Happy Saturday

 

The Pink Palace

The Pink Palace is a hotel that has gone into disrepair.  It is located in South Surrey, close to the Peace Arch border crossing on 8th Avenue backing onto Hwy 99.  We stayed there many times when going on a Postal coach tour to the US.  The former management had a hotel and parking rate.  We would all stay at the hotel and have a pre-trip dinner in their restaurant.  We stayed there on our last coach tour.  It was horrible!  It was so run down.  Our room was so humid, I believe the roof was leaking,  I asked to be moved but they said the hotel was booked and they wouldn't relocate us.  Shortly after it was closed.

They used it for filming for a few years and it was purchased by an American hotel chain that was going to restore it but they resold it.  

After years sitting vacant our iconic Pink Palace (now White) has been purchased by a consortium lower mainland group. It’s to be brought back to its original grandeur. Apparently this will make the sixth hotel in BC they own and operate.

According to Scott, the on site manager , we are looking about a year to complete the restoration work. Nice to see our local business leaders have faith in the potential restoration of this landmark hotel.

Here are some former pictures of this beautiful hotel:

Spring has arrived

I got a phone call on Sunday from a relative in Edmonton trying to reach a relative here.  I said "the weather is wonderful, I've got all the doors and windows open, he's probably out enjoying this gorgeous day!  She said "it's snowing here"!

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and so are many other spring flowers around here:

Today my favorite garden shop Vandula Farms opens.  We will go and check out their plants!

Pacific National Exhibition

For anyone who grew up in Vancouver, these pictures are a flash from the past.  The Pacific National Exhibition is held in the last two weeks in August.  It's really changed over the last 50 years.  

Here are the Top 7 most beloved icons of the PNE that are no longer there. Shoot the Chutes, Skyride, Logger Sports, The Challenger BC Relief Map, Giant Super Slide, The Spiral / Space Tower and the Demolition Derby!

An interesting picture

 

A travel industry friend sent this to me.  I originally thought AI.  He said no, then maybe the angle the picture was taken.  No.  Look at this:

It's the Sun Cruise Resort and Yacht in South Korea!  What an interesting hotel!

Wikipedia article

https://www.esuncruise.com/

Michael Buble and the Junos

I've watched Michael Buble grow into the wonderful man he is.  We saw him originally at a performance in the Michael J. Fox theatre, I don't remember the year but it was before he had a contract with a record company.  He made a CD of songs his grandfather taught him.  He talked about his grandfather and sang the songs.  It was a concert of people in Burnaby who were "up and coming".  I won the tickets on the radio.  I was starting work at 6 AM so we left early.  When we left the concert was still going on and I felt bad in leaving but we had to get up so early.  Michael was at a table selling his CD's.  We had a lovely talk with him.  He spoke fondly of his grandfather.  I will never forget him as he seemed like such a lovely person.

The years have passed and he's a wonderful husband, father and a decent person.  His music has always been great and I've loved seeing him get famous.  Cheryl and I went to his concert at BC Place a few years ago.  It was great.

Last night he hosted the Juno Awards.  They are the Canadian Music awards that are given out every year.  I've never watched it but turned it on because I wanted to see him.  His opening speech was awesome!  What a proud Canadian!

If you love Anne Murray and you missed the Juno's, you will enjoy this:

These two talented musicians deserve all the awards and applause they receive.  They are both proud Canadians!

Nine Important Facts

• Number 9:  Death is the number 1 killer in the world.
• Number 8:  Life is sexually transmitted.
• Number 7:  Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
• Number 6:  Men have two emotions: hungry and horny, and they can't tell them apart.  If you see a gleam in his eyes make him a sandwich.
• Number 5:  Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day.  Teach a person to use the Internet and they won't both you for weeks, months, maybe years.
• Number 4:  Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.
• Number 3:  All of us could take a lesson from the weather,  It pays no attention to criticism.
• Number 2:  In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird.  Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.
• Number 1:  Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers.  What you do today might burn your ass tomorrow.