seeing some of the places in The Deep South is starting to make us both shiver with anticipation.

This past Saturday we drove up to Squamish to spend the night with Ruth/Rick. I took my bike along as I hoped to be able to ride the Sea to Sky Highway back from there, weather permitting. As things turned out, the day was simply glorious so I was able to cycle back to Vancouver. Had never ridden that section of highway before so it was quite an adventure. Very busy, with plenty of traffic so I had to really keep my wits about me. That being the case, I couldn't enjoy the spectacular vistas, (Howe Sound with Gambier and Bowen after the magnificent peaks surrounding Squamish itself), in the way one can when a car passenger. Fortunately, shoulder is reasonably wide for most of the way, (Quite narrow along cliff face near Porteau Cove, going north, and right next to railroad tracks, going south. Trains don't bother me, there are few in any event, but reasonably large stones from railway road bed often find there way onto the highway. It would not be a good idea to hit or even run over one as who knows what might happen, particularly since it is single lane traffic in either direction at this point!), and I managed to reach Horsehoe Bay without any mishaps. From there one takes Marine Drive and it is a reasonably quiet thoroughfare, particularly on the weekends. Furthermore, I am familiar with the route and enjoy it immensely. Arrived home just after 4:00pm to find Cora Lee, Dusty and Clara, watching the Grey Cup!

That evening we had tickets to a Jill Barber concert at a terrific club called the Electric Owl, on Main Street not far from Science World or the Georgia Viaduct. When I was there for a Macallan's Malt Tasting a month or so ago, I noticed a poster advertising her appearance.  This time I was taking Madame Coriandre there for dinner and show as my 41st Anniversary of Meeting, (Halloween, 1971, Champs Motor Inn, beer parlour, Wpg, 1971!), present. She gave me a pair of spiffy, quick wash/dry travel underwear and Rick Steves Eastern Europe, to help with next year's travel planning. Latter is really for her but I didn't make mention of that fact! The Sisterhood is quite sly about managing to buy what they want under all sorts of false pretenses!!!

Anyway, dinner was delicious and concert simply wonderful. Jill deviated from her signature lush retro-jazz repertoire for an evening exploring classic country tunes of the 50s with a special tribute to the music of Hank Williams. The evening opened with a set with Steve Dawson and the Black Hen house band performing both archival and contemporary country and Americana material to complement the full set with Jill. Steve is an incredible guitarist and the rest of his band were just as talented so it was a more than a riveting, energized and energizing performance. Audience didn't want to let them off the stage! Funnily enough, Rhoda managed to get tickets after we told her about the concert on Wednesday. They couldn't obtain dinner reservations so we saved seats for them right beside our table so we had a blast. She was with her brother, Al, a lawyer in Whiterock, and Dinao. They drove us back home as Chloë had dropped us off. Al and Ski came in, after we dropped Diano off, and we had a few snorts of malt for a nightcap!

Finally, we are hosting a pre-Yuletide Open House on December 2nd. Starting with a meeting of my Book Club at 3:00pm to be followed by the Open House proper at 5:00pm. I plan a bit of a malt surprise for some of the malt aficionados who will be attending. Not sure if you have heard about this particular malt or not but I picked up a bottle of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt, apparently a meticulous re-creation of the original malt whisky shipped to Antarctica in 1907 by the explorer Ernest Shackleton to fortify his 'Nimrod' expedition. Several wooden crates of this precious whisky were abandoned to the Antarctic winter in early 1909, then rediscovered over a century later. Quite a story, one that celebrates the enduring spirit of both man and malt.

Anyway, not sure of your return schedule but if you will be in town we do hope you will be able to join us for a glass of wine and/or a wee dram and a bite on the 2nd!  Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!

Pics and Official stats: Squamish to home, Sunday, 11:22am departure, with a few extra dipsy doodles, around Stanley Park, for a grand totale of 100.4K over 4:59:34, AVG 20.0KPH, MAX 50.2KPH. Ride fantastique! Non-Support Team outside the Squamish Waldorf with Rider Intrepide! Al and Ski; dinner and bridge at the Squamish Waldorf!


NRBC lads, it turns out I won't make it to Sunday's thinkfest.  As I crudely hunt and peck at my iPhone touch screen keyboard  I am on a flight to New York with Nancy. 

A show for which she did the costumes (tempest replica) is at the Joyce Theatre and she couldn't resist a chance to see it there.  And me, well, any chance for a break from routine. 

Guy

New Yorker cartoon caption under a couple wading through living room with hip waders:  "if they want us to take these storm warnings seriously they should give them scarier names."

Guy,

Is Siri unavailable in the air?

While we will undoubtedly regret your absence on Sunday, we shall endeavour to inoculate ourselves against that regret with a wee dram or two. We understand, too, that for you to forgo the Big Apple for an NRBC meeting would constitute a taboo tradeoff.  "Give our regards to Broadway [or 8th Avenue]". 8^) cheers, Mark  

Afraid I'm still pre Siri.  Will pick up some decent hooch on the way home and endeavor to keep it sealed until next nrbc malt meet.  G

Hey Patrick, so sorry about not getting back to you. Life has been a bit of whirl, with Glenn's mother being sick, my Dad had a fall, company over, teenager and on and on...How I find time to work, heaven knows! It was a pleasure to reconnect with you. If we don't see you this weekend (Zoe has a soccer game at 4:00) we will rendez-vous avec vous in the new year after your adventures broad. My love to Corrine and Chole. Happy Holidays, Donna

Hi Donna and Glenn!

Thanks for your last message. We missed you both but understand completely! Busy time here too. Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year to you both and Murphy and Zoe! Fondestos and Cheers, Cora Lee, Chloë and Patrizzio! 

Hi Rose and Joe!

Thanks for your last message. Trust you are both well. Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year to you both. Fondestos and Cheers, Cora Lee, Chloë and Patrizzio!