Highlights of Alaska Cruise

Neil and I went on an Alaska Cruise August 15 - 22 on Holland America's "Noordam", from Vancouver to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and back to Vancouver. We had poor weather such as gale force winds, cold, rainy and low cloud cover for several days.  Did not get off the ship in Juneau because of that.  But it cleared up in the last few days.

I also had some issues with the ship and if we go again on Holland America, I would choose different accommodation. Our stateroom was the smallest I have ever been in and Neil had his walker with him, which made it difficult to move around the room. But it was worth it to get away for a week.

Here are some of the picture highlights of Glacier Bay:

Here are highlights of Ketchikan, our last stop:

And highlights of sailing back to Vancouver down the beautiful coastline:

Remembering Linda

Thinking of Linda every day, but especially more today as it would have been her 64th birthday.  Here is a picture from her 61st birthday just after she was diagnosed with cancer:

Miss you sweetheart!

Sam gets his Masters degree at Oxford

Sam has been awarded his Master of Philosophy in International Relations degree from Oxford University.  The ceremony was held on Monday, July 27, 2015.  His brother Teddy, and their mother, Gina, attended.  Here are a couple of photos taken by Gina:

Distillery Tour

Last Sunday, Neil and I joined a group from our sisterhood for a Distillery Tour at Odd Spirits Society, a small-batch craft distillery located at 1725 Powell Street in Vancouver.

There were about 14 of us and we were led on the tour by Gordon Glanz, founder and distiller.  It was interesting to hear Gordon's history. He obtained a MSc in brewing and distilling from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland (what better place to be to learn distilling?).  He then studied under the masters at Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, Scotland.

We started the tour tasting the oak aged gin, which Neil really liked.  They use it as the basis for some of their mixed drinks, sold in the Tasting Lounge.  Here are some pictures from the tour:

Gordon explained that in order to qualify as a "craft" distillery under BC liquor laws, the distillery must purchase all BC products to produce the liquor, starting with the grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and then all the supplemental ingredients.

 

After the tour, we hung out in the Tasting Lounge, some of us purchasing cocktails, others still asking questions about the operation of the distillery.  We discovered that the distillery is open to rentals for events.  The bar is open to the public and is a very interesting/fun late afternoon/early evening gathering place for people to get together.  Reserve ahead for a tour.

 

 

 

Neil and I bought a bottle of each of East Van Vodka and Crème de Cassis and look forward to trying them out.

 

Tasting Lounge

 

Recommended for a fun outing.

 

Sam's Winning Rowing Team at Oxford

Sam, beaming after a race

 

Sam posts that his rowing team (Lady Margaret Hall) was bumped up 2 and is now the highest ranked men's 1st VIII in the club's history! Way to go!  Sam graduates July 27.

 

 

 

Renovation Pictures #3 - Master Bedroom & Office

The "before" master bedroom was a "L" shaped room with virtually no closets. The "L" had been open and partly used as a den, with a TV and seating area.  But as everyone knows, I need an office and so decided to have a built in office in the area that used to be treated as a den.

Master Bedroom & Office - Before

Looking towards the small den area in the master bedroom which I made into an office. 

There is a small balcony off the former den area.

 

This is the other part of the master bedroom where the bed will go.

 

Master Bedroom & Office - After

 

On entering the master bedroom, you see the bed to the right, and ahead the wall built to partition off the new office.  We put in Hunter Douglas black out pleated blinds, and on top of that Hunter Douglas silhouettes - very nice.  We also built the new closet (on the left) for me as there was very little closet space.  I guess we have a lot more clothes now than people did in the past.

 

The built in office is in a U shape. Works very well.

 

View from my office - looking out the sliding glass doors, small balcony - lots of trees

 

Bedroom part of the room.  With the Hunter Douglas blinds lifted up, we get a fantastic green view.

 

Renovation Pictures #2 - Living Room & Dining Room

Here are before and after pictures from the living room and dining room:

Dining Room and Living Room - Before

Dining Room - we did not keep this chandelier. It is a big space - big enough for the dining room furniture from our home.

Living Room before we reduced the size of the living room on the west side by building a fireplace/tv wall with a storage room accessible from the bedroom behind the fireplace wall.

 

Taken from west side of living room towards dining room.  We put in hardwood flooring and area rugs. 

 

Dining Room & Living Room - After

 

We have a new drum style chandelier

 

This is our existing living room furniture from the house, just all recovered and with new toss cushions

 

This shows the new fireplace/tv wall we built on the west side of the living room.  The new storage room is behind this wall and the master bedroom is beyond the storage room.

Settled into our New Home #1 - Renovations to Front Hall and Kitchen

It has been ten months now since we moved into our new condo home and we are loving it.  Renovations continued into the first two months after we moved in because of backorders for certain things, such as light fixtures, countertops, mirrors, shower glass, but we lived through it. Seemed like we had six sub-contractors there every day in August and September 2014.

As friends and family know, 2014 was a very difficult year for us, and I got behind on so many things including blogging.  But now we are feeling relaxed, have more time and are enjoying our new neighbourhood.

I want to share some before/after renovation pictures.  Here are some:

Front Entry Hall - before

Entrance - what we saw when we opened the front door of the suite

 

and after:

 

Kitchen & Eating Area - before

 

 

Left side of kitchen looking towards the dining room and living room.  We took out the old fridge and opened up that wall so you have a view into the dining room.

 

Left side of the kitchen looking towards the dining room and living room.

Kitchen eating area at the east end of the kitchen.  Small balcony here with sliding doors.

 

 

Kitchen & Eating Area - After

 

Taken from the dining room looking into the kitchen towards the east.  See eating area at the end.

 

Also taken from the dining room looking into the kitchen. We had a TV installed in the eating area - very convenient.

 

 

This is the eating area looking out onto the small balcony.

 

 

This is taken from the eating area, through the kitchen, towards the dining room (you can see the drum chandelier in the dining room)

 

 

More pictures to come in the next blog.

 

Cherry Trees in Bloom at St. Moritz

Our condo is surrounded by cherry trees in bloom - a gorgeous pink fluffy display! Have to enjoy them while they last.