A week in Kelowna….Brrrr!

So what’s been going on?  Well….let’s see if I can remember.  Tuesday was a quiet day as we were both tired. 

Wednesday we drove up into Westbank to look at a 2007 Monaco Dynasty 40ft. diesel motorhome .  It had a nice floorplan and  kitchen and seemed to be in decent shape but it was hard to get a good look as the fellow selling it is living in it.  That mades it hard. It has a rear radiator which Eric really doesn’t want as he’d like to have easy access to all the filters, belts etc.  He is a do it yourself kind of guy.  We’ll think about it and may go back for another look.  The owner is a greyhound bus driver so his schedule isn’t that easy to work with.                              

Wednesday night dinner with Ian and Linda and we order Chinese food from J-Wok. 

Good.

Look at the expertise with the chopsticks!  Look how long the hair is getting.  Eric’s brother Ian told him he looked like an old hippie….Eric replied “I am!”

Thursday we  drove out to Vernon to look at a 2004 Winnibego Vectra motorhome.  Nice floorplan and kitchen, motorcycle lift on the back, side radiator but….it had been sitting idle since 2014 (outside not in a building) and there had been a major leak from the roof in the bathroom and….it really needed a good scrubbing inside.  Cheap enough at 75,000 but Eric doesn’t need a project so….no thanks!  A quick lunch and then a quick visit with friends Fraser and Geniene who are living at the end of Swan Lake.  They moved from Terrace to Vernon about three years ago and have taken up late life small scale back yard farming which I told them they were way too old for!     Howevever they seem happy so…..each to their own.  

It’s Friday and time to visit with my family.  Sister Anne (on the right) and her daughter Adrian.   Anne lives in Westbank and Adrian lives up in Rutland  and is a cardiology nurse at Kelowna General.  Anne picked me up and then we did a little shopping before we met Adrian for lunch.  We ate at the Tokyo Asian Buffet and it’s an interesting concept.  You pay a flat fee per person,  use an Ipad to order whatever you want and the waiter shows up to take the Ipad and place the order.  The food arrives shortly and if you are still hungry you can order more.  Anne and I paid the senior’s price for lunch $15.95 (regular price $17.95.)  Small consolation for getting old!  My treat and good food.  A trip to Costco (crazy busy…no where to park), Winner’s and home.  A full day and everyone was tired. 

Saturday afternoon we were off to visit old friends here in Kelowna.  Fred/Marilyn, Gord/Barb who came in from Salmon Arm and Fraser from Vernon.  Wife Genienne has shingles ….the poor thing and had to stay home.  That’s Barb, Gord and Fred.

Fred, Eric and Fraser.  When we arrived Marilyn and Barb said “ You guys look exactly the same!”  Nice compliment but I don’t think so.  We haven’t all gotten together since 1981 when Fred and Marilyn moved south.  Gord and Barb moved to Salmon Arm around that time and Fraser and Genienne came south a few years ago.  We did see Gordie and Fred a few times when they came back to Terrace to fish with their friend Norm but when he passed away a couple of years ago that stopped happening.  We ran into Fred and Marilyn in Rincon de Guayabitos, Mexico a few years ago but all in all it’s been a long time since we’ve spent time together.  Fraser is the one who wants everyone to reconnect and it’s a good idea.  Bob and Shelly who now live in Vernon were busy couldn’t come so we’ll see them on another visit.

Gord and Fred.  Fred had a hip replacement recently so he’s still moving pretty slow.  He is a really funny guy and he reminds me so much of Red Green.  Apparently the four of them went down to the lower mainland to see a show by Red Green but they were disappointed when he didn’t use any Duct tape in his act!  Still fun though. 

Marilyn and Barb watch Fred creep by!  Marilyn is hugely funny and very blunt about everything and she is always giving Fred hell about something!  All in good fun and for the most part he pretends not to hear….so she says “Fred..put in your hearing aids!”  They are just a riot and there is never a dull moment.  You can imagine how many stories of the old days there were and it all seems just like yesterday.

We had arrived around 3pm (Fred said to come early because we are all old and can’t stay up very late!)  I thought it was just a visit but it turned out to be bullshit, beer and a lovely dinner.  What a treat!

Marilyn had really put herself out preparing a beautiful dinner.  Pork and beef ribs, potato salad, Greek salad, spinach and strawberry salad, corn on the cob and pita bread.  Whew!!!  It didn’t seem like it took her any time at all and she said that was the idea.  Having things prepared ahead of time left her time to visit.  Nice job and a great meal.   P.S. and a delicious ice cream dessert too.

It was all just delicious and we really enjoyed it.

Time for Barb to show Fraser and the rest of us her grandkids.  We started out together talking about our own little kids and now it’s grandkids.  Eric and I have four (Holly 19, Abby 16, Shane 12 and Ava 10) so they aren’t very little anymore.

In the end a great time was had by all and one of the best times with friends that we have ever enjoyed.  Isn’t it amazing how you can pick up where you left off after over 30 years.  Thanks so much Marilyn and Fred. 

Sunday morning were up early for another look at the Monaco Diplomat over in Westbank.  We arrived at 9am and it didn’t take long for us to make a decision.  Eric wanted to look underneath, in the engine compartment and on the roof.  Well ….the roof was a deal breaker!  It had been wet at some time and was taped and it looked buckled and delaminated.  Add to that that the owner wouldn’t move hardly at all on the price and it was all over.  Good to have a look and we learned a lot.   We’ll keep looking but it isn’t a necessity and it’s just exhausting.  On the way home we made a quick stop at Princess Auto for a new backpack sprayer and a new transplant shovel for me.    I went grocery shopping later and I am still in shock over the price of vegetables!  Take me back to Mexico please!  I cooked dinner for all of us and it was an easy one.  In bed early.

Today is Monday and it’s time to pack up for tomorrow’s departure.  We’ll only go to Cache Creek the first day as we prefer not to go all the way to Prince George in one day anymore.  No rush!  A shower each, two loads of laundry etc. etc. and later today a visit with Ian’s son Jason (our nephew) and his kids Ella and Cooper.  They are 8 and 4 so that should keep us entertained.  

4pm on Monday and Jason arrives with Cooper (4) and Ella who is 8.  We haven’t seen the kids for a couple of years so it was amazing to see how much they had changed.  Small children these days have no trouble amusing themselves as they always have an electronic device in their hand. 

 

Cooper doesn’t remember us and is sitting on Daddy until he decides everything is okay.  Ella is chatting to Gramma Linda.  Ella has really grown and tall for an 8year old….she’ll soon be taller than Gramma and her mother, Deb!

Cooper has a booboo on his forhead as he “kasproinged himself off of  Mom and Dad’s bed and ended up going to hospital for a stitch last Thursday.  Later in the evening Jason removed the band aid and all was well! 

We told Jason to pick what he wanted for dinner and he said “ Chinese food.”  He said he’d had quite a bit of pizza lately.  He works in camp for two weeks and is home for two weeks and when he’s home he looks after Cooper and Ella is in school.  Works for them.

Okay…how much memory does Ian’s  laptop have?  We’re not Mac people so they have to figure it out.

Grampa Ian and Daddy Jason are sports nuts….Cooper is watching the Blue Jays play New York.  The kids are really bright and Cooper is a real little character.  He still has his hospital bracelet on and he says it’s his watch!  What time is it….6:41.  Later I asked again and he said….6:41 and I said he said that last time so….7:41.  Deb says he always says it’s something :41. 

Food has arrived and it’s time to eat.  Jason has gone out to pick Deb up from work.

   

Deb and Linda.

A little chat after dinner while the kids play outside.  Ella is really good with her little brother and they played hide and seek inside and soccer outside.  Ella is Cooper’s dog when they play and it’s a hoot when he tells her to sit and stay! 

          

The kids are funny and laid back….a little like Jason and a little like Deb.

     

So…we had a good visit and it was really nice to see them all. 

On the road again tomorrow.