web analytics

Photos

You are currently browsing the archive for the Photos category.

“The cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel across seas, like to Canada and stuff”.

Britney Spears

Last Friday was Canada Day.

I have mentioned this event several times in these meanderings since first I visited these shores. It is perhaps little surprise – given recent (and more distant) history – that the reaction to the celebrations has become considerably more equivocal over the years. As an outsider (and in particularly one with the background that is my inheritance) I hope that I can empathise appropriately with all (or most!) parties. There is much that is good here – and that should be celebrated. There is also much that is bad – and that needs to be repaired.

There are also fireworks – the which we get to see from our deck. Here be some pictures thereof:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

Tags: , , ,

Not so many posts ago I was grumbling about the weather here in BC and mourning the loss of a number of shrubs and other erstwhile growing things in our garden. I have a feeling – in fact – that I visited the theme in more than one post, the which only goes to show just how poorly the climate has treated us thus far this year (now that I put it like that, of course, there is a rapid light-bulb moment as the realisation strikes that this maltreatment is undoubtedly mutual and indeed causal. What goes around etc, etc…).

Anyway, the weather has perked up just a tad (with the exception of today – bah!) and I have spent considerable amounts of time (and not a little cash on new rhododendrons, hydrangeas, viburnums and a plethora of hostas) trying to cajole what was left of the garden into some sort of shape; to make it look at least a little bit cared for. As it turns out I can still only make a plea for a small percentage of the credit for the turnaround that has occurred – nature herself seeming to rebound from the hard winter with considerable vigour regardless of my efforts.

Either way, I thought you might like to see some pictures of the improvements.

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Many thanks are due to two good souls who have contributed in no small degree to this renaissance. A long-time and most dear friend furnished us with three gorgeous stone Bhuddas, the which needed a good home as a result of an impending move:

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid …and our good Glaswegian (but also long-time Canadian) horticulturalist friend not only provided much good advice but also graciously allowed us to make use of his wholesale discount at Island View Nursery.

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid Our most grateful thanks to both…

Tags: , , , ,

Further to my last posting (the hilariously titled Bays Day – 1) and – at the same time – further up the east coast of Vancouver Island from Brentwood Bay…

…is Maple Bay.

Now – the fact that I have not mentioned Maple Bay before within these dribblings is because – though I have read about Maple Bay and looked at pictures of Maple Bay and know where it is – I had not – until this particular Saturday – been to Maple Bay.

Well I have now!

 

Just so you know – Wikipedia says this of Maple Bay:

“Maple Bay is a seaside community located in the Cowichan Valley of southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A narrow inlet and surrounded by smooth, pebbled beaches, Maple Bay is home to marine activity all year round. Maple Bay is a small town with a population of 2,640.

The sheltered haven of Maple Bay is situated halfway up Sansum Narrows, which separates Vancouver Island from Saltspring Island, the largest and nearest of the southern Gulf Islands.”

Here are some photos…

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidWe lunched at the Shipyard – the pub in the marina – which has a jolly splendid and slightly old-fashioned (in a good way) atmosphere:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidThe marina itself features this fascinating row of float homes. I can see the attraction of living in such a place – though it might be a little damp in winter.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid…or one could live on the hill overlooking the bay.

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid

Tags: , , , ,

Ho! Ho! The title of this post is a play on words that probably only works for Canadians – ‘The Bay’ being ‘Hudson’s Bay’ (one of Canada’s best known department stores) and the ‘Bay Days’ being their well known sale days. For the purposes of this post I am referring instead to a day trip that took in two well know (real) bays at the southern end of Vancouver Island.

See what I did there?

We recently took a short drive up island to have lunch with The Girl’s mother and with a dear friend. As is our wont when heading in that direction we started off by taking the Mill Bay ferry from Brentwood Bay, to avoid the alternative but circuitous trek south towards Victoria and then back north over the Malahat Drive.

The sun was shining as we waited for the ferry and I took advantage of the fact to add to my already extensive portfolio of shots of lovely Brentwood Bay. That – of course – means that you get to see more photos…

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

Tags: , , , ,

My apologies! I have of late been falling down on my blogging duties. I offer as no more than a feeble excuse that things have been in-feasibly and, perhaps, unexpectedly busy of late. The Winter term at College has been building to its climax; we have been entertaining friends from abroad (more of that in a further post) and I have been trying to get a grip on all that is going on in the garden – between bouts of (less-unexpectedly) inclement weather.

I know… poor show all round!

I did promise more on the trip to Vancouver that featured in my last post. I took some photos and, whilst they are not that exciting, I will nonetheless share them with (ie – force them upon) the gentle reader.

As I mentioned in that previous post, the purpose of the visit was for The Girl to attend a conference organised by her First Nation at one of Vancouver’s hotels/conference centres. The event was very well organised and well attended – and clearly yielded extremely positive results.

The business side of things did not, however, prevent The Girl and I getting out on the first evening for a splendid romantic dinner at Cardero’s in Coal Harbour. Whilst The Girl tucked into the scallops I enjoyed a lovely piece of European Sea Bass (not that easy to find on the west coast) and we shared a really rather decent Chablis. Nice atmosphere too:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidOn the Saturday – whilst The Girl was engaged in her sessions – I pretty much stayed in our room, watching the matches of the final weekend of the 2022 Six Nations tournament. Well done to the French on a thoroughly deserved (if also widely predicted) Grand Slam – and the less said about the Scots (who seem to have regressed by about three years!) the better!

This chap – outside our fourteenth floor window – seemed keen to know the scores as well:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidThe trip was a good one – with yet more familial contacts made by The Girl – plus the opportunity to have breakfast with a dear friend who now lives in VanCity. For my part it was actually a pretty good rest to be able to relax in a decent hotel room up in the clouds high above the west end of the city.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

Tags: , , , , , , ,

‘Tis the time of year that nature ‘springs’ (see what I did there?) back to life following the dread months of winter.

Naturally this means that it is also the time of year that I must reluctantly drag my sorry ar*e back out into the still cold and damp outdoors in order to start to ensure that there is some semblance of order in the garden before everything goes completely berserk.

Not these pretty pieris of course…

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidNor this gorgeous cherry tree. Berserk is definitely not the word.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidNice blossom there. Sad that it only lasts about a week and a half before disappearing…

March means first cut for the lawn – and the usual thoughts about feeding and liming it.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidNotice the rather splendid new garden fence – courtesy of our new(ish) neighbours below. They have done a good job on it, but it does mean we will be looking at new things to plant in front of it.

Another side effect of this tidying up of the boundary between our properties is that I now have a rather splendid – and functional – compost area. I have of late been spreading the products thereof over the beds in the front garden.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidMuch yet to do, of course!

Tags: , , ,

We are most blessed here in Greater Victoria with there being so many splendid places to walk. Amongst this number are included favourites such as: Centennial Park in Saanichton, Island View Beach, Elk and Beaver Lakes, Horth Hill, Gowland Tod, Thetis Lake, Witty’s Lagoon, John Dean Park and Bear Hill.

Last weekend we visited a new spot – Francis/King Park – the which comprises 265 acres of lush rain-forest. I thought you might like to see some pictures:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

 

Tags: , , ,

A snippet of trivia that somehow typifies life here on the island – and some pretty images from some recent sunny days…

We are signed up to our local ‘Block Watch’. In the UK this would be the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ – and you can make you own judgements as to whether it is better to keep an eye on the block – or the neighbours! I jest, of course…

Our local Councillor forwards items of interest from the equivalent of our local ‘Bobby’. Here is today’s message:

“Hi everyone,

Couple of items from overnight;

          1. A small dinghy was stolen sometime over the last month from the area of North Saanich Marina.
          2. A large cougar was reported in the Ardmore neighbourhood, last night.

Cheers”

Several points about this tickle my fancy… Obviously the typical small town mix of dingy theft and wild animal sightings speaks volumes about the place that we call home – but I particularly like the fact that the small dingy was stolen “sometime over the last month”! “Yeah – I meant to get round to reporting it!”.

Images from Sidney on a sunny day and a walk to Gowland Tod.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

 

Tags: , , ,

In my last post I promised further and better snow images – should the Arctic Outflow oblige by providing the requisite white stuff as it threatened to do. Yesterday evening it duly delivered. Herewith the evidence:

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidThe inclement weather produced by the outflow led to a number of record low temperatures across the province, a notion which – given that large tracts of Canada are already notorious for bitterly cold winters – should cause the mind to boggle somewhat. Fortunately the worst of these records were set in parts of British Columbia to which right minded folk do not venture, should they be able at all to avoid so doing. Here in Victoria we reached a mere -5C yesterday – though the wind chill factor dropped that to a much less balmy -13C.

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidThe Girl and I went for a swift walk around our neighbourhood yesterday and that gave me an opportunity to try out what has already become a favourite amongst her Christmas gifts to me – this fetching and most excellent tuke (for non-Canadians a tuke is a beanie!). This thing is awesomely warm which is clearly achieved by the appliance of some wonder of science or other… or possibly of magic. Either way it is a life (and ear) saver when the temperatures dip below -10C.

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid

 

Tags: , , , ,

…Not so sure about the ‘jolly’ though!…

Who would have thought when I was writing this last year:

“There is no getting away from the fact that this is a Christmas unlike any that we have known. In fact, unless one is old enough to remember the Second World War it is highly unlikely that such a level of disruption to the normal cycle of celebration will have been experienced before. None the less, we will persevere – because that is what we do. And come next year – when much has returned to a state considerably closer to the ‘old normal’ – we may find it difficult to recall just how weird this one was.”

…that a year down the line I could easily have found myself writing exactly the same thing!

Funny old world – ain’t it?

Still…

…to friends, acquaintances and gentle readers…

…from the Kickass Canada Girl and the Imperceptible Immigrant…

we wish you a safe and peaceful Christmas and a Happy Hogmany!

Christmas piccies…!

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson ReidPhoto by Andy Dawson Reid

Tags: , ,

« Older entries § Newer entries »