scotlandandbeyond

[scotlandandbeyond]

Time To Call it a Day

3 years ago I started this blog to document our 3 year adventure. The well thought out plan was for 2 years teaching and living in Scotland, followed by one year of travel, while having a 3 year rental lease of our Gabriola home. There were tears when we moved out, and more tears when we said good bye to family, but we were off on a once in a life time adventure. Part of the plan was that we lived in our 24’ travel trailer for July, 2017, probably July 2019, and again for June, 2020. A month before we left, a month after finishing living in Scotland and before traveling so we could see everyone, and for a month before getting our house back so we could look at and purchase paints, new carpet, etc for upgrades we wanted to do when we returned home.

As John Steinbeck once wrote, “the best laid plans of mice and men...” After only one year in Scotland, followed by one year piecing together places to stay back in B.C., we thought we were back on track when we set out on August 3rd, (one year tomorrow), for our year of travel. Below is a BC sunset 2 nights before we left, beside the view from our apartment in Crete.

The 8.5 months we had of travel definitely provided a lifetime of memories. From in Morocco riding a camel out into the Sahara Desert to see the Milky Way and spending the night in a tent, hiking again the Samaria Gorge on Crete 14 years after our first time, hiking to the amazing monataries at the top of the stone pillars in Meteora, enjoying the fun of the mineral baths in Budapest, being kissed by a 2 year old elephant, sleeping on a raft hotel room on the River Kwai, cruising down the Mekong River in Laos, visiting the early morning floating markets in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam,...these experiences and so many more we have been so fortunate to have. This blog became a bit of a travelogue and it was fun to write it.

What I rarely mentioned was that instead of 3 months in our trailer, we have spent 14 months in it. 4 months when we returned from Scotland early, 3 more before we left to go traveling and then there’s now. Returning in mid-March due to COVID-19 instead of the end of May, then having to extend our lease by 2 more months again due to COVID-19 has been challenging. As we are now in our last few weeks before we reclaim our home, I think it is time to end this blog.

Having said that, I’ve discovered that I actually really enjoy writing, so I will be starting a new blog. I’m going to call it “A Wandering Canadian” from the tagline I used throughout this blog. This time it will be both my mind and body that wander. If you’re interested, here’s the link to my latest post: https://awanderingcanadian.tumblr.com/post/625399246603091968/welcome

Many people have commented that they have felt badly for us as we definitely hit some snags, (that’s putting it mildly), throughout our trip. Despite the challenges, including some travel ones, (like the time I thought I had a worm specific to the Mekong River...didn’t, and the time I jammed and really messed up my toenail in Laos...that I’m still dealing with), I still think that we have had the adventure of a lifetime. I feel blessed to have spent more time, (although not as much as hope for), with my family in Scotland, overwhelmed beyond words at the places we have seen, the people we have met, the experiences we have had. Travel WILL be back, and I’ll be back out there.

Meanwhile, thanks for following along. I have loved sharing our adventures with you, and equally I have enjoyed your comments and support. Caio for now! Dawn

[scotlandandbeyond]

Summer 2020’s European Vacation: aka B.C. Staycation

It started when we found a cruise we could afford.

We dined Oceanside, on fresh seafood.

We reveled in playing Italian bocce ball, (although we lost), and even a taste of Greece.

There were hikes through the countryside, and coffees in the garden.

So what if our bocce ball and the Greece towel are the closest we will get to a European vacation this summer. Finally seeing my sister, brother in law, and my fabulous niece and nephew, and enjoying some normal time inside a bigger bubble than we’ve had for 4 months was rejuvenating both in body and mind.

Keeping with the European theme of short flights internally, we took the 11 minute flight back to Nanaimo, complete with masks, and 3 other passengers, noting as we looked down onto the water, the other holidaying Canadians enjoying time on the Sunshine Riviera! We truly are the lucky ones.

[scotlandandbeyond]

Creeping Out of Our Bubble

These past 4 months has been the longest stretch of time in decades that I’ve slept in the same bed. Who would have ever guessed that it would be in a 24’ trailer? We’ve been keeping it all very close since returning home to Canada on March 19th. Since our friends left Vietnam for Canada on March 16th, we have breached our bubble of two 3 times: once for a weekend in late May with my sister when we spent a few rainy 20 minute intervals in indoor space, then in the 3rd week of June when friends from Gabriola came to camp in the same campground and we were closer outdoors at times than the 6’ requirement, then a few weeks ago when a friend gave me a quick outside hug.

Tomorrow we jump cautiously into the real world, albeit it still wrapped in a bit of cotton wool, when we wear our masks and take two ferries to go visit my sister and her family for the weekend. I am so excited to see them, yet so nervous at breaking our bubble. My sister and I have talked it through: activities, outdoor sitting areas, and I admit that I’m a bit frustrated with constantly having to think about all these things, but we all know it needs to happen. In the past week B.C. has had a resurgence of cases: we have gone from 8-10 per day, to 30-32 per day, due largely to a, (non-condoned), party that took place with largely young people over Canada Day. Unfortunately, the carriers were largely non-symptomatic, so it took a while for the “ah ha” moment to arrive. We are now into “round two” of incubation periods, and we have over 1000 people in self isolation, with our contact tracing people working flat out. Unfortunately, it’s a good reminder of how fragile our peace from this virus is, and fortunately, we have had low enough numbers that we thus far have been able to contain things. Let’s hope we can put the genie largely back in the bottle one more time. I guess the question people should be asking each other before hanging out is “Hey have you been in contact within the past two weeks with anyone who was in...name of place here?” If the answer is yes, I personally choose to miss hanging with my buds a little longer.

Yesterday I had a visit with my mum. She’s in a care facility so hasn’t been allowed visitors since early March. She hasn’t had a hair cut since then either. Her care facility have been rock stars though. I had to go through a security checkpoint with my vehicle, answer questions, have my temperature taken, give all my contact details, and drive on what is temporarily a two-way street, (as the exit is closed for easier monitoring of access) to my mum’s building.

I was instructed to park in the Physician’s parking, (which is by FAR the closest I will EVER get to being a doctor), and I reported to the visiting tent, (it’s an overhead cover to protect you from the weather), where I went through again the questions, temperature check, and contact details, before my mum was allowed to join me outside for a visit. The rules are strict...and I’m VERY happy about them: no physical contact, remain 2 metres apart, (although the visiting chairs are probably a good 3 metres...10 feet for my readers south of our border...apart), I need to keep my mask on, (except for sipping my tea: I brought us each a cup of Tim Horton’s steeped tea and a doughnut). I’m fine with all the rules as they’ve proved wise thus far. Let’s just say that the visit didn’t go as hoped with my mum’s deciding to exit about 10 minutes in, (after inhaling her doughnut of course), and being unhappy that I wouldn’t take off my mask, OR follow her inside the building. Let’s just say it was a good reminder of WHY she’s living there. I did have to laugh though. There are no photos of my mum because her facility asked me not to post them. Frankly their reason made sense: although I can attest that we were farther apart than required, photos with zoom lenses can change everything, (as crowded beach photos can attest to), and they don’t want to be unfairly called on the carpet for bending the safety rules. Trust me when I tell you that my mum was clean, physically healthy, and with longer hair than I’ve EVER seen!

That will be my last visit for over 4 weeks. As we pop our bubble of two tomorrow for the weekend, then pop it again 2 weeks later for a visit with our friends who we last say in Hoi An, Vietnam, I will wait another two weeks to ensure I don’t bring an unwelcome surprise along with me. Like probably most of you, I’m tired of this. When we left Vietnam in mid-March headed for Mexico where we thought we would be until the end of May, we were confidently saying, “by the end of May this will all be settled down.” WTH? I can tell you one thing though: I’m staying up until 12:01 on New Year’s Eve this year, not to see in the new year, but to be sure this one leaves!

On another note: I did get my tooth extracted 10 days ago and so far all is well. The crowns were another matter as one didn’t fit and they had to be sent back to the lab to be remade, so next Wednesday is the new dental finishing date.

With everyone out camping this summer, we’re seeing all kinds of camping set ups.

I have to say that I’ve seen far more Asian campers this year. We’ve had several families of Chinese origin camping here, on what seems to be their first time every camping. I see new tents, new campstoves, and a LOT of reading of directions to get things set up or lit, but I’m super impressed by their sense of adventure. I don’t think that camping is a cultural thing in China, so I’m taking my hat off to those folks who are jumping in and saying, “This is what we can do, so let’s give it a go!”

Meanwhile, here are a few photos of things that give me happiness these days...

[scotlandandbeyond]

Day By Day

Here in B.C., Canada we get briefings 3 days a week on the numbers of COVID-19 cases. Until about 4 weeks ago, we had briefings 6 days a week, and sometimes I think I am going through withdrawals. It’s a little bit like when I had finished my cancer treatment, and went from monthly check ups to every 3 months, to every 6 months. They slowly release you from your dependency on them for your mental well being as well as your physical wellbeing. I used to take daily notes, and now I have the app on my phone and I check each day, but I don’t panic when I don’t check in right away. I guess that’s good news in terms of my stress level.

Today I went back home to Gabriola to do some measuring and estimating at our home in anticipation of our move in date. We are excited! It was wonderful to sit on our ferry, and have our good friend Lou, an interior designer, over to help me “see” the possibilities for re-decorating/updating our home. If we have to stay home, and as I said today, take a holiday from holidays, (aka vacations for my U.S. readers), then we are setting ourselves up nicely.

On the dental front: I had my broken molar extracted on Tuesday, and yesterday WAS to be my final dental appointment for my 2 crowns. However, in COVID-19 times nothing is as it seems, and one of my two crowns wasn’t done properly so again I live to have another dental appointment...

Just few reminders to why I love where we live...

Over and out for now...stay safe my friends.

[scotlandandbeyond]

The Great Bake Off!

Okay I’ll come clean: I’ve been known to watch the Great British Bake Off a couple of times. I’m not a regular watcher, and I have to say I felt WAY out of my league when it was regularly discussed in the staff room at one of my schools in Scotland, but I’ve definitely seen it a time or two. Like probably many of you, I’ve marveled at the fantastical creations, and let’s be honest...had a little titter over the epic fails. Of course I personally would never undertake such an incredible baking challenge as these folks do.

Having said all of that, I’m a competent baker, so armed with a new recipe, a borrowed electric mixer, all the ingredients and two cake pans, I confidently started out this morning to make my husband a birthday cake. Here is the photo of the cake that accompanies the recipe:

Doesn’t it look lovely? Let’s just say my effort was an epic fail. Here are some photos for your tittering enjoyment:

Let me walk you through them...Top left is it out of the oven and upside down on the cooling rack after putting it back in for longer because it didn’t look finished, and after having it sit for the required 15 minutes in the cake pan as well. You can see that it’s slipping through the wire rack...never a good sign. Top right is the bottom of the cake once I removed the parchment paper. Yes, that side is over cooked...oh trailer oven you’ve let me down. The bottom left is what landed on the table through the wire rack. Centre bottom row is what was left after I scraped off the uncooked bits, and the final photo is me now layering my cake for the next phase: adding the whipping cream icing and the berries so it will magically look like the sample photo!

Let’s just say I’m off now to buy a cake...

[scotlandandbeyond]

As The World Turns

As we go through each day, it can be a bit of a COVID-coaster. Some days are easy, others remind us of how much we’ve lost or are missing. There are some big winners though in all of this. If gardens could talk, I’m sure they would rave about how great a time COVID is, with lots of attention and love coming their way, not to mention money spent! When I look around me, sometimes it’s tough to tell that we’re in pandemic. I’m not referring to the actions of people; I’m referring to nature.

Looking at the two above photos you think, is anything wrong?

Here in Canada there’s a lot of stress around Americans coming across our closed border saying that they’re en route to work in Alaska, but they’re not: they’re secretly vacationing. While this is a concern, we also do have Canadian citizens who have returned back from living in the U.S., or Americans who are up here working and can’t get back, or can’t insure their vehicles up here. We all have worries and they’re all valid. A few days ago I saw a parked moving truck with this sign attached to it:

We definitely are in strange times. So while I try be serene, sometimes I feel like the freaked out people. It’s then I take a walk and look out at the scenery and remind myself that eventually it’s all going to be okay.

[scotlandandbeyond]

Happy Canada Day!

Today is Canada’s 153rd Birthday. We are a relatively young country and have certainly made our fair share of mistakes, but today it feels pretty good to be Canadian. Although today didn’t have the usual parties, parades, fireworks and other celebrations, the people I’ve been in contact with were quietly celebrating being safe, free, and healthy.

For us today was not what we had planned...on so many levels. Today was the day that we were to reclaim our home after 3 years away. Instead we moved to a new campsite.

There seemed to be several of us long term stay people doing the site shuffle today, and while it was a bit of a pain, the change of scenery was good. We managed to set up our new site along with some Canada Day paraphernalia. Canada is not a big flag waving country, but today seemed a bit different.

We celebrated Canada Day with my sister Fiona and her family. We are blessed to have friends and family during these challenging times, but today, despite its differences, was a good day. We’re 1/2 way through 2020...hang on people.

[scotlandandbeyond]

Moving Forward

I’m still in a good place post pity-party, although not all is smooth sailing, enough is going forward. I’m seeing my world opening up a bit as well, with exciting things like travel within many parts of Canada now available, (not that we’re going anywhere anytime soon...but we COULD, and that’s the main thing), and back in March who thought we would EVER see toilet paper on sale again?

So life is returning to a type of normal. I’ve managed to get one of my dental appointments done, with another big one tomorrow. Although I’m still waiting to hear if I can have my broken molar extracted, that all depends on my radiation dosage back when I had treatment 16 years ago. Regardless, I will find a way to move forward and am feeling much better.

On the family front, last week my nephew graduated from high school. Since he was born in 2002 we have planned to be there at his high school graduation, but as everyone knows the best laid plans of mice and men... We watched the “ceremony” on our laptop, which was done over a few days in groups of 8, filmed, edited, then streamed as one event. We cheered, I cried and took photos of my screen when it was Alex’s turn, (note the plexiglass between Alex and his school principal). The students across the world who are finishing their schooling during this time,  both secondary and post secondary, will be remembered in history. I then wrote my mum a letter, (being that she lives in a seniors centre and hasn’t been able to have a live visitor since mid-March), and printed some of my screenshots so she could see the event as well. Oh the coping strategies we’re all developing!

Speaking of our current coping skills, here’s a photo of me handwashing my non-medical masks. While here in B.C. we are asked to wear masks only when we can’t physical distance, we do carry them, and I wear them when needed.

On our house front, I was able to get into our house last Friday. We are looking to return sometime between the end of July and the end of August, but I’m thinking it will happen in early August. I met an electrician there and we talked about changes we want to make to lighting in the kitchen. It was so exciting to be there and to be able to be planning!

Our Gabriola friends Paddy and Ian came over to our campground and spend a week here with their trailer. We were able to have several outside dinners and campfires together, and it was lovely to spend time doing normal things in an almost normal way.

As I close this, things are looking up. B.C. is entering Phase 3 of its reopening, and that will be the last phase we can get to until we have some long term movement of COVID, (either it burns out, we have treatment, or a vaccine). Tomorrow our health officer is giving an update on visiting in seniors facilities, so I’lI be tuning in for that. I’m staying hopeful...and as of tomorrow, there are only 6 months left in 2020!

[scotlandandbeyond]

I Had a BIG Party!

It began as many big parties begin, with something small. Late Wednesday evening we received an email. It’s timing surprised us, arriving well outside of working hours. Still that email was the catalyst for a party that lasted well into Saturday. It ended around 12:40 when I dragged my party weary body into the shower and while in there gave myself a stern talking to.

You see this was a party of one, and it was one of the largest pity parties I’ve had in years. It’s not often that I let things linger and really get to me like that. Not long after returning home on March 19th from Vietnam, I saw a diagram of the 3 stages of how you feel in a pandemic. I can’t find it now, but basically the first stage was fear and I felt that trying to get home, then getting settled and having recurring nightmares. Stage 2 was something like acceptance and trying to get new routines etc, which was where I was for quite some time. Finally a few weeks ago I realized that I had reached Stage 3: moving foward and feeling optimistic, so imagine my surprise when I found myself back somewhere between stages 1 and 2.

I think it was the trifecta of my ongoing dental issues, (currently at one extraction from a break below the gum line on Easter Sunday and as of last week I still no resolution date, 2 cracked molars that require crowns, and now one infected tooth that requires a root canal and put me on penicillin), the tree that woke us up before 7 am last Tuesday, and the crowning factor...the Wednesday evening email. My dentist tells  me that all of my dental issues are from my new stress management habit of grinding/clenching my teeth...oh happy days!

The email was from the organization who rents our house. Without mentioning names, (and many of you know who I’m talking about), we were informed that our lease date of June 30th was now to be extended, despite our arguments, to the end of August. This threw us into a tailspin for many reasons: we had changed our house insurance back to owner occupied as of July 1st, we had workers scheduled to start mid-July who we now needed to reschedule, but the big one was that we had no where to live as of July 1st. With B.C. opening its campgrounds and people wanting to have some sort of normalcy, things are booked solid.

Now I’m a planner, so losing control of everything really put me over the top. I cried, I lamented everything, I railed that I had lost control of my own life. Now, if you think I’m merely a planner, let me tell you...I’m a control freak. So, now imagine my despair.

However, I took my lecture to heart, I regrouped, and I made a list, (because that’s what us planners do), of things I could control, (or influence), and yesterday I started work on it. As of today, (Tuesday), we have a place to live for July, I have an appointment for a consult for my tooth extraction, (Friday morning), we have talked to our insurance company, and today to celebrate my better mental place we went out for a hike around Westwood Lake followed by a late lunch in a pub garden.

Walking around the lake I ran into someone I knew who works in the field of recreation and elite performance. He too is feeling the strain of the unknown: when can I get things back on track? I’ve made a plan that I think will work, but it’s all still so unclear. All of this is just a reminder of a few things: it’s okay to feel frustrated and helpless and to let it all out, and also that anything is possible with a shift in attitude.

When I post this, let’s not publicly “out” the organization who are our renters. We’re moving forward in a positive way, and I hope if you too have a time when you again struggle with all of this, that you too can find your way forward. Sending out virtual hugs.

[scotlandandbeyond]

I Don’t Know What to Say

So, this post has been swirling around for the past week and a half. In my mind I’ve written it, erased it, rewritten it, and who knows if it’s even ready now?

As a member of the 2nd most privileged group of people in the world, (a white woman), I’ve been thinking hard about things. As someone with several friends in law enforcement, I’ve been thinking hard about things. As someone with friends of all colours, sexual preferences, and genders, I’ve been thinking hard about things. What I have not yet done is have uncomfortable conversations with those groups of friends, maybe because I fear that their perceptions of me and my unintended bias may not match how I want to see myself? I don’t know. I do know that I have immense respect for my friend who has taken that route. I haven’t done anything yet: I didn’t blacken my social media presence, I haven’t made a special donation to any human rights organization, I haven’t posted a sentiment about how lives matter. That’s not because I don’t agree; I’m just trying to figure out where to go with this.

Going back to my membership as a privileged group I know that even my group has to take measures for our safety that the most privileged group, (white males), don’t have to take. WAY back in university days, (LONG before cell phones were a thing), us women had to plan any excursion we were planning to take alone after dark with check in points, and safety checks. We made sure that we went out in groups and that your friends always had your back. We watched the signals we were sending by how we dressed. Those are just a few examples, we all have our “Me Too” stories. And remember I was part of the 2nd highest privileged group. Imagine how much more tricky things are as you are seen to be farther down in the hierarchy of things.

As for my law enforcement friends, I’ve really been mulling this situation over. My friends all are kind people. I want to believe they are all good people not motivated by race, but I can’t guarantee that...because I wouldn’t be the one experiencing the issues. I will say all of this though, (surely you can’t be surprised that I have an opinion). I do not believe in “defunding the police”. I think you’ll be looking at anything from anarchy as a nation, to a isolation if you’re in a dangerous situation and don’t know who to call. Law enforcement officers do things I would never do, they defend and protect people who have slandered them and threatened them just the day before. I can personally attest to seeing this. They are a more forgiving, braver person than I. So, let’s put it this way: if you defund the police you had better figure out who REALLY would come to your aid, or who would suddenly not answer your calls because they’re own personal safety comes before yours?

I will say however, that I think that police training has to change. It has to change for everyone: for the disenfranchised who have more negative police contact than those of us with privilege, and even for the safety and respect of the officers themselves. I believe that paramilitary police culture where suppression and firepower over descalation and diplomacy reigns will never solve our problems. I have several fine friends who are amazing at disarming potentially unstable situations, but I know that they brought those skills to the table themselves; it wasn’t the culture of police training that trained them in those skills. I have no doubt that any of my police officer friends can outdraw, outshoot, and probably outdrive me, but I’ll bet that I can de escalate a situation better than most of them. This isn’t a criticism of my friends, it’s a result of the different systems we’ve both been trained in. For decades I stepped into buildings with hundreds of students, many of whom were far taller and stronger than I. I’ve had chairs, large garbage cans, pottery, and even a bullhorn thrown at me. I’ve been called some choice words. I’ve had to deal with all of it without a weapon, a back up, or a mandate to use physical force. I’m not saying I’m better, I’m saying my training is different, and I think it’s valuable. Having said all of that, I know that if my methods fail, and things really escalate, I can call on the police to support me. We are different, but I think that there needs to be more focus on these soft skills in police training.

Then there’s the completely separate issue of the over zealous officers. These people scare me the most and I they make me frightened for my law enforcement friends. I’m sure there are people who apply to be police officers because of the power, just like there are pedophiles who apply to my profession, (teaching), because it gives them access to children. It’s an ugly truth. For decades here in Canada, teachers with “those” kinds of complaints were quietly asked to move on, taking their special brand of childcare to a new group of children. I personally know a few people who experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher. However, for the past few decades here in B.C. anyway, there have been regulatory bodies and investigative procedures in place to help decrease, (if not stop), the prevalence of these people in our profession. These procedures have helped to protect the rest of us in terms of how we are viewed in communities and our own safety. I think that law enforcement is at the beginning of implementing such procedures, and I think they are warranted for the same reasons: protection of the public AND protection of the officers. I will say that those people from countries where officers do not carry guns cannot rest of their laurels either, as I’ve seen the damage that can be inflicted by a group activity involving truncheons.

I still don’t know when I will start my tough conversations. I think I need to. Despite having dated outside of my race, having friends all over the board, and spending almost 2 decades working in First Nations communities, I’m sure there are those who know that from their perspective, I could use some tuning up. I’m open to learning. I hope that you will reach out and talk to me and let me question you about what I don’t understand, and have you show me where I’m not trying to see it, or understanding it, from your perspective. I will never be you, all I can do is walk beside you as your friend.

Here are a few things I saw that spoke to me.

So apparently, I did know what to say. As always, my blog is an expression of my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own, and they’re entitled to block me if they find this outrageous.

Stay safe my friends. Protest, say your peace, but don’t let the forces who want you silcenced to do it with this nasty virus. It’s a tricky time to be an activist.

[scotlandandbeyond]

Almost Full Circle

Well we’re almost back where we started. On Monday we moved from Brannen Lake Campground back to Living Forest Campground. Living Forest was where we moved to in between renting out our house and leaving for Scotland. It was Living Forest that Craig returned to when he left Scotland 2 years ago today, and it was Living Forest that we stayed at for 6 months last year, (fall and spring), prior to leaving on our travels. B

Brannen Lake gave us a safe sanctuary for the past 2 months while the world swirled scarily around us and we will always be grateful. The peace and tranquility of the area was wonderful for a frantic soul. I took some photos of our set up and of one of our daily visitors.

So here we are back where we started. We were greeted by some masked visitors, keeping social distancing.

I think we all felt that keeping our distance was a smart thing to do!

This week is one marked by appointments: 3 were made WAAAY back in November when no one could imagine our current reality, and one was a “bonus” necessitated by my broken tooth. The sad news is that they can’t save the tooth, and the grinding/clenching caused by stress has cracked 2 other molars. The good news is that my cleaning was great and overall, if my only loss during this time is a shortened trip and one tooth, then I will count myself as one of the lucky ones.

So, today I celebrate the last leg of an incredible journey. I’ve been able to start to truly reflect on these past few years and there are FAR more joys than sorrows. Still, who would have thought that Craig having to leave Scotland wouldn’t be the focal point of the 3 year journey?

Until next time my friends...

[scotlandandbeyond]

Welcome Home Dawn!

So, if life had gone according to plan at the exact moment of writing this we would be half way home from Mexico to Canada, the final leg of our 10 months of travel. I would be wearing the clothes from my travels, and we would be so excited to be finally heading back to Canada and to start getting things ready and ordered for our July move back into our house.

Instead, we have been home for 2.5 months, which we have been spending in our 24’ travel trailer. However, today I decided that enough was enough and it was time to get back on track, so with that in mind I dressed up in something I might have worn home today, and headed out to start looking at a new bed for our return home. I didn’t go loitering around the shops though, as that’s still not a “thing”, but I had looked online so I went to one of my favourite shops to see a bed, and to talk to the people there about ordering options.

I also met my friend Stella for coffee. In the COVID19 era that means one of us ordering and picking up our coffees, then meeting the other on an outside bench, sitting at each end.

As I was walking to the bench with our coffees, I started thinking of what my thoughts would be if this pandemic had not been global, and I was coming home from a place where the pandemic hadn’t been a thing. How we met for coffee today would have seemed very strange indeed: what do you mean we can’t actually meet at the cafe, sit at a table with tons of other people around us, and catch up? And wear a mask on the ferry?? How bizarre. My actions and thoughts have changed immeasurably over these past few months, and thinking about it in this way was quite enlightening.

Today I also bought some non-medical masks from my badminton friend Marilyn. Marilyn can sew. Dawn can not...and many can attest to, so Dawn buys what other people sew. Anyway, this purchase was part of my preparation for my hair appointment next week. Again, if my non-COVID19 aware self had returned now, I would have been very confused about what is needed to go for an appointment these days.

So while I’m welcoming myself home, (pretending I haven’t been here for 2.5 months already), and putting some effort again into dressing and doing my hair, I also am aware of the changes that have taken place within me. I think I’ve just decided though that for me, the time to tread water has passed: it’s now the time to move forward with positivity, albeit it cautiously. I know that means embracing change. We’ve been dealing with non stop change for the past 3 years, it’s ironic that our return to our home and “normal life” is becoming the part with the most change itself. We will be spending the month of June somewhat back on our original track: preparing to move home.

On positive note, as the 2nd week of phase 2 comes to and end, (also known as the first incubation period), here in B.C. we have had the lowest number of confirmed cases in the past week since the virus really started taking a grip on the province in March. Schools reopen on Monday for students to voluntarily return, on a very reduced schedule. Parents and students are making their own decisions based on their needs and comfort level and I support each of them. I have no secret research or data on what to do, but I do have every confidence in our provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry who has made thoughtful and thus far fabulous decisions that have guided British Columbia to this best case scenario in this pandemic.

I took the photo below on Thursday to just to document some of the changes to every day events. Carpe diem my friends!

[scotlandandbeyond]

The Little Things are the Special Things

Today I went for a walk. With me was my husband...but also 2 of my sisters, one of my nieces, and my dad. After being away since November, and returning to this pandemic, I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated how special such a simple walk can be.

As you can see from the 3 photos above, we kept to all the guidelines. In fact one cyclist going past said, “Nice social distancing folks!” It was our first family outing since the start of the COVID19 and it was wonderful. Just over a month ago it was hard to imagine when we could get together, with my sister being a front line worker who for the past 2+ months has been tasked with testing people for COVID19. With her permission, I’m sharing what was her daily work look. The rest of the family had this daily feeling of helplessness as we knew she was walking yet once more into the lion’s den.

Yet this weekend, as B.C. is enjoying a lull in the COVID19 action, she and my niece were able to take a float plane over, (wearing non-medical masks for the flight, and socially distancing), and visit family members...albeit without hugs. Her work schedule is returning to a bit more normal. We were so excited to have the opportunity to see each other.

First up was a visit with my sister Fiona and her family, then the next day a quick outdoor visit with our mum who lives in a care facility. I actually took the photo below two weeks ago on Mother’s Day when for the first time since early March we were first able to see our mum live and in person.

My dad, Nancy, and my sister Eliza came over for a socially distanced dinner and campfire last night, then today, Eliza and Dad met us at Rathtrevor beach for an hour long talk and walk.

Another highlight was running into our cousin, with her husband and 2 teenage kids. We were all so suprised and had some lovely conversations.

I love the family unit groupings in this photo!

I guess all I wanted to say, was this weekend we did some normal things: small things, and prior to this virus situation, things that we probably wouldn’t have recorded as being anything special. However, this weekend will go down for me as one of the most specials weekends I’ve had in quite a while.

While odds are that COVID19 isn’t finished with us yet, we are enjoying the respite while we can. We continue to be responsible and safe, but you can fill your heart at the same time. Our family has been very fortunate to have thus far escaped any scary COVID19 issues. If anyone has had it, it has been a mild, (and unconfirmed), case.

What a weekend!

[scotlandandbeyond]

Trying to Make Sense of Opening Up & Other Things

I started this on Saturday, finished it, then it crashed and I lost most of it yesterday morning, (Sunday). Shortly after that, I heard the news of the Snowbird crash. So, this post will be a bit shambolic as it will start with Saturday’s saved thoughts, I will try to reproduce Sunday morning’s bits and incorporate them with up to today’s thoughts. Here we go...

As B.C. readies to start further opening on Tuesday, I’ve been reflecting all week on what that looks like for Craig and I. There seem to be lots of definitions of what the guidelines are and I guess time will who, how how many versions, are correct.

Daily I read the BC CDC website, the B.C. Government website, and listen to the live stream from our provincial health officer and provincial Minister of Health. I want to get it from the source, yet I still have some confusion. I think almost everyone I’ve spoken to has a mixed sense of excitement and anxiety, and almost all are erring on the side of caution, from my hairdresser to my dentist’s office. I know they both, (as small business people), must be needing to get back to work, but they want to do it right as in the long run, that will be better for their business. Still, with the province still having new cases daily, (albeit them a small number and usually traceable to an existing outbreak), it means that people can’t jump in knowing it’s “over.”

We have been very fortunate here on Vancouver Island. We have had merely 1 new case in the past 8 days. Vancouver Island is about the same size as England, but with a population of merely just over 870,000 most of us have the relative luxury of finding enough space to be outdoors and to stretch ourselves. Still I think that everyone is in a different place psychologically right now and there are a lot to theories out there about a lot of different things. The issue is that we are ALL in a place we’ve never been before, including the scientists and doctors, as well as the rest of us with what I call our fake medical degrees. We are all trying to keep ourselves and our families and friends safe, and we have different ideas on how to do that. I have decided that I will trust science. This is B.C.’s data as of Friday. These are facts.

While I’m still in a place of excitement/anxiety, with part of me wanting to keep my little safe bubble...because at least I KNOW that’s safe, I also realize that if enough of us don’t take the next steps, we won’t have authentic data to prove the hypothesis that we can handle this next step. Then I worry that our subsequent decisions will be made on flawed data. Now, I’m not stating that every statistic we have is accurate; in fact I think they show more of an accurate trend that accurate numbers, I do see huge value in being able to analyze the trends. With that in mind, I’m going to try ease my 2 person bubble, keeping with the guidelines and see what happens. For those of you in B.C. with school age children: you need to do what you think is best, like I am in my little world. Please don’t judge others because your view of what is best differs from theirs. We are all trying our best here.

Yesterday afternoon Canada experienced another tragedy. A few weeks ago, our Air Force Snowbirds announced that they were going to fly across Canada to lift the spirits of a country largely in lockdown. For foreign readers, the Snowbirds are similar to the Red Arrows in the U.K., and the Blue Angels in the U.S., (although the Blue Angels are weightier in terms of fire power). They are an acrobatic flight team and in 1989 or 1990 I had the wonderful opportunity to go on the tarmac and see them close up at the Abbotsford International Airshow. Yesterday morning, on what was to the last day of their journey across Canada, one of the planes crashed shortly after takeoff and one service member was killed. The country is shocked. I am so saddened that people who were doing something uplifting for the country, had this happen. The link below is to the Missing Man Formation in deference to our loss.

https://images.app.goo.gl/rqv3vphwaTKaUYqS6

I always try to end with some funnies to lift the spirits, and in fact yesteray’s lost blog had some, but today I think I will leave it alone. Instead here are some photos of Craig and I enjoying our space, and our lucky world.

[scotlandandbeyond]

Wading Through the “Medical”BS

A few days ago a conspiracy post appeared. Although last time I looked YouTube had removed it for violating its terms, it has still been widely spread. It’s about some woman named Dr. Mikovits who allegedly was jailed for spreading the “truth” about vaccines. Turns out she WAS jailed, but for nothing to do with whistleblowing on the “truth” about vaccines. She is anti-vaccine and if that’s your feeling, then it’s yours...and it will probably strain our relationship, but the real issue is that she lied about her situation. See the link below for more information.

How do I know she lied? How do I know I’m not being duped by some pro-vaccination tracking site? Because I check. I check facts. And I check them twice, from different sites. These days I try to watch the live briefings from scientists I trust, so I can hear it from the proverbial horse’s mouth, and not with the spin of a broadcaster. Do I think that our politicians or even doctor’s are right all of the time? NO...but I know that when it comes to some areas of expertise, they know WAY more than I do. It’s kind of like my financial planner: I can follow the stock market, I can subscribe to financial websites, but really my own track record of small investments I’ve made have been average at best, and horrible at worst, so I’ve learned: it’s best to trust a professional. I’m not going to start advising my bank on what banking software they should use just because I don’t care for their present software. I guess all I’m saying, is that at some point we have to trust the experts. My opinion is just that: an opinion. And opinion should not be confused with fact. Because I believe it to be so, does not make it so.

What makes it so difficult of course is that we are in somewhat uncharted waters. The experts know that there are almost always two waves, if not more, and that these waves can vary in severity. They know it’s largely a respiratory virus. They know it has a long incubation period. The rest we’re still finding out. However, these scare tactic stories are horrible. This is not the time to put other agendas out there while we’re all fighting like crazy to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. While I can go with we all have varying opinions on what is essential travel based on our own situations, I cannot agree with with this is all a hoax so we can be tracked by the government by our vaccines.

And, we can’t sit silently back and let people spread these misconceptions in a time of crisis either. We all need to do our part. If you’re looking for some good ways to talk about this with friends, read the article below from The Atlantic. If you want to know why this is so dangerous to let the fallacy stay out there unchecked, read the article below from Forbes magazine.

Yes, this is not a travel, or a lighthearted blog post...but it’s what’s been weighing on my mind for a while now...

However, in a more lighthearted vein, this week was a banner week getting a text and email from my dentist’s office, a phone call from my hairdresser, and even scheduling a socially distant outdoor visit with my mum on Mother’s Day. My excitement that B.C. is able to cautiously open up a bit more is of course tempered with anxiety. This nasty virus is not gone, but we have room for people in our hospitals should they get really sick. So, while I celebrate I ,am also secretly virtually biting my nails with anxiety. Still, we need to start to take baby steps out there into the world again. In B.C. that’s supposed to start a week from next Tuesday, (after the long weekend here).

Until next time, here are a few funnies and photos of our life, which despite this post, is really very good! The third photo here is apparently a targeted ad from Facebook that keeps popping up on my feed...good job my hairdresser called about my June appointment!

[scotlandandbeyond]

The New Normal

Enjoy reading that title, because you won’t be seeing again from me for a while, maybe a year. Here’s why: I don’t think we’re anywhere near the “new normal”, and I don’t mean that in a bad way: I actually mean it in a good way. Right now we’re at what our provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry calls “the end of the beginning”. We’re almost through the, “Oh My God, what’s happening, I’m terrified, we can’t do this, the world is ending” phase. We’re in a new reality, but even this particular state we’re in now won’t last forever. Things WILL happen to shape our longer term future. I can’t tell you exactly what but I imagine they will include a combination of: building immunity; developing ways to limit the severity of the virus; and a vaccine, (which may have varying degrees of effectiveness and qualifications for getting it).

To me we’re in the transition phase. It’s kind of like September 11th, (and before you start, I KNOW this is not like September 11th in many ways, but in some ways the outcomes are similarl...read on...), when no one was ever going to travel ever again, and those who did in the early days were subject to all kinds of invasive, but not necessarily effective practices. I remember my husband joking that we should just all go through security wearing a hospital gown. The long term effects though have been, (and some are U.S. effects only): no liquids over 100ml through security, (so there goes your carry on cheap booze bought pre duty free and kept in your carry on); in the U.S. you used to be able to meet people coming off of domestic flights the the GATE, (I know, crazy, right?). That’s gone too. In the U.S. and some other countries, you have to take off your shoes to go through security, and everyone now has to separate their laptop from the rest of their carry on luggage, (but laptops weren’t as prevalent in 2001). But let’s face it, those “new normals” didn’t change our overall way of travel and living. I remember hearing that SFO, (the big airport in San Francisco), had to put a gate to restrict access to the runways and gates: seriously, up until then you could just drive your car out there??

So, some of the “new normals” when they do arrive, will probably be common sense: things that we really don’t need to do to have meaningful connnections, fun shopping, and travels. I’m feeling quite optimistic about this. So, don’t expect me to use the above term until we actually know the ongoing long term realities. Just saying.

Meanwhile I’m chilling in my campsite enjoying the sunshine, the views, my charmed life, and the fact that B.C. only had 8 new confirmed cases today. Life is good!

[scotlandandbeyond]

I Want to Go Shopping!

I’m not a big shopper. Every year for decades I’ve had a girls shopping weekend, as well as a few trips with my nieces and sisters, and I love those trips: not because I love shopping, but because I like spending time with the people. Sometimes I actually leave people shopping in the store and go sit with a Starbucks coffee and read. Seriously, I’m just not that big a shopper. I mean, I take almost my entire year’s shopping list with me so I have something to do in the stores. Just not a browser.

So imagine me today: I had to go to the Perolator courier outlet at Staples to drop off a parcel of equipment for work. (I work from home...yes in my trailer!). I arrived at 11:40, but unbeknownst to me Staples didn’t open until noon. We needed something for our trailer and since Home Depot is next door to Staples, I used the time until Staples opened to go to Home Depot. This was my first time anywhere but a grocery store, so donned with my blue gloves with a mask in my purse, (in case it felt too crowded), I fumbled my way to the only entrance now available and entered the well ordered and well spaced line. I had one thing to get and I knew where it was in the store, so my plan was to get in, get it, and get out, but when I got inside...oh the temptation!! When we move back into our house this summer we need new patio furniture and a new barbecue. We’ve also been looking at paint colours in magazines and online but they were actually HERE...the paint chips!!!! I have to admit...I was nearly derailed.

Yes, I managed to stay the course and not go browsing, but I do have a whole new appreciation for people who ARE shoppers. You must be going through so much right now, because if I, the non-shopper, was tempted, it has to be so much more challenging for you.

I do want to show you my fabulous package wrapping:

Since I couldn’t shop, I came home and baked some mini apple cheddar muffins, joining the legions of bakers who have sprung up worldwide in this pandemic.

At 3pm I listened to what my friends and I lovingly refer to as the “Dr. Bonnie and Mr. Adrian” show, the daily briefing from our amazing provincial health officer and our Minister of Health, (who seems to have found his true calling). It’s a “don’t miss” of my day. Her calm demeanour, laying out often difficult statistics, have guided our province through this pandemic more successfully than most places in the world, and certainly a beacon for Canada. What I like is that they lay the responsibility for success at the feet of British Columbians, and that brings buy in. This is a photo from a local independent Vancouver paper, The Georgia Straight:

I can’t end without some recents funnies! Have a great evening all.