Best Foot Foward report

Saturday walk Jan 24th
Flora and I decided to take Marissa (temporarily here from Ontario) to Granville Island by way of the south walkway along False Creek ... we hopped the sky train at Broadway and Commercial and rode to the Main Street Station at Science World ... The day was cold and sunny but pleasant as there was no breeze to chill us ... Marissa took photos of Science World's 'golf ball', as well as panoramic shots of downtown Vancouver, Edgewater Casino, BC Place Stadium, GM Place ... one of Vancouver's famous Aqua bus Ferries graced the foreground ... We passed the skeletons of the Olympic Village which lost its main financier before Christmas and for which, fortunately, the City has received provincial support to finance completion in time for the 2010Winter Olympics ... just past the athlete's village is a tiny island representing the ecological makeup of BC coast, with tree snags for nesting birds, shrubs, plants and rocks set up as a sanctuary and point of interest to locals and visitors ... Marissa saw an otter playing near an anchored yacht at one of the boat marinas that cluster the edges of False Creek ... beyond the construction zone is a beautiful park (Charleson Park) with a small lake surrounded by shrubs and trees ... While Marissa and I read the sign map, Flora found a spot to meditate beside a birch tree ... when we joined her, she pointed out a strange lump under a willow tree at the west end of the lake ... I went to investigate and called them over to view the lump ... it was a small beaver house covered with the giant leaves of tropical plants that grow in the wild garden surrounding the lake ... another photo opportunity for Marissa to take back to Ontario ... Past the park we crossed the boardwalk of Monks Restaurant which includes a large dining deck built out over the water on stilts ... up and down several short flights of stairs we crossed over a ramp leading to a boat launch dock ... We passed under the Cambie Bridge and arrived in the condominium housing developments that nestle near the meandering south shore of of False Creek ... the walkway is wide and accommodates joggers, dogs,bicycles, skateboards, strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, and roller blades ... a variety of materials was used in building the walkway: some sections are done in flagstone, others in wood planks,and yet others in scored aggregate or interlocking cement blocks,adding interest to the beautiful causeway ... The parkland's flanking the walkway are beautiful in summer with huge rhododendron shrubs bursting with many colored blooms, as well as lawns, benches and a stunning view of the downtown ... We arrived at last at Granville Island located under the towering Granville Street Bridge ... live music wafted from the outdoor eating and entertainment deck ... this large open air deck is a favourite spot to eat, visit and enjoy the passing boats and downtown towers ...False Creek opens up just east of the Burrard Bridge where the narrow inlet feeds in from the Pacific Ocean ... appetites whetted by our 3km walk, we made a bee-line for the food concessions and enjoyed Delicious lunch in the company of a woman who told us stories of her life living in the area ... At 12:30 pm, an hour and a half after we left Britannia Seniors Centre, we walked up the hill to Broadway and caught the 99 B-Line express bus to Broadway and Commercial ... Marissa took the #20 bus up Commercial Drive to meet her daughter who has a homeopathic clinic ...Flora and I were met at Safeway by my daughter Diana who was driving us to Costco downtown for a major shopping trip ... It was a satisfying day with warm sun, clear skies and the welcoming bustle of city life ...
Contributor Virginia

Reminders for the week of 26 Jan

Saturday's Walking Club 1030am Al Mattison Lounge

Monday's Brain Gym 1030-noon Free, ongoing

Monday's Lunch Al Mattison with Annie, ongoing

Wednesday's Brain Gym 1:oo-2:30pm Free ongoing

Thursday 29Th "Potluck" & general committee meeting to follow, all are welcomed to share. (Last Thursday of each month)

Following Thursday's Soup Lunch with Laurette, ongoing

Friday 30Th Special Lunch Lion's Den to celebrate Chinese N.Y.

Tuesday Walking club

Well today it was only 2 of us. Virgina & Laurette. With the heavy fog out I think some people didn't think it was a go. But we did. We left after waiting a half hour at the library & set off for Chinatown. The sun finally came out. On the way we stopped at a great leisure clothing shop that is having a great sale as they are closing that store. Virginia was in heaven cause she got 5 pieces for the price of 1!!! She struck gold. We then continued & had lunch in Chinatown & visit T & T to look at the Chinese NY decorations. Bused back home. Nice outing & got our exercise for the day.

Gung Hei Fat Choi

Contributor & Photographer Laurette

To the Moon Alice!

You have to be old enough to appreciate this one, if you don't understand it is because you are too young.

Chinese New Year/Year of the Ox

Al Mattison Lounge

Monday 26th

Annie will be doing something special for Chinese New Year

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Lion's Den

Friday 30th

special lunch as well

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Brain Gym

On Monday mornings & Wednesday afternoons we play on the Wii. It is great for the mind & as well easy to bowl & bit of extra exercise. This is not new to younger people but to the seniors it is new & fun.
Also a great way to stimulate our brains.

Senior discount

Next time you are a Mcdonalds & order a small coffee ($1.29) ask for your senior discount! You will pay around .89 cents!! No you don't see written anywhere but they will.

Luncheon Lecture 12 Feb09

Healthy Heart Presentation

Presented by: Nurse Next Door Laura Sturm

Thursday February 12th 12:30pm

Al Mattison Lounge

Topics covered:

Information about Heart Disease

Risk Factors you can change & risk factors you can not change

Warning Signs

Controlling Cholesterol & Weight,

Becoming More Active,

Controlling Blood Pressure,

Monitoring Diabetes

Tuesday Walking club

Today we (3 of us) went on our first Tuesday walk. We started out near the main library. See web site for info on our walk. We met first at our community library & took the bus downtown. I had printed the map & all the info of the buildings as we found them. Half way thru our walk we stopped for lunch & then continued on.
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/heritage/walks/w_yt_map.htm

This is such a beautiful condo below we discovered on our walk today. I tried to take one pic thru a fence of the courtyard. http://www.lestwarog.com/499drake/ This web site will give you more info.

This is the Opus Hotel in Yaletown & we had a hoot there as you will see. http://www.opushotel.com/opus.html A very unusual hotel as you see the rooms bathrooms are facing the street & you lower the blinds for privacy if you wish ;). But the public washrooms were something else. As you see I took this without a flash & that is the lighting in there. You also see that the men's & women are divided by glass wall with beads hanging. Virginia held back the ladies side to show us the other side. LOL http://www.opushotel.com/blog/

The reason the numbers are so big on this building is that historically this area of Vancouver is called Yaletown & was where all the warehouse were & the cargo train would come up the street & the number of building if he had delivery there would help identify his stop. This facility's award winning transformation from the old Canadian Pacific Railway's service facility for its trains into a modern arts and cultural centre is both splendid in design and appearance. The unique spaces provided in the original building's layout have yielded a large black box performance centre and a commodious exhibition hall. This centre's focus on the arts provides for dance, pottery, woodworking and numerous theatre rentals along with a full-size gymnasium for physical activities. The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre is adjacent to stunning glass pavilion housing CPR Engine 374 which pulled Canada's first transcontinental train into the City of Vancouver in 1886. Contributor & Photographer

Laurette

Reminder

Osteofit Info Session Learn

more about the Osteofit program.

Al Mattison Lounge
Mon. Jan 12th
12:00-1:30 pm
Free

please register so that they know how many will attend
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Join BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre's Osteofit, a gentle strength, balance and coordination program designed to improve fitness and promote healthy bones.

Tues, 2:30-3:15 pm
Jan 20-Mar 31 CFEC
E. Roy
$39/11 sessions

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As well the lunches will resume the 12th & 16th

things are back to normal now the holidays are over

Snow, so no Walking Club

Well folks the walking club showed up at the lounge & I was free to stop by today so we just chatted & sat around. With this weather & snowfall it is not safe to go for walks as sidewalks are not cleaned & slippery & no one wants to fall & break or sprain something.
Got to see Flora who I don't see during the week cause she works & she has lost a fair amount of weight thru exercise & proper eating habits. She is looking good. Very proud of her.
76 days till spring
Contributor Laurette