Well our journey continued from Hawaii, flying with Northwest Airlines to Seattle a five and half hour flight. We understand that Airlines are in the business of making a profit by installing as many seats as they possibly can. Boarding the flight we soon realised what they mean calling it “cattle class”!   Me being 5ft 6ins tall, had a 2inch gap from my knees to the back of the seat in front, once seated. But low and behold it was a different story for Steve, who is 6ft 2ins, he couldn’t even manage to put his legs in behind the seat in front, thankfully he had a aisle seat and could put his legs out in the aisle, which you are not meant to do…. the crew took pity on him in allowing him to do so. Need-less to say Steve stood for most of the flight, while passengers slept as it was a night time flight. Our flight from Seattle to Vancouver Island was a short hop 45 minutes and on a much smaller plane, I believe this plane was designed to prepare you for Canadian weather, hehe. I am sure you all have heard  that saying “Teeth chattering from the cold”…well it was my feet chattering, it was freezing. From my window seat I caught a glimpse of snow on the mountains, my senses soared with expectation of seeing more, but alas it was not to be, it was raining and cloud cover so low visibility was zero. But nothing could dim our excitement at landing on Canadian soil - our dream holiday was to begin NOW! Going through customs was hilarious, asked if we were bringing food into the country to which I replied, Vegemite & Frogs, Vegemite was fine ( they knew all about Vegemite, sorry OB), but frogs brought a puzzled looked until I explained they were just chocolate frogs,( forgot to tell them about the caramello bears). We were allowed into the country. WE WERE FINALLY IN CANADA! On walking out of the airport to load our bags onto the bus which was to take us to our hotel, we knew we were in Canada. 0 degrees, raining, grey and gale force winds which nipped at your bones. We were ill prepared for these conditions, clothes wise our thoughts of buying all weather gear once in Canada was on the top of our list of priorities. The views on our drive to our hotel was limited to low clouds cover, down to just the tops of the trees, but what our eyes took in was pure beauty - so lush and green, the closer we got to the town of Victoria, flowers & cherry blossom trees as far as the eye could see. On arriving at “The Royal Scot Hotel” we were two weary travellers in need of a hearty breakfast and somewhere to lay our head. The hotel’s décor was very English and felt homely, and after indulging ourselves with a hearty breakfast, we slept till 2pm. In need of stretching our legs, we walked the short distance to the town centre,  past horsedrawn carriages, straight from Jane Eyre and down to the harbour and shopping centre. First priority was outfitting ourselves with arctic survival gear – just in case !   It was the end of the skiing season, so bargains were plentiful, so we both returned to the motel with warm and windproof jackets.   The next day was perfect ! warm sun and clear skies as our coach collected us for a tour of the island and a visit to the world famous Butchard gardens . The island was a picture of spring flowers and blossoms, beautiful English architecture and a most relaxed environment. We marvelled at the grandure of the Empress Hotel and of Parliament House, with a public car park on the other side of the road with one parking spot reserved for the Govenor ! - the rest for tourists and the government ministers and staff – first come first served !!   We parked next to the Governor’s car and made the Minister for Whatever find a spot further down !  Loved it !   The Butchard gardens were quite breathtaking !  ( Sunken Garden}  Starting with a disused quarry, long since abandoned, the gardens were designed and created by the Butchard family and opened to the public on their death. Covering many acres and incorporating many unique themes, the gardens were a mass of spectacular colour, we counted over 12 different colours of tulips which a team of gardeners change weekly as the seasons develop. We took so many photos, but could have taken so many  more. The Italian garden was just breath takingly beautiful..      When it was time to leave, the coach took us to the ferry terminal and the two hours trip to Vancouver, during which time we sat in the restaurant for dinner and watched the world drift by.   Another coach trip to downtown Vancouver, and the hopes for a good nights sleep ! Wrong !! We are used to sleeping with the windows open and lots of fresh air !   The windows were locked to prevent us escaping in the night, or plunging 20 floors to the ground if we happened to be sleepwalkers, or jumpers ! and so we could’nt breath, so neither could we sleep !!   We would have loved more time on Vancouver Island, it was so beautiful, and the wildlife so tame but tomorrow we will explore Vancouver and then, we leave on the “Rocky Mountaineer” the most spectacular train trip in the world ! Sending Love to All Janice & Steve xxxx      

Well it’s time!                             Have been putting this off, as I wanted a reminder of the wonderful moment I got to meet, Marg & Jess. But it’s time to delete our countdown clocks. How I don’t want to & wished it was just starting all over again. Though I know in my heart of hearts, that we will see each other again, in the not too distant future - That I know.  

 It is also time that I started down the road of annoying everyone, with  adventures & photos of our dream holiday.   It is now a month since our return home, yet in our minds eye, it only seemed like yesterday.   Steve & I   are still finding it a bit hard to feel settled being back home.

We started our holiday in Hawaii after a 9 hour flight from Sydney.What a pity that air travel is so traumatic these days! So unlike all of the travel brochures which glamorise this stressful activity. And what a shame that airport operators cannot design and position signs, which help you find your way, rather than help you get lost !  

  But we finally made it to Honolulu, only to find that they are trying to redesign their airport to be even worse than Sydney’s ! All they have to do is go to Singapore and copy Changi airport ! It is that simple. Instead we waited over an hour for our hotel transfer, as the bus got bogged down in airport road works !  

Waikiki beach is now just a tourist strip of T shirts and key ring shops, but it was nice to have a break in our journey, where Canada was our real destination.   So, we did the tourist thing and enjoyed this beautiful fountain on Waikiki Beach, after a long walk up & down Kalakaua Ave.     A couple of locals welcomed  Steve & me and at least reminded me of the birds I had left behind at home.     Whilst our mobile phones worked OK on global roaming, our 240v chargers did not seem to be compatible with 110v sockets ! We sought technical advice but it seems that we were the first Australians with mobile phones, ever to have visited Hawaii ! So much helpful advice, but so little result. !   In the end we just bought a two pin plug and stuck it in the wall socket- and it worked ! The battery charged, just a bit slower on the lower voltage ! Just part of the overseas travel experience !    This was Waikiki Beach before the crowds. Stopping in Hawaii was just to have a couple of days break before continuing on to Vancouver Island, Canada,which was another 7 hour flight, via Seattle. We enjoyed the rest but Honolulu was too commercialised for us & we both felt our dream holiday was not going to start till we arrived in Canada.   Love to all Janice This one i'm sneaking in of Steve enjoying a local?????? Please no-one tell him!          

To everyone of my wonderful friends that left  heartfelt words of encouragement, support, compliments & gifts....I thank-you  immensely....I felt truly touched. It is people like you all, that makes minti the fantastic site it is. No matter what situation some-one is going through...there is always a friend out there, who cares.

I'm going to dob a  friend in now....our dear Marg is feeling poorly, more than poorly as she  has pneumonia ( her hubby is giving her heaps, saying she doesn't  have to go in sympathy with me!) She has suffered with pneumonia many times which really takes it toil....so  for my dear friend ( and yours) please send healing vibes her way.

                                                No man or woman is worth your tears.

The only one who is, will never make you cry.

If you love someone, put their name in a circle, instead of a heart.

Hearts can break, but circles go on forever.

Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say.

Best friends listen to what you don't .

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be at the bottom to catch them.

Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile !

It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone---but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Much Love & Appreciation Janice xxxxx

So thanks again for all your comments, and for your messages of support !    I have deputised Janice to respond to them all as soon as she is back on deck and I am back on the golf course !  Watch out Tiger !

Love to you all, Steve and Janice  xxx

Pleased to report that Janice seems to have made some progress. Not much, but enough to be able to check the shopping bill to see if there was any food with the wine. I guess it depends on your definition of food. Nowhere does it say that it must be solid !

Hope you will all excuse my lack of personal responses to your comments, but as most had references to your undies, I thought I'd better not go there!   well, you know what I mean !   

So now its nearly a meal time again !  Strange how fast they appear when you have to prepare them, not just eat them ! Must be a message there, so will go and think about it.

Thanks again for everything,

Steve xxx

So, I will try again as Janice is so upset that she has not been able to respond to all of your messages of support, and particularly to all of you who have so generously sent gifts to her. Some are from new members and some from old ones ( well, not that old !!)  In fact she has not been on the computer at all for the past week. She is very weak and just sitting in the chair seems to be a big effort. I know from Marg, who is a veteran pneumonia sufferer, that this thing will not go away quickly !   So please accept my thanks on her behalf. I know she will be back on Minti as soon as she is able. I have tried to do a deal with Jess, to trade Janice in for her white Jaguar - but that seems to be a "no deal " and the Jag is staying in Montreal !  Not that I give up so easily !

Today is a miserable day in Woopi, drizzling and overcast, so I will take a break from my house busband duties to plan my change of broadband provider. My existing provider seems to think that it is acceptable corporate behaviour to expect their customers to talk to a machine when they wish to contact them !   Well, I for one refuse to do that and have now signed up with a new provider who has retained that quaint old fashioned custom of employing real people !   I know that my lack of computer skills will be exposed when I come to reconfigure my modem and e-mail settings, but on the other hand, should lose about 20 spams a day, from unknown pharmacists who doubt my virility capacity. Don't know if they have a camera in our shower, or if someone has dobbed me in !

So now it is almost lunchtime, so plan to Google "soup" to see if there have been any scientific breakthroughs in can opening technology !   Then its on to that most mysterious room in the house, called a laundry, to see if I can create a job for our local plumber !   And on that subject, just before I go - can someone please give me a good reason why I should iron tea towels !    I mean - do I look like I am short of useful things to occupy my time ?

Thank you all again for your love and support

Love from Janice and Steve xxxxx

So now I must dash to cook dinner, light the fire, do the washing, clean the house, mow the lawn ......... my god you women have it easy !!

Bye, Steve

I'm sorry that i have not been on or done a blog as yet, but you still have 2 weary travellers this way....who are not sure what time zone their body is still running on, but we are getting there so watch out i'll soon be back to annoy everyone with so many tales & pictures.

At present am still feeling like a part of me is missing and a saddness beyond belief...walking away from Marg and her beautiful husband at the airport in Toronto, was the hardest thing i've had to do for many years. I so miss you my dear friend, especially my warm, loving hugs in the morning. This is so hard to even write about .

And how could one not miss vibrant warm loving Jess...with those  gorgeous eyes that melt your heart and a smile that light's up the  every room your in...she is family now.

So for now, i will just leave you all with a hello from winter wonderland!

Love to all Janice & Steve xxxxx

Sorry to say that this is Steve, not Janice ! She and Marg are so joined by the arms that neither can come to the computer !        So I thought I would report that although Jess had no battery power in her camera - I DID !!     Maybe you would like to see more that Jess trying to escape back home - we did'nt know how to cope without Jess talking to us !  so tried to keep her here !!  My God she can talk.! but I'm going to be nice to her as she let me drive her white Jaguar !!  Love you Jess ! 

Marg and Dan have made us so welcome - we really feel so much at home here - EXCEPT FOR THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES . How soon I have forgotten my trek to Mt. Everest !

Tomorrow we are going up to spend a few days at their cottage in the backwoods. Maybe see a grizzly bear or a wolf.

So, back to the pictures. I took some great photos of the three amigos, Marge, Jess and Janice.  They can be published for a smal fee, so if anyone would like to deposit funds into my bank account, I will be happy to respond. Maybe I'll log on again later when I have checked my bank balance !!  Love from Janice and Steve in Canada !!

I know this is silly & i am a sook, but i am feeling very emotional today    and not quiet sure why?

 Wednesday May the 14th, we drop the car off in Jasper and head to the Railway Station to board "The Via Train" ( "Canadian Pacific") , which will take us from one side of Canada across to Toronto.  It will take 2 days & 8 hours (  Steve will be in his element, for sure)...we thought this would be a wonderful way to take in the ever changing scenery on this dramatic continent.

   We arrive in Toronto at 8pm on a very important day  Steve's birthday May the 16th....what could be more fitting.

Where the first fantastic moment will happen, meeting dear Jess.

Hopefully she has recovered by then.

Then 2 & 1/2 hours later,

"THE MOMENT OF ALL MOMENTS"  RECIEVING HUGS  in person from MARG. Like the photo from Lake Louise there are no words to describe what that moment will feel like.

That hug could last all night as i have so many hugs to deliver to Marg, from so many wonderful people.

The next 2 weeks will be ??????????????????????????????????????????? a mystery waiting to unfold on my return.

One of the great wonders that we do want to visit is "Niagara Falls"

 This would be magic to see Niagara Falls by night.

The last part  of our journey will be when we depart Toronto on friday the 30th May.....yeah  i know Marg, only "UNTIL LATER".  Have always wanted to go to Maui with Steve as i have been there twice before ( it is God's Country)...so we will spend  3 days there before arriving home on the  5th June after spending one night in Sydney.

We will be staying at the resort "Quest Maui Kaanapali Villas"

Where  hopefully, one morning Steve will be able to wake me about 4am so we can make the journey to "Haleakala Volcano" where the temperature is near  freezing.

 But to end our dream holiday watching the sunrise from "Haleakala"

Would be the perfect finale!

To all our wonderful friends, Steve & I send you all much love xxxxx

We arrive in Banff late afternoon on Wednesday 7th May, where we are staying at the "Inns of Banff"looks real country, do hope so.

We spend the next day the 8th in Banff....where i hope that we meet up with Ally, who was among one of the first to welcome me to Minti....so looking forward to the meet, hope it will be alright with her boss and her new job. Hey Ally 11 days to go. yeah!!!!!! Can't wait, i am hurrying, sweetie!

We also pick up a car in Banff. Well my friends from the friday the 9th May , when we leave Banff til the wednesday the 14th May....we will be nomads travelling from Banff to Jasper, stopping where ever suits our fancy....so no pictures of where we will be staying til we return.

  This will be an adventure in it's self, taking in with,  every breathe spectacular views such as these.  Will be definitely going to "Lake Louise"  Maybe we can afford to have morning tea  there, that's about all, haha!

How could you not, visit "Lake Louise"  just take a look at this "NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE PHOTO"

This is a little map of where we will be travelling, hey on the wrong side of the road ( for us at least) watch out Canadians! We hope to spend a couple of days in and around Jasper before  the next leg of our journey .

Hey Marg & Jess, not that i'm counting but can you believe it, in just, just, just, just (incase you didn't see the JUST!)  19 days, we will be there. HOORAY,YIPEE, GOSH, GEE & my!!!!

Love to all Janice & Steve

We stay one night in Vancouver at the "Sandman Hotel" on the 6th of May. Then the next leg of our trip begins.....Steve & I are very down to earth people and never do anything to spoil ourselves....but this part of our trip we decided to spend some of the childrens inheritance....haha !!!!

So this will be "The Piece De La Resistance" for us !

On the 7th of May we board "The Rocky Mountaineer Train" in Vancouver at 6.30am (gee meant to be on holidays )  For a 2 day / 1 night  odyssey through the rockies.

GoldLeaf Service Discover why our guests rave about Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service.  Our custom-designed GoldLeaf Dome Coach puts you right in the middle of the awe-inspiring scenery of the Canadian Rockies. From the attentive service provided by your Onboard Attendants to the gourmet meals prepared from regional cuisine by our talented onboard chefs, you can be assured of luxury and comfort. Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service is, quite simply, as good as it gets.

The first day is from Vancouver to Kamloops, where we stop over in Kamloops in a hotel, which they failed to  mention the name of it....they might have had us camping beside the railway line for all we know....hehe !!!!!

The 2nd day, takes us from Kamloops to Banff, arriving late afternoon.

This is what dreams are made of !

 I like this, i'm doing my blogs before we actually get there, haaahaaaa !!!!!

Marg, Jess & Ally....only 21 days.....hey 21 days, if you didn't read it right, haha!

Love Janice & Steve xxxxx

The next leg of our trip=  We leave Hawaii on the 2nd of May & change planes at Seattle Tacoma & arriving in Victoria ( We are on Canadian soil, hooray !!!!!!, getting closer!) early on the 3rd of May. We are staying at the Royal Scot Hotel.

Where we spend a day & a half exploring Victoria......then before boarding the ferry for the mainland of Vancouver, we get tp gaze on flora in all her glory....in the famous serene 50 acre country estate "Butchart Gardens"

Who needs to take camera's, with photo's like this, not excited, NOT ME !!!!!

Stay in tune for the next segment of "The days of our dreary  lives" haha!!!  Oh to dream & have a 40 year old dream come true.

    On a sad note, my dear son fly out of Sydney yesterday and today it has hit home that it will be a long time before i see him again.  

Love you all.....Janice & Steve xxxxx

Launchs start at 10, i missed by one day, that's fine as it only leaves 9 to go, HOORAY, YIIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Marg has been in shorts for a few days, Yah, for warmer weather! Marg & Jess ( hope Ally also )  can you believe it,  the time is drawing so near. As the days disappear i will annoy you all with a break down of what we  will be doing, until that amazing day (night) happens.

We fly out of  Coffs wednesday the 30th april for Sydney, where we have a night flight to Hawaii, arriving there the same day the 30th of april, wow to go back in time! Spending 2 days recouping, for the rest of our journey to Canada.

I wish the bank manager would allow us to stay at this place, but alas he won't, but i loved the picture ( snuck in on the other computer so i could this, don't tell Steve, haha!)

I could recoup here for sure!

Can i take you all along with us, as i am going to miss you all so very much....what are the withdrawal symptoms for being off minti for 5 weeks???

Love & hugs Janice xxxx

Well my blue cloud was lifted  yesterday when I got to talk to Marg.....I felt better straight away, just listening to her beautiful voice, which is so full of love & sounds so calming and reassuring, one couldn't help but feel good. We talked about many things, how our men folk will put up with  us chatting away, about the nature walks we will take together, but in all how excited we both are, that it is very hard to contain. Wow the excitement, oh so SOON !!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST 29 DAYS TILL THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK WILL BE NO MORE.....YIIPPPPPEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!

AND JUST 13 MORE SLEEPS TILL WE TAKE OFF.........SIMPLY AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Dare to dream my friends"....for this holiday was only in my dreams and now in just 13 days my dream will become a reality. 

Just want to let Jess know that the vegemite and Freddo Frog's are on there way....not sure what state the Freddo Frog's will arrive, but they are on their way. Plus big hugs from a dear friend Fi, which i will deliver in person. Just 29 days my friend.

Love & Hugs Janice & Steve

Well my son Jamie arrives on the 5pm plane from Sydney tomorrow to spend a week with us before he departs Sydney on the 22nd of April to live & work in the UK. And his fiancee Juyla will arrive on friday night, to spend the weekend, after spending a week with her family, for her goodbyes.

I'm sure all you Mum's out there will understand when i say, i'm in two minds with his visit. One I will  be  so grateful and happy to spend quality time with my son but I also know the time will come to say goodbye  and knowing it will be a couple of years before I see him again.

I will miss him dearly.

Well for those who have not heard me nag them about our count clock, haha!.....it  seems to be clicking away nicely. It is only 22 Days til we board the plane for our dream holiday, wow only 22 days! It was back in september 2007, when Marg & i first started to talk about the trip & back then it felt like forever til April, 2008.

And dear Marg just 17 days after (39 days), i will be recieving those warm & loving hugs in person....the butterflies are surely doing flip, flops i can assure you.

This is surely a dream coming true, Steve & I loved the 4 weeks we spent travelling around New Zealand, it is a country that holds much beauty and gives you such a feeling of calm. ......and in my mind's eye I

imagine Canada to be on a grander scale  than New Zealand.

And if these  pictures around Jasper & Lake Lousie

  is anything to go by, i wont be disappointed.

So i'm more then ready for the grandure of Canada and it's spectacular scenery and everything this country has to offer & especially the 16th of May, oh boy i've forgotten what is happening on that date, except it is Steve's birthday the day we arrive in Toronto....hehe!

Love Janice

 In this life i'm a woman.  In the next life, I'd like to come back as a bear.

When you're  a bear, you get  to hibernate. You do nothing  but sleep for six months.

I   COULD DEAL WITH THAT.

Before you hibernate,  you're  supposed to eat yourself stupid.

I COULD DEAL WITH THAT TOO.

When you're  a girl bear, you   birth your  children  ( who are the size of walnuts)  while you're sleeping and wake to partially  grown,   cute,  cuddly  cubs.

I COULD DEFINITELY DEAL  WITH THAT.

If you're mama  bear,  everyone knows  you mean business.  You swat anyone who bothers  your cubs.  If your  cuns get out of line, you swat them too.

I COULD DEAL WITH THAT.

If you're a  bear,  your mate EXPECTS  you to  wake up growling.  He  EXPECTS  that you will have  hairy legs and excess body fat.

YUP, GONNA BE A BEAR!

On thursday afternoon Steve & i were out on our patio around 5pm, when we noticed this oh so black, reddish cloud coming over the hill. The next 1/2 hour was just terrifying.....when it was over, we went out to see what damage had been done and i just broke down....it was just heart breaking.

There is not one space in all the 5 acres that isn't littered with branches and trees.

This one just missed out home by inches and took out  Steve's beautiful garden also.

As you can see Steve couldn't even get his car out.

Our driveway is about 500foot loop, this took Steve & i all friday just to clear our driveway so we could get our cars out.

There is alot more photo's but i'm sure i have now used up all my  monthly quota....but all this  is just heart breaking....we had everything  looking so good and ready for us to leave for our holiday, which is only 4 weeks away today.

So i'll give you all one guess, as to what Steve & i have been doing the last few days, we are both totally exhausted.....getting to old for this.

So hope all our friends out there are having a better time.

Lots of love Janice & Steve xxxxx

But in actual fact our dream holiday starts 17 day's before, which is only 47 Day's away....oh how  i have dreamnt  of this for so long....the butterflies & excitement are building inside....feel like a school girl ( how i wish, haha!) going on her first date!

We start our holiday in Hawaii

for a 2 day stop over, to recharge the batteries from the  long flight.....i'm not the best flyer at the best of times & we both are not up to 23 hour flight straight through to Canada. And another reason for stopping off in Hawaii is to thaw these old bones out before arriving in Canada.....that's my reason anyway & i'm sticking with it.haha!

                                "Dare to Dream My Friend's"

If you want something bad enough.....you can  find a way to make your dream's come true.

Steve & i spent a lovely day together yesterday in at Coff's....we started with a leisurely breakfast at the Promenade....then we done some shopping for things we need to take with us. And a first happened.....Steve now own's his first, yes first ever, pair of jean's, so while i was on a good thing, we grabbed 2 pairs....sorry Marg....the knee's are now  covered!!!!!

On another  another note, i would like send all our  thought's & prayer's to my dearest friend Annie, some of you know, but  some might not know that she suffers with Fibrous Dysplasia and is going through some very uncertain times, at present.

Annie has been my dearest friend for over 3 decades and other than my Darling Husband....she know's me better then i know myself....and  we both have this un-canny ability to know, when each other is in need. I want her to know that we love her dearly.

Hugs & love Janice xxxxxx

P.S. Thankyou so very much Lui, i think i've done it, wow!