Return to The Islay Inn Blues: Saturday, October 19th

A failure is a man who has blundered but is not able to cash in on the experience. -Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)

 
Up just before alarm went off to creep downstairs to use shower off bedroom there so as not to disturb Penny and Lisa. (She is living with her Mom until her newly purchased flat is ready to occupy. At this time she and her partner, Dave, an ex-military man, now working for a high security firm protecting business men in the Middle East, will move in together. Cora Lee was up by the time I was dressed and ready to go. We had some overlefts for breakfast and then it was time to put our bags outside. Penny insisted on getting out of bed to say goodbye and when taxi arrived, right on time, we kissed and hugged and waved goodbye, thanking her for all her generous hospitality.

Hadn't realized that Gatwick was even further outside London than Heathrow!  Taxi fare was  £65 but well worth it! Fortunately, traffic was light, as one could expect on an early Saturday morning, so we sped along. Arrived at the South Terminal at about 6:05 am so were in plenty of time to check-in. Pleasant chap at counter was from Spain so we chatted about Barcelona, (only 3 hours from where we were staying in Languedoc), and food, etc. He was quite apologetic about having to charge me £49 for my overweight bag, (31 kg, 23 kg is limit. Cora Lee was only 20.5 kg in spite of all her considerable Power Shopping! Guess I didn't leave enough stuff with Jamie really wasn't fussed at all as I knew I had more than my allowance but I do think the airlines should use the combined weight of both passenger and checked bags to determine charges. Too, too politically incorrect, I suspect and nobody want's to call a spade a spade. I was certainly praying that I didn't have to sit beside some of the grossly overweight people in our departure lounge!

At any rate, by the time we cleared security and found a spot to sit until our gate was posted, we took turns wandering the Duty Free Shops. I cried waterfalls when I saw all the fabulous Single Malts that I couldn't buy unless I wanted to risk smuggling or pay exorbitant tax, (100%+), for any overage. Thought crossed my mind that perhaps I could just drink two bottles before we boarded, all the better to sleep all the way home!
 

Flight was quite a good one and neither of us slept, really. I took a few short cat naps but otherwise we both watched films. First I picked was remarkably fascinating, Fill the Void:

(Hebrew: למלא את החלל‎ - lemale et ha'ḥalal), is a 2012 Israeli drama film written and directed by Rama Burshtein. It focuses on life among the Haredi Jewish community in Tel Aviv, Israel. Hadas Yaron stars as Shira Mendelman, an 18-year-old girl who is pressured to marry her deceased older sister's husband following the death of her sister in childbirth. 

The film required a lengthy production period, taking over a year for the casting to be completed and another year and three months for editing. Burshtein, who was doubtful as to how much of the process would be completed, took a step-by-step approach, focusing first on the writing, then on accumulating enough funding for the project, followed by the filming and editing. Burshtein became the first Orthodox Jewish woman to direct a movie intended for wide distribution. The 90-minute Fill the Void premiered at the 69th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2012 and was later released in the United States on May 24, 2013.

Fill the Void was well received by critics for its depiction of Orthodox Jews and their lifestyle. It won seven Israeli Academy Awards, and lead actress Hadas Yaron won Best Actress for her portrayal of Shira at the Venice Film Festival.

Anyway, if this interests you, I certainly recommend it. Followed that with a light, French rom-com, Fly Me to the Moon (Un plan parfait). “Marriages in our family only work out the second time around,” is how one character explains the premise behind the film, then The Place Beyond the Pines, a 2012 American crime drama with Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and Ray Liotta. Unfortunately, for me, I was only able to see about an hour's worth of it as before it was finished we were landing in Vancouver. No trouble clearing Customs and didn't have to pay any duty for excess alcohol so I was kicking myself that I hadn't bought two more bottles of malt. Of course, if I had, I'd probably have been caught out! 

Chloë  was working at Granville Island Brewery from 10 am-6:00 pm, so we grabbed a cab and were home by just before noon. Cora Lee walked over to GIB to get a house key while I waited outside with baggage. One of our neighbours came by so he let me into building and helped me with the bags, as well. I waited in the hallway outside our door and had a grand time talking to a number of other neighbour as they passed by. Was still relating parts of our extended trip to Diana/Bob, lovely older couple who are now quite friendly with Clara/Dusty, (They arrived, from Winnipeg, yesterday, and are both well. They'll be here until end of April. Big family gathering next August to celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary!), when Coramandel arrived with house key.

Had most of our initial unpacking done by by 2:00 pm so I decided to go for a short ride, (While I left my bike I brought back my GPS Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/393395359#.UmRkIYaEFD0.email), to pick up some groceries on Broadway about 3:00 pm. Quite overcast but dry, and not overly cool. As you obviously know, Vancouver has had very thick fog for much of past week. I wore shorts but my hands were a bit chilly as I'd worn regular, summer riding gloves instead of warmer winter ones. Stopped in to say hello to close friends, Elaine/Ted, on my way back from Young Brothers and had a very pleasant catch-up visit with them.



Back home just after 6:00 pm and Chloë was there so we had a warm reunion. She has been very busy ever since we left as she has been working seven days a week for almost all of last two months: Monday-Friday at Aunt Leah's and then Sat/Sun at GIB. She threw together a tasty green salad and Cora Lee reheated some very tasty Chinese food that her sister, Pam, and brother-in-law, Greg, had left after staying for almost a week. They flew back to Winnipeg on Friday, day before we arrived home.  

She didn't stay too long after dinner as she wanted to get home to see Maggie. Think she is on her last legs, poor thing. She is hardly eating, just drinking water most of the time. Her condition has deteriorated quite rapidly over last week or so, according to Chloë. Corinne will go over to Chloë's loft after church on Sunday. We think we will bring her back here, either on Sunday or else on Monday so she has more company, and see how that goes. Sad to say, but I suspect we will need to have her put to sleep shortly. Unless she begins to start eating and is able to move around a bit more, (She can't negotiate the stairs at the loft anymore.), we don't want to prolong her obvious discomfort. I think that her organs are simply shutting down in much the same way as what happened to both Sneakers and Smokey, her older "sisters".

Anyway, always difficult to lose a pet that that been part of the family for so many years.  Nevertheless, Maggster has had a pretty good life, all in all, being saved as a feral kitten from the forest north of Squamish, to go on to live in Luxury, Sheer Luxury, at The Island Inn for me, (if it comes to that), just around the corner, as both Cora Lee and Chloë were weeping while watching a recorded episode of The Young and the Restless, his evening before dinner! 

Dear Sir Pat and Lady Corinne.Welcome home.Really good to see you yesterday even though briefly.We are thrilled with your most generous presents and it was most fitting to be able to spend your last moments with you both amidst a most delicious breakfast! It was good to catch up with Penelope again and hope she did not find me too difficult! Must dash as library is about to close.Fondestos. Sir James and Lady Pat. 

Patrick,

This is just a friendly reminder about your volunteer shift on Monday Oct 21 as a Reception Bar Server at our annual fundraiser Gala: Literati. 

You are scheduled from 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. .Please report to Rivka Lipsey, volunteer crew captain at Il Centro, 3075 Slocan St., Vancouver. If you have a "Serving it Right" certificate, please bring it along. Suggested attire: cocktail/serving attire, i.e. black bottoms, comfortable shoes and white top (dressy ok).

We are not able to provide food for volunteers this year, please eat before your shift or bring a snack to keep you going.  Attached is some valuable information, please review it before your shift. Many thanks! We are so looking forward to your help and so grateful! We could not do this festival without you! Volunteers don't just do the work ~ they make it work. -Carol Pettit  Kathryn Fowler, Volunteer Manager