Diary of a Decade and the CBC Radio One Blues: Sunday, December 29th!

  The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border. -Pablo Casals, cellist, conductor, and composer (29 Dec 1876-1973)

Happiest of Happy Birthday's Penny! All the best from the denizens of Tinsel Town, The Burns Street Bistro and The Winnipeg Crib! For She's a Jolly Good Fellow! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Cheers from Ayn, Chloë, Rowan James,
Lady Dar and Patrizzio!

Hyderabad prepares for Ivanka Trump tour with rainbows and lookalikes: Faye Powell Homeless people, stray dogs and trash all cleaned up in Hyderabad before Ivanka arrives. "I don't know who Ivanka is," one man said, "but I'm happy she has come to Hyderabad. I've been shifted to this ashram and get tea and food on time." Something similar happened when we were in Varanasi. Modi and the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe, were visiting, so paint and tarmac were splashed over the cracks and potholes and everything was well! With apologies to Billy Rose, et al: "Its only a paper moon/Sailing over a cardboard sea/But it's only make-believe/If you believe in Trump, et al!" When such politicians succeed the desperate unthinking are completely hoodwinked and we all fail! "It's a Barnum and Bailey world/Just as phony as it can be/But it wouldn't be make believe/If you believe in" Impeachment!!!

Hello Naughty Nancy and Recumbent Man! Thank you for the lovely cards and wishes. Trust you are both well. Stay well dear friends. Healthy New Year, Fondestos and Best Wishes from Lady Dar and I, to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio

Happiest of Happy Birthday's Simon! All the best from the denizens of the Burns Street Bistro! Hip Hip Hooray! Cheers from Lady Dar and Patrizzio!

Hi Lovely Linda, The Pepperoni Kid, Courtney and Patrick! Thank you for the lovely card and warm wishes. Trust everyone is well. Had a note from Chopper and from Fast Freddy Ensom, both of whom now live in Parksville, or close to there, not far from Grogg and Lurch! When weather permits, I'm still cycling. Fondestos from the four of us, Rowan James, Chloë, Lady Darjeeling and Il Conduttore, to the four of you, Patrick and Courtney, Red Wine Goil and Mama Rufino's Favourite Son! Stay well, Kids! Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Hello Little Evita, Arnoldo and Poplar Bogart! Thank you for the lovely, newsy message, good wishes and congratulations on the birth of Rowan James. He is doing extremely well, gaining weight, [over 10 lbs now], and possesses a very easy going temperament, rarely complaining, thus far, except when hungry or needs his diaper changed.
 

Of course, we go over, most days, or when needed. Last night, per esempio, we had our first "Official Grandparenting" evening as Chloë and Katie, and her lovely daughter, Katie, down from Vernon for the night, went to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Lady Dar prepared a Korean Beef Bowl, [She substituted minced turkey.], using spiraled zucchini, for dinner and we watched Secret in Their Eyes, an American re-make of The Secret in Their Eyes, an Argentinian film from 2009. Found the latter far more powerful but the former had some interesting actors: Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris, [from Breaking Bad],and Michael Kelly, [from House of Cards]. All washed down with two fabulous reds, a Merlot from Painted Rock and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Pentâge.
 

Trust you three are well. Pleased that your hip replacement went well. How has the transition from "Owner" to "Employee" gone? With respect to snapolas I thought I might give Etta and Duke a chance to show you and Bogart what they have been up to! Stay well dear friends. Healthy New Year, Fondestos and Best Wishes from Lady Dar and I, to you, Yda, and Arni. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Dear Patrick and Corinne, Thank you for all your marvelous pictures of your grandson Rowan. He is adorable and has brought you all such happiness. Chloe looks absolutely peaceful. She projects that glow of contentment.

Thank you Corinne for your call yesterday. I tried to return the call but you do not have an answering system. We had an early dinner out so could not get back to you. We attended an open house a week ago and came down with the flu so I could barely get out of the house for our dinner engagement.

We always celebrate Christmas just the two of us with the “kids” and as always it was divine. The usual but no ordinary Free Range Turkey stuffed with Wild rice. Roasted vegetables, garlic potatoes, cranberry relish, gravy and butternut squash soup. Prepared by a superb chef. Followed by plum pudding with rum sauce. On Boxing Day our neighbor John who is 94 popped in for some Christmas cheer. He still works and is a land surveyor, plus writes books.  On our long talk I realized that both he and my mother are first born and have out lived their siblings. Both are farm children. There is something to be said for building a strong immune system with all those allergens. Children today are so over protected and have so many allergies that the trend now is getting children out in nature an exposed to mother earth.

John bought us both new I-Pads and he is busily transferring data from our old pads to the new. I laughed my head off when I opened one of his gifts. She is called ‘Alexus.’ When you hook her up to the internet she will talk to you on anything you want.  We now have our first in-house robot. She is absolutely amazing.

  

We have both turned 75 and I promised John we will have our annual birthday lunch celebration in town. Picture of John in his study with Tess. We had a beautiful dinner last night with long-time friends who we have not seen in a year at the Yacht Club. Patrick you might know Victor Horton as he and John have played squash for thirty years. They travel twice a year to see their children and grandchildren in Australia.

We usually have our long-time friends Kathleen and Barry from Seattle visit for New Years but they are in Alaska visiting their children and grandchildren. They too go twice a year to visit. Our new year’s celebration will just be the two of us with the kids. John will do his fabulous rack of lamb. I have found myself quite allergic to sugar so gone are the days with all those desserts  although I will have some chocolate.

The Assuaging of the Waters (detail)

Art: John Martin, 1840

John in the new year will continue his project of busily building a door for his boat house and then will paint it red. Attached picture of John in his study. I will continue my book editing.

Below, two Blue Jays just out-side my window as I type. They seem to be here every day feeding off the bird feeder and such a pleasure to watch. They are strikingly beautiful. The Conservatory of Music contacted me and asked to have my Japanese garden in their tour for Mother’s Day next May. There will be about 1500 people attending I am sure as the last tour five years ago. Wishing you a Happy New Year and thinking of you always. Love, Jean, John, Benson & Tess

The illusion dates from the 1960s, but no one seems to have kept a record of who first created it.

Hi Sylvie! Thanks for the great, singing Christmas card! Trust your own celebrations were filled with family and friends, as were ours. Healthy New Year, Fondestos and Best Wishes from Lady Dar and I, to you, Sylvie.  Cheers, Patrizzio!