Red Hatters visit from the UK

A couple of months ago on the Facebook page of "The Official Red Hat Society", one of our UK members said she was coming to Vancouver and would like to meet up with some Canadian Red Hatters.  I contacted a UK Red Hatter when I went over last May and they were wonderful to me.  I was thrilled to pass the information on to a local Queen who passed it on to others in the lower mainland.  Unfortunately many people are travelling but we were able to get 16 Red Hatters out.  We chose the Rogue Kitchen & Wet Bar where our group of Red Hatters have enjoyed before.  The location is awesome as it's in Sinclair Center where the Expo, Millenium, Canada Line and Sea Bus terminate.  It makes it easy for our members from all over the Lower Mainland to get to.

Liz and Sheila live in Chard, Somerset and are here on a 13 day trip.  They flew to Calgary, joined a coach tour through the Rockies, Kelowna, Victoria and their last three days are in Vancouver.  They stayed at the Pinnacle on West Hastings Street.  I picked them up and we had a short walk through Jack Poole Plaza, around the Trade and Convention Center, past Canada Place to Sinclair Center.  Unfortunately it's one of the few days no cruise ships in port.

We had a great table, and the manager was excellent! 
He took this picture so we could all get in it.

Bottom row L - R:  Liz Butt & Elizabeth Wagner
Top Row R - L: Sheila Hatcher, Cheryl Ornburn, & me

I opted for the Tomato Bisque and Green Salad - great choice!

We finished lunch about 1:30 and some of the group took Sheila and Liz on the Sea Bus to North Vancouver.  I wanted to go but wasn't feeling 100% and I can't get sick before I go away so I went home.

I took the bus that runs by my home to the Expo Line.  It's a great way to get downtown from where I live.  I don't enjoy driving downtown any more.  On my bus ride going downtown about a mile from where I live, the bus picked up a girl and guy, in their 20's, well dressed and obviously visitors.  Their English was very limited.  The guy tried to pay with a bill.  The driver said, "I don't take bills, only change".  They didn't understand and got off the bus.  The driver said "if you are going on Skytrain, just pay at the station".  The visitors looked very confused but got on the bus and sat down.  A gentlemen dressed traditional East Indian clothes and wearing a bright red turban, got up and paid their fare!   I was near the back of the bus and was so impressed someone probably quite new to this country helped a visitor.  What a great guy!   I wanted to thank him but he got off shortly after the nice gesture.

A great day with 16 wonderful women!  I hope Liz and Sheila have a safe trip back home!