Opa Vandenboom outside again

The long lockdown and isolation in their rooms was lifted this week for Opa and fellow residents of his retirement home. He was able to smell the fresh spring flowers again and catch up with others....

Few memory moments

Seven years ago, Mary and I hosted (with Sean and Cindy) a group of colleagues from Brazil for a dinner in our home. They made very good "caiparinhas" for the occasion....

And seventeen years ago I ran my last marathon from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. I ran five of them during a ten year period. The practice program of about four months each kept me sane during those years...

Beautiful BC

Hilary has been showing Spencer a few beautiful places around Vancouver.....
 

Mothers Day

Fiona is in the business of making unique greetings cards. She made her mother Susan a nice for this year's Mothers Day....
 

Hilary spoiling the boys

Hilary made a breakfast for champions for Spencer and Shayd today. Wish I was there for it!
 

Spencer in Vancouver

Spencer, the oldest son of Joe and Marcy in Sarnia (20), is visiting Hilary and Shayd in Vancouver. He accompanied a friend from Sarnia who is starting a coop placement in Kelowna, BC. They drove all the way through Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to BC. I am planning to make that drive during the summer of 2022, assuming that by then things are more "normal" again with respect to the COVID pandemic. We will see.

Hilary sent us the photo above yesterday when she went for a walk around Stanley Park with Spencer.
 

April snow again

As every year, we get some late snow. April 21 this time, Last year it was in early May....

I started on a second draft for my fiction book. Part 1 still in southern Africa region. But now developing a plot which can continue in part 2 (Colombia) and part 3 (Brazil). This will keep me busy for a while, I am sure. But it is fun trying to figure out how the story can develop + write, read, revise, look up some stuff on the internet, write again, etc.