WE NEEDED OIL CHANGED BEFORE HEADING BACK TO SAN DIEGO. PULLED INTO THE SERVICE BAY AND MECHANICS BROUGHT US 3 DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS TO READ. JOKING THAT CANADIANS DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT SO THEY MAKE UP STUFF. SO I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS FAKE NEWS (NOPE). THEN THEY BROUGHT US COFFEE AND… Continue reading Got car serviced….Great to be a Customer

WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED  IN SIDNEY LAST JUNE THERE WAS A FASCINATING NATURE EXPERIENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE EAGLE'S NEST WITH 3 EAGLELETS AND 1 RED HAWK CHICK IN THE SAME NEST. ALL WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE HAWK CHICK.. I ALONG WITH OTHERS WOULD SWING BY AND  CHECK ON WHAT WAS GOING ON.… Continue reading The Most Unique Block Party Ever

TONIGHT WE DECIDED TO STOP AT THE RUM RUNNERS RESTAURANT AND PUB. WE SAT ON THE BAR SIDE AND WE WERE JOINED BY THE OWNER. HE SAT DOWN WITH US AND WE STARTED CHATTING. HE ENTERTAINED US WITH ALL HIS LIFE ADVENTURES. HE SHARED WHY HE LOVES AMERICA AND HOW HE CAME VERY CLOSE TO… Continue reading    CANADIAN HOSPITALITY…WOW

SO WE WENT TO THE LAVENDER FARM NEAR SIDNEY. ALAN IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER AND HAS MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS ON HIS FARM. MANY GOATS, CUTE LITTLE KIDS, PYRENEES PUPPIES,  A COLLIE GUARD DOG, GEESE, PEACOCKS (COLORFUL AND WHITE) AND PHEASANTS. AND OF COURSE FIELDS OF LAVENDER.  AS WE WERE WALKING BACK FROM THE FIELDS A MINK… Continue reading There goes the mink

DUAL CITIZENSHIP ...WHAT TRIGGERS TAXES IN BOTH COUNTRIES IS DIFFERENT. THE US TAXES ARE ON WORLDWIDE INCOME AND IT IS BASED ON BEING A US CITIZEN.  CANADA TAXES ARE  BASED ON RESIDENCY. IF YOU ARE SPENDING 6 MONTHS + 1 DAY IN CANADA YOU ARE ACTUALLY A RESIDENT. CANADA DETERMINES WHICH COUNTRY BY LOOKING AT… Continue reading Canada-US taxes

UNFORTUNATELY FIRES HAVE BEEN BURNING IN MAINLAND BC FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.   YESTERDAY THE SMOKE THAT HAS COME FROM ALL THAT BURNING REACHED VANCOUVER ISLAND. A HEAT WAVE MOVED IN AND THAT AIR MASS BROUGHT THE SMOKE WITH IT.  IN SPITE OF ALL THE RAIN THEY GET HERE ALL THE VEGETATION IS DRY. I WAS… Continue reading Heat, Smoke and Communication

I VISITED THE HOME OF A COUPLE I HAD MET PREVIOUSLY AT BOONDOCKS, A LOCAL SIDNEY BAR. THEY LIVE IN DEEP COVE, A COMMUNITY WITH EXPENSIVE HOMES AND ESTATES. THEIR PROPERTY IS QUITE LARGE WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWER GARDEN AREAS, LONG PATCHES OF GRASS AND A POND (THEY CALL IT A LAKE) AND MANY FRUIT AND… Continue reading Vancouver Island is Changing