Monday, February 19, 2018

Carnaval, Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year in Mexico...

Kathy and Iain Scott have just left us today after a fun filled week!  

Nance and Mary were still here for their first 2 nights so we all went into Carnival Tuesday evening.  The parade was as crazy as always, the atmosphere full of energy…. thumping music, street food and big crowds along the Malecon. The photos will speak for themselves!

Nance and Mary volunteered to transport a dog back to Vancouver for the local La Paz Dogs Rescue Organisation. How awesome. It all went well, and now they await the arrival of their own rescue (chosen while they were down here) towards the end of March. Lucky puppy! I will be visiting Berry (name change coming soon!) regularly to send them photos.

The week flew by with Kathy and Iain. Paul had two gigs - a Valentine Jazz night with Terry, and also a full band show on the Malecon to celebrate Chinese New Year… kind of random down here in Mexico, but it was a full house! Excellent music with a singer flown in from Hong Kong - some of her songs in Chinese were new for Paul!

We had a fun day in La Ventana Saturday (world famous Kite Surfing beach) - always fun to explore.

We rounded the week off with another pizza party last night (seems to be an “after tennis” Sunday thing now…) only 18 people here last night, so super easy - ha ha!

A few days on our own and then Nicky, Phil and Rylie are hoping to come down again Thursday (space permitting on the airplane) We are super excited - Kathy and I hit the “Segundas” (2nd hand stores) and picked up some new things for Rylie to enjoy!


We found a new beach just north of Todos Santos. 
Iain doing the traditional Scott jump in the pool fully clothed thing.

Local beauties at the Carnaval

Salsa dancing in the Carnaval

Another local beauty

We bought some nice empanadas off the top of this lady's head

The Aramburo bull, dressed for Valentine's Day, complete with diaper, wings and bow & arrow

Watching the kite surfing from the safety of Baja Joe's in La Ventana


Chopped VW pick up in Todos Santos

Stretch VW in La Ventana!

Hippy party for Georgina's birthday

Dancing hippies

Chinese New Year - great music.

Sunrise clouds

Occasionally this happens!

Beware the tequila with scorpions!!

Red light entertainment

Jorge showing Leanne his amigo's prize winning cock!

Sign in Todos Santos

Mary loved the waves!

Colourful taco vendor at the Carnaval

Home-made paella cooked on the mesquite barbecue

Rylie arrives Thursday - fingers crossed!


Monday, February 5, 2018

What a success! The fundraiser benefit for FANE (Fundación de Apoyo para Niños Especiales) was a total success - a sold out show, with massive Mexican and local community support. The band was amazing with Terry on the trumpet as a special guest. What a privilege to support such a worthy cause and provide much needed funds for programs and therapies. 

And the parties at the house…… a Mexican Pizza party (24 here for Pizza!), and the next night the Big Band Annual party - both featuring great food, and music. We were so thrilled that the band (Ruth, Sheldon, Hoto and Shelley) were all here together and are already planning for next year! 

Nance and Mary arrived Saturday afternoon after a week in Loreto, and, as I write this, they are both busy cooking our dinner! The Carnival rolls into town Thursday so we are looking forward to the parades, food, and music on the Malecon in the Centro.

Minor Mexican problems this week - Stu the Subaru has spark plug issues, needed a new battery, but seems to be on the mend.

"Band on the roof" at Harker's
Cranking the oven for 16 pizzas in a row (thanks 'Oto' for helping)
Jamming in the living room with members of the local big band 
The view from Harker's roof
Another bar, another band shot. The local beer shop actually ran out of Pacifico.
Hoto's best friend in the neighbourhood - "The Bacon Guy"
"Band on the Roof" version 2 (side B)

Hoto constructs a turtle eating a small child - don't ask...
Pre-gig talking through set lists in the casa.  
What a great gig it was at La Morante. Full house.
Presenting the cheque for 12,000 pesos.
Thanks Terry for adding so much to the evening. 
The day after with the 'big cheque'. What a great cause.
Rather than lying in a deckchair, Hoto fixed our gate!
The band a bit of everything on their week, rain, sun, wind and FOG on their last morning! 
Always have to finish with a Rylie photo - why not 3 in a row?!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Happy New Year - Feliz Año Nuevo!

Feliz Año Nuevo! 2018 is looking to be another fun, busy, and exciting year! 

We arrived in Vancouver Dec 18th, and woke up to snow the next morning! It was beautiful but cold! We actually celebrated Christmas Day on Dec 27th this year because Phil was away for Dec 25th and 26th. It worked out well and was very relaxing. Rylies first Christmas!

Paul flew back to La Paz Dec 30th (for the New Years gig) and I stayed on until Jan 12th. It was great to have the extra time with the kids, and Rylie, and my Mom too. That’s the hard part about being away for the winter - not being close to family…. Thank goodness for FaceTime.

It was so great to see so many friends over the holidays and we are looking forward to having some folks visit us in the coming weeks/months! 

The Band (Ruth, Sheldon, Hoto and Shelley) will be with us next week!  
We are planning a fundraising event for a local Charity (Children with Disabilities) on Feb 1st and so looking forward to supporting such a deserving local cause. More to come on that in the next blog!



This is what we came back to! 
The day after was beautiful!
Rylie loves bedtime stories

Snow geese in north Richmond

We have a new version of exploding kittens! Leanne was first to wear the 'cone of shame'

Auntie Kennie and Uncle Jon having a bit of Rylie time.
Rylie's first Christmas

Santa visits Ladner in local style
Back in La Paz on New Year's Eve, and all my basses are inside!
Luckily, Gregorio helped out on a Sunday morning. My hero.

Just arrived at Las Cruces for the NYE gig set up. Shuffle board anyone?

Bing Crosby was here... (and Desi, and Frank and...)

I've played in worse places...
The band with our host, Christy Walton.
On the roof of Georgina's dream project in El Sargento


"Mi Pequeño Santorini" - 6 new apartments for rent.

On the beach, a short walk from the apartments

A very substantial prawn cocktail!

Mantis! 

I wish I'd bought this hat!