Cat in the Window Rainy Day Blues: Friday, December 20th!

If we would have new knowledge, we must get us a whole world of new questions. -Susanne Langer, philosopher (20 Dec 1895-1985) 

Rowan James' Menagerie!

Hi Patrick and Corinne, We plan to do some last minute shopping in Penticton tomorrow ( important things like running shoes ). So, if you are around, we could stop and get our table as well as have a quick hello and wish one another a Merry Christmas. If you are unavailable, don’t worry, we’ll catch up with you another time. Thanks, Marian Hi Cousins! Yes, we'll be around tomorrow. Do you have any idea when you might pop by? Will you have time for a mug of java or perhaps something stronger! Anyway, we'll look forward to seeing you. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Baby Hippo leaves the menagerie to take a bath. How about sometime early afternoon? Cheers, Marian Hi Christmas Shoppers! See you when you are finished breaking the bank! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello Birthday Goil! Happy Belated Congratulations and Best Wishes! Hip Hip Hooray! Had a terrific chat with Kjell yesterday so I knew about your celebration. Trust your hotel bash went well. As I mentioned to Dom Marcello, you might wish to stop by Penticton, on your way to the ski slopes, to meet Rowan James. Think about it as we'd like to see you as well. Must away to split a bit of kindling and then do more of the above-mentioned shouldares. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both, just about to head for Cherry Lane Mall. She is collecting Chloë and Rowan, along with collapsible stroller, beforehand, as Chloë is meeting a woman, Carly, from her pre-natal class who gave birth to a son, Everett, a few weeks before Rowan was born. Originally they were planning to walk along Lakeshore but since it is really coming down they decided to use the mall. Stay well. Travel safely, Kjell. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Baby Hippo, [receiving bath towel has a cute hippo face], leaves the menagerie to take a bath! Redheads unite!
 

Hello Dangereuse and Guillermo! Thanks for best wishes and, once more, Happy Christmas to you as well. I do apologize for not being in touch sooner since being blessed with nothing but a miracle on November 26th. Chloë gave birth to a healthy, bouncing baby boy, 8 lbs, 6 1/2 oz, with red hair, Rowan James!

Fondestos from both of us to you, Denise and Bill, and family. Stay well. Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Fantastic news Patrick and congratulations to all who participated; especially to Chloe and her mom!
And the best bunch of photos that you have ever sent us. Have a great time on Winnipeg Street. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight. Bill & Denise.

Hello Famiglia Harkema! Thanks for best wishes and congratulations on the wonderful, wonderful news that Hannah is going to have a baby! Hip Hip Hooray! For our part Chloë gave birth to a healthy, bouncing baby boy, 8 lbs, 6 1/2 oz, with red hair, Rowan James, on November 26th! Fondestos from both of us to you, Karin and Jaap. Congratulations, of course to Hannah! Stay well. Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Dear Poppa and Grandma Dunn, Those photos of RJ are priceless!! What fun. I know he looks like ... Wow Poppa! Similar expressions too. Have a lovely and memorable Christmas and holiday season with Chloe and Rowan James. We are hoping J, L and Zev can get home today. His Grandpa is ready to shower him with love. Thinking of you. Let’s chat after Christmas. I am on the plane ready to take off for London, Ont. via TO. will be home the 26th Hoping the weather behaves. Here’s to a brilliant 2020 for all. Lots of love, J, G y Morita xxoo

Hi Sylvia and Raymondo!

Wonderful that you will have all of the family together at Christmas, particularly Jenn 

and baby. Fondestos from both of us to you and best wishes to all the family. Happy Christmas together. Stay well. Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio!

 

Hi Runway Jane! Trust all goes well with your travel plans. Flamin' and Sarge drove up yesterday, stopping in Penticton for two nights, en route to Kamloops for Christmas. Glad they travelled when they did as as both Coquihalla and Hope-Princeton have been closed, latter for snow-related accidents, I gather, what with a 55 cm dump and more forecast! Highway 3 was closed between Hope and Princeton yesterday, at some point, with winter storm warnings and both these areas are expected to get as much as another 60 cm of snow by Saturday afternoon.

Yesterday evening I walked over to Winnipeg Street to have dinner. We watched a couple of episodes of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Think I've already asked if you know it? Hilarious, wonderfully scripted and period piece costumes and sets are fabulous. Oi Vey! Stay well. Travel safely, Calamity. Cheers, Tummler, extraordinary extra from MMM!

Hello Famiglia Coffaro! Trust all goes well with the run up to Christmas. Thanks for good wishes to us all. Flamin' and Sarge are here for two nights, en route to Kamloops for Christmas. We hope to see them this evening for a pre-Christmas drink or two! Cheers, Patrizzio! MMM! Yes, we love it also. We are waiting for a good time when we both can see the new season..........Dave

Hi Von Bingen! Trust all goes well with the run up to Christmas. Thanks for good wishes to us all. Hope you can pop in to our Open House on January 1st! [Invitation attached.] Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrick, Corinne, Chloe and baby Rowan, Thanks so much for your Christmas card, and for your welcome message to baby Owen. We are still staying close to home as we adjust to being a family of 5 (!!) But George and Miriam are coping pretty well, all things considered. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with lots of precious baby moments, these truly are special times. Love from Zoe, Matthew, George, Miriam and Owen xoxo


Hi Guys, Thank you for your card we have been very slack this year and have done nothing this so as a consequence a few lines by way of catch up.

We have had a pretty quiet year our trip to the Netherlands was fantastic it was a great boat and bike trip. Three masted schooner and absolutely dead flat terrain which had its problems. The chef on board was great and the company similarly so, tho mostly German I did mention the war a couple of times but I think I got away with it. Met yet another couple of Canadians from Toronto the Vermeers (Dutch Canadians) they were in the flower business huge wholesalers apparently in Toronto. What is it about Canadians and Aussies. We then did the train trip thing to Amsterdam 3 days, Brussels three days then Luxemburg, and the Rhine valley over a week and a half from Frankfurt to Cologne. Great four weeks over all. Oh yeah Thing about flat country when you are riding if its windy which it was its uphill ALL the time especially when its blowing at 20 knots straight in your face.

We are off to finish Vietnam next year in May, Ho Chi Min to Hanoi up the coast Halon Bay etc with some friends form here for a couple of weeks it’s just so much less expensive than Europe we are saving that for 2021 the Adriatic and Bordeaux bike and boat trips all going well.

On an aside I don’t seem to be able to get emails thru to Patrick for some reason so the next time you talk to him let him know we have tried and failed our server keeps being unable to deliver mail to his BCU email address.

We hope you all have a great Christmas break and a catch up with family (tho over here there is a debate going on as to whether it should be called a Christmas break or simply a festive break PC gone crazy as far as I can figure out but hey life goes on. Cheers from Greg and Claire

Hi Greg I think the Canadian -Aussie thing is like the movie Elf “ Aussies I know you !! “ It has been a challenging year for me. I was in a car accident in December of last year and have been off work as a result. I had a bad concussion and trying to rehab . One of the things that happened is I have vestibular problems so riding a bike is a challenge. We did go with pat and Corinne to Europe and had an amazing time . Covering Vienna , Budapest, Croatia definitely a must on a bucket list. We are staying put this year and spending Some time in Hawaii. In 2021 we are thinking of going to Spain - Portugal not sure if that is attractive to you?? I am envious of your trip back to Vietnam . It is a country I would like to revisit .

We are spending time this Christmas with our gang of 6 grand-babies and their parents. I just left Patrick’s place. (perhaps he is ignoring you but I put him on the email )Pat and Corinne have welcomed a new grandson Rowan James. Their daughter Chloe had a baby and everyone is completely in love with him. He is a month old today. I will let Patrick know you want to be back on the Patrick bike escapades email list. Pity help you!! Hope you both have a wonderful holidays. Keep in touch Michele