Update: 12:45 PM
I spoke to Frances and Donald has suffered a heart attack. They aren't sure when it happened. They are still trying to stabilize his diabetes so dinner tonight won't happen. We hope he recovers quickly and send our love and prayers.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
It's not raining this morning!
Update: 12:45 PM
I spoke to Frances and Donald has suffered a heart attack. They aren't sure when it happened. They are still trying to stabilize his diabetes so dinner tonight won't happen. We hope he recovers quickly and send our love and prayers.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
I'm wearing my sandals in Punta Cana
In nine days I leave for Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I saw this online today from CNN. It also showed pictures which are much too graphic to put on my blog. It's nasty!!!
Dozens of parasitic worms were found burrowing in the feet of a young Canadian couple after a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. "We were scratching our toes for almost the duration of the trip," Eddie Zytner said.
Eddie Zytner and Katie Stephens returned home from vacation with itchy feet that turned painful.
Zytner, 25, and his girlfriend, Katie Stephens, 22, of Windsor, Ontario, returned home January 18 with itchy feet. Four days later, that itch turned into painful swelling and blisters, he said. The pain became so intense that they could not tolerate shoes or socks and had to rely on crutches to walk. Zytner shared a photo on his Facebook account that shows tortuous red tracks on his left foot.
After multiple visits to the hospital, the couple was diagnosed with cutaneous larva migrans, caused by hookworm larvae that probably entered their skin while they were barefoot on the beaches of Punta Cana.
The parasites typically live in the intestines of dogs, cats and other wild animals, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The larvae burrow through human skin that comes into contact with sand or soil that has been contaminated with animal feces.
"To anybody traveling somewhere tropical, please be careful when in the sand and wear shoes!" Stephens pleaded on Facebook last week after receiving the diagnosis.
The condition typically goes away without treatment, but antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or ivermectin can help, according to the CDC. The hookworm larvae generally don't survive more than six weeks in humans.
Both drugs are included on the World Health Organization's list of essential medications identified for basic health-care systems. However, they are not available in Canada and can be accessed only through the federal government's Special Access Programme on a case-by-case basis. In contrast, the drugs are available in the US with a prescription.
"The drug companies don't think they're going to sell enough to make it worth their while," said Dr. Stan Houston, a professor of infectious disease and public health at the University of Alberta, who was not involved in the couple's treatment. "So that is the reason they're not licensed in Canada."
According to Zytner, the couple's request for the drugs was initially denied, but they eventually got them from a local physician who was dual certified in Canada and the US.
Zytner said their symptoms have improved significantly since they began treatment last week.
Dozens of parasitic worms were found burrowing in the feet of a young Canadian couple after a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. "We were scratching our toes for almost the duration of the trip," Eddie Zytner said.
Eddie Zytner and Katie Stephens returned home from vacation with itchy feet that turned painful.
Zytner, 25, and his girlfriend, Katie Stephens, 22, of Windsor, Ontario, returned home January 18 with itchy feet. Four days later, that itch turned into painful swelling and blisters, he said. The pain became so intense that they could not tolerate shoes or socks and had to rely on crutches to walk. Zytner shared a photo on his Facebook account that shows tortuous red tracks on his left foot.
After multiple visits to the hospital, the couple was diagnosed with cutaneous larva migrans, caused by hookworm larvae that probably entered their skin while they were barefoot on the beaches of Punta Cana.
The parasites typically live in the intestines of dogs, cats and other wild animals, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The larvae burrow through human skin that comes into contact with sand or soil that has been contaminated with animal feces.
"To anybody traveling somewhere tropical, please be careful when in the sand and wear shoes!" Stephens pleaded on Facebook last week after receiving the diagnosis.
The condition typically goes away without treatment, but antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or ivermectin can help, according to the CDC. The hookworm larvae generally don't survive more than six weeks in humans.
Both drugs are included on the World Health Organization's list of essential medications identified for basic health-care systems. However, they are not available in Canada and can be accessed only through the federal government's Special Access Programme on a case-by-case basis. In contrast, the drugs are available in the US with a prescription.
"The drug companies don't think they're going to sell enough to make it worth their while," said Dr. Stan Houston, a professor of infectious disease and public health at the University of Alberta, who was not involved in the couple's treatment. "So that is the reason they're not licensed in Canada."
According to Zytner, the couple's request for the drugs was initially denied, but they eventually got them from a local physician who was dual certified in Canada and the US.
Zytner said their symptoms have improved significantly since they began treatment last week.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Australia Day in Canada
Last Friday was Australia Day. It's a big event in Whistler where a lot of young Aussies work during the winter. They say one of every five people living there are Australian. They love to ski and party! The Canadian Government loosened the visa/work program which makes it much easier for them to stay in Canada. I've enjoyed reading about the events in Whistler last weekend. The party started on Thursday which of course was the actual day with the time change.
I've heard the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canadian governments are looking at free movement between these commonwealth countries after the exit from the EU. It would be great if this happens!
I've heard the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canadian governments are looking at free movement between these commonwealth countries after the exit from the EU. It would be great if this happens!
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Trivia
We always attend Trivia contests on cruise ships. We've done well on past cruises and won our fair share of contests. You win cheap prizes and hopefully it's something you can either use or give to someone who can use it. Once on a cruise in Alaska, years ago, we were the only people who showed up for trivia. We were docked in Juneau. It was raining so we weren't in any hurry to leave the ship. The crew member asked "do you want to play against each other"? We said "no". She seemed happy we just saved her 30 minutes of her time and gave us all the nice prizes. Two umbrellas, pens, and t-shirts! Those nice prizes are hard to find nowadays. Holland America gave us a medal and Princess gives out plastic stuff you hope you don't win! The days of nice prizes are gone, unfortunately.
I always read these emails when they come as they are interesting and you never know if they may show up on a future cruise trivia contest.
Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times!
Gold is the only metal that doesn't rust, even if it's buried in the ground for thousands of years.
Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals.
Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.
The song Auld Lang Syne is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year.
Drinking water after eating reduces the acid in your mouth by 61 percent. Drinking a glass of water before you eat may help digestion and curb appetite.
Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above 450F.
The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
Nine out of every 10 living things live in the ocean.
The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.
Airports at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density.
The University of Alaska spans four time zones.
The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.
In ancient Greece , tossing an apple to a girl was a additional proposal of marriage. Catching it meant she accepted.
Warner Communications paid 28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday which was written in 1935!
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
A comet's tail always points away from the sun.
The Swine Flu vaccine in 1976 caused more death and illness than the disease it was intended to prevent.
Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines.
The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.
If you get into the bottom of a well or a tall chimney and look up, you can see stars, even in the middle of the day.
When a person dies, hearing is the last sense to go. The first sense lost is sight.
In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed.
Strawberries and cashews are the only fruits whose seeds grow on the outside.
Avocados have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams.
The moon moves about two inches away from the Earth each year.
The Earth gets 100 tons heavier every day due to falling space dust.
Due to earth's gravity it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters.
Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy.
Soldiers do not march in step when going across bridges because they could set up a vibration which could be sufficient to knock the bridge down.
Everything weighs one percent less at the equator.
For every extra kilogram carried on a space flight, 530 kg of excess fuel are needed at lift-off.
The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements.
I always read these emails when they come as they are interesting and you never know if they may show up on a future cruise trivia contest.
Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times!
Gold is the only metal that doesn't rust, even if it's buried in the ground for thousands of years.
Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals.
Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.
The song Auld Lang Syne is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year.
Drinking water after eating reduces the acid in your mouth by 61 percent. Drinking a glass of water before you eat may help digestion and curb appetite.
Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above 450F.
The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
Nine out of every 10 living things live in the ocean.
The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.
Airports at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density.
The University of Alaska spans four time zones.
The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.
In ancient Greece , tossing an apple to a girl was a additional proposal of marriage. Catching it meant she accepted.
Warner Communications paid 28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday which was written in 1935!
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
A comet's tail always points away from the sun.
The Swine Flu vaccine in 1976 caused more death and illness than the disease it was intended to prevent.
Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines.
The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.
If you get into the bottom of a well or a tall chimney and look up, you can see stars, even in the middle of the day.
When a person dies, hearing is the last sense to go. The first sense lost is sight.
In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed.
Strawberries and cashews are the only fruits whose seeds grow on the outside.
Avocados have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams.
The moon moves about two inches away from the Earth each year.
The Earth gets 100 tons heavier every day due to falling space dust.
Due to earth's gravity it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters.
Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy.
Soldiers do not march in step when going across bridges because they could set up a vibration which could be sufficient to knock the bridge down.
Everything weighs one percent less at the equator.
For every extra kilogram carried on a space flight, 530 kg of excess fuel are needed at lift-off.
The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Words of wisdom from Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu (老子 Lǎo zi, 6th century BC) was one of the most famous Chinese philosophers. Not much is known of the details of his life, and some have thought he was not a real person. He was the author of a book called Tao Te Ching, The Way of Life, a work of about 81 stories with a consistent theme or moral.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Today is Australia Day!
Until five years ago, I didn't realize I had relatives down under! Thanks to Ancestry and Facebook, we've all reunited! William Levi Winterford left the UK and settled in Australia. His story is below. If you ever go to Brisbane, his hotel still stands today! I won't explain how we are related but thanks to Stephen Winterford who put it all together and DNA that confirmed it, we know it's correct. In June 2015 his descendants held a Winterford reunion at the Regatta Hotel! I didn't go and I still regret it!
I was super happy to find this history as my beloved husband said "your relatives are probably some of the 164,000 convicts that got kicked out of Britain and sent to Australia".
WILLIAM and MARGARET WINTERFORD
Regatta Hotel, Toowong (1882–1897)
William Winterford (1834-1919) was the second son of James and Elizabeth (nèe Gillet) Winterford, Publicans of Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, England. William was christened “Levi” in All Saints Church, Shepreth, on 1st June 1834.
William came to Australia in 1855 on the ship Ballarat arriving at Port Phillip Bay. Records indicate that William paid £18/2/6 as the fare. It would appear that at that time he had no particular trade or calling as he was listed simply as a Gentleman.
William followed his brother John and sister Eliza Gillet Edds who came to Australia as assisted immigrant’s on the Thetis in1849.
William and John are believed to have had a Bullock dray business along the east coast of Australia and we know they were both in Rockhampton in 1863. It may be that John and William were attracted to the area by the Canoona Gold Rush of 1858.
William married Margaret Hannah in Rockhampton in 1863. Margaret was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 11/01/1844)
William’s profession was listed on his marriage certificate as ‘Bushman’.
The newly married couple headed south to the Logan River area which had been opened up for settlement in 1824 and where cotton was now being grown.
It is apparent that John Winterford went his own way prospecting and was to drown alone in a flooded creek near Nockatunga Station in 1882.
William and Margaret Winterford lived and worked in the Logan River area until 1870, when they moved onto their own selection at Pimpama. During their years at Logan River, they started a considerable family.
Arthur James was born on The Albion Cotton Company’s Plantation, Logan River on 8th May 1865. Elizabeth Wilhelmina was born on 14th March 1867 at Logan River. Mary Ann was born at Gympie on 13th December 1868.and Walter John was born at Logan River 11th August 1870.
The family of six took up residence on Block 173 at Pimpama, where in June 1870 William had also selected the adjoining block No.256. The Homestead block, No.173, was 80 acres of first class agricultural land, while the adjoining block 256, consisted of 188 acres overall and made up of 80 acres of agricultural land and 108 acres of second class pastoral land. Record has it that William improved his Homestead block 173 with the construction of a 4 roomed bark house with a bark roof, also a large slab building containing a barn, a cart house and a store, with a roof of bark. There was also a bark hut for workmen. Eleven acres were cleared and fenced with a sapling fence. The crops planted were sugarcane and maize. He also had a few cattle on the property.
On the second block, 15 acres was cleared with10 acres under cotton and the other 5 acres planted with sugarcane. On this block he constructed 30 chains of sapling fencing.
During this period in Pimpama the Winterford’s managed to increase their family with another four children being born. On 25 May 1872, a son, William Henry was born, and on 19 October 1873, another son, Alfred Edwin, arrived. The next arrival was a girl, Alice Louisa, who was born at Pimpama on 12 April 1875.
Another daughter, Beatrice Selina was born 8th December 1876 and in 1878, yet another daughter, Florence Emily, was born on 23 August at ‘The Valley’. It is assumed that the reference is to Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
William Winterford obtained a Retail Spirit Dealers License in December 1879 for the Beenleigh area and operated his first liquor license at the Ferry Hotel (built in 1871) at Yatala on the Albert River.
William also acquired the Wharf Street Brisbane premises in 1879 which accommodated the family and operated as Public House.
Another addition to the family, Maggie Hannah was born at Yatala on 5 October 1882.
During this period William purchased the original Regatta Hotel on the Brisbane River at Sylvan Road in Toowong.
In 1886 William had great plans for his old wooden hotel. It was removed from the site to make way for a completely new development. He commissioned the architect Richard Gailey to design a much larger building to blend with its position on the bank of the Brisbane River. George Gazzard carried out the construction at a cost of £4,800. The finished product was outstanding in every respect. The new
Regatta Hotel was officially opened in 1887 and enjoyed good trading for 10 years in spite of the big flood of 1893 when the Brisbane River broke its banks.
I was super happy to find this history as my beloved husband said "your relatives are probably some of the 164,000 convicts that got kicked out of Britain and sent to Australia".
WILLIAM and MARGARET WINTERFORD
Regatta Hotel, Toowong (1882–1897)
William Winterford (1834-1919) was the second son of James and Elizabeth (nèe Gillet) Winterford, Publicans of Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, England. William was christened “Levi” in All Saints Church, Shepreth, on 1st June 1834.
William came to Australia in 1855 on the ship Ballarat arriving at Port Phillip Bay. Records indicate that William paid £18/2/6 as the fare. It would appear that at that time he had no particular trade or calling as he was listed simply as a Gentleman.
William followed his brother John and sister Eliza Gillet Edds who came to Australia as assisted immigrant’s on the Thetis in1849.
William and John are believed to have had a Bullock dray business along the east coast of Australia and we know they were both in Rockhampton in 1863. It may be that John and William were attracted to the area by the Canoona Gold Rush of 1858.
William married Margaret Hannah in Rockhampton in 1863. Margaret was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 11/01/1844)
William’s profession was listed on his marriage certificate as ‘Bushman’.
The newly married couple headed south to the Logan River area which had been opened up for settlement in 1824 and where cotton was now being grown.
It is apparent that John Winterford went his own way prospecting and was to drown alone in a flooded creek near Nockatunga Station in 1882.
William and Margaret Winterford lived and worked in the Logan River area until 1870, when they moved onto their own selection at Pimpama. During their years at Logan River, they started a considerable family.
Arthur James was born on The Albion Cotton Company’s Plantation, Logan River on 8th May 1865. Elizabeth Wilhelmina was born on 14th March 1867 at Logan River. Mary Ann was born at Gympie on 13th December 1868.and Walter John was born at Logan River 11th August 1870.
The family of six took up residence on Block 173 at Pimpama, where in June 1870 William had also selected the adjoining block No.256. The Homestead block, No.173, was 80 acres of first class agricultural land, while the adjoining block 256, consisted of 188 acres overall and made up of 80 acres of agricultural land and 108 acres of second class pastoral land. Record has it that William improved his Homestead block 173 with the construction of a 4 roomed bark house with a bark roof, also a large slab building containing a barn, a cart house and a store, with a roof of bark. There was also a bark hut for workmen. Eleven acres were cleared and fenced with a sapling fence. The crops planted were sugarcane and maize. He also had a few cattle on the property.
On the second block, 15 acres was cleared with10 acres under cotton and the other 5 acres planted with sugarcane. On this block he constructed 30 chains of sapling fencing.
During this period in Pimpama the Winterford’s managed to increase their family with another four children being born. On 25 May 1872, a son, William Henry was born, and on 19 October 1873, another son, Alfred Edwin, arrived. The next arrival was a girl, Alice Louisa, who was born at Pimpama on 12 April 1875.
Another daughter, Beatrice Selina was born 8th December 1876 and in 1878, yet another daughter, Florence Emily, was born on 23 August at ‘The Valley’. It is assumed that the reference is to Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
William Winterford obtained a Retail Spirit Dealers License in December 1879 for the Beenleigh area and operated his first liquor license at the Ferry Hotel (built in 1871) at Yatala on the Albert River.
William also acquired the Wharf Street Brisbane premises in 1879 which accommodated the family and operated as Public House.
Another addition to the family, Maggie Hannah was born at Yatala on 5 October 1882.
During this period William purchased the original Regatta Hotel on the Brisbane River at Sylvan Road in Toowong.
In 1886 William had great plans for his old wooden hotel. It was removed from the site to make way for a completely new development. He commissioned the architect Richard Gailey to design a much larger building to blend with its position on the bank of the Brisbane River. George Gazzard carried out the construction at a cost of £4,800. The finished product was outstanding in every respect. The new
Regatta Hotel was officially opened in 1887 and enjoyed good trading for 10 years in spite of the big flood of 1893 when the Brisbane River broke its banks.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Happy Robbie Burns Day!
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Poor ladies lunch
Once a month our Red Hat group gets together for lunch. We usually find a nice restaurant we've never been to before. Some of our members will make lunch and ask for the money to cover the food costs. They go to a lot of trouble and there are about twenty women at each lunch.
This month they decided on the theme "poor ladies lunch". One of our members lives in apartment with a lounge so that's where we met. We were asked to bring our own lunch and something to share if we wanted to. They supplied wine, tea and coffee. We all put in $1 to cover the cost of the tea, coffee and wine. They also asked everyone to bring old red hat gear you didn't want and we could sell them. We decided the proceeds would be donated to Covenant House. We had left over food and all the clothes brought were also donated to Covenant House.
This month they decided on the theme "poor ladies lunch". One of our members lives in apartment with a lounge so that's where we met. We were asked to bring our own lunch and something to share if we wanted to. They supplied wine, tea and coffee. We all put in $1 to cover the cost of the tea, coffee and wine. They also asked everyone to bring old red hat gear you didn't want and we could sell them. We decided the proceeds would be donated to Covenant House. We had left over food and all the clothes brought were also donated to Covenant House.
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| Red Hat gals with the donated items |
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| Add caption |
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| Different lunches! |
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Royal Garden Parties
Have you ever wanted to go to a Royal Garden Party? You have until February 12th to apply. If you are a Canadian citizen with a valid passport you apply online through the Canadian High Commission in London. You can take one guest of any nationality but you must have a copy of their passport. If you are thinking of applying, read all the conditions carefully. I went last year and it was brilliant! You only get one chance in your lifetime to attend. In the UK you have to be nominated. In Canada, it's a lottery. Good luck if you apply, I bought the DVD of the Royal Garden Party I attended. If you want to see it, just ask!
This year, HM the Queen will hold three Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace in London and one Garden Party at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
2018 dates:
Buckingham Palace
Tuesday, May 15
Thursday May 31
Thursday June 5
Holyroodhouse
Wednesday, July 4
The application period is open from 22 January to the 12 of February 2018.
Please note the following requirements:
General dress code information:
Ladies: Day dress with hat or Uniform (No medals). Trouser suit may be worn. Gloves are optional
Gentlemen: Morning Coat, Lounge Suit or Uniform (No medals).
*National Dress may be worn
*Chains of office may be worn
General entry times:
15:00 – Gates open
15:30 – Tea service begins
18:00 – Event formally ends
This year, HM the Queen will hold three Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace in London and one Garden Party at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
2018 dates:
Buckingham Palace
Tuesday, May 15
Thursday May 31
Thursday June 5
Holyroodhouse
Wednesday, July 4
The application period is open from 22 January to the 12 of February 2018.
Please note the following requirements:
- Applicants and their designated guest must not have attended a Garden Party previously. We are under strict instructions to ensure that everyone on our nominated list have not attended a Garden Party previously. To avoid embarrassment and disappointment, please do not attempt an application if you have previously attended a Garden Party.
- Applicants and guests must be over the age of 18.
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens with valid Canadian passports.
- Nominated guests may be of any nationality. All applicants are encouraged to attend with a guest.
- Applicants may also apply to bring their unmarried, adult children, aged 18-25. Only two children per applicant will be considered.
- Applications will be rejected if the form is incomplete, if you enter multiple times, if you enter over multiple dates and/or if our records indicate previous attendance.
- Garden Party invitations are strictly non-transferable. If there is any chance that you or your nominated guest will not be able to attend on the day, please do not apply. If you find yourself unable to attend, your space cannot be re-allocated under any circumstances nor can you attend on a different day. If your guest is unable to attend with you, you cannot nominate another person. Unused invitations must be returned to us for security purposes – failure to return your invitation, if it goes unused, must be reported to the Lord Chamberlain’s office.
- Older guests or guests with disabilities who require assistance must be accompanied. If you have accessibility concerns, please indicate this on your form as you may be given alternative entry instructions.
- Please remember to send a copy of the information page of a valid Canadian passport (Main applicant) and the information page of a valid Canadian or foreign passport (nominated guest). Without these documents, your application will be considered incomplete.
- Only successful applicants will be informed by email. Instructions for invitation collection will follow. Invitations must be collected from Canada House on Trafalgar Square and we encourage you to collect these several days before your Garden Party. We are not able to mail your invitations. Detailed dress code information, entry points, security instructions are included in the information pack with your invitation. Due to the volume of enquiries we receive, we cannot respond to enquiries if the answer can be found in the information pack.
General dress code information:
Ladies: Day dress with hat or Uniform (No medals). Trouser suit may be worn. Gloves are optional
Gentlemen: Morning Coat, Lounge Suit or Uniform (No medals).
*National Dress may be worn
*Chains of office may be worn
General entry times:
15:00 – Gates open
15:30 – Tea service begins
18:00 – Event formally ends
Monday, January 22, 2018
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Children today
On Thursday, Lexie was going to a performance at the high school she will attend in September. She told me they will be dismissed at 2:11 and are on their own to get home. She asked if I would pick her up. Of course I would as it's about a 45 minute walk along a busy road and the weather forecast was for rain. I got there 15 minutes early as it was just after our volunteer lunch and managed to find a parking spot in a very crowded parking lot. There were cars all along the street and lining the driveway of the school. It was pretty much a gong show. Of course on our way home I told her how I walked four miles to school, in the snow with no boots. She knows me well and knew I was pulling her leg. Although we did walk to school but times were different.
When I was three I asked my mom to take me to Stanley Park. It was 21 KM from where we lived. She said "not today". I really didn't care my mom wouldn't take me because I was a very independent child. I walked to the bus stop and got on the Smith Avenue bus to the Joyce Road loop. When I got to Joyce Road, I knew the bus to take because my mom had taken me to the park and I had a good memory. I believe it was the bus driver on the second bus that realized I was alone. He called the Vancouver Police who took me to a catholic nun house. The police informed my parents where I was and they came and picked me up. My mom said "why didn't you tell the police your name, address and phone number"? I said "they didn't ask". My mom never forgot the nuns who kept me safe and donated to their residence until the early 90's when they closed. I never knew about the donations until I went through her personal papers after she passed away. I found this yellow post it note that she kept!
Last night I was talking to my cousin Dale who is two months younger than I am. She said her mom would not let her leave the yard when she was a child. My mom let me have the run of the neighbourhood. Of course that was long after the talk of "you never get on a bus without your mother". I was never allowed to go into Central Park but could be anywhere I could hear her whistle and my mom was a great whistler. I would be out for long periods of time but knew when I heard the whistle, I better get home real quick. Times have changed. In our old Steveston neighbourhood our neighbours had chairs in the front of their homes and would watch their children play street hockey or ride their bikes. They were never let out without a parents eyes watching them at all times. It's sad it's come to this but you really can't blame parents for being so protective.
Whenever I hear of a missing child, my heart breaks for the parents and I realize what I put my mom through. Over the years, she mentioned it many times. Especially when Cheryl was small.
When I was three I asked my mom to take me to Stanley Park. It was 21 KM from where we lived. She said "not today". I really didn't care my mom wouldn't take me because I was a very independent child. I walked to the bus stop and got on the Smith Avenue bus to the Joyce Road loop. When I got to Joyce Road, I knew the bus to take because my mom had taken me to the park and I had a good memory. I believe it was the bus driver on the second bus that realized I was alone. He called the Vancouver Police who took me to a catholic nun house. The police informed my parents where I was and they came and picked me up. My mom said "why didn't you tell the police your name, address and phone number"? I said "they didn't ask". My mom never forgot the nuns who kept me safe and donated to their residence until the early 90's when they closed. I never knew about the donations until I went through her personal papers after she passed away. I found this yellow post it note that she kept!
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| When the residence was closing my mom sent them a thank you letter! |
Whenever I hear of a missing child, my heart breaks for the parents and I realize what I put my mom through. Over the years, she mentioned it many times. Especially when Cheryl was small.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Thank you volunteers
On Thursday we had our Santa Letters volunteer thank you lunch. It was held at Traverna Greka in New Westminster. It's a great central location and the food is outstanding! We had a selection of seven entrees. We've had it there for the last three years and everyone looks forward to the get together. Unfortunately the flu is going around and quite a few weren't able to make it!
I waited to post these pictures, hoping we could get the stats for the year but so far I haven't been able to find out how many letters were answered.
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| Cloverdale Distribution Center Volunteers |
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| I had the lamb roast! Hold the rice, too many carbs. It was delicious. I was half through the entree when I remembered to take a picture! |
Friday, January 19, 2018
S. S. Master
We’re Back at Granville Island!
The Vancouver Wooden Boat Show was a great success.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to see the S.S. Master. We’re at Granville Island until September 30.
The S.S. Master – Almost 100 Years Old and Still Going Strong!
For over a century, the “tugboat” has played a major role in BC’s maritime history. From massive Deep Sea tugs to tiny Boom Boats, the venerable tugboat can be seen every day towing chip barges, log booms, rail cars, transport trucks, fuel barges and so much more. The tug is also the final link as ocean going freighters, bulk carriers, and container ships are guided gently into their berths in BC’s ports.
Many wood hulled steam tugboats worked tirelessly up and down the coast of BC for many decades. By the early 1920’s, the simplicity of diesel power had become the power of choice for the commercial marine industry, replacing steam. Many of the old steam powered ships were converted to diesel power or scrapped. The Steam Ship Master is the sole survivor of the long forgotten steam tug era.
One of the earliest known pictures of the SS Master – 1927
S.S. Master
Length Overall 85 ft
Beam 19.5 ft
Tonnage 225
Power Triple Expansion Steam Engine
Propeller 8′ – 9 pitch
Horse Power 330 hp
Normal Cruise 7 knots @ 100 rpm
The SS Master was built in 1922 for Captain Herman Thorsen. Very few ships were being built in the province during this period, (only 6 over 40′), and the Master was just about the last tug launched with a triple expansion steam engine installed.
The Master was one of a trio of wood hulled tugs that were turned out at the Beach Avenue Shipyard in False Creek. Although almost identical in design and size, the MASTER was however, 5′ shorter than the other two, the SEA SWELL and the R.F.M.
The Steamship Sea Swell tied to a log boom
SS R.F.M tied alongside SS Sea Wave
RCMP St. Roch
The MASTER is the sole Moscrop built tug that is still close to her original design and which still operates with her original steam engine, a Royal Navy World War 1 surplus engine built in 1916. While several of Moscrop’s hulls are still around, they have been heavily modified structurally and all have been re-engined. Moscrop went on to design and build a large number of outstanding wood hulled tugboats for coastal use. He also supervised the construction of the R.C.M.P.’s Arctic explorer, the ST. ROCH.
The MASTER’s original cost is believed to have been around $34,000 and Captain Thorsen retained full ownership until 1927 when the Master Towing Company was incorporated and took title of the ship along with a mortgage for $23,000 back to Thorsen (This mortgage was transferred to the Home Oil Company in 1933).
The Master with Marpole colours
First working for Fraser Mills and later chartered to the Lamb Logging Company, she put in general log and barge towing service from up coast to the mills in False Creek and elsewhere. In 1940, she was purchased by the Marpole Towing Company (joining her sister ship, the R.F.M.), and the Marpole colours, black diamonds on a white band on an orange stack were now painted on her colours that she wears to this day. The black diamonds, which had been the insignia of the firm since shortly after the turn of the century, signified the towing of coal barges from Vancouver Island to the company’s plant in Coal Harbor in Vancouver.
In 1947, control of the Marpole Towing Company was assumed by Evans, Coleman and Evans – although actual title to the ship was not transferred until 1959. Around 1951, she had become part of the operations of the Gilley Bros. fleet, another subsidiary of Evans, Coleman but her Marpole colours remained unchanged. By 1959, the parent company decided to dispense with its old timers and tied up a clutch of them, including the MASTER, at the mouth of the Brunette River and left them.
Dilapidated and stripped, she was finally put up for sale or scrap, “Where is, as is”, in 1962. Here she was spotted by some members of the World Ship Society of Western Canada, a branch of an English based organization of ship-lovers. They decided to rescue and restore her as a tribute to the tugboat industry of British Columbia. For the full payment of $500, raised quickly among some members, the Society took over the MASTER on August 14, 1962.
Thousands of hours of volunteer labor, scrounged and donated materials, along with money raised by all sorts of means, resulted in the ship being cleaned up and repaired, equipment restored and replaced and steam being raised on April 23, 1963, the first time in several years. The Master now commenced a new career as the Society’s flagship, bringing to the public an awareness of the now vanished era of marine steam. (see New Life for The Master)
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