Loft Cistern Blues: Sunday, October 12th!

Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)

Sylvie Roy feeling grateful

Le plus beau souvenir que j'ai de l'Action de grâce c'est en 1988 quand j'étais à Vancouver et que j'habitais chez des gens merveilleux, Corinne Durston et Patrick James Dunn. Leurs 2 filles Chloe Alexis Dunn et Ayn P y étaient ainsi que des invités! Une tablée digne de cette famille! Corinne était debout très tôt le matin pour mettre la dinde au four et au souper elle trônait dans le milieu de la table! C'est très symbolique pour les anglophones de fêter l'Action de grâce. Au Québec ce n'est pas dans nos traditions. A tous les ans j'ai une pensée pour eux. Des gens d'une grande générosité qui m'ont accueillie les bras ouverts.

The most beautiful memories I have of Thanksgiving it was in 1988 when I was in Vancouver and I lived in wonderful people, Corinne Durston and Patrick James Dunn. Their 2 daughters, Chloe Alexis Dunn and Ayn P were there as well as guests! A worthy of this family table! Corinne stood very early in the morning to put the Turkey in the oven and dinner she lorded over in the middle of the table! It is very symbolic for anglophones to celebrate Thanksgiving. In Quebec it is not in our traditions. Every year I have a thought for them. Very generous people who welcomed me with open arms.

Carol Riera Je crois que j'étais la aussi! Happy Thanksgiving, Sylvie I believe I was the also! Happy Thanksgiving, Sylvie

Sylvie Roy Je crois aussi Carol! xxx I also believe Carol! xxx

Patrick James Dunn Dearest Sylvaine! What an unbelievably heartwarming message. Thank you for the lovely, lovely thoughts and memories of your stay with us. Of course, you were and always will be a part of our family. Certainly time for you to return to Vancouver! Much Love, Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!      Sylvie Roy Have a nice evening Patrick James Dunn!  

Departure of Ulysses from the Land of the Pheacians

Art: Claude Lorrain (c. 1600-1682)

Hi Table Top Tom Cat! Looks fantabulous! Now we want it and Campagnolo back!!! Your place looks great. Can hardly wait to see it. Busy time here as you can well imagine. Think you know about some of week since Brisbanites arrived.
Was to be a bit of a lazy day oday as C/G have to pack and we need to leave for YVR by 5:15 am so it will be an early start on Monday. We have reservations, at Edibles, for 7:30 pm this evening. C/G want to take us out as a thank-you so that is very thoughtful and generous of them. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you and your own Long Table! Cheers, Il Conduttore! Pics: Bikes made for Galiano!

Can you get Greg's co-ordinates and arrival for Denver so that I can pass it on to Herb and Jill.
 
Hi Sarge: They are staying at the Hampton Inn Suites. Let me know Herb's/Jill's email address so I can pass along to Claire/Greg. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! 

I have included Herb and Jill's address to this email. Wayne 

Although day was supposed to be a "Quiet" one, Greg and I spent a goodly part of the morning at Chloë's loft. Went over at 10:00 am to take a look at toilet cistern and determined that the bolts holding it to base were rusted, causing it to leak. 

Couldn't undo one of them so we drove to Home Depot and picked up a new set, brass this time. Needed a new hack saw so bought a small one to cut  through bolt that we couldn't turn, as well as some weather stripping for the two windows which open and some butterfly anchors to use for shelf in bathroom. Pleased to say that Greg is a Master Craftsman and with me as his Supervisor he soon had the cistern fixed and fully operational! NO LEAKS!

Shelf took a bit of fiddling as Greg had to snip wings on middle anchor and cut off end of bolt as there was a stud behind plasterboard which interfered with it at regular length. Shelf was even level when we put it in place! 
 

Window stripping took even less time although Greg risked life and limb climbing half out of window to apply the two strips we'd cut to proper length. All the while being showered with abuse from Chloë! Handed her our considerable bill and left to be home just after noon. Cora Lee and Claire were out for a walk so we strolled over to GI Market to pick up a few rolls for lunch sandwiches. Goils were back by the time we returned but Claire was fussed, understandably, as she had lost her wallet! She thought it must have fallen out of her back pocket on the walk to Olympic Village. Cora Lee immediately phoned Terra Breads, (They had stopped for a tea.), but nothing had been turned in. 

On the off chance that wallet was lying on Seawall, C/G walked back to see what they could see. Half an hour later they returned, empty-handed, something we all knew, in our heart of hearts, would be the case. While I made Claire a cup of hemlock tea Greg went next door and just as Claire was dialing the credit card company to cancel her VISA, Greg returned with her wallet!

It had fallen out of her jeans when she went to the bathroom at The Annexe! Smiles all around, some sheepish! Cora Lee and I were more than delighted as we had planned to order a very expensive bottle of wine at Edibles later that evening since our guests were footing the tab! Would have been a bit insensitive if Claire had actually lost her cash filled wallet!

After all the kerfuffle Coriandre left to pray for our black souls, Greg repaired to The Annexe to watch an NFL game and Claire and I strolled over to Village VQA Wines. She wanted to take a couple of bottles to a dinner they'd been invited to while in Denver. Although there was a slight drizzle it was a pleasant walk and I took her through the small community garden along the rail tracks near Fir and Ist. We took a look at most of the reds and Claire settled on a Fairview Cellars Cabernet, The Bear, and a Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc. I was sorry to see them heading to Denver!

Back home to digitate for an hour or so than a quick shower and change. Cora Lee returned at 6:15 pm and we invited Claire and Greg to join us for a drink. Opened a bottle of Hester Creek 2013 Pinot Blanc, 13.5%. Greg wanted a Granville Island Lions Winter Ale, one of the local craft beers he had taken quite a fancy to over the course of their stay. After we polished off the PInot Blanc, I opened a 2012 Stag's Hollow Sauvignon Blanc, 13.1%. While I much preferred it to the HC, Claire liked the PB. At any rate, we chatted until about 7:20 pm and then strolled over to Edibles, needing brollies as it there was a slight but steady rain.

Were soon seated and served,a s it turned out, by the same waitress who had attended our table when we were there with Gayle and Derek but a few weeks earlier. Had another wonderful meal. I started with the Fraser Valley Squash Soup, garam masala, yogurt, spicy seeds, delicioso, and followed with Buttermilk Sweet Corn Fritters, squash & lentil succotash, apricot chili glaze, stupendico beyond belief! We managed to polish off two bottles of red. Started out with an offering from Synchromesh Wines, a small winery in Okanagan Falls we'd not even known about. The Tertre Rouge 2011, 13.8% is a blend of Cabernet Franc, 62.5%, and Merlot, 37.5%, and is, according to the winery's website, named, "after the evocative corner of the Le Mans racing circuit in France, where perfect driver balance and finesse are key to a clean exit leading onto one of the longest straightaways in motor racing."

"This is a single vineyard wine from Turtle Rock Farms above the Naramata Bench. Carefully tended by the Britton family, this stunning property has perfect conditions for long slow ripening of Cabernet Franc and Merlot producing fantastic flavour and tannin ripeness while keeping brightness and balance. The 2011 vintage is the first year of working with this property and shows great promise. Plenty of Cabernet Franc brambly fruit and sarsaparilla balance out with soft and generous Merlot and a tremendously long finish."  

Everyone agreed it was most quaffable, so quaffable indeed that we soon needed another bottle, in rather short order. This time we opted for the Nk’Mip Talon 2011, Osoyoos, a most felicitous blend containing 37% Syrah, 23% Merlot, 19% Malbec, 11% Cab Franc, and 10% Cab Sauv. We'd enjoyed two bottles of this elixir with G/D and we certainly appreciated, once again, this fruit forward drop with black pepper and spice on the palate. Another wonderful meal with wonderful friends. 

Back to The Islay Inn to visit briefly while Greg and I sipped small glasses of Tokaji, 2004 Aszú 5 Puttonyos, 13%, given to me by my dear Hungarian friend, Imre, sadly departed two years ago. Cora Lee opted for more Stag's Hollow SB while Claire had tea! Not a late evening as I was driving C/G to the airport shortly after 5:00 am next morning. This being the case, Cora Lee bade the Brisbanites farewell, close to 11:00 pm, as she would still be sound asleep when they left. We both read for a bit before turning out the lights and it was off to the Land of Nod quite quickly.