Updated on July 22, 2019
LOVE IS IN THE AIR – THANK YOU CANADA!
It’s Gay Pride week over here in Vancouver and Love (my favourite word) is all around! In fact, July is my favourite month too! We were married in July. My Daddy’s birthday is in July, we moved into our current home in July – and best of all July 1st is Canada Day! July is the month that fills my heart with gratitude for just about everything good in my life. Deo Gratias!
Walking around Vancouver and the feeling of CANdo. I think Canada should be renamed CanaDO! It has opened its doors, arms, and heart to my family and me, has given us many opportunities for growth and abundance. Can you feel it Canada? I’m giving you one big massive hug!! I LOVE YOU CANADA!
As I sit here on my sunny veranda in Vancouver, listening to the early morning seagulls dance across the sky, a cup of coffee in hand, my heart is swollen with love for my adopted country. Whenever I travel to another country outside of Canada, I realize just how much we take the Canadian courtesy and ease of living for granted. The freedom of expression, cleanliness, stellar service, healthcare, reliability, work ethic, justice, fairness – just about everything is top rate here.
So when I looked at the hundreds of love letters written by grateful people like me, and attached to the windows of Starbucks, I say once again THANK YOU CANADA!! You have been a good friend to me.
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Updated on July 17, 2019
PAY ATTENTION: THE PRANKSTER M.R. IS BACK!
Set your calendars guys! In case you haven’t noticed (I have!!) Mercury Retrograde is back in action, and up to all his irksome mischief!! If you are new to my blogs, you may not be aware of this astrological phenomenon. The planet Mercury, which happens to be the Planet of Communications, goes retrograde in the sky three times (occasionally four times) during the year and lasts for approximately 3 weeks.
During this retrograde period (July 6th – 31st), it behoves one to be cognizant, alert, and mindful at all times. Contrary to common belief, Mercury does not actually go backwards in the sky, but rather its pathway is disrupted during the retrograde period. Because Mercury is the Planet of Communications, this is the area most affected. The most common side effects for us humanoids would be brain fog, computer issues, fender benders, parking tickets, contracts going south, carelessness, miscommunications and a general feeling of confusion. It’s a time to calm the inner demon, practice mindfulness and meditation and not take on any big new projects, but rather finish off old ones.
Just 3 weeks! This year it began 6th of July so we are now midway and it will last until the end of July. By the first week of August, you can come out of your safe space, and begin to interact full-on with the human race again. It’s a good time to take a holiday, go on a yoga retreat, finish off loose ends, de-clutter, and self-connect. After all, if you analyze the Mercury Retrograde irritations are always caused by a lack of self-connection and mindful behaviour!! To illustrate my point, here are a few of my humorous experiences (it’s good to see the funny side!)
I was in the bank recently, had my phone, and as I finished my banking business, could not find it! I went ape looking for the phone, it was not in my handbag, and I was sure somebody had picked it up!! After annoying the next customer and the bank teller, sweating profusely, I realized it was in my pocket all the time! Red face!! Lesson learnt: Pay Attention!
A friend got the date wrong for our coffee date. She arrived the day before. Right place, wrong date!
Numerous telephone-tag experiences, emails not being received, waiting on people to get back to me – that’s the BIG one this time! Waiting to hear back from the Project Manager for our Vancouver Reno, waiting to hear back from people for refund issues, etc. If you are reading this now, you get the drift ‘So that explains! I can hear you say! With a smile I hope! After all dear friends – it’s all elementary or should I say in common Astrological Parlance – As Above, so Below!
Just take it all with a pinch of salt and a generous amount of humour – and be Mindful!!
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Updated on July 12, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: QUEEN MAXIMA OF THE NETHERLANDS
I am totally besotted with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. I saw her photographed with Queen Elizabeth recently at Ascot and she looked absolutely fabulous! The sort of gal you’d like to have in your book club or social circle! She is a normal-sized woman who is not afraid to think outside the box when it comes to colour and fashion style. I love everything about her, and the fact she has three daughters like me is just an added bonus! Doesn’t she make you want to have fun with fashion? She is my style icon for sure!
Updated on July 7, 2019
ENNIS, IRELAND. MY HOME-FROM-HOME!
I have a little home in the West of Ireland now, in the charming town of Ennis, and it makes all the difference! I’m no longer travelling to Ireland as a tourist, but rather as a tax paying, garden owning, supermarket frequenter, who grumbles about the weather when it’s raining, and gets high as a kite when the sun comes out! I check out the clearance section in our supermarket too. The other day I got a perfect head of lettuce for 25 cents, as opposed to the regular 1 euro and felt like a proper ‘local’. If only petrol had a bargain section too!
I’ve had hardly any Starbucks since I arrived, maybe it’s because there aren’t any in Ennis! We love the Insomnia Cafe which has a very high standard of coffee, treats and overall ambience. Kevin and I are fussy about our coffee and agree Insomnia is every bit as good as Starbucks! It has become our ‘local’.
For breakfast, it has to be Lyons tea and a few slices of McCambridge’s brown bread, smothered in rich creamy butter. Is it any wonder my jeans are getting snug as a bug! For our afternoon treat, we enjoy visiting all the colourful and eclectic cafes around town. Between Lyons for tea, and Bewley’s for coffee, they have us all covered!
I buy the Sunday Independent straight after the 11.30 mass at the Cathedral each Sunday. It’s a massive newspaper and takes all week to read! After mass, it’s a wander across the street to the Old Ground Hotel for brunch. This continues to be a much anticipated Sunday ritual for generations of Ennis families – Mammies, Daddies, Grandparents, and cute little kiddies. Needless to add, everybody is dressed up in their Sunday best! The Old Ground Hotel is as iconic an establishment as the Cathedral in Ennis, or the Empress Hotel in Victoria. It has been around since the 1800s too. Kevin and I were married there 36 years ago on July 9th!
Last Sunday, the priest at mass made a comment about how the Irish people never like to see people go hungry, and that it goes back to our genetic memory of the brutal Irish Famine in the 1800s when millions of Irish people starved to death. He also remarked at how generous the Irish were to starving nations through their group, Trocaire, which donates millions to third world countries. Our contribution is apparently huge! Things like that make me proud to be Irish. The kindness and generosity of heart is definitely still in evidence in my adopted home of Ennis. The memory of the famine might explain why the food is so good here – that and the fact we’re a Taurus Nation. Taureans are the best chefs in the Zodiac!
As a more frequent resident now, I make an effort to say hello and smile at every stranger I meet. I pat the local dogs and tell them I’m a vegetarian, so no bones! I even smile at the stray cats too, and tell every Mother with a pram that she has the most beautiful baby in the whole world! Just like a smile, positivity is contagious! And if you don’t believe me, then you gotta fake it to make it!
After 25 years living in Canada, I know it’s going to take a while to adapt to things I miss about Canada, but hey! I’ll only be visiting here for a few weeks each year! Yet the strangest thing is that when I am here, it’s like I have never been away! Clocking up my biological years, I still have lived longer in Ireland than Canada, so I guess that part makes sense.
I have made friends in all the little shops around the town and some know me by name now. Kevin and I busy ourselves doing nothing lol! It feels fabulous doing absolutely nothing but relaxing! Yesterday, we spent 345 euros at the garden centre! (I guess gardening is work…oops I forgot!) We nearly went potty waiting for sunny weather to plant all those gorgeous flowers. I enjoy adding touches of colour and cozy to our ‘Sunshine Cottage’. The walls are buttercup yellow just like our house in Victoria. It’s tiny, by North American standards. Yet it has a cute little garden, three decent sized bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Plenty big to keep us busy and happy and large enough to accommodate visiting family. It raises a good argument for the merits of downsizing. It may not be such a bad idea after all when the time is right. Sometimes, less is more…
This smaller place is easy peasy to maintain. Everything is so easy here in Ennis. No noise, no traffic, no stress, no big housework, no big maintenance bills, no big anything! and very comfortable mattresses! When it comes to comfort, I don’t skimp. Give me a nice china cup, yummy tea, and a comfortable bed. At heart, I’m a simple girl…or so I like to think! For Kevin, a little evening stroll down to the Old Ground Hotel for a pint of Guinness is a nice way to end the day. It’s the little things…
We live in the shadow of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. This iconic building is the heart and soul of Ennis. It has been around since the 1840s. By day, you can hear the melodic toll of its bells on the hour. By night a golden halo of light surrounds its majestic spiral. A giant hands sculpture has been erected in front of the Cathedral to remind us that God holds us all in the palm of his hands. Such a lovely comforting feeling every time I pass it.
Friendly people, fabulous clothes shops, buzz, warmth, cozy cafes, music, idle chatter with strangers, delicious food, McCambridge’s brown bread forever! butter, like you have never tasted, and good old fashioned fish ‘n chips – not forgetting the creamy pints of Guinness for Kevin! Some of the things we miss about Ireland, which is why Ennis, the town we were married in, is our newly adopted ‘Home from Home.’
Slainte from Ennis!
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Posted on June 14, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: FABULOUS AT 80!
TGIF Boomer Buddies!
Hope you are enjoying your Summer wherever you are. This is my friend Rose from Bristol, England. She came to visit recently. She willingly offered to be my model for this week’s Fashion Friday!
I want to look this good at 80!!
No matter what your age is, you’re never too old to Razzle Dazzle!
Cheers,
Patricia xxx
