In Which We Fall Into A Routine

Starring Roles:
Carolynn - our friend whose family we stayed with when we first arrived.
Cheryl and Sean - Carolynn's older sister and her boyfriend
Heather and George - Carolynn's parents
Gail - work colleague at CKVU
Nana Ella - my step-Nan, married to Grandad Doug (my Dad's Father)

Riyaz - friend of Carolynn's

Dear Mum & Dad,

Off we go again.  I think we're becoming expert letter writers now.

Tuesday 17th April 1990
The weather was very dull this morning.  There was a storm in the night but I didn't hear it!  It's quite fascinating here even when the weather is dull because the clouds hang around in the mountains as if they're caught on the trees.  Mind you, sometimes the mountains completely disappear along with the city!

Grouse Mountain - which disappeared completely when it rained.  Like a magic trick!

Posted letters to you and James this morning.  I find it quite amazing watching the letters go into the box, knowing that they'll be popping through your letterbox in a few days.  I picked up some photos this afternoon, so I'm enclosing photos of the car at long last, plus a few others too.  I've written on the back again.
We had a letter from Tommy and Marie today and one from Hayley and Paul.  Hayley has drawn us some lovely pictures.  She's drawn a picture of Vince and me in the plane and she wrote "Vince and Jo went to the airport and they took everything they needed".  Isn't that sweet? She's also drawn a picture of Smokey Cat, a picture of a house with Vince, Smokey and me in it and a picture of the mountains.
After dinner tonight, we walked around the streets near here.  There are some really lovely houses.  We found some plots of land that were for sale, so we're going to phone tomorrow to see how much they are.  We've been thinking about buying a plot of land and having a house built, but all these are just thoughts at the moment.  I think we're pretty sure that we want to stay on the North Shore though.  It's just so nice!

Wednesday 18th April 1990
Had quite a busy day at work today.  Don, the boss, is going off for a trip to England and Ireland today (lucky thing).  He asked me to recommend a few places he should visit.  He wants to go to Greenwich and do the boat trip to Tower Bridge, so I told him to go to Greenwich Market, Greenwich Museum etc.  It's funny talking about those places, they just seem so near.  Wish I could have gone with him and visit you all!  Oh well!
Decided to take the SeaBus home today, so went to Lonsdale and bought a pizza for dinner.  Missed one bus home, so went to sit by the fountain and look at the City view whilst I waited for the next one.  Went to Save-On after dinner.  I can't seem to find any Worcester sauce anywhere, but Vince has seen some in a restaurant, so I guess you can buy it somewhere, just need to find out where.  After we've finished the chocolate that you sent for Easter, I'm going to cut out fattening things.  I've put on so much weight that my clothes are beginning to feel uncomfortable!  I'd never get into the beautiful outfit I had made in Thailand at the moment and would definitely not wear a bikini!!  Vince can pinch more than an inch round his waistline too!  Those chocolates you sent are delicious though.

Vancouver Seabus - I loved taking this ride to and from Downtown Vancouver.

Thursday 19th April 1990
Two people at work admired my Easter earrings today, so you chose those well.  Gail said today that it looks as though I will be going full-time soon, that's good, although I am enjoying leaving at 3pm! The extra money will help though.
Well it's rained non-stop today and looks like it will rain all night.  At least it's not too cold.  I think it's a night for staying in with the open fire!! Smokey doesn't like it when the fire's lit, he stays out of the room.  I think it's the crackling that puts him off.  
I've just had a call from the shipping company in Vancouver (8:45 pm) and our furniture has arrived!  I was really surprised as it's only taken about 6 weeks!  Unless they shipped it earlier than planned perhaps. It will have to go into storage for a while anyway.  At least it's here safe and sound.  Vince has gone out for a drink with his boss's son, so it's just Smokey and me tonight! Forgot to say, on the bus on the way home, a taxi reversed right into the side of the bus!  The bus driver was so rude to the taxi driver (I felt like reporting him to the bus company)!  He was shouting "do you have ***t for brains" and them told him to "***k off".  Charming!!
By the way, Smokey proved me wrong and sat in the lounge with me tonight while the fire was lit.  Must have been because Vince was out.  Ha Ha!

Friday 20th April 1990
Isn't April flying by?! Isn't time flying by? GOOD! I'm going to start writing on the back of the paper from now on in this letter as I've just read an environment leaflet which says write on both sides of the paper.  You're very good as you do that already. 
Vince has now got a phone in his van (what a show-off). They're preparing him for when he's out working on his own.  Today he worked on a big luxurious boat on Granville Island.  He said it was as big, if not bigger, than our old bungalow.  I miss our bungalow, it still seems strange that we're not going back to it.
Went out for a meal with Carolynn, Riyaz, Cheryl and Sean.  It was a cheap little café type restaurant that did Indian, Thai and Chinese food.  It only cost about £5 each but it was really good.  After that we all went on to a night club called "Soft Rock Café".  Most of the music was quite awful, but James would have liked it!  We did have a good time though and I had a bit of a dance.  We met a couple more of their friends too and went to bed at about 2am.  Yawn!

Saturday 21st April 1990
Laid in this morning and gave aerobics a miss.  I don't think I would have been up to it.  I think I must be getting old - 3 glasses of wine and a late night and I can't cope!!  Poor me, haha.  Carolynn has gone off to Montreal and Quebec today, so I didn't have time to meet her this morning.
Vince and I went into town and we bought some stuff for our keep fit.  Vince bought some trainers and shorts and I bought some stretch shorts.  So now we're all ready to get fit.  Yes, I know, it's about time Vince joined me, isn't it?  He's going to use the weight machines while I'm at aerobics and he's going to start jogging too.
Fell asleep when we got home, for half an hour, then cooked some cod for dinner which Smokey thought was for him.  He really likes the sound of his own Meow lately, wish he'd learn to speak human.  Vince gave in eventually and gave him some fish and the little bugger turned his nose up at it.  Huh!  Watched a film on tele called "King Kong Lives" a continuation from the old film.  It was very good but sad and I cried of course!

Sunday 22nd April 1990
It was lovely as always to speak to you both.  Wish phone calls were cheaper though, so we could talk for longer.  Went to the tea house at Fort Langley and Vince fixed their fridge, well almost, it needs a new condenser.  While Vince was doing the fridge, Faye, the lady who runs it, put me to work too!  I laid the tables for her, then did the fillings for some pecan tarts and sliced some oranges.  She gave us $5 on top of what Vince charged her because I'd helped her.
Went to look at the house I told you about on the phone, it wasn't as good as we expected which was quite a disappointment.  The outside was really nice, so was the garden and the area is lovely, but the inside was very small.  It had a large unfinished basement that could be developed but with a lot of work.  Looked at a couple of other houses too, but nothing special.
Took Smokey out for a drive in Vince's van to show him some scenery.  He wasn't very impressed though.  First of all he hollered his face off! (He probably has bad memories of travelling since the plane), then he got a bit more interested and kept bobbing his head up to have a look and then bobbing it down again.  He was very glad to get home again to say the least!
Tonight we watched the celebrity Earth Day Special.  Did you have anything on your tele about it? I'm sending you this leaflet that I got from work (that I was reading earlier).  I've met this Jim Hart who hosts "Eyes West Earthwatch" - he's a very nice man.

Monday 23rd April 1990
Had a one-day computer course today, so no work.  It was so boring, I nearly fell asleep!  Also it wasn't that good because we had a different teacher in the morning to the afternoon, so it was a bit confusing.  They did lay on some sandwiches for lunch though, but I'd taken a packed lunch because I didn't know! The second teacher was a right little smart arse - and funny enough his name was Ed Smart haha!
Cooked a nice shepherd's pie for dinner tonight.  I was quite impressed!  Went out for a short drive to look around the new housing estates.  Two years ago, we could have afforded them, but not now unfortunately.  Maybe in a couple of years when Vince makes me rich!

Tuesday 24th April 1990
Back at work today - Gail said she really missed me, which is good.  Got home in record time this afternoon, it just depends on how the bus connections work out.  I had a feeling there would be a letter from you today, so I rushed to look in the mailbox and there was!  I'm always so excited to open it, but then also like to prolong it, so the reading isn't over too quickly!  
What a really wonderful letter!  Well they're all great, but this one is so long - like a book! I almost feel as though you're chatting to me and I can hear your voice when I'm reading it.  Vince was pleased that he got so many mentions in it!  By the way, your letter smells lovely again and it does make me feel closer to you.  I close my eyes and imagine that you're standing there with me - I wish you were.  Well, fancy Nan having a man-friend - I don't suppose it would do any harm if she lived with this man for companionship, but I hope he has a lot of patience! I would loved to have seen Nana Ella again.  Did you take any photos of her? I was talking to Vince and her and Grandad Doug.  It's such a shame about what happened and him going off in a huff.  He was such a nice Grandad and funny too.  
By the way, we've decided to have our furniture delivered here as storage is expensive!  The boats that Vince works on are yachts.  Vince's boss's son has a boat and said he would take us both out in it (when the weather is nice though). We did have a good laugh about James working in the butcher shop, I can just imagine him heaving and nearly being sick!!  Oh dear!  Is that a permanent Saturday job or just a one-off? Glad your bee test was okay, can't wait for our first jar of honey.
Popped in to see the Woolstones.  Met George's sister, Joan, who lives in Kamloops.  That's in the interior of British Columbia.  Gave Heather a copy of the photos from the surprise party.  We were the only ones with a camera, so they were lucky they got any photos at all!  Heather asked what's new with you two, so gave her an update.

Wednesday 25th April 1990
Rained very hard today.  I went to a secretarial seminar that CKVU sent me on.  It was in a hotel and was quite interesting.  It was a talk on secretarial efficiency and how to best work with your boss and other people in the office.  They also laid on a very nice lunch.  Met an English lady there who used to live in Bromley - small world isn't it? She gave me her phone number in case I ever want a chat and a Canadian girl also gave me her phone number.  Everyone here is so open and friendly.
Smokey went to have his teeth cleaned today.  He's now a bit dopey and is staggering around from the anaesthetic, but he does have very clean teeth! They were cleaned and polished down so there were no rough edges that the food can cling to.  It cost $111.00 - we just had a heart attack!  
Went out to eat at White Spot because we forgot to get anything out of the freezer this morning.  Excuses, excuses, I know!  Heather called to say Carolynn had befriended two people on the plane to Montreal - she must make a habit of it.  I'm certainly glad we met her on the plane when we came on holiday.  It gave us a place to stay, nice people to know and led to us being able to rent this place from Sheila and Patrick.  We have been very lucky.

Thursday 26th April 1990
Back to work today.  Vince picked me up after work and we went to customs to get our furniture cleared.  Got charged $300.00 for duty on Vince's amplifier.  Bloody hell! Good job we're not storing our furniture now that's all I can say.  Vince had to do one more job after that, so I went to the mall in Coquitlam, it's quite an impressive place.  This evening went to a Linn Hi Fi evening which was very boring, even Vince thought so, but we did get two glasses of wine out of it at least!  Had dinner out in Red Robin.  Vince works in these restaurants all the time - no discount though, haha.  They do some very sticky and very fattening desserts.  James would love it for sure!

Friday 27th April 1990
Called the warehouse where our furniture is.  They are delivering everything tomorrow morning.  I'm quite excited now!  We'll have to stuff everything into the second bedroom, but the wardrobes and drawers we'll put in our bedroom because there's room and we can use them.  It will be nice to choose something different to wear.  My work outfits are a bit limited at the moment.  Smokey's looking forward to getting his scratching post and of course Vince is dead excited about his Hi-Fi.
We're going to order in a pizza tonight and stay in with the fire and the tele as it's cold and raining outside. Brrrr.  There's a film on tonight "The Beach Boys Story" so that should be good, I hope.
Well, I'll end here.  I almost hate ending a letter as much as I hate putting the phone down.  All the time I'm talking or writing, I feel close to you.

Sign-off from Jo x