Sunday, December 6, 2009
Nelson House - Clean, Green B & B
Friday, December 4, 2009
President Obama may visit the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games
My photo of the Olympic Rings floating in Vancouver Harbour. U.S. President Barack Obama may attend the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Starry Night - don't miss it!

Friday, November 13, 2009
Ski Season Starts!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Nelson House B & B Video Review
Watch more Vancouver videos at tripfilms.com
One of our B & B guests has recently posted a video review of Nelson House online. Thank you Nick! Let us know what you think.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween at Nelson House B & B

We warned them that this old house has secrets and stories to tell. On all hallow's eve, no one can be sure that the spirits will not rise from the grave and follow you up the long walk to the big wooden door with the brass knocker.

In fact, the ghosts follow one little girl and hear her Mom say to knock hard so that they can hear you. But who are THEY? The big, heavy door swings open. Looking up - everywhere there are chandeliers hanging with cobwebs. Is that a rat under that chair? Do I hear a wolf howling ?


Thursday, October 29, 2009
Back from Los Muertos


Sunday, October 11, 2009
Puerto Vallarta bound...


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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Vancouver's Olympics - getting ready!



Saturday, October 3, 2009
We always knew we were special.
I received an email entitled "Vancouver Originals - you are one". This is a new Vancouver website where the listings are chosen by a local jury. To be selected, the business must originate in Vancouver, have a unique and original product or service that is recognized, or have all of the above with historical merit in addition. As their slogan states:"Chosen by locals in the know...." It's very nice to be acknowledged. VancouverOriginals is a site to keep an eye on.
And then we had the honour of hosting Nick Vivion, a formidable young film-maker from New York and San Francisco. He was in Vancouver on assignment for http://www.tripfilms.com/, the net's best quality source for member-generated travel videos. Nick, like ourselves, is a traveller in love with life. Check out his work at tripfilms or via his own website. He shot a video review of Nelson House B & B, which we can hardly wait to see!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A green B & B update.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The dog day of summer.



Thursday, September 10, 2009
A new Cairn in town!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Vancouver's Fair - the 2009 PNE
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I thought the 4-Hers were definitely quaint in their pressed white smocks but I was not so hip that I didn't enjoy perusing the quilts, handicrafts, pies, cakes, chickens and rabbits to see if the right one got the blue ribbon. Today, I still enjoy the livestock barns and a peek at the people who work very hard to grow our food and somehow make a living. A trip to the PNE is a reminder of a goggle-eyed youth taking in the sideshoes, midway and the carney life. I probably saw my first tattoo on some greasy bad-ass ride-operator.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Vancouver
Times have changed and still they haven't. The PNE offers a whole summer of Playland excitement, rides and amusement. The 1958 wooden roller-coaster is one of the world's remaining classics for coaster afficianados. Only a few years ago, it was a threatened structure but money was found to restore it to its original glory for it's fiftieth anniversary in 2008. Over half a million thrill-seekers take the ride every year.
People go to the fair for the all too cute Superdogs show, for nightly live song and dance performances like Celtic Legends or the pyro-musical spectacular Kaboom. Then there is a roster of scheduled performances from the likes of Al Jarreau, Chris Isaak, En Vogue, Rick Springfield and Canadian rockers, Chilliwack.

Me? I also go to the fair for the mini-donuts, the super-mops and all the latest gadgets. But since it's a rare event, I might once again take in the world-famous equestrian event - the RCMP "Musical Ride".
Vancouver's Fair - 99 years young!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
What are we doing these days?
Matthew has borne the weight of daily cooking, cleaning and a "million other things" this summer. As someone who only cooks breakfast on weekends and occasionally cleans, I send out a BIG Thank You to him! It takes heart to find the energy for innkeeping. As our guest, it will most likely be Matthew who answers your phone call or greets you at the door. He is the one who will worry over your dietary limits and be sure to present your breakfast beautifully and done just right.
Me? Well, yes, I do some bed & breakfast laundry, emails, shop, book-keep and make sure the bills get paid. That doesn't touch the other batch of bills and maintenance on the homefront. Then there is the care & rental of the Mexican vacation condo.
Lately, O'Neal & I have been focused on finding a brother or sister Cairn for Ozzie. Ozzie turned nine this week - a happy birthday was celebrated in the park. He is a vigourous dog and usually thought to be much younger. We decided that now is the time to adopt. We discovered a North American-wide Cairn Terrier Rescue Society that is doing wonderful work for dogs rescued from puppy-mills or given up by owners. The stories that we have heard are tragedies of greed, ignorance, neglect, cruelty, just bad luck and failing health.
Anyways, we have passed the screening and home visitation reviews and are now in the hands of a Cairn/human matchmaker. Wish us luck!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Happy Pride 2009 !!


Monday, July 20, 2009
The week that was.

Saturday, July 11, 2009
Gay Lib...Gay Life

It is 40 years since Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, uttered the famous words: "The government has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."
In 1969, Canada legalized homosexual acts between consenting adults. In doing so, a weapon for prejudicial enforcement, discrimination and abuse was removed from the hands of the state. However, freedom and equality are not served on a silver platter. Gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens faced a decades-long struggle. Along the way, homosexuals earned the right to participate openly in the police and armed forces. In 2005, adoption rights and same-sex marriage finally became law in Canada. The bold and the brave claimed their civil and human rights. The rest of Canadian society is still in the process of education and adaptation. At least, it is now clear in this country, that the recognition of one citizen's rights is no loss for the rights of any other citizen.
This past week in New Delhi, India, a High Court judge threw out a 149 year-old section of the penal code, written by former British colonial rulers. The judge effectively decriminalized homosexual acts in the Indian capital with the words: " The inclusiveneness of Indian society traditionally displayed, literally in every aspect of life, is manifest in recognizing a role in society for everyone.... Those perceived by the majority as "deviants" or "different" are not on that score excluded or ostracized."
The change means a minimum of protection but so far, very little understanding and acceptance. It is common belief that India's federal system and ponderous judiciary will take a very long time to grant any further legal equality to sexual minorities, even though those minorities number in the tens of millions. Religious spokespersons and politicians will exploit divisions between people for their own narrow purposes. Still, this week's legal change is the beginning of a human rights revolution for India. In the world's largest democracy, there is new hope for a minority that has been wilfully ignored, compelled to participate in sham marriages and forced to live in fear of police and thugs.
India. Be bold. Be brave. In the internet age, today's young people increasingly take a world view. Change will come. And it may take India far fewer than the forty years that it took Canada.
The photo up top is a promo pic from Dostana - which translates as "Friendship", a successful and controversial Bollywood move that came out in 2008. The movie depicts two hunks pretending to be gay. Sound familiar? The movie's website videos are well worth a peek. You may ask yourself : "This is India?" Yes it is - always surprising.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Busy as a B & B
All of us have been enjoying the International Jazz Festival under wonderful sunny skies. Two of my favourite concerts were free and outdoors. Both musicians and audience demonstrated the exuberant, astonishing mix that is Canada's multicultural success story.
Vancouver's Delhi to Dublin is a group of five that mashes up Indian Bhangra, Celtic & Dub. The combined sounds of tabla, fiddle, dhol, Punjabi vocals, electric sitar and electronic beats create pure excitement. The soundtrack on their website gives you a taste of something somehow familiar and exotic.
And then there was the Toronto-based flautist, saxaphonist and bandleader Jane Bunnett and her extraordinary Embracing Voices project. Here she mixes top-notch jazz instrumentals with the soulful choral sounds of Cuba and Haiti. Watch, listen and...soar.
Please let me know if you like. There is more of the same - right here in Vancouver.




