3 Irish girls + Adam = a whole lot of Craic on Canada Day 2010.......

Finally, the Vancouver Sun gives due respect to a Vancouver institution. Fittingly, on its busiest day of ferrying trade which is Canada Day, readers woke up to read about Geoff and Margo celebrating 25 years of boating service to locals and tourist alike. 'A ferry became a fleet over untroubled waters'(Link below) is an interesting read on how the little company that could came about. The attached picture shows the happy couple after 26 years standing on the Arts Club ramp, with a impressively scowling Jakkie standing off against Cyquabus 2.



For this most important day, the weather is unusually overcast. As the day progresses, it has a noticeable effect on the crowds. Although the two new Cyquabus' have a total capacity of 60 passengers, which can take big chunks of the crowd, there is little for me to manage topside. This has seriously affected my scream therapy sessions with the tourists, which leads me to give my 'mind freak' stare at Jody and young Mr. Adam on a number of occasions. For some reason, there is unusually high number of screaming toddlers running everywhere on the dock today. But, there is always time to do my Ambassador duties and pose for tourists, especially for two healthy female tourists from Florida and Montreal. Why does Jody insist in getting into my group shots? This is clearly my job and I will have to appeal to the right authority on his continuing indiscretions in my area of expertise......


Meanwhile, those respected elders of the GI community: Del and Dennis monitor the island entertainment. By all accounts, they are not suitably impressed with one of my own brethren from the old country named Owen. He is a travelling magician and his attempts at humour have been described as 'poor to miserable' for mocking the crowd at their own expense. Which very well may be the case. The British form of wit and sarcasm can be a little off at times, especially travelling from so afar. It can go sour like a bad bottle of Merlot from Espana. Dennis prefers his Merlot at room temperature and suitably well rounded. Nevertheless, I can't help shaking the hand of my fellow national, for attempting to make a honest crust against slim odds. But, by all accounts, he's not doing to bad with his tipped hat.....

Jody probably takes the most unusual request by an employee in the 25 years of Aquabus service. The lovely Siobhan texts him asking 'Can I bring my beaver to work?' Appropriate or not, we are all delighted to see her bring her stuffed flea bitten friend Adam to the dock. He is such a good employee he clears over $40 in tips! Well done you manged ridden beast ya!



I head over to Yaletown to see the lay of the land - it's Sunday morning quiet. What is going on? And so it is for the rest of the day. By 6:30pm I am hoisting my first celebratory ale and the bawdy humour is already kicking off with a cackling Allison. Mentions of 'baby elbows' and 'what is wrong with this sir?' so early is a little worrying, but judging by the occasional giggles in the top office I haven't offended anyone.....yet. Maybe I'll try harder later.....

Well, I have to say: it didn't take long. For it doesn't take much of an excuse for the games to begin at AQHQ. With a load of young fertile lads and some lovely Irish girls fresh off the boat and raring for some craic! And viola we're off! Aishling, freshly minted at Aquabus brings her friends Elaine and Rebecca along. 19, gorgeous and full of life they are here as the Celtic tiger has been defanged and put in an old moggy home for senile cats. There are simply no jobs in Dublin and these lasses represent the first wave of an expected Irish invasion. If so, bring it one - we love them! Good for them for grabbing life and jumping on a plane, at a age where that can fully experience it all. The Irish are famed travellers, and these lovely bright young lasses have plenty to offer. James, who runs the chocolate counter in the food marker can't praise Elaine enough for her work ethic and charm.

All chaos ensures as multiple requests come in: Will wants a couple of loud MF's and we kick off an AQ and countrywide tradition, when I declare my allegiance to the Maple Leaf at exactly 9:30pm and sing O Canada. Work helmets get filled, and temporarily defaced with public health warnings to all. A good one proclaims 'I've had to much to think' while Adam and my own are poor, pitiful and pathetic. But we drink from its hollowed chalice as expected. Mr Two Phones loves it and keeps me on track every half hour for more group celebratory singing.


Standing on my chair with Adam, brings a new perspective on the proceedings before me. It's a visual soap opera; I feel like a King surveying his kingdom. I love it! The addition of the 3 young Irish tenors is fantastic. And I am shocked when the girls love my promo postcards.....'Fack Micheal Bubbles I want it signed by Des'...of course I have to get the toddler t - shirt on, which considering my muscular physic (well, I have a 3 pack and the deposits for the others some where) surprisingly goes on very quickly. Bravo! And who thought you could have so much fun with zap-straps...oh behave! (Note to Jody next time: Beer!? tick! Aquabus stickers? Tick! Zap-straps? TICK!) Mr. Two Phones is beside himself and we are all the better for his presence. But we are sad that Adam decides to take Shebang home - its been a long day and he wants to get back to the dam for a knorr or two. Don't we all Adam!


So, its off to the Arts Club and dance, dance, dance crazy. Those Irish girls can fairly go wild on the dance floor and I try to keep up without looking like the celebrity creeper that I really am. Oh OK take another picture please and show me....somebody has to do it? Congo Bob and Garth are fair excited by the proceeding of the young bucks and the shamrock show before them. What better way to end the night, but to say 'Is tú mo ghrá' to lovely Aishling and Elaine and head off giddy with another great Canada Day night of fun.

God bless the Irish girls! By the way, that's a lovely beaver you have......

So, who was the bone head who set the alarm off in the office and had to call Jody......you work that one out.....

For now, as a wise and lovely lass told me:

Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat*......


peeeaaacccceeeee out sisters.......

Geoff and Margo in The Vancouver Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/ferry+became+fleet+over+untroubled+waters/3223656/story.html

*May the cat eat you and the devil eat the cat......wise words indeed Aishling..