New Visitors Centre at Van Dusen Gardens

Neil and I had a lovely afternoon at VanDusen Botancial Gardens recently.  We browsed around the gorgeous, new Vistors Centre.  The design team of architect Perkins + Will and landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander developed the master plan for the visitor centre.

Then we went to Truffles Cafe for a light lunch - it is cafeteria style.  The Shaughnessy Restaurant is still in its usual location in the older buildings and is a great restaurant too.

After lunch, we strolled through the gardens.  Here are some pictures:



See the turtle?



Remembering Harry Jerome at High School Track Meet

The Vancouver Sun newspaper is featuring today in its "This Day in History" column, which is part of the celebration of its 100th anniversary, an article about Harry Jerome, a great Canadian Sprinter.  Harry had just broken the world record for the 100 meter dash.

This brought back so many memories for me, because I was in Empire Stadium at the Great Vancouver High School's Track Meet in May, 1959 and saw Harry run the 100 yard dash and other races, I think the one mile and the 400 yards relay if I recall correctly.  Harry was representing his North Vancouver high school in this track meet.  



I have never forgotten that day.  There was one race where Harry pulled so far ahead of his competitors that he was one-quarter of the track ahead of his competitors.  All the spectators in the stadium, regardless of which high school they were from, rose to their feet and screamed encouragement at the top of their lungs as he approached and then crossed the finish line.  We had never seen anything like it.

He went on to a great career, competing for Canada in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics.  Here is a short history of Harry from Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Jerome 

Unfortunately, he died young at the age of 42.  There are comemorative runs in his memory.

Empire Stadium was built so that Vancouver could host 1954 British Commonwealth and Empire Games.

Celebrating 40 years of Marriage Today

Today Neil and I remember back 40 years to our wedding held at Cecil Greene  Park at UBC on May 22, 1972.  It started out cloudy and drizzling with rain in the morning, and then the sun came out for us in the afternoon.  We were married on the terrace at the back of the house, facing Spanish Banks.  The lilacs and snowball trees were in full bloom.

About 130 family members and friends came from near and far to share with us in this special day and to wish us a good start to a happy life.  We made it to 40 years, so we must have done something right!

Here are a few of the official photographs from that day:

Taken in the back garden of the bride's family home.
L to R: Junior Bridesmaid - Neil's niece Janice, Maid of Honour - my sister Linda,
Bride - me, Bridesmaid - long time friend - Kerry, and Bridesmaid -  Neil's sister Marilyn

Dad escorting me to his decorated car as we were
leaving home for Cecil Greene Park

Photo taken after the ceremoney in front of the lily pond
with the lilac tree in the background
L to R: Linda, Neil, Me and Jack

L to R: Dad, Mom, Neil, Me, Irving (Neil's Dad), and Yettie (Neil's Aunt)

Walking the grounds at Cecil Greene Park

Cutting the Wedding Cake - Wine Glass and Grapes decoration

And so we were off on our married life.

"Guys & Dolls" at Vancouver College

Last Thursday evening, Neil and I attended the Gala Evening performance of "Guys & Dolls" at Vancouver College.  The musical was presented by Vancouver College in its Kucher Centre for Performing Arts in cooperation with Little Flower Academy & York House.  It was a special treat because Neil's nephew, Dylan, who is in grade 11 at Vancouver College, played the role of Nathan Detroit.

The Gala Evening included a buffet dinner  held in the new gymnasium before the start of the musical, which was catered by Queen Charlotte Lodge which is located in Haida Gwaii, and it also has an office in Richmond.  Famous as a fishing lodge, it also provides fish and seafood for catering.

Queen Charlotte Lodge, Haida Gwaii

The buffet dinner was wonderful - great salads, scalloped sweet and white potatoes, salmon and roast beef.  Then during the intermission, a dessert buffet was offered in the gymnasium as well - also excellent.

But the highlight of the evening was the student performers in Guys & Dolls - the cast was so talented and enthusiastic!  We loved every minute.  Here is a picture of cast members (in rehersal) taken from the front of the evening's program:

Dylan is in the bottom left photo.  He has taken acting lessons at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, and the Shakespeare program at Bard on the Beach.  Also active in band.  So far we have seen Dylan in West Side Story, Grease, Macbeth, Brighton Beach Memoirs and look forward to more!

And here are some professional photos taken during a performance by Ryan Dean Photography:

Dylan as Nathan Detroit

with Miss Adelaide played by Claire

 

Tom Thomson - Great Canadian Painter

On Thursday evening, Neil and I met Janice and Jim for dinner at Earle's Resturant at 905 Smythe Street where we had very good service and the food was great.

Then the four of us walked down to Pacific Cinematique on Howe Street to see the documentary film "West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson" a film by Peter Raymont and Michèle Hozer/White Pine Pictures.

Neil has always loved the paintings of the Canadian Group of Seven, and in particular Tom Thomson.  The documentary tells the story of Tom Thomson's short life and his development into a great artist.  The scenery in Algonquin Park, especially that of Canoe Lake, north-west of Toronto is spectacular, but even more breathtaking when interpreted in Tom Thomson's art.

Here are some examples -

We had the opportunity to view Group of Seven paintings at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa many years ago, and those paintings are still engraved in my mind  http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=5427   They were so much bigger than I realized - stunning.

Getaway to Whistler & Horstman House

Last weekend we went to our condo at Whistler BC located in Horstman House.   We own a 1/4 share of a unit there, getting access one week in four.  However, we usually leave it in the rental pool and only visit a few times a year.  Horstman House is very family oriented and has a great outdoor pool, open all year round, a gym, and a games room.  It is situated near the end of Blackcomb Way, close to the entrance to Lost Lake Road.  Good in the summertime as well.

On this visit, we took our friends Myra and Jan - Jan is a great downhill skiier and loves skiing on Whistler Mountain.  Also drove up my sister, Linda, her husband, Shelly, and their companion, Joan, to their place on Blueberry Hill.  There had been lots and lots of snow in the week before and the weekend was gorgeous - lots of snow, and finally some sun.

Neil and I plus Myra walked to Rainbow Park, about 1 1/2 hours return.

Rainbow Park - the lake, in the distance, is frozen over

Neil was very happy because there were lots of families walking their dogs.

The snow was so deep - here Myra is sitting on top of a picnic bench

The seven of us went for dinner to the Tandoori Grill - our most favorite restaurant in Whistler.  Outstanding food and great service.  They always recognize us even it we are there only a few times a year.    They have great reviews too!

Jessica Parker Kennedy interviewed in Glamoholic

My friend Toni, sent me a link to an interview with her daughter, Jessica Parker Kennedy, by Glamoholic:  http://www.glamoholic.com/9/9.html 

Be sure to read the interview and see the gorgeous pictures!  Here is the cover photo from Glamoholic (by Emily Soto):

Jessica looks so wonderful in a long ball gown.  She plays Melissa in "The Secret Circle", which starting broadcasting new episodes last week.

Movie: Salmon Fishing in Yemen

Went Monday afternoon with Bonnie to see "Salmon Fishing in Yemen" at the Fifth Avenue Cinemas.  Cute movie - certainly helped cheer us up as the weather was bitterly cold, windy and depressing.

Ewan McGregor as Dr. Alfred Jones, a fishing scientist from the  Agriculture Department of the British Government, is asked to make the dream of a Yemen Sheik to introduce salmon into mountain rivers in Yemen come true.  Seems like a hairbrained scheme, and the movie deals with overcoming skepticism, disbelief and all the obstacles of making happen.  The Sheik got the idea because he has a fishing lodge in Scotland and loves flycasting for salmon in the Scottish rivers.

Here Dr. Jones lays out a scheme for the project

The love interest is Emily Blunt portraying Harriet, the Sheik's assistant/public relations person in Britain.

Emily Blunt as Harriet

Yemen Sheik & Dr. Jones discussing how to make the dream come true

The movie was filmed in Scotland, London and Morrocco.  Of course, after many trials and tribulations, the plan worked, and Dr. Jones got his girl.

Hawaiian Cruise - Maui & then Home

Our last island stop in Hawaii was Maui where we anchored off Lahaina and tendered into the town.  A very hot day and, because we have stayed on Maui several times before, we decided to just walk around the town for a few hours rather than take a tour of the island.

Neil on the Boardwalk in Lahaina

HAL Oosterdam anchored off Lahaina

Milt from London, ON & Bonnie from Vancouver

Mark from Vancouver, and Audrey from London, ON

Bonnie & Neil

Sunset our last night at Sea

And then home to Vancouver.

Hawaiian Cruise - Kauai Part 2

After leaving the Grove Farm Plantation, our tour took us to the Kilohana, which contains the historic 16,000 square foot mansion built in 1936 by sugar baron, Gaylord Wilcox, the nephew of George Wilcox, for his family and for entertaining.  The mansion is still there, now filled with restaurants, antique shop, art galleries, gift shops. 

The estate's 104 acres can now be explored via the Kauai Plantation Railway, which winds its way through the working plantation of sugar cane, fruit orchards, animals and forests.

Kilohana Mansion

Pineapple Fields

Kauai was a beautiful island, with the residents determined to keep it as rural as possible.  Large box stores have now been banned.  Hope they succeed.