Five days before the Canadian Universities Women's FIeld Hockey tournament in Victoria, with Rowan in goal in her first major tournament, Janet found Colin a plane ticket (on points), Colin got the OK from his principal for three days off school (his first ever), and arrived in Vancouver on his birthday (birthday supper with his Vancouver family - also first ever)! If he was going to Rowan's games, so was I! (again, thank you Janet!)
Janet had also been in touch with her close school friend, Leah, to see if we could sleep at their Victoria home. Yes. Turns out they (Leah, Keith and daughters Kiera and Claire) had just moved, in July, from North Vancouver to Keith's family home in Gordon Head, Victoria (quite near UVic). A fine time to have visitors! Keith is still trying to get his two brothers to take away more of his parents' stuff, including the head of a bighorn sheep (a relic from his wildlife-biologist father's field-work days in the Ashnola). When Colin and I arrived mid-Friday, we found Keith and one brother pouring over two ancient bird books, deep in a discussion about the difference between blue grouse and ruffed grouse (or maybe willow grouse?) A family pastime. A warm welcome from them all, and a wonderful stay, interspersed with Rowan's games!
Patrick, a 3-month-old Nova Scotia Duck Toller, had recently been added to the family as an inducement to the girls to leave their North Van home. It's clearly worked. The girls are settled and happy in their "new" home and Patrick is a delight. A cross between a cat and a fox, Colin says - but with the temperament of a "stuffy". Keith had that day discovered a raw-petfood store. Here, Patrick has been given a whole frozen herring and is making short work of it.
Here he is cuddled by at least three members of the family.
Doco joined us on Saturday night for Rowan's Sunday-final game, after staying in Vancouver to see Thomson's BC cross country race, through ankle-deep mud, in sheeting rain at Jericho (Thomson came 7th; his good friend Kieran won. Bravo, Thomson!).
Here we all are in the Bandy's large garden, full of interesting trees and plants. Keith figures what he most wants to do now is garden. There's lots to work with!
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