Argon and the Solar Panel Blues: Thursday, March 21st!

Our shouting is louder than our actions, / Our swords are taller than us, / This is our tragedy. / In short / We wear the cape of civilization / But our souls live in the stone age. -Nizar Qabbani, poet and diplomat (21 Mar 1923-1998)

The Highwaymen!

Hi Netflix Fiend! Go Woody Go! Looks great so plan next week and we can have a watchathon! Love, Dad! First day of Spring: Marvellous awakening!

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Hello Al, et al! Simply wonderful just see two grizzled grizzlies sniffing the flowers! Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Photo: Brian Morrell

Hi Patrick, It always amazes me how you do all these cards and stuff. So thanks for thinking of us. We have now sold our condo down the Gold Coast well one bedroom flat though condo sounds better. So we are in planning mode for 2020. We are thinking of coming your way via Japan in perhaps May/June 2020 depends a bit on the cherry blossoms thing in Japan and the best dates for that. Any how are you and lady Da intending to be at home in May or June so that we might be able to coordinate our visit to the inside passage (small boat cruise) and then catch up with you guys. For a day or two as well as Serge and Michelle?

I make the big 65 this year next month so I might actually retire given that over here 65 is pensionable age over here. So golf and relaxing is on the agenda for later in the year and hopefully some caravanning across our apparently great southern land tho I believe the halfwit in charge of America thinks that place is great. Cheers from down here Greg and Claire 

Hello Gold Coast Millionaires! Pleased to learn that you enjoyed the card but even more delighted to know that you will be rolling in capital gains and honest retirement superannuation funds when you next visit! While it is a year or more away Lady Dar's marriage officiant business is in high swing during May and June so we will be here to roll out the red carpet and hold out our hands for all that Australian cash!

Funnily enough, a former Japanese border, Toshi, visited a number of weeks ago. In 2012 we stayed with her and her mother in Osaka as part of the trip when we visited with you. 

Prior to that trip she advised us not to visit Japan during the Cherry Blossom Festival as it is extremely busy and prices are much higher. Not sure if this makes any difference to your travel plans but we know from first hand experience that our visit was far more enjoyable coming after said festival. Not sure how you plan to travel within Japan but if possible we suggest that you buy rail passes. Not available within Japan so you must buy them before you leave. I assume you will have access such passes in Australia. We experienced hardly any difficulty with the language in as much as many people speak English and those who don't very often use their smart phones to translate directions, etc.

I have to laugh at the misspelling of Sarge, [Serge], because that is the material of which the RCMP uniforms are made. We are looking forward to spending the Easter weekend with them and family at the Spirit Ridge resort where both of us have holiday property. All going well with life in general and your travel plans we would try to take you there when you visit us. As well plenty of wineries to taste at and we can cycle there from our place in Penticton. Must away as I need you ready myself to see my orthopedic surgeon for my ten day post-operative check up. Lady Dar sends best regards to you both, Claire de Lune and Golf Club Grog! Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzzio! Pics: Etta on settee in back patio. Bit of snow left but should soon be gone with increasingly higher temperatures this week. Still need to further rearrange furniture after winter storage. Dinner last night. Gorgeous view looking north over Okanagan Lake. Note mini-icebergs in marina!

Hello Lady Patrizzia and Sir James! Enjoyed our chat Jamie, at least until we were cut off. I assumed it was too too late, your time call back but I did listen to your phone message next day. Great to hear your voice. Trust you are both well. Must away as I need to have a bite of brunch. Lady Dar, of the Penticton royal family, sends best regards to you both, Lady Patrizzia and Sir James! Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Thank you Patrick! We have reserved you a Premium table of 2 for Laila Biali on June 20th! Dinner and bar service available, doors at 6 and show at 8 pm SHARP. If you intend on dining with us please arrive between 6 and 6:45pm, we serve 110 beautiful people in the short window before showtime. Coming early helps us finish service before the music. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you hear first about upcoming entertainment. Thank you for your support, see you at the music! Hazel Booking Manager, General Manager The Dream Cafe Co-op Hello Laila Biali fans! We just received confirmation of our reservations for dinner before the performance. Would you like to sit together? If so, do you want to make the arrangements or we can. Let us know and we'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Lady Darjeeling and Patrizzio!

  

Hi luvbugs, We already discussed with the Dream Cafe that we want to sit together for dinner & performance, she gave us a very good table (her words)!
😍 Aarturos & Josinta Hello Movers and Shakers! Fabulous to know people in high places with all the connections in the world! Look forward to sitting ringside with the Hoi Aristoi even if we have to put up with all the autographs you will both be dispensing! Stay well. Put ice on your swollen heads! Cheers, Lady Darjeeling and Patrizzio, members of the Hoi Polloi!

Hello Two Table People! Wonderful gathering this past Monday and it was a delight to have Dame Judith join us. Thank you Judy Blue for bringing your card table over as well as the lovely chocolates. Lady Dar and I are wondering if next Wednesday might be a possible night to play so please let me know your preferences/availability and we will plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, One-armed Bidder, Patrizzio! Hi, Patrick. I would like to play next Wednesday. Thanks. Dianne Wednesday would be great for me Dame Judith Yes, I can play next Wednesday Mar 27 Susan Just confirming I am available if you have enough for 2 tables! Also thanks for saving me a seat at kitchen stove, the movie was enjoyable and my car didn’t get towed JB Hello Patrick, If you need me I can play, but if you have already an even number of players I skip Wednesday. Hope your recovery is going well, and the healing is smooth! Cheers, Jos Hi Dear Bridgers, I'm back but can not play on Wednesday but will be able to join you next week. Have fun! Hugs, Olly
This Wednesday doesn't work for me. So have fun without me! Cheers Carol

Photo: Ryan Leighty

Hello, I have your March wine club order ready for pick up at the winery. We'll be open for the season beginning the Easter Long Weekend. If you wanted to pick it up before then, let me know and I could make arrangements to meet you out at the winery. Best regards, Jodi Bartier Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery Hi Jodi! Trust you are well. I left a message but in case you didn't get it I was wondering if our friends, Calamity Jane and Whirlygig, also known as Jane and George, could drop by tomorrow to pick up our wine. They are staying in Osoyoos, en route to Penticton to stay with us for a couple of nights. If scheduling doesn't work don't worry as we will be down at Spirit Ridge for the Easter weekend and could collected it then. I would probably add a couple of bottles to the shipment if I have a chance to talk to you. They were thinking sometime around noon tomorrow. If I hear from you before 10:00 am tomorrow morning I'll let them know one way or another. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

“It’s eye before flea, except after sea.”

Cartoon: Dan Piraro

Hi Pat. Michael will be at the winery then and Jane & George could definitely stop by. Unfortunately, we won’t be set up for tasting yet for them to try anything. If the tasting room door is locked and it looks like no one is around, let them know the go to the big winery building in the back and Michael will be there in the cellar. They should go in the man door and sing a little “hello. When you’re down at Easter, be sure to stop in to say hi. Jodi Bartier Hi Kids! Here's the message in reply to my message so if it's still convenient you can't collect. 

Unfortunately, no tasting so you'll have to make up for it here at Burns Street or else on the Bench. I told Jodi you would be there around noon. Trust this is fine and we'll probably see you between 1 and 2 PM, perhaps sooner if you're at the winery a few minutes before noon. Anyway, Great to hear your voices and we look forward to seeing you. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Hi Jodi! Thanks very much. Jane and George will do pick up. However we will see you over the Easter weekend to do some tasting. Cheers, Patrick!

We are flying out to NB after the kids leave due to a death in thd family, so I am off the bridge grid for another couple of weeks. Hope you have good cards. AEB Good morning Ann: We sat with Judy at the Kitchen Stove film yesterday afternoon and she mentioned that Ted's brother had died suddenly. Both Corinne and I send our heartfelt sympathy to both you and Ted, and family. Travel safely. Will be in touch when you are back and set settled. Again, sincere condolences. Corinne and Patrick.    Hi Patrick It was nice to see you this afternoon and I am happy to see you recovering from your shoulder operation. A good time to train indoors as it is still quite cold for cycling. Thank you for your e-cards - they always make me smile. Colleen Hi Col. Klink! Thanks for good wishes. Great to see you as well and pleased that you enjoy cards. Also impressed that you are out riding so soon. Be careful of the gravel and grit. You can never be too careful. Stay well and hope to see you soon, one way or tother! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat and Corinne, We wish Patrick a speedy recovery and we're glad you made it back home safe and sound after a very arduous journey. We wondered if it was because of the grounding of the Max 8 planes? As for our special bundle of joy, Emry, he is all we could have wished for and more. It was a wonderful
visit and he changed even in the one week. It was very hard to leave, but luckily they'll be coming out this summer for a month. I would love to sneak back, but not sure if that'll work. We'll send pics soon! I'm off to celebrate my Mom's 80th with my family. Love, Ruth

Hi Ruth how’s baby Emry? I’m sure the visit was way to short. Send pics. Love
Corinne Hi Ruthless and Ricardo! Trust you're both well and basking in grandparenthood. Belated birthday wishes to your Mom, Little White!

Earlier this afternoon I saw my orthopedic surgeon for my ten day post-operative check up. He was very pleased, as was I, with the healing process, and I am to have my staples removed on Monday. Later that afternoon we attended the Kitchen Stove film series and saw Cold War, "(Zimna wojna), a 2018 historical period drama film directed by Paweł Pawlikowsk. Set in Poland and France during the Cold War from the late 1940s until the 1960s, the story follows a musical director who discovers a young singer, exploring their subsequent love story over the years." Filmed in black-and-white, the photography was stunning, the acting superb. See it if you can. Must away as I need to do a bit of tidying, to the best of my one armed ability. Lady Dar, of the Penticton Royal House of Burns, sends best regards to you both, Little White and Grumpy Sir Galasquamish! Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio!