Fast Eddy's Galiano Blues: Wednesday, April 2nd!

One forges one's style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines. -Emile Zola, writer (1840-1902) 

Hi Kjell! Do you remember Högertrafikomläggningen? Sounded like an interesting time! Will be seeing Ingrid tomorrow at a UBC luncheon for Librarians Emeritii. Any greetings you wish me to bring? Busy week/weeeknd ahead but give me a shout and perhaps we can take in a film. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Thanks for the message, Pat! I do remember Högertrafikomläggningen. Disaster had been predicted, but there were very few accidents due to the change. Today, I consider driving on the left-hand side (in England) a real challenge. I actually ran into Ingrid at the MacMillan presentation last Friday. Would certainly appreciate a good movie. I'll call you. Bestestos, Kjell

THE BLACK WIDOW WINE CLUB:    

NEW RELEASES - Spring Wine Club

 

Here's what we're bottling this coming month:

 

2013 Pinot Gris              $21
2013 Oasis                      $22
2013 Gewurztraminer    $22
2013 Schonburger         $25
2013 Rose (Merlot)        $22
2013 Spiderling Red      $22
2012 Phobia                    $27
2012 Red Back               $32

 Should you wish to customize your selection, increase your order, or have any questions at all, please e-mail us.

 

Greetings from the web of the non-arachnophobic Islay Inn! Dear Black Widow Spider People. I would like to customize my Spring Wine Club full case release as follows:6 2013 Pinot Gris, 3 2013 Gewürztraminer, 3 2013 Schönburger. Thanks very much. Cheers, Patrizzio!
 

Patrick - thanks very much for your e-mail. Here is your order confirmation. Final invoices will come out in 2-3 weeks when we actually charge cards, with shipping targeted for the week of May 5th. Thanks again! Dick Lancaster

Hello Sir James!

Lovely to hear from you but I think your email has been compromised! I received a link to some site selling some vitamins, etc. You might wish to investigate. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

P, nice ride stats lasterday. I was bucking that wind myself in the early afternoon without the Iona gale force. I am unable to ride today. See you around 7PM. By the by, I am in the market for a card table if you happen to know of a used one. W

Hello Non-Pelotonii!

Sorry you were not along this morning as it was a lovely, lovely outing. Did and extended up-and-over onto Spirit Trail and then over bike/pedestrian bridge to Bewicke Ave. Managed to dodge the disdainful looks of countless snooty dog walkers and laughably arrogant West Van hoi aristoids as I wove my way to Travers and then back over Lions Gate. Wanted to log 70+ km so I dipsy doodled around Coal Harbour to Canada Place. Pleased to report that the dedicated bike path is now open past the Seaplane Terminal so if one can avoid collisions with tourists who must have taken Bicycle Obstruction 101 at night school in West Van, ride is rather pleasant. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/472479976#.UzyLlAG18zY.email
 

Decided to log longer distance than originally planned as water is off in our building with valve replacement for hot water tanks in some of the suites. (Not ours as we replaced our tank a number of years ago and that work was completed at the time.) If it is not turned on by time I need to leave for bridge, I'll bring a VLTBC towel and shower at your place Giggster! Either that or a sponge bath with cheap malt! Cheers, Patrizzio The Odouriferous!

Hello and good bye ha,ha just joking, yes the time andthe  day is suitable  to me. See you all  930 am Wednesday Apr.09 2014 at the Broadway loc. Love
Jarek 

Hi Jarek! Just remember that "He who laughs last, laughs loudest!" Together with Famiglia Balzarini, Clara/Dusty, Corinne and I, I have taken the liberty of inviting all my cycling friends so there will be about fifty in the party! Please make sure there is plenty of steak available as cyclists are always very hungry. Look forward to seeing you next Wednesday! Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!  

Michele Darrow-Sutherland

"Corey and Rebecca are engaged !! We are so happy to have her in iut family !!"

Flamin': What's an "iut" family? And why is post not available? Cheers, Desperately Seeking Confirmation of Engagement or is this an iHoax?

Hi Marvinator! Thought you might enjoy this! Cheers, Patrizzio!  The invention of basketball: Very cool. Thanks Pat! M Mercado  

Hi Marvinator!

Guess that means I get one of the 8th Generation bottles Flamin' picked up for Nicolina this past weekend! Cheers, Patrizzio "Learning How to be a Freeloader from the Very Best!"

Sounds good to me M Mercado 

Hi Marvinator!

Spoken like a True Freeloader! "Not my wine so who cares if I give it away!" Cheers, Thirsty Patrizzio!

Dear Patrick,

How are you and Corinne?  I mean to keep a calendar of you two as I can't keep up with your travel schedule! How about Dusty & Clara?  Please give them our best regards.

Life is moving forward.  Adrian is busy with his exams as school only has a few weeks left.  He spent his spring break in the South Beach in Miami, for Ultra music festival.  All I can say is that he has gotten back to school safe and sound, and that's a relief!  He is working on landing a job for the summer, as he only has one more year before he has to find a REAL job.  Fingers crossed!

Miranda finally came to Randy and my first choice -- UT Austin, after only putting me in deep depression and sadness for 3 weeks when she turned down UT for Georgia State in Atlanta.  Her advisor at UT really likes her and somehow erased the little doubts she had.  We are over the moon!  Austin is one hour from San Antonio and 3 hours Dallas, as we have to pass through during our weekly commute.  It's one of the fastest growing cities.  Boyfriend Eduardo Hernandez will follow -- currently looking for a job, and planning to prepare for med school at the same time.

Randy is going to Taiwan for about 10 days, making plans for a new International Business & Liberal Arts program this fall.  He will be on sabbatical and plans to be in Taiwan most of the fall.  Any chance of you traveling that direction?  I'm hoping to meet up with him in Sept when he travels to Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.  

Talking about travels, I would like to get the house boat info from you when you, Sarg and Michelle took the trip a year or two ago.  A friend Chuck is retiring next year (with a big nest egg), so we were talking about a French house boat trip through the Bordeaux region.  How did you book it, how big is the boat, and how much dough do we have to start saving up?  Would appreciate any tips!!!

Please take care.  Say hi to the millionaires for us!  Ah, come to Vail any time. We hope to be there a bit in the summer, most likely end of July - Aug. Love, Ruth

Hello Vailoids!

Lovely to hear from you! Congratulations to Miranda on UT Austin! Great that we can now visit/stay with her in sheer luxury when taking in the fab music scene!!!! Buona Fortuna to Adrian on finding summer work! Rosie-the-Riveter and Picasso, (Dusty just completed his 170th painting, (A prairie grain elevator in such demand he has had to make two copies, with more in the offing!), are both well. Their stay here will soon be up as they return to Winnipeg on April 15th. Neither are looking forward to it as there is still 9' of snow in their driveway! Snow-blower literally cannot clear new drifts as snowbanks are too high! Manitoba is already preparing/bracing for flooding! 
 

With respect to canal barge, we used Locaboat both times, in 2010 and 2012. Take a look here for trip we took this past September/October, out of Agen:

http://www.locaboat.com/en/destinations-circuits/france/canal-boat-south-west.html

I think it was about $1,500 per person for two weeks but you should talk to either Flamin' or Sarge as they handled booking details. We had four couples in 2012, just the four of us in 2010. Either way it was a blast. Depending on time you choose, I suggest further south for nicer weather later in year. As I say, take a look for a first cut and then you will probaly have questions that we can try to answer, based on our experiences.
 

Take care of each other until we see you. Unfortunately, don't think Vail is on this summer as we are off to Falcon, mid-to-late July for large family reunion to celebrate Dusty's 90th and their 69th wedding anniversary, in early August! Los Horridos and Ayn are coming so should be a grand time. Then Ayn is flying up to Vancouver around August 19th. We have all been invited by Vogt family to spend that weekend in Tofino to celebrate the lives of her Uncle Erich and Father, John, and then spread their ashes upon the ocean there. Tofino was a favourite family holiday spot for Erich and Barbara Vogt, over the years. Funnily enough, on our honeymoon, in May, 1976, with Cora Lee very pregnant with Chloë, we were staying at the Wickaninnish Inn there and bumped into Barbara and Erich, staying down the hallway for the same weekend! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Blossoms off our patio. One of Picasso's latest! Much in demand Elevator!

Hi Lads! Just a few snapolas as evidence that we were not intoxicated! Cheers, Il Conduttore! 

That was too much fun! Too bad the last picture of George and Pat didn't turn out or was it deleted? I was laughing so hard on the way home I almost fell off the bike...I'll tell you why later!!! Thanks for everything guys ....and for you hosting George.