October 7, 2014. Halifax, N.S. Other Plans.

In life, it is what happens with the unexpected that makes all the difference. The Alt Hotel is new. It is also attached to the airport. Tonight, whether we wanted to or not, we are staying in the Alt Hotel. Our flights were changed but no one told us. Someone made a mistake so now we will leave tomorrow. Rather than getting upset and yell and scream, we are taking their voucher and staying for the night at The Alt Hotel. The hotel is convenient and pleasant and we will enjoy our visit here, although we would rather meet our family in Texas!!

October 6, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Temperatures.

Suzanne reported to me that Texas was experiencing a chilly spell. Evidently everyone in San Antonio is enjoying the cool weather where the sky is blue, with a cool breeze in the air. She thought that we would enjoy the weather in San Antonio as the temperature was 82 degrees. I laughed. An 82 degree temperature in Nova Scotia means a hot summer day. But we all know that temperature is relative to what you are accustomed to feeling. Definitely, Suzanne said that I did not need to bring my woolen socks to Texas. Today we decided to remove the hot tub. It will soon be gone. By the time we return in June the deck will be redone too, of course by George. And in our absence the dining table and the buffet tops will be refinished. Progress will be made in our absence. We are ready. I did laundry all day. The deck furniture has been put away and tomorrow morning I will drive the truck into the garage. I will feed the fish for the last time tomorrow morning. We are ready for the 82 degrees in Texas!!

October 5, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Closing Up.

We did it all by ourselves. The odds and ends of food from the cottage was packed into the car, along with the sheets and towels. Our truck was full by the time we drove home. The furniture down by the lake is now safely tucked away. Yesterday I brought the furniture to a central spot and this afternoon Ken and I loaded the stuff on the truck and stored the tables and chairs in either the boat house or the change house. I was not sure we could do it, all by ourselves, but we did. Ken says that it takes him four times longer than normal to accomplish any task, but the point is, the task gets done. We huffed and puffed and we took breaks to catch our breath, but we got it done. Now Vinal will remove the raft and the dock and call for the plumber to set the cottage up for the winter. But Ken and I have done our job and the cottage is officially closed up for the winter.

October 4, 2014. Pleasantfield, N.S. The Tribute.

Kelly planned the whole event. He wished no solemn funeral with everyone weeping. Two week after his death, he wished friends and relatives to gather together at White Point to have a party, complete with good food and wine and plenty of music. The Swing Band played, as did the Ukulele Strummers. That was what we did, celebrate Kelly's life. Several e mails were read from his former students along with relatives who could not travel from the west for the event. And people told funny stories of Kelly. Throughout the afternoon was a continuous slide show of Kelly and Frances and relatives and friends. It was a splendid event but over everything was the huge loss of Kelly in the lives of people gathered together today. One aspect of the event was interesting to me. Everyone was dressed up, except us. The ladies wore fancy dresses while the men were in jacket and ties. Our plan was to drive directly to the cottage so we were casually dressed. We did stick out but as there were 200 people there I assume no one noticed, at least they did until I stood to tell a funny story about Kelly. At least I was wearing a gray sweater and a black top. It was the black heavy sweat pants that gave me away. Kelly would not have minded. He had a wonderful sense of humor.

October 3, 2014. Western Head, N.S. The Sea.

For two days the surfers have been walking down our driveway on their way to the point, where for two days the surf has been better. The days have been overcast and windy with the wind coming from the north, which brings huge rooster tails off the top of each breaking wave. And each hour the waves have grown bigger. It has been a wild and wooly sea at Western Head. Evidently there is a storm out at sea so we have big waves. Only the best surfers go to the point. The waves break right on the big rocks giving the surfer little margin for error. Last evening I chatted briefly with a surfer as he was walking past our home. It was already well past dusk so he was cold and tired but happy. Both yesterday and today there were surfers in the water every minute of the day. Between watching the high seas and the surfers I was kept busy deciding what to see next. Right in front of Gill's house the high waves were crashing on her rocks. It is quite a sight to see the whole side of the bay covered with foam. Both morning we awake to see surfers in the water. They are a dedicated bunch. For the past two days, life was exciting for the surfers out at Western Head. And exciting for us too. Those waves were high.

October 2, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Marigold Hotel.

Christmas arrived early in Western Head. A Christmas package arrived yesterday complete with Christmas wrapping and a set of instructions, which told me to open the gift immediately, which I did. Our early Christmas gift was from Dave and Irene, who keep us supplied in DVD's. They know that we mostly have no TV so we enjoy the series of movies and TV shows that they have given to us over the years. This movie was "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". We watched it this afternoon and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was exactly as described on the package: "Charming, Funny and Heartwarming." In addition, the photographs of India are worth the price of admission. An early Christmas is a good thing!! Yesterday, we went to watch the new gift but the DVD player was not in place. We figured that we threw it out. Last summer we must have used the player we carry in the truck. So far this summer we had not played any movies as our TV room is so small that company could not fit. First thing this morning we buy a new DVD player at Source. While Ken is connecting the player and setting it up, he finds an identical player leaning on the back of the desk on the floor. So now we have two. This movie is all about change and the aging process and as neither of us have any recollection of buying the DVD player last summer, we just laughed and will use the second player at the cottage or the guest house. Of course, neither place has a TV set…yet. Fortunately the player was cheap.

October 1, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Playoffs.

The world of baseball playoffs used to be simple. When your team won their division, you went to the playoffs. For purists like me, the system was wonderful as it meant that the beginning of the season was just as important as the end. But the baseball wizards changed the system and three years ago an additional wrinkle was added so now I don't even know the system. The playoffs have begun which pleases me. Last evening was the wild card teams of the American league playing a one game, winner take all, and advance to the playoffs game. The game was between the Oakland A's and the Kansas City Royals. It was a humdinger of a game. Ken and I got lucky. We watched until the 6th inning when the A's were up by 4 runs, then headed upstairs. This morning, Ken checked the Internet to discover to our surprise that Kansas City had won the game. This afternoon while checking the weather on TV, Ken discovered that the game from last night was being replayed. We had found it in the 7th inning, so we got to watch the whole exciting game right to the end of the 12th inning. For the first time, I approved of the change in the rules for the playoffs. It was great fun watching the game. Kansas City stole 8 bases!! There is a National League wild card game going on tonight but it was boring compared to yesterdays game. The playoffs have begun. October is a wonderful month.