My dear friend, Joseph.

 This woman was so very kind.  She answered all my questions with the greatest of patience.  

It's time to reflect and give thanks.

Without a doubt, seeing Joseph in person was the most important aspect of this trip.  Joseph is a wonderful man who is honourable, kind, generous, and hard working.  It was a pleasure to see how he has grown and forged his new life in Canada.  Thank you so very much Joseph for your hospitality, kindness, caring, and chauffeur service.

It was a pleasure to meet Joseph's sister-in-law and niece who came from Taiwan to visit during my final four days.

The single most memorable trip we made was to the pow wow on my second day.  We stayed for the two full days and they will live in my memory forever.

Secondly, going to the Empress Hotel in Victoria and having coffee on The Veranda, wrapped in a cozy blanket.  Having drinks in the Bengal Lounge, and later watching the Parliament Building all lit up from The Veranda was very special.

Third, but not least, was my amazing luck in meeting an Indian Chief, Charlie (surname omitted on purpose), who was in Victoria (then Vancouver) for negotiation meetings on a new treaty, and then being invited to a Potlatch in Alert Bay which unfortunately I could not go to.

Thanks, once again, to Kam for keeping an eye on things back home, and for airport limo service.  Thanks to my neighbour, Shirley,  for keeping a watchful eye on my home.

Finally, thanks to all of you who followed me on this mini trip.  Thanks for your comments and many emails.

Until next time...

Got home safe and sound last night.  Will post some last shots and thoughts later.

As you know, I stayed home yesterday while the ladies went to the mall......not for me.

Today, although cloudy, it was not raining.  We first went to Granville Island.  I was not prepared to like it, but I did.  It reminded me a lot of our markets, but with the water, sailboats, fresh fish etc....so not really like our markets.

After we went to Stanley Park and just drove through.  Because it was cloudy we didn't stop except at the rowing club to take photos of the yachts..........be still my heart.

After we headed to North Vancouver via the Lion's Gate Bridge.  It was a goodie for me because I had first seen pics of this bridge, on my View Master, when I was  a child.

We ended at English Bay and the water, along with the laughing statues which I love.

Here are some shots from today.

The sky has cleared and we are hoping for a good last day for me tomorrow.   Kim,  Joseph's wife, will arrive from Shanghai on Friday.  He will then have a different combination of three women in his life for the next three weeks. I am sure he will then be more than ready to get back to "HIS" regular lifestyle.

What have we been doing the last few days?  Not too much.  The weather turned cooler on Saturday, but we still went to the shore for the afternoon.  On Sunday, we had planned to do some Vancouver site seeing, however, it turned darn right nasty.  We drove through Chinatown.  Joseph went off to see his computer nerd and I took us for a long lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory (the same as in T.O.) in Gastown.  The ladies loved it.  Today it is warmer and drier, but I opted to stay home while they go shopping at the mall.  Tomorrow we might get to Granville Island, if the weather permits.

Last night we had quite a party.  Angel and Christina cooked (Joseph peeled potatoes), we danced, had a few drinks, and a lot of laughs.  A good time was had by all.

/Whoo Hoo........Angel and Christina are here now.

It is the Chinese Mid Autumn  Festival and they have brought all kinds of sweets, of course we have moon cakes too.  The little glass boot in the last photo is of Slivovice., a powerfully strong Slovakian plum liquor.

I am home waiting for Joseph to come back from the airport with his sister-in-law and niece.  Their plane landed one hour ago, so they should be home momentarily.  It has been two weeks full of laughs, but now I am told to be on my best company behaviour.......that sure is the pot calling the kettle black, as he is far worse than me!

Seriously, I know we will all have a great time for the next four days before I fly out.