Sunday again! Day's and weeks flying by.

Foggy start to another beauty day 🌞😎

Being north this winter is a change from our usual winter, although it's really been nice catching up with family and friends that we just didn't get to see over the last many years. When we moved out of town to Ladysmith for work, then in retirement we only had a half year in BC, and even that is cut to visit in Grande Prairie, or other parts of Canada as we traveled. 

So being here in Port Alberni has been a really great time again, seeing people that we haven't seen for many years. I'm thinking it's kinda like a reunion every time we go to town 🤣, really. 

Today we are going to Courtenay for a visit with a friend that we met when we were in Newfoundland a few years ago. Winston helped us see that city of Saint John's just a little better than the tourists we were. During our time there we looked him up as his sister Cindy said he'd love to give us a tour of his hometown. He's come to the Island for a visit and looking after Cindy and Ray's house as they holiday south. 

Polly often talks of just how wonderful Winston was showing us around his home town, giving us a look at places that we would likely have never thought to go see. It will be nice to see Winston again, we got to know him quite well during our stay in Saint John's, I'm thinking we were there a month that time we visited. 

Our friends Americo and Claudette will join us, lunch at a pub with good friends, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I hear the weather be sunny 😎 too, that'll be nice, Port Alberni has been basted in fog the last few days, be nice to see the sun 🌞 again. 

I woke this morning thinking of my little shop that I need to organize so I can start making things again. I have everything in it, and can move around, but it's really tight, I need to develop a good plan for where everything will be setup. Once I got up I started thinking how it will be, I'm soon to go out and move a few things around to begin with, just get an idea of how my work flow will work. 

When I had my tent setup at our campsite, I often used my mitre saw outside, with a cover on it so it didn't get wet when it rained, but here I'm trying to have it inside, ? Not sure that's going to work. I attached it to a plywood box I'd picked up last year when I bought a stand for the saw, but the stand that I thought would work out, was cumbersum, and heavy, so not really portable as I'd thought it would be. So now I'm experimenting with the idea of a stand on wheels, that I can expand as needed, and tucked away when not in use. 

I went to a site called SketchUp, going to try it, they have a Free tryout, but I feel like too much learning to get that right, I'm thinking paper, and pencil ✏️ be my best opinion, or just get in the shop and start moving stuff around. That's most likely what's going to happen. 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to building stuff again, that's my goal, not the planning, but the building. Planters again for spring, and I'm sure a few more things that I'm thinking of, benches, I have a few really big pieces of cedar that I've been hanging onto for 3 or more years, I'd really like to make something really nice out of them, as really clear red cedar, 2" thick, 7' long, and about 18" wide. I'm hoping this be the year I create something from these 3 pieces. 

When I started doing the woodworking I just had minimal access to wood, often using pallets to build, I still really like working with them too, but I have acquired many other pieces that I need to put to use, so I can collect something else. Sounds funny, but I do find myself looking at wood wherever I go, the kind, the grain, the beauty. Is it an obsession? I snicker, I'm thinking is LoL 🤣 

Anyway, here I sit early morning again, 7 am now, going to get my ass outta this seat, and go stand in my little shop and see what comes of my thoughts in there. Easier to imagine where what will go standing there. We leave at 10am, so not too much will get done, but I'm hoping I'll get the idea I've been searching for. 

Another great Sunday.

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday always a special day to me.

   Water was everywhere yesterday WOW 

I remember for many years as a young boy that Sunday was a special dinner, a roast usually, my Mom would make, sometimes with Yorkshire pudding 🍮, which really isn't pudding. Was a special time, a time we would be a family, and often friends be with us too.

At Christmas my mom when we were older had two men that we felt a part of our family come and stay with us during Christmas, one was Arnie, he was a guy from Naniamo, a Norwegian man, he was a typesetter for the naniamo free press that had no one to be with at Christmas, the other man was Mom's cousin Doug, and old fisherman from Ucluelet that also had no place at Christmas. Mom somehow took them in, and for the Christmas season we were all family. 

I don't think of them often now, but I do remember that feeling of family at Christmas and how it felt all being together. I also remember the feeling after Christmas, like now, how it felt when everyone left, a kinda sad feeling. 

This year I'm not really feeling that way, as we have lots to do in our new to us place, although I do miss the people we got to know in Florida at the Crooked Hook, along with the people we got to know in Yuma at both Fortuna and Sundance, the card room, many great laughs there. 

Funny, looking back the things ya remember, on a Sunday many times I'd stay at our friends overnight, a party of some kind with Americo & Claudette in Courtenay, I'd get up early, and off I'd go with my camera, a walk about to town, or to the park, always something to see. Having the camera gave me optunity to see it even better. 

Today I'm going for a walk about too, I'm not sure where yet, but it's Sunday, and so far it's not raining. But I'll likely bring an umbrella just in case lol. We have a dinner planned, some of our family, be nice to yak it up, maybe play cards, for sure be some goffing off. Just enjoying each other, on a Sunday 🤗.

Once in awhile I listen to a song by Kris Kristopherson, "Sunday morning coming down"  it's sad but comforting somehow. 

I think I'll listen to that today, just once! 

Maybe even on the TV, YouTube has most anything we can imagine available. 

Yep, another Sunday, love our life ❤️ 

A Waste of good material!

My thoughts as I flicked through my Pinterest page that comes up regularly saying "things you might like", well even though the sight caught my eye, I really dislike seeing wood wasted. A huge block of wood, with a major part cut out, to make a void for a light. 

I'm not sure why this project was sent as something I'd like, but yesterday I saw something on marketplace that really caught my eye, a lamp that can use pieces of what is call waste wood, as sometimes I have strips of cedar left over, always thinking what can I use it for? Well this I believe will be a project I can create. 

Using waste is not my only goal in creating a project, whatever it might be, but using something that otherwise would be discarded as waste, along with using something that doesn't cost anything to begin with, so many pieces of wood are real beautiful, yet discarded as too small, has knots, or some rot. 

So much can be created with leftovers pieces. Anyone can go to the lumber store, buy products that are complete shaped exactly, and new, straight, rot free, perfect. But I believe taking something that's inferior to many and creating, seeing the beauty in it as it is, is my talent. I can see the beauty in a less that perfect piece of wood. 

I'm no building carpenter, I'm not trained, except for my own life lessons, and of course YouTube instructions 🤫 of course we all have that on our side now. Mostly I get an idea, then I work to create it, in my fumbling way. This week it was a sliding garbage bin that fits under our sink. 

There were limitations under the sink that gave to me making it, rather than buying one. See the plumbing is ready low, and centered under the two sinks, so my limitations were 12"deep, cupboard width and 3" under the bottom of drain pipe. 

This is the side I choose to make it for, as the other side already has Polly's cleaning and dish washing stuff. Looks bigger than it is, only 12" deep, just big enough for our garbage container we already had. 

Seems like an easy job, but fitting it in was a trial and error thing, that caused many up and down stairs to my little unorganized shop. Still, it's done now, not perfect, but it works, and Polly is happy with it, shelf behind to contain the bags for the bin. 

I had the drawer slides, and all the bits of wood I had as well, and the tools to build it. I really like building with wood, but until my shop's setup properly, I'll be just doing the stuff here that needs to be done. 

As I go I'll continue to take screenshots of possible projects, knowing a time will come that I can and will be building more pleasing things, and most be with beautiful discarded pieces of wood 🪵.

We have friends coming for dinner tonight, Polly is in her element now, roast chicken, and I see chocolate pie with raspberries on top coming to our table 😋

Sure do love our mobile home life ❤️

Look what just was placed in my lap Mmm 😋 tastes just like chocolate pudding Mmm. More waste 😂

2 cup morning ☕☕

Another great Sunday morning, good they keep coming. Today we have a service to go to, a friend who passed we both got to know better camping at McLean's mill campground a few years ago. Oops, I screwed up, not today, was in July.. I thought 🤔 was today as came up on my phone. Bugger. Vicki and John pulled in with their motor home, setup as we were there already. We had a very good time getting to know each other just a little better. A friend Melody, was managing the mill site, and told us of the camping there, that we might want to try it, so we did. Was a really nice place to spend time that spring I think it was. 

I went for a drive Friday, visit with my nephew and niece in his shop, was a really good visit, he's got the car he's been working on on the hoist, getting the body ready for the summer, "just get it on the road" is his mission, so can find out the bugs I wanna get rid of, or at least find. 

After I went towards McLean's mill, thought be a nice day to take a walk around this extremely beautiful place. So much history here, so much beauty. 

Part of my checking it out is I heard when I went to a City of Port Alberni meeting they had at Echo Center that this place was on the chopping block, that the city thinks of it as a cost, a cost that we "Port Alberni" can't afford. I listened really well you could tell the people putting this on were not invested in our town, they have an agenda, and McLean's mill has an expiration date. The city I believe is going to sell the property! 

How could they? It was gifted I thought to be kept as a part of our history of our valley. A part of a time when things were much different, when we lived where we worked, in close with friends and neighbors, and worked with them too. I was shocked to learn this, but the way the presenter mentioned the mill site, and the historical society building, our old arena, all were considered a drag on our city. 

What to do? Well I went to the historical society, and got some info from the head guys there, they are fighting for their lives to keep their building, and that alone will be hard to do. I joined the historical society, that was easy $20.00 and I'm a member. But McLean's mill, I'm not sure that anyone is fighting for it, the city I believe has complete control of the whole place, and if ya take a look, nothing is being done to keep it up. 

Will it be another piece of our history that'll be pushed away piece by piece? A building here, a loader there, oops two loaders cut up for scrap. I walked around the mill site, past the small homes, the kitchen, the mill itself, past a couple families that came on this day to look. Then after I got to the mill pond I turned to take a few more photos, and I see this old guy walking towards me, he was doing similar, looking around, of course I say "Hi" then after a minute I realized I knew him, Doug McLellan a guy I've known for along time, met him at my brother in-law's years ago. 

Well we walked and talked, he was there just to check on this motor that was in a part of the logging display, in the loading machine that would load the truck to bring the logs to the mill pond. He used to work on the motor, volunteer here. We had a good chinwag, Doug and I, told him what I thought was going on with the mill site, and he was not surprised, we both thought was a shame, and said what do you do?

I'm not sure what I'll do, but I believe just talking about can help, but what really needs to happen is people have to get pissed about it and go to the council meeting that's happening this month. Tell the city that destroying our history here in Port Alberni isn't allowed, to let it be plowed into the ground is not an option, we need to somehow develop this place, as people not only in Port Alberni, but all of Canada need to see what our history here on Vancouver Island was, how we came to be where we are, what it was like in the "Old Day's".

I know, I'm only one person, but I believe there are many more like me, young and old that would like to have that Mill site preserved and possibly working. I feel fortunate to have seen the mill running, watching the logging display, then the trucking and dumping in the pond, then hauling the logs up to the mill, then loading onto the carriage to be sawn, the saws running, two one above the other for the bigger logs. I can't say enough about how that process shows us about our early history. 

Will it just be gone? Will this city council just plow it into the ground? What do you think? I believe the city has run it's course with over spending, and is trying to catch-up. Everything that they can dump they are about to, and our history is looking to be the first to Go. 

Well I'm going to go to the first council meeting, and ask the questions, what are your plans for our history in Port Alberni? 

Just looked it up 2pm council meeting January 12th, I remember now, who that's working can attend a council meeting at 2pm? Another on the 26th, 2pm. Hmm, I wonder if there is one in the Evening? When some working people could attend? I'll be asking that too. Guess I found something to do. Retirement is good, now I'm a home owner in Port Alberni, is it my responsibility to get after council? Well somebody has to, I guess I'm one of the someone. 

See what comes, for the time being I've got a bone to pick with the people that are trying to shore up our city on the ground of our past. Selling the mill site I believe be a dam shame, but I believe after the meeting I attended, that that what this council is up to. 

Sunday morning thoughts, LoL 🤣 well now I'm getting ready to help preserve our history here. Hope I can make a difference. 

My walk around the mill site was great, I'll go again and again, as is a real beauty. 

Love our life ❤️ anchored in Port Alberni 

Just like that it's a New Year 🎊

A few fireworks, a click of the clock ⏰, and there we have it, 2026 is here. Polly and I had plans to go out, but Polly wasn't up to it, so put on another movie and watched the fireworks outside, then bed and a very good sleep we had. I have to say that a good sleep is more important to us than partying, although I did feel like we missed out last night, was going be a fun night. Oh well, can't have it all. 

On to a new year 🎊, we all have some long range plans, something we either hope to do, or are sure we are going to do. We had the plan to travel, that's on hold now, and canceling flights is something I've never had to do before, not to hard if ya don't mind paying. I thought cancelation insurance was what it sounded like, but this experience shows me it's really not as it sounds. $400 more to cancel, and then ya don't get your $ back, you get a 16 month travel voucher. What a scam! 

This is the first time I'd ever bought travel insurance, and now I know the problem, buying a flight ✈️ too far ahead is not the best way to travel, as you could have something come up as I did, then your having to deal with business that doesn't want to give the $$ you've paid back. I really felt ripped off, as I thought travel insurance was what it said, but calling in and talking with the guy was like? What did I pay for? 

Well I haven't finished with it yet, I'll talk with him again, but it sure felt like we got ripped off, as getting a flight voucher for 16 months, I said "What if I can't travel again?" He said he'd go to bat for me with the airlines, but couldn't say for sure if I'd get my $ back. Bugger, that was my thoughts, maybe even more explicit! 

Anyway, I'm learning about another part of travel, every adventure there is a learning curve. Fine print is made so companies can keep your $$$ and you get a promise. No different that RV Parks, they really don't want to refund if you've paid, just a promise you can stay in the future, and Airbnb, some want and will refund, some not wanting to, but there i think we will get satisfaction, see how that goes. Just learning I chalk it up to. 

I'm on hold right now, Dr on January 5th, thinking probably more tests, then what? 

In the meantime Rambo still has a hickup I need to get fixed, and I have a few projects here I'll start on I'm thinking, but at this exact moment I find my ass kinda glued to the chair. 

I don't fight it, I've had this before, when I just don't feel like, "motivated". I'm in thinking mode I believe, mulling over what's next. I have a Murphy bed that we got a few weeks ago, in piece's, I'm going to put together, but unsure exactly how. I have a shed I want to move over, make room for another bathroom addition to our place, an en suite to our bedroom, that will be a bigger job for me, but I'm up for it, well at least in my mind 😂. 

Then another deck, replacement of the rotten one on the other side of our trailer, mobile home, always a head scratcher when going to say what our place is. Polly always searching for the right words to describe it, RV, Trailer, Mobile home, Modular home? ??  All can describe it, just which one do ya use?

I say mobile home, although it really doesn't seem mobile, no Wheels under anymore, but I'm sure it could have some installed and moved again. 

Anyway a few projects here, but no ambition yet! I'm sure it will come, I can't sit around too long before I get going. 

Today a walk, that's a start, tomorrow Friday, maybe I'll start then? The shed needs cleaning up, and organizing before I move it, that'll be nice to get that done. 

No big words of wisdom for this New Year, like usual, just watch the money, that is where all the effort will go in this world 🌍. Arms dealers, government's, and "AI" costing billions. I shake my head daily. While the average guy just keeps his head above water. 

So happy New Year 🎉 🥳 🥳 

Still loving our life ❤️ daily 

Sunday 😀 Christmas has come and gone.

The last Sunday of 2025 today, hmm. Looking ahead I wonder what this next year has for us? Will we travel? Will my health hold up? Get better? Will the world become a little more accessible, or will we see more restrictions everywhere? Will the war in Ukraine end? Hmm, who knows?

For now we will take it one moment at a time, first on my agenda is my swollen legs and seeing the specialist Dr on 5th of January, will go from there then. Every January I think of exercise, starting doing something that will be beneficial, the pool, the gym, just thinking doesn't help 😂🤣 but today I'm thinking will have to at the least continue walking. That's one thing I like, yet my knee has held me back, just because it'll hurt if I walk too far. 

Well let it hurt, I'm going to walk regardless, helps me stay fit, and helps me with thinking too. I like our neighborhood, close to much shopping as well as trails and just easy walking areas, so I'm going to continue with that. 

The pool I said to myself I'd enjoy here, in the close proximity to it. I've yet to go, that's something I can do seeing I'm not going to be traveling anytime soon. 

Project's, I have a few I'm thinking about here, move the shed, building another small deck, but really I'm looking forward to building some planters for the spring. Polly has developed a small memorial garden in our yard, I built a little white picket fence she wanted, will be finishing that off later in the spring. Funny how your mind switches from one season to the next, just goes "Christmas 🎄, New years 🎉 Spring 🌼 LoL 🤣, well it's still aways to go, but that's how it seems.

Yesterday we planned a card game with friends here for tonight, as well as friends coming for a visit this afternoon, busy schedule for a Sunday. This morning we sit Polly and I side by side pecking on our screens. Furnace goes on and off, I don't have to think of changing propane tanks, I'll go to the bathroom and never a thought of emptying the sewage. Nice to be in our mobile home, well doesn't feel mobile, just feels like a house. 

I'll enjoy the views of the Beaufort mountains, and the neighborhood out our bay window in the kitchen, and just thinking of how nice it is to be grounded here, in our home town again. 

I always loved Port Alberni, so when we had to leave for work we adapted, but really my heart ❤️ was always in Port, just feels so good here, home, with friends and family. Familiar roads, building's, people, Home! 

Going to be a really good year I believe, regardless what the world throws at us, adaptable is how we have to be. Also being able to ramble in my thoughts, that's entertaining for me 😁 too.

I have a walk planned for tomorrow with my friend that lives close, a trip to Parksville to shop for some 80's clothes to dress up for New Year's Eve 🎉🎉, and maybe a visit with friends in Parksville that I used to work with years ago that moved there. Always a plan, something that ya like, or have wanted to do for awhile. 

And life goes on, day to day, week to week, on and on, till a hickup changes things. We were at friends yesterday afternoon, talked about how so many people now getting hiccups, health hiccups. We all agreed, is our age now, just all our past mistreatment catching up with us. 

I see now we have graduated, Polly has the TV on now, I wonder what we'll watch?

Another thing, I don't have to think about how we'll get our Internet, it's always on now, don't have to think of where the satellite dish is, or if I've got a signal, or if it's well anchored. 

We now watch a movie that we started last night, I'd forgot, Polly remembers 😁.

Yep life goes on, sure is comfortable our new to us home, with all the befits we take for granted living in a more anchored to the ground, mobile home. I have a new appreciation for these basic comforts after living full time in our fifth wheel trailer for the last 10 years. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Thoughts

As I made coffee ☕ and looked out the window this morning early, I thought for just a minute, turned the light out, looking out the window at the dark street, thinking about how nice it is to be in our home, with plans for family at Christmas. Then I thought of the less fortunate, that are out  there? In what, a tent, cold, homeless. 

I really can't imagine, yet I know they are there, somewhere, as I see them walk by sometimes, with a bunch of cans in a bag, trading them in for more of what they need to survive. 

Yep, we are very fortunate to have what we have, and be where we are. 

Really looking forward to this evening, be a fun time, and so many coming over. Was nice to reflect a little this morning early, just think a bit about those that are out there without. Hmm. 

I played a few songs after while as I made up a little Instagram post, one I like is by John Lennon, started out "So this is Christmas" always gets me, as in his song "Imagine" does to, often talks about "no wars" yet every year if ya pay attention, there is always something going on where people are going to war. Not trying to be down, just thought how we are always so hopeful at this time of year, yet reality still bites! 

I'll brush this off as usual, and continue with our family time 🤗, and tomorrow I'll wake, make coffee ☕, and probably have a similar thought. 

And on our lives Go, fleeting thoughts as we go.

Well we have many things to do today, well really Polly has way more than I do, but I'll help where I can. 

I ask Polly what's her first to do today? "Well she said, Bake my Cupcakes 🧁, then cookies 🍪 then wash my floors, and put more toilet paper out" 😂, things I never think of. Then after she said "What time is it" then she looks to see. 

Plans develop, Polly already has her plan in place, me I'm just going to help, if she needs it. "Take that foam out of our room please" yep, I can do that, been putting it off awhile, thinking I might use it on our bed, but no. 

Yep today be going fast now, funny how that goes, plan, plan, then poof, done! 

I'm done my second cup of coffee ☕ ☕, Pollys on #2. Things going to get going now. It's light out now. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Merry Christmas 🤗 🎄⛄