I Knew Something Was Up!

Sure enough...all the tell tale signs.  Suitcases by the door, adorned with doggie beds and accessorized with water bowls.  We are going somewhere!

Turns out it's not my Pashy Minders dream come true - I am being abandoned  lovingly cared for in PDX by Mr. Watty Man and his peeps.  I "bark" peeps as it appears Watty Man, with the exception of dishing up the groceries,  pretty much runs the show.  Call me crazy, I could be wrong!

Please, Phil...can't we think this over!

 

 

Oddly enough, Watty Man and his first servant are OK with it.

I did my best to hold Watty Man off on being pals, but had to cave.  His peeps sent photos of us tussling, so I had to say "Uncle."

Say for instance I had been allowed to go to PDX to go on an aircraft, this is how it would have unfolded for me! After a luxurious meal and some refreshing beverages, I could check out the Pet Lounge. 

And, I could have gone potty here!

Not seeing any wine or beer, however!

They took Icelandair to the U.K. and are having a stopover on the return.  The flight was fine and the service just as Janet has always envisioned Nordic people to be - brief, crisp and on the job.

They landed in Reykjavik at about 6:30AM.  Beautiful sky with out a tree in sight!  And, freezing ass cold in September.

At last, they arrive in the U.K.  Look at all that luscious greenery.

Their first cottage is lovely - quite new and in the country side not far from anything.  The one downside is lack of kitchen lights.  Janet is glad they are leaving tomorrow as she is slowing going blinder.

Yesterday, at Phil's behest they went to Dover Castle and then to walk along the White Cliffs of Dover.  Janet was in a major fit by the time they finished as the Castle was as boring as could be and walking two miles each way on a single track with drop off cliff at hand to get to some stupid fucking lighthouse (like we don't have lighthouses in Victoria!?! - that we have never been too?) that was closed upon arrival.

Some scenes are improved with personal viewing.  This is not one of them.  The stupid effing White Cliffs of Dover are as easily admired from a photograph.

Janet was so pissed that Phil was smart enough to stay quite a bit inland!

Janet Is A Major TV Star

2 Burley Men Moving Company is a very generous and community minded local company.  They sponsored a commercial for Our Place and Janet has a major role....if you believe her!  In truth, they were desperate for a warm body and she happened to be on hand.

Janet says she wants to get an agent, but Phil and I keep reminding her that she is on screen for about 5 seconds, tops!

Here are the two new convection ovens at Janet's "work", now installed.  They sold a large four burner, two oven range and replaced it with the new ovens and a two burner unit for large pots.

The Director of Communications at Our Place is Grant McKenzie.  He has had a couple of books published, but his most recent book is gathering a lot of attention in the U.S.  Tracy had a cake made that looks like his book cover.  It was really cool!

Janet and Phil have a major apple tree that Janet loves until she doesn't love it anymore - which happens every fall.  This year she processed about 70 f***king pounds of apples.

Sadly, 70 pounds of apples doesn't turn into a whole lot of processed product.

There was actually more applesauce than shown in the photo.  The dark coloured jars are Apple Curry Chutney.

For the first time Janet can recall, she used all six burners on her stove at the same time.

Many years ago, Janet purchased Cuisinart pots and pans.  At that point in time, they were made in France and cost the earth - $2000 in 1976 dollars.  They came with a 50 year warranty which Janet deemed to be bullshit as "no one has the same pots for 50 years!".  Guess what - they are now 41 years old! 

Perhaps add some sparkle with stainless steel cleaner.  They work as good as the day she bought them.

While Janet may have been savvy with her pot purchase 41 years ago, she was no match for the English As A Second Language Chinese Cosmetic Sales Lady.

She purchased Shiseido face watch a couple of weeks ago at London Drugs and then ran out of moisturizer.  Janet was at the Bay, so decided to get the same line of Shiseido as she really liked the scent.  One moisturizer turned into eye cream and a "pore opening lotion".  Janet decided that she didn't need the pore lotion but the sales guerilla insisted this was the single most important product that Janet must have.  After the promise of a $20 reduction, previously closed pore Janet was $150 in the negative.

I, Puppy Dog Pashy believe her skin radiates with a dewy glow.  I get extra dog cookies to spin this bullshit.

OK....I'm going to get ready for bed!

Meet Active Janet!

Say a fond farewell to Lazy Ass, Lame Ass, Sorry Ass Janet and hello to Active Janet!  She kind of sounds like an ancient Barbie Doll!  Yes, siree, Janet is kicking it up a notch in the activity department!

She has always done lots of walking.  In addition, Janet who is as flexible as a 2 x 4 is now been back at Yoga 3 times a week since March.

  Now they have a trip planned to the U.K. and plan to do as much of the Cotswold Way as time will permit.  They will be based in one place and walk a portion of the Way each day and take public transportation back to their car.

On top of that, Air Canada had a big seat sale on.  Phil suggested that instead of going to Hawaii in the New Year they should go to Southern Spain on a bike vacation.  Never mind that Janet has barely been on her bike in a year and Phil doesn't even own a bike, it is now a confirmed plan.  They booked with Andalucian Cycling Experience who offer many different cycling options - Seniors, Leisure, Road Trips, Mountain Biking and Training Camps.  Only option missing is Full On Lame Ass!

The area circled is really close to where they will stay, which is the village of  Montecorto.  They are booked in a "Villa", but Janet is pretty certain the word villa in Spain is less glamorous than our version of villa.  The circled village Ronda has been voted one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

Our super neighbours, Cynthia and Derek had some people in for drinks and finger food.  They live at the very end of our street, facing Monteith, but actually on Bowker.  Janet said it was really nice to meet some close by neighbours we normally don't socialize with.

They have a beautiful back garden.

One of the more enthusiastic guests was their pup Riley.   Sussing out the situation.  What should I go for?

OK...time to dine!

"This is delicious!"

Janet and I go every second day to feed the fish in Ken and Karen's pond.  They are super happy to see us!

Janet made what she thought was this really yummy dish.  It was from Smitten Kitchen and consisted of cherry tomatoes with zucchini, corn and parmesan cheese baked in a buttery crust.   Janet thought is was pretty good but Mr. Iron Chef Phil declined to agree.

Eh..what the F does he know?

That's it!  I'm all done!  Next post - buckle up your seat belts!  It's going to be about local building demolitions!  Janet says you know you are old when you think this kind of shit and documentaries are riveting!

Finn Man Visits Again!

Finley and his handlers came back for another visit.  This means three things are going down for sure:

Chinese!

Sushi!

The tuna sashimi is turned into a flower!

Pizza!

Whoops, sorry!  Lame Ass Janet didn't take any photos.

Janet says being a Grandparent is a very competitive gig and requires razor sharp skills to keeps ones self on the cutting edge.  In an effort to get that cutting edge, Yaya baked some peanut butter cookies.  Score:  Yaya - 1, Grandpa - 0.

Then, unbeknownst to Janet, Phil hauled out a very large cardboard box and turned it into a "house" for Finley.  Janet's cookies didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell next to that stupid box! 

Busy working on it.

Better get some water in case my plants need it.

It should be fairly obvious to everyone that Finley doesn't care for it too much....in your dreams, Yaya!

This is Janet's newest discovery from The Whole Beast, who make all their own smoked meats.  Brisket!

So delicious!

We went to what used to be called Uplands Park, but has been renamed Yaya's Forest.  Bean and I are buddies now.

This is the tree that Rockers and Noodles used to be able to climb up, and unbelievably, Phil still can1

Now that Noodles has passed away, I thought I would check out resting underneath the table whilst Finley was dining.  Didn't turn out so good as the peanut butter coated side of his rice cracker stuck to my fur after he dropped it!

This really lovely school across the street from Janet's work is being torn down to build condos.  It makes her sad as she really likes this building.

No way, Janet.  Not a chance!  You might have instilled the fear of God in me in the past with the vacuum, but no longer.  I am not moving!