Hong Kong visits Victoria

August 26 2006
After Bob & Vanessa left on their fishing trip, I packed up Chile, picked up Donna in Nanaimo and we 3 headed south to Victoria. Deanna was hosting a mini-reunion in honour of Helen’s visit from Hong Kong where she teaches. We arrived @ 6:30 – just in time for appies on Deanna’s new deck. It was a beautiful evening, made even more so by the presence of our far-away friend. Then Donna’s cell phone rang - it was Joni from Vancouver. She also attended high school with us and by chance decided to give Donna a call. We each had a good chat with her. She had visited Helen in HK a couple of years ago, but otherwise it’s been about 15 years since we’ve seen her.
While dinner was smokin’ (explanation in a moment), Deanna’s sister Donna called from Hawaii, and I had the pleasure of chatting with her for a few minutes.
Dinner was served at 9 and it took all 4 of us to barbeque the salmon, and ensure the veggies were done cajun-style (as in the colour not the spicyness). And let me tell you about corn on the cob. Our beautiful hostess went to the store to buy corn for dinner, but forgot to do so; fortunately she had one cob in the fridge and cooked it for the ‘foreigner’ who doesn’t get to eat much maize.
Deanna apologized profusely, Donna laughed that she had forgotten to buy what she went to the store to get (a common theme in our group), I whined and fussed that we should all have had corn…. meanwhile Helen got busy and devoured her solitary cob of corn. Mmmm good!
It was a late night and Donna was the first to crash. We 3 sang her goodnight (very off key) as she snuggled under the covers and Chile chose to stay in her room until he was encouraged to join me downstairs. It was just like going home – I got to sleep in my old room! (Bob & I rented D’s basement suite for a year until we moved to Qualicum). Helen & Deanna made my bed and tucked me in. How sweet is that? Chile just wanted the light shut off and the noise to go away!
6 a.m. came pretty quick, and it was time for Chile & I to revisit the local park. He was pretty excited and checked every darned tree for messages – it’s been 2 years so there were lots for him! I don’t know if he remembered the place but we’ll pretend he did.
When we arrived back home, Deanna came bounding down the stairs into the kitchen, while Donna shuffled from her room and waited anxiously for the first pot of java to be brewed, and Helen gathered mugs & condiments for the ‘black gold’. It was ‘kicking butt’ coffee and much appreciated. Deanna does really well to supply her guests with coffee, as she drinks only tea. I think we scare her with our early morning habit and she figures it’s best to give us our hit, rather than tolerate the grumping (speaking personally of course).
It was so natural for us to be chatting in the front room, enjoying our beverages, slowly waking up to another beautiful day.
Knowing our friend Suzanne is a few hours ahead in the time zone, we decided to call her (everyone else in BC would still be sleeping, except for Joanne who is on holidays). We had a quick word with Tom, but Suzanne was on a weekend course and wouldn’t be home until nightfall.
We saw Helen’s photos of her apartment in HK. What an incredible view of the city she has. WOW!
Meanwhile, Chile came into the room, nudged Deanna and me then left. Hmmm….he must just be saying hello, isn’t that cute?
But no! He was saying "hey someone left the door open and I’m going for a walk, wanna join me? No? OK, see you later – don’t worry, I remember my old neighbourhood – I’ll be back soon". A fact that wasn’t discovered for about 20 minutes. Now those of you who know Chile, know that he is never off-leash because unlike a boomerang he does not come back. Ever.
I was very concerned when I realized he was outside – alone – without a leash attached to a human. I start calling his name (not panicking yet…) and whaddya know, he’s around the corner across the street and actually comes running back to me - without checking for traffic of course. He was very happy to see me (and proud of himself I think) and I was very happy I didn’t have to spend the rest of the day looking for him.
Alas it was time to say adieu. Hugs and wishes for a good trip to Helen, and promises to Deanna of a return trip ‘soon’.
We made good time back to Nanaimo where Donna had to ‘launch a boat’ (she owns a boat store). I got to go home and launch the laundry machine.
p.s. phone call from father-daughter. Successful fishing. V caught the first one! They are having a blast.
Until next time….