About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

G is for GUSHY and GIDDY


If you haven't seen my "Introduction" this week over on the ABC Wednesday site, the great news for me is that we have a new yellow Labrador Retriever puppy.  We brought her home on February 3, and both of us are exhausted!  Actually, she is pretty good at sleeping through the night (although our nights used to be longer) and tapping the door to go outside for her constitutionals.  She eats well and plays hard.  Then she naps hard, too!  She is our little darling, named Tegan (aka Rhossili Breeze) and after only 3 weeks, she answers to her name and brings us her ball - that is, if she wants to.  lol  We're like new parents who are giddy with excitement over the new arrival, gushing with glee at every little antic and kiss, yet gnashing our teeth over her needle-sharp baby teeth.  Every morning between 7 and 7:30, she wakes one of us up with a sharp yip-yap and we stumble down the stairs to let her out of her crate for her morning "run."  Then I make myself a coffee and let her gambol all over me until I bleed from her greedy little love bites.  Finally, it's "settle time" and she gets her breakfast while I have my own little "run." Unless she's busy doing something, or with Lorne, I can't even go to the toilet in peace!  Just like a real toddler!  I'm sure I'll be putting photos of her on ABCW frequently and here's the first slideshow all about our glamorous little goober!

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

Gargantuan thanks to the glamorous Mrs. Nesbitt, the founder and creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the gallant Roger, our administrator.  Also thanks to all the guys and gals who visit contributors each week to give great praise to everyone else.  If you'd like to join the team, just give old Roger a holler!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

F is for FLOWERS


Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere usually find the month of February to be frightfully dismal. In some areas it's still frosty, and fancy snowflakes continue to fall.  In other areas, the weather is still ferocious and foul as our thoughts turn to fanciful delights of the first days of Spring.  So, as we watch the snowdrops forcing their way through the snow and we await the first signs of crocus, primrose, daffodil, and tulip, I thought you might be cheered by some of my floral fotos!  If it doesn't say "my" or "in my garden" the photo is from either around my neighbourhood or from my travels.  Regardless, all fotos were taken by moi!  So turn up your sound to "Here Comes the Sun" and have faith that winter will be over soon enough and then we'll all be able to enjoy the fabulous fruits of the summer season.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Huge thanks to Mrs Nesbitt, the founder of ABC Wednesday and to the formidable Roger, our current administrator.  They and the team fervently desire to faciliate and fine-tune the site so that contributors will be able to familiarize themselves with others, thus fostering friendships from far and wide.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

E is for EYE


I had a really nice slideshow all ready to add to my E is for...post but my computer was hacked on Friday evening so now I have to wait until it's fixed by a professional before even turning it on.  What I originally wanted to show you was the town of Ely, just north of Cambridge, where Cathy and I met up with two extraordinary ladies. I had met Sally and Ellee online, and we had arranged to meet for lunch at Peacock's Tea Room in Ely. It was a lovely day but I forgot to take my camera! All the photos I have are from Cathy so I'll have to show you Ely another time. I have a smaller laptop that I'm using now to do a different post, but I don't have any photo software on it, so will have to do with just posting a few photos that I'd saved on a stick.

Most people are aware of the London EYE, but like me, I bet lots of you did not realize that there are EYES in other cities in England...and maybe even the world for all I know.  But when we arrived in Liverpool and settled into our hotel at Albert Dock, we were very excited to see the Liverpool EYE right next door.  Off we went to see about getting a ride, but alas, it was closed!  I had to make do with taking some photos of it, practising from different angles.  Standing more than 197 feet high, the wheel gives magnificent views of the city's World Heritage waterfront and the Albert Dock complex. It has 42 fully enclosed and air-conditioned capsules plus a VIP luxury capsule with leather seats, DVD player, and a champagne fridge. Also, in good weather, you can see all the way to North Wales and out to the Irish Sea.  These are a few of my shots.  Click on the photos to see them larger - they do look much better that way.
 
 

 When I was in London, I wanted to go up in the London EYE with Lorne, but unfortunately we didn't get the chance.  However, we did drive past it on our way to Heathrow on our final day.  It truly is a magnificent sight!   It is much bigger than the one in Liverpool, standing 443 feet high with the wheel having a diameter of 394 feet.  The London EYE stands in the heart of London on the south bank of the River Thames adjacent to the Jubilee Gardens.  I'll just have to return some day to this exciting city so I can finally have a ride on it. Here are a couple of shots I got from Google.  
Exuberant thanks to the founder and creator of ABC Wednesday, the ever enchanting Mrs. Nesbitt (her hens lay excellent eggs, you know!) and the enormously enthusiastic Roger, our current administrator!  Also, we must not forget the exemplory and essential team of assistants who give it their best effort to visit all the contributors and give feeback to your entertaining and eloquent posts.

Sunday, February 03, 2013

D is for DEVILS or DEMONS?

No doubt, one of the most devilish excursions we had while in Wales was to the Skirrid Inn!  It is designated as one of the oldest pubs in Wales dating back over 900 years.  History deems it that the first floor of the inn was once used as a Court of Law and over a period of many years, as many as 180 prisoners were declared guilty of crimes serious enough to demand the sentence of death by hanging, a decree that was carried out at the inn itself. Judge Jeffreys is well known as the "Hanging Judge" because of his desire for harsh sentences to nearly all defendants.

After a night's dreaming of the delightful Welsh landscapes, we decided to have a down-to-earth day taking a drive through Abergavenny towards the Skirrid Inn. My friend Jane had disclosed to Cathy and me that we would definitely love the dwelling, so we were really looking forward to it.  We drove through breathtaking landscapes over the softly rounded hills until we were dizzy and desperate with desire to arrive!

My excitement dissipated at first sight of the Inn because it led me to deem it derelict, decrepit, dark, and dreadful.  So I was not that anxious to enter its depths as I thought it might be dangerous. It looked as though it might disintegrate with the entire roof falling down upon us.  I drifted across the street and had a nice dialogue with two horses who had some doubts about the strangers in town.  Finally, I approached the front door and dared to step inside.

A life-sized dummy of Judge Jeffreys greeted us in the foyer before we directed ourselves  into the pub. There we discovered a homey dining room with designs and displays on the walls about the history of the inn.  As we drifted around reading the signs in the dim and dingy room, my worries began to dissipate.  The inn was not in disrepair nor was it disagreeable.  The atmosphere was one of wholesome fun and we could hear the drinkers laughing and chatting as they devoured their dishes of fish 'n chips or meat pies.  Dropping my purse on the bar, I began to dally a bit with the innkeeper Geoff Fiddler who delights in his Inn's ghostly reputation. I told him my maiden name was "Jones" (how Welsh can you get?) and that I'd come all the way from western Canada. When he heard that, he asked if we'd like to see the lodgings that were available for holiday rent.  As he dived for the keys, a lady who lived in the district leapt up to say she wanted to come, too. She told us that the last time she'd climbed the stairs she'd sensed a ghost, so she desired to try again with others to drive on her courage. Oh, oh!

Pushing the swinging door, we entered a dark and dull hallway with stairs rising upwards.  I disguised myself as a daring day tripper and began the ascent.  Partway up the first section, I discontinued my climb as I detected the noose hanging from the rafters.  I shivered in disgust but decided to push on.  Just as I placed my foot on the middle landing beside the door to the "prisoners' cell," we all heard the most demonic and devilish howl!  I jumped and screamed with horror but was drowned out by the screams of everyone else who was on the stairwell.  Then came deafening roars of laughter as the owner of the pub dismissed our silly fears.  Apparently, he does it to all the gullible tourists! 

Determined to continue on, we peered into all three of the rooms. We were surprised to see that the owners had developed some very nice rooms done up with ensuites.  Each room was different with two of them having four-poster beds.  I decided right then that I would later return with Lorne to this domicile so he could have the same experience.

And we did.  Unfortunately, the owner wasn't on the premises that day, but as soon as we entered the first room we danced our way into the four-poster and Jane took our photo.  Lorne was dazed when he saw the ensuite and for a moment we deliberated about taking a holiday there another time.  We resumed our tour in the second room, but as soon as we stepped inside, all three of us felt a cold, creepy sensation!  Out we went, and descended the stairway, exiting via the closest door and ran for the hills!
Haunted?  Possessed by demons and devils?  Who know?  But we were very discomfited and disturbed by the experience!  I don't think we'll be going back to stay any time soon.  I defer to any other brave soul to dare to dwell there overnight.

Great thanks to our darling and dynamic Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the dapper and debonair Roger, our current administrator.  Also, thanks to the team who are dedicated to visiting all the dandy, dazzling, and deliciously devoted contributors to ABCW.  And now, on with my weekly slideshow!  Be sure to turn up your sound so you can be delightfully diverted.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow