Happy Birthday!

Crikey, 14 today! So here is something suitably daft from You Tube to mark the occasion:



Actually, I really wanted to post this:



oh and this:



But then, maybe my sense of humour is just very British?!

I hope that you are having a fantastic day and that you enjoy your present (when it arrives)!

Valentine's Week at Camp

We have established a new camp tradition! There are clues on the table...

Valentine's Week!

Campers decided that romance should be given higher priority. After all, doesn't the thought of Valentine's Day remind one of trying to eat a single kernel of popcorn?

We didn't manage to use all of the firewood, but gave it a good try. However, we did consume all of the Prosecco, Champagne, and all but polished off the Chardonnay.

G brought sunshine to Vancouver! We could actually see the water and mountains at the same time during the drive back from Whistler. We could walk on the beach.

Together, we diligently foraged the surrounds for food and managed to come up with a nice Halibut recipe, and 'Oysters Gabrielle', which will we would be delighted to serve if you want to visit camp. It wasn't just a holiday you know. G noted a few 50% off signs here and there and did a little shopping. We picked up a few things to make camp cozier, and yes, there was yarn too... We spent time with friends. G even heard a good bear sighting story. Scrabble can be a bloodsport.

Valentine's week was very successful. The only downside to it was that it prompted many tears at the airport. We didn't need cleaning staff to assist, but dehydration was a concern. Could we try a Valentine's Year?

Hello Campers...

It's time to open the curtain of silence around the most recent Camp Project. G has successfully coached me through the bedroom 'enlightenment' phase of Camp transformation. Managing a project 8 time zones away is not for the feint at heart. Not everyone can do it. Say goodbye to your sleep paterns. You also have to be one of those rare people that can play chess blindfolded, because everything purely abstract due to it's distance. You can't just look something. You have to imagine it.

We discovered that there is a paint manufacturers use a seasonal marketing theme, and run their programs differently across multiple global markets. For instance, the first thing G & I discovered was that in Canada, 'Wedding White' is marketed in the UK not as a white at all. It's a grey! With overtones of the Moores. Much less virginal. This became problematic for us. Canadian paint distributors not cross-reference to UK colours as they lacked the information and the interest to do so. There were technical issues as well. No two computer monitors render the same colour the same way. Even the same brand and model will render colours differently when different drivers are used in different computers. Then there is the seasonal aspect to the marketing program. I returned to the same Paint Retailer attempting to obtain a colour that I applied successfully in October, only to find it did not exist any longer.
Before

This is the bedroom before 'enlightenment'. This photo was taken with flash, and enhanced.

This is the bedroom after 'enlightenment'. The photo was taken at the same time of day with the same camera settings, except with no after the fact enhancement.
After

Colours by General Paint (Canada)

Walls and ceiling: 1042W Mistaya
Trim: 1041W Mosquito Pass

Ceiling & ceiling cove!: General Ceiling Dead Flat

Walls: Eggshell Trim: Semi-Gloss

Quite the transformation. This project got 'bumped' on the priority list. I suffer a bit from S.A.D. and G was worried about me. We both agreed that this project needed to be completed straight away.

Special thanks to G for her everlasting and enduring patience through this one.

Next Project in the Pipeline

This is a preview of the next Camp Project. Leo has requested that an insect screen be installed on the bathroom window. I know its January, and there are no insects around, except the ones frozen to the ground, but the purpose of this project is to build campers moral, and re-inforce the concept that a camper can actually request a change in camp and see it eventually accomplished. Besides, why wait till May when you can do it in January.

I measured up the window, and of course it's not a standard measurement, and yes, it was not designed to take a screen, but you know what? I took a couple of years of Engineering at UBC at great personal expence, and now it's time to get my moneys worth out of my education. The builder in me just wants to tear out the existing window and replace it with a modern one with a screen and an electric ventilation fan. Outside, it's 2 degrees below zero, and we have light snow falling, so instead I have decided to build a simple screen out of raw components that will fit the window frame. I have devised a hinge mechanism that will allow easy access to 'pop' the screen and open or close the window with just two fingers. I can easily attach the screen to the hinge using pop rivets (take less room than screws and I am working with aluminum here campers). The weather stripping is going to be used to make up the clearance for the Burglar Alarm wires I have to work with as a constraint in this project.

Child's play.

A Very Very Happy Birthday!

You just simply cannot imagine...

...what your life is like with G in it.

She brings another dimension to what you thought things were really like. It is a shock initially, but very quickly you get used to it.

I suspect that the real problem lies in a life without G. I don't actually want to contemplate that thought. G adds an entire layer to your day, your thoughts, and your dreams. G enhances your existence. She very subtly urges you to keep an open mind, and if you are not careful, you find yourself thinking of new thoughts, and doing new things that you could not imagine yesterday.

She is nothing less than amazing. In an understated way, she sees herself as an ordinary woman, but in actual fact, she is very, very special. I am so fortunate to know her. I will endevour to deserve her attention and respect.

The reaction from her Birthday office gift was quite interesting. Women looked at the flowers visually, then emotionally. Men looked longingly at the balloon and didn't even notice that it was attached to the flowers. I find myself warmed by the flowers and amused by the balloon. I also have learned that I am very attached to G. I don't want to say that she is the centre of my existence, but I do want to say that my existence is nothing without G. I have had the pleasure of having her around for over a year, albeit in correspondence only form. Only a few more days until I can actually be with her again. I hope for your sake that you can share my joy in that thought. I cherish the notion of having her around forever, but relish the thought that I will talk to her in the morning.

I have a Birthday balloon. I will tell all. Tomorrow morning at dawn, I secretly will go down to the beach and 'free' my balloon and make a secret wish as it drifts away across the ocean. I know all of you can guess what that wish is.

My goal in the upcoming year is to improve my communication skills with my partner. This way, it will be easier to get through day to day things and discuss complicated future plans. G and I already have an excellent beginning in that we can discuss important things that figure in our future. I want to use that as a foundation and actually build on it, so discussing important matters will be even easier going forward.

And just to tempt you Eastwards on your birthday...

...just look what's waiting for you in London!

No, not my sister doing her best impression of, 'Where's the cheese, Gromit?'

Nope. Look what she is holding. Say it with me: prec-ious liquid. Yup. A 1 litre bottle of Glenmorangie.

Well, you have specfically mentioned that you (or some other culprit) has drunk B.C. dry of any of this particular brand of whisky - so please relax, a full bottle awaits you in London.

Unless things get desparate this week...

...in which case, it might be just as well that I got the 1litre bottle?!

Happy Birthday fella, enjoy your evening. xx

Happy Birthday!

I know that I should not be posting this - not yet anyway. Not until I am sure that a certain camper is at work and safely tucked up in his first meeting of the day.

That way, he won't know - so this will be a surprise. As it is his birthday an' all...

...shall I tell? Nggg, I want to, I want to!

Okay (scroll down) if you would like to know.

Or move on from this blog if you don't.

Honey, you too - move right along. Don't scroll down yet - nothing to see here, nothing to see!

...


...


...


...Hun' stop peeking, shall I go fetch a skillet?!


...


...


...


...


Okay...well maybe there is. A small something to see, that is.

I had a lot of fun yesterday picking out something really bright, colourful and silly to be delivered to the fella at work today.

After all, he is many timezones away so I cannot make a fuss of him in person.

After the serious formal flowers that I sent last time, I am just really hoping that the florist will put together something that is really fun and will foghorn loudly to his co-workers that today is his birthday and that they should be kind and make a fuss of him on my behalf.

The question is, for maximum silly effect, which arrangement do you think I opted for?!

If you are quick and vote via a comment now, you may even get your guess in before B posts a picture of the evidence! (At least, I hope that he will! *nudge, nudge*)








Was it A: flowers in the shape of a cake?!
















Was it B: flowers in a mug that is a clear throw-back to clubbing and funny dancing in the nineties?!















Was it C: cheerful flowers in a vase printed with symbolic birthday candles (cupcakes not included in order, image is a serving suggestion only)?!












Was it D: a bucket of manly junk food for a comfort eating attack while watching a dvd?!












Was it E: the flowers presented as a present with a loud balloon attached for extra office embarassment?!















Was it F: an arrangement of flowers presented in the format of a gift wrapped present?!





Ahhh, decisions, decisions.

You know, with such a lovely array of daft arrangements to choose from, it was a tricky moment, selecting something to achieve the desired outcome (laughter, hopefully) and let him know that I am thinking about him from all the way over here in London.

Aww, ain't I sweet?

Fella, Happy Birthday. I hereby and publicly promise to cook you a birthday dinner when you get here...not long until I see you now!

Snow!

West Shore Campers woke up to this scene this morning!

Nothing threatening, but it may be a taste of what is to come... It's a good thing camp will be shut down over Christmas and all campers will be cozy and warm. Leo and I are going to head out for a drive!

Icecream

Just in case you were bowled over by the cultural overtones B's last post...

...it is important that you know that London was not all business, Chihuly chandeliers (go see this link for very good images of the exhibition at the V&A) and general high brow culture.

No, we also had time to squeeze in a purchase of cheese from Neal's Yard Dairy and coffee beans from the Monmouth Coffee Company plus an icecream from Scoop!...

...see?!

I believe that the item being consumed in the photo on the left is Fruits of the Forest, Rice and Pistachio. The image of my icecream is over on my knitting blog. Yum.


It was a really good week. We spent time together, we cooked for each other, we both worked, we hung out with some of my family and friends. We went to the South Bank to see Beowulf in 3-D at the i-Max (which we both loved, I think) and then...

...we went for dinner, followed by coffee and desserts.

I think that we may have set a partnerhip precedent here: one bottle of wine and platters shared in one restaurant (Pain Quotidien), followed by coffees, cocktails and desserts in a completely different restaurant (Giraffe).

(Now for this restaurant swapping action alone, B could become an immediate, honoury life member of my family as we are notorious for this kind of food action.)

At Giraffe, I had one irish coffee. This was a charmingly presented, yet lethal, caffeine affair comprised of at least two shots of expresso, a slug of whisky and an artistic smear of cream, set off with 3 artfully arranged coffee beans on top. Frankly I drank one, choked over its strength and switched to mohitos.

I then, womanly, matched B, drink for drink. So I had about 4 mohitos in total and resigned myself to a hangover as they were drunk on top of the Jamberoo Shiraz at Le Pain Quotidien.

Now manfully, B decided to stick with his irish coffees...

...oh yes. He must have drunk about 5 in total. What's that? About 10 shots of expresso?

I understand from B that he spent most of the night pacing the house and the back yard. He tells me that at about 2am, his heart was racing like a thoroughbred's after the Grand National.

As for me? I slept like a baby fed copious red wine and mohitos! :-)

It was a good preliminary visit as B got to meet a few of my family and friends in advance of his visit at Christmas. It takes a bit of pressure off us both?

Actually, I have sent B his itinery for his UK Christmas visit. Y'know, very luckily for me, he hasn't seen it and cancelled...yet being the operative word?!

However, to reward us both for good Christmas behaviour (surviving the obligtory visits with family and friends in the run up to, during and after the 25th), I have booked a cottage in Wales for us to escape to at the New Year.

It's quite remote (please read, it is very remote). However, it does boast underfloor flagstone heating, a wood burning stove and a CD player, so at least we won't freeze. If the flagstone heating fails and B cannot light the fire, I will just put on a CD that we both like, so that we can dance to keep ourselves alive.

Please note that the cottage does not boast a TV, an internet connection or any mobile phone signal (apparently it is a 10 minute drive or a walk up a steep mountain to get any signal). So we will be on our own - completely and utterly.

I wonder if we will get on?! It's okay, I have started to stockpile emergency CDs, books and alcohol as a distraction!

Mind you, when I say that I have rewarded us with 'time in a remote cottage exclusively for us', it is fair to point out that the cottage is quite convenient for drives out to places that I want to show B from my childhood - also, it is a 40 minute drive to the town where my other parents live.

Apologies B - but it is hardly fair to introduce you to one set of my parents without introducing you to the other set too?!

All I know is, roll on Christmas, 'cos, you know what? I am missing my fella.

One Happy Man

G was not the only one to be sent flowers this week.

I had the privilege of receiving a passionately dark red bouquet earlier this week. Honestly, things will never be the same again.

This was a first for B, and I must say that G has created an experience that I will never forget.

I feel very well looked after, cared for and honestly, more than a little spoiled.



One thing I must say about G, is that when she throws a pebble in the pond, she creates quite a splash, followed by lots and lots of ripples.

One Happy Woman

Well, if you were me, wouldn't you be...? Look what arrived for me at my office today!

PDA Alert! (Avert your eyes, Leo!) Thank you B, they are gorgeous and I cannot wait to see you on Monday so I have the opportunity to share these flowers with you in person.

I'll put them in front room at home, so we can both enjoy them next week Gxxx

PS, just in case you all think that this romance is all one sided, I think that B is being a bit coy about a certain delivery he received at his office earlier this week. I am fairly sure that they do not compare with these but you know, it is the thought that counts?

Good News Campers!

The missing refridgerator appeared today. Mercury is no longer retro-grade, so all of those camp supplies will come rolling in. We are still expecting a blocking kit and another mystery package, but at least we have the fridge!

Essential camp supplies on the left. Fridge in place on the right.