Sunday, May 8

It's a week since Blake died.  And life goes on, as it does.  Sometimes I feel stunned for a moment, as if punched in the stomach,  but other parts of the day carry on.  I am enjoying my holiday in Victoria.  The weather has been perfect.  Every morning begins as it always used to with coffee and conversation in B and T's living room.  We have had lunch together a few times and gone for a walk and coffee by the Gorge. Yesterday we visited the Victoria Art Gallery.  Part of it is the impressive old home of the Spencer family.  We spent most of our time looking at an exhibit of watercolours very thoughtfully put together from the gallery's permanent collection.  This was followed by beer, white wine for B, and a meatball sandwich in a pizza restaurant that I had wanted to return to for pizza but then got distracted by the lunch special.

I had a good walk and lunch with Ross and Liz last week, and we will do the same tomorrow.  On Tuesday I will join Barbara and her group, The Old Roses, some women who tended the old rose garden at Government House in Victoria a few years ago.  And then I will drive home on Wednesday, earlier than originally planned.  I have booked a flight to Ottawa for Mon., May 16 in order to  be able to see Don and Mela and do whatever I can to help them.  The memorial service for Blake will be on May 21.

Aside from this, I have had a couple of bike rides on the Galloping Goose and dipped my inflatable kayak into the Pacific twice, once at Willows Beach and once in the Gorge and Inner Harbour.  Both times I was lucky to meet people who helped me either by easing my fear of tipping alone on entry or by giving me helpful tips.  Now I have started from a beach and a dock in both fresh and salt water; each time I feel more confident.  It's fun just to be out on the water; I never was one to push even the flimsiest of envelopes, but I find that at this age I am thrilled just by being there. 

Barbara and Terry having coffee by The Gorge

One of my favourite watercolours in the exhibit

About the artist

The BC Legislature from the kayak

The little ferry whose driver intentionally passed close to me as I was taking the preceding picture. He and his passengers got more of a kick out of it than I did. 

Liz, Jan and rhododendrons

Ross and I on the beach. I might have been trying to glimpse Mercury crossing the sun.