2000 August 5 / BASKING IN SUMMER MEMORIES Must be summertime - not much chat! Hope you're all having a wonderful summer - perhaps still basking in summer memories. -Gary gwilcox@direct.ca August 5 / SUMMERTIME For Ron and me, it is winter, of course. How are plans going for the idea some had for a get-together in Victoria in August? - Sandy redoak@dynamite.com.au August 7 / OUR WEBSITE When I was asked to post candid photos recently, I had reservations concerning file size and mailbox clogging. Although I expected complaints, none arrived. In the meantime I have been chatting with Gary about a candid camera viewer in the Rumpus Room. A Candid Camera slide show is in the works, so I will be forwarding your photos to him - or you can mail them to Gary directly. I am sure most of you are aware that nearly all internet service providers will allow you to have more than one mailbox (separate email address) at no extra cost. I have three which is handy. One for downloading large files like photos and business related subjects, one for friends and one for family. Works like a charm. I am still expecting interesting writeups from time to time and will post them on Saturdays as before. Everyone is encouraged to contribute as we all have a story to tell. - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net August 8 / HOUSE EXCHANGE Sandy spoke of a house exchange -- Donald and I want to go to Italy in October. Does anyone have a place in Sicily, Umbria or Tuscany? If not, any recommendations of reasonably priced accommodations within walking distance of pleasant towns, good dining etc? We'll also likely go to London the first week in November -- have stayed in the past at a place near Kensington High Street, if I remember correctly. Any other good recommendations there? - Terry Therese (Bradshaw) Williams chickiedoc@yahoo.com August 20 / HOUSE EXCHANGE Doesn't look as though any of us have second homes in Tuscany, etc...since there have been no replies to Terry. I suggest you try the Internet: just pop in House Exchange...and you will see lots of suggestions... Re London: I found a nice one in Kensington, called the Oki Kensington Quality Inn through the Internet...just type in Discount London Hotels or something like that...it was very reasonable and pleasant: it is just B and B...but Connie Ballam and husband came and had drinks with us in the charming bar lounge...good location... Conversation seems to have fallen off... - Sandy redoak@dynamite.com.au August 24 / SURVIVORS Sandy and Ron I hear that next January CBS is doing Survivors 2 in the Australian Outback and have already received 50,000 applicants. Are you among the 50K wanna bes? Last night Vancouver was inundated with Survivor Parties with rubber rats tacky shirts and paraphernalia, it seems North America is really into voyeur television. A most interesting phenomenon. Do you have a similar rave going on down under? We are enjoying the 'last roses of summer' and anxiously awaiting the Olympics from Auz. I wish you well. Cheers, Mike mgibbs@webtv.net August 27 / "HI" FROM DENMARK After coming down from the great 'nostalgia high', and having seen the video at least five times, I just thought that I'd send a note to all. We've been having a pretty crummy summer weatherwise, and I'm planning on having summer holiday no. two next month. I just read Mike Gibbs' thing about survivors. Here it is called the 'Robinson expedition' (after Mr. Crusoe) and we've lived through two of them. The participants have almost a cult status, with their own tv shows and lecture tours etc. In a couple of weeks we've got the election as to whether we are going over to the Euro, and the polls are still undecided. Exciting to see what happens. Being a Canuck, I don't get to vote. - Don Don Ingham di.fks.bow@12mail.dk August 28 / LAKE COWICHAN I just got back from a very pleasant two days with Brenda Buller Focht and her husband Dennis, Suz Foster Osatenko and Gertrude Humber Pacific and her husband Michael at the Buller cottage on Lake Cowichan. A very pleasant time swimming, boating and visiting over fine wine by the fire was had by all. I also enjoyed a fantastic hike with Dennis Focht on a nearby mountain that overlooks the lake and the logging camp where I once worked in the early sixties. This was the first time I had ever been back. - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net August 30 / JOB SEARCH I hope everyone's summer was as good as mine. Left my job as a sales rep for natural health products in May, but now feel the need for a regular pay cheque again. Thought it wouldn't be too tacky to ask my old friends if they know of an opportunity for me. At present I am editing a book written by my mother, and hope to have it published in the not-too-distant future. Am also representing a few quite well-known artists as their agent. However, there's no regular paycheque involved with these endeavors. My resume can be forwarded, and would love to hear from anyone at my e-mail address. Was in Calgary for a while this summer. What a dynamic city! Is anyone familiar with any of the favourite haunts? Charmaine Charmaine Bradley (Armstrong) charmbee@hotmail.com