Titanium Green Blues: Thursday, October 16th!

A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. -Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900) 

Atlas holding up the celestial globe

Art: Guercino, 1646

Hi David! Sorry for the confusion. We will be arriving on the afternoon of the 29th, early enough to be in time for cocktails at 5:00 pm! Stay the night of the 30th as well and then head into San Francisco on the morning of the 31st, if that is still fine. We certainly don't expect you to change your evening plans and please don't worry about dinners either. As you well know there are all sorts of eating options in Healdsburg.

Chloe Alexis Dunn I was thinking about doing the Welfare Food Challenge, and honestly was scared to attempt it, maybe next year maybe not, but I support all that are living this as their everyday and hope the Government sees the light at the end of the tunnel, for those that are taking on the challenge, well done and be strong!

The Challenge runs for 7 days from Thursday, October 16 to Wednesday, October 22, 2014 (or into Thursday, October 23rd depending on when you start). During that week, participants will only eat the food they can buy with $21 dollars. Why $21 for a Week’s food? $84/month 12 months = $1,008 a year
$1008/a year/365 days = $2.76 a day $2.76 a day * 7 days = $19.33, generously rounded up to $21 No money for clothes, a coffee, haircuts, or any social life or treats.

Welfare Food Challenge participants will be asked not to accept any kind of charity or other food not coming out of their $21 dollar budget – so no using food banks, accessing free meals through charities or friends, eating food you already have, or eating food you have grown. After all the government thinks that $610 a month is enough to live on and many people in BC on welfare do not have access to charity.

Patrick James Dunn I'm pretty sure I'd have a great deal of difficulty subsisting on $21 a day, let alone for an entire week! Buona Fortuna to all those taking up the Challenge!

Patrick Thanks for promoting “Christy Clark: Raise social assistance rates in BC.” You’ve made an important step that will ask 110 people to join you in support of this petition, driving it towards victory.

Since we will have our bikes we will certainly be away most of the day on the 30th. What we might do, again if this is fine with you, is come to your place sometime around noon +/-, on the 29th and then go for a ride from there. Again, we want to minimize any interruption to your busy lives and are more than happy to be on our own.

To confirm:  There will be three of us, George, Matthew and I. We will stay two nights, the 29th and the 30th.  Hello to Pat from us both. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!   

Sounds perfect!! Let's plan a pizza dinner here in our kitchen on one of the nights. I need to make up the sour dough for the pizza a night before so pick a night soon . Arriving the 29th is great and staying the 30th............Dave

Hi again, David! Pizza sounds wonderful. The 29th would be terrific. That will give us time to scope out a few restaurants in Healdsburg, make a reservation, etc., for the 30th. Thanks again. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Dinner last night with Rosemary, friend from France. Sarge is a bit sad as he can't join us on trip south!

Dear Corinne and Patrick, Thanks for a wonderful evening last night. We had an absolutely great time. It was lovely to see Wayne and Michelle too, especially after what Wayne has been through lately - a truly amazing recovery.
 

Look forward to your list of book and DVD recommendations and I will then reciprocate with my own suggestions. Keep us informed of your travel plans for trips to Europe next year. Andre plans to come back towards the end of March for a month and I will come over for a couple of weeks so bear this in mind if you wish to visit us in either Chabeuil or London. Seeing Frank tomorrow on my way to the airport but will not push Joanne on him in case she is still not interested. No point disappointing him again so leave the next move up to her.
 

Thanks once again for a superb meal and far too much good wine (so my head is telling me this morning!). Take care. Much love, Rosemary XXX 

Hi Rosemary! Wonderful to see you both! And Francesco, as well, of course. Thank you for all the lovely gifts. Have divided the apples among Joanne, Flamin'/Sarge and us. Agneta, Corinne's close friend, just arrived back from China. Coriandre picked her up at YVR an hour ago. She is a wonderful cook as well so I think she might snaffle a couple for a crumble while she is here, over next week or so.

Will certainly be in touch regarding any trip to Europe we might be taking next year. Will really depend on how our adventure to India evolves. Enjoy the last of your stay and travel safely. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Dinner last night!

P, sorry I missed the party lastereve. Got waylaid -- in a manner of speaking. I am sure I will connect with Mike in Portland. Enjoy your weekend. Get in some riding for me -- it is what i should be doing. Fond regards to you and C., G P, thought you might enjoy both of these articles. The former should be an NRBC selection. W

Patrick Leigh Fermor: Crossing Europe and kidnapping a German general
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29518321

Top 10 tips for being a successful poet
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29538180

Hi On The Road Person! Too, too bad that you were not able to pop by but understand, of course. Haven't heard back from Michaelo so will give him a call shortly. Buona Fortuna in Wrightson!

Really enjoyed the two articles. Thanks. Great suggestion, with respect to Patrick Leigh Fermor, for NRBC. As you will have seen, ongoing "dialectic" between The Wrathful One and I will be un-threaded!

Loads to do as a busy weekend in the offing. Dinner with Kjell and Jane on Friday, in West Van at home of mutual friends, Julia and Ross. Chloë's Aunt Leah's' Trivia Night on Saturday evening, with Sara and Demot at our table, vs Clan Sutherland! Sunday dinner with Mr Grizzle, a former colleague at UBC. Monday, need to do a bit of prep for start of VWF gig as volunteering starts next day. Talk soon. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Hi Patrice, Hope all is well.  I know you are heading out of town on that ride and as much as I would love to go alas I cannot . I just have too much going on work wise and other things as well such as cabin winterizing and wanting to be here for Halloween etc.
 

On another note i think you may be out of town but I wanted to let you know that Paul Debourcier got in touch with me yesterday and his pipe band is putting on a scotch tasting at the Armouries in North Van on November 8th.. Let me know if you would be around and would want to go. Cheers, Al

Hi Big Al! Thanks for letting me know that you cannot make road trip. I assumed that you probably would have had too much on your plate to join us. Understand completely. Will have to try and arrange a more convenient/possible time at some point in the not too, too distant future, however.

Decided, just a few days ago, to take my vehicle in to have front brakes replaced. Steve, the Service Manager I deal with at Coastal, had suggested I'd need that work done next visit but I felt more comfortable having everything in order before a longish trip. At any rate, I had arranged to have work done on Friday so I took car in around 4:00 pm this afternoon. Had my Trek on rack as I intended to do my regular Stanley Park 3 Loop Circuit afterwards.
 

What a simply gorgeous day by the time I hit the Seawall. Bit breezy and there were a few whitecaps on English Bay. Nonetheless, it was almost perfect cycling weather. Not many people to avoid as I suppose most thought it was going to rain, having been quite cloudy earlier. Must say that some of my last rides have been quite invigorating as the temperatures have been simply wonderful and it is fun riding through snow storms of leaves. Have noticed, of course, the light starts to fade close to 6:00 pm so I have taken to putting my lights on before I start out. Switched them on just as I rounded Science World. Stats for ride:
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/614048305#.VEB9fSCVKZ8.email

Pleased that I finally managed to up my AVG to 22 km/hr after not having been able to do much better than 20 km/hr for some time. As well, really enjoyed the dry ride after having been drenched on Thanksgiving Monday!
Trust you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving at the cabin. Speaking of which, Cora Lee just remarked that she had bumped into Heraldo and Sue at the bus stop near GI Market this afternoon and they rode downtown together. They mentioned that your Mom is going to go to the cabin for Christmas so that should be fun! Heraldo said that all three of them would be sleeping in the same bed and received a pretty nasty look from Sue according to Coriandre!

With respect to the malt tasting put on Paul's pipe band, I'm keen to attend. At this point, not sure if we'll be back by the 6th or the 7th but in any event the 8th should be fine. What does it entail? Cost? Is Colleen planning to go? Corinne might go if Marilyn would be along and there is wine but she's not interested in tasting scotch. Let me know and we'll plan accordingly.

On another matter, we have a sideboard that we were wondering if you might like for the cabin. (All part of furniture rearrangement at The Islay Inn!!!) We seem to be in the business of "farming" pieces out to friends as Whirlygig just inherited a coffee table! One of our brass beds, from aeons ago, is at the Squamish Waldorf with Ruthless and Ricardo. This way we always feel at home wherever we are! Have included a snap so let us know what you think. Talk soon. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Dinner last night with Rosemary, Flamin'/Sarge, Francesco, (wearing glasses), and Andre. Four of us stayed with R/A in France, both in 2010 and 2012. Andre, (His mother, Suzanne, had a close friend, Andy, who was my Mom's Maid of Honour! I met Andre through a Student Assistant, John Paul, who worked for me at the Curric Lab in the late '70's but didn't discover connection to his Mom until about 15 years later!), is from Vancouver, (That's how he knows Frank.), while she is from London. They met, through mutual friends, (John Paul and his wife Heather!), in the Bahamas. Long, long, interesting story but malt required for the telling thereof! 

Whirlygig sent me the picture of table in his new place on Galiano. He drove down to Portland today to play in a doubles squash tourney. More importantly, he has found True Romance, a teacher, named Jane, who lives in Kits. We've yet to meet. Needless to say he no longer stays at The Islay Inn when in town! As Cora Lee said: "Well, that didn't take long!" Not sure if you knew or not but he received a Dear John letter from Kerry a week or so after he moved to Galiano. Again, quite a back-story so more malt required! I live in a soap!!!

Hi Mr Grizzle! Just wondering if dinner is still on for this coming Sunday as have not heard back from you. If so, at what time? What can we contribute, other than hootch? Talk soon. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat Yes we are on for 6 ish. I tried to invite Jane to my last bbq but have lost her coordinates. Would be great to catch up with you! Having Paul and Gwyneth over as well. Jan is arriving home on Sunday from a spinning reatreat...cheers
Ron

Hi again, Mr Grizzle! Thanks. We'll be there at 6:00 pm. Here is Jane's email address. Look forward to seeing you both on Sunday. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Portland! Trust you are both well. Just a quick note to inquire whether Michaelo received my message about meeting up with Whirlygig. He will be playing in the Wrightson and has agreed to "mule" six bottles back. Would appreciate you taking them along to club but only if you plan to go into town anyway. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!