November on Gabriola.
Lost between the October Ferry to Gabriola and December, lies November. Like nothing happens here in November? Get on the bus-Gus. Of course it does! Here’s my November as an example of nothing happens here, so pour yourself a java and put up your feet. Dream if you will and ask me again, “Why do I love it here”. Besides the dark nights, really-really dark-dark nights, and hardly a noise ‘cept the odd car. Most Gabriolans happily are tucked in for the evening, me by my fireplace toasty warm. Fact is, I just got home from Iyengar Yoga with Karin Young. Twice a...
Read MoreBooks, Bills & Bios.
That title pretty much describes my desk in what I call the ‘view area’ of my family room. When I first looked at this spot some decades ago when house-hunting, it sported a rudimentary desk, but what truly grabbed my attention then was this corner’s ideal placement with easy access to the kitchen beyond. What better place to store helpful book titles, pay the inevitable bills, and write irresistible biographies of talented artists, writers and musicians or announce the what, where, and when of upcoming events? Here I could sit searching for just the right phrase, watch the decreasing...
Read MoreReflexology to perk you up…
Our daylight time is getting shorter and the clouds seem to have rolled in. This season can certainly be a struggle for some of us. Depression and anxiety can start to rear their not so pretty heads. The good news is, our bodies can help us find those inner rays of sunshine once again. What a relief to know that our own bodies hold such keys to our well-being! How do we unlock these golden treasures? One path is to apply pressure to specific reflex areas of the body. This assists in boosting our spirits through stimulating endorphins to release naturally. How do endorphins make a difference?...
Read MoreKeep Super Computer Humming
It’s a fact that as you get older bodily functions slow down and parts don’t work as well as they once did. As I approach my ‘golden years’ I want to make sure that the years ahead are indeed golden, so I recently signed up for a one year diploma at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Nanaimo. I support their credo that the body is qualified to heal itself with a healthy whole foods diet and good lifestyle choices and I want to find out more. The 80:20 ratio of healthy to not that healthy works best for me. Fanaticism is no fun. It is recommended to limit intake of...
Read MoreWorking with Difficult Styles.
Conquer your Fashion Fears. One of the most frequent things that I hear as a fashion consultant is “I can’t wear (insert piece of clothing), because of (insert problem).” Many women shy away from bold prints and fanciful details for fear of drawing attention to “problem areas,” and become stuck in a fashion rut. While there’s nothing wrong with sticking to what you know, it can be empowering to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. One of the most commonly shunned patterns are the dreaded horizontal stripes. While it’s true that they can be tricky...
Read MoreDreaming My Life
I love dreaming. I love all the amazing experiences I have when I dream and I love all the ways there are to dream. Flying, breathing underwater, traveling through space and time, lucid dreaming, past life dreaming, seeing loved ones who have passed away – these are just some of the experiences awaiting you in your sleep. My Mother used to ask me each morning what I had dreamed the night before and so from an early age I became very good at dream recall. The earliest dream I consciously remember involved a talking squirrel that lived in a large tree at the end of our street when I was...
Read MoreDeclining incomes of BC Seniors
Last month I wrote about the recent annual report released from the Office of the BC Seniors Advocate that painted a somewhat bleak picture about the resources available from the public system (government) in seniors care. Now, on the heels of that annual report, comes a new report this week also from the office of the BC Seniors Advocate expressing concern about the declining incomes of BC Seniors. And this problem is particularly acute to seniors in BC compared to other parts of the country. For instance, since 2013 BC senior families saw their annual median income fall 5.7%. For a BC...
Read MoreHousing Crisis
The worsening problem of housing affordability is producing hardship for people all across British Columbia and the Capital Region District. In particular, people on fixed or limited income like seniors or single-parent families may face bigger challenges in finding and maintaining stable housing. In response to the problem, numerous pundits have come forward to offer perspectives and guidance. Jake Fry is the founder of Small Housing BC and is one such pundit. I saw Mr. Fry speak on Tuesday, October 11 at a community town hall meeting entitled “Let’s Talk About Housing...
Read MoreHow-To Books.
How to successfully self-publish a How-to book. If you are an expert in your profession or hobby then writing a How-to book might be right for you. How-to books are extremely popular because many people, including myself can appreciate a step-by-step guide of how to do something we have never done before. We might be intimidated to jump right into something without research or basically we are lazy and don’t want to do all the research. Why reinvent the wheel when someone else has already done it? The wildly popular “Dummies for ______” are everywhere and easy to find. Here are some...
Read MoreIsland Women Victimised.
Innocent until proved guilty?, isn’t that the basis of our criminal justice system? So why are women on Vancouver Island treated so cruelly whilst awaiting trial. At this point they have not been found guilty and yet they, their family and friends are torn apart when they need each other the most. Where is the humanity in this? This is yet another example of our provincial governments myopic view of how to run a province. They blindly pursue their goal of cutting taxes no matter what the social cost may be. They impose users fees and cut services and have the gall to boast that...
Read MoreLife Insurance Tax Changes.
Hello all,time is running out before significant life insurance tax changes effective January 1, 2017. Clients who already have life insurance policies will want to ensure they keep their current status; changes that could impact grandfathering need to be done before January 1, 2017 or that protection could be lost. Here are a few items for both existing and new clients to consider: -If you are thinking of getting life insurance, the cost of insurance will be cheaper now than in January 2017 -if you plan to convert from term to permanent insurance in the future, consider doing it now so you...
Read MoreDoctors of BC policy paper gives significant boost to family caregivers in BC
With one million British Columbians providing 70-75% of the care for family and friends faced with disease, disability or frailty due to aging, family caregivers need and deserve to be formally recognized as part of BC’s health care system. Family Caregivers of British Columbia, who was consulted for the recently released policy paper from Doctors of BC, “Circle of Care: Supporting Family Caregivers in BC”, supports the inclusion of family caregivers in patient and family centred care. “This is a significant boost for family caregivers in BC,” says Barb MacLean, executive...
Read MoreGut It Out, Get Writing
It’s what we push ourselves to do when we really don’t want to do it that refines our sense of self-esteem and makes the real difference in our journey. Take going to the gym: I’ve always disliked it. My father always said, “Son, why don’t you go outside and mow the lawn or play a school sport instead of going to the gym?” I agreed with him. Only later in life did I discover the solid science behind resistance exercise. Combined with a good diet and regular sleep, it’s the fountain of youth! Most people know it, but many won’t do it. God knows I tried. I started and quit so...
Read MoreWhere’s Gabriola, You Say?
Here’s a clue! Starts with “G”. In the Gulf Islands, west coast of Canada. Surrounded by the Salish Sea. On the south side, you can see Nanaimo, Cedar, Ladysmith. On the north side, you can see Whistler and draw your eye along the horizon to Vancouver. From our highest peak, you can see Saltspring Island, also part of the Gulf Islands. In a matter of elimination, we aren’t Galiano or Ganges. We’re Gabriola. So let me show you how to find us, how to plan your visit to us, and how to get around on our beautiful island. This is going to be a comprehensive review, so put your feet up...
Read MoreOde to John Hellum.
John Hellum was larger than life in every possible way, physically, mentally and gastronomically. Unfortunately for us John has died and has left us poor mortals for that ultimate kitchen in the sky. The patrons there will soon learn to recognise and love the man in the hat just as we did. Fortunately as long as there is one person here that knew him, John will live on. His swagger, his story telling ability, his incredible knowledge base on all things, his kind and gentle heart and his rapier like wit will never leave us. Fortunately we can also still experience the essence of John...
Read MoreTransitional Dressing
Making the most of your summer items If you’re like me, you probably have a few of those favourite summer clothing pieces that you’re absolutely heartbroken to pack up at the end of the season. Especially with clearance sales, which let you snap up some last-minute summer bargains, it can be hard to let go of all those “out of season” clothes. Well, don’t lose hope yet! Just because the cold weather is rolling in doesn’t mean it’s quite time to give up on your favourite warm-weather clothes. Many of the things you were about to bundle up and put in the...
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