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Published: September 3rd 2007
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Brian in serious pose
In front of his residence Brian’s Unique Place - September 2, 2007
I read recently where Vancouver was perhaps the most desirable large city in the world in which to live. Victoria, it’s neighbor across the water on Vancouver Island, might well be rated very highly as a most desirable smaller city. This city is the capital of the large province of British Columbia. Brian lives there on Government Street, just a short walk from the provincial legislature, from Inner Harbour, and from Beacon Hill, all part of this city with a distinctive British flavour at the core of it’s tourist attractions.
We have been enjoying our several days here after invading Brian’s private space late Thursday; days of a brief vacation that soon will draw to a close. Each morning we have walked along the trails that stretch I suppose unendingly around this island point that juts out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca separating this part of Canada from the Olympic Peninsula in USA. On the high point of Beacon Hill is a pedestal boasting a bronze plaque that designates distances to points across those ocean waters. We can see locations, viewed through the blue haze, such as Tami’s Port Townsend
Brian again
Near his entrance surrounds.
So we walk those trails along the low cliffs, meandering occasionally down to the lapping waves and piles of bleached driftwood at the beach, and then back up along the way to explore the man-made seawall that angles several hundred yards southward to protect the Port of Seattle that receives vessels such as the two huge cruise ships that we saw docked there on Friday evening, lit up like cities themselves. If we go back the other way to arch around Beacon Hill we meet all the people walking, jogging, or strolling and many in company with a friend or a dog or both. The whole experience becomes an interesting array of humanity mixed with nature. One can sit at convenient benches and enjoy a light lunch as we did for brunch on Saturday morning, all the while watching people and dogs. Some people we greet. Some dogs we meet. Dogs meet dogs and some romp and chase.
One interaction was between us with what I thought was a pair of Doberman crosses leashed to a rather sophisticated looking lady. After letting those two sniff us in getting acquainted, quite soon she said, “Come on, Cleopatra, let’s
go,” and they started away. I misunderstood what she said. Rose thinks my hearing is fading. Anyway instead of ‘Cleopatra’ I heard ‘Fleapatch’ (can you see the close similarity) and I echoed what I thought I’d heard, saying, “Oh, interesting name, Fleapatch.” We hope that the owner didn’t hear my comment. As Rose explained my error we really had a good chuckle together, and the term Fleapatch might stick with us for many a year when we think of this visit and when we need a smile! Regardless, you can imagine a large variety of experiences along these paths near Brian’s home in Victoria. It is a delight to enjoy the territory when relaxing here without many other worries.
His personal residence is a small lower suite under the corner of a designated Historic Home, Toadhall, owned by David and his young Philippine wife. It consists of a bedroom in one corner surrounded by an L-shaped living room and study; a very small kitchen that contains the essential small cooking stove, refrigerator, and small cupboard with a sink; and a quite adequate bathroom just off the kitchen and entryway. Brian and I both just barely fit under the low
ceiling and in places must duck to avoid striking our heads on doorways and enclosed pipes. It is, nonetheless, comfortable, clean, and homey. On one bothersome protuberance from the bedroom ceiling we’ve hung a plastic grocery bag as a flag to warn me from striking my head aggravatingly repeatedly!
Up and down the street outside parade a great mix of people viewed through the Venetian blinds on his four ground-level six-pane windows. The tourist horse and buggy rides sometimes wend their way past also as visitors are introduced to the previously mentioned seaside ambience of Victoria.
I provide all of the above description as a snapshot in time and because I have time during this leisurely stay. Sometimes it is good just to stand back, enjoy the moment and circumstance, and measure our wondrous surroundings. That, I am not always wont to do. It’s good that sometimes it happens.
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