British Columbia Emergency Room Wait Times

For the last five nights on Global TV evening news, the first item has been the Emergency Department at our local hospital.  The doctors have gone on TV explaining the situation is in a crisis!   When an ER doctor puts his job on the line and says he wouldn't send a family member to the ER he works at as the lack of doctors, nurses and space for patients is so bad, you know it's a problem.  Then the head of Gynecology came on two days ago and said a baby died because of lack of care.  How horrific it's become and I blame the Ministry of Health.  

I was there less two weeks ago and although I was in the hallway, I could not complain about my care.  I was in the heart ward!  I was fortunate.

Emergency Room wait times have been available in Vancouver Coastal Health Region for a few years but Fraser Health has never made them public.  Thanks to the media and the reports of the horrific situation at our local hospitals, here is a link where you can get updated information:

B C ER Wait Times

The above link also shows the Urgent and Primary Care Centers.  If your problem is not life threatening, go to Urgent Care.  They are fabulous at Urgent Care and the wait times are much less.  They have access to the hospital and if you need to go, they will direct you and forward all your information!

I've checked the website and I find it hard to believe the times shown are correct.  Either people have stopped going there and diverting to other hospitals or the times are misleading!  Our provincial government has really let us down in health care.  

Happy Birthday Anne

I got 4 emails regarding Anne's birthday.  She really didn't want gifts or cards, so we all went for cake!

Please mark your calendar for Anne’s 64th Birthday:

Date:  Monday, May 29, 2023

Time:  1:30-3:00

Place:  Langley (Anne’s place)

Wear:  Red / White / Purple with something on your head

Menu:  Birthday Cake & Coffee/Tea

No need to RSVP. 

No need to bring anything.  

No gifts or cards, please — just the pleasure of your company.

Parking:  If you need to leave early, please do NOT park in the driveway.  Carpooling is recommended. Thank you!

Anne supplied the cake and coffee.  What a wonderful idea and we all had a great time!

After the ball is over

Lexie had a wonderful time.  She is on Instagram and posted many pictures from Saturday night.  Her friends looked amazing!   She fund raised for dry grad but decided not to go as it ended at 4:30 AM.  I took this picture from her Instagram account!

I saw some of these girls at the garden but I didn't see the blue dress.  They all look amazing but the blue one is stunning!  I only see one girl in shoes.  I know most wore runners under those gowns.  What a wonderful idea!

I've had a few comments about the girls not taking dates.  To go to Prom you can take a guest but they must go to Lord Tweedsmuir.  Very few students had a date, most of the girls and boys went stag.  At the garden I only saw one couple, he was in a tux and she was in a gorgeous gown.  She had a wrist corsage and he had a matching boutonnière.  

Sharon called me today and asked if Lexie's gown sparkled.  It sure did in the sunshine.  Cec took this video of her:

Lexie's Grad Dance

Last night Lexie and the Class of 2023 from Lord Tweedsmuir had their Grad Dance at Newlands Golf Course in Langley.  She was so excited and looked amazing.  At 4 PM, many grads went to Sendall Gardens in Langley for pictures before the dinner dance.  She gave me her approval to post pictures of her grad on my blog. 

She was an honour roll student throughout high school.  Last year she had a GPA of 3.75 but this year it will be higher she says!  She's been accepted at Simon Fraser University in Criminology.  We are all so proud of her!

Goodbye Lillie

 

The World is shaped like a cat. 

Until a few years ago, we always had at least one cat.  There were times we had two cats.  Cec came home from work one Friday with a lovely lost cat.  We tried to find her owner but never did.  I didn't know she wasn't spayed and one morning we had a choir of males howling on our fence.  65 days later we had four kittens.  Cheryl was 7 and we used it as a learning experience.  Cheryl had a cat baby shower.  We served tuna sandwiches and saucers of milk for lunch.  We got her spayed after the kittens arrived.  We called her Diana and our male was named Charles.  It was 1981.

Lillie was the cat owned by my cousin Jean in the UK.  Jean bought her from a breeder and she was gorgeous.  She was the most spoiled cat I've ever seen.  Lillie passed away recently, but I didn't find out until yesterday.

Lillie 

Lillie's dinner - Jean is a vegetarian but bought fresh organic chicken and cooked it for Lillie
The milk is cat milk.  I didn't even know they had that. 
The rest is a buffet of cat food!

I don't remember the year she was born, but every year since she arrived I've been sending her birthday cards on April 15th.  I bought them at Petsmart but they discontinued their card section so I would try to find something at the Carleton card store!  They were much appreciated.

It's never easy to lose a pet. She lived a wonderful life! 

Happy Friday

 

Great Photography

I saw this online and thought it was absolutely gorgeous!   The pictures are the Great Lakes!

RCMP Musical Ride

 

Yesterday the RCMP celebrated 150 years of service to the public and security of the country.  The RCMP Musical Ride has announced their performances across Canada.  They are coming to British Columbia!  They are at the Stetson Bowl in Cloverdale on June 24 & 25 and performing at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby on June 26th.  I've seen them a few times and they are awesome!  I hope to get to the Stetson Bowl next month.  Here is their summer schedule:

RCMP Musical Ride Schedule

The modern Musical Ride

Today, the RCMP Musical Ride consists of 32 riders plus the member in charge. It executes a variety of cavalry drills choreographed to music. The Ride tours throughout Canada and internationally between May and October, performing at approximately 40 venues each year. The present stables in Ottawa were built in 1993; the original stables built in 1939 now house the Visitor's Centre.

Happy Victoria Day

Queen Victoria's birthday was on May 25th.  Since 1845, Canada has celebrated her birthday on the Monday between the 18th and 24th of May every year thereafter.  It's a federal statutory holiday.  We don't do anything "royal", but it's a long weekend when most of Canada has good weather.  Most people feel it's the start of the summer.  
 

Queen Elizabeth's birthday was on April 21st and King Charles is November 14th.  April is too close to Easter and November 14th is right after Remembrance Day.  I'm glad we continue to honour Queen Victoria!

We turned out alright

Sometimes I wonder about the restrictions put on children these days.  I think about my childhood:

• I saw Tarzan almost naked
• Cinderella arrived home after midnight
• Pinocchio told lies
• Aladdin was a thief
• Batman drove over 200 miles an hour
• Snow White lived in a house with 7 men
• Popeye smoked a pipe and had tattoos
• Pac Man ran around to digital music while eating pills
• Shaggy an Scooby were mystery solving hippies that always had the munchies
• I read the bible that had more sex and violence than most banned books 

Queen Charlotte

I loved Bridgerton and The Gilded Age .  Netflix has just released a sequel to Bridgerton called Queen Charlotte.  Queen Charlotte was wife to King George III.  This story is of their marriage.  Their lives changed and saddened by the King's devastating mental illness.  Charlotte remained steadfast and loyal to her husband.  

This was one of the most beautiful stories that has ever been told.  It is a masterpiece with exceptional acting and a romantic and magical experience.  The exploration of King George's mental health issues and battle with social anxiety and internal conflict was wonderfully portrayed.

If you enjoyed Bridgerton and the Gilded Age, you will love this series!

When to use the Emergency at your local Hospital

My post yesterday talked about my trip to Emergency at Surrey Memorial Hospital.  Part of the problem of over crowding is people go to ER that could be seen elsewhere.  I found this information for anyone who is not sure of what to do when you are sick.  This is for people within Fraser Health but it has good information for any Health District.

When to use the Emergency

When you should go to emergency for medical attention.  In life-threatening situations, emergency services are vital. However, they are not set up to care for routine illnesses, and they do not work on a first-come, first-served basis. During busy times, people with minor illnesses may need to wait.

Whenever you feel you can apply home treatment safely and wait to see your regular doctor, do so. However, if you believe your situation requires emergency care, go to the Emergency Room. If you aren’t sure, call our Fraser Health Virtual Care team at 1-800-314-0999 for advice from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week. Outside those hours, call 8-1-1.

For emergencies

Call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest hospital Emergency Room if you are experiencing an emergency health issue. Some examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to:

• chest pains
• difficulty breathing
• severe bleeding
• broken bones, or suspected broken bones
• stroke or heart attack symptoms
• symptoms of sepsis
• pain in early pregnancy
• If possible, have your Personal Health Number (BC Care Card) handy and bring a list of your current medications.

Advice on using the ER wisely

For any health concern, call your family doctor first. Your family doctor knows you and your medical history. Same-day urgent appointments may be available.

If you don't have a family doctor or yours is unavailable, or if you have an injury or illness that requires immediate medical attention, but is not an emergency, visit an Urgent and Primary Care Centre. Find a location at fraserhealth.ca/urgentcare. Or, you can use medimap.ca to find a walk-in clinic in your area.

For trusted health advice call Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 to speak with a registered nurse from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven-days-a-week. Call 8-1-1 outside of those hours.

For an urgent medication refill speak with your pharmacist. Your pharmacist may be able to provide an emergency refill of your prescription, including medications for chronic conditions. Contact your pharmacist for minor issues that you may be able to manage with over-the-counter medications.

For a possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance, call Poison Control at 1-800-567-8911. For a child/youth mental health crisis, call Fraser Health's START program at 1-844-782-7811.

For mental health/substance use concerns, call the 24/7 Fraser Health Crisis Line at 604-951-8855 or toll free at 1-877-820-7444.

For Surrey residents, if you or your loved one has an urgent mental health or substance use concern (that does not require hospitalization), visit the Surrey Mental Health and Substance Use Urgent Care Response Centre.

For emergency or life-threatening conditions, including broken bones, severe breathing problems or severe bleeding call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.

Think you might have COVID-19 and not sure if you need a test? Learn more: fraserhealth.ca/covid19testing.

Surrey ER

Dozens of physicians working inside the busiest emergency room in British Columbia have released a scathing letter describing an unrelenting "crisis" at the department, claiming the local health authority has "repeatedly" asked them to keep details of the situation from the public.

The doctors work at Surrey Memorial Hospital.  I want to tell everyone about my experience.

On Sunday night, I was rushed to Surrey ER by ambulance.  I woke up at 1:10 AM with chest pains, was nauseated, breathing was laboured and in a cold sweat.  The pain was so intense, I called 911.  They told me to take an aspirin and the firemen came first and then the ambulance shortly thereafter.  They suspected it was my heart.  I went to Surrey Memorial and was put by the nurses station. It was wall to wall beds around the large nurses station.  Patients in beds, everywhere.  I was glad to be there!

After three hours, I finally got morphine and the pain was better.  All the heart tests came out negative.  I had an X-Ray that showed nothing.  My mother and grandmother both had gall bladder problems and I mentioned that to the doctor.  By 9 AM, pain was gone and I felt better. The doctor gave me Tylenol 3's to take home and told me if the pain came back to return to ER.  He told me I needed an ultrasound within three days and if they didn't call, told me what to do.

Tuesday morning, they called.  I hadn't eaten as I was still feeling nauseated which meant I could get the ultrasound that day.  My appointment wasn't until 3:30 PM and Cheryl drove me.  After the ultrasound I was told to go to ER to have it read immediately!  Wow, you usually wait a few days for the doctor to call.

We left Cec in a nice area to wait as we knew ER would be busy.  Cheryl and I stood in line for 25 minutes to give the ER clerks the paper given to me by the ultrasound guy.  They put a hospital band on me and told me to take a chair.  There were no chairs and someone got up as I guess being old has it's benefits.  It wasn't long before I was sent into CATZ where everyone waits for a doctor.   It was packed.  We were talking to this nice lady who was waiting since 10 AM, and it was now 5:30 PM!   I went up to the desk and not looking to crash the line, said "can I leave to get something to eat".  She said "you are only allowed to go to the snack bar".  I saw the snack bar, it's a Second Cup and all they had was bagels, muffins and banana bread.  I said "I haven't eaten all day, I have a headache and I need a meal.  I'll be back in an hour or so".  And we left.  I know they prioritize people according to severity and I had no problem waiting for as long as it would take.

After a nice dinner of ramen and veggies we were back.  At 9:30 PM the doctor came in.  It was my gall bladder as the ultrasound showed "debris".  There are no stones so hopefully that won't come back.  I have no idea what "debris" is!

I cannot express how hard the people in the ER work!  The situation is critical, but when you are really sick, they tend to you immediately.  If you can go to a clinic, don't go to ER.  

In 2017 Surrey was promised a new hospital.  They just announced it will start building in July six years after the announcement.  Our government has let us down.  

Some thoughts.....

1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

2. To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.

3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

4. It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles.

5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

6. When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

8. I had my patience tested. I'm negative.

9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.

10. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"

11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say "nothing," it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

13. I run like the winded.

14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.

15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"

16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?

17. I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

18. When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east."

19. Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.

20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.

21. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

Philosophy 101

As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realise that:

Whether we wear a $3,000 or $30 watch - - - they both tell the same time.

Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag - - - the amount of money inside is the same.

Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $30 or $3 wine - - - the hangover is the same.

Whether the house we live in is on 300 or 3,000 or 30,000 sq. ft. - - - the loneliness is the same.

And we realize our true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.

Whether we fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down - - - we go down with it.

Whether we fly first or economy class, if the plane reaches its destination - - - everyone arrives at the same time.

Therefore . . . we should realize that when we have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters,

with whom we can chat, laugh, talk, sing, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth -- that is true happiness!

Six Undeniable Facts of Life:

1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy, so when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.

2. Best wise words: "Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."

3. The one who loves you will never leave you because, even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few folks really understand that.

5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, you have to manage!

6. If you just want to walk fast, walk alone; but, if you want to walk far, walk together!

Six Best Doctors in the World:

1. Sunlight

2. Rest

3. Exercise

4. Diet

5. Self Confidence

6. Friends

And, finally:

The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts.

Royalty pictures

I've been waiting for my Coronation Edition of Hello Magazine Canada.  I haven't received it yet and I hope it's worth the wait.  I found these pictures online and I thought they were worth sharing:

Louis is my favorite young royal.

A lovely Mother's Day

 Lovely flowers, a nice card and a family dinner.  You can't ask for anything more!

Happy Mother's Day

Cheryl sat with me for six hours in ER on Tuesday.  That's all the gift I need.  We are going to their house and getting take out for dinner.  Still feeling a bit under the weather, but so much better than last Sunday!

I thought this was excellent:

Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: 

My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. 

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? 

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. 

If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. 

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. "

Some personal info

 

I don't put a lot of personal information on my blog, but today is special.  My granddaughter applied to four universities to study Criminology.  She has been accepted by all four, and will attend Simon Fraser University!   It was the university she wanted.  First year will be close to home, then subsequent years will be at the main campus on Burnaby Mountain.

She's made it very clear, she is not going into law enforcement.  Perhaps she's looking to follow in her mom's career path.   

Pretty wells sums up how I feel right now

 

King Charles III - a musician?

I knew King Charles paints with water colours and his paintings are very good.  I didn't know he played three instruments.  

The best way to shoot animals

 

 

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Cloverdale

Our season started on Saturday, May 6th! We welcome you to join us for our Heritage Rail Adventure, the ‘ride everything’ offering that is new this season.

We will be operating our Royal Connaught Car, BCER 1304, and the Surrey Firefighters Pipe and Drums Band will be performing in the morning. It promises to be a memorable day.

Visit our website at www.fvhrs.org for information and tickets.

Nobody does it better than the Brits

🎶The pomp and pageantry this weekend was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire weekend of Coronation events.     I was proud of the Canadian Mounties leading the procession to Westminster Abbey.  

They certainly decorated London!

I checked my TV online guide and the only network showing The Coronation Concert was PBS! I recorded it as I was out and missed the ending as the time went over.  I've checked and can't find it broadcast on TV at any other time.  I'm hoping it will be on Netflix or You Tube so I can see the ending.  Next time I will add time to the recording.  My favorite part was Prince William's speech to his father he said "unlike Lionel Ritchie, it won't go on all night long!"  It shows his sense of humour.  Katy Perry's performance was magnificent.  She mentioned she brought her mother to the UK and they are staying at Windsor Castle! 

 

This one is my favorite:

I watched the Coronation on CBC.   I was speaking to a friend who watched it on CTV and they had an interesting indigenous leader explaining how the British Crown helped them in the early years.  If you are interested and want more information here is an article I found very interesting.  Why didn't we learn this is school, or was I sleeping?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/treaties-from-1760-1923-two-sides-to-the-story-1.1081839

  

King Charles III

 

Coronation Day - King Charles III

Police transition update as reported in the Surrey Now Leader

Finally a newspaper that prints the truth of what's gone on in the last five years.  I guess the developer that doesn't even live in Surrey, but ran our city hall hasn't paid these people off too! I am so tired of Global and their one sided reporting all this time!  They never did their due diligence.  It wasn't until Diane Watts, our former Mayor was interviewed on the Global Morning News people start changing their reporting.  She said "if Mike Farnsworth would have asked for a Cost/Benefit Analysis and Business Report, this never would have happened!"  

It was reported former Mayor McCallum, two Surrey NDP MLA's and the developer were spotted having a meeting in Victoria with Minister Farnsworth just before the announcement last week.   No one from Victoria EVER contacted Mayor Brenda Locke.  

Thursday, May 4 Surrey Now Leader:

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth offered up a master class last Friday on how not to go about revealing what he described in his preamble as “one of the most difficult decisions” he’s had to make as B.C.’s solicitor general and “also one of the most important.”

This of course refers to his presser concerning his long, long – did we mention long? – awaited decision on whether Surrey should stick with the RCMP as its police of jurisdiction or continue to forge ahead with the Surrey Police Force.

This of course was expected in January, after four years of community infighting and a denied call for a referendum on the issue. Rather than put the matter to rest, on Jan. 26, Farnworth let both sides down with a meagre statement that more information was needed from either side to “inform further consideration.”

This was followed by three months of silence from Farnworth’s ministry while Surrey taxpayers carried an $8-million-per-month bill to maintain two police departments at the public teat. That Friday’s big reveal proclaimed a recommendation, instead of a decree, left people in both camps scratching their heads in frustration.

That the provincial government’s big reveal on this matter of historic importance, after three months’ delay no less, happened with the city’s mayor receiving a redacted copy of the ministry’s 148-page report mere hours prior speaks volumes.

Whether you disagree or not with six of nine council members voting to stick with the RCMP, it’s difficult to not agree with Mayor Brenda Locke that the way this was handled was “disgraceful” and disrespectful to Surrey’s civic government and residents.

Clearly, much of this debacle could have been avoided with a referendum.

On February 14, 2020 with the media televising live the presentation of over 45,000 signatures asking for a referendum delivered to the Premier's Office, they were ignored.

The group was told to go through Elections BC, so they got the voters list and as you signed the petition, your name was crossed off.  42,942 signatures were delivered to Victoria asking for a referendum and again rejected.  Every signature was verified with the voters list.

This smells fishy to me and I hope the Ethics Minister investigates it!

This boondoggle will be remembered along with the One Billion Dollar BC Museum proposal, the Fast Ferries, NDP Bingogate scandal and the federal SNC Lavalin affair.

Cruise to Alaska on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth

A year ago, I booked the Queen Elizabeth for a 10 day cruise to Alaska Vancouver return departing July 17th.  I reserved an obstructed balcony cabin on this cruise and the price for two was:  Canadian $6,287.84.   They had a sale earlier this year and I was able to get a reduced price.

Now, they have an incredible offer for new bookings only:  

Price for double occupancy including all taxes on the 10 day July 17th cruise as above:

Inside:  $1456.51 per person = room total $2913.00

Ocean View $1523.47 per person = room total $3046.94

Balcony (non-obstructed)  $1791.35 per person = room total $3582.70

Prices are in Canadian Dollars and subject to change.  If you are interested you need to act soon.

Cruises on sale:  12 days June 8; 10 days June 20, 7 days June 30; 10 days July 17; 11 days July 27; 10 days August 7.

Cunard is a five star cruise line.  It's much nicer than Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America.  The service, food and entertainment are superb!  If you are looking for bumper cars, hairy chest contests or announcements about t-shirt sales this isn't your cruise.  Cunard has kettles in the staterooms, offers enrichment guest speakers, bridge lessons, dart competitions in the pub, dance classes and much more with no extra charges.  Their library is the largest at sea.  New cruise ships on other lines have eliminated libraries!  They do have a dress code and it's enforced, so if you don't like dressing for dinner this cruise is not for you.

If luxury cruising interests you, I welcome you to join me on July 17th or sail on any of the other dates listed.  Cunard only comes to the west coast once a year for a few sailings to Alaska then continues around the world.  These rooms are selling quickly so if you are interested, call or message me asap.  

Time for a drive to Bellingham

It was a nice day yesterday and I needed gas.  Instead of lining up at Costco Langley, I decided to go to the US.  Last time I filled in the US and paid $4.65 a gallon in Blaine at the Chevron station.  It was time I went to Costco as I needed butter. Kirkland Butter is $11.69 for four pounds each wrapped up in quarters!  I went down Hwy. 15 to the Pacific Border Crossing.  The border lines were very short, but I have Nexus so it was super quick.  For the first time the border guard asked if I had any gas containers!  I never take gas containers across the border but I know lots of people do.

I looked online and it's legal to take 12 jerricans or 440 pounds of gasoline across the border!  I would think that's a huge hazard, but I know lots of people take 4 or 5 because I've seen them at the gas station.  I wonder why he asked?

My neighbour told me at Costco in Bellingham you can use your CIBC Costco MasterCard!  She was right and all this time I've used my Visa.

I know a lot of Canadians go to Bellingham Costco.  I've noticed prices in the US are much higher and some things are the same in US $ as we pay in Canadian.  The only thing I really needed was butter but did pick up a couple of items they don't carry in Canada.  Kirkland Pacific Bold coffee is the same price in Bellingham as it is in Langley and when you add the exchange it's 30% more in the US and it's from Starbucks!  

The new Costco building in Bellingham is so large, it never feels busy.  The aisles are much wider and the parking lot is huge.  They now have a car wash for $7.99.  You pay for the car wash at the gas pumps.  

Calculated from my app:   

$1.41 a litre  and I put in 60 litres, SAVING $26.04 Canadian and well worth the drive.

Happy Birthday Richard

 This was two years ago:

Grandsons Sam behind the 8 and Jack behind the three!

In January 2021 Richard was playing 36 holes of golf most days.  By mid-April he couldn't walk a block.  His health problems came fast and with wonderful doctors at Vancouver General Hospital, we celebrate his 85th Birthday.  On November 2, 2021 he had 5 heart by-passes, one valve replacement and one valve repair!   A month ago, Richard had a pacemaker/AED implanted!   He's going to a trainer to get his strength and golf game back where he wants it and he's just as good as he was in January 2021.

It's been very warm here, but today it was much cooler and it was raining lightly so we came inside.  Great to have the family for dinner!

Two things I never want

I like tea.  I usually use a nice mug or fancy cup if I have company.  I would NEVER drink out of this:

I've seen these in the US, but they are now for sale at Canadian Tire.  What has this world come to?