WOW - Busy!

Mid-aft Sunday - Grant, H. and our two Japanese summer ESL students are out fishing - Nanaimo Lakes I think. Earlier this week we cruised the online classifieds and found an aluminum boat that appeared to be just what we wanted. Turned out it is: a 14' aluminum boat, trailer and 9.9hp motor - all in really good condition. We managed to get it for a good price. It seems to be about the same age - or a bit newer - than our old boat which we sold in Lethbridge before moving here. Thing is this boat has been stored - complete - in a barn for years. Yesterday morn/aft Grant etc went to Duncan to the new Cdn. Tire/Walmart/Rona and got boat seats, a new life jacket for me, and some plywood to finish off the garage.

On Jun 26 H. and I picked up our first Japanese boy - Yoshio, 16 - at the Victoria airport, and the next day we picked up Akiya, 17, also at the Victoria airport. I'm driving them to and from Queen Margaret School in Duncan each morning and afternoon. They will be with us til the end of July. Then on August 3rd we go to QM and pick up two Japanese girls who will be with us for 6 days, after which we switch to another two for another 6 days. Those girls have a really busy schedule.

I had a job interview for Habitat for Humanity on Friday: the job sounds very interesting, and I'm sure I would enjoy it. They want to make sure that whoever takes the position can become competent with MS Access - I downloaded a trial copy of MS Office Pro which is the only way to get Access, and spent a while yesterday trying to figure it out. Some of it is easy, but it is a very in-depth programme. I was just about to take a break when the phone rang - it was Fran W., on the board of the Nanaimo Telephone Visiting Society. I had had an interview back in April or May for the Coordinator position, but they hired someone else. That person just left the position due to personal reasons, and the board felt that since the interviews were only about 2 months ago, it would make sense to offer the position to the next in line - me! I was very surprised, but most pleasantly so. I got a lot of info, and told Fran that I would call her back last night. I did [after we got back from Rathtrevor & dinner at Joey's Only in Parksville with the boys] - and she will be calling me back probably today to set a time Mon - Wed for me to go in for a few hours to be introduced to the job/office etc., hopefully by the previous/previous (??) Coordinator, who is now on the Board. The position is 20 hrs a week, and I will be starting next Monday, July 13th. I told Fran that I have the commitment of driving our Japanese students to/from QM until August 15th, and then the need to be ultra flexible especially when Kasia has her puppies - and that seems to be ok. I'm really looking forward to this job: there will be a lot of learning, but it has variety and will definitely put to good use a lot of the skills I have, both from paid and volunteer (and home!) positions. I was telling Grant yesterday that I think I will check out the VIU calendar to see what relevant courses/workshops/seminars there are.

This week - actually starting tomorrow - is Grant's first holiday week. We were going to go camping this weekend, but I just did not get organized in time. Looking back on the past few days, it is probably fortuitous that we didn't, and therefore I was at home for Fran's phone call yesterday! Anyhow, the plan now is for Grant and I to drive out to Beaver Lake Campsite nr Lake Cowichan [it is owned by Dawnette Humphries, our Area Commissioner for Guides], check it out, and reserve for this coming weekend. We figure it is just about the same distance to QM School from there as from home, and since it has showers/flush toilets it will be a gentle introduction to camping for the boys. I'm hoping we can head out there on Wednesday, picking the boys up from school and taking them to camp, and then coming home on Sunday afternoon. We will have the new alum. boat with us.

If I understand Grant's schedule properly, he will be working Saturday the 18th, and therefore will have Friday the 24th off. Since the boys really seemed to enjoy the beach, we might try going to a beach campsite - but we will see what happens after this coming weekend.

BOAT SOLD! & really, really busy weekend coming up!

It seems every time I turn around these next 10 or so days are getting busier and busier! Tuesday night - finally - we sold the boat, and yesterday the buyer came and paid for it and took it home. I'm feeling ok with the price we got, after having it for almost 3 years we got plenty of use out of it. Grant is still upset he did not leave the kicker off - but Amanda has reminded him that most boats/trailers we see for sale have a motor also. I think both Grant and Amanda want to replace it with something smaller fairly soon, but I'm hoping to wait a bit..

It is cloudy today - hope the weather is not too bad for our GUIDE CAMP here this weekend. Today Amanda and I are doing lots of preparations for it - cleaning, tidying etc, and will continue tomorrow. She has a widup BBQ for her Fish Job this evening, then tomorrow afternoon she needs to follow Grant down to Duncan where we are dropping the motorhome off for a rental. Grant is off tomorrow, but will be very busy - he can relax Saturday and Sunday in between taking Richard to games.

After no-one enquiring, it looks like we may have some HelpExchange helpers during July and August. I'm really hoping I can manage to schedule them so it is not a flood of people sometimes with no one for weeks other times. And that I can keep the chores 'coming'. It is not looking terribly good for Homestay Students for September - but still keeping my fingers crossed.

There have not been any more interesting/suitable jobs for me to apply to in the last couple of weeks - I'm hoping that I get a call on the Habitat for Humanity job, which seems to be a perfect fit for me.

Must run - and begin attacking the TO DO LIST.

HIKE!

This afternoon Amanda, Richard and I drove to Westwood Lake, parked, and after walking on the trail to the (north?) end of the lake, started picking trails [left or right....straight or left?]. We were using a map Amanda found online to the 'Westwood hills'..explored lots of trails, found something that was supposed to be an old Scout Hut, and got to several points on trails where my brain said 'NO' (my fear of heights). We backtracked a bit, and finally ended back on the Westwood Lake Trail. By all the signposts, it seems the Lake Trail itself is app 6 or 7 km, and then we did at least 3 km up and down the other trails, so I'm guessing that we did about 10 km. The morning started out cloudy, but by the time we got to the lake it was sunny, and the beach was full. Unfortunately Amanda forgot a hat, so the sun was bothering her when we were out in the open areas. She was a bit disappointed we didn't get to the points of interest mentioned in the onine article, but it was still a good, enjoyable, attractive hike. And, hey, it got Richard out of the house! When we were back on the Lake trail Heather took a couple of pictures of a wild turkey:

PICTURE OF WILD TURKEY TO GO IN POSTING~

we think it was a male protecting the female who was probably on the nest. After the hike we headed into town and stopped at the Dairy Queen at Country Club Mall: I had a Sundae [with coffee & hot caramel sauce & nuts...yummy!], Richard had a Brownie Dough Blizzard, and Amanda had a Cheesecake Blizzard.

When we were out hiking, Grant took Rod out in the boat in the Newcastle Island area: they both said it was quite windy and too choppy to really do much fishing. When we got home Grant was crashed on the couch and Rod was watching cartoons.

Middle of June...where has the month gone?

Photo: I took this photo two summers ago, of this cute little tree frog in a rose in the front garden. Ever since we keep looking in the roses to look for frogs! (I'm going to start adding photos to postings whenever I can - some will be relevant to the posting, others wil be random photos like this one)

Grant is working today - 8/4 - Amanda is working from 9am til ??. Both Rod & Richard are still asleep - tho I should get them up soon. Today is the 'Lake Day' which is instead of Cedar Scouting's Family Camp. Richard has chosen not to go, but Rod is excited about going. They are to bring either a dessert or a salad..Rod spent a while trying to find Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes last night, with no luck - I think I will get him to make some brownies or something using a cake mix - but he needs to get up and get moving first.

Grant wants to take the Boat out on the ocean tomorrow, so today I need to insure the trailer - a trip I had not really planned on into Ladysmith! This afternoon Amanda and I are getting groceries, but I need to plan on Rod getting picked up sometime late afternoon - maybe Grant can do that? Need to drop in on Mom at Kiwanis Lodge too - tho some times I'm not really sure why. She is speaking more, but does not recognize us. Tho the staff say she is calling out for me. On Tuesday when we were there she wanted to know 'who you people are' - when I told her she is my mother, she said 'how did that happen?' and then 'I don't believe you'. But at least the staff say she seems to be settling a bit better. They are still keeping her mostly in her room because of this infection she still seems to have.

Ian phoned from Camp yesterday..he only talked to Amanda..! Guess I will have to actually WRITE HIM A LETTER!

HOMESTAY:

• I'm still trying to get Helpers/WWOOFers for the summer - may have one girl from the UK for a couple of weeks starting July 21st, but would like more.


• I discovered that Queen Margaret School in Duncan does ESL/Homestay during July & August. We are now set to have two Japanese Jr. High boys = Yoshio and Akiya = from June 26 or 27 until at least the end of July, with the possibility of having them til the end of August. If they don't need our Homestay in August, we should be able to switch to the other Queen Margaret programme, which will be 2 Japanese girls for one week, then switch to 2 different girls for the 2nd week.


• So far no good news with SD68 for September - there are far fewer International Student applications for Sept., and as always our location seems to make it more difficult for placing a Student. Will keep our fingers crossed!


• If we don't have a SD68 student by then end of June we may list as Homestay with the University - at least for July/August/Sept and see what happens.

First Motorhome CAMPING Weekend May 29/31

We were blessed with truly gorgeous weather for our first Camping trip in way, way too long. I left home around 5pm - with Rod - and we got to the campsite about 6pm. Not bad for my first time! I drove slowly around the campsite, and found a nice site I was able to drive into easily. Later during the weekend I walked the entire campsire, and decided there was only one other campsite that was nicer. We were in Site #8 - definitely worth going to again. The 'best' one was #25 - large pull-thru site, almost overlooking the river, very private. Only downside to that one was distance to the water. #8 was right beside the water!

Friday during the daytime Grant drove out to get firewood first thing; then drove to Lake Cowichan to play tennis with Richard; then drove back to Lake Cowichan with Rod to buy vlies. Then I went back home (left at 1630) to pick up Amanda (and stuff I'd forgotten) to go to the last District Meeting of the year at Noreen's place. We left shortly after 8:30, then I left the house to drive back to camp around 9. By rights I should have been back to camp well before 10. BUT I missed the turnoff from Old Lake Cowichan Road to the road for the caqmpground, and ended up all the way back to Riverbottom Road..so I took that (and the needed turns off that road)...and almost missed the turn to the campground. The signs are almost impossible to see/read in the dark. I got to the beginning of the camping area and found Grant looking/waiting for me with a flashlight. He had gotten the Campground Attendant and was going to get him to go up the Hill for Cellphone reception and start phoning to try and find me.

WILL CONTINUE THIS SAGA LATER!