De-Nesting Diaries: Thursday, March 21st

There is a foolish corner in the brain of the wisest man. -Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE) 

Hello my Patrick my friend

I am well. Thank you so much. I am sure you are well too. Still traveling, eating and wine tasting? You are right. Your plans sound great. Especially your trip to Cornwall. Have you know I lived in Plymouth for about 9 month? I ran a salsa dance school there. Was a great time and I love the area. Your idea to go there for cycling is amazing! I will try to come over. What a trip :-) Since more than a half year I am in Switzerland now. And I want to bring up my own business again. As well I manage my friends business here in Zurich as he is in Boston for one year. Maybe he will settle down there for good. Send you and your family best wishes and hope to see you soon.  Marco  

Hi Marco!

Great to hear from you and know you are doing well! Be terrific if you could visit us in Cornwall. Let us know, if trip seems possible, when you might wish to visit as we need to do a bit of co-ordinating with other friends and relatives. Not a big deal but always good to know if there is some flexibility in dates. Fondestos from Cora Lee and Chloë. Cheers, Patrizzio!  

So much for crappy weather. We've had a glorious sun here all morning. Anyway, see you on Sunday. Kjell
 
Hi Kjell!

Couldn't believe the weather either! Since we spent almost the entire day at the loft, inside, I was almost hoping it would rain! Nevertheless, we did manage to accomplish a fair bit to move things along. Cora Lee and Chloë came over in the morning but both had to leave before noon, CL for a luncheon meeting and Chloë for her GIB shift. Dusty and I stayed until 3:45pm. Once home, did manage to ride my bike, but only a few blocks, up to No Frills on 4th and Pine! Still, it was easier to cycle with two full, heavy panniers than carrying same load back to Harbour Terrrace.

Once Chloë finished her shift at 8:00pm, she and Cora Lee went back to the loft. En route they were planning to stop at Home Depot as one of the light fixtures we bought last week had a part missing! (When Dusty went to put it up in the hallway he realized there was no bracket to attach fixture to the ceiling box.) Need a few other bits and pieces so trip will be worthwhile in spite of the frustration of incomplete packaging. On a more serious note Dusty had a most unfortunate thing happen when he was installing a new security chain on the frame beside one of the windows which opens. The original fitting had rusted so Chloë wanted to replace it. The new channel is about twice as long as the old one so Dusty had to drill two new holes in the frame in order to attach it. Unfortunately, he didn't realize that the inside pane of the double glazed window extended  into the frame where he was drilling. He must have drilled through the glass but nothing happened until he tried to tighten the first screw and then the window cracked! A sinuous diagonal, from bottom left corner to top right!

Of course he feels absolutely terrible, we all do. However, in all fairness, it really could have happened to anyone, unless one is experienced in these window types. Fortunately, the outer pane is still intact so until we can have the unit fixed or replaced, the rain shouldn't be streaming in. On the other hand, how this is to be accomplished is another matter altogether. I don't think it will be an easy or quick or inexpensive fix, no matter what as it is not readily apparent how each separate unit is affixed to its neighbours. I am crossing my fingers that the whole, fairly large, segmented picture window is a modular system. First thing we'll have to do is to contact the property management company to see if they can suggest anything. Chap we phoned there about finding a lock/door handle replacement was quite helpful. Dusty installed the new hardware before moving on to smashing plate glass. You win some, you lose some!

Even with the door, the necessary alignment of the new handle exposes marks that were covered by the initial hardware. Although the models are supposed to be identical, in fact they are not! Chloë remembers that the Strata does re-paint the doors, from time to time, as many other owners have had to replace their locks as well.
With any luck, a small touch-up should take care of things. In any event, the marks are not glaring so not a really big deal. Frustrating, more than anything else, as reason for doing most of the work is to spruce up the place and then when things go haywire it seems doubly disappointing. Such is reno life!

To a more interesting but nonetheless complicating matter. Received another Vancity mailing today and Barbara is listed as playing at 2:00pm on Sunday. Plan to phone tomorrow to confirm this latest scheduling but I assume the posted time is correct. Thought I should let you know as this may well affect your stay at cabin, if you are still interested in seeing film. If you are then I suggest you come back to our place for dinner afterwards. Let me know what you think.

Above was as far as I had composed until I realized that you might have already left for the cabin and not have  access to email, (Does Jane receive email on her phone?), so I decided to phone! You know the rest. Will let you know about timing when I contact VT. We will probably walk to cinema, although if weather is as nice as it is supposed to be, I might cycle there and back. Film should be over just before 4:00pm so by time we are home, one way or another, we'll have a chance to visit before Jane arrives from work. Happy Nordic Trails! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Pat,

    Just a quick note and I'll get back to you in detail soon.

    Working on the garden this week - turf dug off and new soil and mulch to administer. The inevitable bad back of course but should be able to rectify once I'm done.

    Hope to ride again next week. Ray

Hi Raymond!

Sorry to hear that your back is playing up. You remind me of times we lived on 12th when I had to rake horse chestnuts off the front lawn. I could always count on a sore back then, let me tell you! Couldn't believe the weather today! Since we spent almost the entire day at the loft, inside, I was almost hoping it would rain! Maybe you were too so that you didn't have to till the garden! 

Have a recipe, from Rosie-the-Riveter, for spaghetti sauce, using kale, which I'll send along as soon as I've a moment to digitize it! Looks good and with your un-ending supply we should be able keep all the Italians in East Van happy for years!

Don't over-strain your back. I don't want any excuses for not riding next week, Branko! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello all,

Here’s a brief rundown of what we’ve been up to:

 
March 13 – arrived at Edinburgh airport where we picked up a car, and then drove to Stirling. We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, which had a great breakfast. Seems like HI express is all over Britain. Anyways, this HI was a bit out from the city centre, but just across the street from a great grocery store called Morrison’s, which had a good wine selection. Had a nice Bordeaux – Chateau Gillet 2011.

 

March 14 – went to the university, where Jo-Anne had an appointment to see the library. Nice campus, up on a hill near the Wallace monument. That evening,we went back to the campus for a screening of a documentary on Scotland. Unique – over 3000 people were trained and given cameras to film what was important to them about Scotland. Some 500 clips were then edited together to make a 95 minute film. Parts were hilarious, others left a non-Scot wondering. Chilly outside. Mountains in distance all snow covered. Finished off the day with a Mauregard 2011 Bordeaux.

March 15 – packed up and headed north, via Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen to Hartley and then to Dufftown. This is the holy land of Scotch. Went to the Glenfiddich distillery for their tour (because it was free). Tour ended with samples of their 12, 15, and 18 year old scotches. Very nice. Then went to Glenlivet and to Aberlour. Also in the area saw Glenfarclas. Headed on towards Keith and then to Aberdeen, where he stayed the night in another HI express.
 

March 16 – headed back to the airport to return the car. We did this the slow way. After Dundee, we followed the coast to St. Andrew’s, where we saw the famous “old links”, the first golf course. If you like both Scotch and golf, Scotland is, truly the “promised land.”

After St. Andrew’s, we followed the coast through Fife until we reached the Forth bridge. Then is was a quick drive to the airport. After returning the car, we took the bus into Edinburgh, and found our way to the hotel – Ibis Edinburgh Centre. A basic hotel, but greatmlocation. Just behind the Tron Church on High Street and South Bridge Street. High Street is the Royal Mile. A few blocks north on Bridge Street is the train station. Anyways, we settled in to our hotel, and the went out for food. Found a great pub some 100 feet away – the Albanach, which has 250 malt whiskies available. We both had haggis and an ale to start. I finished with a wee dram of Tobermoray 10 yr. old (from the Isle of Mull), while Jo-Anne had Royal Lochnagar 12 yr old. Needed the Scotch – very cold and damp here.

March 17 – went down to the station area and caught a tour bus to see the sights. After doing one tour, we switched buses and went off on a different tour. This one took us to the port area, where we got off and went on a tour of the Royal Yacht Brittannia. Wow! HRH really travelled in style. Then it was back on the next bus, and back into the city – but only after sampling some Tomintoul 10 and Highland Park 8. Cold and drizzly outside.

March 18 – it is snowing!!!! Walked up to the Castle and saw the various regimental museums and the Scottish War Memorial. Then it was down to the Scotch Experience for lunch and some tastings. Had an Ileach, a Glendeveron 10, a Glen Turner 12, a Deanston 12, and an Edradour 10. Afterwards, we headed to the university, and then to the National Museum. Took a bus to Holyrood House Palace. Also in the area is the new Scottish Parliament. Weird!!! Looks like it was designed by a committee of politicians. Then it was back to the station and on to the hotel. After a bit of warming up, went out for dinner at the Royal MacGregor. I had more haggis, while Jo-Anne had chicken breast stuffed with haggis. Then it was a flight of regional scotches: Benromach 10, Macallan 10, Cragganmore 12, and Ben Riach 16. Then out into the snow and cold to head back to the hotel. Have to pack up next morning and head to Cambridge.

Hi Jo-Anne and Colin!

What a wonderful time you are having!  We certainly enjoyed our week in Scotland, back in 2004. Never made it to Edinburgh on that rip so really do wish to return to see more of the country and visit more distilleries. Cora Lee  sends her greetings to you both. Enjoy punting on the river in Cambride. I did in 1968! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Hi Elaine and Ted!

Just a quick note to thank you both for the wonderful, wonderful evening! Simply delighted that I finally was able to meet Hazel. What a cutie-pie! Must have inherited Elaine's looks!!!

Goes without saying that your meals, Elaine, are always something special and one of the tastiest dishes, for me at least, was the bbq'd halibut kebabs. Must have been the grill-meister's touch! Of course, the St Patrick's Day cookies, shaped as shamrocks, pots of gold and leprechuan's hats, were marvellous, both to taste and to look at. Not to forget the fantastic bridge prizes!

Thanks again. Fondestos and Cheers, (from Rosie-the-Riveter, Coat-Hanger and Cora Lee as well), Patrizzio!

Hi Polly and Mick!

Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed catching up last Sunday. Thanks for the wonderful Quivera. Hope we can plan a bridge evening before Durstons return to Manitoba. Cheers, Patrizzio!