Oh Canada!!

Roger and I have been fortunate enough to see many wonders of the world, but I think the west coast of Canada has to be one of the most wonderous.

I've been exploring the island for the last two months, and can't wait to have Roger join me. The test phase of the Australian project ended well, and he will be here within the next week or so.  Did I say I can't wait?

In late January I flew to Calgary for a quick visit with my 94 year old godmother, and somehow felt like I was flying home when I returned to the island.

The beautiful Rocky Mountains

Vancouver Island on a sunny January day

I stayed in a small condo in Parksville for a couple of months and loved the close proximity to Rathtrevor Beach.  Our friends Jodi and Paul Ikert, and Barb and Rob Perry (who have all retired out here from Calgary) have been very good at making sure I'm not lonely and have shown me around the area.

People have asked if I found the rain hard to take.  There is no doubt that some days seemed to be "50 shades of grey", but on the same hand, there were just as many shades of green.  I probably only had to put my hood up six times, and the rest of the showery days were that - just showers.  I only saw -2C one morning and never had to use a snow brush.  I joked that I thought my car's thermometer was stuck on 6C.   I could walk without worrying about slipping and falling and although I haven't golfed here, loved seeing people on the courses no matter what the weather held that day.  So to answer the question:  No, I'll take it over snow any day.

For all our friends who slog through snow and ice during the winter months, the following pictures were all taken in January and February!

Beach at Parksville

People bike and golf year round here

Three weeks ago, I met a friendly woman at aquasizes and within five minutes of meeting me and hearing my story, she asked if I would housesit for them while she and her husband spent a few weeks in Arizona!  I laughed and said she was obviously an excellent judge of character, and after meeting her husband, we all agreed it would work out for all of us.  I moved in yesterday to their beautiful home in Qualicum Beach and will be here for the month when we then head to Seattle and Idaho.

Jodi and I went for a 90 minute walk yesterday along the sea wall at Qualicum and then just three blocks from the beach we hiked through a beautiful forest.

We've been friends since our kids were toddlers and I love have a walking partner!

Daffodils blooming in February

Cherry blossom trees are blossoming!

Qualicum Beach. Snow is where it should be -- on the mountains!

 Just three blocks from the sea wall is a beautiful forest with a great walking path.

Moss covers everything

We saw sea lions but none were close enough to get their pictures taken

Posing for the camera

I can't wait to show Roger around and no doubt he will be itching to get the boat in the water.  I'd like us to take kayak lessons and there are so many ways to get and keep fit here; something we really want to do.

Oh Canada!

For the last eight years KinleyTravels' masthead used the Mark Twain quote, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  

I think we have definitely lived up to this quote, but I am ready to return to the safe harbor.  It's time.

Back home

When I say we're "back home", it is more of a feeling than a place.  Calgary has changed a lot since we left in 2007 and I don't know how we ever coped with the weather.  We've softened under the hot sun of continents from Africa to South America to Australia.  Snow is now a four letter word.

Just before leaving Australia, my two water aerobic friends treated me to a last lunch by the ocean.  Wendy and Carolyn were great fun and welcomed us into their homes.  At a time when I was beginning to feel each move made me feel like it was Groundhog Day and a repeat of the first day of Grade 1, they found room in their lives for another friend, and for that I thank them.

Left to right:  Wendy, Heather, Carolyn enjoying a last bottle of bubbly

I flew to Vancouver while Roger finished wrapping things up in Adelaide.  It was with relief that Magnus greeted me with a big smile and hug.  Thanks to Skype, I wasn't a stranger to him, and we had a great time.

Magnus loves to check out little things

The blossoms at Rocky Point Park were spectacular in April

Bath time!

These are the moments I dream about when I'm far from Magnus.  The touch of his skin....the squeal he makes when he laughs...and the love he showers on us.

Anette and I went to a swap meet where I bought him his first wet suit.   Oh...the great times that are in store for him in Idaho!!!!!

When Roger flew to Calgary we had a quick visit with family and friends and then headed to Idaho.  We bought a new trailer in November, and gave the old trailer to a family in Idaho.  We are going to have a cement patio built under the roof Roger built a couple of years ago -- Rusty Tractor Springs just keeps getting better and better.

 This is my kind of "camping".

I was invited to speak at the Lions Club District Conference in Worley, Idaho.  My commitment and passion for the Lions School for the Visually Impaired hasn't waned since we left Zambia, and I was proud and honoured to share stories of the school's challenges and successes. 

We went to Vancouver again for an early 1st birthday for Magnus, and to help Brad and Anette as they prepared to move from Vancouver to Seattle, as well as a trip to Norway.  Brad had been working 90+ hours a week finishing up his contract on Transformers 4, so Anette welcomed the help.  She was well organized and we had fun ticking tasks off her list....as well as taking full advantage of baby wrangling duties.

We saw this Early Rider toddler bike in Adelaide and couldn't resist it.  Roger found a way to bring it home for Magnus and we think he'll love scooting around on it.

Despite a hectic week, Anette made delicious cupcakes which Magnus devoured!

The Three Amigos

Friends and their children at Magnus' 1st birthday and farewell party

Magnus and Obi are becoming good buddies

Magnus loved the bubbles but got very sad when they popped as he tried to grab them

Roger's dad and wife gave Magnus this suit --- he looks ready for Wall Street!

Bottom's up!

Magnus and "Mr. Roger" are already very good friends.

On May 4th, Brad's studio, Industrial Light and Magic hosted a "May the 4th Be with You" as an homage to their Star Wars franchise. 

Brad told us the studio was cool.....but it was beyond that.  Hidden rooms accessed by the turn of a bookcase or behind a fireplace.....memorabilia from movies....and all housed in a warehouse in the trendy Gastown area.

Brad was a lucky winner of the cubby lottery by getting a neat workstation complete with a Star Wars figure

All computers were turned off to keep Transformers 4 a surprise until its opening June 27th

One of the screening rooms where work is reviewed by the director, Michael Bay, in California.

Yes, you guessed it.  The washrooms.

Lounge area used for power naps for tired animators.  The bookcase to the right by the red curtain swings around to reveal a secret room.

Star Wars painting

Brad knew how to open the wall to find the "Whiskey Room"

We bid goodbye to Brad, Anette and Magnus and headed back to Idaho with Obi, their Boston Terrier who we are looking after for the next few weeks.  Obi loves Idaho where she can run and play Frisbee to her heart's content. 

 

As I update the blog, she is flaked out on the Lazy Boy with me and no doubt resting up for another great day tomorrow.

 

"Dogs have owners. Cats have staff."

                                                      Unknown



Sun....Snow....and Smiles

The anticipation of being able to visit family and friends made the grind of flying to Canada from Australia a lot more bearable.

A stunning view of the Rockies from the air --- we knew we were close to home!

We arrived in Calgary with temps around 16C.  The next morning, we woke up to snow and -10C.  That's Calgary for you.

Day after the snowstorm when the sun came out

We started the rounds of visiting everyone, and then bought warmer clothes and loaded up the Expedition for the drive to Vancouver.

The drive through the mountains was beautiful --- once we got passed an icy section where a semi truck went over the embankment.  We were stopped on the highway for 2 hours while they dealt with the accident.

We stopped in Kamloops to visit Roger's Aunt Louise and cousin, Lyndon and then got up at the crack of dawn so we could be in Vancouver early enough for Magnus' swim lessons.  We made it, and loved seeing Anette give Magnus the confidence to completely duck under the water without a peep of unhappiness.  Magnus will definitely be a water and boat baby --- more great memories are in the future.

Magnus the Great in his Hallowe'en costume!

We spent three days hanging out with Brad, Anette and Magnus and loved every minute of it.  Christmas came early as we opened our stockings and ate fabulous food.  Oysters...scallops....wine....homemade pumpkin tarts for Roger and cranberry ones for me (thanks Anette!)....and a birthday party at their friend's home capped off our visit.

It was great to leave the snow in Alberta and see green grass and maple trees that had turned a brilliant red

At five months, he is a happy little boy who loves books.  We bought him the Dr. Seuss Collection for Christmas as well as books from Australia and a Kangaroo puppet that he thought was fun.

Our sweet boy

We were so happy to spend time with Magnus and hopefully he will remember us when we see each other on Skype.

Magnus modeling his kangaroo slippers while bouncing in the Jolly Jumper

Magnus and Obi are beginning to figure each other out

Magnus likes when I make silly sounds

Anette sings and talks to Magnus in Norwegian, so he'll be able to embrace both language and cultures.  He chats all the time so we expect him to be quite the talker!

Magnus and his new playmate, Mr. Roger

Gotcha

I love seeing the two of them together

Getting ready for bathtime!

Rubber ducky...you're the one....

I got to give Magnus a bottle while Anette read his nighttime story.  

Before we knew it, we were leaving.  Despite the distances, we are lucky to have spent close to a month with Magnus over his first five months, and are so proud of the job Brad and Anette are doing as parents. Brad is busy working on the movie, Transformers IV so in a few years, Magnus will be able to watch the giant robots his dad animated.

Being a grandparent is better than we could have even imagined.  All the joys, fewer worries, and the experience to know that things will work out.

Back in Calgary, we continue to touch base with as many people as possible.  On the way home today from aquasize class, I saw a white tailed deer meandering down a road.  I followed it into a townhouse complex and managed to take a few pictures.

The deer was at least a mile away from the Provincial Park, but calmly walked down residential streets

We go to Kansas where we will see Colin, Karen and Cooper on November 17th and Roger will be in meetings with Colin regarding the upcoming Australian project.  And then, we head back to Australia but this time will settle in Adelaide.  Another new beginning, but with a touch of familiarity.

Sounds good to me.

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."

                          Omar Khayyam