December 13, 2011
If you get the ‘flu shot as we did aujourd ‘hui (and its ensuing dead arm fallout) we found watching Since Yesterday a film offered by the Vancouver Archive on youtube about the history of transportation in Vancouver rather a comfort to recover with.
I particularly admired that single donkey pulling a bucket of water. The 1945 city buses were a handsome affair.
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We also enjoyed that bloke’s odd channel about random buildings in Doncaster and beyond. (We were viewer number 29)
December 13, 2011
flyin’
Mrs Olive Stark was the first airline passenger in Vancouver and by my calculation likely endured a bumpy ride. (Apr 24, 1912)
Mrs Alys McKey Bryant piloted the first flight by a woman in Vancouver. (1913)
December 13, 2011
It’s -1. I think the promised chilly Weds may materialize after all.
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A bear came to visit us today downtown. He had the most gorgeous coat, I can’t get over it. He has briefly usurped Alfie-Cyril (one of our two guinea pigs) and my mother’s lovely donkey Willie (passed on to donkey heaven since) for beauty. Knitting also seemed rather futile after beholding the texture of that creature.
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December 12, 2011
Knitting is so mathematical. This is so unfortunate. How to be a rebel knitter and cast off with the number requirement?!
I discovered my major calamity was caused by a number mix up. Needles that say 9mm are not number 9 needles it turns out.
No they are number 13 bloody needles!
So imagine a number 13 needle on a number 9 body and you have a 25 percent disparity, the experts told me yesterday. An elephant sized jumper.
Yesterday another knitter who I was socializing with taught me “continental” knitting. I am v confused by this term. Which continent exactly?! The left handed continent? It is very hard to do it, unless maybe you are left handed inwhich case it’s probably fantastic.
The good news is today the birthday man for whom the jumper is intended and was measured for it was very thrilled to see the-mess-in-progress it is. It’s a comfort though to knit for someone who is so enthusiastic to receive it whatever the outcome. (I hope that enthusiasm does not drop at the final purled furlong).
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In unrelated news I’ve nearly finished Dan Francis book Red Light Neon. The chief of police was always it seemed very knitted to what was taking place in the city and the atmosphere therein. Also, the Vagrancy act, it’s definition and how that related to women was another curious quagmire.
December 9, 2011
Sometimes They Sang back in print
Today is a good day for literature Helen Potrebenko’s novel Sometimes They Sang is finally back in print after a long absence. (1986)
Pick it up and read it.
Tonight at the Western Front at Toque she will be signing copies.
Make haste!
Otherwise visit Publication Studio Vancouver to order it online. (site is a bit funky, so email them if you’re having trouble locating it)
December 9, 2011
Headline of the day
Never a dull moment in 75 years of weather forecasting
Quote of the day below said headline:
“The challenges we face have changed because society has changed,” said Met Éireann head of forecasting Gerald Fleming.
Followed in very close second by this one:
“The first director general of RTÉ [Edward J Roth] did not last all that long but he was from the US where weather broadcasting was a big deal and he insisted it was needed,” Mr Fleming said.
“If it weren’t for him it might have been a long time before we had televised weather forecasts.”
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An honourable mention goes to a completely unrelated online article which began “Anti-nausea treatment is not an exact science…”