Arrived safely after a long, tiring, but smooth flight, was picked up properly, adorned with flowers: red ones for love, white ones for peace, and yellow ones for deep feelings! I promised myself that I will do anything today but being lazy.
Oct 10, 2007 12:00 AMDehli - shrouded in fog,
But ....that wasn't to be. My friends called and took care of me. Life can be rearly friendly. In the evening I went for a walk - never again: Rush hour in Delhi is rearly overwhelming. The moment I stood still people were asking me whether I need help.I had the feeling I never could get lost.
Oct 08, 2007 12:00 AMCountdown is running.
It's time that I get out of here. Otherwise I will find thousands of things to do. Yesterday I even cleaned my fridge. The neighbours are coming in to say good bye and to give me all their good wishes. I shouldn't forget to write postcards.
Hopefully I will wake up, before I will be picked up in the middle of the night.
Oct 07, 2007 12:00 AMRajasthan, Delhi, and Mumbai, India 2007
I am counting the days. Suitcase is packed, flat tidied up, flowers taken care of, friends said good bye to, gotten all the best wishes, the only thing on my "list": relax, sleep, when ever it is possible and read the history of India. Sun is shining, the sky is blue - a nice farewell.
Aug 31, 2005 12:00 AMMayne Island did not loose its magic.
It did take a few days to get organised. But I found all things at the same place, as there is the Springwater Lodge, where you can sit on the deck in the evening to see the sunset and have something to eat and to drink, and the Root Seller, my favorite B&B, where I live in the charming fireplace room, and certainly there is True Value, where I go and buy my food. In the evening there was a concert in the Village Green, and they played all night. Kayaking is arranged and I am curious whether I still can make it as I can't do it easily at home.
Aug 25, 2005 12:00 AMStill Mayne Island
The summer is gorgeous. I dread to go back, the news don't sound good, no sunshine, but rain, no, I do not want to think about that. But instead I will enjoy the last days, sitting on the deck of the Springwater Lodge eating shrimps and salmon and have a nice margarita, going out kayaking, feeling the waves under my boat and the wind in my face. I nearly made it around the whole island and loved it. And in the night I lay in my bed, overlook Active Pass and the ferries go by, and I count the stars, and in the morning when I awake the sky is pink and the world is new.
Aug 22, 2005 12:00 AMEver again Mayne Island
Excuse me, excuse me, not to have written sooner, but I have a schedule like a manager: Every other day I go kayaking, which is wonderful but makes me quite tired. So I have to rest, means visiting people, sitting on the deck of the Springwater Lodge and looking out to Active Pass, see the ferries coming in and going out. Yes, I have bee over to Saltspring Island by watertaxi. The drive out is beautiful and Ganges has some nice shops and specially book shops, hmmm. And I have been over to Sidney, the bookish town, hmmm, but with all the new development it is losing its charme, it once has been such a charming town. I met my Scottish friend, elegant and bright as ever. She just turned 84 years. I only have this week left and I will be in a hurry to get to Victoria for a day and to make it over to Saturna Island by kayak. Pray God that I will make it, although I am quite decisive to make it. So long.
Aug 13, 2005 12:00 AMMayne Island again
When you stay on the island for some length of time and when you have repeated your visits and when it is Saturday and the market is on at the Agricultural Hall, you recognise the people and some do recognise you, and they fill you in on what has happened since you have been there last.
You get all the stories: Who sold their property, whose is on the market, whose marriage broke up and whose marriage was mended, who died, who is still doing well and who had to give up life on the island because he or she can't drive a car anymore and so on.
It is like returning to another life you have had. All are delighted to see you, comment on your good and healthy looks, and you feel well. And sun is shining and warms your skin. But you know better. Life is hard on the island in these times because there isn't much work so the people have to make ends meet in doing several jobs at the same time although there is always something to do and money to earn, but prices went up and up the last years and some even have to leave the island and their way of life to find jobs and houses they can pay for.
Aug 11, 2005 12:00 AMQuadra Island - revisited
Going up Vancouver Island in wonderful BC weather is a treat. The bus follows the old highway, along the ocean side through all this old towns and villages, some of them changed a bit to adjust to modern times, but you still see the old houses, surrounded by old trees and beautiful gardens. These people love flowers and there is abundance of it. It was a journey into the past. I can't count the times I went up island with my friends.
On Quadra Island I met my second family, who told me: "Life is good." All have work and are doing well, are relaxed and content. And the kids have a good life too, they grow up with a lot of freedom and space. The older ones are cooping well with their situation in life and the island is friendly with them. They still can drive their car on the island, because there isn't much traffic. And it is quiet. Campbell River is nearby with all facilites an older person might need.
Out there are beautiful properties at the waterfront, some people are relly spoiled.
And in the evening you out with this small boat , do a tour around Rebecca Spit And the sun sets in the West and colours the world. The herons are back to shore. And people sit out at the beach, having a fire going and talking to one another, the kids are still playing their games until the night falls.
It is another way of life on the islands far away from the hustle and bustle of towns, even when illness and failing healthand all those problems of a changing world is getting to them as everywhere.
Aug 05, 2005 12:00 AMMayne Island, the beautiful
Going out of Bennett Bay by kayak, means going through a maze of Canada Geese, those wonderful elegant animals, grazing on the beach. I went over to the secluded Horton Bay, on my way meeting Scottish sheep on an island, owned by a family, saw the seals popping up out of the water to view me, deer coming out of the woods, which crown these islands, observing the doings on the sea, and the herons, standing motionless at the waters edge. It's so peaceful, were it not for those terrible loud whale watching boats which do not take care of the smaller crafts, which have to disappear out of their way as fast as possible. I am very good at this!
Tomorrow I will go up Vancouver Island to Quadra Island to see my friends.
