Memory

Lakes and Lagoons
Butchart Gardens
Elk and Beaver

What else did we do in Canada? - well, amongst other things we attended the Battle of the Atlantic Commemoration Service.

My beautiful god-daughter Boo was in the parade with her sea scout troop so there was no way we were missing this event!

Attended by proud veterans,
the Canadian Navy, the US Submariners, and the Navy Cadets this was a touching service to the honour of the Canadian servicemen lost during the longest battle of World War Two.

Bringing up the rear was a small troop of determined children, polished and cleaned to within an inch of their lives - stubbornly marching to the beat.

This is the image that sums up the morning - RESPECT...(Boo is second from right)

My mother summed up my thoughts about Boo when she said 'that girl is a credit to her Ma!'.......

cq

All About Racing for Life....

Cyberkitten photographed some of the essence of Race for Life....
Arriving at the venue - Lydiard Park, just outside Swindon...
3,000 women gathered, with husbands and families......spot cq!

The cadets were there to help out - dish out water, watch the course and dole out medals.

There were Faeries..........

and Runaway Brides.....

It is a time to remember....

loved ones.......

People we love and admire...
The course can be run..........

...or walked......

Open to anyone - as long as they are female.....
At the venue, there was a wall to post our thoughts, memories and loved ones.......

Hot and bothered........But I did it.......!

If you still want to donate to Cancer Research, feel free to click on the donation button in my sidebar and spend some worthy money.....

cq

14 June 2008

Today is Race for Life Day.........

I am number 3119 :-)
Thank you to all those, home and far away, who sponsored me, or donated to Cancer Research UK in my name.

I'll make you proud :-)

If you haven't yet sponsored me or donated, feel free to click on the donation button in my sidebar and spend some worthy money.....

cq

Elk and Beaver and Goldstream

Canada 1 here

Canada 2 here

While we were driving from A to B outside Victoria, I was struck by a sign - not physically, obviously....but the sign begged me to go have a look.

So in the pouring rain we visited Elk and Beaver Lake - just so I could say I had seen 'Elk and Beaver Lake'.......it's the name, it's so...Canadian!

See? Sooooooo cool.....So we nipped down to have a look.........

It was a wonderful serene place in the rain, the only activity a couple of kayakers.....

I looked to the left and there was a stand of magnficent pine trees..........

I looked to the right and a weeping tree grew into the water as if part of it's essence.

Another place we stopped was Goldstream Park - we actually went to a lookout point where we could see right across the Park.......

Hundreds of square miles of beautiful peaceful lake set in a magnificent park - and one lone sail boat.........

Breathtaking....

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life this month.

cq

Butchart Gardens

While in Victoria, we spent a long morning at Butchart Gardens - it could easily have been a whole day except it absolutely hacked it down with rain all day...

A little something from the Butchart Gardens website - illustrated with some of cyberkitten's fabulous photos..... "The Butchart Gardens is one of the world's premier floral show gardens.

Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences.

An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history.

Through successive generations of the Butchart family, The Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays."

This is the seed nursery, where the baby plants are raised and cared for ready for planting out.

I was drawn to this wonderful fountain in the former quarry - it's called Ross Fountain! 'My' fountain! Isn't it spectacular!?! Hidden delights in the Japanese garden......How about some idea how wet it was? Here's Boo on her favourite stepping stones, 'vogue-ing' for cyberkitten, complete with Mum's jacket and the umbrella provided by the Gardens (excellent idea, btw!).More another time....

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life this month.

cq

Canada 1

[author's note; some 350 photos were taken in Canada, so I have made a small selection for viewing here.]

Wow, is it really three weeks since I got back from Canada? cyberkitten and I went on a trip to revisit one of our dearest friends who emigrated with her daughter. They live in Victoria, BC and we haven't seen them since they emigrated five years ago.

On the first couple of days we were taken on a whistle-stop tour of some of the most beautiful lakes and lagoons I have ever seen.

Equimalt Lagoon, deserted and oh so peaceful...

Thetis Lake, glimpsed through the trees, the new up and coming leisure resort...

'Chosin Lagoon - Boo finds anything to play with....

Vancouver Island is a sea of lakes. It's safe to say we fell in love with the place from the moment the island loomed out of the mist.

While at 'Chosin we noticed a small sign for a local pottery, so we called in. A potter named Robin Hopper has made his home in the woods of Chosin, producing the most beautiful pottery and, in his spare time, designing and landscaping a wonderful Japanese garden. I bought a most beautiful fruit bowl and silentmum surprised me with a mug in the same design - which I use constantly!

The Japanese garden was full of hidden treats - porcelain doves, sculpted bullrushes, tree men, wolves and pots and lanterns. We were stunned by the beautiful fake stream with fish Robin had made in the Japanese garden.

And, of course, Boo was ready for her close-up.........anytime.........

More another day.

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life in June.

cq

Busy, Busy....

Non-stop at the moment, what with Canada, then new kitten, then Italy, then back to work, and now rushing to clean kit for Caerphilly Castle.....

So, some pictures for your delectation and delight.....

The three of us together again after 5 years of separation......

All of us waiting to go whale watching - and yes, we saw a whale.....Pender was his name!

And finally - me in my new 'summer' frock in the rainy Italian field.....with John and Tim keeping an eye on the 14C stove....

I'll be around, but busy until next week....

cq

Drench Brains

I laughed out loud when I saw this - it's SO clever!! :-)

Enjoy!

cq

Curveball

Sometimes you're just trucking along, getting back into the swing of work after an overseas holiday, preparing for a weekend in 14C Italy, quickly sewing up a new re-enactment dress (nice yellow now I'm not a filthy peasant!)......and you get a late night phonecall with a plea for help...

and life serves you a curveball.....

Say hello to the curveball......

Little man has no name - MB and I are disagreeing; I suggested William, he suggested Amos...........so at the moment he's just a kittycat.

He's about a year or younger, still got his baby teeth - and all his equipment (if ya'all know what I mean.....). And he is very sweet. When he's [ahem] done, he's going to be a lovely pet. He's a stray and very skinny. Off to the V.E.T with him as soon as possible!

But - well, he is a very pretty cat - and kisses nice......

And in case you're wondering - Charlie is rather bemused but not horrified.

cq

Don't forget to visit my Race for Life page and sponsor me! See my sidebar.

Calling all Blogpals, Friends and Passersby!!

This will stay at the top of my blog until after the weekend - watch this space for more Canada news next week!

It's that time of year again. This information will also remain in my sidebar until after the Race.

My teddy bear Mac and I will be taking part in the 2008 Race for Life, to help raise money to continue the research into cancer and the chances of finding a cure.

Read about my 2007 Race here.

Everyone, everywhere is touched by cancer, be it family and friends or celebrity, in one form or another.

Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s flagship event that has grown to become the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event. Whether one chooses to walk, jog or run the 5k course, the events are an inspirational day out with family and friends.

In 2007 665,000 women were brought together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise £40 million pounds for Cancer Research UK – the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research.

Click on the link to find out more about Race for Life and who takes part.
And here to learn more about Cancer Research UK and the vital work that they do.

Click on the counter in my sidebar to sponsor me to complete the Race for Life on June 14th 2008 - or just to donate to this worthy cause.

My fundraising has been kicked off by Naomi in the Hills with a generous donation!

The more money I am pledged, the faster I will walk! Please help – every pound, dollar and euro counts.

Thank you - from me, from the women and from the families.

cq

Jetlag...

After a long journey home and a car breakdown which added two hours onto a very tiring trip, I just went to sleep when I got home...

Now its 3am and jetlag is keeping me up!

My brains feel like....
I have heard that cyberkitten is also up and about at this ridiculous hour....
perhaps he is sorting through the 350 photographs we took between us!

cq