IIDD, Try: Sunday, September 9th

Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don't understand us. -Malcolm De Chazal, writer and painter (1902-1981)

                                                                                    Hi Derek/Gayle et al!

Just a quick note to thank Gayle and Chrissy, (Mark on bbq duty, Kev as umbrella holder extraordinaire, Chloë as bossy scullion, Derek and Patrizzio as relaxed wine connoiseurs, Cora Lee as ultra relaxed hostess, Bev as perfect guest!), for the wonderful evening and fabuloso appetizers/curries and scrumptious cake for dessert. I have been enjoying the "hot" chicken curry every day since Sunday and am bemoaning the fact that tomorrow's lunch will be the last meal I can wring from the overlefts! Thanks        again for such delicious, nay sumptuous, fare!

On the biking front, if that is still on, (How does Gayle like your form fitting padded underwear, by the way?), I'm wondering what time on Friday, (The Perthites will be long gone, thanks be to God, having overstayed their difficult and demanding stay, by a good, not to say interminable, two weeks so it will be wonderful and a luxury, sheer luxury, to visit with easy going Cornwallians! Note to self: remember not to include Bev/Kev in this email.), suits your busy schedule. I'm happy to collect you, by car, if you require transportation. Gayle can come along to The Islay Inn, if that is on her agenda, and The Sisterhood can scheme while we ride. Let us know so we can plan both ride and lunch or whatever else you might wish to accomplish that day.

Give us a shout at home or an email so we can arrange matters. Cheers. Oi remains yer ever so 'umble servant, dish washer, pot scrubber, spoke cleaner, tire inflater and general dogsbody, Patrizzio!

 

George,

The back is making good progress, though not yet normal. I'm reluctant to ride until it's twinge-free, but we had a good hour and a half walk both yesterday and this morning. I'm hopeful I'll be back on the bike this week...

I'm going to pass on book club this afternoon - we're going to get in a visit with Aubrey, the last before Nona heads back to Uganda on Tuesday morning. I' 8^) cheers, Mark

Hi Patrick, thanks for sending these.  It must have been difficult for everyone to say goodbye to Arvyl & Sandee.  They will be missed, particularly by Mum who lives so near to them.  It has been good for us to know that they are there, just in case.

Hope you had a good trip back to the coast and are now planning your next adventure.  All the best, Ann

Dear Friends,

Please join me on September 30 to celebrate my 65^th birthday AND my retirement from UBC!

Where?            Trinity United Church, 1805 Larch Street at West Second Avenue

When?             Sunday, September 30, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Your friendship has always been a gift beyond price.  If you wish to honor this happy occasion, I would be pleased if you would consider providing a non-perishable food item or an article of clean, gently-used clothing to support the mission work of First United Church in the Downtown Eastside.

RSVP. Fond regards, Doug

Hi Gran Duggaccio!

Delighted to attend your 65th Boithday and Retirement Bash! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat

Thanks for another great evening.  We had great time.  We are off to Washington/Oregon for 10 days and will get in touch when we return. Mick

        THE WINNER OF THE HOMER SIMPSON LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST!

 

Hi Big Al and Marilyn!

Must really apologize for not being in touch sooner but sad to report that Mom died on  Wednesday, August 29th, around 1:00pm. Since she had such a full, long, adventure laden life we all celebrate that rather than the fact of her death. Nevertheless, it was a bit of a shock inasmuch as Corinne and I went over that 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 as all prairie folk will appreciate!), 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 International 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. We arrived back in Vancouver, on the previous Sunday.

Just to back up, Lodge phoned the next day, Monday morning, as she had been sent to VGH for an x-ray. 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 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. Cora Lee had a release party for Jim Byrnes, just up the street from us at a recording studio on 1st, a block before Burrard. She really liked the cuts that were performed off I Hear the Wind in the Wires. Invitees were each presented with a copy of the CD so I was looking forward to hearing it.

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, as you might know.), 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. In the recent past she had demonstrated just how tough she was, coming back from a heart attack while we were in Australia, this past April. 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 seemed quite comfortable when sleeping.

Cora Lee hosted a Friends of VPL bbq that evening and it was a lovely affair. We went downstairs to The Cave afterwards to visit with Flamin' and Sarge, just back from California that afternoon. Chloë came down after visiting Mom, once again at the end her 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.

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. 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.

We spent most of Thursday morning removing all her possessions from her room. Simpler to use a large dolly to wheel all the cartons from the Lodge to our place. The Annexe is now filled with boxes of pictures and ornaments that we will need to sift through when we have time. (Bev/Kevin Wittwer, friends from Perth, arrived Friday afternoon, for two weeks, and Greg, my brother-in-law from Winnipeg left on Wednesday night, after being with us for almost a week.) After we had finished, Chloë and Corinne took four large boxes/bags to the Salvation Army Thrift Store on 4th, (First United Thrift Store has closed!), and Mom's TV to their outlet on Broadway and 12th. Corinne had saved some of the nicer items of clothing and jewelry to give to Dodie, Mom's friend there. Once home, I was on the phone to Affordable Crematorium & Burial Ltd., the funeral home nominated by the Memorial Society, Canada Service, Manitoba Civil Service Superannuation Board, to make all the necessary arrangements, cancellation notices for pensions, etc. All of the service personnel I dealt with were extremely considerate, efficient and helpful so I have managed to accomplish much of the needed paperwork.

We will have a memorial service at Trinity United, the church Mom attended ever since moving to Vancouver, on October 14th, at 2:30pm. Her wishes were to have her remains buried beside my Dad in Winnipeg, Chapel Lawn, so we will organize a service next summer. We were planning to return to Winnipeg to celebrate Corinne's parents' 68th wedding anniversary so will know more closer to the time, in all likelihood, sometime in July.

What with all the visitors and arrangements following Mom's death, I have managed a number of decent rides. On Saturday there were six of us in the Peleton, (Sarge, Whirlygig, Robo Ray, Ramblin' Rodney and Sneaky Pete), and we rode to Steveston. Where path off the dike leads to Shell Road, Sarge and I continued to #6 Road as I didn't fancy the gravel surface of the former. Once we hit River Road we headed for New Westminster and the Queensborough Bridge.

Terrific, easy access to bridge deck and then into downtown NW and out towards Coquitlam, via a designated, separate bike path, for part of the way, on and off demarcated surface streets onto Columbia. Lost our way down Columbia so turned left on Lougheed. Wide shoulder so not too, too bad, in spite of reasonably heavy traffic. Wasn't sure where to kick over to find Central Valley Greenway but did so, eventually at Holdom and then it was smooth sailing all the way home. Ended up with 86K on the trusty odometer. Same head wind which plagued us on the dike out of Steveston tormented us much of return so AVG was a 18.3kph over 4:40:58. Another reason not to record this as an "official" statistic!

However, every one should be proud of me as my feet touched the ground so often that the ride definitely cannot be entered as a "legitimate'" outing! Need to confer with the local Burnaby "scouts", you and Marcus Aurelius, to find out where we should have turned, either earlier in New West, or later once on Columbia, to have avoided Lougheed. Nevertheless, a most pleasant junket on a gorgeous day.

On Monday of the long weekend, Whirlygig and I met Marcus Aurelius at Science World at 8:00am and since a Triathlon was being held at Stanley Park we decided to head out to UBC and along Marine Drive. Over Arthur Laing and then past River Rock Casino to CSTB, up Heather to 39th. Marcus went east to ride home to Burnaby, (He'd taken Sky Train to Science World), and we rode west. Giorgio made for home on Cypress and I continued on to UBC, dipsdy-doodling there for about 25K before taking traditional Spanish Banks route back to The Islay Inn. Pleased to say that I logged 101.3K over 5:13:40 with an AVG of 19.3kph. Bit disappointed at last stat as I try for at least 20kph. However, at start of ride we really dawdled as Marcus was telling us all about his recent two week sailing trip to Desolation Sound. Furthermore, there was a strong head wind for much of ride. Fortunately, I didn't have to unclip until I was back at the Heartbreak Terrace!

On Friday, Whirlage and Robo Man came by the Heart Break Terrace and we set off to do an up and over of the LG. made for Canada Place by 11:00am to take in Velospoke, a bike fair tied in with the Gran Fondo to Whistler, the next day. Quite a lot of fun wandering the exhibition hall, stopping at the various booths. Everything from a $21,000 carbon fibre to cycling clothing, health food, helmets, sunglasses, etc. You name it, it was there. Display of "vintage" racing and "antiques" bikes was very impressive. We spent about an hour chatting with various distributors, sales people, and the like then made our way back to English Bay via Coal Harbour Seawall. Giggster took off of Burrard while Robo Maniac and I cycled around Science World. Seawall was quite busy a it was such a fabulous day. Just opposite Spruce Harbour Marina where Cap'n Barnacle/ragin' Bull berths his boat, a woman cycling towards us did something that made Raymondo have to stop suddenly and my front wheel brushed his back tire and I went for a fall, crashing onto my right side and shoulder. Fortunately, I had enough time to try to use my arm to try to cushion the fall. The fact that we weren't travelling very quickly helped. Didn't even scrape any knees or receive other abrasions, although I did get a nice goose egg above my right temple. I remember the front of my helmet hitting the pavers first and then more of slight graze/bump on my forehead. I did see stars for a minute or so but didn't feel too, too badly.

Passersby were very concerned and attentive but no matter one still feels silly in spite of everything. I think Ray was a bit worried that fall might have been worse than it was. I thought I would be sore as I did take most of the crash on my right side/rib cage. However, ones ai broke a few years ago so they are supposed to be stronger once healed! Anyway, I picked myself up slowly and Raymond put my chain back on. Metal guard that keeps chain in place seemed to have been bent so I rode straight to reckless and left bike there, limping home. Never really thought about my hip as I was more concerned about my right shoulder. fortunately, it doesn't seem any the worse for the fall so I'm very grateful that things were not more serious. Shudder to think what might have resulted had I fallen into one of the many stanchions not far from where accident occurred. Am always reminded just how quickly hings can happen under even the most innocuous of circumstances.

Had a very hot shower once back home and slept remarkably well that night. In the evening Sarge had come upstairs to ask if I wanted to ride next day. Wasn't sure how I'd feel in the morning but once I was up and about felt not too badly. Thought that the exercise, might in fact, help loosen me up, so shortly after 9:00am we left to explore the route we taken a week ago, in reverse. Sarge wanted to see what it would be like to cycle to the new RCMP building in Surrey. We headed out your way, via CVG, making a few wrong turns along the way, (One of trails near Cariboo was closed for bridge repairs.), to make our way along North Road/East Columbia Street into New West, through Hume Park to the Pattullo Bridge. Easy access from the designated bike path BUT our hearts stopped as a chap with a bike trailer was walking his bike ahead of us, not far from the start of the bridge deck itself. Sidewalk is just like Burrard used to be before concrete barriers were placed on the edge of the cycle way so we were not sure how we were going to get around him and avoid falling, (literally, as drop-off is quite substantial), into reasonably heavy traffic. Fortunately, after Sarge alerted him to our presence, he moved his "contraption" and himself as close as possible to the railing and we "squeezed" by. A few tense seconds, as we accomplished this manoeuvre, as I'm sure you can appreciate. Had there not been enough space I suppose we would have had to dismount, (Horror of Horrors!), wait for a break in traffic and then quickly drop to road surface to get around and then back up onto sidewalk. When we had talked about ride, beforehand, we didn't know what sidewalk would be like but assumed that there would not be much if any pedestrian traffic.

At any rate, we continued on but I must admit I didn't really try to enjoy the view as I was pretty focused on keeping in a rather straight line down centre of sidewalk. (Why there is not even a metal fence of some sort is simply beyond me.) Once into Surrey we were in new bike territory but shortly after leaving bride, we found a designated bike path, through spotty signage, and after a few surface streets/lights/intersections we followed the Sky Train on a wonderful surface. Not sure what the "good" hill is named at this point, but we climbed it steadily, paralleling King George Blvd until we kicked over towards the town centre. Sarge knows this area quite well as he has worked there, on and off, almost since arriving in BC.

By this time it was close to 11:00am and the traffic was still quite light so we didn't have much to worry about as we made our way to the new RCMP HQ. (i have never been to this part of Surrey in my life so I'm glad Sarge was there to guide us!) I was most impressed with many of the buildings in the city centre, in particular the new public library. Didn't take us long to arrive at the construction site. Some outside landscaping/parking lot/road work was going on. Roughly two hours and almost exactly 38K from start. (I actually had 40K on my odometer as I had "circled for 2K, on Lamey's Mill Road and around the Heartbreak Terrace Parkade), while Sarge struggled to unlok his bike, raised his seat and otherwise fussed over things.) Interior is all but complete. Quite an impressive building so Sarge is to be congratulated for his part in the project. We stopped to use the Porto-Potties, Sarge chatted with some of the people he knows and then we continued our quest for the mighty Alex Fraser!

We threaded our way towards the bridge, along KGH, for a block or two, and then on a gorgeous bike route which follows a power transmission line, finally hitting Nordel Way. Good bike path on sidewalk until it ends abruptly near the top of the hill leading to the bridge itself. We go to a point where we had to stop as Sarge noticed a sign which informed us that since we could not maintain 60kph we were not allowed to proceed further! Traffric was very heavy at this point so crossing to another access road was both difficult and very dangerous. By chance, a fire truck came along, siren blaring, and when cars pulled over to shoulder we "darted" across road before they resumed their travel.

Ride over bridge, from the south, is one of easiest of all the major structures I've been on, as it is a fairly gradual incline, although probably the longest of all. View of Burnaby, New Westminster and the mountains behind was simply spectacular, grand in the extreme. Bit of excitement when a number of other cyclists approached from the other direction as the sidewalk is not much wider than that on the Iron Workers' Bridge. According to Sarge we had the right of way and the first pair stopped in the space between the support cables. Met second pair on descent and available space is slightly greater so were able to pass, albeit slowly.

You may know this but I certainly didn't. You exit onto Annacis Island and then follow along Cliveden Avenue, eventually using a series of "spaghetti" bridges/overpasses to finally end up back on River Road. In fact, week before I had ridden part way along the path, having taken a wrong turn, which took us back to RR on the present ride. Once there we were in known territory so we congratulated ourselves on the conquest of both bridges and made for CSTB. Once over, Sarge decided upon Cambie instead of Heather and so we made our way uphill. By this time we had about 75K on the clock and Sarge simply ran out of gas on the long climb. (Later learned that he had not had a bite to eat before leaving! How he thought he could ride over 80K I have no idea! For my part I was fuelled on two bananas and an energy bar I'd scored at Velospoke.)

However, he plugged away and we crossed over to 37th as soon as we could, making our way down Heather to dipsy doodle to Charleson Road near Olympic Village Station and home. He pulled HBT with 82K under his belt. I wanted to hit the 100K mark so I did two loops back to 2nd and Quebec, (dipsy-doodling into Olympic Village, Spyglass Place and Moberly Road), to give me 101.3K over 5:42:52 at AVG 17.7kph. Not overly pleased with our pace but we did a lot of stop/starting, wrong turns etc., so have an iron-clad excuse. Also, had to unclip so many times that I had terrible nightmares last night! My right side feels a little bit sore this morning but think I'm on the mend as long as Cora Lee doesn't squeeze me too, too hard when she envelops me in her lovin' arms!!!

Give us a shout when you have a moment and we'll arrange a get together. Will say goodbye for now, signing off as Patrizzio, "The Perfect Son"! Mom actually squeezed my hand when I said those words when I first saw her after our return from Winnipeg. Whether by coincidence or not one cannot say, of course. However, it would be wonderful to think that she could hear and understand a few things. A number of years ago, at the dinner table, this is how she referred to me, causing quite a furor, as you can well imagine, among those friends and relatives at the table, engendering particularly hostile responses from Cora Lee and Chloë!  Fond regards and best wishes from Cora Lee to you both! Cheers, PPS! 

Hi Patricio,

My most heartfelt condolences on the passing of Annie. I have to confess I welled up at the news and the picture which reminded me so much of my dearly departed grandmother to whom I was very close and passed away also at 98. I believe you were the perfect son second only to me of course and I know you took very good care of your Mom and I’m sure made her very happy in a lot of ways and I admire you for that. Please pass along our regrets to the rest of the family, I know how hard it can be but of course you can take consolation in the fact that she had a long rich life and hopefully it makes it somewhat better.

Glad to hear of your recent biking exploits, you have really broadened the horizons! I  have gotten out only a couple times lately as we have been travelling quite a bit this month and have also been working sporadically most recently last night from 5 P.M. to 7:00 this morning. I was working on a Metallica 3-D video down at Hastings and Burrard outside the Marine building which featured my retracting nitrogen cannon for flipping a van. It went well but the car hit the van too hard on the first take and sent it flying out of the frame of the camera so we had to try again. The object was to have the van flip only over onto it’s roof and stay there.   We tried again at different pressures and the last take almost went over but not quite and they had to call a wrap as they were losing their permit for using the street. I am going to test the van in an empty lot tomorrow and see if we can fine tune the pressure and get it to wind up on it’s roof  and then redo the “gag” on set on Tuesday night. I will be doing the testing not far from you at a parking lot  behind the  CN rail station at Terminal and Main so if you are out and about you could maybe come by and see a test.

I would love to get out with the peleton again so let me know of your outings and we can catch up some more. Take care, Al 

'Artlepool Assassin strikes again!

Pat,

    Sorry once again for the bump. Glad you seem to have recovered and no broken bones. Must be the organic produce.

    Good to see the photos - Af and Barry Gilmore both look very well.

    I have just got my car on the road again and I need a punture repair in the morning which I'll try and do right at 9. I pumped the soft tire with a bike pump this afternoon which was very good exercise. Weather forecast is for showers so we might want to check again early Monday. Probably not available until about 10 and if you want to get away earlier, please do so.

    Let me know of any repair costs to your 'Brodie', Pat. Ray

'Artlepool Assassin strikes again! Former Bermuda policeman finds new identity as Mob hitman...

Hi Lads!

10:00am start is fine with me, or even later as I've nothing pressing other than general housework and naggage avoidance from The Sisterhood! Thanks for volunteering about Brodie, Robo Man, but I'd rather you pay for a new titanium shoulder! Now that you have been acclimatized to the cost of kitchen refurbishments a paltry sum for a new shiny joint should be well within your budget! I presume we'll chat tomorrow morning. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrick, thanks for sending these.  It must have been difficult for everyone to say goodbye to Arvyl & Sandee.  They will be missed, particularly by Mum who lives so near to them.  It has been good for us to know that they are there, just in case.

Hope you had a good trip back to the coast and are now planning your next adventure.  All the best, Ann