I miss airplanes.

I think I am going to go to California for a bit, I think going home and being near family will be beneficial,

That sounds like a great idea. Plus the weather will be much warmer. I like San Diego, been there many times for conferences. I always like to skip the afternoon sessions and go a sit over looking the marina and have a nice cup of tea. Although one time I actually went into the kitchen to teach them how to make a cup that wasn't insipid and lukewarm.

Yeah the sunshine would do some good, as would some good food, mainly Mexican impossible to get good Mexican in Vancouver, plus there is so much more to do there, I was never bored there that's for sure, Balboa Park alone has 20 museums, 1,200 acres plus the Zoo there is a good workout, I used to go 2 or 3 times a week just to walk around, the zoo has valleys so you walk down, then up, then down, and at 100 acres its a good work out.

Ocean, mountains, and desert all within 90 mins of downtown.

Should the man whose wallet was stolen get the lottery win? It was his money that bought the ticket....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...cket-1.5001728

Well there's a can or worms.

Does he normally buy them? If so, had he already bought one? If not, was he unable to buy one because his wallet had been stolen? Does he stick with certain numbers if he does buy one and would he not have won with his numbers?

And those are just the immediately obvious questions that come to mind.

Except it wasn't a lottery win.. it was a scratch ticket

In Canada, the provincial lottery foundations run the various draws as well as the scratch tickets. They have a monopoly on it.

If someone nicked my wallet and then bought a lottery product and won $50k I would not expect a damn thing. I mean obviously I would hope to get the prize, but as long as all the fraudulent charges were reversed, I'd be OK. Giving it to charity is the best compromise.

It would be different if she nicked a briefcase stuffed with $50k in $100 bills.

A briefcase? Blimey, how many do you have?

Giving half of it to charity would be a compromise.

Apartment living sucks.

I loved apartment living. Lived in one for 40 years without moving apartments and our own home now for 3 years. I like having my own home but man, owning your own home is expensive if you are not handy.

The trick is to just ignore a problem and it goes away.

I was lucky back in England. A brother was (more than) a plumber and then he was in business buying houses and converting them to flats to sell on. Anything house related he could do. He did me a new bathroom, fixed the roof, new kitchen, other plumbing stuff, external painting.

He kept asking me if I wanted a new cooker (free) as a customer of his moved and didn't need him to do some work, letting him keep it. I kept saying no as my cooker was still good. Then I discovered it wasn't just a cooker, but a whole fitted kitchen with double oven cooker, whereas I just had a couple of second hand cupboards.

So I had a nice new kitchen. Free.

Over here I used to own a rental property and I had a good handyman. I use him when I need something at home. A bit more expensive than others but totally reliable. Peace of mind knowing I can call on him.

Going to California in 2 weeks. Not sure how long. A week maybe 2.

Wow Rete - 40 years in the same apartment - that's amazing!


I disliked living in an apartment intensely - I hadn't lived in one since I was about 20, until I came to Canada. I couldn't wait to get back to owning my own place.

It's amazing how you learn to do things for yourself over the years - needs must, and all that! After I moved back to the UK, I had to quickly learn how to remove lathe and plaster and install new plasterboard / drywall and how to repair it; how to plaster walls; artex ceilings; use wood filler, repair window frames; replace window glass; support floor joists; paint, wallpaper, decorate, install shelving, gut the old and then put together and install new units in a kitchen, tile kitchen and bathroom walls and floors, fix squeaky floorboards, lay carpet and lino. The only thing I didn't do was rewiring (although I can rewire a plug / lamp / install a ceiling light or fan. a wall socket or a light switch); change/install a new lock... I drew the line at anything more than changing washers or replacing a sink /taps or ballcocks. I learned to clear blockages with a snake (or a wire coathanger) and bicarbonate of soda and vinegar! I didn't have the money to pay anyone, so it was learn or it didn't get done! The Readers Digest complete book of home / household maintenance was my go-to book (I still have it, lol).

I enjoy DIY, get a great feeling of satisfaction when I achieve something - like repairing a curved ceiling after a water leak, using paper mache then plastering and painting it! I still have my own tool kit, lol... one of the first things I did on moving to Canada was to buy a basic kit and add to it!

I must be a little strange, lol..