Another Christmas

The holiday season is a time to visit and spend time with family and friends.

There's lots to celebrate with all the food and drink and gifts.

For many it is a happy time. 

We celebrated the season in two cities, first with some of my Mother's family on the Island and then travelling to Edmonton to be with our children and Keith's family.

When we returned I read some letters to the Editor of the local paper written by people whose parents were without work in the 1930's and 1940's and the stockings would have been empty had it not been for some kind souls. 

As I read these letters I was thankful that our children could never imagine a Christmas without all the trimmings but sad knowing that these stories are not just in the past, many families and children in Canada are still without even the basic needs in life. 

What can those of us who have so much do to help those who have so little? 

Our time with our family is over for another Christmas and I am sad, I miss our children.

But I am wondering what I can do, beyond my annual charitable giving, to ensure all people have a blessed Holiday Season and a bright future in 2017.

Juxtaposition

In my previous blog I reflected on the changes in the lives of black people I witnessed since I was last in Louisiana 30 years ago.  No longer were blacks only working in marginalized jobs or begging on the street but now they were integrated into all areas of society.

How things have changed in three days! I am very worried. 

What will an American President, elected and fueled by the hatred of white people who deeply resent those who are different - be it colour, gender, culture preference or belief - mean for these people and all of us?  

Due to the work of so many, over the past four decades all Americans have come to enjoy increased freedom and the benefits that come with it.  Now I am horrified to hear that some people are “hiding in the shadows”!

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada where we wear poppies and attend ceremonies in honour of those who fought for our freedom in the wars.

My father in law, Ray Lowe, fought in World War 2.  A Canadian of Chinese descent who was born in the city in which I reside – Victoria – he went to war at a time when Chinese Canadians did not have the right to vote and had paid a head tax to immigrate to Canada.  Yet Ray risked his life for Canadians.  His and so many others’ unselfish service to Canada and the world allows us to live in a peaceful democracy enjoying freedom of speech and a high level of equality for all people.  

In my lifetime I have seen how far we have come - advancing equity and human rights and freedoms. As a woman I have personally benefited. 

I will do whatever I can to defend these freedoms and not let things slip backwards into a past no one should experience… anywhere. 

The Big Easy

I just returned from a business trip to New Orleans, Louisiana also known as "The Big Easy!" 

I was there once before, 31 years ago!  I'd attended the International Special Olympics in Baton Rouge and a nice couple took a car load of us down to New Orleans for the evening.  

Life was different then, especially the circumstances the blacks lived in.  

The disparity was evident during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina catastrophe when the delays to act and rescue people cost many of the poor their lives. My hotel was right beside the Superdome where people stayed. 

Although some things have changed, some have stayed the same, college football is still the focus for many - 4 games were played this weekend.

Louis Armstrong's music lives on, Pat O'Brien's is still churning out "Hurricanes" and people are singing along with the dueling pianos.

Music is wonderful - great jazz and blues in clubs and on the street. 

Even music from the steam organ on the paddle wheel which serenaded us walking by the "Mighty Mississippi" River! 

Mardi Gras Beads are everywhere! 


People are still lined up to eat Beignets at Cafe du Monde. 

The old city has its charm and spicy Cajun food.

Hundreds of different kinds of hot sauce! 







We saw some of the remnants of the hurricane, empty lots and a couple of large hotels remain vacant.  But renewal and rebuilding is happening and the people have not lost their indomitable spirit! 

The Pinnacles

As the summer has turned to fall, in Australia the winter is turning to spring. I am reminiscing our trip to Western Australia and one of the most amazing sights we visited - the Pinnacles.

We drove down a road not far from the ocean and there they were. Fields of these tree like limestone formations. There was an eery quiet, almost like a graveyard despite people milling around them.

No one knows exactly how they formed and until the 1960's people camped among them and climbed them.  They are now protected in what has become Nambung National Park.  

We stayed nearby in the town of Cervantes and visited them at sunset and then not having seen enough, again, the next morning.  You can see why.

The Spectacular Rockies!

I have been a member of the Women of Rock, a group of 20 or so women who get together every summer to hike in the beautiful Alberta Rockies.

I joined the group in 2005 and have hiked every year except for the last two years.

We started off hiking into huts high in the mountains. The first year we hiked into Stanley Mitchell Hut in Yoho, a several hour slog with everything we needed to eat and wear on our backs. We have hiked into Skokie Lodge, the Skyline Trail in Jasper, Kokanee Mountain and I even took my first helicopter trip (to save my legs for the day hikes) into Mount Assiniboine, hiking out through Sunshine Ski Resort.

This year I decided to seize the opportunity and join the group again. Because of the ages and stages of the group members we stayed in Canmore at the Alpine Club of Canada Hut to which you can drive into. Things have changed a little.

Nevertheless we did three hikes over three days, warming up with Barrier Lake and the Fire Road, Pocaterra Ridge which was a full day hike high up,  and Johnson Lake which was a nice warm down.

Barrier Lake from the top of the Fire Road Lookout 

Here are some memorable photos.

The hikers ready to tackle Pocaterra Ridge 

Pocaterra Ridge

Me on the ridge 

Lichen on the rocks high up on the ridge 

It amazes me the flowers that survive the harsh alpine environment

The view from the Lodge - The Three Sisters at sunset


A nice end to a wonderful trip.  

I was a little sore the day after the hikes but it was nice to recuperate at my daughter Andrea's house in Edmonton.

Daughters

I just had a wonderful 3 weeks of visits with my daughters.

The end of June was Stefanie's school break.  She came to Victoria for a visit and brought her boyfriend Cody who is from Oregon.  Although he has traveled the world he had never been to Canada!

Cody and Stef on top of Mt. Douglas

A couple of weeks later, Andrea flew to Victoria for a visit and to travel with us to Portland.  She and I spent a day in Port Angeles, Washington, a ferry ride on the other side of the Straight of Juan de Fuca.

At Hurricane Ridge

Salt Creek Beach

"Purple Haze" at the Sequim Lavender Festival 

While in Portland we attended Stefanie's 'Pinning Ceremony' where she received her lab coat and the school pin which signifies that she can now practice chiropractic under supervision.  We were all thrilled for her but more for us...she adjusted each of us for the first time.  It felt great!

Getting help from her Professor with her lab coat. 

Stefanie with Andrea, Keith and I  - her supporters! 

Delicious Mexican food at Por Que No? 

But it wouldn't be Portland without eating at food trucks, the infamous Voodoo Donuts; visiting all the funky places and of course brunch!

Brunch at Helser's

 It was a great trip and we all had so much fun!

Jason flew in to Victoria for a few days at the end of Andrea's visit. Here they are a Butchart's Gardens - beautiful.

Back to the Outback

In the meantime between my blogs other parts of life have been taking over.

Good parts like my daughter Stefanie and her boyfriend visiting us for a fun week of being tourists in our town and enjoying the south island scenery.

And the not so great parts.  Our renovation is running a month overdue so we had to move to a hotel for a week.   Now we're back in the house dodging tradesmen and inhaling paint dust!

So let's escape back to the Outback.

Instead of campgrounds Australia has Caravan Parks where you can camp or rent a cottage like we did.

Our home away from home.

There is a common area with access to BBQs and picnic tables to enjoy "shrimp on the barbie". 

 And you may meet wildlife -  lots of Kangaroos and Emus.

It's a great retreat with a glass of delicious Australian wine after a long day in the searing heat.

They've arrived!

As you know I am part of a group that sponsored a refugee family from Syria.

I am so happy to tell you that the family arrived in Victoria last night.

I can't send the photos of their arrival to protect their privacy but I can tell you that they are a happy, grateful, friendly group of people.  Despite travelling a long way, from Turkey to Toronto to Victoria, they were energetic with high spirits.

The family includes three young children, their parents, aunt and grandmother.

We rented, furnished and decorated a townhouse for them.  They won't want for anything for a while!
The family will live in the townhouse.  The grandmother and her youngest daughter will live with her young Canadian husband in his apartment in Victoria.

You can imagine how happy he is to have his new wife here at last.

Members of his family will help the family get settled.

It's been a seven month journey with a happy outcome.

The Red Continent

As we traveled north the Gum trees got smaller, 

Rivers were dry as a bone.  Yet despite the drought flowers survived and bloomed.

Towns were few and far between.  

We would stop at the occasional Road House for refreshments and a break in the searing heat.  






Gas was the most expensive we have ever encountered.

One of the few sights was these giant, hard Termite nests.  They would appear every now and again, hundreds of them like haystacks in a farmer's field.

We saw herds of feral goats and sheep and the occasional cow.  We saw many kangaroos...all dead on the side of the road.

The red dust of Australia got everywhere.