VANCOUVER and VANCOUVER ISLAND

We had a couple of days in beautiful Vancouver, before meeting Margaret (my sister) who had just flown across from Oz and then ...

... we caught the ferry across to Vancouver Island. This is where Bill lives in Nanaimo.

It wasn't long before we were at the CROW and GATE pub having a bit of refreshment.

Margaret and Fay enjoyed the food and the drink at this gorgeous pub (a rarity in Canada!) Just think - there are four Keasts on the island.... is that a record?

Duncan is the town of totems, and there are quite a few to photograph.


From there we went to Chemainus and checked out the fantastic murals for which they are famous. Here are just a couple.

Party Central this arvo as we help Bill celebrate another milestone. He wouldn't tell us how old he was.... so I had to do the maths!! He's still lookin' pretty good, even if one of his knees doesn't seem to always work as he'd like it to. Join the club Bill.
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Special thanks to Knappetts and Pettits who've been just excellent hosts here. And we're not done yet!

ANOTHER WEDDING

Bec and Stuart

A glamorous couple

No, he didn't get to drum at the wedding! (Logan Jack)

Jon and Peta (#2 daughter)

Jeremy in action (#1 son)

Yeah! The wedding was great! The wedding was indeed glamorous. It was good fun and the bride and groom certainly enjoyed themselves. Hey, that girl can dance! Unfortunately our #1 daughter (Deb) and family had to attend another wedding.

It was good to have my 2 brothers and my sister there too. Especially seeing brother Bill is due to head back to Canada next Sat (19 Apr.)

Now, we're packed up and ready to head to Cobar, Broken Hill, Port Augusta and onwards to Western Australia. Departure - Wednesday about noon. It's only 300 km from here to Cobar.

Today the guys finished our carport. It looks great.

Katie is living in our pad while we're away. How cool is that? Good to have someone house sit. Now... I'd better do my last bit of packing.

DECEMBER

December is a month like no other. For starters it is the start of summer (although November stakes a bit of a claim here usually.) It includes the festive season, or as I like to call it the anniversary of Jesus’ birthday. It includes the start of the summer holidays, usually late Dec. It includes Fay and I heading to the beach to enjoy some sand, surf, sun and relaxation. When you are holidaying in a caravan or cabin about as big as two rooms of a house, there’s not a lot of housework to do. We read a lot, catch up with friends, watch the cricket and tennis on TV, swim, paddle, beachwalk, bushwalk, bush bash on mountain bikes etc. What a great time we have during the summer.
Our retreat is 600 km (360 miles) from our home in Dubbo. Lucky we’ve got mates Dicko and Sue and neighbours Richard and Shirley to look after our house back in Dubbo while we’re away for 6 weeks. Just remembered we left Dicko a blank cheque! Oh well!
Enroute to the beautiful South Coast, we’re spending a few days in Sydney enjoying our grandson Logan Jack who can now WALK! What a difference that makes! Especially when he walks straight into the TV (yesterday’s trick) with obvious consequences. Thanks for having us sleepover for several nights Bren and Deb. Photo above is Logan Jack and Tiger. Can you pick which one is the real Tiger?
We haven’t caught up with son Jeremy as yet, but hopefully he’ll come down to visit us at the Retreat later this month.
Plans are underway for a quick visit to Newcastle (2 hour journey) to see #2 daughter Peta and her man Jon. There is planning to be done in preparation for their wedding in February. Brother Bill from Canada is out here now (avoiding the Canadian winter) and he will come with us to visit one of his many favourite nieces.
Fay and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Billy Elliott the Musical on Friday at the Capitol Theatre. Music by Elton John. What a fabulous show! Man, what a great show. Don’t miss it if you get the chance. That's a promo picture above.
Then by Friday we’ll head for the south coast – a 2.5 hour drive. Third photo above was taken at our retreat. Just gorgeous! Want to come join us one year?
If you’d like a 1 page summary of our activities in 2007, drop me an email to keasty446@gmail.com – no charge.