Eye Surgery Scheduled!

I am getting my cataract surgery done on July 28. My friend Kelly is coming up from Nanaimo to spend three days here since I can't drive on the 28th or 29th and need a ride to and from Comox Hospital. I also can't bend over or carry anything at all heavy. "If you drop something, leave it on the floor!" says my doctor. I am always so grateful for everything she does for me! I will Have to name the guest room, "Kelly's Room"!

A Small Appeal

The Pelican's Nest Safe House (Moose Jaw, Sask) is a refuge for vulnerable Women and is a project of my great niece Ioana Begg. If you can spare $25 (or more) for this worthwhile project it would make us both very happy! And if you can't right now, that is fine too. Thank you.

Happy Father's Day!

To all the dads out there!

Here is my dad on a family outing in the late 50's on Vancouver's Grouse Mountain chairlift. I was riding with my mother in a previous chair.

The Latest - Not Much But The Latest!

I inherited a nice La-Z-Boy recliner from my dad and it is my favorite TV watching perch. A week or two ago there was a loud "Bang" from underneath when I sat down and one side of the cushion sagged. One of the four springs had broken! Yesterday Kelly and I loaded it into her hatchback and took it down to the repair shop. 

Today I am heading down to Brooks and LindaLee's place in Shawnigan Lake for a couple of days visit. Should be back Sunday or Monday. It is time for a little break and maybe my recliner will be repaired soon after I get back.

Property Taxes!

Our property taxes are due on July 2. I am lucky because although I have great semi-waterfront property my highway frontage is very small. This limits my 2020 property taxes to only $2,600 (after the seniors reduction, less than my neighbours with comparable single family dwellings. The City is offering to let us pay online with debit or credit cards. Of course I would have to reimburse them for the 2.5% fee imposed on them by the credit card company. No thanks, I will use my debit card.

My friend Kelly is coming up for a couple of days to do some work on the garden but it is pouring out! She is still coming but later in the day and will use the guest room in hopes the weather will be better tomorrow. Either way I am going to make a fancy dinner for us and our friend Brian tomorrow night. Brian managed to score a bottle of wine from the winery owned by BC's brilliant Dr. Bonnie Henry who shone leading BC through our Covid-19 crisis. She will get a well deserved toast!

Today I am washing my bedding - how do other people remember it is time to do this? and vacuuming the hardwood floors. Then I will be caught up on my chores!

Should I Or Shouldn't I?

That is the question.

Well, the lawn "could" stand a mowing. But it is not that bad so...... should I get off my butt and mow it or wait a couple of days and see what the rain in the forecast does? Maybe a walk around the property is in order...

OK, I mowed it! They are calling for at least four days of continuous rain and it is like a greenhouse around here. On top of that some of my Facebook "Friends" were calling me out to get some exercise so it is done. 45 minutes lost from my exciting life!

Two Days at Brooks'

Two days at Brooks'

We had a long discussion about safety and such but considering there is only one active case of Covid-19 on the Island and that person is in the hospital we decided it was time for me to visit. It was great! Brooks was working but outside of those hours we had a great visit. It has been so long that the dogs forgot who I was and treated my like a stranger when I drove into the yard. In other words they went into guard dog mode instead of, "Hey! Grandpa's here" mode. It didn't take long to reacquaint myself to them and I was happy the cats remembered my and came for cuddles!

We were in the living room when LindaLee saw a mouse in the corner. We were all yelling for the cats but they had all disappeared when it came time to actually earn their keep so the young dog got up, stretched, walked over and crushed the mouse with his paw! Lights out, dead, game over!

We had fish and chips delivered from the pub where LindaLee normally works and then watched TV until bedtime. They are both early risers (6 AM) so I got an early start and after a short shopping stop at the Canadian Superstore for cheese, buns and new socks, I was home just after noon. Oh yes, I had to run into Duncan yesterday to buy new shocks for Brooks' work van after he hit a pothole that everyone has been reporting and complaining about for weeks. He is going to send the Village of Shawnigan Lake the $750 bill. This is going to be interesting.

Surgery Date Getting Closer!

Surgery Date Getting Closer!

I talked to my eye surgeon's office this morning and was told that the Comox Hospital is now allowing cataract surgeries to proceed. This is good news because I can tell my left eye vision is getting progressively worse. I have to wait for a phone call and then buy some eye drops which I take for a week or two. Then I go in for the surgery. I need a driver who is willing to wait for the hour or two before I am released and my friend Brian has volunteered for the duty.

I am required to wear a mask for the surgery and strangely enough they are not provided. I do not own a mask but Brian has a friend who makes them and is making inquiries for me.

Now to be patient and wait for the call.

Motorhome Work Day

Today was the day to get the motorhome de-winterized and ready for summer. I actually did part of it a couple of days ago by running the generator under load for an hour and a half. This has to be done once a month to ensure it works when you need it. It fired right up and ran the rooftop air conditioner.

Today I de-winterized the fresh water system. When I put it to bed for the winter last year I drained the tank, water heater and all the lines. Today I closed all the drain valves and filled the fresh water tank with fresh water with a cup or so of bleach added. I then turned on the pump and opened each of the hot and cold taps in turn until bleach smelling water came through. Then I turned on the water heater, gave it a few minutes and made sure hot water came out all the taps. It did. Everything works!

I then tried the furnace. I knew it would not work and it did not. It quit two or three years ago and I didn't do anything about it. These propane furnaces that come with RV's are wonders of inefficiency. They are loud, use way too much propane and worse, use way too much battery power to run the fan. I hardly ever use the furnace, it just is not worth all the noise, expense and bother. When I am parked and have electricity I use the electric heater and if I am boondocking I simply start up the truck and run the truck heater for a few minutes once in a while. I am a fair weather RVer anyway so it is hardly ever an issue.

I have had this furnace repaired a couple of times in the past, the last time it needed a new circuit board and a new high limit switch. Total cost? $650 (Canadian). Yes, ouch! And it maybe only got used between 10 and 20 hours since it was repaired last. I am not going down that rabbit hole again. I am going to buy a "Mr. Heater" freestanding propane heater and run it off either a 20 pound propane bottle or connect it to the RV propane system. These heaters are only $150 and run virtually silent, using no power at all. Many RVers have them. They are 100% efficient and produce little to no CO2 for which I have a sensor / alarm. They are switchable between 4000 and 9000 BTU and are perfectly safe. I may never use it but I will have it if I need it. The next owner can deal with the furnace it they want to beat themselves up.

Well, So Much For That!

Well, so much for ambition! I woke up with a long "To Do" List,of 1) mow the lawn, 2) de-winterize the motorhome, 3) wash the bedding, 4) prepare to take my taxes in to be done. 5) phone in my prescription renewals.

When I got out of bed I looked out the window and it was RAINING! Well so much for the first two items! We went from such a beautiful day yesterday that I was able to eat all three meals out on my porch to RAIN!