Sunday, May 7, 2017

I didn't realize when I drove off from Barbara and Terry's that today was the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. I soon discovered it was. The drive from Vic West to Ogden Point took me around the cordoned-off marching zone on to streets I'd never driven. I followed the other displaced persons and eventually saw the ocean and headed for it. I spent the day by the water: walking, reading and eating. I hadn't had any oysters since I arrived, so for lunch I went to Fisherman's Wharf and ordered three fried oysters with fries and coleslaw. Now I'm sitting, bloated, on a rock in the sun and out of the wind near the Oak Bay Marina. It's a beautiful day but the wind is cool.

On the subject of weather, it's flooding in many parts of Canada. Jay is working right through the weekend. There's flooding in many places in the North Okanagan and the water level is not expected to peak until late May. Flooding in Montreal and the area around Ottawa is making the news too. With climate change and an aging population, restoration and elder care are two growth industries. Some people may deny the former but the latter is a true fact ( not a redundancy in this age of fake facts).

After a long wait for tiles, there was finally action at the house last Thursday. They began laying the underlay. The tiles were on their way from Edmonton. On Friday morning Jay had to take over a generator to keep the work going because my house was one of 4,000 in Vernon without electricity. I'm now going to drive home on Wednesday.

My visit in Victoria continues to be a wonderful way to recuperate and wait for restoration. I went with Barbara and Terry and their friends to the Belfry Theatre to see two plays based on two stories by Alice Munro. Reviews were mixed, mine being the most positive but not without reservations. I've been walking with Jenny and Ross and Elizabeth. Barbara and Terry and I have had some delicious dinners together. Tuesday will be our last lunch.

I will drive home on Wednesday unless there are slides, snow or torrential rains on the Coquihalla. At least I was able to vote from here, so I don't feel the urgency I did about getting back. Some of the house plants may be a bit wilted, but at least I've done my bit to perk up the BC Legislature.













The view from where I'm sitting now











A tug turning the Seattle Ferry in the Inner Harbour








Sitting Lady Falls at Witty's Lagoon (Her legs are not in the most ladylike position, and it's spring. One shudders to think of the fall)