The Red Hat Society is 28 this month

 

For the last four years, Mulburry Parc Retirement Living in Burnaby has invited us to celebrate Red Hat's Birthday.  They roll out the "red" carpet for us.  This year they served  afternoon tea!  It was delicious.  The chef came and explained about all the sandwiches and desserts.  He explained to those with Celiac or have a nut allergy what they could or shouldn't eat. They gave containers for those who live alone to take leftovers home.  Very thoughtful!

The plant is on the left along with a nice glass of champagne as we entered!

The scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam were delicious

This year we lost three members.  Our Queen displayed a memorial with their pictures and Red Hats!

Elizabeth, one of our long time members had a lot of red hat regalia.  Before she passed, she donated it all to us.  In January we had our lunch and displayed all of her red hat regalia for anyone to take.  No money was exchanged, just remember Elizabeth when you wear it.  Vicki, our of our members was the same size as Elizabeth and she wore Elizabeth's clothes to our lunch yesterday!

Vicki in her finest Red Hat attire!

On May 3rd our late member Janet's family is having a Celebration of Life.  We will go in our Red Hat regalia and celebrate her life.  It's a wonderful organization!

The Red Hat Society has spread to other countries in the world.  As of 2011, besides the thousands of chapters in the U.S., there were local chapters of the Society in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Ecuador, England, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guam, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Namibia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Wales.  They didn't publish how many members they have so I asked AI and AI said 50,000 world wide.  

When I went to England a few years ago, I emailed a Red Hat group in London and joined them on a trip to a small museum and lunch!  They were a hoot!  We went to a pub for lunch and left at 4:30!!!  No one drove, they all took the train.

The Madison

 

Taylor Sheridan who wrote Yellowstone has written another wonderful series, The Madison.  It's on Paramount + and it's wonderful.  I don't want to spoil the plot but the Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer are the stars.  It caught Cec's attention when Kurt was fly fishing on the Madison River in Montana.  The first series is only six episodes and we binge watched it as we enjoyed it so much.  It's been renewed for a second and third season!  Taylor wrote and was the Executive Producer of this series.

Taylor's next production: Dutton Ranch is scheduled to be released on May 15th.  The nine episode series follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cold Hauser) from Yellowstone as they start a new chapter in Texas, facing a ruthless river ranch.  I loved these characters in Yellowstone and I am really looking forward to this series.

Ride your Horse to a Bar Day. Who knew?

I've never heard of "Ride your Horse to a Bar Day"!   I don't have a horse, but I love a bar.  My cousin Laurie's daughter-in-law Simone Stich is on the right horse!   I loved this story and thought I would share it.  It was on the front page of this week's Surrey Now Leader.  I am now following them on Instagram.  I saw Simone last month at the shower she threw for her new sister-in-law.  We've been on a cruise together and she took advantage of the alcohol package!  She's a wonderful daughter-in-law!

Happy horse riders took to Surrey streets on Thursday (April 2), dubbed National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day.  Friends Heather Kennedy, Simone Stich and Kristyn Ward rode horses Tommy, Wazabi and Phoenix from the East Guildford Park and Ride on 103 Avenue to The Barn country bar, on an adventure that’s quite familiar to Kennedy and Stich, aka the “Wild Trails Cowgirls” on Instagram.  They often ride their horses in urban settings across Metro Vancouver, raising eyebrows and making people smile along the way.

Held annually on April 2, National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day was created in 2021 by Dale Garwood, according to a post on nationaldayarchives.com. “The day highlights the long history of ‘coaching inns’ or saloons that historically provided stables and rest for horses while travelers had a drink,” the website notes.  Kennedy saw word of the Day on Facebook and with Stich planned a two-kilometre, 30-minute ride to the popular Barn bar on 102A Ave., near Guildford Town Centre.  “We ride for the fun of it and also the challenge, and to do something different than riding in an arena or just on the regular trails,” Kennedy told the Now-Leader.

“We find somewhere fun to go and just make it work. We’ve ridden in Vancouver, down streets and along Southwest Marine Drive. We’ve been in Surrey before, and just recently we rode on the closing day of Pattullo Bridge, took the horses across there. We did some research about it and, of course, back in the early days of the bridge there was horse crossing, so we brought them back that day.”  Kennedy says horses are legally allowed on city streets, per the Motor Vehicle Act. “They’ve never changed it since the days of horse and buggy. But the highway, you have to do 60K (kilometres per hours), so we’re not allowed there. But these roads, we’re allowed.”  According to Stich, horses are allowed in Surrey parks, too, as long as they’re under control and riders clean up after them. “We have a pooper-scooper and will use it when necessary,” she said.

How you can get robbed at the airport luggage carousel and how to stop it from happening

Airports feel like controlled, secure environments. Cameras everywhere, staff everywhere, crowds everywhere. It seems like the last place a thief would take a chance. But the luggage carousel is one of the easiest places for someone to walk off with your belongings — and it happens far more often than people realize.

The problem is simple: once your bag leaves the aircraft and slides onto that conveyor belt, it’s in a public space. Anyone can grab it. And unless someone physically sees the theft happen, it’s almost impossible to prove who took what.

Here’s how it happens — and how you can protect yourself.

1. The “Oops, Wrong Bag” Trick

This is the most common tactic. A thief simply picks up a suitcase that looks expensive or easy to resell and walks away with it, pretending it’s theirs. If anyone questions them, they shrug and say, “Oh, sorry, I thought it was mine.”

By the time you realize your bag isn’t coming, they’re already in a taxi.

Why it works:

Most luggage looks similar. Black roller bags dominate every carousel. Thieves rely on confusion and the fact that no one wants to accuse a stranger of stealing.

2. The “Grab and Go Before You Arrive” Move

Some thieves don’t even wait for passengers. They position themselves at the carousel before the flight’s passengers reach the area. Bags start coming out, and they simply take one and leave.  That rarely happens at the airports I visit!  I'm always waiting at the carousel for my luggage.

Why it works:

Airports rarely check baggage claim areas for boarding passes. Anyone can walk in.

3. The “Distract and Lift” Team

This is less common in Canada but more common in busy international hubs. One person creates a distraction — asking a question, bumping into someone, dropping something — while their partner quietly lifts a bag and disappears.

Why it works:

People focus on the distraction, not the carousel.

4. The “Unzip and Dip” Theft

Sometimes the thief doesn’t take the whole suitcase. They unzip it on the carousel or just after grabbing it, remove valuables, and toss the bag somewhere else in the terminal.

Why it works:

Most people don’t notice a missing item until they reach their hotel.

5. The “Swap and Steal”

A thief takes your bag and leaves behind a similar one — often empty or filled with junk. You think your bag is delayed or missing, but the thief is already gone with the real one.

Why it works:

People assume the airline lost their luggage, not that someone swapped it.

How to Protect Yourself

These are simple, practical steps that dramatically reduce your risk.

1. Get to the carousel quickly

Don’t stop for the washroom or coffee until after you have your bag. The longer your luggage spins unattended, the more vulnerable it is.

2. Make your bag unmistakably yours

Add:

• A bright luggage strap

• A colourful tag

• A patterned handle wrap - we use fluorescent wool

• Stickers or decals

Thieves avoid bags that stand out.

3. Use a luggage tracker

Air Tags, Tile, and Samsung SmartTags can show you exactly where your bag is — even if someone walks off with it.  When I'm at home, I put one air tag my air tag in my car and the other one on my key chain!

4. Lock your zippers

A simple TSA‑approved lock prevents “unzip and dip” theft.

5. Stand close to the chute

Thieves prefer bags that have already made a few loops. Standing near the point where bags first appear reduces opportunity.

6. Don’t get distracted

Keep your eyes on the carousel, not your phone.

7. Check your bag immediately

Before leaving the airport, make sure:

• The zippers are intact

• Nothing feels unusually light

• Your name tag is still attached

If something is wrong, report it before exiting the secure area.

Luggage theft isn’t just about losing clothes. It’s about losing medications, passports, electronics, sentimental items, and sometimes the only things you packed for a long‑awaited trip. And because baggage claim is a public area, airlines often won’t compensate for theft — only for lost bags.

Understanding how thieves operate gives you the power to stop them.

That's how the fight started.....

My wife and I were watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed.

I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have Sex?'

'No,' she answered.

I then said, 'Is that your final answer?'

... She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, 'Yes..'

So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."

And that's when the fight started...

________________________________

I took my wife to a restaurant.

The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.

"I'll have the rump steak, rare, please."

He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"

"Nah, she can order for herself."

And that's when the fight started.....

_____________________________

My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school

reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his

drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.

I asked her, "Do you know him?"

"Yes", she sighed,

"He's my old boyfriend. I understand he took to drinking

right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear he

hasn't been sober since."

"My God!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on

celebrating that long?"

And then the fight started...

________________________________

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed.

But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat,

making beer.. Always something more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing

scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into

the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again

I handed her a toothbrush.

I said, "When you finish cutting the

grass, you might as well sweep the driveway."

The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

_____________________________

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.

She asked, "What's on TV?"

I said, "Dust."

And then the fight started...

________________________________

Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the

boat up to the van and proceeded to back out into a torrential 

downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather

would be bad all day.

I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back;

now with a different anticipation,

and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."

My loving wife of 5 years replied, "And, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"

And that's how the fight started...

_______________________________

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.

She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds."

I bought her a bathroom scale.

And then the fight started......

______________________________

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply

for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me 

for my driver's License to verify my age. I looked in my pockets 

and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that 

I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'.

So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.

She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped

your pants. You might have gotten disability too.'

And then the fight started...

________________________________

My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.

She was not happy with what she saw and said to me,

"I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you

to pay me a compliment.'

I replied, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect."

And then the fight started........

________________________________

I rear-ended a car this morning...the start of a REALLY bad day!

The driver got out of the other car, and he was a DWARF!!

He looked up at me and said 'I am NOT Happy!'

So I said, 'Well, which one ARE you then?'

That's how the fight started.

________________________________

One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot

as a Christmas gift...

The next year, I didn't buy her a gift.

When she asked me why, I replied,

"Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"

____________________

A husband and wife are shopping in their local Wal-Mart. The husband picks up a case of Miller Lite and puts it in their cart.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife. 'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans', he replies. 'Put them back, it's a waste of money', demands the wife, and so he does and they carry on shopping.

A few aisles further on along, the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.

What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband... "It's my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the wife.

Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Miller Lite and it's half the price....'

And that's how the fight started.

BC Government needs a change!

I have never belonged to a political party.  I've worked for some but I've never become a card carrying member.  This time it's different.   I joined, have a card and will have a vote on the next leader to represent the Conservative party.  Some of the candidates running are Liberals who've changed their views and are vying for the Conservative leadership.

When the NDP changed the law a couple of years ago to make city policing their responsibility and not the responsibility of a City or Municipality, I lost it!  The provincial government wanted to change our police force and knew if they held a referendum it would be rejected.  Big money and dishonest people were fighting this.  They wanted control of the police force, a board that's appointed and has no accountability to the mayor.  Because of this change of legislation, I don't have to reiterate the mess we are in, it's fact!

Thanks to the NDP, now we are in a legal mess with the indigenous about land claims.  I lived in Richmond and know some of the people whose land is in question.   Kerry-Lynne went through this in the 1990's when she was a leaseholder in Musqueam.  

Not everyone is on Facebook, but the video below is short.  It's from the debate that took place on April 8th.  She explains more about what happened to her in the 1990's when she lived in Musqueam near UBC.  This is why she fights so it doesn't ever happen to anyone else.  

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1453184519920765

We need a change in the Provincial Government.  This is why I am backing the candidate that has the education and years of experience.  She is the only person running who served as a Cabinet Member in the Federal Government.

I've never been friends with Epstein?

I usually turn off the TV when I see a White House news conference, but this time I didn't.  I'm so tired of hearing about the Epstein files and how people are distancing themselves from the facts.  If you want to know the "truth", here's the website that has all the information.  

https://www.justice.gov/epstein

There is so much false information online, I like to go to the proper source.  I went onto the DOJ website above and did some searching. I put in Trump.  What I read, I wouldn't even repeat.  It is so disgusting.  

They all lie!