BigMac North Shore Bridge Blues: Monday, March 9th!

The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words. -William H. Gass, writer and professor (b. 1924)

Clerihew:

MEANING:

noun: A humorous, pseudo-biographical verse of four lines of uneven length, with the rhyming scheme AABB, and the first line containing the name of the subject.

ETYMOLOGY:

After writer Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956), who originated it. Earliest documented use: 1928. Here is one of his clerihews:

Sir Christopher Wren
 

Said, “I am going to dine with some men.
If anyone calls
Say I am designing St. Paul’s.” 

What time tonight and where. Wayne Hi Sarge and Byron! Last week Byron said he would act as chauffeur to the North Shore. If this is still the case, he will collect us at the parking lot outside our building at 5:20 pm. Let me know if this works. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

How many are there because I might have a problem getting there tonight.
Wayne Sarge! Don't worry if you can't make it. Play goes on no matter how many show, as long as there are at least four players. If you can swing it, terrific. Cheers, Patrizzio! If I can make it I will be up by 5 15. If not drop down when you get home and we can catch up on the weekend. W Sounds fine!

Hi All, Something's come up and I won't be able to play this evening. Sorry for the short notice. Cheers, R. Patrick I will pick you and Sarge up at 5:25 at your parking area. Robert has cancelled out Cheers Byron

Hi Little White and Ricardo! Trust you are both well. Yes, The Islay Inn sold, a few weeks ago now, on February 23rd. What all this means is that we need to be out of The Islay Inn by noon on May 29th! A month or so ago we had arranged to go up to the Okanagan with Flamin' and Sarge as they are keen on looking at recreational property in Osoyoos. Since sale on our place went through, we felt we should start looking sooner so that is why we drove up this past Thursday! Last message I sent was that evening.

Cora Lee had sent Gil the offer on Burns property we had agreed upon, ($20,000 below asking price), before going to bed Saturday night but we didn't hear from him until Sunday evening. Meeting Woman was at the AGM for Heartwood so she wasn't home. 

Owners had countered with $10,000 below asking price so we agreed to come up $2,000, hoping to obtain it for $15,000 below asking. So that is where things stand. I assume we will here something this morning. If deal goes through we have negotiated to move in on May 16th so that gives us a little less than two weeks to pack up and mule our gypsy possessions before we need to be out of The Islay Inn. Hope this will make for a bit more sanity, not having to do everything over the course of a day or so.

Extra! Extra! Rad All About It. Just spoke to Gil on phone and we have agreed on $15,000 below asking so you will soon be receiving a change of address card! Plan to spend the first weekend, after moving, at Little Shuswap, while you and Ricardo unpack for us! You are the first to know! Must away as scads to do, as you can well imagine. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Cora Lee doing sentry duty on my bike! Gil, our agent; our new boat! 

Hi Ayn and Chloe, our house purchase is final. We can move in after May 16th.

Our address in Penticton will be 611 Burns St. Ayn the MLS listing is 153012 if you want to look at the place. It is 3 bedroom, 2 bath with small open kitchen, living room with wood burning fireplace and large family room where the dining room will be along with more seating for TV viewing and it also has a electric fireplace built in Talk soon! love Mom

Here is a few more pics...plus the patio set Alex purchased with the money I gave them for their new place. Winnie found a great tree in the area! Love to all and congrats!! Please show grandma and grandpa Xoxo

Bit of a lazy sleep-in until around 8:00 am although Cora Lee was up an hour earlier. Still no word from Gil until 9:00 am. (Meeting Woman was on a conference call at the time.), and he relayed the fact that our offer had been accepted! Delighted to hear this of course, (I gave he "thumbs up" sign to Coriandre in the study where she was confabulating.), and we chatted about the next hoops we needed to jump through, documents to sign, etc.

Since we we interested in moving into Burns before May 29th we asked to take possession on May 16th. This being the case we needed "bridge" financing so I set up and appointment, for later that afternoon, at the RBC on 4th/Balsam. Once I'd done this I had time for a quick spin so suited up adn dipsy-doodled my way around Olympic Village, with a  foray along Seawall to Granville Bridge and then back to Kits Point, going as far as Jericho before returning. Stats for ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/715786038#.VP8TAaI5xEo.email 

Quick shower and change and then we set off to meet with Christian Hoffman. meeting went well and he apprised us of the documents bank required to process "bridge" financing. He will set process in motion, from his end, and we will gather additional documentation we'd not already presented. Thanking him we made for Young Brothers and Minerva's for supplies before returning to The Islay Inn. Close to 3:00 pm by then and after a few kitchen chores and a bit of messaging I said goodbye to Cora Lee. Byron was picking me up for bridge in West Van that evening. Unfortunately, Sarge couldn't make it, at least minute, so just the two of us from this side of Lions Gate.

Traffic moved well and we were at BigMac's place, off Folkstone Way at shortly after 6:00 pm. He and his wife have a gorgeous condo there with a more than stunning view of city and English Bay. Wonderful cloud formation over both so a magical vista, Mt Baker glistening in background. Clive was fourth and he and I were partners after we drew cards. Sad to say, we struggled all evening with poor cards and when we did have points, didn't really mesh. Had a number of opportunities to make so decent contracts, (small slam, 6 No Trump was a given but I put us in 6 Diamonds, suffering from lack of oxygen at this heady bidding level!), and when we did squeak a game we weren't vulnerable, only when down! Not to make excuses but Byron and David had most of the cards and played them very, very well so they were certainly the better pair. Still, loads of fun and dinner was a veritable feast: bbq'd salmon, fresh asparagus, wonderful spinach salad and a delicious cous-cous dish with a zesty lime dressing. Dessert was cherry ice-cream with fresh blackberries and raspberries, all washed down with a very tasty Pinot Blanc from Mission Hill. 

Played 40 hands and were finished shortly after 11:00 pm, probably 2,500 points behind the heavy hitters! Thanking our wonderful host we bade one another goodnight and made our way home. Getting into car, night was wonderfully clear and stars were diamonds in the inky sky. No delays on Lions Gate so Byron dropped me off at The Heartbreak Terrace at not long after 11:30 pm. Mme Coriandre was still up, after having had dinner here, with Robyn, and then taking in Still Alice at Fifth Avenue. She has had second thoughts about cost of moving in two weeks early so she will see if Gil can change possession date. Still think cost of bridge financing is worth it but will let her make that decison. Both to bed to read as it had been an exciting day. 

After 40 hands: Byron and Dave Mc: 6810 Patrick and Clive: 4250 Delicious bbq salmon and ALL the trimmings – Thanks Dave! Byron you're rolling! With Dave's guidance! David too true

Hi Clive et al! Thank you for sending along results, ad embarrassing though they may be for some of us! Let me echo your remarks about BigMac's wonderful dinner.Have attached a few snaps from the evening. Once again, thanks for the delightful and instructive evening. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Gentlemen I am happy to host on Monday 16th Who is available? Cheers 2 over
1 Byron I'm not available on the 16th but can host (and play) on the 23rd. Cheers, R. Hi Byron: I'm available this Monday. I think Sarge will be able to attend as well but will confirm, one way or another. Cheers, Patrizzio! I'm in!
Clive Hi Byron: I am also available Regards: David Gents So far we have Byron, Clive, Patrick, Bigmac and maybe Sarge so we are a go 2 over 1 Byron Hi Patrick: As a reminder, make sure that Sarge notifies the host for the evening if he expects to cancel for the evening; 12-16 hours notice is probably sufficient. This helps the host prepare for his dinner menu. Regards, David 

Patriçio! Hmmm … I checked out that address on Google maps. Didn’t see exactly what house it was, but none of the houses there had a swimming pool!!!! Close to the lake though.

Sorry that we will be some distance apart … fewer bridge nights I am afraid. But looking forward to visiting (hear they upped the speed limit on the Coquihalla … W.r.t. “muling”, my load limit has somewhat diminished over the last 30 years, but happy to pitch in. Keep us informed on progress and plans! cheers///bjp 

Hi Ragin'! Trust you are well. Thanks for offer of help, of one sort or another. Understand your physical limitations but may well ask you to pour malt for rest of mules! Give us a shout and perhaps we can arrange a meal together with some bridge with Clara and Dusty. Fondestos from Mme Coriandre. Cheers, Patrizzio!