And on today's menu

SABLE FISH
wow, what a treat - Fish and Chips a la Sable Fish. My favourite is cod, but they were out of cod. Sable fish is one of my favourite fish but I had never wasted it on fish and chips in the past. Certainly will again. And Kollin agrees. She ate one whole piece of Nana's fish pieces.  Humming between bites and shaking with delight as each piece arrived at her little bird mouth.  Levi discovered that malt vinegar is might fine on french fries too, thanks to Nana.  Jenn managed to even have something to eat admit all the frantic noshing that was going on at our table.  I must admit I also snuck out to the mall and tossed back some onion rings at A & W.  It should be interesting to hear my report back in Malaysia as to what I did on my vacation.  It will be documented as a gastronomic adventure.

Tomorrow heading to a local school to entice the principal to enlist his primary class teachers in my pen pal project with JB.  I hope they find it as exciting as I do.  I even found a book to introduce pen pal projects to the students, so maybe they will allow me to read it to their classes before I take it back to Malaysia.  Then after that, a sail over to the Sunshine Coast for an overnight with a friend. I am looking forward to that and wish it could be longer, but duty calls in Vancouver. Nana, if you look closely, looks very much like nanny. Hmm, I wonder if that was intentional.  So, Nana must return to active duty on the home front. There are only about 3 weeks left for this vacation. I can hardly believe that one week has passed.

Dropped a Christmas present in the mail for some friends who stayed in Malaysia. I hope it will arrive before the big day. The postal service promised it would. Nothing much, but always nice to get a package from far away.

today in Canada

Like a kid in a candy store I tackled the mall. Bought the sorts of things one takes for granted when living here. Also finally got my bank card working properly. So, now with a c.c and a bank card I could do some serious damage. Better take it easy on mall trips now.

Met with Jenn and the kids at the Santa Chair so you will be blessed with a family portrait for 2011 all seated on poor Santa's knee. Levi decided he was a good dude once he got a colouring book, a paper elf hat, and 2 candy canes.

We were not clever enough to purchase the cd which holds the photo, so awaiting Jenn's capable technical skills to scan the one and only picture we have, and will upload it after that.

Ahh, yes, dinner - meals seem to be my obsession since my plane alit on home soil - curried lamb and quinoa.  Not so shabby. But I even shocked myself that I would consider curry 'over here'.  Oh well, it was tres bon, and Jenn's Greek salad was THE piece de resistance.

Yuppers Back in Canada

Sorry for the lack of messages here. You would not believe it, but my daughter's internet is about as functional as the service I have in Malaysia. I have never had such poor internet connection since my own pathetic service in Kota Tinggi.  She's trying to blame it on my computer - which I would have bought into, except, yes, my computer is a bad piece of technology - but has always managed to struggle to get my files uploaded. Not a perfect system, but eventually things got sent and received.I cannot completely defend this machine I have, so will take some of the responsibility for this dysfunctional intermittant connection here by either finding a wifi cafe or giving up on communication. I think the problem here is SHAW, which I discovered myself, needs to be replaced with Telus. Not my say, and not my problem, so will just sneak into Jenn's office when I am allowed out of the cellar, and tap a few notes to all of you who have written and asked "why?". Thus, my messages may be infrequent but my time wtih the kiddos are making up for this.

Accomplishments since landing in Canada - all thanks to Jenn (except for the last one)

SOCKEYE SALMON
RIB EYE STEAK
ORGANIC MIXED GREENS SALAD
BACON AND EGGS
APRICOT & CAPE SEED BREAD
LUNCH WITH A FRIEND IN A RESTAURANT

tonight - leg of lamb

Yesterday I took myself to Fraser Street and found 2 books for the library. Brought them home and read them to Levi. Knowing he enjoyed them I also know my Ulu Tiram Kiddies will too.

Will upload a few pictures once I get them off the camera. For now, lets cheer that internet will let this happen. Also waiting in line to have a skype with Ry. Seems he has a lovely lady - named Sumi, that he is visiting with right now. Mom has to wait.

experienced November 23rd 2x

Now trying to figure out how to deal with a day doubled. Easier than what I will do on return. And it is bloody cold here. Be careful what you ask for comes to mind.  I will hopefully rise early and try to write something here before the household awakens.

Think I am ready

Had a chat with Ry. On the phone.

Now no more stalling. Will clean up and dress for the beginning of the journey. I think everything is packed. If not, I guess it wont get packed. Nice and hot, a bit overcast, which means it will rain soon.  Ok, Ok, I will get ready now. Next year these guys have to come here to see how I live and enjoy the adventure with me. That means all of them.  Uncle Dude cannot escape that one. Lots of warning.

for now

Grey Cup, Here I come!

Date	Day	Notes	Day Count	Days Left
November 13, 2011	Sunday	Asked Jenn if I can play with my friends at end of November – waiting for the answer	1	10
November 14, 2011	Monday	Preschool Convocation Exercises	2	9
November 15, 2011	Tuesday	Work – then travel to Batu Pahat for meeting	3	8
November 16, 2011	Wednesday	‘batty’ Pahat all day, went yesterday and dined on wild boar at a restaurant out in the middle of nowhere near batty.  Stayed with Karen and stayed up way too late. Now again home and counting down the days	4	7
November 17, 2011	Thursday	Not a lot of gecko activity – I must have made an impression. School visits – 3 if I can fit them in, delivering their certificates for the TPD’s	5	6
November 18, 2011	Friday	Waiting today for TV antenna man to come back. Kinda fixed it yesterday and then poof, no more. Muttered something about electricity. Someone senior arriving today.  LEVI wrote me a letter, from his own e-mail account.  Said”I love you”	6	5
November 19, 2011	Saturday	Massage later this morning. Nice skype chat with Jenn and kids. Not great internet connection, but I did manage to see them, and them me. Look – only 4 more days!	7	4
November 20, 2011	Sunday	Wow, I am running out of boxes to write in. This morning – clean my bedroom and then off to a haircut. Home again and begin packing.	8	3
November 21, 2011	Monday	Well lookie here. Only 2 more days after today and I will be gonzo.  As for the haircut, Kiki did not do well. Her sidekick did a better job. Might go back and see if sidekick can repair the damage.	9	2
November 22, 2011	Tuesday	Look at this! Almost there!  Slept well last night and woke to news that I am gonna be at a Grey Cup party this weekend. Does life get any better than that? Better find something green to wear.	10	1
November 23, 2011	Wednesday		11	0

I am not sure there is anything more Canadian than Grey Cup. And Vancouver is in the Cup, and hosting it this year too. Too bad not Saskies, but I will wear something green anyway-Saskies always do.  I wonder why my family didn't just buy me a ticket to the cup since it is in Vancouver?  hee hee

I cannot believe that with all this preparation, planning, and plotting that I have not yet packed my bags. Stuff is all over the living room, awaiting stowing so I guess I better get on that this morning. For some reason I keep resisting packing. Don't know why - it is not like I have a ton of clothing to take. Just presents, and I am not using those, so what the heck is this all about? Having a skype type visit with a friend who is in Mexico - Larato in fact. I love that area; had a great time there with Jenn and Ry for Christmas 2000. I wonder if they recall it as fondly as I do. I still have a poster sized photo of the two of them in front of a disco where they spent their evenings while old ma was sleeping. Enough blather, better post this and get busy packing.

only a couple more days Levi

I went for the haircut, Kiki did ok, but this morning tells the tale. Hair bent out of shape in every direction. Hoe, the sidekick who cannot speak English did a much better job. I think I might mozy back over there today and see if she can repair it.  If not, it will grow. But darn - I should have just left it as it was. My house is so clean I am not sure I want to leave now. I have not had time to do such a good job in the past. Maybe time for a cleaning lady.  Today is packing day and run over to the clinic - the rash is not leaving as quickly as I had hoped. Then maybe just a relaxing time on the patio watching the rain.

Date	Day	Notes	Day Count	Days Left
November 13, 2011	Sunday	Asked Jenn if I can play with my friends at end of November – waiting for the answer	1	10
November 14, 2011	Monday	Preschool Convocation Exercises	2	9
November 15, 2011	Tuesday	Work – then travel to Batu Pahat for meeting	3	8
November 16, 2011	Wednesday	‘batty’ Pahat all day, went yesterday and dined on wild boar at a restaurant out in the middle of nowhere near batty.  Stayed with Karen and stayed up way too late. Now again home and counting down the days	4	7
November 17, 2011	Thursday	Not a lot of gecko activity – I must have made an impression. School visits – 3 if I can fit them in, delivering their certificates for the TPD’s	5	6
November 18, 2011	Friday	Waiting today for TV antenna man to come back. Kinda fixed it yesterday and then poof, no more. Muttered something about electricity. Someone senior arriving today.  LEVI wrote me a letter, from his own e-mail account.  Said”I love you”	6	5
November 19, 2011	Saturday	Massage later this morning. Nice skype chat with Jenn and kids. Not great internet connection, but I did manage to see them, and them me. Look – only 4 more days!	7	4
November 20, 2011	Sunday	Wow, I am running out of boxes to write in. This morning – clean my bedroom and then off to a haircut. Home again and begin packing.	8	3
November 21, 2011	Monday	Well lookie here. Only 2 more days after today and I will be gonzo.  As for the haircut, Kiki did not do well. Her sidekick did a better job. Might go back and see if sidekick can repair the damage.	9	2
November 22, 2011	Tuesday		10	1
November 23, 2011	Wednesday		11	0

countdown

Sometime after the sun rises I will be going for my haircut. There will be a bit of arm twisting to get the cut I want. Kiki was away for my initial haircut and when she returned she looked and kept trying to mime something. I think her story was 'too short, looks like a pea on a pumpkin'. Of course not her words but I could gather that was the message from her body language - twisting the wrist, which always means finish finish or not good, shaking her head, and the word small repeated frequently while pointing at my head. I told her I didn't care - I needed the damaged, sun bleached, strands adorning my head removed. 'Hair grows' I told her. So now I need a new story to get her to cut it where I want it. I guess I could help her come around with the fact that I will get someone in Canada to cut it if she does not. Yesterday when I went in to make the appointment, she was frantic that I was considering a cut; she thinks it has finally grown to an acceptable length. Jenn suggested that she make an appointment for me over there. Not likely - I like the price here. RM10 suits me fine. I don't think a salon over there can match that. Another funny thing here - they call them hair saloons. I wonder if they serve cocktails while getting a haircut? Haven't seen this at my saloon. Maybe I should rebook for happy hour and see if I get served anything.

Also bought a lamp yesterday. Good marketing ploy. The fella had it turned on, glowing in the window of a shop that I was passing on my way to my massage.  Rather reckless purchase considering all the cash flying out the door with various travel expenses mounting. But I am tired of waiting for Ikea and the lamp I want. My eyes were delighted with the new lighting. It is a Malaysian version of what I wanted - the tall fabric covered pole lamp that diffuses light in a room. This one, if you can recall Malaysian manufacturing is none other than a plastic tube version of  this. My choices were Barbie Doll pink or orange. Went with the orange - but now thinking about the Barbie Doll things in this house (size wise) maybe that would have worked for me. Last night was the first night in months I did not have a headache. When you turn on those overhead fluorescent lights you first hear a sound that must be what a death row person hears for the last time. There is a cacophony of buzzing, humming, and then flashes of light before the thing engages.I think I recall a sound like this when I was taken to the xray room in the Kota Tinggi hospital where they left me alone with the antique equipment. Technician left the room entirely, and then hollered at me through a closed door - keep still, while the old machine revved up, fired radiation all over me, and then shut down like a jet engine landing at its destination.  My overhead lights produce  harsh bright light flooding the room, burning my eyes, and humming continuously until extinguished. Now I have a soft orange glow that makes me keep thinking there is a fire somewhere in the room. Maybe I should hang a Christmas stocking in front of it and call it a fireplace. Never quite as easy as home to make things usable though. Swaddled in more plastic wrap - a common occurance here, I removed this, to find the plastic tube covering the three light sockets quite nicely, and only about 8 inches in diameter. No way was my arm going down that tube to screw in three lightbulbs. Finding my trusty screwdriver, I undid the three screws at the base of this plastic tube, shooting one of the screws across the room to God knows where. Pulled it off, screwed in the bulbs, and on hands and knees, searched for the missing screw. Designer really did not think of ease of use when they came up with this one.  Hopefully the bulbs will last a long time. If I have the energy, I will tart up the house and do a video to bring home for those curious about how I live here. For now, I think a sit on the sofa, check on TV for news, and a count of the berkat banyak I have had every day.

Thank God I was smart enough to let Royal Roads know that I could not attend the MBA conference in China and Hong Kong. I would have been there yesterday and for the next two days. I am no where ready to travel, and would have had to been ready to leave for holidays on Friday. Sometimes I actually make good decisions.

Date	Day	Notes	Day Count	Days Left
November 13, 2011	Sunday	Asked Jenn if I can play with my friends at end of November – waiting for the answer	1	10
November 14, 2011	Monday	Preschool Convocation Exercises	2	9
November 15, 2011	Tuesday	Work – then travel to Batu Pahat for meeting	3	8
November 16, 2011	Wednesday	‘batty’ Pahat all day, went yesterday and dined on wild boar at a restaurant out in the middle of nowhere near batty.  Stayed with Karen and stayed up way too late. Now again home and counting down the days	4	7
November 17, 2011	Thursday	Not a lot of gecko activity – I must have made an impression. School visits – 3 if I can fit them in, delivering their certificates for the TPD’s	5	6
November 18, 2011	Friday	Waiting today for TV antenna man to come back. Kinda fixed it yesterday and then poof, no more. Muttered something about electricity. Someone senior arriving today.  LEVI wrote me a letter, from his own e-mail account.  Said”I love you”	6	5
November 19, 2011	Saturday	Massage later this morning. Nice skype chat with Jenn and kids. Not great internet connection, but I did manage to see them, and them me. Look – only 4 more days!	7	4
November 20, 2011	Sunday	Wow, I am running out of boxes to write in. This morning – clean my bedroom and then off to a haircut. Home again and begin packing.	8	3
November 21, 2011	Monday		9	2
November 22, 2011	Tuesday		10	1
November 23, 2011	Wednesday		11	0

recent update for Vancouver weather

snow has melted - they think it is warm - 2 degrees. Yes, I am sure it felt warm to me in the past, but not so sure now. Had my massage, and having my haircut tomorrow. Sorted out the travel arrangements. Why does sorting out these things also mean more money? Who cares, it is only money and I have a mission. Two little people awaiting me like children await Santa Claus. I hope I am not as portly, but jolly I am. All the ironing done, and only a load or two of laundry left. A quick main floor clean, and a serious upper floor scour - pack the bag, and I am ready.

Maybe  I will find some fancy schmancy chocolates Tuesday night in JB to bring home. We will see.  Don't hold your breath - I haven't found any yet.  If you are reading this; I am sure you are, don't forget the cream and french press grind espresso???? And please, no chicken.

No sugar plums dancing in my head - but a slice or two of, toasted or not, Cobbs apricot loaf seem to be there.

Just noticed a no more rash comment on the sidebar. Well actually, went back to the old 'hood two days in a row and look like I have leprosy again. Madly trying to heal the festering events before I go back home. Clearly not the neighbourhood I belong in. So glad I moved.

Countdown

Date	Day	Notes	Day Count	Days Left
November 13, 2011	Sunday	Asked Jenn if I can play with my friends at end of November – waiting for the answer	1	10
November 14, 2011	Monday	Preschool Convocation Exercises	2	9
November 15, 2011	Tuesday	Work – then travel to Batu Pahat for meeting	3	8
November 16, 2011	Wednesday	‘batty’ Pahat all day, went yesterday and dined on wild boar at a restaurant out in the middle of nowhere near batty.  Stayed with Karen and stayed up way too late. Now again home and counting down the days	4	7
November 17, 2011	Thursday	Not a lot of gecko activity – I must have made an impression. School visits – 3 if I can fit them in, delivering their certificates for the TPD’s	5	6
November 18, 2011	Friday	Waiting today for TV antenna man to come back. Kinda fixed it yesterday and then poof, no more. Muttered something about electricity. Someone senior arriving today.  LEVI wrote me a letter, from his own e-mail account.  Said”I love you”	6	5
November 19, 2011	Saturday	Massage later this morning. Nice skype chat with Jenn and kids. Not great internet connection, but I did manage to see them, and them me. Look – only 4 more days!	7	4
November 20, 2011	Sunday		8	3
November 21, 2011	Monday		9	2
November 22, 2011	Tuesday		10	1
November 23, 2011	Wednesday		11	0