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Here are a few more pics ... taken at Sunset Beach

The Trees at the Foot of Thurlow Street

Thought I would share these with you all. The trees at the southern foot of Thurlow are a wonderful place to visit if you are out for a stroll in Vancouver's west end. Rain or shine, or even on those rare occasions when it snows, you will share Sunset Beach with picnickers, dog walkers, old folks, cyclists, skateboarders, tourists and in late July and early August with thousands of people making a day and night of it, enjoying fireworks and the Pride parade.

Fall in Vancouver

I took these photographs, as well as the blog's background pic one October a few years ago, all at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. A friend had travelled all the way from Hamilton to visit - on the bus! Of course, when he first arrived it was pouring rain but he insisted on walking the few miles to my place because he had been sitting for three days! We were soaked.

The next morning the sun was a wonderful gift, so off we went via more buses and the translink ferry to North Van, then another bus up Capilano Road to the park. It was perfect picture-taking weather. We spent hours wandering around under the trees, over the trees, around the trees - one of which is original old growth that had been a seedling when Columbus first pulled up on the east coast without a parking pass.

Enjoy...

One Book I Really Love

Okay, this is an experiment. One of the hundreds of books I read during my "exile" is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. If you have read his series about the colonization and areo-forming of Mars then you already know the high calibre of writing to expect from this newer book. It's a world history "what-if" - what if ALL Europeans had died of the bubonic plague. As in his Mars books Robinson delves into religious differences, trade, exploration and colonization issues, the place of women in these alternate societies, world wars, philosophical perspectives, social mores, scientific developments, ecology and economics, and spiritual matters.


I originally read this a few years ago when it first published - and given the current state of world affairs - it is as timely now as then. Beg, borrow, steal or (preferably) buy it. You will read it more than once.

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ck!!

Well, it's been over a year since I last posted - due to a self-imposed internet blackout. And I see that nothing much has changed in reference to the post below. Very sad.


Anyway, I suspect my few blog fans are horrified at the mere thought of not having internet, but here are a few things I discovered from the experience:

• Reading - yes - reading real books! The printed on paper kind! I re-read just about every book I own. Fell in love with some of them all over again and donated some to my co-op's lending library. Picked up a library card from SFU.
• I am still attractive to the opposite sex. A very interesting experience.
• I have a vacuum cleaner and I know how to use it.
• There are hundreds of TV channels but on many occasions there is nothing worth watching.
• I have friends and family with whom to have dinner, who enjoy walks along the seawall, to chat with on the phone, do things with, commiserate with, watch DVDs with and generally make eye contact with rather than sit alone and chat with over the 'net.
• I live in a very interesting neighbourhood.
• I can actually enjoy peace and quiet without needing the visual stimulation of the 'net from 8am to 12 midnight

On the other hand, I am really, really, really am happy to be back. YIPPEEEEE!!!