Canadian Humour

 

Men and their machines

When Cec was 20 he got a speed boat with a huge motor.  When he turned 30 he traded it in for a fishing boat with a smaller motor.  When he was 40 he got a 4 X 4.  Men and their machines.  Then sometime later he got a power washer.  Why are men so thrilled with a power washer?  He would power wash everything.  He still does.

I bought him a snow blower.  If you think he loves his power washer, the snow blower has him thrilled at the sign of a snow storm.  No one expects a big snowfall at the end of February in Vancouver but we got one.  All day today, he used it until the batteries needed recharging and they recharged and he continued.  Our neighbours are thrilled and he's happy!

Men and their machines!

Snow and more snow

 

I'm really tired of snow.  At least we had a good warning so I've got lots of groceries in.

Cec's cousin in Highland, California (next to Loma Linda) had snow today.  Now that's really weird!  Poor oranges!

Checking for Alzheimer's

 Can you see the 10 faces in this tree?

There is a face in here, can you see it?

Can you see the baby?

Can you see the kissing couple?

Can you see the three women?

I saw it all!  Now I feel relieved!

Friday Funnies

 This is a little outdated, but still funny

Best invite EVER!

From 1990 to 2010, I worked for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers until I retired.  It was the most unique place to work.  I started working in a house on Bridgeport Rd. across the street from Costco.  We were small and a family.  Dave Ritchie and Russ Cmolik were the "bosses" and we had a lot of fun at work.  We worked hard.  We never got overtime but worked it when we needed to.  When we weren't busy, we partied!  We had a backyard with a BBQ, lawn games and a bar you could help yourself.  Lunches were usually at the Abercorn Inn next door and we rarely paid for our lunches.

I remember one Halloween when we were all in costumes, we stopped working at lunch.  In full costumes, we created a conga line and went along Bridgeport Road and into the Abercorn Inn.  When we went through the restaurant, the bar staff stood at the bar, handing everyone a beer!  We continued back along Bridgeport, beer in hand, to the office when the party continued.

In 2004 everything changed when we went public.  We were given shares per our years of service and a could purchase them as we worked with the company matching them.  It was a great way to save money.  

Dave and Russ left the company shortly thereafter.  We grew into a huge international successful company.  I retired in 2010 and left a lot of good friends.  I received an email about a reunion earlier this year and yesterday, I got this.  I've had to cancel another cruise I booked that conflicts with this one, but I am looking forward to an awesome reunion!  

Here's part of my email:

Congratulations! We can't wait to sail with you in August! Dave and Russ are delighted at the response from our many friends and colleagues.

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the RB Old-Timer Reunion application. We are pleased to confirm your reservation aboard the Celebrity Ship ‘Eclipse’ for its Alaskan cruise departing Vancouver.

Dave and Russ are paying the entire cruise for 250 former employees and their significant other!  I am overwhelmed about this gesture.  This will be the parties of all parties.  At the end of the email, they said they have filled the 250 rooms and are working at trying to include everyone that applied.  The cut off was 11 years of service.  It had nothing to do with your job title.  They are showing their appreciation for former employees.  WOW!

Twitter Fake Accounts

 

I've followed this Twitter account for a long time.  However, I didn't realize someone had cloned it, and was spreading false information using the same picture!   The fake account said Chief Lipinski had applied for police chief of Thunder Bay.  That was on a fake account and I didn't catch it!

I do not like Chief Lipinski because he refused to stop hiring and spending tax payer dollars after the last election.  Who ignores a Mayor's request?  Lipinski!   I don't know what is going to happen with the police transition.  Like Linda Annis and Ian MacDonald, I believe we need an audit from an independent person.  I don't know who to believe anymore.

Chief Lipinski is married to Lynda Steele who is a radio and TV host and well known in Vancouver.  Global has always had very biased reporting on the police transition. 

Who to believe?

Opossum in Ocean Park?

 

We were driving through Ocean Park the other day and Richard remembered when he lived there in the 60's there were Opossum's!  He said they were prehistoric type and not found in many places.  I had never heard of them and we aren't sure if they are still around, but they are interesting creatures.  

From Wikipedia:

Opossums, the only marsupials found in North America, are slowly expanding their territory into some Canadian provinces. Now a more common sight in Eastern & Southern Ontario and British Columbia, opossums like to live in wooded areas near a source of water.

Life

• If you are skinny, you are on drugs. 
• If you are fat, you need to lose weight. 
• If you drink, you are an alcoholic. 
• If you get dress up, you are conceited. 
• If you dress down, you’ve let yourself go. 
• If you speak your mind, you are rude. 
• If you don’t say anything, you are snobbish. 
• If you are sociable, you’re a party animal. 
• If you stay to yourself, you are detached.

You can’t do anything without being criticized. We live in a society where people can’t survive if they are not judging the next person. Let’s build each other up. We are all the best we can, in the same game called life.

Author Unknown

Sunday smiles

Wally's Burgers

Wally's Burgers" For 46 years was a Vancouver Landmark, a iconic fast food spot in pop-culture, dating back to the 1960's, located at 2703 Kingsway, across from Norquay Park in Vancouver. It had a cruise lot and was well-known as a stopover on the then popular Kingsway driving strip. It served as meetups, a place to grab a bite and just hang out.

I spent lots of time in the parking lot at Wally's chatting with friends and just hanging out.  As I told Lexie when you get your own car it's freedom.  She told me at lunch she takes one friend (that's all she can take in her car as a new driver) to Tim Horton's or Starbucks.  It's too bad they don't have a hang out like Wally's!   

I also remember going to the White Spot when we were in Jobs Daughters.  Shawnie and I would visit the White Spot on Lougheed at Gilmore.  She knew some of the car hops.  They would ask what we wanted:  "one car hop with no dressing"!  Then we would pretend we had car trouble.  We would raise the hood of the car, he would ask us to start it up.  We would honk the horn and watch him bump his head.  Of course it would have been someone Shawnie knew!   Great memories.

Do you relate?

I asked a friend who has crossed 70 and is heading towards 80 what sort of changes she is feeling in herself? She sent me the following: 1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself. 2 I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders. 3 I have stopped bargaining with vegetable and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees. 4 I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am. 5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past. 6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection. 7 I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.” 8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances. 9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do. 10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race. 11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human. 12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone. 13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last. 14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!

February 11, 1978

A day I will never forget!  It was a Saturday and the horrible news came out a Pacific Western Airlines flight crashed at Cranbrook airport.  I had been working for PWA in the Treasury Department for three years.  My boss, Bob, the Treasurer of PWA, was immediately sent to Cranbrook to assist with the situation.  

43 people lost their lives and 11 people survived the crash including Gail Bunn whose article is above.  Families of the passengers flew into Cranbrook and PWA took care of all their expenses.  No claim was rejected.  

After Cranbrook was cleared of debris and everyone left, all bills were sent to our department.  We didn't pass them through the normal channels, they were reviewed and I paid them.  That way no one in accounting would know what was paid.  It was difficult for many people because PWA was a small company and many people knew the crew.  

One thing this article didn't print, when Gail was ready to return to work, she chose the exact same route that didn't finish on February 11th!  I'm so happy she was rewarded for her bravery. 

The Governer General of Canada awarded Gail Lois Bunn, MB and David James White, MB

Medal of Bravery

Purser Gail Bunn and David White removed an eleven-year-old girl from the wreckage of a Pacific Western Airlines aircraft which had crashed at Cranbrook, British Columbia, on 11 February 1978. The aircraft fell while preparing to land in a blizzard and was ripped open by an explosion. Gail and David, who were seated in the tail section of the aircraft, survived and were moving away from the wreckage when they heard the child cry out for help. At great risk they returned to the aircraft and found the girl trapped in her seat. They unbuckled her safety belt, and David White carried her to safety.

• Awarded on: April 2, 1979

 

What a nice Valentines Day!

As I posted yesterday, I went for a lovely Red Hat lunch at Heather's.  Our Red Hat group usually go to restaurants, but Heather loves to entertain and every Valentines Day since I've been a member she has invited us to her apartment in New Westminster for lunch.  

Card was made by Heather!

This picture was taken after an incredible lunch.  Heather has rules!  No one can help her or go in the kitchen.  Kathy helped her serve the food and clear up the dishes.  Lunch started with tomato soup served in a tea cup!  It was very tasty.

A seafood crepe, lovely salad and a devilled egg.  It was delicious!

Fresh strawberries in a meringue cup with whipping cream!

A lovely afternoon with a wonderful group of ladies.  

Every day needs a smile:

Happy Valentines Day

 

I'm off to a Red Hat lunch at Heather's!  Heather makes lunch for all the ladies and lives in a lovely apartment in New Westminster with a view!  It's always fun.

Cec and I will celebrate another night as restaurants are always very busy on the 14th.  

Super Bowl Sunday

 

I am not a NFL fan, however I do like the half-time entertainment.  We had an invitation for dinner with friends and of course it conflicted with the Super Bowl.  When we decided on the date, we didn't realize it was Super Bowl Sunday.  Not a problem, apparently none of us are football fans.

We decided to return to The Loft at Pitt Meadows Golf Course which is a great restaurant and halfway between where they live in Maple Ridge and we live in Surrey.  

We were planning to leave home at 5:20 and at 5:00 Brad texted there was going to be a King of Floors ad broadcast during the Super Bowl at 5:10!   We watched TSN and it never came on before we left.  When we came home, we found out it was only shown on CTV, so unfortunately we didn't see it.

Dinner was fabulous!  Cec and I had prime rib, Laurie had six Sambuca prawns, Jamil had salmon and Alex had steak.  Everyone loved their meal.  They ordered calamari as a starter and every dish was superb!  

Alix and Jamil both ordered pavlova and it looked good.  We were far too full to even think of dessert.  

Laurie, Alix and I all worked together in the 70's.  How great is it we are all still good friends.  A wonderful night with lots of laughs and a delicious dinner!

Junk Fees

 

With a 20% tip this breakfast cost $37.73!

President Biden in his State of the Union address said he would stop "junk fees".  CBC Marketplace (Series 50 Episode 13) did a segment on added taxes and fees this weekend.  It is available on CBC Gem and they actually showed the IHOP in Niagara Falls we went to.  If you ask about the fee/tax, they tell you it's for fireworks and beautiful flowers.  They don't go to a government agency but are kept by the business!   The price for the same item on the menu at the Langley location is $18.99, $2.00 less than Niagara Falls.  It's my favorite smaller breakfast at IHOP, 2 eggs, 2 bacon and 2 pancakes!

CBC Gem - Marketplace

It's not just charged at the IHOP in Niagara Falls, many other restaurants and hotels are adding fees.  Hotels let you know ahead of time and call it a "resort fee".  Even if you don't want to use the pool or other amenities, they will not remove the fee.  

I've written John Aldag, my Member of Parliament.  I think it's time our government stops these hidden fees.  If restaurants or hotels need to increase prices, that's fine.  Don't add hidden fees you don't see until you've finished your meal and get the bill!

Automatic reply and he always responds:

Thank you for reaching out to the Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale – Langley City.

If you did not already, please include your postal code so we know which part of the riding you are from and can get back to you. Due to a high volume of emails, we prioritize emails from constituents living in Cloverdale – Langley City. For those outside the riding wishing to speak with John, we will attempt to respond in a timely manner. You can also contact your Member of Parliament. You can find out who your MP is here: Find Members of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada (ourcommons.ca)

If your inquiry is case-related, requires assistance communicating with a federal department such as the IRCC, CRA, or Service Canada, or is otherwise urgent, please call our office at 604-575-6595. Please call ahead to book an appointment to visit our office. If you are looking for more information about John, please visit www.johnaldagmp.ca

You can also get regular updates by following my online newsletter here: John Aldag's Work — John Aldag, Member of Parliament (johnaldagmp.ca)

 

How the dress code has changed.

 

Goodbye to an old friend in the UK

 

This picture was taken at Buckingham Palace with his only daughter Jane.
Keith served in the Merchant Navy in WW II and Princess Anne invited him to Buckingham Palace!

Keith Manns was 100 years old and passed away February 3, 2023.  I met Keith on my first visit to the UK in 1973 with my mom.  Keith, his late wife Lily and my Aunt Audrey met in Grade one and remained friends throughout their lives.  My Aunt Audrey was their only daughter Jane's godmother.  

On all our visits to the UK, we always made time to visit Lily and Keith.  I found out a few years ago their neighbour across the street was a teen, Len Goodman of Dancing with the Stars fame.  He was older than Jane but they were friends!   

We all met for dinner in Southampton in August 2019.  Jane and Graham brought Keith to Southampton to visit us before our cruise.  Graham and Jane have a summer home in Dorset.

He was an amazing person and will be missed by all who loved him!  

Happy Thursday