Brief visit to Victoria

We just got back from a brief but very packed visit to Victoria.  We began Monday being welcomed by Elaine with some wonderful Irish whiskey…Writer's Tears….how perfect!

And she had supplied the guest suite with lots of goodies.

Then we met Mary at the Penny Farthing for dinner…wow…the halibut and chips were fabulous and washed down with Kilkenny…our favourite Irish beer so definitely an Irish night.

Tuesday,  Elaine and I went swimming at the Hotel Grand Pacific and then had lunch and met up with one of our regular servers so got all the latest news.

 Jim took Ian out for lunch and he is looking and feeling terrific…even back to running up the stairs…amazing.

Tuesday evening we went for dinner with Patty and Terry at the Thai Lemongrass…wonderful food as usual and so great to see them.  Then back to their place for coffee and dessert and some of their very special banana liquor they brought back from Cuba…a real treat.

 One of their two cats who should be named "Mr. In and Out"….

 Yum, yum, yum

Patty doing the honours with dessert.

Wednesday,  Elaine took me for coffee at this wonderful bakery and coffee shop….wow…Pure Vanilla look out.  We had a fabulous cheese croissant and I bought some bread that was just coming out of the oven and smelt heavenly…cinamon and walnut.

Then lunch with Carole and Fern at the Snug for me….we had a great visit.  Jim went out to lunch with Nigel,  ran into various  colleagues at Camosun,  and got some work done.

Wednesday evening we had dinner at Elaine's and to celebrate our "non birthdays"…all our birthdays are in July so we celebrated early.  We began with some Champagne then a wonderful scotch,  and wonderful (as always chez Elaine) wonderful wines.  We started with crab cakes then seafood lasagna and salads….all from Cook's Day Off….excellent.  Dessert was her home made lemon cake…wonderful.

Then,  to the birthday loot.  For Elaine,  I was thrilled to find a cat t-shirt online with the "black cat" motif like what was on mugs Elaine gave me last year.  And other cat stuff like stamps and some books…one being the wonderfully illustrated children's story "Mr. Got to Go" about the cat that wandered into the Sylvia Hotel on rainy night.

My loot:

I love everything and can't wait to read this lovely picture book to Roger and Kerry's grandchildren!


Jim's loot:

Some very special beers, dry sausage,  and the very best of all…some ties that were Don's on a French theme.  One has the "black cat"  so absolutely perfect!  What a thoughtful and special gift.  Jim will give one of the ties to Richard as we know he will treasure it knowing it was Don's.

Thank you so much,  dear, dear friend.