14 June 2009
A Few Days in Victoria
14/06/09 06:00
First some unfinished business from last week.
In last weeks letter I listed some temperatures in Celsius and a few people complained. No problem. To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit simply use this formula
F= (9C/5)(Cos 0)+(1/(0.176776695296637)2)
Or do what we all do, approximate. Take the temperature in Celsius, double it and add 30. So 10C becomes 50F. 30C becomes 90F. OK it's actually 86F but when you are standing out in the sun that four degrees ain't really that important. Similarly 0C becomes 30F. Yes it's really 32F, big deal. It's close enough when it's trying to sleet.
In other news I spent a big chunk of this week in Victoria again. We were running the cabling for the wireless routers in the Parkside Resort and Spa complex. Three days of running up and down the stairs in this seven story building pulling network cables through conduit. Hot (the AC isn't working yet, strenuous, (the elevators aren't working yet) work in a dusty, noisy smoky environment. Even getting on and off the site was difficult because they were building the form for a poured concrete wall that will go all the way around the buildings. It will be beautiful once the landscaping is done, but I don't see any plants going in yet. They are still laying piping for drains and services. They say they are going to open Tower One the last week of June. I just don't see how.
A few things:
We didn't have to wear steel toed boots or hard hats on site any more. Well actually they WOULD like us to wear them but the supply of hats and boots they kept on site have all walked off. So everyone pretended not to notice.
The elevator mechanics were working on the elevators the whole time I was there. Friday I was on the seventh floor and overheard them saying they were done for the week. "So you going to ride down?" "Heck no. I won't get in that thing. You ride down." "No way. I'm taking the stairs." It really inspires confidence.
All kidding aside the resort will be beautiful once it's done. Walking distance (~6 blocks) from Victoria's inner harbor and the Parliament Building. A couple further from downtown shopping. The rooms are spacious and beautiful with hardwood floors, granite countertops in the kitchens and baths. The facility will have a spa, pool, restaurants, beauty salons, roof patio, and a plastic surgery clinic. Plastic surgery clinic? That's right you will be able to stay at Parkside and get a face lift or tummy tuck.
If that's what you really want to do.
In other news I got the second set of 'test' contact lenses with the slightly tweaked prescription. I think they're perfect. I only need reading glasses for really small close up things. I can even use the computer without them, though it's a little bit of a strain. The box with my 6 month supply should be here by the end of the week. Plenty of time before we leave on the trip.
Speaking of the trip we made reservations for Geiger and Momiji at the Lantzville Feline Resort and Spa, aka Kitty Prison. There they will be cared for and pampered while we're adventuring. No word on whether they can get a face lift or tummy tuck though.
This weekend was our 22nd wedding anniversary. We spent Saturday morning bumping around the Farmers Market and a few Garage Sales with Barbara. We also went to "The Boot Sale" It's not what you think. Next to the Farmers Market there was an area set aside for people to come down and sell any sort of stuff they wanted. Garage Sale stuff, antiques, collectables, artwork they made. The only stipulation was that it had to fit in their trunk. Officially it was the Junk in the Trunk event, but there is such a strong British influence here that most people were just calling it The Boot Sale. After we were done there we went to the Saigon Kitchen for lunch with Barbara. We just love their Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
D&M
Here are some wildlife pictures. All were taken on the beach in Lantzville from no closer than 50, and usually closer to 100 feet from the subject. I LOVE this camera.
In last weeks letter I listed some temperatures in Celsius and a few people complained. No problem. To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit simply use this formula
F= (9C/5)(Cos 0)+(1/(0.176776695296637)2)
Or do what we all do, approximate. Take the temperature in Celsius, double it and add 30. So 10C becomes 50F. 30C becomes 90F. OK it's actually 86F but when you are standing out in the sun that four degrees ain't really that important. Similarly 0C becomes 30F. Yes it's really 32F, big deal. It's close enough when it's trying to sleet.
In other news I spent a big chunk of this week in Victoria again. We were running the cabling for the wireless routers in the Parkside Resort and Spa complex. Three days of running up and down the stairs in this seven story building pulling network cables through conduit. Hot (the AC isn't working yet, strenuous, (the elevators aren't working yet) work in a dusty, noisy smoky environment. Even getting on and off the site was difficult because they were building the form for a poured concrete wall that will go all the way around the buildings. It will be beautiful once the landscaping is done, but I don't see any plants going in yet. They are still laying piping for drains and services. They say they are going to open Tower One the last week of June. I just don't see how.
A few things:
We didn't have to wear steel toed boots or hard hats on site any more. Well actually they WOULD like us to wear them but the supply of hats and boots they kept on site have all walked off. So everyone pretended not to notice.
The elevator mechanics were working on the elevators the whole time I was there. Friday I was on the seventh floor and overheard them saying they were done for the week. "So you going to ride down?" "Heck no. I won't get in that thing. You ride down." "No
All kidding aside the resort will be beautiful once it's done. Walking distance (~6 blocks) from Victoria's inner harbor and the Parliament Building. A couple further from downtown shopping. The rooms are spacious and beautiful with hardwood floors, granite countertops in the kitchens and baths. The facility will have a spa, pool, restaurants, beauty salons, roof patio, and a plastic surgery clinic. Plastic surgery clinic? That's right you will be able to stay at Parkside and get a face lift or tummy tuck.
If that's what you really want to do.
In other news I got the second set of 'test' contact lenses with the slightly tweaked prescription. I think they're perfect. I only need reading glasses for really small close up things. I can even use the computer without them, though it's a little bit of a strain. The box with my 6 month supply should be here by the end of the week. Plenty of time before we leave on the trip.
Speaking of the trip we made reservations for Geiger and Momiji at the Lantzville Feline Resort and Spa, aka Kitty Prison. There they will be cared for and pampered while we're adventuring. No word on whether they can get a face lift or tummy tuck though.
This weekend was our 22nd wedding anniversary. We spent Saturday morning bumping around the Farmers Market and a few Garage Sales with Barbara. We also went to "The Boot Sale" It's not what you think. Next to the Farmers Market there was an area set aside for people to come down and sell any sort of stuff they wanted. Garage Sale stuff, antiques, collectables, artwork they made. The only stipulation was that it had to fit in their trunk. Officially it was the Junk in the Trunk event, but there is such a strong British influence here that most people were just calling it The Boot Sale. After we were done there we went to the Saigon Kitchen for lunch with Barbara. We just love their Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
D&M
Here are some wildlife pictures. All were taken on the beach in Lantzville from no closer than 50, and usually closer to 100 feet from the subject. I LOVE this camera.