Letters to Santa in Canada and elsewhere

 

Linda has been involved in this program for years. Her husband, Cec, worked for Canada Post.

https://lindaandcec.blogspot.com/2020/11/letters-to-santa.html

I was curious what other countries did. It looks like the US requires a stamp on the letter and also a stamped return address envelope.  This year they seem to have an online system too. And some kids actually get gifts they ask for.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/11/25/santa-letters-usps-coronavirus/

And this is what they do in the UK. They also require a stamp.

https://www.royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa

I brought this up when I googled "letters to Santa around the world". Some of the links didn't work but New Zealand and Ireland did. Ireland is also kind of cool as they provide colourful templates to download. I didn't try all of them. You can email Santa in New Zealand and get a postcard from Santa from the North Pole. 

https://www.postcrossing.com/blog/2015/11/25/santa-s-address-around-the-world

It's one way to travel!

 Posted on Rick Steeves FB group.

Since we cannot go anywhere, I decided to travel through wine. Went to Trader Joe’s the other night and got these. From left to right: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, South Africa, Chile, Argentina. And some German gingerbread cookies too. I’m hoping to finish traveling by the end of the year but probably much sooner Happy Thanksgiving to all in the US.

Thanksgiving in Paris...from "My Part-Time Paris Life"

 Well, I could certainly substitute this wonderful shellfish for turkey any old day!

‘Til the season! Not Thanksgiving—this is bounty of the shellfish kind. Seen at Clamato on Rue de Charonne on my Thanksgiving Day walk in Paris. ©Lisa Anselmo

This Thanksgiving is not a usual one for many people. There were those who found themselves on their own, due to Covid restrictions—possibly for the first time ever. 

I was also on my own this year, but it wasn’t the first time. In the years immediately following my mother’s death, I would take advantage of the long Thanksgiving weekends to fly to Paris to see friends. At that time, none of my Paris friends were American, so I didn’t celebrate the day. And it didn’t bother me. In fact, it helped me to forget that I wasn’t celebrating with Ma.

Rest of the post here:

https://myparttimeparislife.com/2020/11/27/paris-lockdown-2-0-week-4/

Macleod's Books

 Another place we haven't been down to recently since we're not taking buses these days but this story appeared in The Georgia Straight and it seems they are doing pretty well except the Vancouver Fire Department has a big issue with their many, many books and they will have to do something about that.

Don Macleod in his very packed full of books everywhere bookstore.

https://www.straight.com/arts/macleods-books-faces-day-of-reckoning-with-vancouver-fire-department

Ian Forsyth takes wonderful photos of Vancouver Heritage Homes

 I’ve been wanting to photograph the area close to City Hall for months. It really has some of the most beautiful restored homes all in one place outside of Mole Hill. One big difference is that this street and the others around it are all private residences, these restorations are because of the owner’s initiative, and I can’t even begin to think what a restoration and renovation of homes the size of these would be, but I’m thinking the size of them must make it worthwhile financially, and the beauty and heritage value of the finished product is priceless.

Next up will be the 100 block of West 10th, which has several homes that are amongst the city’s oldest, built in the 1890s, most beautifully restored, many by the Davis family starting back in the 1980s, that will be a treat to visit.

A day for messing about in the kitchen

 I made peanut butter cookies first and froze most of them. We just finished off the chocolate oatmeal walnut cookies I made. I don't put too many in the cookie jar.

Then I made meatloaf which we will have for dinner. I can't remember when I last made meatloaf...many years ago but I had some ground beef I needed to use up.  This recipe looked pretty good. It says "Feeds 10".  It only calls for pound of ground beef.

Ready for the oven, sauce and all.

Update:  It was excellent and we'll have the rest tonight for dinner!

A very typical November day in Vancouver...down at Jericho Beach for a walk

 The rain held off pretty much until we had our walk then the sun came out just after we got home....very West Coast weather.

Minerva's delivered!

We have had many wonderful meals at Minerva's with Donna and Neil (also with Derek when he's been in town) and more recently getting it delivered at Donna's. She lives very close and is a very long time customer. So, how great that we are in a postal code where they deliver...no Doordash so they get all the money. We had our favourites and have enough for tomorow's dinner. 

Wow...what a deal!

 

A special 2020 vintage wine

Fern sent me this...got a laugh out of it.

 

Especially for my travelling friends who aren't travelling at the moment

 Knowledge Network streams all sorts of wonderful travel and other types of programs. You can sign up for free. One program we enjoyed a lot but since we didn't have a PVR we usually missed epsodes was "Waterfront Cities of the World". They have about 65 you can view online and we've only seen a handful.

Check it out.

We put our Christmas decorations up.

 I think a lot of people are doing this...brightens things up in these dark times.

itty Bitty Book Review: "Indians on Vacation"

 "Indians on Vacation"  by Thomas King

I heard Thomas King talking at the Vancouver Writers Festival (via Zoom, of course) and he was talking about his latest book so I was very keen to buy it. I'm pretty new to Thomas King but am very intrigued by how he uses humour so cleverly. It's a serious book and it's a funny book. It makes you laugh and it makes you think. 

Missing our lunches at Sweet Somethings

 Carol and I are missing our avocado toast lunches. It became quite a tradition and we hope to get back to it. We really hope the business keeps afloat with just take-out now.  I think they just might as they have a small dine-in space and it seemed most of it was take-out. We wish them the best of luck.

I made avocado toast for Jim and I yesterday. It's not his favourite lunch but he goes along with it. It is very healthy!

Some of their "sweet" offerings...I am never tempted. Just don't have a sweet tooth.

Brock House Travel Series

I have always been interested in this travel series at Brock House but since they start at 10:30 and I don't like rushing out to things in the morning as I like to read the newspaper and have my swim.  Well, that is no more for the time being.  They have been making them available via Zoom.  I started with the Oct. 26 presentation and have enjoyed them all.  

From Brock House:

Now more than ever, we have the urge to see the world and remember the time when we are able to see and visit other countries. Join John Smith, Rose Taylor and a team of photo enthusiasts as they share their travel stories through picturesque presentations from the comfort of your home.

• September 7th: Labour Day - NO PRESENTATION

• September 14th: “The Geri-Arctics' Adventures on Ellesmere Island: A Voyage by Seven Seniors - fundraiser for Alzheimers” with Alice Purdey

• September 21st: “Portugal: Lisbon to Porto by Bus” with Jim Leggott

• September 28th: “A Northern Philippines & Palawan Adventure: Exploring the Colourful Culture, Pristine Beaches, Colonial History & WW2 Shipwrecks” with Graham Baldwin

• October 5th: “On Top of the World: Tibet, China, Buddhism and Chomolangma” with Ian Paterson

• October 12th: Thanksgiving - NO PRESENTATION

• October 19th: “Treasures of Iran: the Culture, the History and the Gardens” with Sheila Page

• October 26th: “Ethiopia: When Spiderwebs Unite, They Can Tie Up a Lion.” (Ethiopian Proverb) with Marian Dodds

• November 2nd: “River Cruise Down the Seine to the Normandy Beaches” with Robert Boyd

• November 9th: “Crucible of Colour: Hyderabad Wedding and Travels in Southern India” with Michael O'Neil

• November 16th: “Tribes of Indonesia: The Toraja Tribe of Sulawesi and the Dani Tribe of West Papua” with Sheila Page

• November 23th: “Bamfield to Australia and back: A Photographer's Journey” with Kit Griffin

• November 30th: “Hiking the Nakasendo Trail, Japan” with Adrian Gatrill
  

• December 7th: “Netherlands, Cities and Towns & Cube Houses in Rotterdam” with Rose Taylor
•  
• December 14th: "Christmas Special: Travel Trivia Quiz, Travel Anecdotes from our Audience, and Where in the World Is This Photo?" with the Brock House Travel Committee

Down at English Bay yesterday...lovely walk as usual.

 Good thing we got out as Nicki tells me there is rain, rain, rain, on the way.

This is the entrance to our old apartment in English Bay...called The Flamingo.

I thought it was quite cool that they made this design over the power box right beside it. Great idea to do this as these often got a lot of graffiti.

Looked inviting but we're not really going to restaurants or bars these days since you have to give your contact number and we don't look forward to a 14 day quarantine. We didn't even drop into The Sylvia for a Red Truck Pale Ale. Ah well, I guess life will return to normal one of these days.

If only...

Well, if only we could put Trump in a dumpster...

 "Madame Tussauds’ wax museums wasted no time in making some tweaks to their displays around the world as the US election results started rolling in.

In Berlin Donald Trump ended up in a dumpster just days before the results were called, while in London he has been promptly changed into his golfing attire."

 

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Signature of all Things"

 "The Signature of all Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert

I really enjoyed this novel and seemed to be continually surprised. It was really quite a delight although I can also understand why it got some less than positive reviews. I think you probably have to be in the mood for going with the flow of it all. I was!

The sunshine today in Vancouver makes me miss Palm Springs even more

 Listing description and photos of our condo. Well, in these times, we are so glad we sold when we did.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/956153029705241271/5380092955793065291

You gotta love these robots!

 

London (CNN Business)In India, the country with the world's second-highest number of Covid-19 cases, a handful of hospitals has started to use robots to connect patients with their loved ones, and assist healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. 

Bangalore-based Invento Robotics has designed three robots to carry out tasks ranging from disinfecting surfaces to answering patient questions and enabling video consultations with doctors. 

Of the eight the company has so far deployed, the most popular model is Mitra, which means friend in Hindi and costs around $10,000. Using facial-recognition technology, the robot can recall the names and faces of patients it has interacted with. Mitra can roam around a hospital independently, helping patients connect with family and doctors via its cameras and a video screen attached to its chest.

"Mitra can be the nurse's or doctor's assistant, take readings and vitals, remind them of medications," says Balaji Viswanathan, CEO of Invento Robotics.

He says the human-like robot engages with patients and gains their trust. "It may sound ironic but we are using robots to bring humanity to hospitals," he tells CNN Business. 

Yatharth Hospital in the city of Noida, northern India, has deployed two Mitra robots — one at its entrance to screen patients for coronavirus symptoms and the other in the intensive care unit.

"Inside our ICU [Mitra] helps patients connect with their families through video stream and gives the patient's family a look inside," hospital director Kapil Tyagi tells CNN Business. 

"Patients get happy and positive whenever the robot visits them. They are often clicking selfies with Mitra," he says. 

Viswanathan says Invento uses "best in class security" for video feeds between doctors, patients and their families. For in-depth telemedicine consultations, a booth is built around the robot to give patients privacy.