The Beeleez: 2009

Christmas Crunch....

How did we get to here? Come on, I need an explanation...who do I phone for an answer? Are we missing even numbers of the month? or maybe Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays??? All I know is that it feels like September/ October and November was a blur...and it's nearly Christmas...

It's weird...Steve is doing the Christmas shopping and my contribution so far is to write the Christmas cards and dress the tree...

Advent is madness in the Cove...we have open houses all over the place...and this year we also had a Christmas House Tour, which was a huge success.

Still fund raising, still driving the kids everywhere, still working...roll on the 4 day break starting December 23rd...

RIP Bill Ray

PS My birthday was great - thanks for the cards and presents...I got a zoom lens for my camera...so there should be lots of great shots coming...

Flu Frenzy

Yes, we are truly in the midst of a frenzy here in PEI...H1N1 immunization clinics are swamped, to the point of being policed, large queues of infected people, queuing for hours to get a shot that kicks in after 2 weeks...not the healthiest pursuit methinks! However, the media and co tell tales of jab shortage and boys dying in

Ontario...so it's inevitable that people are talking of nothing else and, when you do become ill, you are treated like a leper. That's me at the moment. Steve was ill last week, Sam then got it, Joe and then finally me. We don't know whether it is H1N1 as they've stopped swabbing, demand is so great. But it leaves me with being banned from work, until my 7 day incubation period is over, nice, NOT. That would be unpaid, thanks for that...

Anyhow, apart from the blight of sickness that descended upon us, we have had a good fall so far. The weather has been pleasant, the autumnal colours magnificent and Thanksgiving was a nice rest. In case you are unaware, Thanksgiving is

celebrated in October in Canada.

Halloween was busy, we had 2 costume parties and you can see who I went with...

although no-one else recognised him!

Sam won a place in the Provincial Under 16 Soccer team, which means he'll be competing for the Province all over the Maritimes, including Quebec, which we are very excited about.

Joe's Parents Evening was difficult (No...I hear you cry). Amazingly, his teacher told us how well he was doing with his schoolwork...however, he keeps getting into trouble outside of the classroom. He has to serve a day of 'in-school suspension' tomorrow, which means he does his work on his own, outside of the classroom. He will hate it, but it may teach him his lesson (no pun intended), fingers crossed.

Speaking of Joe, two weeks ago, he cut his knee open and had to have stitches, Steve took him, they waited 6 hours in the hospital...not good! He's all recovered now, stitches out...Steve took 'em out - rather him than me...yuk...Joe was more upset about having ruined his skinny jeans...the irony!

Steve's been doing loads of jobs on the house, the deck spindles are nearly done and he painted the apexes, I'll take photos when all is complete.

Sam has exams in just over a week, so I'm back to nagging mode...c'est la vie!

Bonfire night on Saturday, Canadians don't celebrate it, but we have an English neighbour... I'm taking Meat & Potato pie and bonfire toffee...we just need to find a local Catholic to burn...!

Enjoy! x

Fall, fruit flies & foolish

Where did September go? I'm sure the earth is turning faster...!

So much to say, so little time to say it...

Fall is upon us, overnight is getting down to early single figures, but daytime ranges from 18 - 22 degrees, consequently it's difficult to choose clothing and I still can't pack the Summer stuff away.We've had our wood delivered, and now we can't see the basement, there's so much.

The boys started back at school, Joe's in his last year at Eliot River Elementary, and Sam started at Bluefield High School. Sam found this the most difficult...going from a big, star guitarist fish to an unknown little spratt! He's coping though.

Joe has been struggling with his new teacher, he's come home with a few stories that pretty much said she was picking on him and his friends. On Parent/Teacher night I managed to intimidate her so that she might think twice before picking on him again (my only intention for the evening.) This was completely undermined by my offspring the next day when he ate glue for a bet...kids, eh? The bloody fool! Punishment still ongoing....

We are still harvesting all the veg from the garden, so far we've had around 50lbs of tomatoes, over 20 cucumbers and as many bell peppers and jalapeños that can fit into my tiny kitchen! Suffice to say, if I see another tomato I'll scream! Not to mention the hundreds of fruit flies in the kitchen....argh!!!

Steve has to wear reading glasses...and I think he looks just like Basil in them...see what you think! I think he looks very SS in them...'vee av vayze ov mekin yoo tock!'

Both boys are full of a cold, I had a headache for 3 weeks, and then when I had a tooth extracted, all was well.

Can't think of anything else right now...love to you & yours...

Happy Anniversary to Alison & Paul, hope the cruise is/ was fabulous!

Happy Birthday to Basil!

PS Steve finished work on Friday...I'll tell you about it another time...

August arriva derci...

...where did it go?? Oh my word, one minute it was July and now it's nearly September...

We have had a terrific time though, God knows what we'd have done if we'd had company this year...so, so busy!

Anyway, where did I leave off last time...ah yes...it was scorchio...and it still is...we were threatened with hurricane Bill last weekend but he came and went with a whimper.

On Friday I was landed with 30lb (yes 3-0) of potatoes to peel, dice & cook (fry) and

surprisingly, I was not impressed! On Saturday I went along to the schoolhouse (cooked spuds under arm) and waitressed for their country breakfast. It was a roaring success, as usual.

(As an aside...oh how we laughed...someone had changed the sign from Country Breakfast to C*n* Fest...ooops!!lol!!! No-one in the community mentioned it - and me and Steve haven't said a word in case someone says - well why didn't you stop and change it???!!!)

Anyway, we are also taking Sam to the physio - he has torn two ligaments ion his back and is off Soccer for a while. I think that he and Ida may have broken up again...it's so complicated , I don't ask...! Tonight Steve & the boys have gone to watch the PEI team play in the Canada Games, this is the last week of the games and they've been very successful. They've sold over 500,000 tickets (and the population of PEI is only 140,000.)

Last Saturday was our Bbq...and it was a great success..apparently..I had hit the Bacardi at 4pm, so God knows!! I had a great time anyway! Yes - of course I was loud, Alison...you'd expect nothing less n'est-ce pas?? Steve went off with some bloke friends around 10 to watch the final night of the racing - the Gold Cup & Saucer (don't you just love it!)

Steve finished the deck, damn fine job too - I'll take some photos another time...

Sunday we blobbed...all exhausted...and Steve was as poorly as me on account of all the Shine he had drunk...I can laugh now, but at the time it wasn't funny!

I heard back from the Revenue job - I passed the test bizarrely, migraine an' all...so we'll see!

I finally managed to d/load some photos - here's the boat trip a couple of weeks ago - that's Sam jumping off the top of the boat ( I did that too - great fun)

and here's some random beach photos....

The garden (veg patch to us Anglos) is doing well...the freezer's almost fully stocked with the veg...another photo opportunity...but another time...cos it's playing up again...

Some sad news today, my Auntie Betty is very unwell with Cancer, very sad. Makes me feel a long way from family & friends. Miss you all xxx (don't miss your sh*tty weather tho ;-))

Superhot!!

It's a new word, it describes our Summer...oh my...melting, shimmering heat...today was 39 with the humidex...Steve has a farmer's tan...since he's working outside, in his socks and trainers, his feet are luminous and it's hilarious!

What a weekend we've had - did I mention we love it here?

Saturday was a mere 28 degrees...and we spent the afternoon/ evening at a car rally - which is a treasure/ scavenger hunt to us...6 of us crammed into a car, laughing all afternoon and eventually winning the whole thing...with a bbq afterwards...great, great day!

Sunday we chilled, we went out on Lloyd's boat from 1 til 7...it was 30 degrees and fantastic. We moored off a south shore bay and had a bbq on board, with lots of swimming and jumping off the top of the boat...what a laugh we had...and I was so chilled out I was in bed by 9.30.

Last night we went to th 'Old Homo Week' Racing in Charlottetown...the natives call it Old Home Week...but we have our own name and we're sticking to it...the boys met up with their mates at the fairground on the same site and we watched the horse harness racing with some friends...another fabulous night - and one of those hot balmy nights to boot!

This Friday I have to furiously peel potatoes for the Breakfast at the Schoolhouse on Saturday morning, I need that like a hole in the head...but when you've volunteered months ago, what can you do??

Saturday evening is our bbq with lots of people coming over...and I'm having a drink - so heaven help them!

Steve's nearly finished the deck, my Mum's consultant said her powers of recuperation are remarkable and my boys are as brown as berries spending every day at the beach...!

I've just finished hoovering the pool out...so I'm soggy and need to shower...so that's it for now!

Hope the sun is shining in Blighty! Tally Ho!

PS...Damn site still won't upload photos...!

Camp, Crickets & Tests

Joe's gone to Camp Seggie...it's about 5 miles away and I wanted to stay too, it looks that much fun! He's gone til Friday and since Sam has disappeared to his mate's in North Rustico, we have an empty nest...and after the initial 'We're Free!' hysteria...I can tell you it's crap!

Yes, we got to go out 'on the town', yes, I've not cooked a proper meal since they left, yes, I don't have to go round the house and clear up as much...but it's too damn quiet, I can tell you!

So, as I'm sat here typing, the sun is going down on a glorious blue, hot day - we're set for more good weather for the next week...and we have big plans for the weekend...Saturday is my work's car rally and bbq...which is a treasure hunt followed by a piss up...there's 6 of us going in our group, so a great laugh will be had by all! Sunday we're off on Lloyd's boat and there'll be 6 adults and 10 kids...should be great fun and the sea is fabulous when it's superhot!

The crickets are back - besidfes my typing, that's the only sound...Steve is away at a Soccer match til 9ish. I'm picking up Sam & Josh from Ida's around 10.30 - they are having a fire pit party...and Brodie's coming over tomorrow...so the pool will take some wellie!! and yes, Sam and Ida have made up.

Steve has nearly finished extending the deck, it should be done in time for our bbq on the 22nd...hope so cos we have around 60 coming...it's the gold cup here that weekend, so we'll all disappear to the harness racing after. Did I mention how much we love living here??

This Saturday the Canada Games start and we are hosting it here in PEI, there will be 4500 athletes arriving on Friday...so the place will be buzzing. We are going to go and watch the Soccer at some point.

I took another test for the Revenue, my third...it should have been a walk in the park BUT I got a migraine as I opened the paper - my own fault - it was 6pm and I'd had no food on a very, very hot day. It's pretty difficult when you can only see half the question and your brain refuses to process it...so I think I've ballsed up that prospect...never mind!

Mum is getting along fine.

I think that's all for now...I'll go and watch the local news, top story last week was a group of 'vandals' that had stolen a tractor and mowed down the fence of a local ice rink...imagine, shocking eh?!

Til Later!

PS Happy Birthday Joe Bez, Happy Anniversary the Bezerks! xx

PPS Still won't let me upload photos...bah 'umbug!

Teenage Heartbreak

We all remember it so well...no matter how many years passes we recall only too clearly the first time we loved with all our being and our heart was broken when the relationship fell apart. Poor Sam, he loves Ida so much, and she's dropped him. He's devastated and very heartbroken...and all I can do is stroke hi hair, wipe his tears and give him hugs. There's no point in telling him the cliche stuff, he's not ready to listen and he's so upset he may take it the wrong way, bless him.

On Saturday we came home at 1am to find Joe in tears...he was in tears cos he could hear his brother crying in the next room...what a bunch of soppy sods we are *sigh*

Anyway, Steve has vowed to talk to him about 'unemotional' attachments...I think that translates to 'find a slapper, son' but I'm not asking too many questions. Ida was only 14 and they are at different schools next term.

Mum had her gall bladder out a week last Friday, she's doing well, but she's very thin.

So, what else beyond emotional dramas??

We had a great weekend (desperately trying to throw Sam off the depression trail.) On Saturday Steve & I went to Bill's, which was fab. Everyone was there that we hadn't seen in ages and we had a good old sing-song around his piano. I managed to recruit another 3 people for my Car Boot Sale at the schoolhouse (this Saturday.)

On Sunday we all went to see the car show at the marina in Charlottetown, then we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the marina/ quay while being entertained by Irish dancers & fiddlers (if you can call that entertainment). The weather was superhot, so after we'd dropped Sam off at his friend's on the North Shore, we went for ice-cream and then hit Canoe Cove beach for a swim. It was one of those hot, superfine evenings and we came across friends and arranged to go their house for dinner...fabulous! So I didn't have to cook, clean and we'd all spent the day together...bloody marvellous!

Back to the Car Booty...I'm causing a revolution in PEI...the first ever Car Boot Sale...and it's all happening at the Cove. I've been on the radio and in the newspaper promoting it...and hopefully it'll be great...and it'll raise lots of money for the schoolhouse (we need a new basement...ouch.) I've roped everyone in...and I'll let you know how it goes!

Sam is playing his guitar at our friends' wedding on Saturday...he agreed before they had chosen the songs...big mistake...lol...he's playing the Proclaimers - not once but twice...but strangely we know all the words to 500 miles and let's get married....how does that happen, eh?

I think that's all for now

I've got loads of photos...but Blogger is being awkward so I'll post another time *sigh*

RIP MJ

Camping, Backache & Bladders

I've always said I'm not a camper, and my resolve has strengthened with good reason. Last week I took Joe to one of his friend's trailer at a Summer Campground in Cornwall (yes...these people have normal houses, regular lives and choose to camp for the Summer) I expected to see lots for the kids to do and smiling 'getting back to nature' folks. What I saw instead was a car park in the woods..people sat outside next to trailers, parked next to their cars, within 4ft of their neighbours...buzzing with mosquitoes and very very damp...! To be honest, I think I could offer more attraction parked on my own drive.

Anyway, it's been an incredibly busy since I last wrote, soccer, hospital visits and work are taking over our lives. I can't remember the last time during the week when we all sat down as a family and had a meal.

Steve's been working on the NE tip of the island, stunningly beautiful but full of very vicious mozzies. he's not been getting home til 7.30pm, by which point I'm out with one or both of the boys...summer bliss!

We had a week of hot rain, which was horrid, but the last 4 days have been glorious. Today is set to be a scorcher, so once I've done the shopping and dropped back Joe's friend who slept over, I'll be floating on our pool in a rubber ring...now, there's an awful mental picture for you!

Sam's team got to the Semi's of the Soccer tournament last weekend, the team that beat them went on to win the tournament. He got man of the match and scored a goal, so he wasn't too disappointed.

This weekend there is a huge 3 day music festival on the North Shore, Reba MacIntyre and Tim McGraw are appearing, which is very exciting if you are a big country music fan, but we're not, so we're not...and we are definitely staying away from the yee-har Stetson madness.

I pulled my back a week last Monday - not good at all, just about recovering now, it completely ballsed up last week's Canada Day celebrations. Steve took the kids down to Canoe Cove and they had a great time, all our neighbours had turned out. Meanwhile I was horizontal and not daring to move...not the best week of my life!

Mum went into hospital and had a gall stone removed, she's having the gall bladder out next Friday.

Hope you are enjoying your summer...got to go, stuff to do!

Humidity Humbug!

This was the West River last Wednesday evening

I'm sat here next to Joe's ant farm...and I can tell you it is creeping me out! Yukk!

So much went on this week - time is just flying by...Soccer x 4 (Sam & Joe's teams both won), second testing for the Tax Office, Sam's graduation & Joe's belated birthday sleepover.

When I went for the testing it was 35 degrees with humidex - there were 150 other testees (?) and we all crammed into a hotel conference room - an experience I'm hoping not to repeat sometime soon! There's nothing like doing an exam at 6.30 in the evening, after working all day and driving for an hour to get there...let alone that it was 29 degrees when I eventually came out! Turns out there are 600 people taking this second test - did I mention there is a whole 2 jobs???? Madness!

Sam's Junior High Graduation was on Wednesday evening - another pleasant time - crammed in with 500 people - the gym walls were actually dripping with water and the floor - you'd swear someone had spilt water everywhere...humidity is a strange thing.

The night before last I made pizza dough so the sleepover boys could make their own pizzas on Friday night. I left the dough out to rise - by morning it was friggin huge...I popped it and put it in the fridge sharpish...my word, humidity!

Friday night Sam & Steve went off to Morrell for a soccer match, I was left with the 5 x 11 year olds who had been invited to sleepover - not too bad really - they came at 6 - made up their pizzas, went in the pool for an hour, ate their pizzas, played some Xbox, played football for an hour, played more Xbox, ate marshmallows round the firepit and then played in the dark for about another hour...lots of noise, but the only neighbour we have is Mum & Dad. Since Mum was in bed and Dad's deaf, they were out until 11.30 at which time I decided to be a responsible adult and asked them to come in.

They came in and I believe went to bed at 3...I had just left them to it...!

So, Saturday we spent the day in the sun (Steve was working), Joe did his best to clear out the pool, and Dad cut the grass...31 degrees...!

Mum is not feeling good, she has to have her gall bladder removed in September, the sooner the better as she is suffering virtually every week now.

Wednesday is Canada day, we're all off, and we've been invited up to Rustico where there is live open air music and we are going out on a boat (grab the Gravol) and then back to a friends for a bbq and lobster supper. Sam is staying at the Canoe Cove park, he has something set up with his friends.

So another busy week in store, I have to go get some shopping today - and there's still the pots from last night's bbq to load into the dishwasher...so layzeeee!x

Summer-summer-summertime...summertime..

Oh yes...it's here with avengeance and it's scorchio! Love it...

The pool's nearly full - only took us 4 days so far...!

Lots to tell...

My job's going great - but VERY busy so lot's of hours in and lots still to learn.

Steve got a new job (hoo-rah) he's painting again...which of course is his third love (first and second being family and United - not sure in which order...) he started Monday and is as brown as ...well, a Beeley Berry!

Soccer is intense - both kids playing/ practicing 3 times a week - separate teams and separate venues...fun times! Joe was moved to the Under 14s team - which is quite hilarious, since he is literally half the size of some of the players. He's enjoying it tho - and last night they won.

Sam's Prom went well...as you can see by the photos, he and Ida looked splendid! Aw...young love eh?

Steve is cutting grass as I type...an obsession in PEI...but this time of year it grows about an inch a day - oh err missus...

We're planning on going canoeing on Sunday...all this week has been hitting 25 degrees...which is nice, but we seem to have more mozzies than ever - no frost in the Spring you see...

Tonight was the Rhubarb Social at the Canoe Cove Schoolhouse - very well attended and a great success as usual..I did Rhubarb Biscotti - which Joe said 'rocked'...his words, not mine, obviously.

That's all for now - stay cool!

Fire, Food & Fundraising

It's not often that both here and the UK get good weather, but we managed it this week. It's been bloody glorious here with temperatures around the early 20s. That does mean, however, that the mozzies are out in force...but it also means we go down to the beach every day...compromise is everything!

We had some excitement on Thursday, our neighbour's workshop caught fire. He was lucky not to lose his house. Steve, of course, reckoned it was arson (he's seen smoke from the building the night before.) The joke is that the guy says he had $50,000 worth of carpentry equipment in there...erm....HELLOOOOO??? Don't think that one will wash!...or burn even...

The veg garden is coming on nicely, my Dad has got his veg on one side, and ours on the other. Dad has planted all the stuff we did the first year, the stuff that died or got eaten...there's no telling him anything, so we'll just stand back and watch ;-)

We had the Canoe Cove Community Association (CCCA) Perennial Sale last Saturday, which was a great success...we raised over $1400 in 3 hours...not bad eh for donated plants, coffee & muffins??!! Just as well, because the schoolhouse is going to need a new basement. Next is the Rhubarb Social.

The new job is going well, the receptionist's job is straight forward, I think I've pretty much got that down in the first week. The other stuff - doing patient pre-checks will take longer. I'm working with 2 girls who have a very dry sense of humour...so I don't fit in at all ;-)

Chick Watch....all is good - still 12 there and you can see their necks are longer and the feathers are coming in

Sam's Junior High Prom is on Thursday - he's been grounded for 2 weeks...don't ask...but we've agreed he can go, so this morning we are going to a neighbour who does all the theatre costumes - Sam wants such an outrageous outfit that I thought it best to go there first...we shall see!

Hope all is well and the Bezzes enjoyed their Welsh Exploits!

Kharma

It's been a long time since I've written...but I've not been lazy...just too busy.

Blighty was good, but exhausting, it was lovely to see everyone again...it was like some bizarre Captain Kirk moment when it seems like the same place but it feels different, things have changed and yet have remained the same...freaky.

Anyway, we are back and we are pleased to be back. The sun is shining in PEI and it's set to stay. Last week was 27 degrees and the boys hit the beach. They have new surf boards and I'm sure we'll be getting the dog surfing too! I should point out that over the past few days it has cooled down, but on our sun-trap deck, you can burn within 30 minutes...the other day I burned when it was officially 15 degrees...!

Sam's started back playing for Eliot River Ramblers Soccer Team and Steve is coaching them again. Tonight is their first match - all things crossed!

Now, back to Kharma...do you believe in it? I do, and since I've had no luck on the job front, I've been throwing myself more and more into Community work and general neighbourhood saintliness!!

So there I was contemplating this today whilst I was cleaning my elderly neighbour's windows outside...and lo and behold, this evening I was offered a job! And the really good news is that it is 8.30-5pm Mon - Friday - no weekends, very little overtime!!! It's working as a Optemetrist's Receptionist in Charlottetown. I thought I didn't get it as she said she thought I was over-qualified. As I explained to her, I'm hardly likely to find a job suited to my qualifications in PEI, and mon-fri, no shifts??? I don't think so! So I'm pleased...going to see her tomorrow to iron out the details, but I like her and I already know someone there - she is a Soccer Mum like me.

Now for the final bit of news - we have new additions to our family - 12 of them - welcome to our new laying Chicks...we ordered black ones, but they didn't hatch, so we took brown instead (at the moment, they are ginger.) Steve has built an annex to the chicken shed and they will stay there under the heat lamp until they are big enough to go outside. So cute - and when you put your hand next to them, they all go quiet because they think you are their Mum's warmth...awww!

Triumph!

Wow...the boys were excellent...they renamed themselves 'The Sam Beeley Experience' !! and played 'Hey, Joe' and 'Fire' by Hendrix. It was superb - they were on last and stole the show.

So proud!

I have a video, but it would take 33 days to upload - so that's not going to happen!

The Big Day!

Such a busy week...yesterday was Joe's 11th birthday...he's my very own Benjamin Button...I'm sure he's getting younger rather than older! He still had to go to school, but came home with a couple of chums for hotdogs, footie and Nintendo 360...a fun time had by all!

Here he is - thanks for all your cards and prezzies!

Tonight is the BIG night...Black Finger's (Sam's band) entry into the Talent show in front of the school today and parents tonight. He's been rehearsing with his band all week...so black fingers crossed! Steve's working - but Joe, Mum, Dad and I will make up the applauding troops!

We had the most glorious weekend...and all got burnt...I'm calling Steve 'Beeley the Berry' due to his big, red head! Tuesday was 23 degrees (a record since 1979 for April) and then the Wednesday was 4 degrees - just a slight swing of 19 degrees! What's that all about????

Anyway - the constant bird chorus here is sublime...so I've attempted (poorly) to record some of the birds...the humming birds are due anytime - but they are coming from Mexico so we're hoping they haven't got the swine flu!

4 days to Blighty! Realised we have very little to pack...no longer concerned!