New Camera

Decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to buy a new camera as my old one, a Panasonic Lumix is 5 years old and there have been so many advances since then.  Trying to decide what I needed in a camera, and what features I would realistically use, was the first step.  The new cameras have WiiFi and GPS and I decided against those features.

I really wanted a longer zoom, and a bigger width for landscapes, as most of my pictures are taken on our vacations.  I also decided that I did not want a DSLR because my tastes and needs are much simpler at this time.  Probably later.

So after talking to many people, and researching online, I decided on a point and shoot Canon SX 240 which is 12 megapixels, 20 x zoom (40 x zoom digitally) and 24 mm for wider shots.  I loved the Canon I owned about 10 years or so ago.  I always found the pictures to be so clear and sharp.  This SX 240 model was being cleared out at a fabulous price because the next model,  SX 280, has come into the stores, but I decided to stick with the SX 240.

Over the last few days I have downloaded everything, and studied all the features, which is plenty.  Took some photos for practice in my home and back garden.

Part of my grandmother's collection of pottery from England

This bookcase shot was taken in the Auto Setting

This bookcase shot was taken in "Super Vivid" which intensifies the colours

Peonies in my back garden - taken in "macro"

A large hosta plant in my back garden, shot in "auto"

Another shot of the large hosta, this time shot in the "poster" format, 

which intensifies the contrast between the colours - interesting

Still so very much to learn, but it will be fun.

Sam Graduates from UBC

On Thursday, I attended the UBC Graduation Ceremony for my nephew, Sam, at the Chan Centre with his father (my brother, Ken), and Sam's mother, Gina.  Lots of people there, all excited for their family members and friends, and there were cameras and video cameras plus bouquets of flowers everywhere.  Sam only gave us one day notice to attend because he has been working this summer in northern BC planting trees to earn money towards the cost of going to Oxford University this fall.

Long, long lineup to get into the Chan Centre, all the way up the side steps and for several blocks back, but once they opened the doors, the lineup moved quickly. Gina went ahead to save seats while I waited outside for Ken who was driving from his office in Burnaby.

Chan Centre, UBC

After the attendees were seated, all the students paraded in, wearing their caps and gowns, looking proud and excited.  This was followed by the procession of academics, including UBC President, Stephen Toope, UBC Chancellor, Sarah Morgan-Silvester, and the candidate to be receiving the Honourary Doctorate, Tzeporah Berman.

UBC Chancellor, Sarah Morgan-Silvester

Honouree, Tzeporah Berman

Isabelle, Valedictorian (Sam's classmate)

UBC President, Stephen Toope

Sam - waiting in line to go onstage

Sam - the proud moment onstage getting his degree

After the ceremony, the guests and students mingled in the outdoor courtyard where families took photos.

Proud Aunt Donna & Sam

Sam and Dad, Ken

Sam with the official degree

Sam now has a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Political Science in International Relations, degree. He was accepted at many universities for his masters degree and chose Oxford University in England.  He starts in October for a 21 month term to earn his Masters of Philosophy in International Relations!

In Oxford, he has been placed at Lady Margaret Hall.  LMH was founded in 1878 and was named in honour of Lady Margaret Beaufort, founder of the Tudor dynasty and renowned patron of scholarship and learning.  

Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

We look forward to visiting him in Oxford!

Mayfair at VC

On Saturday Neil and I went to Vancouver College to attend its annual Mayfair - a lovely spring fair.  It is the College's major fundraiser and is lots of fun.  

They had a huge outdoor food court featuring Italian, Korean, Vietnamese, Greek, Indian, and many other ethnic foods, plus an outdoor stage showcasing the school's many choirs and bands.  We went specifically to see our nephew, Dylan, playing guitar as part of the Senior Jazz Band.  Dylan is graduating this year, so this is probably the last time we will visit Vancouver College to see a family member.

We enjoyed trying the Korean food for lunch.  There were crowds of people at the fair, and hard to find a seat.

They had tables where you could buy home made baking (made by the parents); of course we bought chocolate brownies which were excellent.  And there was also an old fashioned cake walk (remember those?):

And I bought a raffle ticket for this exotic red sports car, but I didn't win!

They had a very large crowd of people and the streets were heavily congested with cars and walkers for blocks in every direction.  A very well organized event - the parents volunteer for months to put this together.

High Tea, Fine China and Hats

Over the past few weeks I assisted one of our sisterhood's committees with the marketing and promotion of a High Tea being held in honour of the wife of our Rabbi who is retiring soon.  The committee worked hard with all the arrangements, including determining and testing the food for the tea:  fancy sandwiches, baking, fruit skewers, and of course types of tea.  They decided that they wanted fine English china to be used for the tea and many of our sisterhood volunteered their own china.

The announcement of the event invited women to wear hats and gloves in the spirit of the English type High Tea.  The event was held this past Sunday, May 5 and was a tremendous success - with about 120 women attending.  I ended up packing up and using at the High Tea, my various fine china sets - about 32 place settings.  It was quite a job to get them there and back safely.

Here are some of the highlights:

Table Settings & China:

And the Hats:

And the Fabulous Food!  

Scones with home made blackberry jam, fancy sandwiches, about 25 different kinds of cookies, squares and tarts, and fresh fruit.

Lots of work, and it has taken me several days to recover.  But it as lovely and lots of fun!

Chris Starts His New Career

My nephew, Chris, started his new career today, studying under his father, Ken, to become a Trustee in Bankruptcy.  Chris obtained three university degrees, BSc from UBC, followed by Masters in Chemistry at UVic, and then last year an Education degree from UNB in Fredericton.  He then travelled across Canada last summer, returning to Vancouver from Fredericton, and this winter spent two months in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam, touring around and visiting all the beaches he could.

While he was away he made the big career decision to join his father's business, and study to become a Trustee in Bankruptcy.  This involves successfully completing the Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (CIRP) Qualification Program (CQP), and passing an Oral Board of Examination.  It takes approximately five years while working on the job.  Ken and the whole family are delighted with Chris' choice.

Chris has amazed us all by showing up for work on his first day dressed in a new suit he had made for him in Asia and getting a very smart hair cut.  Here he is - isn't he handsome?

Prior to this, Chris had long curly hair for over 15 years and we rarely saw him in a suit!  Such a big change - good for him for making these decisions.

Cars

Sorry, friends and family.  I have not posted for a while because I was in two car accidents - neither of them my fault.  I was T-boned in the parking lot of a mall in mid-January - someone backed out of their parking space into me as I was exiting the mall.  That resulted in a side-ways whiplash to my neck and left shoulder.  Then in mid-February, I was rear-ended quite badly by a big truck when I slowed down to let a city bus go in front of me (it was signalling and we are required to yield).  This aggravated the injuries from the first accident.  I am now recovering well, and have been going for massage therapy plus doing lots of exercise, stretching and rolling on yamana balls.  However, I still have some tight, sore muscles in my neck and back and it is uncomfortable at times to sleep on my left side.  I was quite exhausted and had to take afternoon naps for a couple of weeks.  I also suffered from fears that I was going to be hit a third time, and keep checking my rear view mirror.  It always shocks me to see so many drivers tailgating me, and talking on their cell phones at the same time.  A recipe for an accident.

The Hyundai Sonata stood up very well to both accidents, and in the second accident, it took the majority of the hit just in the trunk lid, the bumper was not even touched:

The car has been fixed with provincial insurer picking up the majority of the costs, plus the car rental.  Fortunately, I had purchased extra replacement cost insurance when I bought the car which covers putting in new, original parts, and so they put in an entirely new truck lid.  The car was all repainted and looks just as good as new.  The car frame had not been damaged at all.

However, I had never really enjoyed driving the Hyundai Sonata - found it too rigid and uncomfortable to drive.  So Neil and I looked at cars for days, test driving lots of different sedans, and decided to buy a new Nissan Altima and we chose it in red!  This should help with visibility.  Here it is:

We purchased the Altima last Saturday and I absolutely love it.  It is a dream to drive - very intuitive especially when turning corners.  Lots of special features, and the seating is outstanding for my body type.  So this should help banish the trauma I went through.  And having a red car is wonderful - I love it.

Hope to get back to regular blogging soon!

Memories of Valentine's Day

Neil and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day much anymore; just exchange cards, and sometimes he gets me a box of Purdy's chocolates.

But I have fun memories of exchanging Valentine's Cards in elementary school (Captain Cook and Kingsford Smith), where we were told to be sure to have a card for each child in the class so no one was overlooked.  All the cards were put into a specially decorated Valentine's Box, and were carefully drawn out by the teacher and handed around.

I found among my mother's possessions after she died, a box with cards from myself and my siblings.  Here are two of the Valentine's cards from me to her that she saved:

 

 

Such Sweet Memories!

 

Visiting Marilyn Monroe's Grave

I went to Pasadena with my friend Toni February 8 - 10, 2013 to attend a WRJ Pacific board meeting.  We flew into LAX and then rented a car and drove to Pasadena on Friday and back to LAX on Sunday. 

On the way back to LAX on Sunday, Toni said we had time for a special treat.  She stopped for an hour or so in Los Angeles at the Westwood Village and Mortuary Park to show me the graves of some famous movie personalities including Marilyn Monroe.  What a thrill!

 

So gorgeous

 

 

And some others:

 

 

 

 

 

The Westwood Village Memorial Park had beautiful gardens, fountains, and trees and was a quite, peaceful stop on our way back to LAX.