Un-Deck the Halls and Walls Blues: Sunday, December 30th!

In religion, faith is a virtue. In science, faith is a vice. -Jerry Coyne, biology professor (b. 30 Dec 1949)

Hi TNT! Thanks for the wonderful card! You'll be drinking Champagne before us but we'll toast you, each in our separate locations, when the time comes! Healthy New Year to you both! Cheers, Patrizzio!

For you and your family the best wishes for 2019 Hi Jaap!Trust you and family are well. Thank you for New Year's wishes. We are planning a trip to Europe next September. Have not finalized itinerary other than the fact that we plan to visit close friend in Denmark towards the end of the holiday. We think we might well pass through the Netherlands, en route to London, afterwards so perhaps there might be a possibility of connecting. Other than that, you are more than welcome to visit us in The Okanagan. Plenty of room for everyone to stay whenever suits so think seriously about it if you are inclined to return to Canada. We'd love to show you this remarkable part of the province, wine-tasting and all!  

Must away as we are beginning to take down Christmas decorations. Stay well. Again, both Corinne and I wish you, Jaap and family, a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Hike in mid-December; Christmas Eve dinner with friends, Rebecca and Corey, along with Corinne and Chloë

Hey Pat, So great to get regular Pat messages after the long imposed recuperating silence. Scary time Dude. Glad you have come through. Los Osos is a meditative relaxing place. One just drops into the vibe out there on the coast. Our Christmas was low key. Actually got more than one present each, so that was special! Nephew Louis was on hand so that was probably the highlight.

Sun is ever so slightly coming back now. That is encouraging. Just sent off late lunch visitors. Enjoying some South African Chardonnay fermented in French oak. Almost sherry like. Brownies made with Guittard chocolate were well received. Keeping it simple here. Good to know the holiday was enjoyed by all! Hugs, Nancy & Cactus

Hi Fancy Chocolados People! I'm sure Étienne would be pleased to know that you are keeping things simple with his choc, [Mixed with edible cannabis, perchance, courtesy of Vinnie's baking skills?], washed down with a sherry-like Chaaaaaaaardonaaaaay! Thanks for the vote of confidence but I always assumed my readership was more than somewhat relieved at my enforced radio silence! Come in BBC World Service. Penticton Calling! Penticton Calling!

Flamin' just popped by to go for a walk with Darjeeling. Horrible accidento, last night, at Corey's/Rebecca's place. There was some discussion about length of Sutherland's new fireplace, [Electric insert in a pretty elaborate surround, commissioned by Flamin' and fabricated by friend, Daniello.], at Harbour Terrace, so Ryan lay down in front of similar fireplace at Sendero to better gauge length. While he was there his eldest daughter, Grace, came over to see what her father was doing and inadvertently pulled on a stocking hanging on mantle from a very heavy stocking hanger ornament. Kaboom! Fell from about a meter, (A yard, and a bit, in your non-metric, non-compliance with the world in so many other things as well, parlance!), catching Prince Valiant on the forehead, smack dab between his eyebrows!

Lucky it didn't fall on one of his eyes, it goes without saying. Necessitated five stitches at Emergency. Lucky Kid Chelene took him there otherwise Megan, Ryan's wife, might well have been charged with spousal abuse! Attending physician and nurses looked rather skeptical when they were informed that significant injury was a result of a Christmas decoration! Bubble above their collectice heads: "A tiny plastic star did that to you!" Never a dull moment with Clan Sutherland around. We moved here to get away from all the brouhaha yet it followed us here! Might have to come south to live in Villa Vicente while you Trump-dodgers head north!

Over and out from Burns Street Broadcasting Corporation, sending Fondestos, via the airwaves into Vacuum Land, beaming directly to the completely empty head, akin to the vastness of interstellar space where global warming doesn't exist, of your Chief Executive Cheeto, on PBS and better radio stations everywhere, although he only listens to his own inane, puerile, bullying rants! Where O Where goeth self-awareness, Trumpolino, for there are more things in heaven and earth, Donaldino, Than are dreamt of in your political philosophy! [With deepest apologies to Guillermo!] Cheers, Patrizzio!

Must away as the KVR Walkers are back and it's time to put away decorations. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you, and we wish you both a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: Etta prefers the warm and comfort of a chair in the Rumpus Room!

Must away as we are having a "romantic" evening together, before Lady Dar decamps for warmer climes. We were watching Outlander, [Have you watched Bordertown, a more than gripping Finnish detective series? Deadwind is another wonderful Finnish production.], with a bottle of 2017 Terravista Viogner, 14.5%, when Pamela, Lady Dar's youngest sister, phoned from Winnipeg, so I thought I'd say hello while she is chatting. I plan to open a 2015 Painted Rock Syrah, 14.9%, to go with the lamb chops broiling away as I scribe. Home-made mint sauce to boot!

Must away as we are having a "romantic" evening together, before Lady Dar decamps for warmer climes. We were watching Outlander, [Have you watched Bordertown, a more than gripping Finnish detective series? Deadwind is another wonderful Finnish production.], with a bottle of 2017 Terravista Viogner, 14.5%, when Pamela, Lady Dar's youngest sister, phoned from Winnipeg, so I thought I'd say hello while she is chatting. I plan to open a 2014 Popular Grove Cab Franc, Munson Mountain 13.8%, to go with the lamb chops broiling away as I scribe. Home-made mint sauce to boot! 

Hi Patrick, Tell Corey , “likely story”. I hope the wine works for you in the romance department. Best wishes to Corinne for her travels down Mexico way.
We finished all three seasons of Outlander a couple of nights ago. Last night watched Roma, an interesting drama. Tonight started on The Innocent Man. Yes, we’ve seen Bordertown. We’re flying to Vancouver tomorrow morning for a New Year’s party at Byron and Anne’s, courtesy of Aeroplan. Back on Tuesday. Will have to catch up with you before departing for the Desert. Happy New Year to you both, Peter

Hi Aeroplanners!  Great that you could celebrate New Year's with Byron and Anne. Please pass along best wishes to them. Travel home safely and give me a shout so we can have a snort and arrange chauffeur service! Healthy New Year to one and all. Cheers, Patrizzio! Thank you for the card, merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you, Jack Bartosinski Hi Jumpin' Jack Flash! Thank you for the season's wishes. Trust you are well. I do hope to see you when weather allows. I understand that you are not a winter weather hiker. For my part I'm planning to snowshoe as much as possible this year as we were in Costa Rica last winter. Again, Healthy New Year, Jack. Best Wishes and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Dear Patrick, The New Year is fast approaching and I hope that you have a gala event planned for that evening. Your dear sweet girls are leaving only for a moment and it is hard to imagine you being alone after all you do  bring happiness into so many people’s lives. John & I will call you tomorrow to see how you are doing. 

Our friends from Seattle Kathleen & Barry are coming in for New Years. They come every year and we have known them since our Auzzie days. Their children live in Alaska and they travel there two or three times a year to see their grandchildren.  It is hard to imagine how different their children are to them. Their son who we are godparents too married a women that was home schooled along with her thirteen siblings and so with her over active maternal instincts are busily reproducing like rug rats. Kathleen and Barry’s daughter has a dog breeding business raising  Alaskan Huskies and is raising two children from two different men by herself out in the boonies. Both children love the challenge of living off the land which sends shivers up my spine.

Our Christmas was quiet with people dropping in which was great.  I loved not having an endless list of things to do. We will call. Happy New Year my dear

Love, Jean & John