I had never previously been alerted to the high population of canoes that inhabit Vancouver and the narrow spots they’re housed in, to note them you need to be walking an alley route.

Tonight on the way home from a lovely dinner (arugula salad from their garden yum, yum, chicken biryani, yumnation) with friends, we enjoyed a cosy walk, mainly through the alleys since one of us was on a skateboard. I was salivating over the odd poly-veggie-house and (gasp) glass greenhouses. The vegetable gardens are firmly installed! At one point my son asked me to tell him a story, it reminded me of the many years where, carless, we walked and walked and walked sometimes 30 blocks(!) and I would tell him stories to keep him moving. Recently we began walking again, it’s a grand way to enjoy a pause and process the old thoughts and tell jokes together and examine the world. Tho’ I must admit I also love to sit in a stationary car when it’s raining and exchange funny stories.