Burning Man Blues Put to Rest: Tuesday, February 11th

Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages. -Thomas Edison, inventor (1847-1931) 

 
Hi Patrick

Lovely to hear from you. We hear about cornwall every day it's chaos in the west. Am attaching pic of bushey 3 lane road! 

Lisa moved into flat yesterday and boy did I need some space! Came back home with mike on sat to find anna max Lisa and dave there - Leon was in Hastings. Lisas baby due 4 Apr and she is looking big - she finishes work soon.
 
Saw august osage county last week and tonight am seeing inside llewyn davis - will keep my eyes open for chloe s film too. Off to krakow early March then abu dhabi in may for mike s birthday - the big seven o! It's our anniversary this Sunday and his boys still haven't met me! Lots of love to all Penny xx 

Hello again, Jet-Set Woman!

Are you paddling to Poland? Perhaps Mad Max will lend you his water wings! What a picture of Bushey! Any damage to Anna's/Leon's place, or Carol's? Hope not. You'll certainly need to go to the desert to dry out!
 

Sorry to hear that you are still "in the closet" with respect to Mike's boys but you seem to be handling it well. Please pass along our fond regards to Lisa. Glad her pregnancy proceeds without complications. Cora Lee exclaimed that you certainly must have needed space! We felt  somewhat like that when Chloë was here for over two years! One loves them BUT!

Had meant to mention that I'd had a bit of a Facebook exchange with Jean, a week or so ago, and she mentioned she will be in England for her son's wedding, sometime in September. I suggested that perhaps she should try to contact you but she said it had been too long since she'd last been in touch! Funny response, I thought, but everyone is different.

Watched The Paperboy last night, an American thriller with Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack, and Nicole Kidman, in which a reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. Cast also includes Macy Gray as the family maid, Anita, and David Oyelowo, Englishman Yardley Acheman, another investigative reporter. 

As we watched we both realized that he played MI5 officer Danny Hunter in your series Spooks, known in North America as MI-5! Gray was terrific as the maid/mother surrogate. Thought Nicole Kidman was simply incredible as the oversexed, white trash woman in love with inmate, Cusack, awaiting execution. Cusack himself gives an absolutely chilling portrayal of a truly incredible monster.  Most impressed with McConaughey as well. He has done some very, very interesting roles of late, Mud and Dallas Buyer's Club. I've not seen latter but want to do so. Mud has a somewhat similar setting, Mississippi River delta as opposed to Florida swamp/everglades, and is a coming-of-age story. Anyway, just wanted to make sure you and family weren't living in a school gymnasium somewhere, given horrendous flooding, etc. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: View from Chloë's loft a few weeks ago. 

After I looked at the Accu forecast this morning I realized I might be able to squeeze in a rain-free ride before showers predicted for 11:00 am. With this in mind I suited up and left Heartbreak Terrace at just after 9:00 am. Seawall was very quiet even though it was a lovely day. Relatively warm compared to the very chilly weather we've had over last few weeks so I couldn't have been happier. 

Once I'd reached Stanley Park and completed two Prospect Point Loops I took a good look at the clouds over the North Shore and decided that it probably wasn't going to rain at all. This being the case I thought I had it in me to try for a 100 km ride, especially since the weather looks pretty dismal for rest of week, if not longer. Anyway, I did just that, throwing in a few strategic dipsy-doodles to give me roughly 10 km, instead of having to do another Prospect Point loop. Only thing that "marred" ride was the fact that my chain jammed on the fifth loop, just past the parking lot at Prospect Point. was not very happy about the Burning Ground but there was no alternative. 

Fortunately I was able to fix the problem, at least sufficiently to continue, without any further problems. Think it might well have been caused by all the "gunk" that the wet road surface kept throwing up onto chain and drive train. Even had three calls from Cora Lee but after chain catastrophe I certainly couldn't compound delay by answering phone, Dear Reader! (Initially I thought I'd be home by 1:00 pm and we had tentatively agreed that we might meet at Costco as Coramandel was going downtown after I left house. She said she'd phone if it looked like she had time to shop after all her appointments, meetings, luncheons, etc.

Anyway, after the 7th loop and the necessary add-on dipsy-doodle, made for home and was back close to 3:00 pm. First thing I did was to give the Trek as thorough a cleaning, on the patio, as I could. Need to go to MEC to pick up some more de-greaser and chain oil suitable for wet weather riding. Anyway, quite pleased with my Whistler Gran Fondo distance, if not elevation. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/444043543#.UvrKdJw8L0w.email

Hi Matt! We are already connected! Cheers, Patrizzio!

So we are! We are having a warm and sunny holiday in San Diego. Back home the 20th. Matt 

Hi Matt!

Great spot to be! We've been to San Diego a number of times and always enjoyed ourselves. You are missing a patch of fairly wet weather at moment, although today we had a reprieve from rain which was quite heavy on Monday. Took advantage of the reasonably warm day to go for a great ride, my regular route around Stanley Park/Prospect Point, (7 loops), for a grand total of 121.34 km. Good ride for me. Trust you will continue to have a wonderful time. Cheers,  Patrizzio!
 

 Hi Patrick, Thank you for another night of pleasant conversation. Cheers, Moe

Hi Moe! Thank you, again, for the simply fabulous cookies! I apologize, once more, for not serving them when you were here. Meant to do so but simply forgot. Too much malt, probably! Cheers,  Patrizzio!

Hi Colin! Success is having money at 66! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrick, Wow, powerful stuff. So that's why we're going to Mumbai! Peter 

[British Columbia's foster care system contributes to the homelessness problem by pushing vulnerable, unprepared young people out of care before they're ready, writes Kevin McCort. Former foster youth comprise 40 per cent of our homeless population.]

Hi Petrovitch, (A slight nod to the Sochi Couch Potatoe!), and Lurkin'!

Instead of beach time I think we should relax in Annawadi. No dress code or building code, for that matter, apparently!

Trust you continue to research Inja trip. Now looks like we won't be coming up until Friday as Flamin' can't get away on Thursday. We plan to leave at 6:00 am so we'll have time for some tasting in the early afternoon. Do you have plans for Friday night? I assume you might be busy getting ready for Saturday but let us know. Anyway, I'm thinking of cancelling our reservation at The Hermitage Inn when a gunny sack, rejected brick for a pillow and a ditch should do the trick! I'm sure The Sisterhood won't mind. Cheers, Patrizzio "Blue Goat" Dunn

Hi Giggster!

Trust your doubles match went well.  You were probably kicking yourself as it was really a grand day for riding, as things turned out! Unfortunately, weather forecast looks particularly grim right through weekend so not sure what I will do at this point. Anyway, we can commiserate at bridge on Thursday if we don't connect before then. Cheers, Il Conduttore!


Hi Raymond!

Trust your cough has lessened its grip on your chest. Am really enjoying An Officer. Cora Lee just picked up Thomas Cook's Sandrine's Case. Hope rain continues as I've so much reading I want to do! Unfortunately, weather forecast looks particularly grim right through weekend so not sure what I will do at this point. Anyway, plenty of reading so I'm sure I'll be able to amuse myself. Might even try stationary bike at GICC if I get cabin fever! Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Pic: Sent to me by friend we stay with in North London. This is Bushey, about half an hour, by car, from Mill Hill. Penny's eldest daughter, Anna, and her family, live there. Other two are of Cornwall, sent by Derek, owner of house we stayed in there. Apparently, they will be without rail service for two months or longer!


Hi Sarge: I forgot to ask you last night if you have an address for Nadienka's parents, email or postal. If either, or both, could you pass info along as I'd like to write to them or send them a message. Thanks, Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrick, Friday night should be open for pre-party gatherings. Maybe some bridge could break out. I'll have to see how things are coming. Otherwise, there
could probably be a pretty good party at the Inn. I'll give it some more thought.
Peter

Good even, M' Lord! Party with the slum dwellers, you mean! Yer 'umble untouchable! 

Pat, Feeling much better, thanks. I've read Sandrine's Case and I think it was OK. Almost finished the Adler Olsen novel you leant me and I've ordered his latest. I have a Martin Gladwell book to pick up at Kerrisdale.
 
Just finished watching the VGH series, Life and Death, a documentary I've been very impressed with.
 
Visited Arthur at VGH yesterday. He's in palliative care and it doesn't look good. Hardly recognized him at first. He is still able to chat although he does go off topic at times and it is difficult to hear him. I was quite shocked to see him in such horrible condition. He came into my thoughts when I first woke up this morning. His sister flew in from England today.
 
Set off on my bike this morning for the gym. It was surprisingly icy on my front walk so I rode the short distance with caution. Thought I would ride to an appointment this afternoon but it started to rain so was unable.
 
I've seen 2 of those photos from south-west England. Quite a serious situation according to the papers. Looking forward to some good weather which will allow the fair weather riders to participate again. Ray

Hi Raymond!

Very glad to hear you are feeling better. Now we just need weather to improve! Funny you should have ice as I didn't see any, although there was a fair bit of salt about, particularly on Seawall, Olympic Village and such. As I mentioned, I had a completely rain-free ride but poor Corinne got caught when she was coming back from gym at GICC around 6:00 pm this evening. Wet and cold so she wasn't very happy.
 

Good that you had a chance to visit Arthur and that his sister flew over to be with him. Hard to take it all in, however.

Not sure if I mentioned it or if you remember but when I had my last bike accident I was taken to VGH Emergency and the series you mention was being filmed. Chloë went to Byng with director. She brought him over to say hello. I even had to sign a release in case I was filmed! Better watch for me during Oscars!

Back to An Officer...now! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Join us for Lynne's 70th Birthday

We’re having a big party to celebrate Lynne’s momentous birthday. She would be thrilled if you could attend. Where – Our place, When – Saturday, March 29, 6 PM (her actual birthday is Apr. 2) Your presence is all we want, along with your favourite Lynne stories. Please RSVP to Peter.