Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all
peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that
if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends. -Maya
Angelou, poet (4 Apr 1928-2014)
Contest! Name our new white wine:
We are holding a contest to help name our new 2016 white blend. It is a
lovely blend consisting of Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and a hint
of Muscat. It displays aromas of lychee, guava, mango and citrus with
rich flavours of lemon zest, bright citrus,
slate and an oily viscosity. Simply reply to this email with your name
suggestion. The winner will receive a case of this delicious new wine!
The winning name will be announced on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
(so make sure you're following us!) this Friday,
April 7th and we will accept entries until this Thursday, April 6th at
midnight. So put your thinking caps on and send us your best name
suggestions for a chance to win a case of wine!
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Hello Hard-at-Work Wordsmiths at Upper Bench Winery and Creamery! Here are not one, but two, winning entries. Take your pick! Simply White or White Magic! All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio! Great suggestions Patrick, thank you! Cheers, Sarah Sloan Hi Sarah! Can hardly wait to taste it! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Got some great news today: the kidney function has not only stopped the free fall but has improved......so I'll celebrating. Blood pressure remains a problem and continued testing and adjustments of meds to follow but I'm happy with the good news. I plan to join the hike on Thursday if my company is leaving. Enjoy a great Bridge evening, hugs, Olly Hi Olga Polga, et al! Sorry to hear you can't play but simply delighted to learn that medically things have turned for the better! Bravo! Hip Hip Hooray! By my count, we will have seven players now so Dummy will move. Spiller Folk, are you car-pooling with us? 6:10 pm if so. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Tuesday 28th was Trevors 70th birthday, [Happy Belated Birthday SKI BUM!!! For He's a Jolly Good Fellow! Which Nobody Can Deny! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!! Hip Hip Hooray!!! Fondestos from Lady Dar and Patrizzio!!!], we celebrated with all of the family at a wonderful café/restaurant, The Pickled Duck” wonderful evening and great food, he was quite surprised as I had told him only Mark et al and Kirsty/Chris would be there!
We had a wonderful BBQ on Friday evening with lamb and haloumi shasliks, marinated steak and chicken/pine nut sausages, our friends had all made wonderful salads. Much wine was consumed before, during and after the meal. Pears poached in vanilla and cinnamon with vanilla bean yoghurt, ( made by me), was dessert. Then Mark made a scrumptious cheese platter with his own glaceed figs! After dinner we had a wonderful walk on the beach.
Once we were back at the house we packed up, and left for our final lunch destination Kingsbrook Estate, an Italian/French folly of renovated mansion, old home, accommodation and restaurant, magnificent local produce food. That my dears was the end of his birthday week! Today we went down to Kirsty’s mansion and did a few jobs, had lunch on their back veranda and watched the ocean waves…..life couldn’t be more perfect! I will post some photos from my phone as I haven’t downloaded them yet. Love Tina
Hi 70th Birthday Celebrants! Wow! What a grand time was had by all! Both Lady Dar and I have already bought our tickets to Adelaide to be there on our own birthdays, to be orchestrated by Event Planner Extraordinaire Teens, such was our amazement and wonder at the simply wonderful times everyone obviously enjoyed, with friends and family, over Trevorino's birthday week! Thanks for the terrific pics, as well, of course.
Attended Lens on Lent again, this evening, the film series at Oasis, Lady
Dar's United Church of choice, here in Penticton. Film screened was
Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance, a 2014 documentary. In case you don't know it:
"In
a small valley town in South Wales, a barmaid decides to breed a
racehorse she ultimately names Dream Alliance. She
and her husband buy a broodmare and she asks other villagers to join in
the effort with funding and advice. The horse goes on to win the Welsh
Grand National."An extremely, superbly well-crafted, never flashy or slick, work which let the characters speak for themselves. Filled with endearing, dry, self-deprecating humour and deep, deep affection for the tiny, virtually unknown, at the time, village/community and Dream Alliance, the stunningly magnificent horse at the centre of this most unlikely story. The ultimate heart-warming, and heart-wrenching tale of an impossible dream come true against seemingly impossible odds! Fondestos to you both from Lady Dar, already abed. Must away to join her! Once again, Happy Belated 70th Birthday, Trevorino! [Lady Dar didn't miss mentioning that you are the first of The Gang of Four, to hit this mark!] Cheers, Patrizzio!
I just spent another day being nanny, but I love to help Roman, he is very close to my heart. And Sebastian as active and tiring as he is, but he is lovely and very bright child. he is a very independent little boy, no holding hands not much cuddle, always on the go.
yes we did have a bit of sunshine and very warm. Sitting on the balcony and getting my first burn, was the result. Today the sun is on vacation again. I will go for my dancing, (exercise), and most likely for a walk. Take care Patrick, hello to Corinne. Always love Gisela
You will have noticed that Arbutus Village is certainly not what it used to be. Glad that we still have the Bank of Montreal, the Liquor Store and the Safeway Pharmacy which has added a sort of small corner store. The only thing missing there are fresh fruit and vegetables, but I am not complaining. It will all return in two years time we expect. And Choices on 16th is not too far away! Thanks again, Nadine, Lore
Patrizzio, I have the “newer” model (Edge 20) of the same Garmin you have, so I will follow up on your clue. I would be more than happy to offer Lady Dar an exhilarating experience in a BMW with the caveat that I will not be responsible for subsequent not-too-subtle hints that come your way w.r.t. xmas, birthday or spontaneous gifts she might like. I will plan to leave Vancouver April 25th and will confirm a.s.a.p. [Pic: perhaps the next car Lady Dar will want after a BMW experience (comes with a convertible roof too) …]
W.r.t. a KVR adventure, I gladly leave the planning to you. I would even be up for an overnight at a B&B along the route, but I’m easy. I am sure my robust ancient Canondale with the wide tires I use - which are great on the street btw - will handle anything the KVR has to offer. So for surface quality, I think we are only limited by your wheels. Let’s exchange some sketches of what you want to build. Branko
With respect to the KVR, I think we'll have plenty of good rides, north and south, out of our place, without having to B&B. I we we do make a Costco run to Kelowna, I do suggest visiting the trestles as it is an extremely picturesque, historically interesting ride. We can decide when you are here and plan accordingly. Also suggest stopping in Abbotsford, at Costco, just a few minutes off highway, (In case you are not familiar with this outlet, follow sign for Customs/Boarder crossing to US.), for any groceries that either of you wish to pick up, as well as gas. Even cheaper than at Shell Station in Bridal Falls!
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| Photo: Okay Yaramanoglu |
Patrizzio, Bad news about the MacAir — yikes. Try putting it near a heat source (not too hot, just warm and dry air, and give it a few days to dry out completely. There are not a lot of “parts” to these machines. Every component, ie, the video chip and I believe in a Macbook Air even the memory chops are fused into the main board. Only option is to replace the whole thing. If the screen itself is gone you could be looking at $$$
Enchanted April is a 1992 film directed by Mike Newell. The screenplay by Peter Barnes was adapted from Elizabeth von Arnim's 1922 novel The Enchanted April. The film stars Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Polly Walker and Joan Plowright, with Alfred Molina, Michael Kitchen and Jim Broadbent in supporting roles.
Last one, à propos of next week's screening, is The Intouchables, a
2011 French comedy-drama film, the story of the friendship between the
two men is then told as a flashback: Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic
who owns a luxurious hôtel particulier, and his assistant Magalie, are
interviewing candidates to be his live-in caregiver. Driss, a candidate,
has no ambitions to get hired. He is just there to get a signature
showing he was interviewed and rejected in order to continue receiving
his welfare benefits. He is told to come back the next morning to get
his signed letter. The plot of the film is inspired by the true story of
Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his French-Algerian caregiver Abdel Sellou,
discovered by the directors in À la vie, à la mort, a documentary film. I could go on and on and on but I'm sure others will have suggestions. Thanks again. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Attached is the write up of this piece...sorry it took awhile but everything's for a reason. Musi...Thank you for enjoying this piece as much as i have producing it.
Hi Clayton! Thank you so much for the more than powerful background story to Bear. A tale of unbelievable love and courage, to be sure, and I am so moved and grateful that you have shared it with me. I will always cherish both this and the incredible artwork.
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Les Bourgeois de Calais by Rodin
Photo:
Michael Leuty
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We have yet to have it framed but plan to do so in the next week or so as I can hardly wait to display it, such is the strength and joy, energy and power it emanates. Thank you again for both Bear and the Feather Box, absolute treasures I am so proud, and certainly humbled, to have. Not to own for the sake of owning but as emblems, symbols of such apparent, undeniable creativity and spirituality that must be seen, whose stories must be told, both for the healing and the miraculous wonderment they embody and engender! I plan to give the latter to Corinne as a gift of love on our 41st wedding anniversary this May 14th.
Stay well, dear friend. I trust our paths will cross again, somewhere, somehow, in the not too, too distant future. Until then, all the very best, both with your sublime art and craft and in life itself. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Paul; Corinne and Julie, Paul's wife; Your publisher at Theytus Books with two others I'd not met before, attending opening.
