Halloween and Markets on the Island

 

 

 

Halloween on the island is a pretty big thing. There are so many events you can take in during the few weeks before Halloween.  The markets had halloween costume contests, pumpkins and decorations. On Halloween night everyone celebrates with bonfires and fireworks!  I of course decorated the window of my suite with a few decorations which I smuggled in my suitcase to the coast (sorry Jim!). My decor was not up to my usual standards but that’s okay. We didn’t have a single trick or treater which is well down from the 150 or more I was used to getting! We had a nice night anyway Jim bought me a cheesecake coffin (so sweet) which we took over to our new neighbour friends (Christal and Bob) to share and have a few laughs. We had an excellent time!

 

 

Goats on the roof market. The last time we drove by here (years ago) to was a very small store. It’s now a mall! It a nice place to shop with lots of artistic products and local food to purchase. It was raining and the tourist season is winding down so there weren’t too many people around and some of the shops where closed for the season. It was a nice stop but unfortunately no goats could be seen on the the grassy roof. I guess it was too rainy for them.

 

 

Oct 27, 2017

We attended a book launch at the Vancouver Island University. The author was Shanon Sinn and he discussed his book  The Haunting of Vancouver Island and read excerpts from it. The room was filled with about 100 people and was decorated in a halloween theme. Pizza, drinks and of course Halloween candy was there for all. I had been hearing about this writer since I came to the island and have been trying to find his book so when I heard he was having a book launch at VIU I wanted to go. I also contacted Jim’s cousin Linda and she came with us to the launch. We ended the night going out for a curry in Nanaimo. It was an great night! Thanks for sharing this with us Linda!

A ghost on Vancouver Island.

Even ghosts have to contend with the rain here!

The Big Move

September 25 to 27, 2017

Packed up and ready to go, but so much work! Thanks to everyone who helped us with this massive three day job!

Brian Otten, Darren Konanz, Rod, Wendy and Taylor Wirll, Matthew Fraser, Kyla Fraser & Andre Longtin. You guys are amazing, Jim and I wouldn’t have got this done without you! As promised I am sharing some pictures of the big move. Glad that part is over!

 

 

“A Blog Break-Updated”

We are taking a bit of a break to deal with a family emergency. My sister Janice has been sick for quite some time and is now receiving end of life care.  Will keep you posted.

Wanda

 

Update:

Janice passed away after a life time battle; many years of health struggles. She always had a wonderful positive attitude, and an amazing sense of humour despite her challenges and she will be missed by so many.

Over these past months I have held back telling Janice our plans to move, especially during this time when it was all coming together with the purchase of the property in Chemainus.  I felt it was too much of a contrast to her own health struggles and that it would be best not to share.  Now, I wish I had. Janice would have loved to have shared this together with me. Jim and I even picked our house plans based on how someone in a wheel chair (Janice) could easily access it, even though it’s build on a slope. I should not have held back, I wish I had told her.

Someone asked me the other day how I’m feeling (about losing my only sister) and at first I didn’t know how to describe it.  Now after some days have passed only one word comes to mind to describe how I feel – “alone”.

Janice I wish you could have stayed with us longer and had a better life with less struggles.

I love you.

Wanda

Janice Otten – Obituary

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