The balloon incident ~ April 15

It was the annual Vaisakhi parade in Vancouver. About 250,000 people attend every year. During an election year, this event is a grand opportunity to meet people, introduce yourself and your candidate, and possibly discuss issues of the day. Or so it seemed to me. Boy, was I surprised.






We showed up early in the morning to set up. Signs, banners, leaflets, and of course: the bright orange helium balloons for which my party is famous. Since Jeem was very early indeed, he got to put up his candidate's signs in the most prominent places.






It turned out we were too busy to talk with anyone. It was a non-stop balloon-making hullabaloo. Instead of engaging with voters, we had an assembly line trying to keep up with the frenzied demand for balloons, from thousands of people

And, how many volunteers does it take to blow up one balloon? I've often wondered about that question, and now I know.

Madeline Lalonde
 Candidate for Vancouver-Quilchena

We went through two tanks of helium and hundreds and hundreds of balloons. Several thousand in fact.

The candidates who showed up, including the leader, were enlisted to make, and hand out, balloons.

Kelly Green
Candidate for Richmond-Steveston

Long after our candidates departed Jeem was pulled aside by some official event organisers who reminded him (he appearing to be the official representative for the BC NDP at this point) that we had been told a number of times over several years that balloons were not to be used at the Vaisakhi parade in Vancouver. "We want to be environmentally responsible, and helium and plastic balloons are not being responsible," they said with slightly raised voices. "Oh, I didn't know," was Jeem's reply, and that didn't go over too well. So...

"I think the Liberals are giving out balloons too," Jeem said. "Their tent is over there," as he pointed vaguely, in a westerly direction.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Haultain Fish & Chips in Victoria

Recently we were in Victoria for a brief visit and found a great little diner. You've seen its adverts on the ferry and in the guide books; it seems to be a Victoria institution, and it's certainly a throw-back to a different time.





Haultain Fish & Chips has been in business since 1924, and current owner Mary Schmidt continues a neighbourhood tradition that appeals to locals and tourists alike. When we arrived, a few minutes before it's Sunday lunch-time opening, there were already people waiting.

While there are several things on the menu, it's mainly fish and chips and basically cod or halibut, with frozen fries. The fish is mostly okay, though ours, on this day,  was a wee bit over-cooked.








Nothing fancy here. Simple surroundings and simple food. If you're okay with a strange kind of 1960s vibe, and a greasy spoon sort of atmosphere, this could be your kind of place.

Well worth a visit. Once.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Campaign Office Opening: Cake, coffee and a crowd ~ April 8

Jeem had little to do with the selection of a campaign office for the candidate. In fact, none of us did in the end. Not even our friend, and lawyer (disbarred) to Jeem y Sherry: B.T. Mendelbaum.



















The busy intersection of Cambie and 41st was too good an opportunity to miss, and the candidate had made his decision. The fact that it was also a block away from the Liberal candidate's office might have been a factor too; the "my office is bigger than your office" kind of thing. The street-side visibility was fantastic. Unless you were in the office and then you couldn't see out at all, as the windows were completely covered in an expensive and scenic plastic wrap.



Mendelbaum thought it seemed a bit too much like a political massage parlour inside, but that was their opinion.



The riding association did a traditional campaign office opening: Cake, balloons, notable guests, speeches (with translation provided). We invited the membership, along with some notable guests. The candidate arranged for a multitude of seniors to come by bus. Or so it seemed. "Not that there's anything wrong with that," offered B.T. Mendelbaum.

The crowd was amazing. In fact the crowd showed  up before the candidate arrived, and ate all the food without him getting a morsel.

Jill Marzetti, Campaign Manager

Gordon August with Sherry

Jill Marzetti, from Toronto, was the day's host. She was also our candidate's hardworking, devoted, dedicated and determined Campaign Manager.

The gathering was honoured to have Gordon August, Sechelt Chief, give a welcoming blessing. And Stefan Nielsen introduced our candidate.

Stefan Nielsen

The last piece of cake

Akeena Legall, office staff, & Bruce Ross, long time member

And as quickly as they arrived, the seniors, and everybody else it seemed, climbed back into their buses and headed home. Campaign volunteers, including your faithful scribe, ventured into the neighbourhood for some door knocking. The campaign was underway.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Wave-watching at Long Beach near Tofino

The day after the day Jeem and G. G. Blynn went surfing at MacKenzie Beach was the day Jeem and G. G. Blynn were released from Tofino General Hospital.








It was also the day the entire gang: Sherry, BT Mendelbaum, Jim, G. G. Blynn and Jeem, decided to go wave-watching at Long Beach. There was the minor issue of the court order prohibiting Jeem and G. G. Blynn from being within 100 metres of any beach along the west coast of Vancouver Island, but our lawyer friend and fellow traveller, BT Mendelbaum (disbarred), convinced the others that all would be fine.

It was incredible.

The sound of the waves, like jet engines, was amazing.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.

Surf's up ~ Jeem is down

It was a bit sunnier on this brisk, windy day in February, and Jeem had talked G.G. Blynn into going surfing with him. No one else in the group was sure if either one had ever surfed before. "Maybe the Newton Wave Pool in Surrey," guessed BT Mendelbaum (disbarred).

"Now we want to head out there."

And so they were off.

Getting into the water was the easy part. Swimming, paddling against the tide, the crashing surf, was quite another thing altogether.

"I think Jeem is getting on his board," Sherry called out to the others. "Oh, oh" mumbled BT Mendelbaum.



"Yes, he's up!"

"No. He's down again."

So it went. Never quite making it. Never quite riding the big one.

But a great deal of paddling, and getting wet and numb from the cold.

"How long do we have to watch this train wreck?" complained  BT.

Copyright 2017 by Jim Murray.