Finding Your True North

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Hand is about to grab the cross

The aurora

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Interesting places...

Storybook Villages: Lavenham, England

Stroll through High Street in Lavenham, England, and you’ll think you’ve stepped into a quirky storybook. The town was built by wealthy cloth merchants in the 15th century and is full of preserved, half-timbered, medieval cottages. In particular, the pastel orange Crooked House, whose second floor can only be described as “catawampus,” was built before Shakespeare was born. The quaint buildings and narrow streets have made it a popular filming location for movies. The Market Square was the setting of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1970 film “Apotheosis.”

Matamata, NEW ZEALAND

Matamata, New Zealand, is the site of a sheep farm that was transformed into Hobbiton for the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. Travelers can sign up for a tour of the working farm and step inside some of the hobbit holes that were part of the movie set. The landscape is sure to please, but you won’t find much inside the hobbit holes except perhaps for the “ends of worms.”

Nelson, British Columbia

Nelson was the scenic star of the 1987 film “Roxanne,” and for good reason. Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah were frolicking in a drop-dead gorgeous silver-rush town full of restored heritage buildings. Martin, playing the character of town Fire Chief C.D. Bales, used his magnificent schnoz to sniff out fires from his home base at the local fire hall. Nelson, on the banks of the Kootenay River, is a great base of operations to explore Kootenay Lake and the Selkirk Mountains.

So of this list.. the first.. I will venture to will be Nelson, British Columbia.. only because it will be in close distance to where I will reside. I loved that movie...thinking I might have to rent it out again.. and when I go visit it this summer.. I can see how much its grown.. or maybe it hasn't!!

And of course.. we can't have this list without Switzerland

Grindelwald, Switzerland

As your cable car zips up the alpine slopes to Grindelwald First, one of the world’s most beautiful skiing areas, you wouldn’t be surprised if Heidi of storybook fame came running out to greet you. Grindelwald is quintessential Switzerland, complete with plenty of powder, charming ski chalets, soaring mountains and cozy restaurants for eating fondue. Grindelwald has been a movie location, too. It was the scenic star of the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” as well as the Clint Eastwood flick “The Eiger Sanction.”

Monday, December 28, 2009

How to ship your bike by plane!

When you buy a plane ticket, ask the airline how much it will cost to ship your bike and what the rules and regulations are for shipping. Do you need to ship it in a hard case or can you use a cardboard box? Ask if there maximum sizes that can be shipped. If you decide to go this route, tell them you will be shipping your bike as one of your pieces of baggage.
Measure your bike and see how big it is, because you are going to need a box or hard case to pack it in to get it on the airplane. For boxes, you can get them at your local bike store for a small fee. Hard-sided bike suitcases will cost upwards to $350, but you will have it forever and you can also purchase a collapsible one as well. You might also consider what is called a triangular box and in this case you don’t even have to disassemble your bike.
When it comes time to pack your bike you will have to minimally disassemble it, depending on the size of the box. Perhaps you will only have to take off the wheels and the handlebars. You might also have to take off the seat and the pedals to fit the bike into the case or box. If you have decided to go with the triangular box then all you need to do is use the quick release on both the front wheel and seat. The bike will be held with the tie downs that come with the box.
If you are packing your bike in the cardboard box, you might want to make sure you add some padding. This is in case the bike parts move around and you don’t want anything to accidentally get poked through the cardboard or lost.
If you use a hard case to ship your bike, you can even lock it. Be sure and use a TSA approved lock, which you can find at any store.
Check your bike in at the airline counter and when you get to your destination you will have to pick your bag up in the oversized baggage area.

For the hard sided carriers PerformanceBike has one for less than $250. or "Ironcase" made by Trico Sports Shipping Case option: For the best protection when travelling, we also recommend shipping your bike in a Bike Travel Case (available for sale or rent from Landry's store)

Keep in mind International flights. Your bike can count as one of your two pieces of checked luggage, usually without any surcharge. So if you can get by with one other piece of checked luggage, this can be a good option.

More info on bike cases:
http://www.biketcba.org/general/bikecases.html

bike cases for sale
http://www.bikemania.biz/Bike_Boxes_s/28.htm

Vancouver

Vancouver and Vicinity

Highlights

Canada Place
- Architectural Masterpiece
Storyeum
- Gastown, main tourist precint
Grainville Island
    -Arts
    -Boats Being Built
    -Market Stalls
Stanley Park
-Part Of Downtown
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Museum of Anthropology
Grouse Mountain

-Gondola provides views across the city to Mt Baker in Washington State

-Half Day excursion with on mountain activities
Lund

-End of Sunshine Coast

-Fishing Village
Whistler Gondola

-For the Views Alone

Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver Lookout

-Harbour Centre Tower

-40 Story High Speed, Stomach Sinking Glass Elevator

-Enclosed Room 167 Metres (550 Ft) above street level

-360 Degree View Extend to Mt Baker in Washington
Canada Place

-Symbol of Vancouver

-Don't miss walking exterior Promenade for splendid views of the harbor, the North Shore, the Coast Mountains and docked Alaska-bound Cruise Ships

Sunday, December 27, 2009

August 11th 2009

As written by myself in a diary that i was intending to write on my first holiday. Here this is written as i embark on my first international flight.

August 11th 2009

Woke up this morning after finally falling asleep about 10.30pm, spent the night watching tv, Ice road truckers and some dog bails officer of which i can’t remember the name of.
I’m sitting in the departures hall as i write this at 8.57am approximately 30 minutes to boarding.
It’s getting exciting. This will be my first time overseas. Woooo. At the moment I don’t actually want anything to hurry because i know its all that much closer to ending. I’m sitting her watching the planes land and take off.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Wishes.. hopes and dreams

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/pdShell.swf?ihost=http://ak.imgag.com/imgag&brandldrPath=/product/full/el/&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3173936/graphic1

had to laugh at that.. kind of felt like that.. sitting.. waiting.. being in the dog house.. LOL..

So Christmas is that time of year that we are to have our hopes and dreams.. and all our wishes fulfilled.. well.. that's what we think when we are children. I remember as a kid... the magic, and excitement of that glorious day.. and we weren't really taught the reason for Christmas... I remember watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special:

On their way to join the rest of the Peanuts gang all skating on a frozen pond, Charlie Brown confides in Linus that even though Christmas is approaching he still feels depressed despite all the presents and cards and tree decorating. His depression and aggravation only get exacerbated by the goings-on in the neighborhood. Though his mailbox is empty of Christmas cards, he tries sarcastically to thank Violet for the card she "sent" him, though Violet says she did not send him a card.

Ultimately, Charlie Brown visits Lucy in her psychiatric booth. On her advice, he gets involved in directing a school play about the Nativity. She also sympathizes with Charlie Brown about holiday depression, always getting "a lot of stupid toys" instead of what she really wants: real estate.

On the way to the auditorium, Charlie Brown is drawn to Snoopy, who is frantically and gleefully busy decorating his doghouse. After Charlie Brown demands an explanation, Snoopy hands him a flyer about a neighborhood lights and display contest.

Charlie Brown walks away in frustration at his own dog being bitten by the commercial bug. He then gets accosted by Sally, who wants Charlie Brown to take dictation for a letter to Santa, in which she ultimately asks him (Santa) to "just send money", particularly tens and twenties, causing Charlie Brown to run away in exasperation of even his sister's commercial corruption.

Charlie Brown arrives at the rehearsals, but try as he might, he cannot seem to get control of the situation as the uncooperative kids are more interested in modernizing the play with dancing and lively music. Charlie Brown, on the other hand, is determined not to let the play become commercial and to direct the traditional side of the story.

Thinking the play requires "the proper mood", Charlie Brown decides they need a Christmas tree. So Lucy takes over the crowd and dispatches Charlie Brown to get a "big, shiny aluminum tree...maybe painted pink". With Linus in tow, Charlie Brown sets off on his quest. But when they get to the tree market, Charlie Brown zeroes in on a small baby tree which, ironically as well as symbolically, is the only real living tree on the lot. Linus displays surprise upon seeing the tree and exclaims, "Gee, do they still make wooden Christmas trees?”

Linus is reluctant about Charlie Brown's choice of this tree, but Charlie Brown is convinced that decorating it will be just right for the play, and so they return to the school auditorium with the tree, only to be verbally castigated by everyone, especially Lucy, about his choice. Second guessing himself, Charlie Brown begins to wonder if he really knows what Christmas is about, loudly asking in despair. Linus quietly says he can tell him, and walks to center stage to make his point. Under a spotlight, Linus quotes Scripture, particularly the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 8 through 14: [King James Version]

"'⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Charlie Brown now realizes he does not have to let commercialism ruin his Christmas. With a newly found sense of inspiration, he quietly picks up the little tree and walks out of the auditorium, intending to take the tree home to decorate and show the others it will work in the play.

On the way, he stops at Snoopy's decorated doghouse, which now sports a first prize blue ribbon for winning the display contest. Letting his dog's commercialism roll off his back, Charlie Brown takes an ornament off the doghouse and hangs it on his tree, but the ornament's weight is too much for the small branch and pulls it to the ground much to Charlie Brown's shock.

Unbeknownst to Charlie Brown; the rest of the gang, having also heard Linus' recitation, began to realize they were a little too rough on Charlie Brown and quietly followed him from the auditorium. Linus goes up to the little tree and gently props the drooping branch back to its upright position, ornament and all. After they add the remaining decorations from Snoopy's doghouse to the tree, the kids then start humming the Christmas carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". When Charlie Brown returns, he demands to know what's going on. When he sees what they have done with the tree, he cannot believe his eyes, and the kids give him a rousing "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" before singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" as the end credits roll.

excerpt from Wikipedia

I too am like Charlie Brown.. was looking for the deeper meaning of it all.. and it is amazing how we can get caught up in the commercialism of the holiday..
Here I am older.. not so much wiser.. but yeah.. I know what this season is about.. I understand who Christ is.. and that He is our Savior.. that God..sent Him to be the propitiation of our sins. (I hope I spelled that right) He is the lamb.. the one that died for me.. for you.. for each and every one of us... we just have to simply believe...

If you find yourself pondering the meaning of Christmas.. I hope you too get a chance to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special.. and may it touch your heart, your mind and your soul!

thanks for reading.. and Merry Christmas!