Paid Vacations

July 21st - Another early morning drive from Victoria to Hornby Island.
Ah, the sun and fluffy white clouds!

... watched a remote controlled sailboat race (July 22nd)

... visited friends (July 22nd),

... amongst them Anna and Ava (July 22nd),

July 24th - went hiking up Mount Geoffrey
with the visiting Alberta Snikles,

After our hike up the mountain, it was time to cool off and have some lunch.

That evening we went down to Ford Cove to watch Alex and Paul
swim in the rather cool water.

July 28 - Peter enjoys a much needed chair
massage at the Saturday Market.

Sunday July 29 - picnic at the beach. Here
Meka enjoys a roll in the warm sand.

Some of us attempted a game of frisbee in the frigid waters
of Whaling Station Bay.

Some of us enjoyed the warm sand ...

One of us happily got buried in the sand,

 and all of us enjoyed a bite to eat, al fresco!
Check out Alex's six-pack.

The next day the Alberta Snikles started on their journey home and Judith drove back to Victoria to go to earn her next paid vacation.  Frank and Mary Jane stayed home to recover from 2 weeks of visitors and Peter stayed on Hornby for more 'healing.'  Thankfully, we are all recovering nicely and looking forward to warmer weather in August.

Citizens unite, A political future!

"Good people of the rock, we are gathered here today to discuss the future."

"Doug, how many times do I have to remind you to get everyone more blender drinks before we get started."

Al, look alive, we may have some bleeding hearts in the room, and we will need pictures and names for the database of trouble makers, and for pete's sake make sure those mountain bikers don't get in like last time, I can't understand a word they say with all that lingo and cussing."

"The Future."

We interrupt this for a message from your public broadcaster: "The Chip Bandit was spotted in Dead Rear (AKA Red Deer) but after an extensive manhunt they have lost the trail of 'Alex', details at 11:00 pm."

And back to our broadcast of the "on the thrown" speech, a political future!

"Where was I? Oh right ... The Future, thanks Al."

"Damn, Al watch the door, I can see those mountain bikers coming our way."

"Make sure they have paid their taxes at least, if we're going to let them in."

"Doug, how are those blender drinks coming, do we have enough to lube the good people?"

"Amanda is never around when I need her, OK, where was I? Oh right ... The Future, thanks Doug."

"The Future"

What, who me?

A typically evening at Long Nights Bistro circa 2008 with the First Lady and "The Boss"

"OK, Rob! You can either eat your vegetables or go to your room, it is your choice?"

"No, I want my plum pudding, and I am not budging till I get my fair share."

"OK, Peanut, you can whine till the ducks come home, but until you eat your vegetables you will get no pudding"

"But Peter didn't have to eat his vegetables"

"Yes, well Robbie, Peter is a guest and guests don't have the same rules as you"

"Fine, I want to be a guest from now on"

"O, Wob, just eat your veggies, you will grow up to big and strong like Al and Doug, you want to big and strong like the firefighters don't you?"

"I want my pudding, I don't care if I am strong, give me my pudding"

"O, Wobby am I going to have to send Peter home, and you to your room?"

"Thump, pow, smash, swoosh"

"Whoops"

"Robert junior you go to your room right now"

"Fine, I have marzipan in my room"

"I am so sorry you will have to excuse Rob, he didn't get the memo about Santa only visiting good little boys"

The End