Saturday, March 17th, Day 6, St Patrick's Day!

"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

                Alice and Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass


Hi Peleton!

Be pleased that you are not in Sydney! Gorgeous day yesterday but pelted down last night. Started to sprinkle just after we finished a wonderful bbq in back garden last evening with our host, Ania, and her two daughters and their families, five grandchildren in total, all but youngest, Elvis, two months, yelling and racing around yard and house. Great time with plenty of hootch and lamb sausages, spuds on skewers, green bean/cherry tomatoes and feta cheese for the sustainable Vegan crowd and Ben's, (One of son-in-laws) nougat, (He is a chef with his own small business making and selling this product.), and Edradour Maltage for dessert.

Off to Melbourne today, (more monsoon rain during night but has tapered off now), at 3:00pm. Friend Tim, (We met in Raratonga in 1992), will drive us to airport after we have a quick lunch en route.

Miss everyone's chatter and scathingly critical remarks, and riding off course. Nonetheless, have managed to swim everyday since arriving and hope to hit pool once in Melbourne. Sarge will be at Grand Prix and The Sisterhood shopping as soon as they land!

On another matter, I had sent a number of messages to you people, via my iPad so that I could attach snaps, but discovered that they were never sent! Something to do with outgoing mail server. Cora Lee had used my iPad for her email when we first bought it and latterly I was sending from my UBC account. Think I have figured things out so will resend, knowing how desperately everyone is to know, to the .33K, how much lane distance I have I logged and what I had for breakfast last week!

Trust you get over your cold quickly, Robo Ray. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi NRBC!

Trust everyone is well! I'll try to Skype, depending on where we are!
Hi Straight to the Point, Stefano!

We pick up our car on Tuesday morning and plan to drive to Old Oak, arriving some time in early afternoon, I suspect. Let me know if this works or where the key is hidden!

Hi Elaine and Theodorakis!

Trust you are both well. Assume you are back in Canada by now. We arrived in Melbourne yesterday to hook up with Flamin' and Sarge at the Marriott until Tuesday morning. Wonder if you could pass allong Laura's/James' phone number as we'd like to say hello and perhaps meet up for a drink if everyone's schedules allow. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat
 
Wish we were back in Melbourne. We had snow the other day so I'm sure you're happy to be far from Vancouver.
 
Laura's cell is 011 61 413 595 915. Don't know if you need the 011 whilst in Australia.
 
Not sure what James's cell number is but you can also try to contact them at the following emails.
Did we tell you that James proposed to Laura while we were visiting them? So another Keating wedding in the not to distant future. Hope you get to connect with them.
Enjoy your visit. Elaine

Hi Raymond!

Glad that the email I thought I'd sent from HK finally arrived! I think I may have mentioned, in a latter email, that I was having trouble with Outgoing Mail Server. Anyway, the fact that you did receive message, with photos, means that I think I've worked out what to do. Wanted to take a look inside the HK Squahs Club but thought that Hungerford's cronies might get upset!!!

Thanks for St Patrick's Day wishes. You are right about timing as only plenty of hangovers today! We went out for a short stroll last evening to find a restaurant for dinner, around 8:00pm. Sarge was back from the Grand Prix at just before 7:00pm and Cora Lee adn flamin' had started to explore for shopping! We went downstairs to Gym/Pool facility and had a sauna. Pool is okay for a dip but not for laps. Fortunately, for me, Melbourne City Baths is just a 10 minute walk away. Closed at 6:00pm on wekends so couldn't squeeze in a swim yesterday but did today. At any rate, we passed an Irish pub on way to restaurant, huge lineup, most young people smoking and texting. Corinne chided me for shaking my head and harummphing about such behaviour. She reminded me that when I was their age I used to frequent similar establishments, although I never smoked. Music was so loud, even on sidewalk, one couldn't think. Too, too old for such places and scenes now. Nevertheless, really don't begrudge youth their chosen pastimes but I fear for their health with respect to tobacco. More people smoking here than I've seen in a long time, even more than in HK but that may just have been our experience.

Still, it was a festive scene on many sidewalks with plenty of revellers decked out in leprechaun garb, huge hats and capes and green shirts, etc. Flamin' was pretty tired as it took her two 12 hour flights, via Shanghai first, to reach Melbourne, so wee made our way back to hotel after a tasty meal, on the sidewalk, at an Italian spot. The place had gas heaters so The Sisterhood was happy. I sat as far away as possible from our stand and both Sarge and I were happy when propane ran out! Took a bit to have it replaced. We had taken our light jackets off and were quite comfortable for the entire meal.

Walked to Queen Victoria Market this morning. Flamin'a nd Sarge were up about 7:00am to head down to Gym. Corinne and I did a bit of unpacking and then she had a shower before treadmill people returned. Lovely walk, about 15 minutes to market. We'd been before so knew what to expect. Bit like Granville Island Market but many of the stalls are much more permanent structures. Not too busy when we arrived around 10:00am. Very colourful and lots of fun just wandering around, looking at the amazing arrays of foodstuffs, seafood, meats, etc. Didn't even pop into the fresh fruti and vegetable section.

We all picked up our own tea/coffee and something else, from a wide selection of takeaways, and sat in the morning sunshine, enjoying the fare. Made a few plans for rest of day. After our tasty breakfaast, Goils headed across the street to start power shopping. Sarge waas planning to stay with them for a bit befoer heading to race course, around Albert Park, about half an hour by tram from our hotel. I said goodbye as I was going to make for MCB for a swim. Only five minutes from QVM so I was in locker room by just before 11:00am. Fee is $5.50 plus $2.50 for a locker, so almost double what I was paying at VPP in Sydney. Not complaining but I think both places should have lockers that allow you to bring your own lock.

Must say that it is a lovely pool. Apparently it is a heritage building so it has been maintained extremely well.Everything is in impeccable condition. Wonderful skylights so almost like swimming outside without having to worry, overmuch, about too much sun. Funny thing, however, is that it is a 30 metre pool! I just decided to think of it as a 25 metre pool and set off, hoping to do three miles. Only three, quite narrow lanes, so there was a bit of traffic at the start but shortly after noon, (had logged one mile by then), there were few people in the lane I was using, (SLow Lane, Dear Reader!), so it was very relaxing.

Happy St. Patrick's, Pat. Already over in Oz.

All photos and letter arrived. The HK Squash Club looks a little swisher than the VRC!

Corinne has certainly had a horrible time with the foot surgery. We can only hope that it's near the end.

Finally a bit of sunshine today so was able to rig up my mini greenhouse and place in position on the deck with some perennials and veg. on the shelves.

Some articles of interest in today's Vancouver Sun:

        Duly recorded: Kilometres travelled, time spent by Pete McMartin page A4 - about a Richmond architect who keeps a record of his cycling etc. and has just completed 50 000K (remind you of anyone?)

        Cycling can still be a risky business by Kelly Sinoski A13

        Sacred Headwaters - book review on a work by Wade Davis E6 Ray

Hello from Winterland (& Happy St Patrick's Day)

Hope all is well, and that you have connected with Wayne & Michele.

Heading off to Whistler tomorrow for a couple of days skiing-plenty of fresh snow.

Hope to see Siege & Heike for a brew.

Still cold here, and even had snow at our place a couple of days, although did not stick.

Talked to Clara today, and we'll see them for dinner on Tuesday night.

Probably just take them over to G.I. as lots of options, and a close stroll...

Back here on Wednesday, then full tilt into baseball as the new Pres-many meetings and duties in the volunteer world, as you know!

Hello to all of the Aussies, and have a great trip. Cheers, Gregg & Francesca