A bit of a recap from my corner of the globe. The job training programme that I am in is going well -- we are in week 4 now. Only a few more days to go until graduation (May 28). Training is now from 5 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. so that means I have to be up, bright eyed and bushy tailed, at 3:30 in the morning. Day one of this early shift was somewhat difficult, I must admit, but this old body is adjusting more and more each day. With the lovely weather we have been enjoying lately here on Paradise Island I must admit that it is very special to be off work at 1:30 pm as there is plenty of time to enjoy it.
For those of you who celebrated Mother's Day this past weekend .... how was your day? Mine was absolutely splendid. Kendra and family were not sure they would be able to come over on Mother's Day so they popped by on Friday evening with a lovely greeting card and a Timmies Gift Card! Saturday I was off to a dog show with Yvonne, my eldest daughter and Norman and family also stopped by to what Ben in the show ring. On the way home we stopped off at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith for a picnic .... Norman picked up a bucket of KFC chicken for us to feast on. The handsome boy in the stroller is my grandson, Kesler, who will be one year old in July, so hard to believe! Transfer Beach has a wonderful playground for the children so Kadynce did her best to keep me busy there. It was a delightful day.
While on the subject of families I would like to share these tips from my much older brother, Wayne and his lovely wife, Jenny.
This gives us something to think about
with all our new electronic technology.
GPS
Someone had their car broken into while
they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was
adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things
stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS
which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.
When the victims got home, they found
that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had
been stolen..
The thieves had used the GPS to guide
them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage
door and gain entry to the house.
The thieves knew the owners were at the
football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so
they knew how much time they had to clean out
the house. It appeared that they had brought a truck to empty the
house of its contents.
Something to consider if you have a GPS
- don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas
station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else
would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.
MOBILE PHONES --
I would never have thought of
this.......
This lady has now changed her habit of
how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her
handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... etc... was
stolen.
20 minutes later when she called her
hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received
your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while
ago.'
When they rushed down to the bank, the
bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually
used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of
the pin number.
Within 20 minutes the thief had
withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the
lesson:
Do not disclose the relationship between
you and the people in your contact list.
Avoid using names like Home, Honey,
Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc....
And very importantly, when sensitive
info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling
back.
Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY for those celebrated last Sunday
We had a busy week with concerts, and I made this simple
banner which was appreciated. Everything is pinned on...LOL
Mother's Day is not a big deal for me, though I have a parcel from Rob and
Emi in the post today, and expect phone calls on Sunday morning before we go to
church.
No family gathering as everyone is so far away.
"Bible Verses for Mother's Day: Philippians 4:4-7
Paul began the encouraging Bible verse above by writing the following words which also offer encouragement, but also instructions for finding strength, joy, and peace.
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving;
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:4-7"
"Bible Verses for Mother's Day: Philippians 4:4-7
Paul began the encouraging Bible verse above by writing the following words which also offer encouragement, but also instructions for finding strength, joy, and peace.
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving;
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:4-7"
Here is a beautiful Mother's Day video from youtube.
Jan from the Land Down Under
Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers,
grandmothers, aunts, caregivers and more! Whether you raised children, are
raising children, or were once a little monster darling
yourself, you might appreciate these words, redefined for
parents from Lena in Ontario!
DUMBWAITER:
one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.
FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him.
GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.
OW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings
PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.
SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.
STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.
TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.
VERBAL: able to whine in words
WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house
FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.
FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him.
GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.
OW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings
PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.
SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.
STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.
TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.
VERBAL: able to whine in words
WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house
Last Saturday (May 5th) I had the honour and privilege of volunteering for
Harvest House Food Bank's (Chemainus/Crofton) Fill the Bus
Fundraiser.
Another volunteer took a bunch of pictures and created a slideshow. I thought perhaps you'd like to include it in the newsletter. Just an FYI, I volunteer every Monday at the Food Bank here in Crofton, and I have to tell you it is a very rewarding and fun experience. Bigsis Pat
Some good news: Mar del Plata has finally decided to go “green”, and as from today we have to separate our trash at home putting into green bags, paper, card, glass, metal and plastic. No big deal, I have half heartedly been separating this stuff for some time, and every time I had enough, and put it out, someone always took it, not necessarily the official collectors. Then for a time, we had bottle banks set up in strategic parts of the city, but people stuffed just about anything in them and one day they were all removed. Now they have been giving this move wide publicity for over a month, and since they started I have been seriously separating these things. It’s amazing how much plastic we use, drink bottles, cleaning goods, car needs, personal hygiene etc. Leaflets and a symbolic green bag ( very thin, and hardly big enough for three plastic bottles) was issued to everyone, but up to the date I haven’t found any store that sells green bags. Some don’t even know what I’m talking about, so much for publicity!!
Another thing is, that crates of fruit and veg must now be indoors, instead of on display on the pavement. When Sharon was here she showed a lot of interest in this way of selling what naturally is an outdoor product. Greengrocers, of, course, protested saying that they would not sell so much if it wasn’t on display, and in some cases they are allowed to have a frame of crates taking up no more than 90cm width of the pavement, as long as the pavement is still wide enough for pedestrian circulation. In my case, I still get a visit 2 or 3 times a week from a Bolivian, who covers my area with fresh fruit and veg from a small holding he and his family run just outside the city.
A week or two ago I went with my daughter Romina to an Irish music show, we both enjoyed it, as this kind of music is not very popular around here, so is not very common. Last night Leo
and I went to one of Russian music put on by the army band, to celebrate the Russian victory at the end of the 2nd World War, with the presence of Russian, Polish, Croatians and their descendents who came to Argentina after the war. The show wasn’t quite what I expected and most of it was carried out in Russian language, with the interpreter too far from the microphone for us to hear what she said anyway! The music was by the army band, and I could have listened to the Russian tenor all night, even if I didn’t understand a word! The entry to this show was a packet of non perishable food, and , since they didn’t say who they were collecting it for, it just occurred to me that perhaps the military budget cuts are now so stiff, that they have to play to get food donations, LOL.
Another volunteer took a bunch of pictures and created a slideshow. I thought perhaps you'd like to include it in the newsletter. Just an FYI, I volunteer every Monday at the Food Bank here in Crofton, and I have to tell you it is a very rewarding and fun experience. Bigsis Pat
Some good news: Mar del Plata has finally decided to go “green”, and as from today we have to separate our trash at home putting into green bags, paper, card, glass, metal and plastic. No big deal, I have half heartedly been separating this stuff for some time, and every time I had enough, and put it out, someone always took it, not necessarily the official collectors. Then for a time, we had bottle banks set up in strategic parts of the city, but people stuffed just about anything in them and one day they were all removed. Now they have been giving this move wide publicity for over a month, and since they started I have been seriously separating these things. It’s amazing how much plastic we use, drink bottles, cleaning goods, car needs, personal hygiene etc. Leaflets and a symbolic green bag ( very thin, and hardly big enough for three plastic bottles) was issued to everyone, but up to the date I haven’t found any store that sells green bags. Some don’t even know what I’m talking about, so much for publicity!!
Another thing is, that crates of fruit and veg must now be indoors, instead of on display on the pavement. When Sharon was here she showed a lot of interest in this way of selling what naturally is an outdoor product. Greengrocers, of, course, protested saying that they would not sell so much if it wasn’t on display, and in some cases they are allowed to have a frame of crates taking up no more than 90cm width of the pavement, as long as the pavement is still wide enough for pedestrian circulation. In my case, I still get a visit 2 or 3 times a week from a Bolivian, who covers my area with fresh fruit and veg from a small holding he and his family run just outside the city.
A week or two ago I went with my daughter Romina to an Irish music show, we both enjoyed it, as this kind of music is not very popular around here, so is not very common. Last night Leo
and I went to one of Russian music put on by the army band, to celebrate the Russian victory at the end of the 2nd World War, with the presence of Russian, Polish, Croatians and their descendents who came to Argentina after the war. The show wasn’t quite what I expected and most of it was carried out in Russian language, with the interpreter too far from the microphone for us to hear what she said anyway! The music was by the army band, and I could have listened to the Russian tenor all night, even if I didn’t understand a word! The entry to this show was a packet of non perishable food, and , since they didn’t say who they were collecting it for, it just occurred to me that perhaps the military budget cuts are now so stiff, that they have to play to get food donations, LOL.
In the afternoon we had the family round, making us seven. My son brought his little dog, Laguna, with them and she and my Daisy had a great time chasing each other around the house. 20 minutes after they left here, I got a photo of Laguna just as she had arrived at their house, knockout! Daisy took a bit longer to find out she too was tired out, so then I could come into messenger where I was lucky to chat with Sharon, and Jan in Australia who by then was already into Monday, having just had Mother’s day, and Sharon was into that. It came up about the different times Mother’s Sunday is, March in England, October down here, and May just about everywhere else, and they wondered why England had it March. Well, that one is easy, Father’s day is almost universally the 3rd Sunday in June, so, it stands to reason that Mother’s Day is nine months later!!!Next couple of weekends, coming up to the May Revolution Anniversary again, we have more shows on the agenda. Saturday midday there is something on where Bolivians and Chileans will also be taking part (both neighbouring countries of
Argentina) After that we again have to work on a couple of hundred plus of Leo’s world famous pasties for the Sunday when our dance group has a pasty and chicken party for 100. The Salta residents club is also planning a party for early June, I have just been asked to draw up and print out the tickets, as I usually do. ( I also get to be in charge of the drinks) It was joked I should write around 500 words of my activities, so, how did I do?Just Chatted with Sylvie, she and her companion are coming here 13th Dec, for a month yoohooo!!!
--
Daphne
We have welcomed into our family a new puppy, Miss
Daisy Mae Zimmer. She is a Havanese and is eight months. She weighs barely eight
pounds but will weigh between nine and eleven pounds as an adult. She is white
with a touch of beige on her ear tips and feet. I had fallen in love with this
breed at the dog park. In fact, the Havanese that Dorothy ( our Cairn ) played
with at the park looks identical to Miss Daisy. Another Havanese that Dorothy
met at the park went into Lowes and Michael fell in love with this breed on the
spot. We have been trying for months to find a small rescue dog here with no
luck. Most were over ten years and we wanted a dog for Dorothy to play with as
she is only two. He called home and asked me to find us a Havanese. I got in
contact with the Havanese Rescue and was guided to the web site where I found
Miss Daisy. She was flown in May 4. She didn't seem too nervous about the flight
but I sure was. Twenty-five minutes after her plane landed, I fell in love. She
is so sweet, gentle and loving. She has a strange little body. Her body is long
and reminds you of a ferret's body and her hair is like silk. Dorothy has taken
right to her. I bit of jealousy at first over chew bones but no more. Everything
is shared with her new sister, including sleeping with mommy. Pleased to say,
she is housebroken also. Maxwell knows there is a new puppy in the house but
doesn't care one way or the other. His health is rapidly declining and we know
we will lose him soon. Below is a bit of history on the Havanese breed. The dog
has a very interesting beginning.
The Havanese is the National dog of Cuba and its
only native breed. The flag of Spain was first raised over Cuba by Christopher
Columbus in November of 1492. In the ten years following, colonization was begun
on the island by Spain, who owned it for the better part of the next four
hundred years.The first settlers came from two distinct classes- farmers
primarily from the island of Tenerife, and the "segundos", or second sons of the
Spanish aristocracy. Ship's logs of the early sixteenth century reveal that dogs
were brought along on these early colonists' voyages, and logic tells us they
were most likely the dog of Tenerife, common ancestor to all the Bichon family.
Because of the draconian trade restrictions imposed on its colonies by Spain,
Tenerife remained one of the only ports open to Cuba for trade, and it would
appear these little dogs, who soon found their way into the homes of the
resident Spanish aristocracy, developed without much outside influence. They
did, however, develop in response to the climate of this tropical island. The
Havanese of today is still a remarkably heat-tolerant little dog, due in no
small part to the unique coat. Once called the Havana Silk Dog, or the Spanish
Silk Poodle, the coat is like raw silk floss, profuse, but extremely light and
soft, and insulating against the tropical rays in much the same way that yards
of silk sari protect the women of India. In its native country, the coat was
never clipped for this reason, and the hair never tied into a topknot, as the
Cubans believe it protects the eyes from the harsh sun.
In spite of the trade restrictions, Colonial Cuba developed and prospered. By the 18th
Century,
it was the cultural center of the New World, with an elegance that surpassed
anything the British had managed in ITS colonies! The aristocracy of Europe
found the city of Havana to be a great vacation spot, with its operas, theatres
and palacios. On their return to Europe, they brought back the little Dog of
Havannah, which found favor in the courts of Spain, France and England. In both
Spain and in the court of Louis XVI, they were shorn in the manner of poodles,
and were much admired for their diminutive size. The English, on the other
hand, appeared to leave them au natural, and called them the white Cuban,
although they were as often found in parti-colors and shades of fawn.
By the mid-eighteenth century, they were downright trendy in Europe. Queen Victoria owned two and Charles Dickens had one, beloved of his seven children and named Tim. They were exhibited in the early European dog shows and type was well-established. In Cuba meanwhile, the times were changing. The aristocracy of the sugar barons was dying out and a new class was emerging, the bourgeoisie, and the little dog of Havana, adaptable as always, became a family dog extraordinaire, playmate of children, watchdog, and herder of the family poultry flock. It is a position he has held there for the past hundred and fifty years.
With the advent of the Cuban revolution, the class of Cubans who owned Havanese was the first to leave. A handful of them found their way to this country, and by the end of the 70's a gene pool was being rebuilt. All the Havanese in the world today, save those from the "iron curtain" countries and those remaining in Cuba, stem from those 11 little immigrants. Remarkably, through all their travels, Havanese type has remained virtually unchanged from that of the dogs painted in the eighteenth century. To preserve it now and for the future is the challenge.
In spite of the trade restrictions, Colonial Cuba developed and prospered. By the 18th
Century,
it was the cultural center of the New World, with an elegance that surpassed
anything the British had managed in ITS colonies! The aristocracy of Europe
found the city of Havana to be a great vacation spot, with its operas, theatres
and palacios. On their return to Europe, they brought back the little Dog of
Havannah, which found favor in the courts of Spain, France and England. In both
Spain and in the court of Louis XVI, they were shorn in the manner of poodles,
and were much admired for their diminutive size. The English, on the other
hand, appeared to leave them au natural, and called them the white Cuban,
although they were as often found in parti-colors and shades of fawn.By the mid-eighteenth century, they were downright trendy in Europe. Queen Victoria owned two and Charles Dickens had one, beloved of his seven children and named Tim. They were exhibited in the early European dog shows and type was well-established. In Cuba meanwhile, the times were changing. The aristocracy of the sugar barons was dying out and a new class was emerging, the bourgeoisie, and the little dog of Havana, adaptable as always, became a family dog extraordinaire, playmate of children, watchdog, and herder of the family poultry flock. It is a position he has held there for the past hundred and fifty years.
With the advent of the Cuban revolution, the class of Cubans who owned Havanese was the first to leave. A handful of them found their way to this country, and by the end of the 70's a gene pool was being rebuilt. All the Havanese in the world today, save those from the "iron curtain" countries and those remaining in Cuba, stem from those 11 little immigrants. Remarkably, through all their travels, Havanese type has remained virtually unchanged from that of the dogs painted in the eighteenth century. To preserve it now and for the future is the challenge.
Deanna
Well it is time to say so long until the next issue of Global Express. I hope you have enjoyed reading this issue and once again I am so very sorry for it being so late that I have combined two issues into one. My wish for you is to be safe and well. Thank you for the lovely stories sent in for this issue and I hope to receive a lot more in the coming days to publish in our next issue. There is a long weekend coming up this weekend and I will be spending some time with my mother and brother in Victoria on Sunday.
Joanne sends along some fun and great music for our enjoyment. (You will notice a couple of really different instruments!) Welcome to the Bier Garten! Turn up your speakers and enjoy!
Sticks in a bundle cannot be broken.
Bondei Proverb
