Return to the island

Spring came to Gabriola in February this year - then winter returned unexpectedly.

After a smooth crossing from Vancouver in the sunshine, the clouds were hanging low over Nanaimo - a sure sign of a chill in the air. As Gabriola came into view, snow was clinging to the treetops and a smooth white layer coated the ground.















In the garden, it was evident that the lawn was not quite ready for mowing.















I'd had visitors of course - deer across the front garden, basset hounds at the back. But in the centre of the lawn, four footprints together were something of a mystery - the same size as the deer, but in a very different pattern. Something of a giant hare about it, or maybe a small kangaroo! Could this be a raccoon checking out the territory?

All packed and ready to go.....

It seems an age since I was last in Gabriola - taking possession of our new home. Back in the fall, the Canadian Dollar was at $2.03 to the £ when we completed the purchase - which was great, as our offer had been based on an exchange rate of $1.89 - se we were very pleased when the time came to transfer the money from the UK.

Since then the bubble has burst worldwide - nowhere more so than in Canada, so the folks out west tell me. As the weeks ticked by, Christmas came and went, and by mid January the Canadian dollar had strengthened against the £ - and at one point we could only buy $1.69 to the £! And you think the Canadian economy is in a mess.....

Right now, with renovations to be started, we have watched the exchange rate daily - waiting for that golden moment to transfer more of our savings to our Canadian account. For one day - just one day, mind you, the rate was at $1.80 to the £ so, of course, we had to decide whether it had peaked .... or if it would continue to rise (or is that fall?)

It's all guesswork of course, so we moved some money that day..... and more a couple of days later as the rate started to slip once more. Right now? It's still at $1.78 to the £, so maybe we got in just in time!

So, with British Airways' co-operation, it's almost time to go. Next update will be from Gabriola.

Ferry conundrum

We're all keen to criticise BC Ferries when things go wrong.
Sure, when it's a failure on the part of their organisation then they should be held to account. But when the problem is outside BC Ferries' control, they still seem to get the blame!

Take Transport Canada's new regulations on marine staffing levels. The government has imposed restrictions that mean fewer passengers can be carried on many of BCF's smaller vessels unless crew numbers are increased - and that, we're told, would cost BC Ferries another $3 million a year. That's $3 million that they don't currently have, so what should they do?

BC Ferries are quoted as saying: "Our traffic department is analyzing historical traffic patterns so we can identify those times when we think it's going to be busier and we can add an extra person. We've also asked the ferry advisory committees and residents of the community (to) let us know if there's going to be a festival or something like that going on, where they expect to have more traffic. Then we can plan for that. But just to add that extra crew member all the time, when you don't need it for your licence, is a waste of money."

That's perfectly true, of course. An extra member of crew on every ferry would be a waste of money - because it would be our money that would be used to pay for it, through higher fares on every route, all of the time. And that would just lead to more criticism of BC Ferries - so no-one wins.

So North Island MLA Claire Trevena has experienced at first hand the impact of the new restrictions on the Powell River Queen, whose passenger capacity has been slashed from 402 to 193. Slashed by Transport Canada - not by BC Ferries of course. Yet Trevena chooses to point the finger at BC Ferries, not Transport Canada...

"The whole way that BC Ferries is operating is an argument for confusion and ferry rage" she told the Courier-Islander. when she arrived in time for the 5:25 p.m. ferry only to find that a number of young people were heading over to Camp Homewood, helping to push the passenger count to its new limit. It's BC Ferries to blame, of course, for their policy of allowing foot passengers to board before cars are loaded.

Why do they do that? Well, from what I can see it's the safest thing to do. On the minor ferry routes there's only one boarding ramp and foot passengers are loaded first so that they can get to the seating area before vehicles start to board. And yes, this could mean that if an exceptional number of foot passengers are on board, then it's the car drivers that may have to wait the next ferry. In their car, in the dry, listening to the radio. Probably with a good book.

The most likely time ferries will reach capacity is time when students are travelling to and from school. Maybe the School Board should fund the extra crew member at these times? But where does the money come from if the school boards are already cash starved? We won't blame the school board of course, because we can blame BC Ferries!

Maybe it's time for the Ferry Advisory Committees to work with BC Ferries and Transport Canada to reach a sensible solution that won't result in BC Ferries wasting our money, and won't push the fares up. Transport Canada requires extra crew to be available if the number of passengers exceeds the new limit for each vessel. What for? Not to operate the vessel - just to ensure that passengers are safe in the event of an incident. So maybe, just maybe, this is an opportunity for the community to play it's part, and for each FAC to arrange for volunteers to be trained in marine safety procedures so that there's less likelihood of a sudden surge in passengers resulting in drivers being left behind.

It should be the responsibility of any organisation that requires large numbers of people (maybe more than 20?) to travel on the ferry at one time to ensure that they have someone who has been trained in marine safety procedures to meet and travel with the group - whether that's the School Board, Camp Homewood, or any community organisation. If they don't have a trained volunteer available, then they should pay BC Ferries to provide the extra crew member.

As a transport operator for many years, I can sympathise with BC Ferries' reluctance to fund the whole cost themselves. If the regulators change the rules, then a choice has to be made - but that choice has to be sustainable. At the end of the day, the operator's responsibility is to ensure the safety of passengers - and if that means limiting the supply to an affordable level, then that's what has to be done.

If Transport Canada decided that every taxi needed a second driver on board (just in case of an incident) then we'd soon lose all of our island taxis. We wouldn't blame the taxi owners of course, because we know that they couldn't afford to employ all those extra drivers. We'd probably blame BC Ferries!

Quinsam returns to Gabriola

The MV Quinsam will return to service on Wednesday, February 18 with the 5:45 a.m. sailing from Descanso Bay.

The vessel returns to service following the first phase of its midlife upgrade that included painting of the vessel, steel replacement and sewage treatment plant improvements. The second phase of the upgrade, which will include passenger amenity improvements, is scheduled to begin in October 2009.

BC Ferries thanks its customers for their patience - but some of us came to enjoy the relative comfort of the Bowen Queen's lounges!

Weekend Update

I am a huge fan of Saturday Night Live.  I haven't always been, in fact I didn't even watch it during the famous years of Will Farrell and Jimmy Falon.  Perhaps because it was that during those years I actually went out of my house on Saturday nights.

I didn't even watch it when Tina Fey did Weekend Update and that makes me sad.

I don't know how I got  into the show.  The Engineer made me, I think. The fact that we are over the blissful honeymoon stage of dating and much prefer greasy chinese and staying in Saturday night to actually going out.  Needless to say, I am now an avid viewer.  It helps that I tuned in to watch the best of female comedians at work - Kristen Wiig, Amy Poeler and Tina Fey. These ladies are goddesses in my eyes.  I worship them and want to work with them.  Unfortunately I am not funny.

This is not the point of this entry.  The point of this entry is to tell you the story of how I met Seth Meyers.  If you do not know who he is, you will not care about the day I met him.  But you should because he is very funny and very cute.  Seth is currently the man of the famous Weekend Update and the one man, besides the Engineer, who really gets my motor running.

Last Halloween, as the Engineer and I were heading home after a long night out, I got on the F Train and who was sitting across from me?  Seth Meyers.  I saw him first and became mute.  Except for when I said to the Engineer, "is that Seth Meyers?".  I was faced with a few dilemas.  One:  Was it rude to approach him and say hello? Two:  I was dressed as a devil.

No one wants to meet their celeb crush wearing a red dress and carrying a pitch fork.  Also, the Engineer told me that it was rude to talk to him.  And yet the Engineer suggested I take a picture.  Ummm?  Hello?  How is it not rude to take an unauthorized photo of someone on the subway?  Hello!  He can see me!  And yet it is  rude to talk to him?

We were approaching the 4th Ave stop, and Seth stood up to get off.  I couldn't let this opportunity pass.  I promptly took off my jacket, pushed up my boobs, and removed my devil mask.  Feeling like a complete idiot, I stepped across the aisle wherein Seth saw me and removed his earphones (that was nice), and I said, "I am so sorry to do this, but are you . . . ?" to which he smiled and said 'yes'.  And I told him, "You make my every Saturday night" which in turn made him smile a huge grin, say 'thank you' and bid me a happy halloween.  

I am the first to admit that I am a complete idiot when talking to people when I am excited - but I am fairly certain that what I said to Seth was super classy and nice.  Albeit on the F train.  The thing about celebs in NYC, is that they just are there.  They like it here because they don't get swarmed.  So as much as I revealed my touristy, small-town self, I think I did pretty good.  

Then I remembered I had a tail.  Super.

Since then I have seen many a SNL star, including Kristen Wiig.  I have no idea what to say to her.  I basically stood their like a slack-jawed idoit watching her and Wil Forte walk past me.  A huge part of me wanted to shout out:  Oh my god, Oh my god (like her Susan character) but held it in.  I suspect she would hate that.  I have seen her a few times, so one of these days, I will figure out something just as classy.  

I suspect if I saw Tina Fey I might poop my pants.  And then ask her to be my best friend.

I now feel a close connection to the show and Weekend Update, as if that little moment was a tiny bond between Seth and myself.  That we are all destined to meet again.  And then this makes me realize perhaps I am one of those crazy people who would, in fact, take a picture of someone sitting on a subway and then worship it.

More snow on the way?

SNOWFALL WARNING: East Vancouver Island
Issued at 10:13 AM PST TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2009

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 15 CM EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.

pah! Nothing to worry about!!! Yet it's only a week ago......

"Londoners were forced to contend with commuter chaos on Monday as the worst snowstorm in 18 years sparked hundreds of flight cancellations, and the city's famed public transit system ground to a near halt.

While 20 centimetres of snow might not raise much concern in most parts of Canada, the amount has wreaked havoc on the British capital overnight and into the day, the CBC's Adrienne Arsenault reported from London."

.... and it was good to read the reaction of some Canadians !!!

Try moving to Canada to see what a REAL Winter is!. You're WELCOME anytime.......

Bloody wimps.....

That's a snowstorm ? all that slush ??? Looks like Spring to me. I live in Manitoba......

The city grinds to a halt after THAT much snow?.... Geez. No wonder they lost the Empire.......

....... Good luck Gabriola! Just don't expect any sympathy from Manitoba !!!

Tudor Obsessed

If you know me, you know that I have the attention span of a gnat and move quickly from subject to subject. There are only three things that keep my attention longer than a bag full of peanut M&M's (in my house that is not long).  The fact that I keep talking about them longer than my usual three minutes have greatly surprised the Engineer, my mother, and my friend little K (not to be confused with Little Kim, whom I do not know).

These three things are:

1.  Sandwiches (I once spent one night telling the Engineer about each sort of sandwich I love.  I would bring the subject up after hours of silence, to the point that he said, "Are you STILL talking about sandwiches?" and put a pillow over his head.  I think I was on heavy medication that night due to a flu because I also told him the pillow over his head was the 'pillow of truth' and proceeded to talk about my love of peanut butter and honey on a folded over piece of wonder bread - and how the best bite is where the rounded bit and the flat bit meet.)

2.  Walt Disney World.  I freaking love that place.  I have been going since I was 9 and I never tire about talking about it, hearing about it, or looking at pictures of it.  When walking along the seawall the other day, I spent well over an hour telling little K just how much I love the place and all the fun things we can do there.  We intend to spend my 30th birthday in mouseland, and although my birthday is still 8 months away, I feel that we can start preparing for the fun now by having me explain every single ride, restaurant and fun thing to do.  I don't understand why Little K walked faster than me.

3.  The Tudors.  This is my new obsession and sadly, Little K has to hear about this one too.  I sound like the girl from American Pie:  And then, one time, on The Tudors.  I am obsessed with the show, the story, the history. Not only have I read every single historical fiction novel out there that has anything to do with the Tudors (ie.  Anne Boleyn or Elizabeth I), but I have read all the history books (well, all the Wikipedia articles anyways), seen all the documentaries, and even walked the Anne Boleyn walk at the Tower of London three times.  

I am clearly obsessed.  

My obsession has been renewed by the fact Season 2 of the AMAZING show is now on DVD and I have just watched it three times in a row. 

 If you haven't watched this show, go out right NOW and rent the first season.  Not only is the acting phenomenal and the writing outstanding, but it is the HOTTEST show on television to date.  Next to Rome anyways.  The first season is dramatic, full of passion and romance, and you feel bad for Catherine of Aragon for ten minutes (the actress is Irish by the way, so her Spanish accent is amazing).  The final scene of the final episode is pretty wild, involving Henry and Anne in the woods, it is very intense.  You think their passion will never die - how did he chop off her head?  Well, that comes in Season Two.

Oh god, Season Two.  It's no secret what happens to all the characters we love, or love to hate, from The Tudors because it's written in history.  They all lose their heads.  But I think the reason I am so obsessed with Season Two and feel the need to talk about it every chance I get, is because of the feeling it left with me. 

Firstly, Henry and Anne's relationship.  Most of us have all been in a relationship that starts out full of passion and love, but slowly, one of you falls out of that and the other is left wondering what happened.  Somehow, in the amazing acting of this show, that feeling you have in real life is the same feeling you get through watching Henry lose interest in Anne.  You can't help but feel horrible for her, because you know you have dated a man just like Henry (well, hopefully not just like him.  Otherwise none of us would have heads).  

Secondly, all the darn beheading.  It's horrible, just horrible.  I felt as if my friends were being killed.  First More, then George, and then finally, Anne.  I must give a hands down bow to Natalie Dormer for her incredible, wonderful, lovely portrayal of Anne Boleyn.  Her last scene is what has made me obsessed and what has peppered my seawall conversations of late.  It just haunts you.  I want to be an actress in a show that haunts its viewers.  That makes people think about it days later.  How incredible is that?

I fear for Season Three, not only has Henry killed all the interesting characters but I feel like stabbing Jane Seymour in the eye.  She is so boring.  Anne may have done some crazy things, but who do we remember best in history right?

Okay, so that is my obsession vented on my blog.  If you read my blog, I urge you to run to Blockbuster and rent the season!  Or, wait until CBC puts it back on the air.  Nah, screw CBC, go rent the DVD's!!!!   Also, if you are in London you must go to the Tower and get the audio tour - you can actually stand in the room Anne waited in and walk the walk to the block while hearing the drum beat in your ear.  Spooky.

My perfect day?  Eating a ham and cheese sandwich, wearing a Tudorian dress and walking through Epcot Centre.

Olympic security exercises underway next week

Representatives from the federal and provincial governments responsible for Olympic security announced today that a milestone exercise will be underway from February 9 to 13 across the Lower Mainland and Whistler.

Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile, Commander of Joint Task Force Games said "Exercise Silver coincides with the one-year countdown to the Games. That means we can practice our procedures with our security partners in environmental conditions that we will experience a year from now"

"During the next 14 days, we will be visible. You may see ships patrolling not only our Pacific Ocean approaches (which we do all year-round) but you may see more sailors in and around Vancouver Harbour and Howe Sound. They will conduct maritime surveillance, coastal patrols, port security operations, and diving operations".

"You may also see and hear Canadian Forces aircraft in the air. Your air men and women will be familiarizing themselves with the area in advance of them keeping watch from the air during the Games. They will practice aerospace defence, medical or casualty evacuations, search and rescue and air mobility support to security forces".

No word of armed police on BC Ferries, but don't be surprised.......

Winter arrives in London!

A little taste of Canada came to London this week...

Click on the link below to see some of the BBC's best images

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7865370.stm


a few of the headlines .......

The western side of Trafalgar Square was closed today after a gritter lorry crashed into barriers outside Canada House.

Two Eurostar trains from Paris to London, each with 500 passengers on board, were stuck in the Channel Tunnel for over three hours on Monday night because of the snowy weather.

Maintenance teams equipped with ice breakers and snow ploughs worked through the night in an effort to get the crippled rail network working again in the South East.

.... and some of my favourite pics!