Friday, April 16, 2010

Going Back to Skul


Starting on Monday I will be going to the Silva Bay Shipyard School to take the introductory course. It lasts 2 weeks (8-4:30 everyday). This will really hone (pun intended) my wood work skills. It should be great and if I really get sucked in I will take the marine cabinetry course next year.

This year we have literally hundreds of fairy slipper orchids - wow. They are under the trees in dark shade. As your eyes adjust it looks just like a purple carpet.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Joe Enfield's 100th Birthday March 13th 2010, died March 23rd 2010

As you can see from these photos at the party (this is a link) Joe was really having a good time. I would like to think that he made it to his hundredth by will power and having then said goodbye to everyone he just let go. We spent most of the afternoon and evening of the 15th with him – he really didn’t want us to leave, it was a different person. Much more open and sociable. Tessa and I are so pleased we were able to see him one more time.

Wales March 12th 2010


On the right. the house in Laugharne that we rented 12 years ago for a holiday. The village hasn't change a bit since then. Its where Under Milk Wood was written so that should give you an idea of what its like. Claire looked out of her bedroom window on the first day and exclaimed "there is a castle at the bottom of our garden". Well there is.

Welsh is the predominant language of this area as you can see from the sign. On the road you really have to slow down to read road signs otherwise you only see the Welsh. We had lunch in a pub along the road and Claire described the vegetarian options as the best she had ever had:


Cranberry Walnut Brie presented by Brooks Street Inn B&B

1 round of brie cheese
1 sheet of puff pastry
1 cup dried cranberries (divided)... See More
½ cup chopped walnuts
Egg wash
Raw sugar for garnish
Preheat oven to 400.
Cut puff pastry sheet about 2 inches larger than the brie.
Put ½ of the cranberries in the middle of the pastry and set the brie on top of them.
Put the other ½ of cranberries and the nuts on top of the brie and fold the pastry up
and around, snipping at corners as necessary and using egg wash to stick it together.
Brush egg wash on top of pastry and sprinkle with raw sugar.
Bake until brown and puffy (about 20 minutes). Serve with apple slices.

Monday, March 1, 2010

What is a Biathlon




Since Biathlon is where I spent most of my time at the Olympics I thought I should describe what it is. It involves cross country skiing - up to 20 kilometers (5 laps) and shooting 5 targets at the range on 4 laps (twice prone and twice standing). A miss means skiing a 150 metre penalty lap and generally means dropping 5-10 places in the standing. They may look relaxed when they start but at the end they are exhausted. Its amazing though how fast they recover. Variations include mass starts, relays individual sprints and pursuit for both men and women - 10 races in all. As you can see the photographers are always near the action and so are the photo-smurfs.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

The Biathlon Smurfs - 2010 Olympics


My body is back on Gabriola. I hope UPS will deliver my brain tomorrow and then I can start writing about one of the most amazing three weeks I have ever spent. If you ever get the chance to volunteer at the Olympics - go for it.
Picture by Peter Llewellyn.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Boy doesnt winter stuff take up a lot of room


I guess I am ready now. The pants were too long and now Tessa has fixed them. I couldn't even get everything in the bag I took for a month in China! Off we go to join the other smurfs

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Getting packed up for trip to Whisler


Everything I want to take is on the floor in bedroom. I wonder how much will fit in the bag? The blue smurf volunteer uniform takes up a lot of space; the jacket and snow pants are impressive. Of course Gabriola is basking in 10 and sunny and the snow drops, crocus etc are blooming - its hard to think about what you need for a somewhat colder spot. I will try to keep blogging and/or Facebook depends on what connections are available. I leave early Monday morning and should be in Whistler by about 3pm. As the crow flies its only about 85 kilometers!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

You let the dog sleep where?




















This is where he does sleep - well sometimes. Note the wrap around human for warmth. The second picture is where the dog is supposed to sleep: