Saturday laughs

 

When your phone crashes!!!

Aurora was in our area.  My neighbour and I always go to Crescent Beach where it's dark and we get a good view of the North Shore mountains and wait for the light display.  I pulled up the Aurora app in the car on the way down and it said "update".  So, I "updated".   Then I watched one by one everything disappeared.  When it was over I had no phone, no camera, no flashlight and my screen was full of apps that I've never downloaded!  I shut my phone off!

Clouds rolled in so we didn't see a light show but it was a lovely night to watch the waves come in.  It wasn't as crowded as it has been and the by-laws officer was having fun trying to get people to move their cars who parked in the lot that closes at 8.  It was 10 and we never park in that lot in fear of getting locked in.

When I got home I started my phone.  It still looked "different".  I know my photos are backed up and that is the only thing I prize so I did a factory reset that cleared my phone of everything.  

Then I tried to sign on with my Google password and I don't have a tablet so I couldn't do the secondary verification as my phone didn't have text or a phone active. I signed in as Cec on my phone and loaded all his apps and then deleted what I didn't want.  Then I signed in to Samsung.  I wondered if signing into Samsung first would have been better, but I don't know if that would have worked.  

One by one, my apps loaded.  The phone worked, text worked, my emails came to life!  All in I was up until 4 AM, because I don't like anything to get the best of me.  I subscribe to the Geek Squad but I really wanted to fix it myself, which I did.

If anyone sent me anything that I haven't answered, send it again.  I am happy this didn't happen when I was travelling as I wouldn't have known all my passwords!  The Aurora app is gone and I will never download it again.  It was good for about 18 months.  I have a security app now that I didn't have before.  I don't know if the security app would have stopped the episode yesterday, but I'm thrilled to have my phone back with all the data and pictures it had before!

Hudsons Bay's Fluoroscope machine in the shoe department

I got this email from a friend who is a older than I am.  Cec remembers the fluoroscope machine at Woodward's!  Do you remember the machine?

I went to Guildford yesterday and Hudson's Bay was pretty empty.  So sad to see.  

With the Hudson Bay on the news an old memory appeared in my feeble mind. 

I was raised in my younger years in Vancouver and of course "The Bay" was thee place to shop for certain things including shoes.  So feet were placed in the box and there was 3 viewing places.   One time Mom and her friend Patsy took little Ricky and little Jimmie shopping with them to The Bay and the moms were busy in clothing and the boys escaped.  Guess where the first stop was?   The foot x-ray machine, I think the salesman kicked us out of there.   I'm sure the next stop was the toy department. 

Anybody else get to use this machine?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVlEXd9w7vk

How to repair a drainspout!

My wife said to me, "Honey, get off your rear and fix that gutter downspout!

And, I want it done before the end of the day!"

Well, as you all know, at my age and most of our friends, are retired and we have the time to address such "Honey do's"….

So, I invited some of my neighbourhood buddies over to help with the project.

One is a sheet metal fabricator.

One brought his welder.

One brought beer and Nachos.

One brought a grill and burgers.               

Took us about 6 hours, and 30 some odd beers, but we got it done just as we finished off the last of the beer and burgers. 

As usual, the wife is still not happy!

Can't understand, cause all us guys love it!

Personally, I cannot wait for rain.

King Charles visits Canada

 

This isn't just any Royal Visit.  King Charles will be reading the speech from the throne this morning.  It wasn't King Charles idea, he was invited by or government.  Queen Elizabeth in her 70 year reign read the Canadian speech from the throne in 1957 and 1977, so it's been a while.  

The Royal Visit is a reminder of the bond between Canada and the Crown, one forged over generations, shaped by shared histories, and grounded in common values.  

This is our statement to the United States and Donald Trump trying to make Canada the 51st state showing them we are different and not interested in their type of government. 

Celebration of Life - Joan Robison

In 1998, at the Bayshore Inn in Vancouver many ladies went to a Red Hat organizational meeting.  Pat, my cousins wife was one of the ladies there and she sat with Joan Robison and others.  At that meeting, they created the Friskie Fillies, a new Red Hat Group.

On April 18, 2013, Pat asked me to accompany her to a Red Hat lunch.  It was their 15 year anniversary.  I joined that day and ever since then I have attended the lunches.  I'm not great in remembering dates but I remember when we were driving home, "breaking news, bombing at the Boston Marathon".  

Joan became the queen of the Friskie Fillies.  She was a tall, stunning, warm, friendly awesome lady.  She lived in PAL Vancouver.  It's an apartment to provide longstanding members of Metro Vancouver's performing arts professions with affordable housing within a vibrant and creative community setting.  It's one block away from the Bayshore Inn and a lovely building.  We had a few lunches in the common room at the top of the building.  She loved it there.  

She talked to me often about all her children and grandchildren.  She said they worked in the entertainment field but never really elaborated or bragged.  Her five children, daughter Lisa, who I met at Joan's apartment and four sons invited us to her Celebration of Life.  They asked we wear our red hat regalia and everyone co-operated.

The event was held at the Vancouver Rowing Club in Stanley Park.  Pat and I took Skytrain and Uber as the park is very busy on a Sunday, traffic is horrendous and parking is hard to find.  It was a great choice.  Between Burrard and waterfront stations the train came to an emergency stop!  I'm glad no one was standing as it would have thrown them to the floor!   It was just a few minutes and they came over the speakers and said we would be moving shortly.  We have no idea why that happened, but it was a little frightening to everyone on board.  The ride home was fine.

Joan's five children and ten grandchildren were all there.  Joan's four sons all gave wonderful stories about their mom.  Gillian, a former Red Hat member, and Joan's best friend also gave a lovely speech.  The family of film makers and film editors, took their father's 8 MM pictures and created a 20 minute film showing pictures of the family as they grew up.  They also interviewed Joan.  It was professional and very touching.

It was such a lovely day and such a gorgeous venue, here are some of my pictures:

You can see the seawall.  Lots of people walking and cycling!!

If you look beyond the masts, you can see the cruise ships Serenade of the Seas and the Noordam

What a lovely tribute to a loving mother, grandmother and a true friend.  Rest in peace, Joan, we sure miss you.

Enjoying a vacation

 

When your parents go away and you get to go to the Kitty Hotel.  They are loving the window, the outside yard and all the other cats.  The food and ambiance are lovely but they will be very happy when the family comes home.  

Saturday Smiles

 

A new Arena for Surrey!

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has confirmed the new arena will have a seating capacity of 10,000 and will be situated near the core of the city’s emerging downtown.

This marks the first significant update since Mayor Locke initially announced the project in February 2024, when she revealed that a feasibility study would be conducted to explore the possibility of a 12,000-seat venue. At that time, the location had not yet been determined.

In her annual State of the City address last week, the Mayor provided new details about the project — a slightly smaller spectator capacity and confirmation that the arena will be built just north of Surrey City Hall in Surrey City Centre.

Moreover, she says, the arena will anchor a new complex of office, retail, dining, entertainment, and hospitality offerings, including hotel and conference centre uses. Initial construction work could begin approximately two years from now.

“While it’s clear we’re a big city, we currently lack the venues we need to host major sporting events and entertainment events and community gatherings. And that is why we’re investing in infrastructure to create and upgrade our entertainment and recreational facilities,” said Locke in her address.

“We are moving forward with the new 10,000-seat arena in the City Centre just north of City Hall. We’re in the very early stages of procurement and we are working to partner with an operator. This isn’t just about building an arena. It’s about creating a destination through mixed-use development, including a hotel, conference facilities, and retail and restaurants. This will become a place for families to enjoy the best sporting and entertainment venues right here in the city of Surrey.”

Specialty dining on the Sun Princess

The Sun Princess has many specialty restaurants.  I haven't been on this class of Princess ships but perhaps when it goes to Alaska next year, I will book a cruise.  This restaurant is called a culinary experience!  I got these pictures of dinner at "Love by Britto".  I'm attaching the menu as other than the Lobster and Salad, I wasn't exactly sure what they ordered but it looked delicious.   They may have more than one menu.  They loved it and the presentation is excellent!

Rolls & Butter

To cleanse the palate

These are chocolates to end the dinner

The Sun Princess debuted last year and sails the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean in the summer, spring and fall.  Her sister shop the Star Princess will be launched in October.  She will sail the Caribbean and then transit the new Panama Canal to Seattle where she will depart for 7 day return trips.  She will be in Vancouver on September 27, 2026 returning from Alaska and then sail to Los Angeles for 7 days and then to Fort Lauderdale where she will sail all fall and winter. 

• Guest Capacity: 4,300 (lower berths)
• Crew: 1,600
Tonnage: 177,882
Length: 1,133 feet
Height: 200 feet
Breadth: 139 feet
Maximum Speed: 22 knots
Number of Decks: 21
Guest Staterooms: 2,157 total, including 80 suites
Sphere: A geodesic, glass-enclosed structure inspired by the terraces of Santorini
Piazza: A central hub with expansive ocean views

Norm!

Norm was a wonderful character on the TV series Cheers that ran from 1982 to 1993.  He passed away yesterday.  We've been to Boston twice and both times we've passed the bar "Cheers".  We never went in as we were on a tour.  The tv series was filmed in Los Angeles but based the series on the Cheers pub in Boston.  Cheers is right across from Boston Public Garden.

This was posted online, what a beautiful tribute!

Canada Post

 

This is the first mailman uniform

The first Vancouver door to door Canada Post mail delivery was on February 2, 1885.  Back in 2014, Stephen Harper discussed stopping door to door delivery to homes and making other changes.  There were also talks about privatization as he knew they could not continue their losses.  It was an election year and the Conservatives lost and the Liberals won.  The Liberals dropped the plan and look where we are now!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-postal-workers-protest-harper-1.3189229

It's horrible for people to lose their jobs, but you can't run a company into bankruptcy.  They need to change with the times.  Amazon contracted Canada Post to deliver their parcels up until a few years ago when they found using their own trucks and delivering 24/7 was a lot faster and cheaper than Canada Post.  However, Canada Post still takes all their returns and according to a postal employee they are losing money on every parcel.  

Let's hope they can reach a contract by Thursday so there is no postal strike.  

A nice day to go to Canada Place

There were three ships docked yesterday so we thought we'd venture downtown.  It was a decent day and lots of people using transit and walking around.   When we got to Waterfront station, we were greeted by the Khalistan protesters who were very loud but non-violent.

Celebrity Solstice

Niew Amsterdam (Paula and Gordon just departed her today) and Serenade of the Seas

We had a lovely lunch at the Tap and Barrel.  The wind was cool but a nice walk around the waterfront.  

A typical Canadian May long weekend!

It's a holiday weekend.  We celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday on the third Monday of May every year.   On Friday gasoline went up, way up.  Saturday morning it dropped by 11 cents!  And they say it has nothing to do with the fact so many people will head out of the city in their vehicles!  They say that every long weekend and say there is no price fixing!

One nice thing about being retired is you gas up on Wednesday at Costco for $1.549 instead of Friday where it was $1.659 according to gas buddy.  Then you stay home!  It's Cloverdale Rodeo weekend which means you also keep off highway 10 and 64th Avenue.  

The weather yesterday was horrible.  It poured all morning.  The sun came out around 3 and I thought great, time for a walk.  Good thing I didn't as there was massive storm just before 6.  There was a funnel cloud near Cloverdale.  I was inside so I didn't see any funnel clouds, but the thunder was very long and loud!  I always think of animals as it frightens them.

Today will be a little better, just a 40% chance of rain during the day and the rain will start again in the early hours.  

I decided to call it winter and I'm making a pot roast tomorrow.  Might as well eat comfort food.

Bill Atkinson

Bill was a nephew of my brother-in-law and the accountant for all his businesses.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with male breast cancer.  Bill passed away last night.  You couldn't meet a nicer gentleman who loved life and especially his family.  My heart is broken for this beautiful family.  Rest in peace my good friend,  

Bill and Hayley have quite the love story.  CTV interviewed them in their Richmond home:

Cherish every day

Let's Make a Deal

In 1980, I went to Let's Make a Deal when they filmed in West Vancouver.  I won 3 piglets but took the money as we lived in the city and had a cat!  In 2014, Cheryl and I went back to Let's Make a Deal and I was chosen.  I have a copy of the show in a link below.  A friend in the US was able to make a copy and send it to me.  

Cheryl and I went back in 2022 and Cheryl was chosen!  She won $5,000 US!  We kept getting invites. Lexie applied and was chosen last summer.  They filmed that episode in late August and it was shown in January.  I blogged about it on January 15th.  We tried to get a copy on You Tube but couldn't find it.

In September, Cheryl and I got invites from Let's Make a Deal to be contestants as we accompanied Lexie in August and they had our information. They were close to the season end and needed contestants.  The taping date was when we were on our Canada New England - Florida cruise so I couldn't go.  Cheryl went with friends she works with.  Her friend Diane accompanied her to the show and they dressed as pirates.

When we were with Lexie in August, we met Ethel.  She was a lovely woman from Brooklyn.  We talked to her and her friends for a long time.  Ethel was with was chosen on Lexie's show.  Obviously Ethel got another invite and was at the same taping as Cheryl.  If you watch the entire episode, you will see Ethel and her friend Shelly.  Shelly is chosen too!

Cec downloaded it in high definition and it's too big to put on the blog.  I hope this link works:

Let's Make a Deal 2025

In 2014 the audience was a lot bigger.  Covid changed the seating and your chances of being chosen are much better.

Let's Make a Deal 2014

The colour of egg yolks

 

B C Ambulance Service

116 years later we have an excellent ambulance service.  If you are a BC Resident your ambulance bill is $80.00.  It doesn't matter how far you travel.  If you are transferred between hospitals there is no charge.  

We have 15 air ambulances, 658 regular ground ambulances that includes specialty ambulances for critical care and infant care.  There are 238 non-transport vehicles that carry attendants with superior health care skills.

And for longer air ambulance flights:

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE • BCEHS air ambulances respond to critical hospital transfer patients as well as emergency 911 medical calls.  (2023)

About 90 per cent of air ambulance transports are interfacility transfers, from hospital to hospital.  

• The BCEHS air ambulance program currently has a dedicated fleet of 15 air ambulances:  o Vancouver – airplanes (3) and helicopters (2) 

o Nanaimo – helicopter (1)  

o Kamloops – helicopter (1) 

o Kelowna – airplanes (3) 

o Prince George – airplanes (2) and helicopter (1) 

o Prince Rupert – helicopter (1)  

o Fort St John – airplane (1)  

• In addition to the 15 dedicated air ambulances, two airplanes were added in October 2021 in Vancouver and Nanaimo on a temporary basis. They are currently planned to be place until October 2024. • BCEHS also calls upon about 35 air carriers around the province to provide service as needed. 

• There were 8,290 patient transports completed by air resources in 2023-24 including 6,177 patient transports by airplane and 2,113 patient transports by helicopter. o In 2023-24, airplane transports accounted for approximately 75 per cent of all air ambulance calls; helicopters were used in approximately 25 per cent of calls.  

A breakdown of air ambulance transports in BC (for fiscal year 2023-24) by originating health authority: 

o Northern Health  41%

o Interior Health  25%  

o Vancouver-Coastal 18%

o Vancouver Island 13%

o Fraser Health  2%

o Out-of-Province less than 1% 

This explains our laughter at lunch!

 

From the Vatican, the first American Pope

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

My favorite Mother's Day joke.

When is Mother's Day?

9 months after Father's Day!

Let's Make a Deal

In September we were out for dinner with friends when I got an URGENT text from my daughter, Cheryl to call immediately.  I called her to find we both just received an invitation to another taping of Let's Make a Deal.  The taping was in October and I was already booked on a cruise.  Cheryl accepted the invitation and went with two girls from work.  Her Let's Make a Deal ticket only let one friend in, but the three of them went to see a taping of The Price is Right.  They are filmed in the same studio on different days.  They had a "girls" weekend away and had a wonderful time.

None of them were chosen on The Price is Right, but Cheryl, one more time got chosen on Let's Make a Deal.  She is the first person to be chosen on the show.  The program is scheduled to be broadcast on May 14th.  They gave us wrong information about Let's Make a Deal when Lexie was on so we aren't sure when it will be shown.  If you watch daytime television, look out for Cheryl.  Cheryl and Diane dressed as a pirates.  

I think of my mom who told me in 1980 I was wasting my time, I'd never get chosen!  

Cheryl is second from the right.  Diane a long time friend is beside her.  They dressed as pirates.  

 

Cunard Cruises

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will lead Cunard” 185th anniversary celebrations in Liverpool on May 27 as the luxury cruise line marks 185 years of maritime heritage.

The company said in a press release that the festivities will begin on May 26 when the Queen Anne arrives in the Mersey, almost a year to the day since her naming ceremony in Liverpool.

Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: “This is a landmark moment for Cunard, and we are incredibly honored to welcome Her Royal Highness to Liverpool as we celebrate 185 years of our heritage. The opening of the Sea of Glamour exhibition is a fitting tribute to the elegance and legacy that define Cunard and to the special bond we share with this great city.”

Cunard said that it is honored to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for the first royal tour of Queen Anne.

According to the press release, British Army Band Catterick will signal her arrival, and Her Royal Highness will celebrate Cunard’s years of maritime history, its bond with Liverpool and the leadership of Queen Anne’s Captains, Dave Hudson and Inger Thorhauge.

Following this, Cunard will open its 185th ‘Sea of Glamour’ exhibition at The Royal Liver Building, joined by Queen Anne’s Icons, five Liverpudlian women chosen to represent the city after Liverpool was named in a world first as Queen Anne’s godparent.

Curated by photographer Mary McCartney, the exhibition will showcase life at sea through Cunard’s 185-year.

The Sound of Music

60 years ago The Sound of Music was released into theatres.  It was produced and directed by Robert Wise from a screenplay written by Ernest Lehman and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.  The film was an adaptation of the 1959 stage musical composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Lindsay and Crouse.  It was based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp.  It was set in Salzburg, Austria and filmed in Salzburg and Los Angeles.  We visited Salzburg a few years ago and saw some of the sights where the filming took place.

The film received five academy awards.  It was popular throughout the world, breaking previous box-office records in 29 countries.  It had an initial theatrical release that lasted four and a half years and two successful re-releases.  It sold 283 million admissions worldwide and earned a total worldwide gross of $286 million.

Here are the actors, then and now:

Family feud

When I was a child, my mother told me about my dad's brother and sister (now deceased) who had an argument and never spoke again!   The brother died at 47 with cancer the year I was born.  He suffered for a long time and they never made it up!  She told me how hard it was on my grandparents and the rest of the family.  She said "never hold a grudge!".  Now I see the same thing happening with King Charles and Prince Harry.  Harry, say you are sorry and stop doing TV interviews, writing articles and books!  You want a quiet life, then live it.  This must be horrific for King Charles and Prince William!

In 2020 when Harry chose to leave the royal family and the UK, he was told what the implications would be.  Losing security was one of the losses he would suffer.  He's sued the British government regarding his security and lost.  

Here is his latest interview with the British press if you want to view it.  

When a joke isn't funny

The first picture was published on Truth Social by the US President.  He thought it was funny, but the death of the pope was devastating for Catholics.  The US President received criticism both at home and abroad including from former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, as well of Catholic bishops of New York state.

It's disgusting a President would post a picture like this and I'm not Catholic.

I love the comedians on Twitter:

And last night on Jimmy Kimmel

He loves publicity, and this gave him what he wanted.  Too bad it repulsed the rest of the world!

May 4th

May the 4th Be With You!  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Okay, it was actually back in May of 1977 and it was in movie theaters everywhere. Princess Leia left a message in a little droid known as R2-D2 at the beginning of a story about a boy, a girl and a universe.

Monday funnies