Ian's Visit : May 29-June 05-2009

On Friday May 29th Cynthia and I went to Nanaimo to pick up my cousin Ian. Ian had been one of the unfortunate people in the U.K. who lost his job due to the current recession. His factory in Risca, the town where he lives in Wales, was closed, so he, along with over 400 others, were out of work in the blink of an eye-lid.
While finding himself between jobs, Ian decided to make a trip to Comox to see his mother Jean, who has been living here since 1990 with her husband Ron. Ian wanted to surprise hs mum so there was no mention of the trip to Jean. I picked him up at the float plane terminal in Nanaimo for Ian managed to get a flight with Harbour Air, a company which connects with the Vancouver Airport and Nanaimo.



Their planes take off from the Fraser River terminal in Vancouver, just a short ten minute taxi ride from the main terminals of YVR. Ian chose to come on the float plane as their schedule fitted his. He'd also not been on one of the small planes before, so that was a great experience for him.
The ride up island was great. Cynthia and I enjoyed riding with Ian and hearing about his family back in Wales. When we got to his Mum's home, we enticed her out of the front door by telling her that one of her neighbours wanted to speak with her. She came out obediently and lo and behold, guess who was there? The re-union was a good one. Cynthia and I stayed for a short while but then left Ian with Jean and Ron to enjoy each other's company.

During the short time he was here (only a week as his daughter is about to deliver her first child), Ian visited with some of the family at a BBQ at Ben and Josée's farm,

went kayaking with me in the Comox Harbour and bay area, and enjoyed some good nights out with Jean and Ron. We even managed to squeeze in a round of golf at Glacier Greens, my home course.
As I write this, the night before I take Ian back to Nanaimo, the float plane trip, and the first leg of his journey home, Cynth and I are sad to see him leave, but live in expectant hope that he and Jacquie his wife, will be out to see us for a longer period in the not-too-distant-future. It's been a great pleasure to have him with us, and Ian, I wish you God speed for a safe journey home.