Skipped Work & Went To The PNE!

Wednesday I skipped work and my mum, aunt and I went to the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver. It is a large yearly fair that has been going on since 1910. 

 Even though I am trying to be on a diet I had poutine with grilled chicken on it for dinner. You're supposed to eat naughty at a fair, aren't you? If you have never head of poutine - it is French Canadian and consists of french fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Hardy low cal.

There was an ABBA tribute bank playing in the park. They were excellent, but what was even a better show was watching one guy who was sure they were singing only for him. Blowing kisses, holding his lighter and spinning - awesome!

The main reason we went to the fair was to see The Proclaimers. I've wanted to see them since the late 80's. Finally it worked out and they were wonderful. They sang all the songs I wanted to hear, they were funny and they were excellent musicians. PLUS - there were a number of men in kilts attending, which certainly wasn't hard on the eye!

What Do You Wear To A Funeral?

My great aunt Nora died at the end of July. She lived in Cupertino, CA, but her funeral was some place north and east of Mission BC - by Stave Lake & Golden Ears. Reeeeeally far out there from the lower mainland. On the way back we drove home through Burnaby and East Vancouver. I guess I haven't been through these places much, because it was like a whole new city. Businesses that had only Filipino writing on the front, strange apartment complexes, funky old house tucked away between industrial buildings - it was like being in another city!

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My beautiful cousins Heidi and Christie and I - a thorn between two roses. It seems a bit unfeeling taking smiling photos at a funeral, but I hadn't seen them in quite some time and was really happy to visit.
They we dressed, as was I in an modest black dress, which we thought appropriate for a funeral. I was shocked at the attire some of the attendees wore - capris, shorts, tee shirt, a bright red dress so low cut I could almost see nipples. ITS A FUNERAL! Can't you dress up for a few hours? Am I the only one who thinks this?

It was my grandmother's sister who died. At 85, she still has 4 brothers and sisters alive, so she is luckier than most. But - Nora was her best friend . Auntie Nora was always nice to me, always wanting me to visit. Just until a few years ago, she sent me a cheque in the amount of my age for my birthday!

My cousin Chuck works for Yahoo! in Cupertino. They not only gave him a paid week off to attend the funeral, the offer of more time if he needed it, they sent this bouquet of lilies to my grandmother! 

Lunch & Presents With Insomniac's Attic

On June 9th I won Insomniac's Attic $100 giveaway at her online store! I was travelling to my dad's in California at the time, and did not realize this until a few days later. I felt horrible because it looked like I couldn't even bother to respond, but I had no idea I'd won! Anyway... Insomniac herself was planning a visit to Vancouver in July, so we met up for lunch at Granville Island, and she brought my winnings!. The ONE photo I took of us ended up being corrupted on my camera :( 

It was such a lovely day at Granville Island, my mum, Insomniac, her daughter and I had lunch in the main part of the public market. Even though I hadn't been there in like 6 years, I was so happy they still had pierogies. We went tooling around shopping and Insomniac bought me an espresso ice cream at Rogers Chocolates! It was so awesome meeting someone whom I had so much in common with and she was SO nice! I wish Calgary wasn't so far away!

This is what I chose from her shop:

Silver Austrian Spider - It is so delicate and lovely, I'm going to convert it into a brooch. 

Bela Lugosi Mug - I used this immediately, as you can see it is filled with brownies and ice cream.

Edward Gorey Mysterious Messages Cards - My best friend just got engaged, so I sent him one congratulating him. These are so lovely I think I'm going to frame a few.

Gothic Metal Wall Plaque - I hung this up right away, but I need to find a way to secure it more soundly, I don't want anyone to steal it!

Victoria, Sting & Highland Games!

Hello all! I've been super busy at work and even busier at home. For some stupid reason I took a commission from a local bed & breakfast  - who is re doing all their rooms. I've been making pillows by the dozen as well as complicated window bench seats. I've been sewing so much I dislocated my thumb last week! This weekend I got to take a break and visit Victoria and see the highland games.

 

1890's animatron ladies drinking tea at Murchies. On the right is a blurry shot of the Sting concert. My mum is a huge Sting fan and this was or 25th Sting/Police concert. A million years ago I dated someone who worked at NBC and we got to meet him 3 times at the Tonight Show, so no concert is ever quite as good as that.

 Saturday we went to the Royal British Columbia Museum. This is my most favourite museum EVER! I've been there dozens of times since I was little. Once I was old enough to go by myself at around age 8 I was giddy with excitement! To my amazement they had a wonderful exhibit of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1912 and an IMAX about Shackleton's amazing deeds in the Antarctic. My real love is the Arctic, but the Antarctic will do too. I became obsessed with the Arctic while visiting Victoria in 1986. The remains of Franklin's expedition had just been found and there was a huge to-do about it. The wax museum had recreations of the exhumed bodies, I was so scared and thrilled at the same time!

Ice cave workshop on the left. George Vancouver's ship on the right.

Hair work in the Victorian hotel. Sitting on 19th century barrels.

We took the ferry back on Saturday and went to the Bellingham Highland Games on Sunday. The weather was lovely and there were men in kilts EVERYWHERE! Next time I should go without my boyfriend so I could do some hardcore lusting! To the left is the world champion Simon Fraser Pipe Band and to the left are some lovely girls dancing the Hornpipe. The Hornpipe is the cutest dance that can ever be, if you've never seen it click here.

 

There was a display of Scottish military uniforms. On the left is one from WW1, similar to the one my great-grandfather wore! On the right are some braw lads heaving the caber.

Funeral Hearse

I went to the funeral of a firefighter at The Victory Memorial Park in White Rock. I did not know this person, but went with my mum to keep her company. I felt a bit creepy going, like Harold & Maude, because I really wanted to see a funeral with pomp & ceremony. My mum said he had a perverse sense of humor and wouldn't be offended at all... so I went & ogled. There were cops & firefighters lining the driveway, which was something I have never seen before. BUT, what was really interesting was the Victorian hearse in the back hall. It was made in Ontario in the 1870's and beautifully restored. My mum and I tried to be discreet taking photos, but someone always kept coming around the corner! If only I had worn my 1880's mourning gown!