Sunday went by fast, ready for our trip north.

Today we start out towards Grande Prairie Alberta, be a good time getting there, having visits with friends and family along the way. Connection is something we do as we travel, just stopping in for a coffee ☕ and a BS is one thing, but sharing a day an evening with family and friends like family really gives connection. 

Building something together, working together, or camping together, sharing a meal with each other, that also gives good connection. Just taking a walk with friends, or sitting and talking, that gives us time to connect. Sometimes all we get now is a message, just a few words, but that is enough to keep connected. Having some idea how each other are doing in life, how they are feeling, their progress in life. 

A call once in awhile, that definitely helps, and text here and there helps to. But a visit, where ya stay awhile, that really helps keep us updated on each other. 

We are fortunate to have many friends & family to visit, too bad we just can't always see them all on our way, but try to get caught up on our way to and back from Grande Prairie is something we really enjoy. 

Another part of the stop and visit is seeing the new places that people live, as often our family and friends have moved to different areas. My first is to walk about, and see the different surroundings. I don't walk as much now, but I can still do a long walk once. 

This trip will be different in a few ways, no trailer, that was our home, had everything we needed in it. No truck this time, we bought a small car so a little less cost, and much easier to drive, so Polly will enjoy that, as she will drive every once in awhile. Just be a different trip this time. 

It's funny how when your in one place u have thing's your doing, or planing to do, then as you plan the trip ya think of what to take with you, then the day ya leave, all the stuff that was on your mind here, just leaves, as you have transformed to travel mode, and what's coming is foremost in your mind, and what you're leaving, the jobs, the concern's, all poof gone! Until you start to travel back again. This makes me smile, as I think about the saying "How important is it?" Cause I can leave it and it'll still be there when we return. 

Transferring stuff from Rambo to, (hmm no name for our new car, maybe Rainbow be a good name, I'll ask Polly today) the stuff that we'll need, cord for the phone to charge, as GPS comes through our phone, and a cellphone holder, got one of those yesterday, always like to have the phone close to me, want to know exactly where we're headed, and when to turn ahead of time. Chair's to sit outside in, and a cooler, water, and a few travel snacks. Tool's, a crescent and a screwdriver, got a jack and checked the spare tire 🛞, wound it down, took it off, and made sure full of air. 

Pollys got the house ready, suitcase out, I have yet to pack my clothes, but we both have lists of what we want to pack up. 

Were ready, just last minute packing, then bring Rambo to Steve's shop, get a small oil leak looked at, and power steering flush is my request while we're gone. 

Yep ready!

7:30 now, I'm up, Polly still sleeping. Sometimes I wish I could sleep like that, but, then I wouldn't have the time to write ✍🏻 this. 

Looking forward to traveling again, we both like the drives. 

Raining outside now, sure glad I got all that stuff transferred before this. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Name change happening today.

     Danny BBQing dinner Saturday night

 I'm not sure we'll keep this new name, but for now it's our latest blog name thanks Lee Biggs for the suggestion. It's aply named, as that's what we're doing now, making our place on Wood Ave something we enjoy. 

Today was built the planters day, and fix the new to us car we bought this week. A 2010 Dodge journey, low kms is what I was looking for, and dependable. Brake's we know have to be done, then tired, and a few of the minor fix-up stuff. Drives great, a lot less rough than Rambo, we noticed that right away. 

Had a part that broke under the seat, that moved the driver's seat back and forth. Took some help from my brother in law Dan Cyr, he's a magician with anything mechanical. A little quick weld, and zam it was done. Well almost, I had to take the seat out, and muck around till I got the part in place, then back together, and tada 🎉 it works now. 

I'm happy I can ask for help, and happy to be able to do what it takes to get things fixed. The guy I made a planter for yesterday messaged me, "Do you do carpentry work Brent?, I need and piece in here, with a picture. I do love to help, and this, small job's, right up my alley. I guess we all do what we can in this world, not sure we have to know how to do everything, but nice to have something's that I'm good at. 

Polly is making supper now, nayoki I'm told is the ingredient I think is pasta, she corrected me, potato based. Should be good all I know, whatever Polly makes, I'm going to enjoy ❤️

Today was a good day, most are, but today I had some really good achievement's, feels good.

I think I'll go for a drive with Polly tonight, she hasn't driven the new to us car yet, seat was too far back. 

DQ? 😋 I'm thinking 🤔 😂 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday morning again, lucky me!

         The prettiest engine I saw there 

Yesterday we went to the Golden oldies car show at the casino here in Port Alberni, was a really good show. As we got closer I see so many cars, and as I usually do, I just keep going till my spot opens up. As I got close to the entrance, the lot was full of beautiful cars, and just as I'm coming closer a person gets in their car, back's up, leaves and I pull in. A shaded parking place, right up front! 👌🏻

Polly knows now, this is my attitude, I always believe there is a place right when and where I need it. We met another couple, Terry & Jan as we pulled in, and Terry made the comment, your so lucky, got a spot right up front, in the shade too! 

Ever wonder how much is luck in life? Some say if ya live good, fortune will come your way. I'm not sure that's really the way, but I have been fortunate I believe. Mind you, when the time presents itself ya have to be ready to jump. 🦘 

Holding back when the opportunity presents itself, that'll cause many "I should haves!" or "I could have!"  to be said. 

We are a week away from our planned trip to Grande Prairie to visit our family & friends there, we have been looking forward to this for awhile now. It's been almost a year since we've seen all of them. Keeping up on Facebook and other means of communication helps, but nothing like in person visits. 

Getting back to luck, I have been making planters this year again, and just when I think it's finished, that people have all they want, another person messages an asks "Can you make this?" Always a "Yes!"

That's my luck, I say "Yes" because I believe it's a gift to be able to make things for people, things they really like. 

Today I'm going to have to take the marketplace ads down, as I'll be gone for three weeks, and that'll be done with planters for the next while. Summer will be here, and swimming and beach time will be the thing then. We are all fortunate to be so close to clean clear water here on the island, ocean or river or lake. 

Today I'll finish my last few planters, and then a big cleanup in my little shop, be nice to return to a clean shop. Maybe be a little organized too, 😂 LoL. I know where things are, mostly, but could use a little more organization. 

I have to change the name of our blog too, I was reminded by a friend this week. "I know, I just haven't" I said, but today I'm thinking I will. I usually consult with my friend Paulette when big changes are happening, will talk with her when she gets up. 

Coffee ☕ is ready now, I'm going to get one. Be another lucky day ahead for me, I know. Feels good knowing that what comes will be good 👍🏻. 

Name change? Hmm Polly, what to do?

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Ever think of all the things you've learned?

I saw this the other day, a beautiful job 👌🏻

Just saw a show where they were delivering furniture and as the two went up the stairs I thought of when I worked for Wynans furniture so many years ago. I think I was 14 when I started there, Art was a really good employer, and helped me learn to do many things in the store, and out delivery furniture. Was a really good first job, taught me how to work.

Well actually watching my Mom work so many hours in her seamstress shop, that's where I learned the work long hard hours. She put in so much time to get a living for our family, Mom, my sister Joy, and I. We were really fortunate to have Mom work hard for us, she didn't really want kid's, but Dad did, so she did what was expected I'm thinking now. 

When they split, and we moved to Port Alberni, she could have just stayed on the welfare, but she was a worker, and wasn't about to get used to that. Wasn't long after we got our own apartment that she started sewing for others, and after awhile she opened a shop under the travel business that her friend and husband had, Turner Brothers travel. 

Yes, I believe that's where I got my giver from, she worked late sometimes till 12 midnight, after coming home, cooking dinner, a snooze, then back at it, when it was wedding dress, and grad dress time. 

After Wynans furniture, I went to Somass sawmill, working weekends, for really good $$$ I thought, $75 a day for Saturday's, so $150 for two days work, and it really wasn't work, I was an oiler, so was a breeze to do. 

Then after a couple years, and giving up school, I didn't work hard at that, I just never saw the importance in school, felt like was just practice, not really doing anything valuable. I then went to work for mars contracting, was a short stint, 2 days, just enough to know I didn't want to die, and that's what I believed was going to happen if I stayed there setting chokers, was literally "Run or Die!" I kinda valued my life, so outta there I was. Next I got lucky to know a foreman at Sproat lake division, an M& B operation, got on as cleanup in the shop, was a really good job I thought, decent $$ and lots of opportunities in the camp. 

Looking back now, by this time I'd learned to drive, learned how to take apart a car, transmission, rebuild it, a motor or two, and rebuild them, brakes, so many things I'd learned, things I don't do anymore, unless I'm in a pinch, then all the lessons I've learned come back to me. 

Fishing, camping, girls, getting married raising children, buying a house 🏡 or four, or five, then maintaining it, geez, I'm not even half way though, and so many lessons, now taught in school. Not that I didn't learn anything there, but the stuff the education system wanted me to learn wasn't ony radar. 

Yes, so much we all learn in our lives, and here I am still learning. Fantastic isn't it. I'm finishing this while Polly is watching Star wars, #3 she says. I say how great it was to spend time with our grandchildren going to Victoria, staying overnight, and seeing the movie at Tilicum theater, with the huge concave screen. We, Polly and I really enjoyed that fin time with our grandkids. 

Well, I gotta get up, and Go out and finish the project I have been working on now, before I get into this show and stay in my seat.

Learning is something that I believe keeps us motivated, interested, excited about what the day brings. 

We have been planning another trip, to Grande Prairie, be nice to see all our family and friends there, and along the way. Nice to have so many to spend time with. We are fortunate. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Weekend train training was Great!

Take em to the "Train Station" has a Yellowstone sound to it, but today going to the train station was really interesting, not threatening, just great learning for me and a couple others. 

When I joined the Western Vancouver Island Industrial heritage society I had no desire to become a train 🚂 🚃 🚃 🚃 operator, but after a few days at the train station, I got asked if I wanted to attend training, and yup! Of course I said I'd go, learning always has been interesting, and the last 3 days have tested my mental abilities, and yep I passed, got my rail Rules card. Now a little on the job training, and I can do a few different Jobs that the train needs people for. 

My desire is shop work, but conducting be another interesting position. Not sure where this will lead, but I'm always up for new and interesting. Just meeting the people I did in training was Great. Corey our instructor, Tim, Madock, Nolan, and Richard, our RR representative for the industrial heritage society. Getting to know them all just a little better was really good.

Moms day today, Sunday was a good day, got a few flowers for Catherine & Paulette, her Memere from Taylor our granddaughter was good, first thing in the morning. The girl's at Quality foods really came through, I'd paied for the flowers the night before, they had them ready for me first thing in the morning, even though I'd asked for 9am by mistake. 

My head is still full of thoughts of train lingo, not something I'm used to. Tomorrow planters again, as that's something I'm well versed in. 

Polly had a great day too, many visits with friends and family, and messages from granddaughters made her day. Was a really good day for both of us. 

Watching hockey 🏒 tonight, L

Last Canadian team doing really good tonight 👍🏻, Montreal doing great. 

Sleep will come easy tonight 🤗

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Hot early this spring, we are not used to.

Weather is something we talk about often here on the coast, as is so variable. Lately we have had the best warm weather, yet still talking about it. Now I hear more saying "Sure need some rain." Or "Going to be a bad summer." & "Not enough snow pack on the mountain's." Best is "Sure is hot out." 

I laugh, I'm sure many more I've heard, just not coming to me right now. Me I'm just really enjoying the warm weather, although I hide from the heat in the day, open the doors and windows in the evening, and early morning both doors, get the chill happening. I love the early morning. ❤️ Quiet, cool, and light out early now, that's really nice. 

Today Sunday again, poof, there goes another week. Planters been my focus lately, but I have this Murphy bed that we picked up during the winter, I want to install it in our spare bedroom, although I'm worried it will be just too big when folded out, be nice fo company to have a decent bed to sleep in. 

I have a couple planters to finish today, and a trip to a friend's place to give an address planter as a house warming gift. Then Polly wants to go to Canadian Tire, get a few more plants. Later a birthday dinner for our grandson Jesse, 18 already. WOW, yep times flying by. 

Polly and I get to enjoy the early morning sun as it shines in between the blinds creating many different colours and shapes as we watch. The quiet of early Sunday morning is our gift I believe, nice to peck on this phone and enjoy the peace and quiet. 

Coffee ☕ is good, I've been up awhile now, chatting with Penny, and now a few other's, a morning ritual I love. Worked on train 🚂 flatdeck yesterday, getting it ready for the July 1st weekend at Harbour Quay, be a big celebration I'm sure, many community groups involved. I'm looking forward to a summer here, seeing all that we sometimes miss with travel. 

Dinner last night our first time eating out on our deck, shish kabobs on the BBQ, was great. Looking forward to more of this.

Then cards after, rummy 500, Polly was happy to beat me best outta 3 games. I let her win LoL 🤣 

Our sun coming in the window changing fast as the sun comes up. 

      Polly's wooden man looking bright 

Almost 8 now, second ☕ coffee, energy is building. 😄 Soon I'll be going out, and Polly will be making her Cake. 

We both loving this not so mobile life ❤️ 

April 28th A Day of Mourning for lives of workers that have died due to workplace injuries or diseases.

I'm up early today, I took time before I got up to think of this day, April 28th. I read an article about it yesterday. The thought of this day has meant much to me as I worked in an industry that has had many deaths due to injury on the job. Some have injury that changes their lives forever, and don't die, life altering accidents. 

Always I think of how fortunate I've been to have made it out of logging and saw milling alive, with all my limbs attached, and able to walk. I'm fortunate to have be able to make it to retirement. As I age some of the accidents I've had, the effects have caused limitations, but I'm still able to walk and talk, and think. 

I know it's a day of mourning the death's of people who were working, but I think often of the amount that don't die, that are different because of a workplace injuries. I'm sure there's an account of them, but we don't see that advertised. 

Injury that changes your life, yet you still have to go on, that's a real challenge. Not discounting the death's, just thinking of how many people are still alive, yet injury effects them the rest of their lives. 

I tried to get that information, I googled how many injuries, but even pointedly asking for injuries in BC in 2025 I got this,

 "According to WorkSafeBC, there were 138 work-related deaths documented in British Columbia in 2025. This includes 79 deaths from occupational diseases (such as asbestos exposure) and 41 from traumatic injuries. While this is a decrease from 146 in 2024 and 181 in 2022, it marks 138 lives lost, say CP24."

I'm going to look a little bit more, might have to call WCB, now called WorkSafe BC and get the answer. 

I've had my experience with them, not my favorite place to deal with. Not going to repeat my experiences, just that I believe this company is not what it pretends to be. 

Today I'll stop at 11am, a moment of silence, and think. About all the times I remember listening to the calls on the radio for radio silence, ya know there's been an "accident" someone is injured. Then the talk after, about what people thought, who died. Sad days when a father isn't coming home, or a child has been injured. Ya see young men and women are someone's child too. 

So many people are effected when an accident happens, it doesn't just cripple the person, it cripples all he or she knew in some way. 

Life goes on. For the person that died it's final, for those they leave it's difficult, but final as well. Those that are injured and have to go on, that's something I'm not sure gets the attention it should, yet here we are. 

I sigh, big breath and sigh. We used to assemble at the epitaph in front of our Union Hall, I remember doing that many times. This year I'm looking on line for the assembly today, nothing posted, and our Union Hall is closed down now. I see flag's will be lowered at City Hall, but no gathering as far as I can see. 

         Momentos from a time passed

I'm thinking now I'll go down to the next best place, the Western Vancouver Island Industrial heritage society building, our old arena building. A group of volunteers meet every morning of the working week, and I'm sure some on the weekends too, have a coffee, and a talk, then go about their own job for the day. Meeting with them is closest to going to work as I get now, talkin about work mostly, people we remember, accidents we would like to forget. 

Yep, that's what I'm going to do today, coffee and a visit with friends I've made after work. 

If ya read this, take a minute at 11am, it's worth a thought. Or better yet, come to the industrial heritage building and sign up, we could always use another member. Next best thing to working. 

Sure do love our retired Life ❤️