Although the connections are not always obvious, personal change is inseparable from social and political change. -Harriet Lerner, psychologist (b. 1944)

Hello Patrizio I can't seem to find the link you sent me re your pad in France (possibly because I nodded off looking for it!) so could I ask you to send again please. Just got back from long weekend in Dorset visiting Jane F, Yvonne + Paul and staying in lovely hotel in Poole. Will send some pics when I have downloaded.Love to all xxx

Ray, Pat and I are thinking of a ride in the morning. Let us know if that might work for you. G

Greetings Patricio and Cora Lee--

Hope all's well with you both and at the Island Inn to which our request is relevant. (I'll hold the quote for a big finish!) Dom Pedro and I have to go to the Island for a family wedding in Courtenay on June 28. Our nephew Will (who is P's sister Jane's son) and Claire, his long-time girlfriend, are finally tying the knot. We are using the opportunity to visit with family at the wedding and on Denman Island where we will stay with friends for a night or two. John, aka "Wedge" (don't ask …) is a long-time engineer pal of P's. They met about a zillion years ago at Gibraltar Mines in Williams Lake where P was on his first assignment as a newly-minted engineer and Wedge was on one of his work-terms while still a student at Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and have remained good friends ever since.

Wedge and his wife live on Denman on a lot that is next door to what used to be Mum and Charlie's place there. Wedge's wife JoAnne McLean is, in fact, the author JP McLean. Her first book--part one of a proposed trilogy entitled The Gift--is available online. I have read it and enjoyed it as much as I could as it is not a favourite genre. I think it is a so-called "urban fantasy"--definitely chick lit--and is very much along the lines of the Fifty Shades …. trilogy, which I am almost embarrassed to admit I read right through! To her credit, though, JoAnne's book is MUCH better written and has better character development. I confess that I am mildly curious to know what happens to her main character (a lovely young woman much like JoAnne herself) in the sequel(s).

Our accommodation on the Island thus being taken care of, we need a place to lay our weary bones in Vancouver on our way to the Island. We have to spend a couple of days in Vancouver around this time in order to apply for our Chinese visas for out big Asian tour this fall. We have to apply in person at the embassy in Vancouver and then come back after four working days for pick up. We are hoping to make our application on June 26 (Wednesday) sometime in the morning or early afternoon. (The embassy closes at 2:00 or 3:00.) This means we would like to stay at the Island Inn that night and also the night before as that is the day (Tuesday, June 25) we will drive down from The Naramata. We will be off to the Island on Thursday, the 27th. We will have to come back to Vancouver to pick up the visas the next week--on Tuesday or Wednesday (July 2 or 3) depending on when they are ready. We MAY need a bed for another night at this stage but I am not sure … Would any of this be possible? Let us know, please.

And now for the quote, which I thought was quite apropo … "Once they were librarians, but that is a subject they will only discuss if heavily intoxicated." It is from Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus my current read. I am enjoying it very much. It is well-written, populated with interesting characters, and has a fairly engrossing story line. It is a little more thought-provoking than John Sandford's latest Prey offering (though this was a good read for a few cloudy afternoons) but not quite as thought-provoking as Ghana Must Go, with which Petey and I are both still struggling. Looking forward to hearing from you and to a visit. Cheers for now, Lurkin' Lynnie XOXOXO

P.S. Petey can't do you one better in the medical mishaps category, Patrick, but he does have his own tale to tell. It is of emergency eye surgery in Kamloops. We don't have any pictures … although I'm thinking now that a few would have been in order, especially one taken just after the surgery when he looked as though he'd just gone a few rounds with Mohammed Ali … or some pavement after falling off a bike! Another one of him hanging off the end of the blow-up bed in the den reading his Kobo or working on his computer would show his resourcefulness in getting to continue to do what he wanted to do all the while keeping his head down for 18 hours a day. He'll fill you in on more details when we see you (pun totally intended). ;-)

You and Peter are very welcome to come anytime. June 25 & 26th are fine as well as July 2 or whenever you need a bed. Would love to see you both and hear all your news! Hugs Corinne

Yay!! Thanks so much for the prompt and positive reply. Will keep you posted re our ETA at the Island Inn on June 25th! Cheers for now and hugs back to you both. Lynnie XOXO

P, will have abstain today. Cobby & I are in a bed building project for the Deli -- so when things get bad with the sisterhood, I have a place to sleep. Might need it sooner than later. See you for cards tonight, W

Mike, As it turns out, I will be there closer to 7:00. Pat favoured a start closer to 7:00 as well. G No prob 3 NT

Mike, It has been called for 6:30 in the past. Maybe Sarge or Pat can confirm. G

That works. Wayne