You just can't beat good luck. Yesterday, we just got lucky. Our flight out of Halifax was delayed due to high winds and freezing rain. The plane arrived one hour late into Halifax and after boarding we sat on the plane waiting for clearance before lining up to de-ice the plane. Our schedule had left us a two hour layover in Newark, but with the late start of two hours, we felt sure we would miss our flight to San Antonio.
But we got lucky. Our arrival gate was right across from our departure gate so we were able to walk right across the hall and walk onto the next plane, which had already announced the door was closing. We sat down, the door closed and we took off for Texas. Almost everyone on our flight from Halifax was connecting onto another destination. One group heading to Washington, DC. had 21 people on the plane, but they missed their flight. But, with no thanks to us, we were the lucky ones and we arrived in San Antonio twenty minutes early. I have always considered myself a lucky person and yesterday just proved my case.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
March 13, 2012. Western Head, N.S. Marsh.
Marsh is always on the go. He comes to dinner at his cousin Walt's house and leaves five minutes after dinner has finished. He is not at all rude. He is just ready to go.
Marsh is a retired attorney who lives in Halifax. His area of expertise, when he worked, was title problems. He worked for the province sorting out issues that arose when properties were passed down for hundreds of years without ever coming for sale. Over the years we would see him at Mary and Walt's home for dinner or other celebrations. He knows a lot about who owns what and where along the coast and the rivers, so I am always picking his brain.
He is one of the nicest people in the world and also one of the most energetic. Since his retirement, he takes several trips a year, often with friends but often alone. He has never married but often travels with one woman or another. His Mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his father, who married again unsuccessfully after Marsh was at University. So Marsh is single. He is active in his church and active in the Icelandic Society of Nova Scotia. He was kind to an old lady at his church and often picked her up for church or took this old lady out for dinner, because he thought she was poor. He helped her with chores around the house, just because he was single and could have the time to be helpful. The amazing part is that the poor lady was not poor and when she died she left Marsh quite a lot of money, which astonished him. He denoted half to the church and now that he is retired, he travels here and he travels there.
It is a nice story and he is a nice man. He is one of those people that you would like to get to know better. But he is always on the go.
Marsh is a retired attorney who lives in Halifax. His area of expertise, when he worked, was title problems. He worked for the province sorting out issues that arose when properties were passed down for hundreds of years without ever coming for sale. Over the years we would see him at Mary and Walt's home for dinner or other celebrations. He knows a lot about who owns what and where along the coast and the rivers, so I am always picking his brain.
He is one of the nicest people in the world and also one of the most energetic. Since his retirement, he takes several trips a year, often with friends but often alone. He has never married but often travels with one woman or another. His Mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his father, who married again unsuccessfully after Marsh was at University. So Marsh is single. He is active in his church and active in the Icelandic Society of Nova Scotia. He was kind to an old lady at his church and often picked her up for church or took this old lady out for dinner, because he thought she was poor. He helped her with chores around the house, just because he was single and could have the time to be helpful. The amazing part is that the poor lady was not poor and when she died she left Marsh quite a lot of money, which astonished him. He denoted half to the church and now that he is retired, he travels here and he travels there.
It is a nice story and he is a nice man. He is one of those people that you would like to get to know better. But he is always on the go.
Monday, March 12, 2012
March 12, 2012. Western Head, N.S. The Weather.
Today was a wonderful day. The sun was shining and there was no wind at Western Head. And the sky was bright blue. Living on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean today was a fine place to be. A couple actually had a picnic sitting on the ground at Fort Point Lighthouse Park. Everyone was loving the weather.
When we moved here, we were told that if we did not like the weather right then, we should just wait, because the weather would change. It is true too. It can be stormy one moment and soon the sun comes up and the sky clears and you can enjoy the good weather for about thirty minutes, when it will change again.
But today the weather was perfect all day which is most unusual. Everyone in town commented to me about the wonderful day because they know that soon the winds will blow. Nova Scotia has had large snow storms as late as April so bad weather may arrive at any minute. But for the moment, we all enjoyed the beautiful day.
When we moved here, we were told that if we did not like the weather right then, we should just wait, because the weather would change. It is true too. It can be stormy one moment and soon the sun comes up and the sky clears and you can enjoy the good weather for about thirty minutes, when it will change again.
But today the weather was perfect all day which is most unusual. Everyone in town commented to me about the wonderful day because they know that soon the winds will blow. Nova Scotia has had large snow storms as late as April so bad weather may arrive at any minute. But for the moment, we all enjoyed the beautiful day.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
March 11, 2012. Western Head, N.S. Brunch.
Sunday brunch must be the most pleasant meal of the week. The food is varied and plentiful and the time period is never rushed. Certainly, in my experience, having brunch is always special. This morning, Gill took us to Lanes for brunch, and as expected, it was lovely.
I ate Haddock Cakes while Ken and Gill chose griddle cakes, Ken with bacon and Gill with bacon. Then they swapped off. We sat in the Library, so we had the room all to ourselves, until our friend Ann Fownes came in to meet her daughter for lunch. We had lost track of her. After her divorce, she moved to Victoria to complete her degree in political science, then went on to The London School of Economics to complete here Masters. She is now back working for Queens County and the Provincial government, in the field of immigration. We were delighted to be re-united with her.
The only negative aspect of eating brunch is that you eat too much food. Ken and I skipped breakfast but ended up eating a bountiful meal at brunch. But I think it was worth every calorie. Sunday brunch, in my opinion, is the nicest meal of the week, especially when your good friend invites you to a lovely restaurant.
I ate Haddock Cakes while Ken and Gill chose griddle cakes, Ken with bacon and Gill with bacon. Then they swapped off. We sat in the Library, so we had the room all to ourselves, until our friend Ann Fownes came in to meet her daughter for lunch. We had lost track of her. After her divorce, she moved to Victoria to complete her degree in political science, then went on to The London School of Economics to complete here Masters. She is now back working for Queens County and the Provincial government, in the field of immigration. We were delighted to be re-united with her.
The only negative aspect of eating brunch is that you eat too much food. Ken and I skipped breakfast but ended up eating a bountiful meal at brunch. But I think it was worth every calorie. Sunday brunch, in my opinion, is the nicest meal of the week, especially when your good friend invites you to a lovely restaurant.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
March 10, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. David and Marion.
They are true Nova Scotians. Marion was born and raised in the big old house right next to their present home while David lived across two train tracks on the south of town. Five cousins live within one mile. They are one of the most industrious couple I have ever met. But the best aspect of these folks is that they do not complain about their situation. It is fascinating to spend an evening with them in their home. Ken and I and Gill are polar opposites from Marion and David.
They still camp. Next year they will take the ferry to Newfoundland and camp for several weeks, something they have done every five years their whole married life. But this trip will be special, as they will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, so they are younger than us, but not much younger. And they both still run races. This year they move into the next level of competition, into the over 70 year old, so they expect to win a few races.
Tonight, we were invited to dinner in their home, along with Gill. We talked a lot about old relatives, and senility, and traveling. They had three sons and always camped with the boys and now they have eight grandchildren. Their traveling included the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland and even though they were never wealthy, they always did whatever they wanted to do and never complained a minute. It is such a pleasure to meet such good people, and to call them friends.
They still camp. Next year they will take the ferry to Newfoundland and camp for several weeks, something they have done every five years their whole married life. But this trip will be special, as they will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, so they are younger than us, but not much younger. And they both still run races. This year they move into the next level of competition, into the over 70 year old, so they expect to win a few races.
Tonight, we were invited to dinner in their home, along with Gill. We talked a lot about old relatives, and senility, and traveling. They had three sons and always camped with the boys and now they have eight grandchildren. Their traveling included the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland and even though they were never wealthy, they always did whatever they wanted to do and never complained a minute. It is such a pleasure to meet such good people, and to call them friends.
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 9, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Shopping.
Gill and I must be the most efficient shoppers in the world. First stop was to purchase the lighting fixtures, which is not an easy job. Gill asked all the hard questions and soon we had ordered all the lights we needed for a total of 18. They will all be delivered in about three weeks. The young man we dealt with was very polite and pleasant but really knew very little about lighting, but with the catalogue and our eyes, we chose all the light fixtures for the Guest house. It took us one hour.
Next up was Zellers for towels and sheets. I shop quickly. I want it done. Gill stopped me buying the wrong sheets just because I could find the size. At one point I put black sheets in my basket. She took them out. We were the odd couple. Also Gill spotted a big sale for towels. Excellent quality and two for the price of one. I was able to purchase all the towels and sheets and bath mats and pillows and it took us another hour.
In the very back corner of the store is a Diner, where we ate. It was worth the price of admission. It was decorated as a fifties diner. Food and service were great as was the price. It was a pleasant surprise to find this fancy diner in Bridgewater, in the back corner of Zellers. And we drove home the shore route, with no need to rush. My list is almost complete.
Next up was Zellers for towels and sheets. I shop quickly. I want it done. Gill stopped me buying the wrong sheets just because I could find the size. At one point I put black sheets in my basket. She took them out. We were the odd couple. Also Gill spotted a big sale for towels. Excellent quality and two for the price of one. I was able to purchase all the towels and sheets and bath mats and pillows and it took us another hour.
In the very back corner of the store is a Diner, where we ate. It was worth the price of admission. It was decorated as a fifties diner. Food and service were great as was the price. It was a pleasant surprise to find this fancy diner in Bridgewater, in the back corner of Zellers. And we drove home the shore route, with no need to rush. My list is almost complete.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
March 8, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Drive.
The day was perfect . The sun was shining and the water sparkled. And it was warm. It is a route we have taken many times in the past, but today was the first of the season so it seemed especially beautiful. We drove along the shore from Liverpool to Bridgewater. At Lehave, the ferry was running but we decided to leave it for another time when we are not so pressed for time. The scenery is charming. It was our first drive of the year, thus very special.
Driving home along the highway was not beautiful. The sun was still shining but the wind was blowing very hard. we were glad to be home.
Driving home along the highway was not beautiful. The sun was still shining but the wind was blowing very hard. we were glad to be home.
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