Haloranch

If you've seen the movie "The Party" with Peter Sellers, you'll be able to visualize the scene at dinner this evening. We had Rock Cornish Game Hens. Just as I was critizing someone else for their bad table manners, my cornish hen flew off my plate and skittered across the table. Bits of chicken went flying in all directions. "You have a piece of chicken hanging from your eyebrow", said Teddy, nodding at Hans. "He's just keeping an eye on it", said Vern.

Our first day, which consisted of endless snow-capped mountains standing sentinel along our drive, is already over. And we're still in Canada. It's a long drive to Kelowna and our last pit stop was in Canmore 5 hours ago. Teddy and I share a psychic bond, as evidenced when she met me at the door holding a large pot, gesturing to the open door and explaining that Vern already had the lid up on the toilet and cleared a path for me... After intense visiting with 4 of us talking at once, each one trying to get his piece said before it was forgotten, we relaxed. Now almost 6 weeks of sensible eating punctuated with near daily workouts on the treadmill, pushups, situps, and other assorted fitness routines, we fell from our pedestals with a thud. It was The Drink. I was seduced by The Grape, a willing and even eager victim. Hans fell to The Rum and Coke. Having virtually abstained over the past few weeks, our systems found it hard to cope and we collapsed into bed by 10:30 our t...

You're being counted! I've asked my dotter to install a counter on my blog so I can see if any of you are actually reading this stuff!

For a collective group that just turned 100, we've never looked so good! Last night the Central Alberta Rotary Clubs celebrated with gusto. Nearly 200 people, including DG Ken Copithorne and Wendy, and DG Nominee Raju Paul and Asha, came together to share food, wine, stories and friendship. I confess to having surreptitously (but alas, temporarily) liberated a bottle of red wine from the adjacent table while the oblivious guests were lined up at the buffet. However, I wasn't allowed to get away with it. On their return, they noticed the previousy full bottle was suddenly empty and they stared suspiciously at our table. I can't imagine why. We bid on a couple of items in the silent auction and *won* a night in the jacuzzi suite at the Black Knight Inn. I like to think of it as having won a prize because, after all, we're competing with others here. Hans points out that we don't really *win* silent auction items. But I think we did.

After 30+ years of speaking virtually no French, I've been asked to pull those rusty verbs and nouns into the light of day and give them a brisk dusting-off. Mon Dieu! I'm secretly looking forward to it. It will quickly become obvious to everyone that: (a) I used to speak French fluently, and (b) I don't anymore. *sigh* I spent some time yesterday afternoon translating a document from English into French. This exercise was seriously hampered by the tediousness of having to create the various accents using keyboard shortcuts (which, I'd like to point out, don't all work as they should). And secondly, I had to refer to the online English/ French dictionary a shocking number of times. I feel like a toddler who's just learning to speak. Kids have so much to say but don't know the words so they go 'round and 'round the subject till they make their point. That will be me tomorrow. C'est la vie. But the really good news is......

Hans has been busy finding us a rental car in New Zealand. There are many companies available, but a number of them have "older" cars and we're not desperate enough to take a chance just to save a few bucks. But it is all quite confusing: § some companies don't let their cars go on the ferry to the south island § some companies will, but it costs a fortune § others want you to drop your car off at the north island, take the ferry with your luggage in hand, and pick up a second car when you reach the south island § many won't let you drop the car off in Christchurch if you pick it up in Auckland UNLESS you rent the car for more than 30 days. We need it for 25. § All of them will hold you liable to the tune of megabucks if you have an accident unless, of course, you pay an extra $10 per day. Then they'll only hold you liable for about $200 worth of damage. No word on what happens if you run over someone. And finally, after having sorted throug...

Disclaimer: Sekts is the short German name for Qualitatsschaumweins or sparkling wines. The author in no way intends this term to be misconstrued by readers with over-active imaginations. Even in this enlightened day and age, the topic of sekts carries with it a great deal of mystery, confusion and even taboo. Many still feel uncomfortable talking about the subject frankly and openly. However, it is only through such discussion that some of the misconceptions, assumptions and even embarrassment surrounding sekts will be clarified and reduced, and true enjoyment realized. A SMALL HISTORY It is difficult to ascertain when sekts was first enjoyed. Historical documents reveal that it has been around for at least a thousand years. However, there can be no doubt that the type enjoyed by ancient races was not nearly as refined as what we love today. The French, naturally asserting expertise on the subject, claim to have practically invented sekts. In fact, French sektsperts a...