Travel Vicariously from home

 My travels continue vicariously from home, in  a warm comfortable room, not outdoors in the freezing cold. But further north for a few days in Iceland.

The scenery is barren, even in summer,  a little green in places,  temperatures according to yr.no have varied from 2 Celsius, to a warm 29 C. 

Feast your eyes on some of that northern beauty.

Definitely a photo heavy post today.

This is definitely my favourite. 

These might all be near the southern coastline area.

But maybe the highlight of this short trip would be the underwater scuba  adventure.  Crystal clear water, blues and greens and some topaz as well.

And so ends my armchair travel for now.

I have joined  Jill Benson's  Bagineers Swap n Sew.  This will be so  exciting.,

 Such fun to be a part of an online group right here in NZ.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

" A Job might fill your pocket,

 but an adventure

 fills your heart and soul"

Greetings from Jean.

From Canada, " En Garde"

I saw this a while ago, on Karen Neary's page, and yesterday decided to order it.  The name, and her words, all say how determined you are in Canada to withstand any intrusion from further south. To stand firm, and be ready.

I have a stash of batiks, Hugh would call it a massive hoard, and I will see what delightful fabrics can be ready when the pattern arrives. This is in paper format only, so a little wait till I can undo the envelope and start to assemble pieces.

Sew Karen-ly Created ,  in Nova Scotia, visit and see the other delights there.  Canada  has a special place in my heart and this pattern called out to me. 

 These are the words with the pattern on Karen's web site.

                       -------------------------------

"With his wings (and elbows) lifted, and sporting a maple leaf on his breast, this Canada Goose embodies the spirit of patriotism sweeping our country. The simple design shows a protective goose glancing upward at the gaggle of his compatriots at the ready to help."

                      -----------------------------

Meantime life continues at a much safer and slower pace, we are both doing okay, the district nurse has visited, and will call again on Saturday.

Thank you all for your lovely comments,

 I can say that when something is amiss and you cannot see it, a few possibilities flash through your mind, specially at times when you lie waiting for a procedure, Reassuring and caring, they stood out as attributes that every nurse and doctor showed every time they came to see me.

In  2015, Jake Bailey  won the Quote of the Year competition. Massey University voted an unprecedented 77% to  decide  Jake to be the winner. He was Head Boy at Christchurch Boys High School, and a week prior to prize-giving he was diagnosed with Burkitt non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and  attended the prize giving in a wheelchair, He was told he might not live to see that day,  so with courage, determination ,huge  support and love  from family and peers,  he gave his speech , not knowing when he wrote it a few weeks earlier that this would be how he would attend. 

 His words  seem so appropriate for today.

Quotation of the day, an excerpt  from  a speech by Jake Bailey,

 " So be gallant, be great, be gracious and be 

grateful for the opportunities that you have "

Greetings from Jean.

 

And so the days continue North and further South

 A friend commented had I been in hospital, yes I had but after starting one post decided it was way too wordy and deleted the whole 25 yards!!! This might be longer, so skip it all if you want the good news, I am home, and am much better.

The angina  episodes had become more frequent and lasted longer. Yes, for women the angina symptoms can be quite different.

So last Monday, the ambulance arrived, I said goodbye to Hugh and off I went. Maybe one night I thought. The usual overnight bag and a small puzzle book.

Admitted to hospital, and in the  5 bed  ED ward for a night, then another, then told I would be flown to Wellington for an angiogram. Their cardiac surgeon's words " We would be very interested to see her".

A cloudy blustery rainy flight, Lovely lady pilot. Flight nurse, co-pilot, another patient, ( he was so full of good cheer I called him Cheerful Charlie !! Not his name at all.

Arrived , off to the cardiac unit, told it would be all go, you are off to the PCI theatre very soon. That is is " Percutaneous Coronary Intervention". Local in right wrist, line in for dye or more, some sedative and more other medication that they don't tell you,  warm blanket ,  and machines everywhere.

A short time, then back onto my own bed ( that theatre bed was SO narrow!!!).

Reassurance I did not need a stent,!!! Hooray.,

I had the most wonderful room-mate in Wellington, Sandy,  hope you read this, we met in a hospital room, became friends, and I am sure will get to meet again in a much happier place, maybe that super cafe in Feilding when you do come up. 

A few more days, medications altered and altered again, our favourite nurse came to say goodbye on the Thursday night ( his lady back in India is one very lucky lady). and a super flight back to Whanganui on Saturday, clear skies and no wind

.The same lady pilot, and after landing I mentioned that I knew I would be flying in this plane as I had followed them all the way down the coast, past Kapiti Island, then as the plane  landed and taxied to the same hangar . How did you know all that? Easy, I followed you on Flight Radar on my iPhone. Wow, you are right up with it all. Yes, you have to be, even at my age.

One night in our local hospital and Hooray, home at last.

But the real drama was at home,  Friday morning , Hugh had reached out to pat the cat and  Boris  bit his left arm, BADLY, Ambulance, after one hour still bleeding, they made a local Doctor's appt, wonderful ladies, another hour at the doctors, strapped to what my Dad would call " Back of beyond" . A visit to our own GP this morning showed 4 puncture wounds, new dressings, and re- strapped . Try not to get this dirty in the garden !!!

He hadn't rung me, too busy with flowing blood, I had rung at 8.30 and could hear ladies, yes more than one, talking in the background. Who's there? I have the ambulance here.  Truly, that is when your mind goes into rapid overtime and in a split second start thinking " What's happened" .

So we are both so very thankful for all our medical and accident assistance available, how quickly and competently they sort out problems or disasters, they called it " A stressful situation" , and it really was. Not the time for me to be many kilometres away.

The moral of all this, take more than one puzzle book, and multiple pairs of anything else  you  might need over a week. Before I went to Wellington, the other patient  ( C C for short ) had come in with nothing. I offered him pink perfumed body wash, shampoo and conditioner, and some " Feminine products" that he might want to decline. His darling step-daughter had gone shopping and he was kitted out with new gear, super body wash, deodorant, undies, even slippers and socks, So Cheerful Charlie, the delightful room-mate ,was okay with all his clothes  after all.

Now to catch up on blog news, and slowly adjust to home life again.

The blue skies, morning red clouds, and a cosy fire at night have not looked so good for some time.

Quotation of the day, from Seneca The Younger, 

" Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"

Greetings from Jean

National Flag of Canada Day

 An excerpt from March 17th, 2017.

 "Have you ever participated in a swap of any kind? This was a first time for me, and my envelopes went, from Rangitikei to Rotorua, to Auckland, to Vancouver via a suitcase of luggage in an AirNZ plane, then by plane to Kelowna, then  the staff at Big White posted them!!! What a roundabout way to get my fabric swaps to friends in the 150 Canadian Women group."

  The swap fabrics were returned, some the same way, and others by snail mail. 

This is one piece I have been saving for something special, and the time has come to sew it into a table runner. I have reds to add to the edges, and may try to inset the flag design in a second border  too.

And as our grandson is in Vancouver , there is not a better time to honour all Canadians, as they battle to stand against border tariffs and more. Stand strong, stand together, you will triumph.

Meantime, skiing continues, Cypress Mountain had a huge dump of snow a few weeks ago, a snow shovel is a necessity.

 

Our own travels have included a flight to Dunedin, staying with daughter and son-in-law,  our older daughter flew  down, so we were all together  to celebrate Hugh's birthday back in January.

A cake with candles, and wonderful times together.

AirNZ staff, and airport staff at Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin were so helpful at each step of the flights. We had a delay on the way down, the Rotorua flight had some very disruptive people on board , and security had to board and take them off, then find their luggage to remove that too.So we had a wait at Christchurch till that plane arrived, some 20 minutes late.  We were kept informed all the time, and after that everything went smoothly.

Quotation of the day, from A.  A. Milne

" You can't stay in your corner of the forest

 waiting for others to come to you. 

You have to go to them sometimes"

Greetings from Jean

2024 travels before the New Year

 My vicarious travel continues across British Columbia, Canada.

Whistler, where the 2025 Invictus games will be held,  in February, some in Vancouver as well. The  ski runs are numerous!! and amazing.

Then not far from Vancouver, is Cypress Mountain. The night skiing has begun.

This was edited with a  B&W filter, I can only imagine the thrill of being there. And just 30 minutes from  North Vancouver, a dream that is really true. 

Down here, I am getting the rivet press into action, and all the new rivets, delivered by Hamish himself, we met at Sanson, so much traffic,  and SO  many thanks to you and the Green Beans  NZ staff, and then the other day a quick trip into Palmerston North, a visit to K Mart, and some nifty little containers for different colours. 

With messages from  Green Beans to stock up, I did just that. I guarantee there are enough to last me for ever !!!

 Originally for a Weber or similar BBQ, I have commandeered it before anyone decided to buy it. A few more containers next visit for some  bag hardware and it will all be neat and tidy.

Quotation of the day,  from Michael Bond, author of " A Bear Called Paddington" ,

" A wise bear always keeps a marmalade sandwich 

in his hat in case of emergency"

Greetings from Jean

Christmas and then 2025 will arrive

  Christmas and New Year Greetings to all my friends across the oceans.

We had a very quiet day, phone calls ,video links south and way further North, older daughter arrived, we  will fly south to see  younger daughter and son-in-law in January in time for Hugh's birthday. Older daughter joins us on the flight half way down.  Friends are staying to look after Boris and Smokey.

In Vancouver the rain continues, not as cold as when Josh was way further north, Season Passes for skiing at Whistler are sold out!!!

Grand-daughter is north of us, a  phone call then a wonderful card with words I will always treasure.

Santa arrived early here, but his  huge parcel wasn't opened until Christmas Day. Very practical, and SO easy to use, the front axle swivels, the tyres are pneumatic, and Hugh has made a removable thin wood base so that any firewood thrown in will not damage the floor.  

We had a few more phone calls, another video link, and  some gardening before the drizzle set in.

On a random note, my  Bernina QE 440 had a check up a few weeks ago and Barry tells me it has now  stitched  a magnificent  11,178,765 stitches !!!  , from March 2008 to  October this year. If it is anything like our previous Bernina machines, it will outlast my sewing days for sure.

Quotation of the day, author unknown ,

With the new year on the horizon,

 I wish you all go forward with faith, hope, and courage, 

love and laughter,

and family and friends to share the year ahead.

Greetings from Jean

British Columbia in December

  I continue to learn more every day about Canada and its winter temperatures.  Weather reports are very detailed and updated regularly. 

The range went from a balmy 4C in Vancouver to a perishingly cold -20, REAL FEEL according to all the weather reports was -28C !!! some even said " Very Cold".

The road web cams are amazing, and updates before you travel are very useful.

Then there is the Pine Pass Facebook page, where followers write in,  give the updates and states of areas along the highway. Moose, deer, timber spilt, man and his dog missing, And the best " I'm driving to ???,Do you need anything picked up or taken?  Real outback generosity.

Some images of the web cams.  Powder King skifield  access road

Highway 97, at Highway 16 Junction, Prince  George

Highway 97, North of Prince George

Powder King access road, on 18th December. 

Snow tyres are essential, and in some areas you are advised to carry blankets, food, a torch, and extra clothing.

From the vicarious travel, I understand that 4  layers of real winter clothing,  fleece lined long boots, and air activated hand warmers ( that last the whole day in your gloves) are the norm,  when working outdoors for many long hours, and " a whole new respect for those who work in these conditions all the time " was a comment.

Meantime back home, a dear friend Jenny Benton has a huge sorrow, as Robin passed away suddenly at the end of November. His memorial service has been held in Levin. Sympathy and caring thoughts from so many have been sent .

The  panels are still in their original condition, I'm waiting till 2025 to tackle them and find patterns to do them justice. I have read that a non stick needle is a great help.

Quotation of the day from Khalil  Gibran

" When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight"

Greetings from Jean