Where Has the Limey Gone Now?

Where am I? I'm in Vegas Baby!

For our annual summer trip we decided to drive to Los Vegas with our two hooligans and two dogs. Mad? Yes! Fun? Find out for yourself at my other blog here:

http://skinnyscronnybrit.com/2011/07/13/vegas-rain-atoms-breasts/

This is blog entry # 4......

Here's a taste of what I got up today!



I'll be back soon!

In the meantime.....

peaaaacceeeee out sisters!

Happy Canada Day - Here`s Britney!

 

Read about how my date on Canada Day with Ms. Britney Spears on my other blog:

http://skinnyscronnybrit.com/2011/07/06/happy-canada-day-heres-britney/ 

In the meantime.........

peaacceeeee out sisters!

A Busy Canada Day 2011 & A Date with Britney!

 It was busier than ever on Canada Day this year!

Jody wanted me in at 10am, so I arrived at 10:30am....An omen to the day ahead, comes from the main man himself. ‘Des, I’ve decided to give you ‘The Helmet!’ announces Geoff.  

The sound of my chin hitting the floor is heard across the creek as far as the Art Gallery...I am stunned but very grateful at such generosity.   

A big hug later and I quickly find myself aboard the Zodiac with Captain Heidi going to the main dock. 

This Canada Day started differently, as I found myself with Hillary, Claire and Richard on balloon duty. 

Being a family event, it was especially gratifying to give out balloons to the little passengers as a way to kick off this great day.

A very concerned 8 year old told me that he counted at least 5 balloons that I let loose, and he thought that ‘..was very wasteful’ Wow! They’re getting greener and more cheeky younger every day! 

Future Aquabus Captain 2021!

Having done a coffee run for Manager Jody, because he was sooo busy on the dock....I walked through the main area leading to the ramps beside the Art’s Club. 

As the sun decided to make its appearance after a very late morning slumber, so did the hoards! I know it’s time......

Memo for Canada Day 2012 – 

Make sure you have a meeting before the day begins of expectations for the day!. 

It quickly becomes obvious that its probably not a good idea to have the line up to Hornby Street running along the public dock.

So as we've done in Canada Days past, and we divide the waiting multitude into two main lines. All those Yale town bound and in between, I direct to stand along the Arts Club. 

The quicker moving, higher turnover traffic going to Hornby Street, I directed to wait along the blue fencing facing the creek. Here also I put the traffic going to Science World.

The challenge was to keep the space clear between these lines as it was a thoroughfare to access to Emily Carr eastward, and to the main market area of GI

.

With the single straight ramp, used as an exit for traffic coming over from Hornby, it was wise to have Chris and Sammy keeps the gangway free facing the Arts Club.

According to some of my younger staff, I’m acting a little tense today – in fact I appear a little stressed by the crowds before me. 

As I tell my own kids ‘You haven’t seen me really angry yet....’ 

Admittedly it was busy, so to have James Haupt from ‘Chocola Tas’ drop by not once, but twice with delights to get through the day is very welcomed! Thank you James!

Once again, people are generally co-operative when they are told where to go, what to expect and they are appreciated for their patience. 

Despite a couple of people complaining when they realize they have tickets for that other company........

(note to self – more announcements to check tickets next year),

......it generally went smoothly for an exceptionable busy Canada Day this year.

Which is credit to a team which worked diligently together to keep people informed and line up’s moving smoothly.

Although I have to wonder why I’m so tired having not had a break in 5 long hours. 

Calls to Jody remained unanswered throughout the day. 

But by 7:30pm I’m done, and I’m struggling to know how I’m going to get a second wind for my big date tonight. 

I’m off to see my second love – BRITNEY SPEARS! 

Despite all my cajoling with Helen to get a move on, I enter Rogers Arena as the display announces that the lady herself will be arriving in 1 minute 45 and counting.......more about the one that is misunderstood on my other blog......

After the date, I head back to GI where I find the gang all in fine form. 

I only get to sing ‘O Canada’ just the once (and not every hour, on the hour from 9pm onwards which has been a tradition of mine for 5 years now at the Arts Club) but it’s a sweet feeling nevertheless......

Until next year......

In the meantime.......

Peaaacccceeeee out sisters!

Meeting the lovely Charmaine Crooks!

Its been 12 days since my last blog......if you want to see what I've been angry about during that time - head over to my other blog as I had a lot to say.....

But back to now. Tomorrow is my favorite day next to Christmas Day. Canada Day is the big day to show your off your Canadian pride big time.

And if you do, and are covered from head to toe in red and white, you can get the 2 for 1 special on all fares at Aquabus.

Will and Kate, the future King and Queen in the old country, are visiting Canada right now. Why they're not going further west than Calgary I don`t know.

But Kate looks stunning as this picture shows, when they were in Ottawa.

 I also had the pleasure to meet a member of our own Royal family last week!

My friend Kat Thorsen had a fund raising night at District 319 - a beautifully restored Chinese theater at Main and Cordova downtown. The Vancouver Friends for Life society cares for people with life threatening problems.

Kat drew poster size sketches of prominent gay personalities and then invited the invited audience to finish them off. They were then auctioned off to funds for the Vancouver Friends for Life society. They cares for people with life threatening problems.

It was a great night, full of fun and laughs with many of the personalities there in person on the night.

(For more see here: http://skinnyscronnybrit.com/2011/06/28/kats-heroes-with-heart-nite-district-319/)

One of the gathered personalities was the lovely Charmaine Crooks! A one time member of the International Olympic Committee, she was part of the team which secured the Vancouver bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I was very touched when she thanked me for working at Aquabus during the games and helping visitors to our great city. A true lady!

Happy Canada Day people! See you at the Aquabus dock tomorrow! Its going to be a mad day and even madder when I see Britney Spears tomorrow night! Can`t wait!

In the meantime,

peaacccceeeee out sisters

The Riots + skinnyscronnybrit.com

Hey - it sucks, I know.

Read about my thoughts on that last game and how our city imploded at my other blog right here:

This wasn't the next chapter I wanted for MY city!

Thanx for reading!

In the meantime:

peaacccceeeeee out sisters!

Hope is Brightest after the Storm....

Hope is brightest after the storm.

The whole Canuck Nation woke up Friday morning knowing we just had to win Game 5.

This was going to be the most important game of the series.

It was no wonder that Lou took a midday stroll around the seawall.

He had the weight of the Canuck Nation across his shoulders.

As a city held it's breath come 5pm, little did we know the drama that would unfold before us.

The team that stepped on the ice was the one that got lost along the way to Boston.

You beauty!

As the defense got a boost with the young 21 year old Tanev and Edler hit everything in sight., they cut down the Bruins chances, and Lou's confidence rebounded as he got his mojo back.

We came out hungrier, more savage than the previous two games. It was hard to believe what I was seeing. The Bruins went 0 for 4 as their special teams just couldn't get it done.

But it took the continuing tenacity of the gritty 4th line, that produced the only goal by that nutbar Lapierre. He wristed a shot from an impossible angle that rebounded out of Thomas`s glove and over the line.

Game set and match. You beauty!

Get me Downtown! 

The taxi driver can't understand why fans cry over a hockey game.

He tells me that he just watch`s the game, and that's that. I haven't the heart to tell him that when Crosby scored 7 minutes and 40 seconds into overtime in that game last year, I cried.

To understand Canada, you have to understand the power of hockey in our national psyche. And right now this game is all that this city is thinking about.

As I head down to Granville Island to meet the gang John keeps calling: `Where are you man?` It seems he can barely keep the gang at bay, as they`re gagging to get down town.

I`m like a human Stanley Cup as I run down the ramp, Captain Adam, Chris, Max and the gang hoist me up in a huge hug. This is really the best of times! It`s all singing and huge smiles as we take the Cquabus over.

On route, we decide to head for supplies at the Wicklow. As we head up the ramp to Yaletown, we wonder if we`ll make it without getting mobbed with what we`re openly carrying.

But we do, and the party continues into the night........

Canuck Nation Central 

To walk down Granville Street, after such a huge game is to float in a sea of youthful exuberance and joy. I can`t help feeling buoyed as this city parties like Funkadelic said as `one nation`under a groove`.

The Canuck Nation are out in force in a wall of blue. High fives aplenty, screams and hooting.

And OMG - so many party girls in their best glad rags......love it!

The bobbies are out, standing around in their neon vests. But all credit to them, they`re are smiles and as they say in the old country, taking a `softly, softly`approach.

Apparently they have a record 2000 alcohol pulls that night, but you would never have known

A Chance for the Big Show 

And so here we are. They won the must win game.

But it`s still NOT over.

The Canucks, as good as they are, just won the right for a CHANCE to win the ultimate prize of all.

We cannot underestimate a team that has also got this far, with that much skill and a equally hot goalie.

They will come out probably just as nasty, mean as determined as before.

For this fan, it`s been a nerve wracking but brilliant ride so far. And what a ride! It`s brought together a city just as we all came together in 2010 for the Olympics.

But remember:

....stay strong, stay faithful, stay Canucks.....
(up to now its worked!)

But before I go: a couple of films from Friday night:





in the meantime:

peeeaaaaaacccceeeee out sisters! 

The Darkness Before The Dawn......

It always darkest before the dawn.

As I write this, Canuck fans are reeling as the Bruins have smacked and walked over the Canucks to pull back the series to make it 2 games apiece in the quest for the Stanley Cup.

How could it be that Lou could allow 12 goals to pass him, and our top line could produce just one gutter goal in two games?

For this Canuck fan, it's hard punishment to take.

So, lets us look back to game two last Saturday just remind us where we just came from in this series......

The omens looked so good......Jody said turn around the Cup is coming! And this is what greeted me.....

I was so lucky to find a seat right near the front of the big screen, and pretty soon the Aquabusers slowly joined me to watch the action........including the lovely Astrisd who can't get enough of old Saint Nick's beard.....

Astrid - it's not fake! Honest!

What a game and it ended so specularly quick.

I did blink and practically missed the goal of all goals to end this game.

The spectacular wrap-around goal, beat Boston netminder, Tim Thomas and defenseman, Zdeno Chara (#33), just 11 seconds into the extra period, giving the Canucks a commanding two games to none lead in the best-of-seven series.

You beauty Burrows! Get in there!

And how we loved it.....so what to do now?

Head north my friends! 

Canuck Nation - On the Rise!

Hiliary & Astrid head North!

So our merry band, caught the ferry across the creek to get to Fan Central: Granville Street to celebrate with fellow fans....

The place was buzzing, people wandering up and down, high fives, screaming, drums banging, horns aplenty.......

This fan saw my poster, and insisted he get a picture........But if you want see what really happened, in living color - these two are for you!



Captain Adam was in fine form. He hoisted me on his shoulters, and this Limey Cam report shows the action from up high.........



This is what hockey means to Vancouver, to Canuck fans, to Canada. I leave you with my status on Facebook on Thursday, June 9th 2011 - the night before Game 5 when the Canucks MUST win to stay in this series.......

'What are u thinking!....it is darkest before the dawn - we were here before against Chicago, and we all said 'What are they going to do now?' then POW! EA sports called it in 7 and have been 99% accurate to date.....so lets go people....stay strong, stay faithful, stay Canucks.....'

In the meantime.......

peaaaaacccceeeee out sisters......