As quickly as the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, it left even faster! What a truly amazing day. This year’s Dragon Boat Festival was only one day and we managed to cram in so many amazing acts, my head is spinning still. It was a 16 hour day and my body is definitely paying the price today. But, it was worth every ache and pain.
The Festival has undergone major changes in the past 2 years and with the changes, a new, invigorated, enthusiastic and joyful management team has taken over. With the changes, a new focus on the other aspects of the Dragon Boat Festival: Arts, Entertainment, Heritage, History and Education have all taken a giant leap forward.
Judy, my partner in crime. Couldn’t have done my job without her.
Just with the music, we have seen a real focus on incredibly talented, passionate and driven performers from the vibrant Vancouver music scene.
JASPER SLOAN YIP – A GREAT ENSEMBLE
MATHEW V – A VOICE THAT IS TRULY INSPIRING AND OH SO CUTE
OUR AWESOME EMCEE – ANGELA FROM 102.7 PEAK FM
MISSY D. – THE MOST AWESOME ” FEMCEE” I HAVE EVER MET
ONE OF THE MANY FIRST NATION’S INDIGENOUS DANCE TROUPES – CHILDREN OF TAKAYA
LUDIC – A GREAT UP AND COMING TRIO
DESIREE DAWSON – A VOICE THAT COULD MELT BUTTER
HOTEL MIRA – OUR CLOSING ACT AND BOY THEY BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN
This year, I have managed to take two weeks of vacation. Both weeks were spent at home. The first week was spent building our pond
The second week was spent building our greenhouse.
I was officially pooped and needed to recharge my batteries. So, I booked another week off and contacted former neighbours – Chad and Jenn about going to visit them in Kitimat.
Yes, that says 15.35 HOURS to get to. Kitimat
So, off we went. We drove about halfway and stopped in Quesnel the first night.
Quesnel is a lovely community with very picturesque scenery.
Me and the boys even saw our first deer. They were suitably nonplussed by it.
The next day, we were on our way for the final leg of the trip – Kitimat. We got there at a reasonable hour and Phantom and Beau got to meet Kevin. Chad and Jenn’s new fur baby. What a sweetheart. Phantom and Beau were totally freaked out by his enthusiasm and desire to make friends. We spent the entire visit making sure that everyone kept their distance and for the most part, we were successful.
Meet Kevin and Kevin’s Grandma
Kevin being TOTALLY adorable
I am sad that Phantom and Beau were not as tolerant of Kevin as I would have liked. The sad part is, our boys are grumpy old men (even though they are only 6 years old). Kudos to Chad and Jenn for being gracious enough to help us keep everyone apart.
Kitimat is a small community and there is not much to do but we made the most of it. The boys and I did a lot of walking – that is until I realized we were in BEAR country and this time of year is when they are getting ready to hibernate. Bears are everywhere looking for food. I did not want me or the boys to be on the menu, so we kept our walks shorter than I wanted.
Regardless, we got to take a lot of pictures of the area. Enjoy
The above image made me sad. The number of children’s shoes was numbing.
And even more
Then, we have our hosts – Chad and Jenn – two of the most adorable people on the planet. They are so cute, it makes me wanna hug the stuffing out of both of them. I am stealing some of Jenn’s pictures from her Instagram account because she is not only adorable but a great photographer. Not that these two need any help with photos – both so photogenic it is annoying….
Alas, all good things must come to an end, so on Friday, it was time to head home.
It was a quick trip back to Quesnel and then the next day back home. Somehow, I messed up and we wound up coming out by Kamloops and taking the Coquihalla drive home but, it worked. The sad part was we got a rock chip in the windshield which has resulted in a nasty crack. Windshield needs to be replaced now (sob!)
Happier times – before the cracked windshield
And the minute we got home, both boys went directly to their favourite spots in the house.
I have been working at this event since 2005 and it is by far and away, one of my favourite events to Stage Manage. I get to listen to some of the best music produced by local and international talents.
This year, the music, the music will be at the 102.7 The Peak Main Stage. Sadly, it will be just one day – Saturday, September 25 but will be going from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and probably later (fingers crossed)
In between performances by this slate of incredibly talented groups and performers will be performances by Indigenous Performers from local First Nations.
Our latest project has finally taken shape. When we moved here back in 2013, we saw our backyard as a tiny oasis full of possibilities. It was, at the time, a veritable jungle of weeds, vines, morning glory, dead and dying shrubbery. I had my doubts but Alex saw the potential!
The yard was not very deep but Alex could see what it could be.
Fast forward a few years and Alex and I were able to transform the yard. We dug out all the vines, the kudzu, the morning glory, the garbage plants and we were able to get a vegetable patch, fenced in both sides for our four legged family members, and more.
Then, we were able to get a FREE Greenhouse from our new neighbours, Ted and Jean. Alex and I jumped at the opportunity to get it. I took a week off from work and we began in earnest on a bright and sunny Monday morning.
We first had to built the foundation for it to sit on. That took 3 days. Alex is like a man possessed when it comes to his projects. He will work until he drops. After the foundation was built, we started on the greenhouse itself.
Getting the walls up took us a bit of figuring out, then getting the roof on and finally setting the glass panels in…. The glass panels are 24″ x 24″ and very thin and VERY VERY SHARP EDGES. I have more battle wounds from assembling this unit and cleaning the windows than I have acquired in my previous 60+ years on this planet.
But, the end result is worth it.
We are putting in shelving units this week as well as getting it wired for a heat source and lighting for those cold winter nights. Alex is giddy with joy at the prospect of growing stuff in this unit all year long.
When Alex and I first moved to our current abode back in 2013, one of the first things we put in the backyard was a small pond. We found a small round pond shell which we put in one corner of the yard. It was cute and was big enough for 4 or 5 small goldfish.
This is the oldest picture I have of the pond. It was taken in the winter of 2014
We then discovered after that because it was uncovered, it became an “All You Can Eat Sushi Bar for Raccoons and Herons. To discover half eaten fish corpses scattered across our backyard was definitely traumatic. Except for Nike, he thought they were tasty!
Fast forward to the spring of 2015 and we decided that we would rebuild the pond, make it bigger, stronger and COVERED.
This set up lasted quite a long time. We had filtration and a small waterfall feature. The fish loved it and we were secure in knowing that because we had a cover on it, Raccoons and Herons couldn’t get to them.
Which now brings us to the present. We have new neighbours and they were moving out of a mobile home park that is being redeveloped as a townhouse complex. They had a pond in their backyard that they didn’t want to see destroyed – their new yard is much smaller than our and there just isn’t the room for a pond – so they gave it us!
The new pond in all its glory!
We happily accepted their generous offer and two weeks ago, we began to construct the new pond.
Steps 1 and 2
Retaining wall stones and assorted plants we were able to rescue
Pond filtration system and waterfall feature!
Making some great progress
We have power, plants and water!
The end result!
Here is the completed project (well, it will never be completed but, it is where Alex and I are thrilled to have it.
When the Pandemic of 2020 hit the world, everything and I mean EVERYTHING came to screeching, grinding halt. It has been felt around the world and it is just now that things are SLOWLY (ever so slowly) coming back to a semblance of normal.
My gigs as a Stage Manager evaporated. The play that I had spent months working on – Next Year halted production a mere four weeks from opening. I am still sad about this one as it was a labour of love for me. The subject matter was near and dear to me.
The next gig to fall away was a play by Neil Simon that was being directed by a good friend, Miles Lavkulich (an amazing director and great source on how to survive in the theatre world). That one didn’t even get past the first stage of auditions. *sob
Then came word that the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival was being cancelled. Bye bye World Beat Stage.
After that, it was Canada Day on Granville Island followed by the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival. I cannot begin to tell you how sad I was to see all these events just stop. I understand why they had to stop and I agreed with each and every person who made those difficult choices to halt the events.
My days as a stage manager seemed to be disappearing right before my eyes.
Then, a few bright lights: The Vancouver Fringe Festival held a “Mini-Fringe” and I was tapped to Stage Manage the Musical: Trudeau-mania. What a fun show this was. The cast were amazing. Their vocal talents were so impressive and I had a blast working with this team.
After that, I was tapped by Peg Keenleyside, who I worked with on a play at the Metro: Calendar Girls. She has formed a theatre company called Delta Stageworks. She started a project on the Covid-19 crisis and tapped me to be her stage manager. We are just in the preliminary stage of developing content but, it is going to be a great production. I have done a few limited workshops with her and the cast and crew. Keep tuned for more info as it comes available.
Which brings us to now. After my show at Vagabond Players halted production, I was approached by Val, the president of the Board of Directors of Vagabond Players. She saw that I had the skillsets and the mindsets to play a bigger role with this organization. So, we talked and the Board asked me if I would consider being a board member.
I talked it over with Alex and, after a few concessions on my part, I agreed to sit on the board.
My newest project!The history of Vagabond PlayersWhat a beautiful setting
I am now officially a member of the Board of Directors for Vagabond Players and I am thrilled!
So, I will be spending a lot of time working with the other Board members to market this amazing theatre company to EVERYONE!
Keep checking this site for updates on the upcoming season. It is going to be so much fun!
So, this heat wave has taken its toll on residents of the Lower Mainland. I am sad to report the loss of a dear, sweet neighbour of mine and Alex.
Maggie and my Mom
Alex and I met Maggie and her husband shortly after we moved into this complex back in 2013. They welcomed us with open arms and were so thrilled to meet a same sex couple.
She was fierce, strong willed, funny, compassionate and caring. She went out of her way to make Alex and I feel welcomed. When her beloved husband, Rob, passed away a few years back, she was so lost. We tried to spend as much time with her as we could but, life got in the way.
We would see her at least twice a month and I would go over to her house to help with computer issues that she invariably had. In recent months, her health declined. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer a number of years ago and it flared up again last year. She fought it valiantly but, you could see that it was wearing on her.
I hope that she can rest now. She definitely earned it.
So, on top of being the best person in the world to take care of me and all my foibles, my husband rocks at gardening. Since 2013, when we first moved here, he has taken a bare patch of grass and weeds in the back yard, a disaster of a front yard and two non-existent patches of dirt on either side of our house and transformed them into the most amazing showcase of greenery, flowers, veggies and fruits.
Had to add a picture of Patches. She is so darn cute!
So, the city of Surrey, BC has, once again ignored the residents of Surrey and are planning on building a road through one of the most pristine parks in the region.
Al Zylstra 