Visit to Lynchburg, Virginia (and events recorded until late 2006)

In September 30th 2000, flew out of Winnipeg to visit Michael. After a two week visit it was arranged that I would go on to Gordon in Yankee Hill, California. It was a long flight but I was met at the Lynchburg Regional Airport by Michael who drove us back to the house an hour away.

After a nice hot meal for which I was particularly grateful, since very little food was provided on the various planes. Michael's house, which was allotted him, was delightfully comfortable and fully furnished. This building, of which I have taken a photograph, is apparently reserved for visiting professors reminded me of the B & B in Toronto. The entire area is very scenic with an art museum nearby.

We were invited by Bill and Margaret Quilliare to an opera called The Elixir of Love The following day we did some shopping and I was able to bake some bread for us. On Friday 6th the Maier Museum of Art just across the road put on a show featuring "Rene Marie" a Grammy Award winning Jazz vocalist. Several hundred people were there.

The next day Jewel and Toni Eic took us on a 7-hour trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the fringe of Virginia. We enjoyed a very scenic drive finishing up with a meal at a restaurant in the woods I enjoyed a dish of Lasagna Alfredo.

On Sunday 8th October 2000, we were invited to Ray Luck's home and enjoyed a very pleasant evening there. The next day we visited Karim and Robin Spencer to meet a group of friends from Senegal, Africa. Karim is the official computer webmaster for the institution here. Robin is a Guyanese from Buxton.

Angela and her son Sacha are expected on a weekend visit from Bermuda. My departure date for California is Saturday 14th. I was taken to the airport by a French teacher from Martinique. I arrived at Sacramento and instead of spending the night at the Host hotel as pre-arranged, Gordon and Arna met me and drove me home to Yankee Hill.

Life at Yankee Hill had not changed much. The fruit frees in the orchard have practically all stopped bearing except for the persimmons. And so life goes on at the usual pace.

The three of us left Yankee Hill on Sunday for Blythe where Gordon would be working. It was a twelve-hour drive and quite an experience for a ninety-four year old.

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Arna's mother, Chris, was 94 on October 27th and they held a special church service at the Adventist church, entirely organized and delivered by the children. Later on there was a dinner and singing at their home.

Soon after, I considered returning to Canada in spite of adverse weather there. Arna had to return to Yankee Hill, so I returned with her. Once back, I contacted the airline and found it was possible to book a return flight for November 8th, which I did.

That Saturday, there was a four-hour church meeting, another record attained for my age. Sunday was a good day which we spent at Cobblestone Farms owned and operated by Linda and Duane McConnell. They have a beautiful home with lots of brickwork, stone pathways and turreted sections in a garden arrangement, and a fast running stream along the back portion. With a snow-covered mountain in the background, it was truly a sight to behold!

When we arrived, we were met by a horse-drawn carriage with liveried driver. We were taken over the entire farm which included a splendid meal consisting of the farm's produce.

On Monday 6th November 2000, Marsha called to say that there was a terrific snowstorm which made travel impossible. Reluctantly, I cancelled my flight. The airline agreed to let me use my ticket within a year, so I would be going back to Blythe and spending the winter there. Gordon returned to Yankee Hill and we drove back together. It would be Spring before I can consider returning to Canada.

Lucia arrived in time to attend a family wedding which Gordon and I did not attend, but from all reports, was quite an elaborate affair. I was later introduced to the English SDA church which was a lot easier to follow. After church, we went to Dr Linds home for an enjoyable lunch. He is a colleague of Gordon's at the prison hospital. Lucia left for Michigan the next day.

At this time, I made a decision to distribute my savings between my four children, and see them enjoy this while I am still capable of seeing them do so. At age 94 plus there was hardly a lot of time remaining to enjoy their company, hence the urge to do this at this time. While the usual thing was to leave a Will, I considered this more practical.

On December 10th 2000, Gordon and Arna took me to visit a friend of theirs, Dr Loraine Day, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, and a Seventh Day Adventist. Her home was truly delightful and the surrounds were elegant, with water spraying the well-groomed grounds all around the house.
Life in Blythe continued to be one of solitude, with Gordon going off to work early in the morning and returning at the close of day. Arna was mostly at her mother's house taking care of her, sometimes spending the night there as well. Her mother had had several strokes and needed constant care. With this situation it might have been advisable to make other arrangements for this winter period.

It was decided to spend the Christmas holidays with Mark and Barbara and Aidan in Santa Barbara, so we left Blythe for La Crescents where friends of Gordon and Arna, whom they knew in Peru, lived. It was a welcome break. We spent a few days there and then continued the journey arriving on Christmas Eve in Santa Barbara. The weather was gorgeous and Mark was able to accommodate all of us.

The following day was Christmas Day and we celebrated all the birthdays, Gordon's, Mark's, and Jesus'. We had a good time but Gordon had to return to Blythe to resume work at Ironwood Prison.

On Monday 28th December, 2000 Mark took us all on a long drive to the top of a mountain range overlooking the Pacific, with the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Pedro and San Miguel, just visible in the distance. The scene at the top of the mountain was rugged, steep but picturesque.

Aidan enjoyed climbing along the rocks where we had a picnic lunch. On our return in the late afternoon we stopped at the Mandarin Restaurant and had a Chinese supper.

Friday 29th, we went to the Santa Barbara Zoo which was located quite near to the ocean front, with lots of the usual animals including flamingos, lab bas, lemurs, monkeys etc. Barbara, Joan and I went to the Santa Barbara Symphony Concert which featured a sixty-five piece orchestra. They played classical music as well as opera and tap dancing. We were well entertained in a packed building, I estimated that there were well over a thousand people in the audience. It was a splendid end to a long leap year.

January 1st 2001, Michael and family went to the top of the mountain to view the spectacular sights from there. The weather was very good. Joan and Michael returned to Lynchburg on 4th January and I went back to Blythe on 7th. Mark took me to meet Gordon in Loma Linda, so the journey was split by having two drivers. Once there, we all had lunch at the cafeteria, then visited the new additions to the campus since I had last worked there - about 30 years ago. After another 3 hours we returned to Dr Stiles' house in Blythe.

Although there was a difference in temperatures between Blythe and Brandon, 70F in Blythe and - 15C in Brandon, I still miss Canada where so many of my friends and family live. Back in Blythe it rained for several days, but nothing like the five inches of rain which fell in Santa Barbara.

On Sunday 14th January my return flight was confirmed for 22nd February. The next day was Martin Luther King Day, so Gordon took us to the Living Desert, a wildlife and botanical park located in Palm Desert, California. This region, often thought of as lifeless wasteland, is actually an intricate and fragile ecosystem, containing a variety of animal and plant life. Many of which are extremely rare and seldom seen. It attracts 275,000 visitors annually, and so is one of the top tourist attractions. Thursday, 18th January I made a really good batch of bread and later took some exercise in the form of a walk along the sandy soil, using Gordon's exerstrider. Over the weekend I was taken to the Spanish Adventist church then to Lisa's for lunch. During the evening we looked at slides of Costa Rica where Efren has a plot of land.

On Sunday, three of us went for a two-day visit to San Diego. First day was spent at Mario's home. He is a retired preacher. We slept there and the next day we went to see Yvonne Harris, Arna's cousin who lived on an attractive hilltop.

The next Sunday we had an outdoor lunch on the patio, with metagee, buffet style. On Monday 12th we visited Quartzsite in Arizona, reputed to be the world's largest car park. In reality, it is a giant open-air market where one can buy just about anything.  On Saturday 17th, my last attendance at the SDA church there was an Ecuadorian pastor and afterwards, lunch at Lisa's.

We left Monday 19th at Yankee Hill at 8.pm. It was a 12 hour car ride. The last 4 hours was in heavy rain, so Arna did the driving. When we arrived, we found we had left the door key back in Blythe. Not finding a locksmith locally, we forced the side-door of the garage and got in that way.

During the months I spent in California, I visited the Loma Linda University where I had worked for 6-7 years and was able to visit some former colleagues, Bill Robinson and Alf Dennis, pharmacists with whom I worked. Another old friend I visited was Dr. Sven Neilsen. He and I had lunch at the cafeteria. Within two days, I was on my way back to Canada, leaving in the afternoon of 21" February and arriving in Winnipeg the next night. Aubrey and Marsha met me there and took me home around 10 pm.

I was surprised and pleased to see that renovations had been done to the 9th Street house during my absence. I called Gordon to let him know I had arrived safely. The weather was good, but there was a lot of snow in heaps on the roadsides.

Michael called to say that he was going to Barbados and that Joan would be returning to the U.K. They are also making a great effort to re-establish a home in St. Lucia. March 9th 2001, it was good to resume the afternoon dances held at the Community Centre and I am looking forward to attending the spring supper dance at the Canadian Legion. Unfortunately, I developed a touch of bronchitis and decided not to go. The snows are melting now and spring is on the way.

My 95th birthday in June 8th 2001 is soon here, so we try to get the scattered members of my widespread family together here for a little celebration. Maureen and Paul come over from the U.K;

Michael pops in from the Caribbean area, and Gordon and Arna drop in from Yankee Hill, California. So we put on a little party, and many of our Canadian friends join in. At this point I seem to remember that the worst thing about getting old is being denied the privilege of attaining it.

I keep trying to remain healthy by continuing my usual garden work. This year I cultivate the patch in front of and around the side of the house with gladioli plants, and by a surround of colour like petunias etc. In the back garden, I put in beets, carrots and tomatoes, from which I got a really bumper crop. What with a good bit of grass mowing, tree-trimming and general outdoor activities, I developed a rather painful hip-joint, and I was examined by my favourite Doctor, Colin McFarlane.

By virtue of a little Tachycardia I was kept in hospital for a while and given all sorts of tests - bone scan, ultrasound, etc, but nothing seemed to be too wrong with the old boy. I returned to normal life and started to think about the approaching winter.

It is now the 9th December 2001, and we are now considering the approach of the Christmas holidays. Maureen and Paul are seriously thinking of emigrating to Canada, and so we are now in the process of looking at the prices and accommodations available in the area of Brandon. With the sale of their London house, there would be enough money to buy one in Canada. After looking at a few houses for sale, we chose one that we hoped would be suitable. As Maureen and Paul have decided to spend two weeks with us this winter, it would be a good opportunity to see what it was like and make definite decisions about living here. So the house was purchased with Gordon's help.

Since the September 11th terrorist attack in the USA, immigration has really tightened up and we are making every effort to get Maureen and Paul into Canada, but it seems to be taking some time for Paul's processing to be finalized. Paul and Maureen arrive here and stay in the new house for the two weeks so that it would be occupied. With the Christmas and New Year holidays already with us, the matter has to stay put for a while.

It was finally decided that since immigration was taking longer than expected, Marsha and Aubrey decided to sell their place on 9th street and move into the new house in Cornwallis Crescent, themselves. In a short while, the 9th Street house was sold in March 2002. We are now fully installed in the other. This is the first time I am going to experience a full size Canadian winter, and it certainly was a cold one.

There are now signs of spring approaching. Gordon should be here soon to complete his investment with the new property. We do look forward to seeing him as he became ill and could not travel for Christmas. He arrived on 4th April and will return to California on the 9th April 2002.

Spring is now here and we are considering putting in a small garden, but it is still too cold to begin. Richie completed his two-year course at the Assiniboine College and is now qualified to do computer repairs. Gordon has decided to come to Canada in September and it is arranged for me to go back with him. I will probably spend the winter in Yankee Hill, since the cold seems to affect me a lot more than before. I guess the ageing body just rebels...

We do try to establish a little flower garden both in the front and back of the new home in Cornwallis Crescent, but it is really uphill work. Thanks to Mary Hotel, I was able to secure a good rose plant - "Adelaide Hoodless", which we place in the centre of the front lawn.

Gordon and I went back to Yankee Hill in September 2002, since with occasional attacks of`tachycardia" it was considered better for me to be away in a warmer climate. During the five odd months I spent in America, I stayed at many different places such as Yankee Hill, Blythe, at both Lisa's and Efren's home, as well as a couple of motels on the journey there. The longest stay was at Lisa's house, for three months. The weather in Blythe was just the opposite to that in Brandon.  Gordon took on a temporary job there for a short period then returned to Yankee Hill in February 2003.

My return trip to Canada was booked for March 5th and once more Gordon will accompany me back to Brandon.

At this stage Michael and Joan were hoping to resettle in Guyana. Due to adverse conditions in that country, this was quite impossible so it was decided to set up home in Barbados. I telephoned Mark today, 19th February 2003 to get some information about Michael and Joan, not having heard from them for quite some time. I was delighted to learn that they are now settled in Barbados in a pleasant area, selected and purchased with the help of Kai who is involved in the real estate and brokerage business now. I have been invited to go over and spend some time with them in Barbados to which I look forward.

Maureen is making some progress with the sale of her home in the U.K. Paul has received his immigration papers and is ready to take up residence in Canada. Hopefully they can both leave at the same time.

On returning to Canada, March 2003, I was surprised to find that winter was still very evident. There was still lots of snow on the ground, with more to come. My exercise program had to be performed under cover, in the Mall.

This very month, Aubrey retired from MacArthur's and he is asked to fill in whenever the owner is away.

2nd May 2003, Paul and Maureen have just arrived and are staying with us in Cornwallis Crescent. Maureen's house was sold and with the proceeds, plans to buy one here, nearby. Paul will be sponsoring her after he has worked here for a year, which are the requirements for permanent residency for her.

With the arrival of summer, Maureen and I joined the Shuffleboard club nearby. We can walk there in a few minutes. A bungalow in the area was purchased and they will be moving in August. In the meantime their household effects which were shipped from England arrived after a couple of months of their landing. This was a great relief when they finally arrived.

My tachycardia symptoms returned which required hospitalization on a couple of occasions. Towards the end of October we all made a trip to Winnipeg to get my Permanent Resident's card which is now required for travellers. Since the September 11th bombings in the U.S.A. security has been stepped up considerably, hence the need for extra identification.

At the end of October 2003, Maureen and I went to visit Michael and Joan in Barbados, for three weeks. Unfortunately, I developed a persistent cough. Other than this, the heat and the humidity, not to mention the mosquitoes, it was so good to see the family.

Michael met us at the airport and drove us to their home which is in a protected and gated area. There are 30 - 40 houses in this complex. Their house was bi-level with well kept surrounds and lots of fruit trees. There was a swimming pool just a short distance from the house. The roads on the island however, were narrow and winding making driving quite a task. In general, the trip was quite a break from normal activities, with several stopovers on the flights there and back, the Miami Hotel being the best one.

Towards the end of 2003, it was quite a busy time, what with birthdays and anniversaries and Christmas and with the usual activities. The family in Canada has grown quite a bit now and number 13 in all, Leighton, the most recent addition, Richie's third child, now one year old. During the month of January 2004, I tried out my ability to dance by taking Aubrey, Marsha and
Maureen to the Canadian Legion's Club, where we did a few one-steps, waltzes etc. for about a couple of hours. A very enjoyable evening!

Winter this year is proving to be quite severe but on the better days we still manage to go for walks.  As long as we dress quite warmly, it is quite possible to do this. The temperature is around 30-40 degrees C.

The next day, March 23rd, Richie went to Victoria for a long-awaited heart surgery procedure. It took many hours, but was well worth it and he is now able to function normally. On the other hand, Shelley, who accompanied her husband, came back with a badly injured knee which eventually took surgery to fix.

In May 2004, Maureen needed to leave and re-enter Canada once again as her Visitor's Visa was about to expire. I was planning to go to Gordon and Arna's with her, but felt inhibited by my physical condition. So I arranged for Marsha to go with her instead. The trip was for two weeks at the end of which they surprised me by returning accompanied by Gordon and Arna. It was also arranged secretly for Michael to join us here in Brandon as a surprise for my birthday.
There was a celebration at the curling club with many friends there. By virtue of my age (98) this was the biggest birthday party I have ever had, and I certainly enjoyed it! By this time Paul was successful in obtaining a new permanent job and will soon be able to sponsor his mother.
Christmas Day 2004 was spent at Maureen's house where we had Christmas Lunch and watched videos. Boxing day was celebrated at Cornwallis Crescent. Richie and family and Paul and Laura and her two sons joined us for a great meal which was most pleasant.
February 22nd 2005, Maureen's birthday was a double celebration as her new extended Visitor's Visa, allowing her to stay for another full year had arrived. We had a buffet meal with family, friends, and neighbours at her place. A month before, we had celebrated Paul's 40th birthday in a similar manner.
The following month, March, 2005 my appointment with the dermatologist, revealed nothing new - except for different medication. It helped for a while, but didn't cure the itch. So I decided that I would be careful and try to live as sensibly as possible. At this time, I arranged to have my hearing aid upgraded with Dr Stokes, an audiologist here in Brandon. It took some adjusting to the new device which cost around $1,400. With Spring on the way now, I should be able to enjoy all the sounds around me.
May 2005 Michael and Joan's 50th Anniversary. They went to Guyana to celebrate this. He is also involved in a new project which requires that he raises funds for it.

June 8th 2005. My 99th Birthday. Michael and Gordon came for the celebration which was a luncheon at Kam Lung, a Chinese Restaurant and buffet. The weather was wet but a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all, and the food was good. We visited the Hotels, my good friends on the way home. That evening, they came by for some of my birthday cake along with Richie, Shelley, the children and Shelley's mother, Linda.

In July this year, I resumed swimming at the Sportsplex. I used to go regularly years ago and quite enjoy the exercise. However the pool has now closed for renovation.

Paul has now purchased a house in Central Brandon, not too many minutes away. It is an older home, with the kind of charm that appeals to him.

Presently, I have developed a serious, irritating itch on my upper body. My regular doctor suspects an allergy and has referred me to an allergist. Now, having seen the allergist, I was referred to a dermatologist. While waiting for the appointment, I saw a naturopath, a Chinese acupuncturist and a reflexologist. Michael's suggestion to try saunas was also used without any real relief. To date, there has been very temporary relief, at best.

A Telehealth conference with Dr Hirst, a Winnipeg specialist, was arranged and took place at Brandon General Hospital. The examination was performed by cameras as we could see each other and answer questions. There was still no diagnosis made. Sometime after this I experienced hallucinations and some physical weakness and was admitted to the Assiniboine Centre on Christmas night 2005.

I was given medications which were designed to help my condition. I was able to return home after three weeks. It was arranged for Home Care to assist me with bathing and dressing as I had problems with balance as well. I was also provided with a male companion, Danny, who took me swimming at the local swimming pool once a week. I looked forward to these times immensely as swimming was my favourite form of exercise.

I also started attending the Fairview Club which was at the Fairview Personal Care Home. A taxi was provided for transportation there and back. There, games and light meals were also provided suitable for seniors with diminished mobility.

A visit to my favourite optician, Dr. Caswell disclosed that I have developed Macular Degeneration, thus providing me with yet another problem. Of course this gives me something more to worry about…….something more to worry about………………..

Gordon and Arna's trip to Loma Linda (2000)

The next couple of weeks proved to be very active. Both Gordon and Arna had to take part in various activities such as Alumni post-graduate course for Gordon and modern health practices studies for Arna. As this entailed being away from Yankee Hill for ten days, the question arose as to what to do with me over this period. I suggested taking care of myself, staying on alone at Yankee Hill, but this was not considered wise. So, after a great deal of thought, we got in touch with Mark and Barbara who live in Santa Barbara and, after explaining the situation, they readily agreed to have me stay with them until Gordon and Arna's sojourn in Loma Linda was over. They could drive me over (8-hour trip) and collect me when their convention was over. I was truly grateful. It enabled me not only to spend some time with my latest great-grandson, Aidan, now an active and very delightful year and a half-old kid, but also to have Joan, my favourite daughter-in-law as company as well.

Santa Barbara is a truly delightful part of California, on the Pacific coast, and bordered by lofty mountains. The weather too is milder, and Mark's place is located in an area where the Spanish element is very visible. It was certainly a welcome break from the drab outlook of Yankee Hill. Mark is very well placed in an important classified job and Barbara is also a leading director in the region of exchange students to various parts of the world, and as a fluent speaker of Spanish is mostly involved in placing students in countries like Mexico, Spain, Chile etc. - She actually spent four days in Mexico, while I was staying at her home, so as to attend to a disturbance which occurred at a university there.

Joan and I were able to visit places like the Museum of Natural History and the shopping area as well. We even attended a movie during a certain afternoon show, as well as going for several exercise walks around the home.

Returning to Yankee Hill. I checked the weather conditions in Canada and decided it was time to end my stay in Yankee Hill. I then booked my return trip to Marsha for the 4th April 2000. The flight from Sacramento was quite uneventful, and I got into Minneapolis on time and at Winnipeg, Aubrey and Marsha were there to meet me. I was quite tired and decided to rest up a bit. I was surprised to find the weather quite good. However, it did snow a few days later. To make up for my long absence from active living, I promptly booked for the spring supper dance at the Canadian Legion's Hall for Sunday April 16th. We invited Dori Chambers to join us, and together with a lot of my personal friends, we really had a wonderful time, getting home at 8.00 pm. We had danced from 4 to 6 pm, dined at 6 to 7 pm and danced again until departure time.

The weather in Brandon is quite good and as a result, I have commenced raking the several lawns around the house in preparation for mowing.

The Riverview Club, which is just 'around the corner' from home, is used for several sports. During the winter season, 'curling' is done there. In spring, it is used as a 'floor shuffleboard rink', and occasionally, it is also used as a 'dog racing' arena, where pedigree animals such as Dobermans, Greyhounds etc. perform. I enjoy playing floor shuffleboard there and the season is just about starting again (May 10th 2000).

We plan to spend a short holiday in Toronto, one of Canada's largest and most populated cities. I have never visited this city, and except for just passing through, I just don't know it at all.  Maureen and Paul are coming over from the U.K. and will meet us in Toronto where we will try to see as much of this city as we can in three days. I will fly from Winnipeg to Toronto and a free 'Air Miles' ticket, Marsha and Aubrey will drive from Brandon to Toronto in their Mini van, where they will collect both Maureen and Paul and myself. Then go sight-seeing as a joint group. I will do the return trip to Brandon On my air-ticket, and Aubrey, Marsha, Maureen and Paul will return by the Mini-van. It is quite a long car ride, hence my decision to fly both ways.

The Blythe Sojourn (1998 - 2000)

As practising Seventh-Day Adventists, and total vegetarians as well, life in Blythe is somewhat different to that of Marsha's home in Canada. Here, there is a complete absence of meat of any kind which includes beef, chicken, fish, pork etc. Eggs and cows milk are not used, but analogues are substituted, such as flavoured gluten from flour, a chicken substitute made from soy and cleverly prepared to look like and taste like chicken meat -called "Wham", also produced from soy, and pleasantly flavoured There are also several varieties to represent and replace meat and fish spreads, and a milk-like product is made to replace cows' milk
Great emphasis is placed on the use of fruit, vegetables and all natural products, and even the timing of meals is somewhat different; larger meals being preferred as the first meal, and smaller ones in the late evening. In view of the recent furore about "Mad Cow Disease", there is a great deal of regard about the food one eats, and a lot of people are now looking at their food intake much more seriously.
It does, however, take some adjusting to, but there is no doubt that the benefits derived from a vegetarian diet could be very helpful.
Life in Blythe is rather quiet. It is a new area of California in which Gordon and Arna are now living, and as a result, there are just a few friends. ' The area is a new one, and the houses are all newly built. The town was originally an agricultural one, in this low desert area, but with a large prison now erected here, most of the residents are in some way connected with it. By virtue of being low desert, the daytime temperature rises to around 100-120 in the summer, and during the winter, it stays at about 70°F, which makes it a pleasant place to spend the fall, winter and early spring.
I spent a few days here, just a couple of years ago, and I could see the vast improvement which has taken place in just a short time. There are all the regular amenities of a town, with lots of churches, government buildings, public library, supermarket etc., and the streets are nice and wide with proper paved sidewalks.
The main activities of this city are due to the fact that the prison is situated here. There are several thousands of inmates, and apart from what little agriculture there is, everything just revolves around the prison. There is not a great deal of social life, and an extrovert like me could be quite bored. And so I returned to Canada on May 3rd 1998.
On my return to Brandon, I quickly realized I would have to reconstruct a completely new lifestyle. So I joined the Brandon Y.M.C.A. and the nearby Riverview Club. At the ivy,, I recommenced swimming, which I am hoping will help my hip which, for well over a year now has been quite painful. Gordon suggests using the back stroke will be of great benefit to the condition. I combine it with an excellent steam room and "Whirlpool" bath. At the Riverview Club, I do "Floor Shuffle Board" which is a rather mild form of light exercise. I certainly have no intention of ending my life rusting out in a swivel recliner chair, watching T.V.
My latest 'project' is to pre-pay my funeral expenses, and I have already had an interview with the local funeral director concerning this.
During October 1998, a one week's visit was planned with Maureen and Paul from the U.K. to visit Ritchie and family in Edmonton, Alberta.
The bottom flat of 1759, 9th Street was nicely remodelled and looks real good, providing excellent accommodation for both Maureen and Paul in two separate rooms.  Maureen and I traveled by air - (one-way only for Maureen) while Paul, Aubrey and Marsha drove up to Edmonton by van. I however, did the entire trip by plane. While in Alberta we had Agnes' daughter, Ellen over to our hotel and spent a good three hours or so with her.
Paul was a little indisposed and had to be treated, before returning to the U.K.  We enjoyed a reasonable 4-5 days during our stay there and I took the entire family to a good oriental restaurant, chatted over the phone with Ed Jarvis, who had recently lost Jackie his wife, and I condoled with him.
This year, 1998, we had a long fall season. No snow appeared until some time in November, and temperatures were quite pleasant.
As I record this, it is now January 1999, and the temperature goes as low as -30°C. There are intermittent snowfalls, and one has to keep the driveway clear for obvious reasons. I seldom spend the winters here in Brandon, and so I am doing my best to adjust. However, I may yet go to Gordon in California before too long.

During this period, just after I got back from our trip to Saskatoon, Gordon seemed anxious to have me once more at his house in Blythe Ca. As I already had one more return trip available on my Senior coupon with NorthWest Airlines, I decided to make use of it before it expired in March 1999. So, once more, I set fly to Blythe Ca. on January 27the 1999. Marsha induced Aubrey to take a week's leave from his job and go along with me. Yet another late winter visit to Gordon and Arna. This is probably the last time I will visit this area, since Gordon has now been promoted to oversee the Susanville Correctional Institution as C.M.O. (chief medical officer) and is now at the top position there. You may recall that he once worked there.
As a result, he and Arna will be moving home again in a short time, and are about to sell their property in Blythe. Since arriving here with Aubrey, Arna is still employed by the local hospital as a nurse in the obstetrics department. She works 2-3 days a week, and is on call as well.
When Aubrey and I arrived in California, we landed at the ultra modern Ontario Airport, and the weather was just delightful. The surrounding mountains were glistening with snow at the top, with the sun shining on them. A truly picturesque sight!! Arna met us at the airport, and joining a shuttle service we drove through beautiful Palm Springs to a point where Arna's sister Zeta met us, following which we proceeded on the 2-3 hour drive to Blythe, with Aubrey taking over the driving. We stopped at Lisa's home and enjoyed an excellent supper there (all vegetarian). With Gordon arranging to set up his house and work-place in Susanville, and Arna at her job at the hospital in Blythe, it was arranged to use Arna's car, after Aubrey had taken her to the hospital. So, on the day following our arrival, we did some shopping at "Albertson", the only supermarket in town.
As Aubrey was spending just one week with us, it was decided to make a pleasure trip to see the London Bridge at Lake Havasu in the state of Arizona. It was a three-hour ride by car and Aubrey drove all the way and back. Here is a short description of the London Bridge at Lake Havasu in the State of Arizona.
In 1963, Robert McCullock (Snr.) bought the original London Bridge, which was built in 1831. As the bridge began to sink into the river Thames over which it was built, it was dismantled stone by stone, and brought over to Lake Havasu from London England and re-constructed over a man-made inlet on the Colorado river, and is now a major sight-seeing attraction there. Narrated tours are offered aboard various types of watercraft like houseboats, canoes, pontoon boats and sailboats, and the entire build-up around and under the bridge is very strongly reminiscent of a typical London England scene.
The entire area is very scenic and there is no lack of facilities for enjoyment.  On the return drive, we were stopped by a highway patrol car and charged for speeding! However, the tour was greatly appreciated by us all, and we captured quite a few photographs.
The day after our return from our tour of the London Bridge we all visited the Seventh Day Adventist Church with Arna. This was Saturday, January 3e - this branch of the family being 7th Day Adventists -after which we lunched at Lisa's place, their home being just around the corner from Gordon's house. With Aubrey's return to Canada booked for the 3rd of February 1999, we did some shopping around Blythe, Aubrey filling in some spare time with cooking supper for all, which we certainly enjoyed.  Early on Wednesday morning, we left for the airport in Ontario, Calif. and saw Aubrey safely to his place for Brandon.
Following that, life for me in Blythe became somewhat slower, with Arna working at the hospital some of the time. Up to this point, I had not seen Gordon, but he did call most nights, saying how he was progressing with setting up his work in Susanville and arranging to move back to the Yankee Hill house. I made do with taking long walks and keeping the yard tidy.
Gordon's property on Yankee Hill was rented to a family mainly to take care of it, and the well established orchard there, much of which Arna is responsible for creating. Now that they are returning back to be nearer to Gordon's new work-place in Susanville, this property of his is not too far away, and they plan to make it their home once again. The tenants have already moved out, and the home on Yankee Hill is now in the process of renovation (carpets and paint etc.) and the move should be a "fait accompli" in a short while. Surprisingly, the weather in Blythe is cooler than I expected but it has been explained to me that being a desert, with no trees, just sand and scrub growth, after it heats up during the day, the temperature just evaporates at night, sincere there is nothing to hold it in. Quite a contrast to life in Brandon, Canada.
Saturday February 13th 1999. Once again I attend the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The service and hymns are all in Spanish, with an English translation of the sermon after every sentence or so, which somehow tends to confuse me, and causes a break in fully understanding what is being said. With just a limited knowledge of Spanish. I find it difficult to follow. Today. at the service. I met Julio Robinson, one of Arna's nephews who, about forty years ago, Emma and I baby-sat when we first visited California. He is now a married man, with a couple of children.
On Sunday 14th February, Arna, who is an ardent bird-watcher (called a birder), took me to the Salton Sea International Bird Festival in the Imperial Valley, California. Several shows were put on, such as how to distinguish birds by colour, shape, etc. Lots of pictures were displayed on a screen and various peculiar features of each type of bird were pointed out. Following this, a lady bird and animal trainer came on and she showed how with proper care and patience, a small parrot could be trained to push objects off the table, and even play basketball. She had a macaw trained to fly to the outstretched fingers of various members of the audience. There was also a monkey, displaying several tricks. Later on a huge bird, a South American vulture was brought on and several flights were performed by it. Finally, an albino boa constrictor was exhibited, white in colour with cream spots. It was about three years old and weighed about sixty pounds and was roughly fifteen feet in length. The trainer had it wrapped twice around her waist with four to five feet left over.
At this point we took a lunch break and then resumed to a one to two hour symposium, which featured photographs of birds in Morocco, north West Africa. Some of the speakers were associated with the Cornel University. Arna certainly enjoyed these shows.
A dull period followed this, in which I made arrangements to return to Canada on March 15th 1999. will Gordon will be coming back to Blythe on the last day of February 1999. At least, I'll be able to see him for a couple of weeks before leaving. Actually, he returned to Blythe from Susanville on the 27h February, one day earlier, and we were glad to have him back.
During that dull period aforementioned, following the bird show, I enjoyed two separate outings with friends, neighbours of Gordon and Arna. The first was a supper date with Dr Mohamed Olavi, a colleague of Gordon, who invited me to a home-cooked meal, comprising an exotic salad, saffron flavoured rice done up with select pieces of beef and a variety of fruits. He is Iranian, and is a qualified and boarded surgeon as well. He returns to Iran occasionally but enjoys working in California. At the moment, he is unattached and he prepared the meal all by himself. I need hardly tell you how much I enjoyed that evening.
The other outing was from our next door neighbours Christopher and Juana, both of whom invited me to what I believe is the nicest eating place in Blythe - "The Sizzler". We had chicken and all the usual accessories, but the tone of the place was very impressive. There were lots of "Snow Birds" in attendance as well.
Christopher was originally from British Honduras, while his wife Juana is of Mexican or Spanish origin. She is a housewife with three children, one of whom - an eighteen-year-old boy is now in the Marines. The other two kids are at school.
The Blythe house has not yet been sold, but several people have looked at it. Gordon traded his Honda for a new Toyota type enclosed 4-runner vehicle. It is certainly more practical for long country runs and climbing hilly terrain. He will be here in Blythe for at least one to three weeks.
We plan to go to Loma Linda University from March 8th to 10th for Gordon's ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). I will go along with him and hope to visit the Pharmacy section where I spent the last six-seven years of my working life. Arna will also be attending her continuation classes in nursing about the same time.
In talking to Marsha and Maureen over the telephone. there is a plan for the three of us to be together in England some time in April - May this year (1999). It will probably be my last visit to the Old Country.
All set now to take my leave of Blythe. Gordon and I plan to set off for Palm Springs on Sunday 14th March 1999, where we are invited to stop over for a fruit lunch at the home of Dr Alavi's lady friend. en route to a motel in Ontario (Ca.). Here we will overnight so as to catch the 8.05 a.m. plane for my return trip to Canada.
The timing of my visit was good. The weather in Blythe is now beginning to change from a very pleasant winter (60° F. average). It is now beginning to warm up when it finally reaches 120°-140° F.
Just about right for a winter 'stop-over'. I made the journey quite easily from Ontario Airport (Ca.) to Minneapolis where I had to wait a bit. then on to Winnipeg. Aubrey and Marsha were waiting for me and on the way home to Brandon; we had a real nice supper at the "Key". Back to my old quarters at home in 1759 9th Street. I feel so greatly relaxed.
Wednesday 12th May we were taken to see Oklahoma! at the Lyceum Theatre. The area in which the Lyceum is situated is quite a maze and after quite a little effort, we finally made it, just about 5-10 minutes late.
This theatre is built in a series of about one dozen winding staircases, and it certainly reminded me of the trip I made to Radio City Music Hall two years ago. The decor in the theatre was spectacular and the performance very good. It lasted about 21/2 hours. What a fitting climax to Marsha's holiday in Britain and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
And so it comes to May 13th and we regretfully see Marsha off this morning, on her way back to Canada and her house.
On Sunday 16th May, Gordon called from Yankee Hill Ca., where he spends weekends from his work in Susanville. Arna has not yet left Blythe. He said the home was all ready and waiting for full occupation. He wanted to know when I was coming. Having told him of my sinus problem, he suggested frequent hot compresses, so I am trying that.
Monday 17th May, Maureen and I visit the doctor (Dr Straikh) an Indian. After examining Maureen who had a swelling on her neck, I complimented him on the way he talked to her and examined her. I mentioned how he reminded me of the way Gordon handles and talks to his patients. He appeared to be flattered by my observation then offered to look at my sinus situation. He prescribed a nose drops made of 0.5% Ephedrine and did not charge. The pharmacy which supplied the drops did not charge either. This is really the first time I have had a sinus complaint and it really bothers me.
At Maureen's home (115 Eastcote Avenue) I do my best to help in tidying up the garden and hedge in front etc. I also bake a little bread and make some granola. During the following week we do some shopping etc., and I make valiant attempts to cut the front and back lawns with a "weed-cater", since the regular mower has some fault and would not work. It is later found to have a broken belt, which is replaced.
During the week, the covers for the living room furniture arrived and the fitter made a good job of it. The final touches are now all in place and the home is now at the very best it has ever been in all of its many, many years.
During my last few days in Britain, it is arranged that Paul would take us driving into Kew Gardens where we spent the greater part of the afternoon. What a wonderful selection of plants from every part of the world, and so delightfully displayed. Small wonder this garden is without question the very finest in the entire world. We took a series of photographs. Before I flew back to Canada the following Thursday, we had quite a few visitors who came to say goodbye.
On this occasion, I did not find it possible to visit my best friends, Sonny and Joyce Barrow, who live in Lincoln, and are about two hours away by fast train. Joyce was somewhat unwell, and I was not in top condition either. This friendship went all the way back to our teenage years, and has lasted ever since We are both nonagenarians.
The flight back to Winnipeg via Toronto was uneventful and reasonably comfortable. I enjoyed complete Hospitality Service and was wheeled all around the huge Heathrow Airport, as well as at the Toronto Airport. The service was good, and I think it is an encouragement for seniors to travel more.  The food also was good, and both 'take-offs' and 'touch downs' were smooth. Marsha and Mary Carr were at the Winnipeg Airport waiting for me in the new Chevy van they just acquired for the business. My sinus condition still persists, so I go to visit my doctor in Brandon. He is such a cheerful fellow, and enjoyed my description of "Elveden Forest", Center Parcs. He told me that the managing director of these parks is a good friend of his. My doctor is a Scot by birth. He prescribed a new preparation "Nasonex"", and it is simply wonderful. Sinus almost gone.
It took quite a couple of weeks to overcome 'jet-lag', especially since there were two adjustments in just one month.
Returning to my old Canadian haunts I re-joined the floor Shuffleboard Club, playing every Tuesday and Thursday for a couple of hours each time.
I didn't lose any time putting the garden and lawns into shape, and with the help of our neighbours, this was quickly done. I put in potatoes, onions, carrots and tomatoes right away, and we went overboard a bit and put in some expensive perennials like 'dogwood' etc. in the front strip around the house. Already the kitchen garden is coming alive, potatoes, onions and tomatoes all alive and looking healthy. During this summer (1999) I keep busy with trimming the fruit trees mowing the very extensive lawns (both front and back) and at the moment I am painting the entire front fence along Balmoral Bay as well as along the rather large driveway.
Keeping active is certainly helping me to stay fit and enjoy what is left of life for a 93-year-old!
During the fall of 1999, I made plans to go to the Moose Jaw Mineral Springs and Hotel for a 4-day tour, but the trip did not materialize. The travel company, Fehr Way Tours cancelled the trip as they did not have a sufficient quota to warrant having it. I had planned to take Marsha along, as we were both disappointed.
The decorative trees on our front lawn have grown quite tall and spreading much, that the leaves, which are now falling (of a golden brown colour), are now just cluttering up the front entrance. Will wait a while before trying to collect them.
October 26th 1999. Arranged to travel to Gordon in Yankee Hill on November 7th and will travel on the usual Senior Coupon ticket, allowing me two return trips within the space of one year. Last Sunday afternoon on October 24h, I took Aubrey, Marsha and Dori to the Fall Festival Supper Dance at the Canadian Veteran's Hall and we really enjoyed it.
November 7th 1999. All set to travel this morning for Yankee hill via Minneapolis. Was met at Sacramento Airport by Gordon and Arna, who arrived about half an hour late, just before I was beginning to telephone. I settled in as much as possible, and although the house was not yet completed (a good lot of the packages were still in the garage unopened). There was a lot of cut wood piled up in the yard in preparation for the Y2K experience.
Gordon works in Susanville Ca. and is now at the top level in the medical section. He travels the two-hour car ride every weekend, and both he and Arna are making an effort to re-establish a permanent home in Yankee Hill, while they lived in Blythe. The home here was tenanted and now that they have returned, there is quite a bit of work to do to bring the home and the big orchard back to normal.
As Seventh Day Adventists, they attend the local church here and of course, I just pop along. The nice little apartment which Emma and I occupied when we lived here in 1984 is now loaded with surplus furniture, but is still a very usable place for a couple. It is fitted with every convenience. I renewed my acquaintance with the two nearby neighbours who still live here, and they seemed to still enjoy me. From the large glass sliding door which goes out to the back porch, it is possible to see the area, near to Lake Oroville where Emma's cremated ashes lie. We had both decided on cremation and I have already made arrangements to have my ashes placed in the Brandon Cemetery when I pass away. I made every effort to arrange for my ashes, when I die, to be strewn along with Emma's on the bank of Lake Oroville, but the authorities notified me that it was recently decided not to permit this, since houses were now being built in this area.
On December 1st 1999, Arna and I went visiting the Senior citizens Club in Paradise as well as the Performing Arts Auditorium, and on the way we paid a visit to the Knibbs, old friends of ours.
On the way back home, it seemed that I felt a bit faint, and Arna, who was driving, said she that I became pale. She tried to find my pulse, but said it was absent. She then drove us straight to the emergency department of the feather River Hospital, and there I was examined and recommended to remain at least for the night for examination, etc. After lots of tests such as heart monitoring, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, I was advised, with Gordon's consent (who we called by telephone) to stay overnight since my hemoglobin was quite low.
I was put in a room with a man who was fat (357 pounds) and Doctor Mansell, a good friend of both Gordon and myself, was to take care of me. He is a specialist and gastroenterologist, and was indeed very friendly indeed, bringing me a flowering Azalea plant for my room. I was also removed to a single room, complete with shower and television. The following day, he took care of my stomach, inserting a flexible tube through my mouth into the stomach complete with a tiny camera at the tip, and photographed the site. It disclosed a bleeding ulcer on my duodenum, and he proceeded to take care of it.
The beauty of the technique was that during the procedure, there was no pain or even discomfort, having taken care of this through an intravenous drip in the arm. There was just a slight roughness in the throat where the tube passed into the affected area. Following this disclosure, I was advised by Dr Mansell that since I was now in hospital it would be wise to have my colon examined, as an upset stomach could really cause infection of the colon, where much of the body's debris is found. So, on Friday evening I was taken back to the surgical. room and again, there was no discomfort during the surgery. Again, pictures were taken and what was disclosed required a bit of trimming.
On the following day, I was discharged and I must say that the treatment at the hospital was particularly good. Many year's ago, (about 20 years) I had occasion to spend a day or two at this hospital, and I must say there is a vast difference in the very modern technique and care of this institution. I was discharged on Saturday 3rd December 1999, and Gordon who collected me, drove straight to the church before going on home. We even had a lunch after the service, prepared in the annex of the church.
At this point, I must recall that my wife's memorial service was held in this very building, after she had passed away in 1984.
Today is December 7th 1999 and Marsha called. It is their wedding anniversary and tomorrow is Aubrey's birthday. I tried to get through by telephone but the lines were all busy. However, later that night Marsha called and we were able to have a little chat. She said they were both off duty and were going out to have a little celebration.
On the following day, Maureen called and we too, had a little chat. During our conversation, my voice just disappeared and I had to conclude the conversation in tears. It was the first time I have shed tears for a long time and I was quite upset with myself.
At the hospital, I was treated with very powerful drugs and these have affected my brain a great deal.
As an example, I would begin to speak, then all of a sudden, would be unable to complete the words to end the sentence. A sort of "intermittent confusion" due to powerful antibiotics. As a result, both Gordon and the surgeon who attended me, stopped the treatment of the antibiotic drugs. It is taking some time to resume my slurred speech. Having stopped all medications for a few days, I have now regained the ability to speak normally. At this point Dr Mansell gave me a different type of medication called "Zantac", and this seems to be helping somewhat.
I now include, as a separate chapter, a copy of the various procedures done at the hospital to take care of my ulcerated stomach, and also of the work done on my colon. It would seem that the news of my illness got around quickly, and I received messages of comfort from Marsha, Maureen, Joan and Mark in Santa Barbara, and Michael in St Lucia.
It is quite obvious that I will have to spend some time in California, as it is now the heavy winter season in Canada. Perhaps it is just as well that I became ill while in California, as I may have had to wait a while for surgery if I was still in Canada.
I was indeed very fortunate in having Dr Mansell, who is not only a very popular Gastro-enterologist, but also a colleague of Gordon, my son, and a good friend of our family as well.
Following a visit to Dr Mansell's office, I was told to have a blood test at the lab, since my haemoglobin was too low. It did show an improvement, but we are trying to increase it still further. Am still awaiting the bill for hospital services etc. I am afraid it will be quite a large one. But we will soon find out. Today is Wednesday 22nd December 1999 and Christmas is just three days off. Had a long chat with Maureen yesterday, and she is just fine.
Gordon came home from his workplace in Susanville and spent the next few days with us here in Yankee Hill. It was a quiet affair, and it is suggested that next week, which involves the year end, and the apprehension that Y2K (the much discussed Millennium) is causing, and he has to be on duty throughout the night of December 31st as a precautionary move; to be on hand in case of emergencies that we (Arna and I) stay over at his two-bedroom apartment and spend the weekend with him. So we packed up and did just that.
While in Susanville, I had the privilege of being allowed to go through the prison, past the electrified gates and all the security needed to avoid prisoners escaping. It was quite cold going from one enclosure to another, for as you know, Susanville is somewhere in the region of 4-5 thousand feet above sea level. It was quite amazing how much protection there was to prevent escapees. I spent several hours with Gordon and his group of senior officials who were at "stand-by" in case of an emergency, and a possible riot over the Y2K situation. But fortunately, nothing happened. It was,
however, to avoid any such possibility in case there was a 'glitch' over the change over to the year 2000. Fortunately, there was lots and lots of food and drink to take care of the long waiting. After hanging around for quite a few hours, Gordon took me home, though he returned to be on call (if necessary) and did not get home to bed until about three o'clock in the morning.
For following day, Saturday 1st January 2000 was also the Adventists Sabbath, so I accompanied Gordon to church, and we afterwards bad the midday meal at Elvis's (Robinson) place, where a lot of other church members accumulated. On the following day, Sunday, Gordon drove Arna and myself back home to Yankee Hill, returning the same afternoon to his workplace in Susanville. The drive each way takes two hours.
Back on Yankee Hill after the brief spell at Susanville, Arna and I pitched into clearing up the house and finding places for articles still stored in the double garage. We certainly tidied up Gordon's office, made space for his computer and other accessories to be removed into it. Having done this, we then proceeded to fit up a guest bedroom, especially since Mark, Barbara and Aidan will be spending a short time with us here. We did a reasonable job on this, and left the computer etc. for Gordon to move over to his office when he comes down next weekend.
There area number of pine trees, towering above the house and in very close proximity to the building. which shed pine needles and dry leaves in the fall and early winter. This provides a grave hazard to the home especially during the summer months. For the third time during the last year, Gordon has had to climb onto the roof, clear the leaves and needles away and unblock the draining gutters of the accumulated stuff. This is a rather risky operation, as one has to get quite close to the edge to do this and for people of advanced years, like Gordon, this is certainly not recommended. I mentioned this to both Arna and Gordon and suggested that the pine trees be either cut down or severely trimmed to be away from the house which will obviate the need to clean the roof of leaves etc.
Apart from the danger involved, there is also the fire hazard. Frequent forest fires are started by lightning, and in a thickly wooded area like this a lot of damage is possible. Pine needles and leaves are excellent fire material; the fire brigade refuses to handle situations where homes are built too near to combustible trees. Arna, however, is a great tree-lover, and refuses to consider removing or even severely trimming the trees adjoining the house. We had quite a discussion about this.
For the first time since I arrived in California rain fell with rather strong winds. This is as wintry as it gets in this part of the state so we are kept indoors, cleaning and tidying up in preparation for Mark, Barbara and Aidan's arrival in a couple of days for a short visit.
They arrived promptly on Saturday afternoon. It was good to see how well they were. Aidan, at just one year old was as ambulatory as ever and was truly a very charming little fellow. Mark and family drove in from the Sacramento Airport in a hired car which they kept for the duration of the stay here.  We had a nicely furnished room set up for the trio.
Gordon was down for the weekend so it all fitted in well, as the following Monday was a holiday, Martin Luther King's birthday.
I am still awaiting the hospital bill; only little bits and pieces of it have come in, but not the major one.. It scares me! I must admit, however, that it was indeed fortunate for me to have Dr Mansell as my doctor. He is not only an expert in his field, but also a very kind person. He even brought me a flowering Azalea plant to brighten up my room, and also provided me with ample supplies of the medications (as samples) that I would normally have had to purchase. On a previous visit to California I almost had a game of golf with him but I guess he was too busy, as it never took place.
Apart from the excellent service provided by the doctor, the hospital also gave me "Medication Education Sheets" which gave suggestions regarding: 'How to take' (medications); 'Missed doses'; 'Side effects, etc. and 'Precautions' with respect to 'side effects'. After a couple of days I noticed that there was a difficulty in speaking. I found it impossible to say words, and it really bothered me.
Reporting this to both Dr Mansell and my son Gordon, I was advised to stop the medication. It was apparently too powerful and the temporary lack of speech no longer existed. Another of the tablets, Zantac, seemed to induce "Tackycardia", which is a rapid heart beat. So this too was reduced to a much smaller dose per day.
As I record this, it is about a full month since I left the hospital, and I seem to be mending rather well. I take regular walks in the early mornings using the rather hilly terrain on Yankee Hill and doing my normal daily calisthenics. The absence of meat, fish, etc. from the diet here seems to be of some benefit to me and the vegetarian diet is certainly helping me to keep in shape. A great deal of fruit is eaten - what a pity this is not easily attainable in Canada.
On Friday 11th February, Gordie my grandson arrived for the weekend to spend it with us here in Yankee Hill. He now works in Seattle, Washington and we were all happy to see him. He has written a book "Tao of Time" and hopes to have it published soon. While here with us this weekend, he will give a 'talk' on matters biblical, and it should all tie in with his proposed publication. We propose holding his talk at the home of Gladys Mansell in Paradise before he returns to his workplace in Seattle, in the State of Washington. He looks remarkably well.
Today also, Michael called us from St Lucia and we were so glad to hear from him. He is still travelling from island to island - Trinidad, Barbados, Dominique etc. in pursuit of his present job of selecting possible students for higher education, but in June of this year he has an appointment in Virginia to do lecture tours which, he says, will last for about one year.
Joan too called us from Santa Barbara where she is with her son Mark and Barbara and their little son. She will spend about one month there after which she goes over to Cathy, her daughter, in England. From their conversation with me, it is very obvious that they are still very much in love with each other.
In the course of my stay in California during the winter I was introduced to a widow, Adele Bryson, who is a friend of Gordon and Arna. She lives a good deal further along the wooded area of Concow, which is further along from Yankee Hill. After several visits to Gordon's home, she became quite friendly and I offered to take her to supper one evening at the 'Home Style Buffet'. Three times married, she proved to be quite interesting. I am sure she will be a really good friend.
Tuesday 23 February 2000 was quite an unusual day here in Yankee Hill California. In the first place, Arna had gone to Blythe on a weekend visit to see her mother who is ill and just Gordon and I were at home. A violent rainstorm blew in and just by chance, Gordon had to return to work early that morning. As explained, his workplace entails a two-hour drive along a mountainous highway all the way to Susanville, and the rain continued incessantly.
At about 9.00 am, without any warning, the lights went out and all the electrical appliances, freezer, refrigerator, cooking stove, microwave, washing machine and drier etc. In addition, the telephone also died. As a result, all alone, I was left almost incommunicado. Alone in a large house, I waited a full fifteen minutes before deciding on my next step. Then I decided to check on my two sole neighbours, a good couple of hundred yards away. I drew a blank from the one neighbour, but the other one, a couple of hundred yards further away helped me a bit with their telephone, which was working and was not connected to the electrical system.
In contacting these two neighbours, I had to dress up so as to weather the storm outside and got really wet feet. It would appear that the storm had damaged the connection to our district and the telephone people were doing their best on repair work.
By the time I got back home, the water supply had also stopped, so here was I in a large house, all alone, with no electricity, water or telephone access to the rest of the world and in an isolated area, quite far from any town. Fortunately, there is a wood-burning stove in the living room, and this I kept at full blast, feeding it fresh logs from time to time.
As you know, this home has it's own well-water supply, but the pump that furnishes the property is electrically operated. Hence the fact that our supply was cut off However, there was enough distilled water in bottles in the house so there was no problem, but I did collect some stored washing water from a reservoir, which was kept in the basement.
Some time during the midday, I heard a slight tinkle coming from the master bedroom and following the sound, I noticed a tiny telephone in this room. Apparently, it was one I had no knowledge of It was fortunately in working order, so at last I was able to contact both Arna in Blythe, and Gordon in Susanville - was I relieved? But the rainstorm continued to rage along and I learned from Arna that she should be back that same night at about 11.00 pm. Gordon was helpful in suggesting that I do not worry too much, to depend on the flashlights we had, rather than consider using kerosene lamps, which were also available.
The neighbours, (the Middletons) were very kind in coming over and suggesting to take me to have a meal at one of the restaurants, but I declined, thanking them for their offer. Towards 3.30 - 4.00 pm it darkened quite a bit as the skies were overcast and still raining, when to my surprise and joy, the lights came on almost at 4.00 pm on this day. I heard the phone ring, and I recognized that whatever damage had occurred had been taken care of. The call came from Maureen and did she cheer me up!
After finding the telephone in the master bedroom, a call came through from someone I had met many years ago, and, when she heard of my situation, she offered to "rescue" me and take me to her home in Paradise until the situation became normal. I assured her that I was not scared but would survive quite easily. Later that evening, this 'Good Samaritan' drove her car, accompanied by her son, all the 20 miles from her home in Paradise to bring me a supper, consisting of hot soup, a green salad, some fruit, and a large bottle of Cranapple drink. Although I only knew her slightly from many years ago, this is the kind of friend one delights in having. How can anyone forget such a wonderful performance as Gloria Pablovitch's?
Several hours later, Arna came home through the wind and rain, driving her truck all the way from Sacramento to Yankee Hill. By that time, conditions were back to normal and we resumed a more ordinary life.

A late winter visit to Gordon

Pursuant to my two month visit with Maureen in England, I left Brandon somewhat later than usual for my winter stay with Gordon.

At this point in time, Gordon had changed jobs and was now stationed at another prison site, at Blythe on transfer in Southern California. There was quite a group of Arna's family who were located in Blythe, and since her mother at 91 years of age was in poor health, he thought is best to move down to be closer at hand.

Leaving Brandon on February 10th 1998, I travelled again with a Senior Citizen's coupon and got into Phoenix, Arizona, where Gordon collected me, driving into Blythe the following day. We over nighted in Phoenix, which is a large city. 

After a two hour ride, we finally got to his new home, a newly built modern type and comfortable home. Being at the southern end of California, it remains quite warm all year, and is ideal as a winter resort. Unfortunately, Arna' mother, Chris, developed a minor stroke, and had to be hospitalized. She was subsequently taken to Loma Linda University Hospital for more intensive treatment.

Shortly after I left for California, Aubrey and Marsha took a brief holiday and drove to Edmonton to visit Richie and also their two grandchildren. They made all arrangements for their business, 'Hardinge Enterprises', to be conducted by their trained staff during their short absence.

A Winter "Escape" From Brandon to the U.S.A. (1997)

I left Brandon on January 25th 1997 in an effort to avoid what was evidently going to prove a very harsh winter. It was already cold with low temperatures, but I expected it to become a lot colder during the next two to three months.

My older son Gordon, who lived in California, urged me to come over so off I started, checking in at the International Inn in Winnipeg, so as to catch the early morning flight at 6.45 a.m. After checking in and settling comfortably aboard, the authorities decided to have the wings of the plane de-iced. This took two hours and, as a result, I lost my connection for Reno, which was the airport nearest to my son's house in Susanville, California.

Quite a lot of time was spent trying to make alternative contacts to get me on my way, but it was finally decided to put me up in Minneapolis, at the Thunderbird Hotel and proceed the following day on to Reno. The airline was quite decent about it, paying all my expenses, hotel room, meals, telephone calls, taxi etc., so as not to inconvenience anyone.

The hotel was rather an elegant place, and displayed a wonderful arrangement of Indian artefacts. I caught the next morning's plane to Reno, and arrived safely there, where I was collected and driven to Gordon's home about seventy-five miles away. There was quite a bit of snow in his driveway, and the general approach to his house was a bit mushy. But I was certainly impressed with the house, and it certainly has a lot of possibilities.

This new house of Gordon's is located, as I said, about 75 miles from the Reno airport, and here is a rough idea of the area.  Standish is the name of the area, which is on the fringe of Susanville, a small town in north-eastern California. Its location is really a plateau or tableland, surrounded by mountains, many of which are 7.5 thousand feet high. This home is at an elevation of 4.5 thousand feet, and the area of the plateau which the mountains enclose, has a diameter of approximately 20 miles. As a result, whichever way you look, mountains are all around you. There is a lot of land which goes with the home, and this is all part of the property.

The nearest home is roughly one mile away, and the community is mainly a farming one. However, most of the action here revolves around the prison where Gordon works as one of a team of five doctors who take care of the prisoners here. 

As explained before, his home is a very pleasant one with excellent appointments and very well laid out. Its isolation, however, is the only drawback so far as I am concerned. But of course, I am a city oriented person, and both Gordon and Arna enjoy the country atmosphere.

After about one month of this lifestyle, however, I really got bored, and decided to return to Canada. I had travelled on a "Senior Coupon" ticket and that was somewhat cheaper than the usual fare.

On my return trip, as usual, we changed planes at Minneapolis, and again at this point I met with some disappointment. The weather was lousy and there was a lot of ice on the plane's wings, so it had to be "de-iced". Since there were about 20 planes ahead of us which needed the same treatment, we just had to wait our turn and as a result, I arrived several hours late in Winnipeg.

Fortunately, Marsha and Aubrey were there to welcome me back, and we got home in Brandon around midnight. This was sometime around the middle of March 1997.

My Wheel Chair Experience (1995)

After a lot of thinking, and arrangements with airports and my travel agent in Paradise, it was decided that by virtue of my age, (born in 1906) I would be granted the privilege of wheel-chair service which is recognized by all airports, and provided by them at no extra cost. Both my luggage and I would be safely taken care of all the way back to Canada.

Leaving our home in Yankee Hill at 4.30 a.m. on Monday 8th April 1996, Gordon, Arna and I motored down to Sacramento for the first part of my return to Marsha in Canada. The drive took about 11/2 hours, and they saw me safely aboard the shuttle plane. After being airborne I was asked by the lady purser if it were I who was selected for wheelchair service…......Yes.

As we arrived at Los Angeles, I was met by a uniformed black woman attendant with a wheel-chair. Left to myself, I would most likely have been confused, as Los Angeles is such a vast expanse of airport.

Rolling me around several passages and turns, we got to the luggage carousel, and after a little while my luggage arrived. My attendant just could not handle my large suitcase, my suit-bag, my golf bag and me in a wheel-chair, so she calmly called a red-cap porter, and he took care of the baggage on a separate cart. My lady attendant then decided that as I had so much to carry, I needed an airport van to carry us all to the location of the Canadian airline going to Winnipeg.

We waited about 20 minutes before the van arrived. We got loaded up and took off for the Canadian section, which was good distance away. After we arrived at what was thought to be my terminal, and had all my stuff unloaded, the red cap who was handling my bags noticed that the labels read Canada 3000, which was quite different to the Air Canada terminal at which we now were. 

After a short delay, the bags were all re-packed, and we set off once more to find the terminal for Canada 3000 - a completely different airline. This new airline was easily another half mile away. Fortunately, there was ample time, and we did get there well in advance of the plane's departure.

I was taken in my wheel-chair all the way to the ticket counter along with my bags, and without even checking for excess weight, (because, I suppose, I was helped along) and given my boarding pass.

Incidentally, I was given one of the front seats in the plane, and was the very first to be seated. I am now on my way to Winnipeg, and as if all that treatment was not enough, on my arrival there, I was escorted by another airport personnel who met me with yet another wheel-chair, and took me all the way to customs and immigration where I was quickly and quietly passed, then on to the baggage carousel where my bags were all collected.

At this point I got out of the chair and met my friends, the Olives, who came to collect me and drive me home on our two hour ride back to Brandon. I entertained them to supper at Red Lobster.  

What a return trip to Brandon and my home there.

Back at my Winter Hide-Out (1995)

It is now the middle of December 1995 and the weather has become quite bad. Lots of snow and blizzards and it is certainly the worst winter I have ever experienced.

As a result, I have just completed arrangements to fly over to Gordon in California on January 1st 1996. I am taking Marsha along. She has a week's leave of absence from Safeway, her employer, and the break will be so good for her. 1, however, will remain with Gordon and return when the Canadian weather improves in another 2 to 3 months. Marsha really enjoyed her weeks stay in California. I took her to some of my friends and we went touring and sight-seeing with Jim and Bea Knibbs. Arna lent us her white 1996 Honda, and Marsha did the driving. We visited Chico, the nearby university city and had a great meal at the Home Style Buffet. Later in the week, Arna took Marsha to "Bidwell Park", carrying two bicycles in her pick-up, and they had a great time cycling there. The only Saturday (Sabbath) she spent in California we were taken to the S.D.A church in Gridley. Gordon did the driving. Both his and Arna's cars are 1996 Honda Accords, with all the latest accessories.

We were sorry to lose Marsha at the end of that week, but she had to go back to her job in Canada. I hope to remain in Paradise until the winter passes, which will probably be in early April 1996.  

Having sold his clinic in Paradise, Gordon is now employed by the State of California to be one of a team of doctors appointed to take care of the thousands of prisoners at a new prison in Susanville, northern California. Gordon had become rather tired of the effort involved in operating his own clinic, and getting a good price for it, he now does not have the various chores and responsibilities of taking care of training and paying his own staff, bothering about such things as malpractice insurance, finding his own patients and keeping them well and happy. These things are now the problems of the State of California. The pay is adequate and the perquisites excellent.

The Susanville prison is a high security correctional centre and is in North California, about two hours car ride from his home in 'Yankee Hill'. At the moment, he is making adjustments for re-locating his home nearer to his work place, and in the meantime, has rented a small apartment close to the prison.  He comes down to his Yankee Hill home at weekends.

The two-hour drive from Yankee Hill to Susanville is truly spectacular. As for all Californian highways, the surface is perfect, and the highway to the prison is along the Feather River Canyon, a winding highway around mountain after mountain with spectacular curves and the several branches of the Feather Rivera lot of the way there. As you progress around the mountains, the altitude changes, rising to 5,000 feet at the highest point. You do go through several tunnels and across quite a few bridges, with the rushing frothy water just pouring off the mountain sides as melted snow. There are quite a few hydro-electric stations and the effect it produces is quite something to see.

The location of the prison is in what is described as high level desert. It sits in a plateau about twenty miles in diameter, with a surround of snow-capped mountains at the present time. I am told there are four to five thousand prisoners there, and Gordon is one of a team of five doctors who take care of their medical needs.

On Sunday next, 24th March 1996, I am going along with Arna to spend three days with some of her family (mother, sisters and brothers) to Blythe, in south-eastern California, quite close to the Arizona border.

Blythe is another type of desert, hot and humid in summer, but very pleasant and invigorating in spring, which is why I choose to visit it now, especially since I'll be returning to Canada in a couple of weeks. Talked to Michael by phone. He was in Los Angeles doing some sort of lecture. He was only there for a weekend. He and Joan still live in St. Lucia in the Caribbean where they are both employed - he as professor of Drama and Art, and Joan is engaged at the Academy of Music, where she is responsible for the teaching of this subject in this delightful island in the Caribbean.

The three days I spent at Blythe were very rewarding. It was a pleasant break from Yankee Hill. We enplaned from Sacramento to Ontario (California) airport, where we were met by one of Arna's sisters (Zita) and taken to the home of Lisa (another of Arna's sisters) in Blythe. The drive took all of 21/2 hours and it was fairly hot.

Quite a few of the Robinson family live and work at another prison there. Riva, (Arna's brother) is one of the many doctors there, and Lisa is in charge of the laboratory at the prison. Her home was quite recently built. It is a very attractive place and quite modern. I was very comfortable with a delightful suite all to myself. While there we had the opportunity of seeing the newly discovered Japanese comet, but it was quite faint and close to the handle end of the "Big Dipper".

While there, I also used the driving range of the very modern golf course, and spent a full hour hitting balls in an effort to get back in shape after my return home.

The last evening spent at Blythe was used to visit the Colorado river which separates the two states of Arizona and California. We also inspected Mario's orchard - (he is another brother of Arna) - in which he grows successfully some real tropical fruit.

On the drive back to connect with the Ontario (California) airport, we had a nice visit with Gordie, my grandson. He was very helpful in locating one of my colleagues, Bill Robinson, with whom I was associated at Loma Linda University when I was employed there just over 23 years ago. Gordie also took a running video type interview of me in front of my former workplace, (L.L.U.) as well as an account of my boyhood life, early marriage, and a sort of light family history, which he said he will later edit and send me a copy. I was quite impressed with his demeanour and general conduct and behaviour.

On the way back to Yankee Hill from Blythe, we stopped in at Loma Linda and followed on to the airport in Ontario. Due to some delay in Loma Linda, we just missed our flight at 12.00 noon and had to wait until 2.00 p.m. for the next one. But we finally made it, and got back to Yankee Hill at about 6.00 p.m.

As the time for returning to Canada approached, I began getting my things together, and often wondered how I would be able to make the trip back home alone without Marsha's help in managing my luggage as well as changing planes, since the return trip involved a shuttle flight from Sacramento to Los Angeles, then finding my connection in this huge airport with more luggage than I could handle. My golf bag being part of it. 

Even after discarding a lot of older and well-worn clothes, including old shoes and slippers and some heavy books, I was still ten kilograms overweight and being on a charter flight which is quite strict about weight, I was quite concerned about the excess.

Visit to Gordon and Michael in Paradise California, and St. Lucia, West Indies from December 6th to March 14th 1995.

Getting away from the winter weather in Canada, I flew over to Paradise, where, instead of snow, there was rain, abundant rain, causing severe floods in the lower regions on the state of California.

Gordon's home on Yankee Hill was not affected. It was quite some distance from the areas which suffered from the floods. I was able to help with a lot of filing work at Gordon's clinic, and was able to bring him reasonably up to date in this respect. There was just one dance I attended at my favourite "Melody Club".

Just about a week before I was booked for St Lucia to visit Michael & Joan, I gave everyone a scare when I developed a condition called Supraventricular Tachycardia, - a very fast heart-beat. Gordon and Arna rushed me to his clinic, and gave me an E.K.G. It registered 153 beats instead of the normal 80, so he took me to the emergency department of the Feather River hospital. This was about 5.00 a.m. on January 20th 1995. There I was given another E.K.G., and the heartbeat of 153 was confirmed. I was kept there for one day and given every possible test. I.V's, more E.K.G.s, Blood test, Echo-Cardiogram, and finally a Tread-mill test. I was hooked up on my left side to a heart monitor machine, and on my right side to a blood pressure outfit, which came on automatically every half hour. Following all these tests, finishing with the Tread-mill, I was discharged after just one day. The Tread-mill test was particularly satisfactory. At no time did I have chest or other pains. I was given some medication to avoid a recurrence. In spite of all this, I decided not to cancel my trip to St. Lucia which is planned for February 1st 1995.

Following this scare, I therefore left for Michael leaving Sacramento for Miami via Minneapolis. At Miami I was met by friends of Arna where I over-nighted, and caught an American Airlines flight to San Juan in Puerto Rico, where I further transferred to an American Eagle to St. Lucia.

Michael met me at the airport and drove me to the Parrot Hotel where I spent the first night. The following morning he took me to his home on Mount "Conbaril". The road is quite rough to his house, but he will be removing to a much better locality in a couple of weeks. My impression of this island is that it is an ideal place especially for retired people. It is picturesque, beautiful, and with a delightful temperature. The people, mostly blacks, are in the majority, about 90%. But they are friendly and will go out of their way to help. The scenic possibilities are vast and I am doing my best to capture some of it on film. I have been promised some golf; but I am taking it easy and settling in gradually. M be here for about a couple of months.

Both Joan and Michael are working full-time. Joan is the music instructor at the Castries School of Music, and Michael is professor of Art and Drama at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Both are good government jobs.

In two separate week-ends we did the beaches. The first was at the Spinnakers Beach Restaurant which is open on three sides with a clear view of the rolling Caribbean sea which is just a few yards from where we had our meal. Tropical drinks like "Mango", "Guava", and others were offered, and the meal was an attractive arrangement of local vegetables like eddies, squash, cassava, plantains etc., with locally caught fish. It was quite enjoyable. A three-piece band comprising piano, guitar, and a male singer entertained us, singing well known songs like 'Bossy Nova", and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon on the Old Oak Tree". Prices were quite reasonable.

The island is made up of numerous little bays, and at many of them one can see yachts of various countries berthed there. There was one large craft at one of these bays showing the Maple Leaf flag of Canada, which goes to show from how far distant tourists come to visit this lovely island. The new home into which Michael and Joan removed after my second week in St. Lucia was both much nicer and in a far more delightful location. The building was truly majestic and overlooked Castries. Built on a hill, it commanded a grand view of the blue Caribbean Sea and harbour. At night it was quite a sight to behold. The house was built to be hurricane-proof; and the grounds around it were loaded with shrubs and trees of many kinds. Croton of many shades and colours, tall coconut palms, banana trees, large mango trees of the Julie type, guavas, sapodillas, breadfruit and bread nut trees, grapefruit and cherries all full grown and bearing. The house being on a hill, the magnificent growth was terraced all the way almost down to the road and two or three short stone steps made it easy to go from one level to another. What a pleasure to enjoy fresh coconut-water with soft jelly, picked from your own yard!!

The main industries of St. Lucia are banana export and of course, tourism. There is a strong French influence here, and many reminders still exist in the form of old fortifications, names etc. We once visited "Pigeon Island" now linked to the mainland by a causeway, where once could see evidence of French occupation.

Michael and I had planned to visit Guyana, the land in which we were both born, but unfortunately this did not materialize as both he and I developed a type of bronchial infection just when we were planning to fly over there.

So, after a very rewarding holiday of three and a half months, I returned to Brandon, Canada to continue my life with Marsha and family on March 14th 1995. And now, on this the 21St day of April 1995, I conclude the third instalment of my memoirs hoping it will be of some use to future generations.

Short Trip to Paradise, California (1994)

In January 1994, I paid a short visit to Gordon and Arna and returned to Canada in April. I just have to try escaping from the harsh winters of Canada. It was quite fortunate for me to have close relatives in places where I could escape from the cold weather. By that time, (early May) it was possible to play golf; I actually started playing May 12th.

My return to the U.S.A. (1974)

As darkness was closing in that evening, we arrived at Kennedy airport in a light snow-storm. It was cold, and we took a yellow cab and directed the taxi driver to our friends, the Stobys, in the Bronx. He was not too familiar with that part of New York, but when I advised him that our destination was via the 'Whitestone bridge, he had no trouble locating 724 Rosedale Avenue. Our friends were expecting us, and their front porch was all lit up in spite of the snow which was still coming down. What a change in just one day to move from a tropical climate Of 90 F. to a snow covered region with a temperature just above freezing.
We were warmly greeted by Yulisse and Reggie Stoby and our dear Marie Lewis, just as soon as we ascended the snow-encrusted steps and rang the bell. Emma and I spent the greater part of one week with our friends in New York. It was really cold, and during the next day or two we had to re-adjust to winter conditions.
Before going over to California, we revisited one of our favourite haunts, the Radio City Music Hall, and took in a very nice show there.
We completed our journey back to Paradise, in California, in another couple of days taking a Continental Airlines non-stop flight to San Francisco, where we connected with a Hughes Air West for Chico airport after a wait of two to three hours. I phoned Gordon's house as soon as we arrived, and in a little while Arna and the two children, Lucia and Gordie came along for us. Gordon was on emergency duty at the Redding hospital that night, but came home by noon on the following day. Redding is just about two hours travel by freeway from Paradise. His home on Roe Road was built on a hilltop, and it was impossible to see it from the road. Surrounded by a stand of tall and stately pines with a liberal growth of indigenous manzanitas, it presented a truly rural picture. There was a lot of good garden land around the house, and several fruit trees were planted there. Among them were cherries, plums, pears, peaches, grapes and persimmons. Quite a few large walnut trees were on the land also, and there were two kitchen gardens with corn, tomatoes, strawberries, beans, lettuce, potatoes, and an assortment of useful vegetables as well.
When we got there, it was still. too cold to start the spring planting, but preparations were already in progress for this. Fences were being mended to keep out the deer, and the ground was being prepared for rotor-tilling in the near future.
On this hilltop too, lived Marie Hopkins, a widow, and dear friend of Gordon and family and it was arranged that Emma and I would live in her large home until such time as we could become a bit more sorted out and settled. The two houses, Gordon's and hers, were just a couple of hundred yards apart, and this was very convenient for us.
Because we were still at the tail end of winter, many of the trees were bare. The ground around the two homes was carpeted with pine needles, and there were literally hundreds of pine cones that had fallen. It was a delight to see the squirrels with their elegant bushy tails running up and down the trees and a walk through the woods behind the houses, which extended for at least a mile, was a veritable haven for nature lovers. Small wonder the place acquired its name - Paradise!
I was told that approximately thirty thousand people lived in this town built on a high ridge between Chico on the one side, and Oroville in a southerly direction on the other. The houses were so constructed that very often one had to look for them, hidden as they were between and behind majestic pines and other foliage which helped in preserving a rustic atmosphere so greatly preferred by the people, a large percentage of whom were retired folk and who really enjoyed the peace and quiet of this extremely restful setting. The area was smog-free, and there was a building boom going on most of the time we lived there. It took us about two months to really become organized before being able to set up house on our own.

I had to await the arrival of items like excess clothing, linen, and certain household things we had airfreighted from Guyana back to the U.S.A. and collect them from the Sacramento airport. Then we had to re-arrange our benefits to our new address, and go through a whole new reorientation for living. By an amazing stroke of good fortune, I was able to secure a lease on a low income apartment in Buschmann road, newly built for senior citizens. It was through the instrumentality and great help of Marion Hall, a social worker in Paradise, that this was possible, and we were very thankful for the great kindness shown us by this lady. At the end of April 1974, Emma and I moved into 1080 Buschmann Road, Apt.1, and once again, embarked upon a life of our own.
It was a small apartment of one bedroom, but quite modern and the work required to keep it tidy was minimal. It was air-conditioned, had adequate heating for winter, was equipped with Westinghouse electric range and refrigerator, and had picture windows all around. The locality was good, opposite to the Mormon Church, and just four hundred yards from a cute and well-kept park in the centre of which was a swimming pool. We were also near the supermarkets and shopping area, yet somewhat off the noisy highway traffic.
The complex in which our apartment was situated contained twenty-four units, and had its own recreation room and laundry facilities for the residents. It was just right for us at the time.  Having settled down in our new home, we thought it was a good idea to visit some of the friends we had lived among for over seven years in southern California. So in June, 1974, we took off in our trusted Chevelle for Loma Linda, Colton and Riverside.
Our car was in good shape and we motored all the way, stopping at Sacramento first, and visited friends there. Then we continued south, by-passing Los Angeles, going through the Mojave desert and coming out into Sin Bernardino. It was pretty late in the evening when we checked into a really nice motel on 'E' street near to the Post Office.
Friends of ours and former neighbours in Reche Canyon, Clarence and Milly Eisenlord, had invited us to stay at their home and on the following morning we arrived at their place. We spent a lovely week at their large mobile home, playing a lot of Bridge, swimming in my favourite pool and visiting the many friends we had in this park.
I called on my former colleagues at Loma Linda Hospital Pharmacy, and everyone there was glad to see me again.
Before we left the area, we spent two days with Lloyd and Vilma Adams in Riverside, and took a bus ride from their place into Los Angeles, looking at some of the old familiar haunts. It was a very pleasant week which we climaxed with a dance at the Senior Citizens Centre in San Bernardino, before returning home to Paradise.
We motored back the same way, again avoiding the heavy traffic in Los Angeles, by selecting the desert route. Breaking our return trip in Sacramento where we spent the night, we got into Paradise by early afternoon on the following day. Shortly after our return home, Arna and some of her relatives asked us to join them on a tour of Shasta Lake and Caverns, a very scenic spot and tourist centre a little beyond Redding. This entailed a two-hour ride up-state, and we used two cars to accommodate everybody.
We reached Shasta Lake and began the tour with a colourful catamaran cruise across the lake. It was only a 15 minute ride on the sky-blue water, surrounded by majestic mountains. Then a specially equipped bus took us right up a mountainside about 800 feet above the lake surface. This winding drive to the entrance of the cave afforded an ever changing panorama of spectacular lake and mountain scenery, and the drive itself was quite thrilling. At the door of the cavern we were met by a trained and experienced guide, who gave us a conducted tour, describing the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, the multi-coloured fluted columns, and the sixty-foot high stone draperies in symmetrical folds studded with brilliant crystals.

This mountain cave presented a complete fairyland of nature's limestone creations. There were several "floors" in the cavern, and access to each was gained by flights of concrete stairs built, one of which had well over 100 steps.
The other side had a sheer drop of many feet, but an iron rail was erected to ensure a measure of safety to visiting tourists.The last of the "floors" to which we were taken was called the "Cathedral" room and it consisted of a rather flat surface with a wall of fluted limestone which greatly resembled the pipes of a giant organ.
The caverns remain just as nature made them, but certain conveniences such as paved walkway, stairs, guard rails, and indirect lighting have been added. There is no moisture condition requiring protective clothing or footwear, and the temperature is a comfortable 58 degrees F. constantly.
There were several arms of Lake Shasta, and during many months of the year it is a popular resort and marina. One can hire houseboats of various types and really enjoy a wonderful holiday here, taking the whole family along. This was indeed a delightful trip, and I took a number of photographs before we left for home.
Later that summer, in July, Emma and I decided to visit Expo '74 which was being held in Spokane, in the Pacific state of Washington, and which is just below the Canadian border.
I had the Chevelle checked over for one of the longest rides I would be taking and we motored up to some friends, Jackie and Bill Peters, who lived at Moses Lake, Washington. To make the journey easy, I decided to take two days doing it, and I chose the city of Bend in central Oregon as our overnight stop. Some of the beauty spots passed were Klamath falls and lake, and Mount Shasta. The drive was very pleasant and uneventful, and towards late afternoon we reached Bend where I found a suitable motel in which we stayed for the night. Continuing next morning, we reached the south side of the Columbia river, amidst some of the most gorgeous mountain scenery on the Oregon side. This river marks the boundary between Oregon and Washington.
Following an easterly course along the river - the highway was built along the side of it - the view was outstanding. I took the curve which carried us into Washington State near the town of Pasco, and reached Bill and Jackie's place in the afternoon. They were quite happy for us to stay there as long as we liked, and agreed to go along with us to Expo '74 in Spokane in another couple of days. Their son, Stephen was with his grandparents in Canada so there was plenty of room for us. Our company was very welcome to them too since Moses Lake was a rather lonely spot. The country around their large mobile home consisted of wide tracts of farmland on which was grown acres of wheat, alfalfa and beets. It was my privilege to see how a wheat combine
reaps, threshes, winnows and transfers the finished product into a waiting truck with a single operator in his glass-enclosed, air-conditioned cab, listening to stereo music on tapes while he worked.
Expo '74 proved to be just a glamorised country fair. We all enjoyed the American and Russian pavilions, and partook of a really special dinner at the latter place. It was well after midnight when we got home, very tired since a lot of walking was involved at the exposition grounds.

The next day, however, we made a splendid trip to the Grand Coulee Dam, one of America's great hydro-electric power complexes situated on the Columbia River in central Washington. This great dam produces millions of kilowatts of electrical power, and has greatly benefited the farming industry in the Columbia Basin, where the land, previous to its erection, was nothing but parched though extremely fertile desert, wasting away for lack of water. I was reliably told that since the Grand Coulee Dam was built, the value of the agricultural produce in the region now exceeds a total of one hundred million dollars.

Our party joined a conducted tour, and was shown over a lot of the works there, which included a stroll along the top of the giant spillway where the water was a great frothy churn of snow-white foam as it cascaded below. On our way back to Jackie's home we stopped at Dry Falls, which can really be described as the skeleton of one of the greatest waterfalls in geologic history. It is three and a half miles wide, with a drop of over four hundred feet. This prehistoric waterfall was forty times mightier than Niagara.
It was explained to me that millions of years ago, during the glacial period, the mighty Columbia River was diverted from its original course due to earth pressures in the ice age. As the glaciers receded at some later date carrying away softer strata of the earth's crust, Dry Falls remained, and it now bears silent witness to the tremendous forces of nature.
We returned to Moses Lake and left for Paradise in another couple of days. I varied our return trip a little by avoiding the curve of the river near the Oregon border, going over a toll-bridge instead, and continuing the delightful scenic drive to Biggs along the water's edge, where we turned south. Again I broke the journey in Bend, Oregon, spent the night there, and arrived home in Paradise late the following afternoon. The trip was a good test of my ability to stand up to nine hours of continuous high speed driving on the freeways from central Oregon to Paradise, California.
Our son Gordon, who had been living in Paradise for the last four years, now decided to move to Georgia, three thousand miles away on the Atlantic coast. He sold his property and packed his household things into a large moving van, then drove it and his family all the way across country to the new home of his choice in Wildwood, Georgia. In retrospect, I cannot help thinking that there must be a certain measure of wanderlust in our family - the removal took him about four days.
Once more Emma and I are thousands of miles away from our nearest relative, but by now, we were becoming quite used to the idea. It was, however, quite a different feeling, having just a few friends around, instead of one's own kith and kin.
Towards the latter part of 1974, I developed a herniated lumbar disc and had to be hospitalized at the Feather River Hospital for five days. I was given traction, hot pack's, and whirlpool bath treatments, and after I was discharged, I got a friend of ours to build a rig onto my bed, so that I could continue the traction treatment at home.
Winter was now fast setting in, and we discovered that northern California was far colder than the south in which we had always lived. For a couple of days we were almost snow bound, with sixteen inches of snow all around our apartment, enveloping the car, and making life quite awkward. During this snowfall, some large trees fell across power lines cutting off electric supply to Paradise, so we were without cooking facilities and light for over a day.
Arising out of this, we had to clear out our refrigerator and freezer, and store our meat, chicken, milk and all perishables in the deep snow which had piled up nearly two feet high on the outside walls of our apartment. It was quite a new experience. Fortunately, the house was heated by gas, and so was our water supply. Were we all-electric, it would certainly have been very uncomfortable for us all.
It would have been quite possible to live in this quiet town if Gordon and his family had not gone, but the older we get, the more we realized the importance of man's gregariousness, especially in respect of his own family. We therefore decided it would be in our interest to leave Paradise. After a little enquiry and search, we chose a neat little apartment in North Highlands, a suburb of Sacramento, the capital city of California. Not only did we have more friends here than in Paradise, but there was a whole lot more to interest us than we ever had in all the seven years we lived in this state.
We moved our own furniture down the hundred miles with the kind help of two friends, using the popular "U-Haul" method. Shortly after we joined the Senior Citizen's centre and club, which provided us with all the companionship, entertainment, and cheap trips around the countryside that we could absorb. We were also quite close to all major communication lines, just in case we needed to make use of them. This removal to North Highlands was in March 1975, with both Emma and myself in reasonably good health.
After settling down in our new location, places in Sacramento like Sutter's Fort, The Capitol Park and Mall, and the Senate building were all visited by us, and we were later able to explore the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) system which is the local and very modern counterpart of the London Underground system. We took a long ride on "BART" one day, going under the San Francisco bay from the downtown area reaching out as far as Concord on the other side of the bay where the line ends.

On yet another occasion we visited the Golden Gate Park, and what a delightful place this proved to be. We visited the Japanese Tea Gardens there, the De Yonge Museum and the fantastic Aquarium in the Natural Science Building. That was as much as we could absorb in one visit, so we returned another day and we were fortunate in being able to see an "Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the Peoples Republic of China".

In this exhibition, three hundred and eighty-five works of art were displayed, embracing a time-span from the Palaeolithic age (about 600,000 years ago) through to the 14th century A.D. Included were prehistoric artefacts, ceramics, bronze vessels, oracle bones, stone sculpture, wood carvings and gold and silver utensils. They were fully dated and documented, and provided important and accurate comparative data.
During the summer of this year, (1975) one of the senior citizens groups to which we belonged, staged a one week outing on a Greyhound bus, involving a tour which took us from Sacramento through Yosemite Park where we stopped for lunch in the shadow of El Capitan.

El Captain is a tremendous granite monolith which rises 3,000 feet above the valley floor, and it seems to salute the visitor as he approaches. It is reputed to be the largest single block of granite in the world, and much greater in volume than the Rock of Gibraltar.

Continuing through Yosemite Park on our week's tour, we came out at the eastern end and via Tioga Pass, cutting across the California Stateline into Nevada, where we stopped and spent the first night in Tonopah at a very comfortable "Western Motel" (Silver Queen). Leaving Tonopah next morning we travelled clear across Nevada into the state of Utah, the state with a very strong "Mormon" influence.  We halted for lunch at a delightful spot called Cathedral Gorge, then pushed on to Cedar City where the Greyhound bus was serviced, and then on to Bryce Canyon, climbing to almost ten thousand feet before we reached the National Park there at about sundown.

We were housed in little log cabins, and spent that night in this setting of high forested country withsome of the most glorious rock formations we had ever seen. All the next day we were sightseeing in this area, and we slept there yet another night.
On the following morning, we rode our chartered Greyhound along the freeway on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We spent a day and a night there, and witnessed some more of nature's marvellous rock sculpture and views that simply were indescribable.


The Grand Canyon is in the state of Arizona, and on the following morning we returned to Utah and spent our fifth night at "Zion" National Park. Here we were once again put up in log cabins. We arrived at Zion in the early afternoon, and so were able to go sight-seeing for the rest of the day.
Our sixth day was spent travelling back through Nevada state, and we arrived at Las Vegas in the early afternoon. There we put up at the "Kings Inn" and during that evening we were taken on a conducted bus tour of the famous "Las Vegas Strip", by our experienced bus driver, who provided a running commentary over the speaker system of all we passed by. At night, Las Vegas, often described as the gambling capital of the world, is a sea of thousands, no millions of brilliant lights along its famous strip, and it was truly an education to see the way of life of one segment of people.
After spending the night (our last) in this exotic city, we left the following morning for Sacramento and home, via Reno, a famous divorce centre, passing through Hawthorne, Where we were pointed out the several bunkers containing explosives for the military, and which was spread over a very wide area. We arrived home that evening just before midnight after a very educational and pleasant week spent amidst some of the grandest sights one can ever hope to see in all of the North American continent.
To provide a little "in-depth" information about the National Parks, the first one we stayed at, Bryce National Canyon Park, is located in South-eastern Utah, about thirty miles north of the Arizona border. Here, sand, wind and water have carved the plateau into several horseshoe shaped amphitheatres, cutting limestone cliffs into fantastic forms, and exposing layers of rock that glow in delicate and varied colours, ranging from pinks to reds, in several shades, under a canopy of pure blue sky.
The natural structures, ranging from man-size to hundreds of feet in height, are identified by fanciful names like "Queen Victoria", "Tower Bridge", Mormon Temple" etc.  A paved highway runs along the edge of the forested plateau, and several "overlooks" provide magnificent views to visitors. Miles of horse and pony trails depend easily from the plateau, and thread through the rock formations. The origin of these picturesque formations goes back thirteen to sixty million years. Erosion of the rim is steadily proceeding at the rate of twelve inches every fifty years.


Bryce Canyon became a National Monument in 1923 and a National Park in 1928. It has an area of 56 square miles.
Looking down into the canyon, the surface seems to break off almost perpendicularly to a depth of several hundred feet. It appears as if the bottom had dropped out and left rocks standing in all shapes and forms as lone sentinels over a grotesque and picturesque scene…. There are thousands of red, white, purple and vermilion coloured rocks of all sizes resembling soldiers on the walls of castles, monks and priests in their robes, cathedrals and congregations, presenting the wildest and most wonderful scenes ever to behold.
Bryce Canyon was named after a Mormon settler, Ebenezer Bryce, who built his cabin on a tributary that drained one of the large amphitheatres, around the year 1874. He grazed cattle here for a shor time, but long enough to give a very vivid description of the place, " A hell ova place to lose a cow", and a name for the park.
Some of the most spectacular views may be seen from "Sunset Point"', "Inspiration Point", "Bryce Point", and Paria View". These vistas provide the most scenic concentration of sculptured red rocks in this area.
Zion Canyon National Park is located in south western Utah, and has an area of 147.000 acres. It was established as a park in 1919. Its walls are crowned with white pinnacles that shade almost imperceptibly to vermilion yellow below. Impressive heights include "The Great White Throne", (6,700 ft.) "The Beehives"", "The Sentinel" and the "Three Patriarchs". Access to Zion park is via the highway running from St. George. This park is a region of deep narrow canyons with vertical walls and massive rocky domes and pinnacles of gorgeous colours, mostly in varying tones of red. Zion canyon is nearly half a mile deep and is cut by the Virgin river which falls from 50 to 70 feet in a one mile stretch. Along the road leading to the lodge, there is a mile long Zion - Mount Carmel tunnel with open galleries which provide sweeping views of the canyon.
Zion Canyon was discovered in 1858 and the region was settled by Mormons, in 1861, who arrived from the Great Salt Lake Valley and gave it the name Zion. The great difference between "Bryce" and "Zion" is that whereas one looks down into Bryce, at Zion, you have to look way up, - heavenwards.


The North Rim of the Grand Canyon, however, was the most awe-inspiring and majestic of the three national parks we stayed at. Here, as at Bryce Canyon, you looked down into the views spread out before you, and here is a brief description I put together, obtained from leaflets and library research. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long. Its width is more difficult to measure, the average distance from rim to rim is about ten miles. It is about one mile deep, 4460 feet from Bright Angel lodge on the south rim down to the river, (Colorado) and 5750 feet down from the Grand Canyon lodge (where we slept) on the North Rim.
The great pyramids of Egypt and the largest sky-scrapers of the 20th century would be equally lost within its depths.
In essence, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado is a canyon composed of many canyons. It is a composite of tens of thousands of gorges. In like manner, each wall of the Canyon is a composite structure, a wall composed of many walls, but never a repetition. Each one of these innumerable gorges is a world of beauty in itself. And all of these unite to form one Grand Canyon…. and what a sublime spectacle.... Geologists claim that the Grand Canyon began to form sometime in the last six million years.
Down in the inner gorge is the Colorado river, busily at work, doing its best to carry the mountains to the sea. It has cut the canyon to its present depth, but its work is not finished, it still has another 2400 feet to go before it is stopped at sea level. It has functioned like a giant conveyor belt, taking the weathered rock materials from as far away as the Rocky 'Mountains down to the Gulf of California. In cutting the canyon, the river has exposed the pages of geological history, and now lies, as a bookmark in time, to show us where to begin….
Going along with groups from the Senior Citizen's Center and the "Go-Goers" club, to which we belonged we made frequent trips by bus to Lake Tahoe, and areas like Donner Lake, Reno, and the Truckee river. To get there one has to go up and over the High Sierras where the air is pure and invigorating. The altitude is approximately 7,200 feet at the summit of the Sierras where the freeway winds its way over the top.
We spent our first Xmas in Sacramento very quietly, attending the Senior Citizens' Holiday dinner on December 20th, 1975, held at their spacious clubhouse at 27th and J Streets in the capital which was a great success. It was completely free. The menu consisted of Roast Turkey with all the trimmings, Baked Yam Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli and Carrots, Fresh Fruit Salad, Tossed Green Salad, Cranberry Sauce, Rolls, Assorted Pies with Coffee, Tea, Milk or Punch according to your choice. Live music was supplied.
When Emma and I returned to California after our five months sojourn in Guyana, between us and our daughter Marsha and her family, it was decided that we should try to get that sole remaining branch of our immediate family, either into the U.S.A. or into Canada.
There was so much more of a future in these two latter countries, that as soon as it was possible, I started enquires at the San Francisco Immigration Department with respect to sponsoring them for entry into America.
It was also nice to hope that as parents now approaching the "allotted span", we would be able to have at least one segment of our far-flung family closer to us.  Gordon, our eldest child, was now in Georgia, just about 3,000 miles away, Michael, our second, lived in Barbados, about 5,000 miles in the Caribbean area, where now that he was a full blown Ph.D. in English Literature, he was a lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Bridgetown, Barbados, at Cave Hill Campus. Maureen our elder daughter, was living in Middlesex, England, with her husband Ron and their son Paul, so it was really a great idea to have Marsha and her family a little closer to us.
After several attempts, however, it proved impossible for her to enter the U.S.A. on a permanent basis, so our next hope was to try Canada. Fortunately, the Canadian effort was successful, and in short order, the Hardinge family was all set to migrate to Brandon, Manitoba. They left Guyana on February, 16th, 1976, and arranged to break their journey to Canada by stopping over in Miami, Florida for one week, thus giving Gordon and his family and Emma & me, the opportunity of a family re-union in this winter resort of the U.S.A.
Gordon and his family drove down the 800 miles from their home in Georgia, and Emma and I decided to fly over from California and meet them in Miami. It was a splendid joint affair... By taking a night flight from Sacramento to San Francisco, we arrived in Miami at about 8.00 a.m. just four hours before Marsha's plane was due from Guyana. There is a time difference of three hours between California and Miami.
We took a taxi to our motel-apartment which I had booked a couple of weeks in advance, while waiting for our apartment to be readied for us. (There was a very tight booking plan at Miami motels at this time of the year, and occupation usually commences at midday). Emma and I did some shopping for groceries. Our motel apartment was nicely situated, near enough to the down-town area, and not far from the beaches and parks. I selected it from the Florida Tour book issued by the Automobile Association, and we were very pleased with it. There was ample accommodation for six, which included Marsha's family of four. It had a well appointed kitchen complete with gas stove, refrigerator, dining table and chairs, pots, pans, dishes, glassware and cutlery. There was the usual wall to wall carpeting and ample air conditioning and heating. We planned to cook most of our meals and not have the bother of frequenting restaurants, so that our arrival a few hours before Marsha and family gave us the opportunity to purchase all the food we would need for the entire stay in Miami. The timing was just right.
After Emma and I were safely installed, and had all our things put away, we received a telephone call from Gordon who was somewhere on the highway a few miles from our motel. We gave him directions to meet us at the airport, and as the plane from Guyana was shortly due, Emma and I took a taxi and went down to meet the children and their families.
Miami International Airport is a very busy place, but after waiting a little while, Gordon and his family showed up in a camper in which they had travelled from their home in Georgia. In another half hour or so, waiting outside the Customs Immigration department, we were able to greet Marsha, Aubrey, and Richie. They looked happy but tired as it was a long journey from Guyana.
Gordon's camper had sufficient room for everybody as well as the luggage, so we just piled in and drove back to our rented apartment. While there was no vacancy for Gordon's group at our motel, he was lucky in finding accommodation at another establishment close by, so it was possible to walk over and be with each quite easily. It was so conveniently close that Arna, Gordon's wife, joined forces with us in respect of preparing meals, using the kitchen facilities where we were. This arrangement certainly simplified matters and cut down our expenses very appreciably.
It was a delightful re-union of exactly one half of our immediate family… the four cousins, who now met for the first time, thoroughly enjoyed each other, and Gordon who had not seen his sister for over twenty years, was really very happy to be with her. They took long walks together...
Living in Guyana where most imported food-stuffs were banned, the Hardinges took full advantage of such "delicacies" as apples, walnuts, cereals, cheeses and all those products they were denied in their own hometown. Between Emma and Arna, they were introduced to Vegetarian cooking, and they really enjoyed the change it provided.
We picnicked one day in Crandon park, which is on Key Biscayne, access to which is across the Rickenbacker Causeway joining it to the mainland. We had lunch in the shade of a sea-grape tree on tables specially set up for this purpose. After lunch we walked along the beach. The sun was shining brightly, and the temperature was about 78 degrees F. and there were lots of kids and people swimming and frolicking in the water. Looking beyond the water's edge, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but an expansive Atlantic Ocean with several ships far out to sea.
We had collected for Marsha and her family, a giant size suitcase filled with things we knew they would require to start the winter in Canada. They included warm clothing and all the various requirements for a cold climate. Apart from buying some of these items, friends of ours had donated many useful articles of clothing and Gordon and Arna had also added their contribution. We included such necessities as non-skid grips for the children's shoes, and an electric blanket with dual automatic control.
An entire day was spent trying out garments for size etc., and sorting out what would be needed to arrive in when they reached Winnipeg. Items such as we procured for them were quite unobtainable in Guyana, a tropical country, and since this was still winter 1976, it was necessary to be properly clad for the Canadian temperatures, which at that time of the year could be well below freezing.
Gordon and his family left after spending just about four days with us. He had his own several commitments at Wildwood hospital where he worked, and could not stay any longer. In view of the fact that the journey to Miami took him three days on a round trip basis, he was away from his practice for just about one week. We were sorry to see him go, but were indeed grateful he was able to come and enjoy the time with us.

For the rest of that week we took it easy, allowing the Hardinge family to rest as much as possible, remembering that they had to leave in another three days for Canada - to them, a new end strange country, with all the inevitable problems of starting life afresh especially in the winter.
During the last two days we were together, we repacked the six large suitcases Aubrey and Marsha had brought with them, and having put everything in order, we confirmed their flight arrangements for Canada, and just waited for the final farewells.
We gave up the motel apartment just a little before midday on Sunday 22nd February 1976, and left in two taxis for the airport. We saw them as far as the security inspection gate, and on their way to the waiting-room for their Air Canada flight. Since that was as far as we, as non-travellers, were allowed Emma and I left in a taxi to spend a couple of days with some friends in South West Miami, - Fred and Marjorie Phillips, with whom we were very friendly ever since we were both living in Georgetown, Guyana. As a matter of fact, Emma was once employed by the firm of C.A. Phillips Ltd, of which Fred, one of the Phillips brothers, was the accountant. We spent a couple of days with them, and afterwards returned home to California flying via New Orleans. We really enjoyed these friends.
Our week with Gordon and Marsha and their families was very rewarding, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I was certainly reminded of the time way back in 1930, when I had planned to set up life in Canada after marrying, but which did not come about.
Shortly after returning to our apartment in Watt Avenue, North Highlands, California, we telephoned Aubrey's uncle, Albert Johnson in Brandon, Manitoba. Albert had sponsored the Hardinge family and until such time as they could become organized, Aubrey, Marsha and their two children would be taken care of by him. Just by chance, Marsha was at the Johnson's home when I telephoned, so we were able to have a little chat with her. She explained that due to an hour's delay in their flight from Miami, they arrived late in Winnipeg and spent that first night there at the home of Leslie Johnson, Albert's son.
On the following morning, continued Marsha, Leslie drove them all into Brandon, their final destination in Canada.
It was arranged that they would spend the week in a motel, at the end of which time provision had been made for them to rent a two-bedroom apartment and thus be on their own. It was a very comfortable apartment, Marsha said, and conveniently situated Just one block away from the school where the two children would be attending. The ensuing week would be occupied in selecting furniture etc., and generally sorting things out. The children, she said, were very happy, and were having a "ball" playing in the snow. Aubrey too, would be starting out in another couple of days, 6th March, in the employ of "Binkleys Motors", an automotive firm in Brandon. Everything seemed to be under good control.