We had decided to leave our hotel in Vancouver at 9.00 to take the underground train to the bus terminal in time to get the coach that takes us via the ferry to Vancouver Island. Unfortunately we had not yet adjusted to the time zone change and slept through the alarm. I awoke at 8.30 and had difficulty waking Clodagh. Panic stations, but somehow we got out and kept to our planned schedule and it was a lovely sunny morning as we sailed through the channels leading to the Island.
We arrived in Victoria early afternoon to book into the Empress hotel, which has a lovely situation looking out over the harbour.
After a sandwich lunch I went for a walk round the harbour while Clodagh went back to the hotel to phone her step-cousin, Michael Cooper and his wife, Liz. When I got back their daughter, Winnie was with Clodagh in reception. She had come to pick us up and take us to Mike and Liz's. We had last seen Winnie, when we were here with Gabrielle and Alex, performing her 'Farmer Vicky' act for children, which she does promoting dairy products for Island Farms with 'Daisy the Cow'. In true Farmer Vicky style, she got a passing boy to take a photo of us outside the hotel.
Then to Mike and Liz, both on good form, and we much enjoyed catching up with them.
Mike showed us a photo he'd taken. I thought at first the chap in his thirties was Peter but it was me with a 3 year old Peter holding on to my trouser bottoms. It's still difficult not to feel upset
They have a lovely apartment looking out to sea, over which there was a beautiful sun-set. We agreed to meet for lunch next day and Winnie took us back to the hotel.
We dined at 'Pescatores', opposite the hotel - yet more good fish - and saw the BC government building well lit up alongside the harbour.
Another bright, sunny but cold morning for another delightful walk by water round the other side of the harbour.
Then to lunch with Mike, Liz and Winnie at the local James Bay Inn and more opportunity to catch up with them.
Winnie and I went for a walk along the sea front and again, in Farmer Vicky mode, she got someone to take photos of us. She told me she is able to organise her work to take holidays to suit her and we hope we might see her in London in the summer. She is in charge of the whole 'Daisy the Cow' promotion and other 'Farmer Vickies' operating throughout the island.
Back for a glass of sherry - haven't had that for a long time. Mike, as ever, was full of stories. One of them was of a man going home from work on the bus, sitting next to a lady, he said to her 'T.G.I.F.' She replied 'S.H.I.T.' 'But all I said was Thank God It's Friday'. 'I know but, Sorry Honey It'sThursday!'
Back to the hotel and then a pasta supper at The Old Spaghetti Factory, in part of The Crystal Garden building built for Canadian Pacific Railway and designed by the same architect who built The Empress hotel.
A cold and frosty walk the next morning with ice on the harbour water.
Followed by an excellent curry lunch with Mike and Liz in the Bengal Lounge of the hotel.
Then goodbye to The Empress with its hemlock trees outside, looking like two Afghan Hounds on guard.
And warm goodbyes to Mike and Liz, whom we have so much enjoyed seeing again.
Then to the bus terminal for the journey back to downtown Vancouver. On the ferry I was reading. 'Fear Index' by Robert Harris, about computers taking over the financial markets. I went into our club lounge toilet, which was controlled by an array of switches not immediately comprehensible. Clodagh's fear index went up, as she watched and wondered if I would ever appear again. We watched others having similar difficulty. Electronic machines are definitely taking us over.
Robert Cole
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