News from Home and Abroad

 The night shift work has begun on the huge bridge that had a troubled construction. 

The Ironworkers Memorial  Second Narrows Crossing Bridge   will have lanes closed, with single and double lane closures each night from 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.  to 5.30 a.m. Then the 10  or so workers will thankfully go home for some sleep.

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 Info from the Internet

The bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge, designed by Swan Wooster Engineering Co. Ltd. Construction began in November 1957, and the bridge was officially opened on August 25, 1960. It cost approximately $23 million to build.^[5] Tolls were charged until April 1, 1963.^[6]

The bridge is 1,292 metres (4,239 ft) long with a centre span of 335 metres (1,099 ft). It is part of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1).

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Routine work is being carried out over 5 nights this week, some nights have been fine, others a bit wet. Guess who is there from maybe 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., as 2 lanes are closed and one lane left open for vehicles?? I am such a morning person I told Josh I would struggle if it was later than 9 p.m. far less all night. 

Now the news at home. 

Just a short time ago Leeanne at Quilt Me Kiwi showed the massive piece of green satin fabric, that was loaded on her long arm quilting machine, and being turned into Christmas Stockings, a table runner and 3 cushion covers. She so generously did a giveaway for a cushion cover of your choice.

I WON a cushion of my choice.  So I chose a cushion, then realised I still had some lovely birthday cash to spend, so a quick email, are the other 2 cushions still for sale? YES. Yes please, can you add them to my parcel. YES.

Then I found the photo for the table runner, still some cash left, so could you please add that too? Yes, I'll open the carton and squash the runner in. This was Wednesday , it arrived  Thursday morning.

The runner is on the cabinet Hugh made to show his model boats, and I use the top for cutting out smaller fabric pieces. The new cat Smokey also loves to lie there in the sunshine and see out the window. She will be warned not to put and dirty paws or claws there from now on.

The detailed quilting that Leeanne does is stunningly amazing, even the back is beautiful.

If you need to see any of her work, or contact her to get a quilt top quilted, or to buy anything she has for sale, here are all her details.

https://felt.co.nz/shop/quiltmekiwi

Mobile phone. 0282104213

Home phone 09 4322449

email.   quiltmekiwi@gmail.co.nz

Or you can find Leeanne on Instagram,, quiltmekiwi

 Which is where I found the first post with thye cushion giveaway.

Quotation of the day, author unknown...

" Saving money for a rainy day  means 

when it rains you can spend it all"

Greetings from Jean

Sea Bus Travel in Vancouver

Courtesy of the internet.

The SeaBus is our passenger ferry that crosses the Burrard Inlet, connecting Downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver. Each ferry can seat up to 395 passengers at a time, and departs every 15 minutes during the day. It takes a short 12 minutes to cross the Inlet.

The Sea Bus at Lonsdale Quay

Views to North Vancouver

This is the way to travel to Vancouver City  across the Burrard Inlet, maybe a little like the ferry that connects Auckland to  other areas across the harbour. You can take your bike, your scooter, or even be an " Older person" with a walker frame. Up to 395 passengers, and a schedule that would suit people going to work or for a visit to another area of the city.

How I long to be younger and fly north.

Quotation of the day, from Viola Davis

" All dreams are within reach, 

All you have to do is keep moving towards them"

Greetings from Jean

Vancouver Island snapshots

 Josh has continued his travels in B.C., going across to Vancouver Island and staying near  Nanaimo, a kayak trip out near the open sea, a visit to the Museum in Victoria, a climb up Mt Washington, ( there is a zip line there) what views from the top, and now after a night back in Squamish  has returned to Vancouver and is ready to begin work next Monday.

This is Woolly, as he is known, at the Royal B C Museum,  He is a replica of the largest animal to ever walk on earth. He is built from plywood, chicken wire, foam and nine muskox hides.  The tusks are fibreglass fossil casts.  Quite impressive. 

I tried to align the photos but each time they returned to a different layout.

It seems so strange to know it is SO hot there, a swim to cool down, and here we have the fire lit and winter gear on. 

 I have found several ways to turn neatly the ends of zipper tapes, there is such a lot of very generous free info there, to make bag tops look neat and tidy, One lady turned the tape back, sealed the matching edges with a cigarette lighter, clamped the fabric together with pliers,  turned it back so the tops were exactly even !! and it looked very professional.

I passed my medical and the other test for my driving licence renewal, here in NZ, you have to renew the licence every 2 years after 80 years of age.A cognitive test, draw a clock with a given time, identify road signs, remember a person's name and address, and name as many animals as you can in one minute. I think I scored the required 30 points or more. Then a mini medical, I have lost weight, and lost height!!! BUT I passed !!!!

Quotations of the day, authors unknown

Nothing is impossible, and success is never final.

Greetings from Jean.

Vicarious travel in Alberta.

 Josh has arrived in Alberta, saying Banff is so busy.The height of the summer season probably. A few more photos from out and about.

Banff looking very colourful.

Now some from Lake Louise or near that area.

                                                                       

Look at that colour, similar to our southern lakes fed from glaciers.

And this wee chipmunk is my pick, that cheeky look and wonderful stripes.

Meantime, back here, a visit to ED, ( the notice did say we are so understaffed you might have a 10 hour wait!!!),  mine was a mere TWO hours,  finally saw the same Dr as the first time, so she has suggested an outpatient visit, probably a stress test and then maybe another visit to Wellington Cardiology ward. So a huge tidy up with  patterns sorted into large envelopes, fabric sorted too, and unfinished items all ready to be duly worked on.

Quotation of the day, from A A Milne

" If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember.

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, 

and smarter than you think.

But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you "

Greetings from Jean

Canada travels continue

 

I continue my posts with Canadian updates, one day soon there might be a photo with a bag or something in the sewing arena!!!

Josh has left Vancouver and is on his way to Banff. Stopping overnight, 36C even in the tent with a fan going?  I think it must run on the car battery or its own battery.

The scenery is stunning, the distances huge,  it  leaves our small country way behind with those majestic mountains all along. And still snow at the top.

A few photos from the last 2 days. These three are on the way near Kamloops.

These are near Revelstoke, where he is staying for a few days, Great opportunities with  a day pass with a gondola ride, a downhill ride in a cart on rails? axe throwing? and more. 

And we had a phone call, the miracles of communication.

As a Grandma I feel so honoured for the photos, messages and phone calls.

Quotation of the day , from our late Sir Edmund Hillary,

" Life's a bit like mountaineering-never look down"

Greetings from Jean.

Squamish, B .C . , Canada

 Our Grandson has been out and about, and this first series of his photos is from the Squamish area.

The essential item is bear spray !!! Specially when out camping in a tent!!!

From the Internet....

Squamish is a town north of Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. It's at the northern tip of the island-dotted Howe Sound, and surrounded by mountains like the Stawamus Chief, a huge granite monolith. The Sea to Sky Gondola has views of the sound and nearby Shannon Falls, a towering waterfall cascading down a series of cliffs.

........

Daytime temperatures in and near Vancouver have been  between 14C at night up to 28 C or more in the day, while back here it is definitely winter with some huge frosts down south.

I am amazed there is still snow on the tops. And I did see in another photo someone swimming.

The joy of the internet when  someone is away from home or overseas, Apple have a wonderful app that can locate a person or their missing device. With the time difference  we either send or receive message at all odd times.

Meantime I continue to behave, no more trips, and am reasonably okay.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

" Be brave and follow your dreams"

Greetings from Jean

Living in Canada

 Hi, this is how I will be living in Canada for maybe 2 years !!!

The word to look for is  "Vicariously" !!!

Our grandson Josh has flown to Vancouver, has a position with a Geology Engineering company and might be there for a good while. If he can tolerate the heat. A huge shock after some mornings back here were minus in the Celsius range, and now up to 28C daytime and still very warm at night.

At Auckland Airport Departure Area on 6th July . 

 He has bought a Dodge  Stow and Go, and has a few weeks to travel before he starts the new job.

Life in Vancouver is so different to here in NZ, 

But we have had phone calls, and as a grandmother, feel so honoured he phones us, Photos, emails, and on Messenger so easy to do.

Now all he needs to do is find a flat or room to let, , fit the huge wagon out for sleeping and get bear spray and a bear horn for safety, as he will no doubt be wanting to  explore some of the remote areas. 

I am sure he will be seeing scenery like this, only on a mega scale.

Meantime, back to our news, I am still sewing, not as much or as quickly as before, 2 hospital trips, a possibly further angiogram maybe, if new medication that has SO many side effects is not tolerated !!

And another birthday in a few weeks.

This was on my birthday several years ago at Turoa skifield, in the Central Plateau, North Island.

So I will continue to live , again that wonderful word that was new to me, " Vicariously" through Josh's news, and will see  much more of Canada in the following months.

Quotation of the day, author unknown'

" You can't buy happiness, but you can  live in Canada. 

And that's much the same thing " 

Greetings from Jean