Freejan

Saturday we go for brunch at a nice cafe in the Olympic village. Two enormous sparrow statues stood at either side at the end of the square outside, After we were tempted into looking at possible new houses/apartments for Jane and Simon to buy if the ‘showing’ (as they call this viewing system here whereby you go out and the realtor – estate agent – shows potential buyers around) they have booked for Monday morning, goes well. It was interesting for me to see the inside of a few different homes. Jane had to go to Victoria, so we spent the rest of Sat and Sun cleaning and tidying the apartment. Jane set off Sunday late afternoon and we were ready for me to let the realtor in on Monday morning. I went to hav e my nails done at ‘Bling’ a beauty place on the ground floor of Jane’s apartment block. I came backand started to sort my packing – will I get everything in now I have bought too many new clothes! Tuesday I went to post office and then in evening Simon and I went to see ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ at the cinema – 2nd time for me and quite glad to go again as Iam in love with Bradley Cooper! Wednesday I went down to the Bay shopping mall and then went to the waterfront to catch the water bus to Lonsdale Quay – wonderful market with a mix of food stalls and fresh veg, fish etc. I was tempted by a Greek stall andbought myself a chicken souvlaki – a maz ing! There are craft shops and a first nation shop where I bought myself a crockery trivet with a leaping salmon pattern on it. Then I set off back across Burrard back to the waterfront and then skytrain to chinatown and Stadium stop. Quite the native now!

I got up leisurely and had my yoghurt, fruit and granola breakfast wth tea made by putting the bag in the mug first- got them trained now! Tea seems to be a real problem here as they have no idea how to make it. You often get warm water with the tea bag on the side – now how will that mash (as we say in Sheffield)? Would you give someone a cup of warm water and the coffee on the side?! Libby, an MP friend of Jane’s gave me this way of putting it – and this seems right! I digress….
24/1/13 The open top bus picks me up on the Haight St stop. Willie, the driver with a laugh to end all laughs gives us the goss – we pass the house where Jimmi Hendrix lived, then Janis Joplin and on the way a large dark green houe where they filmed the Adams Family. I tell you, just one big film set here! We passed several victorian style houses similar to the ones here called ‘The Painted Ladies” – all different colours side by side. As we near the City Hall Willie tells us about the way it rolled from side to side in the 1904 earthquake here. The gold is real on the top of this building and pretty impressive it is too. The civic Legislature Centre has their seal in stucco on the front of the impressive round building. As we pass the gates to China town we are told Bruce Lee was born here. The Bank of America building was the tallest in town but now the 2nd tallest – The Towering Inferno was filmed in this building. We pass a green painted house on a corner and are told The Godfather was written there. It starts to spit as Peter Kaye would say and Willie tells us that he is taking the bus into the depot to get a covered one at Union Square. So we are left there to wait 15mins for next bus. I get off to see Lombard St – the crooked street and decide this is where I can get a ride on a cable car. I meet a lovely young man who was there on business from Hong Kong, but was born in Scotland. We take the cable car to Powell and the turntable where it then goes back again to where I started. This costs $6 each way but on the way back Iget a seat on the open side – very exciting! I’m like a big kid here – can’t get enough of it! I get back on the tour bus and set of for Golden Gate bridge -the spitting has stopped and all hunky dory now. We pass the street where Steve McQueen made ‘Bullet’ and end up at the bridge. Got some better photos and views and set off on next bus back through the Sunset area of SF. I see an ad for an exhibition at the De Young museum and art gallery of the Dutch masters, including ‘The Girl with a Pearl Earring’ – so I get off the bus again and dash across the park bit infront of the gallery to see the picture in the last 30 mins of opening time. Blast! Only open for members in preview days as exhibition does not open until Saturday. They showed no pity so I had to walk back across the little park area and sit outside the science museum of California to wait for the last tour bus at 5pm. Who should be my driver but laughing Willie!
He dropped me outside my B &B which was great as my leg was hurting. There were Tango classes at the Red Victorian from 5-9pm but decided this could be the death of me! I order a vegggie BLT and a cuppa and call this my evening meal. I went for a short walk up the street at night and saw a brilliant T shirt with the words ‘ for a minute there you almost bored me to death’ – loved it but they hadn’t got my size!
25/1/13 – I get up at 8am to havebrakfast at 9 and my taxi to the airport at 10. It is ‘spare the air day’ in SF – no burning fires or bonfires and I thought perhaps no farting might help too! The sky is a Dali blue and as I say goodbye to SF I am thankful the weather was so good to me. Back in Vancouver by 3.05pm and I get a taxi back to ‘home’. We all go for our evening meal at the Foundation cafe/restaurant with amazing veggie food. A perfect end to a perfect week! How lucky am I?

This is taking me quite a while to catch up on so I will try to restrain myself from rabbiting on! The ducks are coming and going and I believe they are checking the place outand warning offany potential compettion. I have high hopes for the Spring!
Well day 3 in SF was rainy so I decided on a under cover, rather than walking in the rain. I hailed a taxi on Haight St outsidemy hotel and asked him to take me to Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers. It is a wonderfull Victorian building with wonderful plants, including a cocoa tree and many splendid orchids, They also had a little display of the gold rush and the Barbary Coast. I left there and walked through part of the park to catch a bus to the Golden Gate bridge. Got there to take a very atmospheric picture ofthe bridge. Using my $2 ticket I then got on a bus again and went to fisherman’s wharf. this was becoming one of my favourite places. As it is crab season I had to partake of this delight. So, I went to Joe’s Crab Shack – Peace, Love and Crabs here! Think what you will! I had a chat with Jason, my waiter and decided on a Queen Crab in a bucket – easiest to get the meat out. He put me a bib on – yes must of thought I was a messy eater! – and gave me a set of weapons of mass destruction to attack this poor crab, In the bucket was the crab, broken into legs and body, potatoes in jackets and a corn on the cob, I was given melted butter to pour over it. Well, what feast! I had a pint of lager followed by another with my desert of carrot cake with caramel drizzled over it! My eyes were bigger than my belly and the cake had to be ‘to go’ please! As I was sitting there with my favourite view of the marina I started to watch a man sittingnext to a waste bin holding what looked like 2 bushes in front of him. As people walked along he would open the bushes and go “Boo!”. People jumped and laughed. Very few gave him money. Jason told me he was ‘the bush man’ number 2 – copying a longstanding bush man who had done this for years. Takes all sorts as they say. There were many beggars of one sort or another here, so sad to see them going through wastebins and eating food people had thrown away. When the bush man packed up as it grew dark, I noticed he had a walking frame which saddened me even more, I paid my bill and went to get on the trolley bus home. I was in early but glad I could relax and rest my leg on the bed. Tomorrow I had booked my city hop on hop off bus tour of the city. My last full day.

I left pier 33 afte rthe trip and as only 2.30pm I got myself a bicycle rickshaw with ‘James’ along to piers 43/44. I was in need of refreshment so went into Castagnola’s for a couple of vodka tonics with a lovely view of the marina and all the boats there.
As I was walking along I was sucked into a boat trip around the Alcatraz island and with a view of the Golden Gate bridge. It was after 4pm when we set off and the weather was cooling down along with the sea breeze and I had to put my woolly hat on for the first time since I’ve been here! There were many sea birds along the docks but the brown pelicans were the attraction for me – last seen on Galapagos islands! It was only $10 so for me a bargain, as my rickshaw drive was $10 too! Still, the price you have to pay for a gammy leg! It was after 5pm when we got back so I walked along a bit lookingat the shops and stands and decided I fancied some fish and chips – very British eh! The fish here is amazingly fresh, especially cod, my favourite. So, I went to Tarantino’s – don’t think owned by the film director but as I feel as if I am on a film set, it seemed fitting. I pushed the boat out (as it were!) with a sparkling wine starter, followed by fish and chips with the amazing sour dough bread they have here, followed by a dessert of white wine. Lovely. I sat looking at the harbour as the sun went down and Fisherman’s wharf gradually lit up. Bliss! I went along to the F trolley bus – amazing all wood fittings and seats, and set off ‘home’. You pay $2 and this can be used for up to 4 hours on any bus or trolley. I changed for a number 79 bus which dropped me off on the corner by the Red Victorian. I was late in – 8.45pm! but the night manager made me a camomile tea to take up to my summer of love room. (cafe in B&B closes 8pm), Exhausted and happy I went to sleep early knowing I didn’t have to put the alarm on for breakfast! What a civilised place it was!

i

The tour was well done, taking you stepby step around the prison giving you the prisoners and the guards views on life in there.
I especially liked it that the real men were talking – perhaps as part of an interview as the prison came to close in 1963?
they did the soundsof the cell doors closing and the inmates shouting and rattling their tin mugs on the bars, Very atmospheric and chilling! Each corridor was given a street type name such as Broadway. The cells were so small when we saw the first ones that I couldn’t imagine where the bed went. Further on I realised that a seat pulled down from the wall on one side of the cell and the bed pulled down from the opposite wall. I reckon the cells were about 8 foot by 4 foot to include toilet (I use the word loosely!), sink, shelf,bed and seat. Al ‘scar face’ Capone and Robert Stroud – ‘the bird man of Alcatraz’ were just a couple of the inmates here. Stroud’s story in the film was somewhat poetic license as he never had birds or fed birds in Alcatraz – he had canaries in Leavenworth Jail where he studied birds too. Might be usefulfor a qiuz question one time! There was one successful escape by 4 inmateswho were never heard of again – some say they were drowned, others that they were in Mexico. There was a rather nasty attempt at a break out where a prisoner shot 3 or 4 guards they had locked in a cell, in cold blood. Needless to say reinforcements in largenumbers cameand shot them, I have a photo of some of the bullet holes that were left after this attempt. They were subject to a strict regime and only the well behaved got priveleges like being ableto go outside for games or just to walk. By the time we reached this outside area I was keen to get out for a breather! Most of the cells were 3 high and the most coveted ones were those that got the sun. The opposite to these were the ones for solitary confinement after a misdemeanour – the ‘hole’ really small, no bed and often in the dark for up to 19 days. And it was pitch black, awful. Still they shouldn’t have murdered people should they? One of the guards who lived there said they still didn’t lock their doors at night! I came out thinking what an awful place it was but the conditions were apparently quite good as far as prisons went – but regulation 5 says it all – You are entitled to food, medical attention, shelter and clothing, anything else you get is a privilege. Good boys could use the library and many did in depth studies. What a life! I was back atthe landing just over 2 hours from setting off. Thankgoodness!

The temperature was 10 degrees with blue skies and and sunny when I arrived and I saw thisas a sign – I had brought too many warm clothes! There were quite a few people,young and old on Haight St as I took a walk to get my bearings. These people were homeless, often with a dog – one guy had a dog with sunglasses on – groovy dog eh? They were all friendly and did not ask for money.Apparently homelssnessisa bigproblem in SF and cafes etc, give reductions topeople working the street, as they call it here. There are quite a few artists and performers all trying to earn a crust.
On my way back down the other side of the street I was tempted into a small coffee shop by the ‘ try our mochas’ sign. Once in I was lost and had to buy a pain au chocolait – warm! – too. $7.95 – about 5 pounds. It was obvious that things were cheaper here than Canada. I was tired after getting up at 4.30 so retired early to the summer of love room. I had to get used to Gi Gi Brown who sat at the top of the stairs. Although only a life size doll, she made me jump for the first couple of days until I got into the habit of saying ‘Hi’ to her. Despite an intermittant noise that sounds like someone moaning the room was quite and Islept well.
I was booked to goto Alcatraz the next day so put my alarm on for 9.30 – breakfast was very civilised each day from 9 to rest of day up to 8pm! I took a taxi to the boat landing at pier 33 ($25). Again, blessed with good weather I sat out at the front of the boat on the top deck (oh the knees!) the trip only took about 25 minutes to Alcatraz and Icould see the Bay bridge and then the Golden Gate bridge. On the way out I also saw lots of brown pelicans amongst the gulls – wonderful! Having landed I waited for the ‘seatcatraz’ to take me up to the prison – a sort of golf buggy with a few ‘coaches’ to take less able people up what would be the likes of a climb up a 13 storey building. I was sensible wasn’t I?! On the way up we could see the gardens that were being kept up by the national park but were first started by the guard’s families who lived in staff quarters on the island. There were irises, lilies and narssis anongst other flowers that were in flower. Amazing at this time of year.Once at the top I walked into the prison and was given my headphones for the guided tour..more later!

As there as been a lull in my blog whilst I was enjoying myself in San Francisco I thought I’d better keep the duck lovers up to date with how I found things just before I left Vancouver and just as I got back! I know that is all you are reading this blog for! Well just before I left there were 5, yes 5 ducks on the pond! The household had a discussion and Jane really felt that these were the children of the couple who had produced the babies (well, ducklings if we are to give them their correct name) last year. There were 2 female and 3 males. I went away puzzled I can tell you! When I got back yesterday afternoon there were 3 ducks – 2 male and a female – I immediately jumped to conclusions – Evelyn is a fluesy!(not sure how to spell this). BUT, today I have looked closely at the drakes (yes getting technical now!) and I believe one of them is a juvenille – a son of Evelyn and Walter. So, all is ok thanks goodness.
I arrived in San Fran or SF as I shall call it from now on for ease on fingers, at 11am on Monday 21st and waited for my bag – had to pay $25 each way to put my bag in hold – now realise what an idiot I was as could have taken it as cabin luggage. Any way I digress. I went to ask for the cheapest way to get to my hotel – well bed and breakfast and Peace Center (I find the americans can’t spell) – and was told the ‘shared ride van’ was the best way at a flat $17. When he had enough people the driver set off and dropped us off as he went around SF. I checked into the Red Victorian on Haight St and promptly ordered a ‘California Dreamin’ sandwich (turkey, lettuce, quacamole, jalapeno and piccalli – scrummy!). The Beatles were singing ‘All you need is love’ and I was in heaven. I found I knew the words to all the songs they played including Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’. Wonderful place for music! Next stop was the Aquarium toilet (or bathroom as they call it here) – complete with fish tank as systen – when I pulled the flush I was shocked to see the water go down – what happens to the fish? ! ! – phew! The tank is inside the systen! Ingenius! I then went to my room – ‘The summer of love’ room. Oh boy was this going to be an interesting stay!

Yes folks Evelyn and Walter are back! Must have been on a short break as I suspected. They definately look as if they are getting closer as Walter is no longer frolicking whilst Evelyn sits on the rock. I have taken a photograph of them but as I rely on the IT skills of Simon and Rowan they will be a few days behind the blog. I expect you have realised but if you click on the pictures they go to screen size for better viewing!
The Citizenship tests seem to have gone ok. They now have to wait for their results (of written and oral tests) in 3-5 months and then they all (including Josh) have to go together to swear allegiance to whoever(?the queen). so that was the exciting start to the day. Along with this I was up at the crack of dawn with them and saw the most amazing sunrise with silouetted – Mt Baker in the distance (all rosy – beautiful). Jane dropped me off on Pender at the bank so that I could cash the last of my travellers cheques – money goes whooosh! here! I came back on the bus and went to see ‘Lincoln’ with Daniel Day Lewis – wonderful performance! I am really enjoying having a cinema across the road and the opportunity to see some lovely films. I saw Les Miserables on Tuesday – what an epic blockbuster/emotional roller coaster film it was! Also loved ‘Silver linings playbook’ – I’m in love with Bradley Cooper. Off on a chocolate making course tonight with Jane – no end to the excitement here!

Jane had a day off today so we on a girls day out. We went to get me a clock for my mantlepiece at home, as a Christmas present from all here; silly thing to do as they don’t have clocks for mantlepieces and it would be a bind getting it home. Anyway, we bought a coat for Jane and a jacket for me on 4th (avenue – but they just say 4th) at a shop called ‘Blue Sky’ and a top and pashmina for Jane. Jane bought me a first nations scarf in magenta and a couple of other colours- wonderful! For my birthday in March she said! Saves the postage! I got a few ‘goodies’ for family and friends on Granville island – open today! It was lovely to have a chance to sit and chat over coffee – well tea mostly – a rare thing for us as sisters.
Consternation on the duck front! No sitings since Sunday. Is this significant or are they just off on a city break? I will keep you posted. Must pack for San Francisco – well start to as I will need time to make sure I have thought of all I need.
Jane and Simon are testing each other as they go to do their citizen test in the morning – fingers crossed! Jane and I are going on a chocolate making course tomorrow night – I will learn off by heart Philippa and make sure you know when I get back! Saturday we are going for a Phase Ten evening with some of Josh’s friend’s parents. Met them New years eve. Quite cold but a bit warmer today compared with what looks like very cold snap at home!

What an exciting, wonderful time I had in Victoria with Sam (Jane’s eldest) and Karin, his partner. I flew there on a sea plane and I had a ball on the trip over as the pilot, when I asked which side to sit for the best views, invited me to sit in the cockpit with him! I wore headphones, like him and had a microphone attached so that i could speak to pilot and listen to ground control news as we went along – and up! We were 1000 feet and it was a fantastic sunny ,cold, crisp day with amazing views! We hit clouds at times but these were wonderful too. It was a 35 minute trip and I felt like a child! I was complimented on my co-pilot skills as we got off the plane! Sam was there to meet me and we went back to their house for a tea and see their lovely home – now equipped with a yoga studio for Karin (she teaches yoga) with a magnificent wooden floor made by Sam – I was well impressed! He then took me on a scenic drive along the coast and up to Mount Douglas. We drove most of the way and then Sam helped me up a path to the summit, where we had a 360 degree view of Victoria, including mount Baker which is over the US border – impressive! It wasn’t Everest but we were pretty high up. Snowdon seems a hill compared to the mountains here. We then picked Karin up from her yoga class and went to Spinnakers for lunch, a lovely wooden pub with views of the harbour and the seaplanes coming in. I met a waiter whose mother lives in Tal Y Bont, just up the road from me in Colwyn Bay! It’s a small world as they say! Sam just drove a short way to sit a few minutes to look at the harbour as we left and to our surprise a seagull landed on the car bonnet. Sam put the windscreen washer on but the bird didnot move! So we set off to go with bird on bonnet – no movement! By this time passers by were taking pictures and laughing with us as we went up the road! He decided to take his leave as we turned right! I was then taken to Fisherman’s Wharf to see 4 seals being fed fish by some families – the man selling the small fish was doing a roaring trade! The seals seem to be almost tame jumping up to snatch the fish surprising the children somewhat! The herring gulls were into this ritual as well swooping down to grab the fish – one knocked me on the head on his descent to the fish! We had a look at the moored houses around the marina with some for sale. I am tempted! They buy them and then have to pay mooring fees but each one has character with different decorations on the walls and decking etc. Fancy living with the Pacific underneath you! We checked me in to Trutch Manor with Sharon, a Morticia in black leggings but very friendly, and dropped Sam off for a while as Karin took me on a tour of the shops and Chinatown. We went to warm up at a place called Rebar – Modern Food with a Winter Zinger (pure apple cider- non alcoholic-ginger, lemon and cinnamon) for me and a Lady Bug (apple cider, cranberry and ginger) for Karin, heated like a punch. Delicious! There was just enough time for me to have an hour’s break before going out for a meal at Ferris’s Oyster Bar – yummy! We ended the evening in the Hotel Chateau Victoria’s Vista 18 bar on the 16th or 17th floor(could have been 18th as name suggests!) with night views over Victoria and a jazz band playing! Fab! I slept well and had a very civilised breakfast at Sharon’s house across the road – dining room like something out of Hollywood movie – log fire, Christmas decorations in abundance and old fashioned china cups and saucers for my amazing tea. I didn’t like to say she would be unlucky being so late taking all the decs down so late! She was now planning decs for Valentine’s day! Lovely experience. Sam, Karin and I decide to have morning coffee at the Empress hotel which overlooks the harbour and is the most elegant old English style place. They let us in the resident’s dining room and we sat next to the fire having crabcake eggs benedict (Sam/Karin) and grapefruit with honey (me) and large pot of tea and never ending cups of coffee for Sam. Bliss! Time to go so we dropped Karin off for Yoga (big hugs) and Sam drove me to the ferry. We got there just in time and I got on as a foot passenger – bit of a long walk! I am slowly uploading photos so these will come. If you click on pictures they will enlarge. Easy week now before San Francisco next week! I feel so lucky to be here with Jane and Simon, they are really looking after me and I am having a restful time. Ducks are sitting on different rock now – is this significant I ask? I think the snowfall may deter any egg laying at the moment but need to find out the gestation period for the eggs. Apparently, the ducklings (6 last year) practice flying round the pond much to everyone’s amusement! Shall I stay to see this or will Simon get a camera set up? We shall see!

t=”150″ class=”size-thumbnail wp-image-223″ />[/caption]