The Ouseys in Victoria Page

Since my Birthday followed Father's day, it was a pleasant week for me. I was feted, and gifted and I enjoyed every minute of it. Particularly since Catherine came over for a couple of days to help me celebrate. She arrived on my Birthday with, of all things, a Jeannie cake. Those of you from Winnipeg and in the know, know that Jeannie cakes are an old Winnipeg tradition. Both Carolyn and I remember having them for Birthdays and special occasions when we were kids. Not one trip to Winnipeg since have we missed the opportunity to have a Jeannie cake. Catherine just happened to have a friend visiting Vancouver from Winnipeg, who was kind enough to bring one with him. Thank you very much. I had just said to Mom the day before, "no Jeannie cake this year". They are very delicious, and, well, tradition is tradition after all.

It was a two birthday cake year. Thursday the kids were over along with Sue and John Hutchins and Sue brought a DQ ice cream cake, and that was very welcomed and delicious too. I got a Panasonic Lumix 12X Zoom camera from Carolyn. I don't have a clue how she knew I wanted one of those! Camera case, boots, Blizzard gift certificate, many cards and emails too, thanks to everyone. In particular thanks to Catherine for coming over from Vancouver.

I'll just have to do this again next year.

In other news. David and Tena bought a house in Colwood. They are very excited about it, even though it has been a stressful time for them, with the purchase process complicated by CIBC screwing up the mortgage arrangements. Fortunately there were alternative financing options so all is working out. They will take possession and move mid-August.

TTTN - Ta ta and Peace.

This past Saturday was Chelsea's Grad Prom and she was all decked out in her gown and we all headed to the Royal Roads Gardens to take some pictures.

She looked so beautiful in her dress as can be witnessed to the left.

Of course proud Momma and Grand momma were there too. I placed some of my pictures on my online web album found here. I added them to the ones still there of the grad ceremony. Just click on Chelsea's picture.

She apparently had a grand time that night, at least between the times that she struggled to keep herself in the dress. lol.

Here you can see Mom enjoying the "warm weather" in Victoria. Hmmmm, well it was sunny, but a cool breeze kept her bundled up. We visited the Cridge centre Senior Housing and Steven Baird took us on a tour and as expected she liked enough to put in an application, so now it's a waiting game.

Lyn took Moi out for Father's day breakfast at John's place, a popular spot downtown Victoria. Good thing she made reservations as the place was overflowing with those waiting. Breakfast was great and we had a nice chance for some one on one father-daughter bonding. Noni was over later in the day with gifts and hugs, phone calls from David and a nice steak dinner rounded out a very pleasant day. And, as tradition has it, I washed the car.

Well that's it from Chilly Victoria.

Ta Ta and Peace.

CONGRATULATIONS CHELSEA!
Noni, John, Stephen, Carolyn and I attended Chelsea's High School graduation and it was terrific. The Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Demmings was hilarious, as was the Valedictorian, each could easily have his own show on TV. It made the process of a grad much less tedious as they sometimes can be. The keynote speaker was excellent and the whole 3 hours went by fairly quickly. Of course many pictures were taken. I will put out an album on my PicasaWeb site soon. That evening Carolyn and I joined 3 of the graduate's families for a celebratory dinner at the Fireside Grill, which was very enjoyable and even more pictures were taken, go figure. We are all very proud of our Girl. Well done.

Mom is settling in fine. Our careful preparation were rewarded as Mother finds that she is quite comfy. Our second TV is identical to the one she had in Winnipeg with the same remote so she found that handy. She can take it with her when she moves to her own place. Speaking of which, we have been discussing various places and though we haven't seen any yet she is quite intrigued with the Cridge Centre, which is the one we think she should attempt to get into. We will be seeing it this week. There is no hurry as she has to be resident in BC before being assessed. There is a possibility that she can move in there and pay the full shot, while waiting for a subsidized suite. In any event it will keep it slow and make sure she gets into a place she likes.
She is getting more phone calls than we are. So family and friends from Winnipeg are keeping in touch with her and that is good.

The motor home required some detailing after the Winnipeg trip, we are still finding good old Saskatchewan dust in the darnedest places. However it is sparkling now, and this afternoon it goes for a windshield rock chip repair, caused by a Canadian Tire Semi, zipping by us on the trans-Canada Highway. After which we can return it to the storage area. Our neighbour Joyce, a wonderful ex-Winnipeger, has had our Rig in her driveway since we have been back. It is handy having it near to do the work, but time to get it out of her way.

In two days, the 14th, it would have been Dennis' 60th birthday. Our thoughts will be Catherine, Margot, Mom, and Jack, that day as we remember him. I agree with Catherine that reading some of his old blog entries is like hearing from him and laughing with him again.

Gone but not forgotten.

Ta Ta and Peace.

Well Mom, Carolyn and I just enjoyed catching up with the Prairie Crocus Blog. I have finally put her blog on my notification service so I won't miss anymore. She writes a wonderful blog and it so nice to see that she is enjoying Vancouver so much. Such a handywoman too, great job on the bookcase. You can link to her blog on the right; its a good read.

Ciao and Peace.

We are home, and Mom didn't fall off the roof once, though it was tricky at the underpasses. lol. Really she travelled and slept well. She insisted on using the fold out bed, mainly because the bedroom bed was too high and she had difficulty getting into and out of it. In any event she enjoyed the trip and the scenery, particularly the Rockies, one of the 52 finalist for the 7 Wonders of Canada and in my opinion should be one of the final 7. See the link to see the nominees.

We have been unpacking her stuff and our stuff and it is all a blur currently. However, it will all come out in the wash in a couple of days.

Tony and Ann had us over for dinner, last night, it was his birthday a couple of days ago so we celebrated and went to see Spiderman 3. The meal was wonderful, the movie so-so, I don't think there will be a Spiderman 4. They got to meet Mom, however, she and Carolyn didn't go to the show, smart ladies.

The weather was cool for most of the trip back and all the time in Winnipeg, although Winnipeg thumbed its nose at us by being sunny and warm the day we left. We got back to a nice sunny and warm weekend here.

Well back to settling in. TTFN

ta ta and peace.