Snow in Victoria... and Ice · Tuesday November 28, 2006 by colin newell
Weather like this is a rare thing indeed.
25-35cm of snow. That is more than a foot deep.
Temperatures to -10 C. That is, I dunno, about 15 degrees F.
Pretty cold no matter how you slice it.
Still, there is an upside to a good freeze-up and dump of the white stuff:
People slow down. They get out of their cars.
While walking through largely pedestrain only avenues and side-streets, yesterday, with my wife – I noticed how people say hello and acknowledge the weather and this temporary environment.
Sure, the odd person gets into their vehicles, ill-prepared for the challenges of driving on sheets of ice. We stay out of their way and I accept the fact that people need to get out. That is life.
Anyway – the beauty of this weather is:
People slow down. And for a brief moment in time accept the fact that they alone are not in charge of their environment.
Stuff happens. In Victoria it tends to rain. Or the ground shakes.
No tornadoes. No vermin or locust plagues.
Just the ocassional Earthquake and chronic and implacable rain.
I accept it and enjoy it.
Brewing my first pot of "Hines Coffee" · Friday October 20, 2006 by colin newell
Actually it came from Caffe Misto on Foul Bay Avenue in Victoria B.C. Canada.
And it was a blend just for me. A half-caf espresso blend.
My first test with it is in the Newco OCS-8 thermal carafe brewer.
Anyone who is truely serious about their coffee – serious coffee drinkers that is, well – they use a Newco OCS-8 or a Dutch made wonder called the Technivorm.
The Newco (and Technivorm) infuse the coffee with water that is between 196 and 205 degrees (close to the latter generally)
If you are not brewing your coffee with water at the right temperature… well, you might as well be drinking coffee flavored Kool-Aid.
Quiet day in coffee.bc.ca land... · Sunday September 10, 2006 by colin newell
My eldest Uncle died last night.
Our thoughts go out to his widow Monica and their family…
My Mom… and my remaining Uncle.
Tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of 9/11/01
I have been feeling (as well as many friends and loved ones), kind of creeped out by all the wierd and wacky stuff that has been going on in the World the last few monthes.
Call me crazy, but I get the wierd feeling something really bad is going to happen tomorrow.
Like I said.
Call me crazy.
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Mister Bigley`s big adventure · Sunday August 27, 2006 by colin newell
It has taken 3 or 4 years of gentle prodding by my wife to get me to upgrade my (our) home mobile phone.
3 to 4 years…
Of gentle prodding.
So I broke down a month ago and got a Motorola Razor.
A damn fine phone.
A tough phone.
A phone up for some adventure.
And so it was to be.
While at Jordan River and Port Renfrew this weekend (with one fully loaded camera bag), my shiny new phone went sailing.
Without my knowledge.
Sailed right out of my bag.
Into the air.
Landing on a rock.
Without me hearing a thing.
It was only an hour later when we got back to the cabin that I noticed that it was not snuggled in my Lowe-Pro mini-trekker anymore.
Within minutes of this discovery, I was on the phone to Telus Mobility, cancelling my service.
I guess you might say I was crestfallen.
I mean, what is the likelihood of recoverying a phone lost on the wild west coast?
Higher than I thought.
24 hours later and the phone rings.
“Hello Sir, this is Telus Mobility calling…”
“We found your phone… you can pick it up at the downtown store…”
Within a half-hour I am cradling my little phone again…
and buying a 26er of Irish Whiskey for the guy at Telus Mobility for bringing me such good news.
Ladies – his name is Connor and he is single, 21 – looks a little like Keanu Reeves… works at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria and he will keep a lid on that bottle of Irish Whiskey til you come down and introduce yourself.
Tell him I sent you!
Meantime, our phone (now nicknamed Mister Bigley ) is back home, safe and sound.
To whomever or whatever brought the phone back, thanks!
