CoVid Diaries Month 4

I thought that I was not going to continue with this series but we had a funny incident happen last evening that I wanted to record.

We have really been doing our bit lately to ensure that our local restaurants will survive.

Last weekend we attempted to make last minute reservations at Med Grill as I had given Keith a raincheck for a birthday dinner out once restaurants reopened. They were fully booked ~ after all they only have 15 tables due to having to maintain a six foot distance ~ so we booked for last evening.

Anyways here we are about to enjoy our dinner. As we ate Keith noticed his dentist Dr Babin with his wife and some friends sitting at another table, he sent a message via the server to say hi. When we had finished the server came up to us and let us know that Dr Babin had paid for our meal! (Keith is probably one of their best customers spending thousands on his teeth every year!) OMG we were stunned, then I laughed and said that I was really let off the hook since the meal was on me. Well no, Keith insists that we will have a redo, this time at Harbour House 1 block from home. Keith often chats with the kindly owner as he walks Chip in the late evenings.

Thursday June 18th

On our (me and Chip) way to meet my quilt group at the cricket field.

Perhaps some watercolour inspiration?

More and more tents in our beautiful park.

The city discussed at a council meeting but decided that per Dr Bonnie Henry's guidelines, the tents get to stay. If they were indeed homeless folks I would be fine with it but many are tenters that are travelling and are happy with this free place to camp.

Nicky has been using her CoVid time well,  This masterpiece is heavily beaded.

Friday June 19th

Chip and I walked up Government to meet our friends Ann and her dog Bear for a drive out to Sooke.

My 1st time in another's car, I sat in the back, opposite side and wore my mask.

Government St is busy with patios being constructed to extend outdoor seating. This all happened quite quickly, a decision by Victoria city council to narrow Government St to 1 lane for several blocks and close 2 blocks to traffic ~ except for delivery trucks in off hours. On our return home down Government in the late afternoon one could see that this will be a very good move! Patios were full with very happy customers.

I have never noticed before the "Cs" cut out of the trees so that trucks can drive through.

Bear helping with the navigation.

djonartworks@gmail.com

A coworker, Peggy had posted photos of these birdhouses on her FaceBook which caught the attention of both Ann and myself. So we decided on a road trip, in the end the birdhouses were few but sweet and did inspire a watercolour sketch but the visit with Peggy was great. We distance visited on her front porch, her townhouse complex is located right on the waterfront, lovely with neighbours walking by and stopping to chat. Peggy is suffering from an unknown disease which requires that she be on oxygen. Her spirits are amazingly positive and we all had a good day.

Chloe telling Pops that she is expecting a sibling!!!!!!

Saturday June 20

For the 1st time in months we had a (indoor) family dinner!

Fabulous to hug my Mom and my sons!!!

Sunday June 21

Laura and I met for lunch at Green Cuisine. They have streamlined the service procedure, it is now much like Subway. I always treat myself to a "not a Nanaimo Bar". 

Tuesday June 23

I spent several hours practicing watercolours.

Oh Joy!!!

Wednesday May 24th

The plan was to bike to Atkins Rd to meet Alice.

Foiled by a bee ... wasp ... hornet ... not sure as it all happened so fast.

Riding along at a good speed, I collided with the insect hard, the impact hurt. Eventually I realized that I had somehow been stung in the split second of contact. The swelling happened quickly, luckily there was a Pharmasave at Admirals Walk, the pharmacist sold me antihistamine (supposedly non drowsy) and gave me a cold pack. He advised me to get to a clinic if my throat began to swell. So that foiled our plans of hiking at Mt Mathison. I messaged Alice, she came to meet me at Fort Victoria, we had a nice visit while I rested and then we decided that we would ride back to town. We did stop at Portage Park for a poke around.

Once I got back home all I could do was lay down and read and doze off for the entire afternoon.

I felt like such a wuss that a mere bee sting would affect me.

Anyways, check out the swelling!

i cudda played the Godfather.

Thursday June 25

This is a hopeful sign. I also noticed that the tent in the food truck area has been erected.

As I went through at 4pm though, there was no sign of action.

Chip with one of his favourite people! Our friend Kathy.

We had a nice visit on her condo front porch.

I also had a doctor appointment today. First I had a phone appointment a few days ago, from that it was determined that she needed to see me. I was told to wear a mask, had to wait outside until she was ready to see me. Before allowing me in she confirmed that I wasn't feeling ill with CoVid symptoms, asked me to hand sanitize but as I cannot tolerate sanitizer, I washed my hands in the exam room. 

Friday June 26th

This would have been Mom and Dad's 67th wedding anniversary.

Mom and I met for brunch at Green Cuisine then enjoyed a walk back to her place.

Kiva is buying Mom's car. Everyone tells me how lucky I am that our Mom made the difficult decision to stop driving on her own. My dear Mom is like that.

Saturday June 27th

Mom had gifted Keith and me gift certificates for both Cora's and Fuego for our birthdays.

So after a very long and arduous work week for Keith, off to Cora's this morning.

I went healthy this time. Coconut, strawberries, chia, bananas and granola floating on a bed of yogurt and mango kale smoothy. A bit on the sweet side but very yummy. Keith went the opposite direction.

AND

A BIG decision made! On Monday Keith is giving his notice to retire (for the 3rd or 4th time, can't remember exactly) on July 31st. We are planning a wee vacation for August to celebrate. I expect this will be the final retirement. 

Sunday June 28th

Keith and I walked Chip to Dallas Rd dog park.

What a lovely surprise! There are now 4 or 5 food trucks along Dallas Rd

All with the blessing of the City of Victoria.

Two are converted Kabuki cabs which now have a cooler where their passengers used to sit,

they sell cold drinks and ice cream bars.

We treated ourselves to ice cream cones.

And then as we were crossing through McDonald Park we could hear music ...

The guy 2nd from the rhs is Dave Harris, we often see him (he is a 1 man band) playing at the Inner Harbour near Milestones ~ oh which btw has also just reopened their patio and indoor seating....

The plan is that they will play here every Sunday at 4PM. 

It is the simple things like finding ice cream cones and music where you do not expect it.

All during this walk I felt so happy and content to be living in our beautiful city.

Other than a few grumbles (from us both) and rants (from dh) about the multitude of tents in our beautiful Beacon Hill Park, the afternoon was perfect.

DH had been to Thriftys today and purchased some fresh salmon which he expertly barbecued and served to me for my dinner.

Great Day.

Tuesday June 30th, I had heard that Value Village was open so I thought I would go have a browse.

Lesson Learned: Always check the website to confirm the hours of business. VV was not open until 11am.

Yesterday was Canada Day, it was also Wednesday so Alice and I met for our weekly adventure.

This time we biked to Matheson Lake again, hiked around the lake but this time we had energy to climb Mt Matheson. Whew some very steep uphills, was quite a slog and then ...

.... no view at the top. In fact the summit is populated by several mansions and the path becomes a narrow park entity between property markers.  I had began my day at 8:10am and did not return home until 5:30pm. It even hurt to sit on my couch!

So Canada Day ~ very different of course. There were some virtual things going on on TV and as we were reading in bed a few fireworks were let off, just enough to freak out Chip.

As I biked past the Legislature there were 2 competing groups "loudspeaking" over each other. Chaos.

It appears one group is right wing, complaining about the federal government. Nuff said.

Lots of Canada Pride happening as USA descends further into CoVid Hell. Here are the current numbers.            Total CoVid Cases               Deaths

Worldwide                 10.7M                              516,000  

                                        USA                           2.74M                            130,000

                                      Canada                      105,000                                8,623

                                       BC                               2,916                                   174

Needless to say the EU which has just reopened its borders to several nations, including Canada, is refusing entry to Americans. Canada has again delayed its USA border reopening until July 21, I am sure it will not reopen even then.

Our Libraries have begun a very cautious reopening. One can return books to the Central branch and Langford branch. The books will not be sorted until 72 hours. Holds will soon be ready to pick up. Again very limited hours and folks will not be permitted in to browse, only to pick up and sign out their holds. The lineups were long on day 1 June 30.

Canada Day Sunset

July 2nd early morning dog walk through the Legislature Rose Garden.

The scent was lovely.

July 2nd Our usual meeting of our quilt group at the cricket field.

Only this time park employees were busy mowing the field, first with the mower, then a 2nd equally noisy truck, don't know what its purpose was, then a 3rd truck to pick up clippings.

Next time we will gather in Gail's backyard. Above Gail is working on a piece that Joyce gifted to her. 

July 3rd Keith and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary at Steamship Bar and Grill.

Even though it is a cold, drizzly day we elected to eat out on the patio. The food was delicious!

One more project finished, this is hand quilted, no recipient chosen yet.

Saturday July 11th

This completes 4 months of this diary, I feel like it is enough.

The USA is in a deeper and deeper mess with 1/4 of the world's cases.

Locally Beacon Hill Park continues to fill with tents, the city is going to court (at the end of July)to attempt to gather the tents in one spot and keep them away from environmentally sensitive areas. There are many tourists in town, hopefully they are all from BC. 

On Friday BC had the highest CoVid numbers for quite a while ~ 30.

Numbers are expected to rise. The population is aware that a 2nd wave is eventually expected.

I am wearing a mask the few times that I shop indoors. 

Trudeau is in trouble for giving a charity millions to administer more millions...

he just forgot or didn't realize or or ??? he is just not saying...

... his family have profited from speaking engagements with this charity. Sheesh.

THE END