The Wee Folks Seasons Greetings,2016.

Ah, behold the wondrous magic bestowed upon us by Fidelina, the beautiful fairy princess, her beloved husband, Geoffrey the garden gnome and their boy child, Einahalk.  They, from the land of the wee folks, drenched in symbolism, of love, of hope, of compassion.

The wee folks, a celebration of diversity in an all different, all equal world.  

Observe their joy as the wee folks sense the simple enchantment of twinkling lights. 

A fun time to be had as the festivities of free minds rejoice in their passionate desire to see us, the big people, learn of their non-judgemental ideals. 

Their sweet innocence doth be a marvel to see. 

 True love has no boundaries. 

 

                                                                Group embrace. 

A snowy scene from yesteryear in the enchanted garden where they once lived. 

The warm, reassuring glow from within my living room where the wee folks now reside as they pass on their lessons for me to learn, for you to learn, for all of us to learn. 

And thus, the setting sun kissed the western horizon. Evening cast hopeful shadows on the sleepy town of Leek, Staffordshire, England.  Tis the wish of the wee folks, such scenes of wonder would result in the dawning of the new day.  A new day of compassion amongst us of the big world.  

Penny, the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, along with the wee folks, leave you with some prose for thought.

In the past year

We've seen your fear

Mankind

Not aligned

Man unkind 

Hatred for those 

Who chose 

To live in peace

Make the hatred cease

Make compassion contagious

The premise not outrageous

Peace to you all

Our impassioned call.

Just Before The Magic Arrives.

Just when I thought the momentum was about to return, the momentum got somewhat derailed.  I was going to post up a whole bunch of photos from my trip to British Columbia.  Being that it's now almost that magical time when the wee folks take over my blog, I shall briefly inform you of what's been happening.

I don't normally resort to Anglo-Saxon derivatives to convey how I'm feeling.  Consider this the last resort.  If you don't like the usage of profanity, look away now.....You can, if you so wish, skip this paragraph and the next.  What a fucked-up few months this has been.  I went through all that passport bullshit with the Canadian government, to such a degree, that I didn't even know I could legally board a plane to Vancouver until about a week before my flight.  My right elbow is still hosting a giant tit aka "tennis elbow".  Typing with the intrusive tit makes keyboard manoeuvring quite the contest.

To add some farcical, fucking festivities to, the season to be jolly, season, I now have a car that has had some rather unwanted customising.

A little over three weeks ago, I took my car in for some routine servicing.  I made mention to the mechanic that the car was running a bit rough.  When I went to get my car, I was assured the vehicle was now okay.  When I drove off, I realised that the car was still running a bit rough.  I booked my car back in to have the problem rectified.

Nine days ago, I did indeed have the niggling engine problem apparently sorted.  That was the good news when I phoned to see if my car was ready.  Here's the bad news.  The mechanic told me that he'd taken my car for a test drive and that the bonnet, (the hood), flew up on him while he was driving. The end result was a smashed-in bonnet, a dented roof and a cracked windscreen.

He claims that I had a faulty bonnet latch.  This is now causing a, who is responsible, legal battle. There is no way I will pay for the repairs.  I consider this most odd that in the seven years of owning the car, I've never had any trouble with my bonnet flying up.  In fact, within the last two months, the only time the bonnet has been opened was during the time it was taken to the mechanic's garage.

The irony within all of this is that if the car had been properly serviced in the first place, my car would not now be smashed up.  I now wait for the mechanic to get a replacement bonnet, fix my roof and replace the windscreen.  In the meantime, despite assurances my car is safe enough to drive, I'm paranoid about going out of town.

I suppose, when I really think about it, 2016 has been a screwed-up year, worldwide.  Bizarre Brexit result in the UK, some sort of reality TV presidential election in the States and the horror that is Aleppo. Despite my moaning, I do realise I have plenty to be grateful for.

Once again, the comments are switched off.  I'm sure you still understand that it's very difficult for me to actually type.  This has left me way out of the blogging interaction loop.

Thankfully, the wee folks and friends will be taking over my blog sometime next week.  The magic will arrive.....The wee folks annual, seasonal wish.

Somewhat Normal Service Shall Commence Shortly.

Despite my ongoing problem with the giant boob hanging off the bottom of my right elbow, I shall be attempting an actual post fairly soon.

You are imagining this post.  In the meantime, here's three real photos from my trip to British Columbia, Canada.

Boyce-Gyro Beach Park, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.  September 26,2016.

Oyama, British Columbia, Canada.  September 26,2016.

Gellatly Bay, West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.  September 28,2016. 

Typing With A Tit On My Elbow.

Yes, I know, why am I still not posting?  Consider this some sort of post.  The problem is that it's extremely difficult typing as my bursitis in the elbow aka "tennis elbow", has worsened.  Typing while having a jiggling lump is not easy.  I'm now empathising with Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, who has told me, on a number of occasions, that typing for her is like a human trying to type with mittens on.

I've now been on the anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks.  While taking the drugs, I was told not to take anything for the flu I managed to get during my trip to British Columbia.  This compounded the situation.

Yesterday, I went to my health centre to get a flu jab.  The flu clinic was a walk-in without needing an appointment.  I had a crafty plan in regards to getting a flu jab.  In other words, how to have an appointment with a doctor without actually having an appointment. When the doctor called me in, I told her that I wasn't sure if I could have the flu shot because it might clash with the medicine I was taking for the elbow situation.  She looked at my elbow and proceeded to go get the doctor who'd seen me in the first place. The two doctors stared at my great lump, as in the lump on my right elbow.  They agreed that I needed to go to hospital.  I now wait for my appointment to come through the mail.

Like I stated to the doctors, I really didn't want to go to accident and emergency, wait several hours as a bunch of rowdy drunks proceeded to puke all over me.

Oh, I never got the flu shot because I was informed that as well as the clash of medication, the fact I'd just had the flu meant I couldn't get a flu jab.

That's about all I can type.  This is most frustrating.  I hope to be sort of blogging within the next month.  Apologies for not interacting with you.  I know you'll understand.  Once again, I shall be leaving the comments switched off because responding to comments whilst trying to keep a flopping blob off my keyboard is not my idea of fun.

I'll slap up a couple of photos from the second day of my trip to British Columbia.

This is the view from the top of the hill in White Rock, British Columbia.  My mother and my stepdad live about a ten minute walk from this location.

Here's another view from a different street.  If you go down to the beach, way off in the distance, you can see the Peach Arch, which is located at the border crossing just before you go into Blaine, Washington.

Taking photos often turns into some weird adventure for me.  While attempting to take the above photos, some old dude was following me around.  He gave me strange looks.  Just about normal for me.

I "Flu" Back From Vancouver.

I'm very sure you've been anxiously waiting for a post from me.  Thus, stay calm as I let you know that I'm not exactly well enough to do a blog post.  Typing this post is taking a lot of effort as you will begin to understand.

Oh yes, I left Vancouver at 7:00 P.M., Saturday, October 8.  I arrived just before noon, Sunday October 9, at Manchester airport wondering where the hell the weekend had gone.  I prepared myself for the jet lag.

The next few days and the jet lag kicked in, big time!  It seemed that my body was here but my mind was 8 time zones behind.

Still, I waited for the jet lag to subside only to then realise that I'd picked up a rather nasty flu bug that could be traced back to my time in Kelowna, British Columbia.  I worked that out because my friend, Heather, whom I'd being staying with in Kelowna, mentioned to me in a recent phone call that she was just getting over the flu.

Fantastic!  I travelled over 4500 miles, went back 8 time zones just to get some Canadian flu.  A bit of "eh fever", eh.

I also noticed about a week before the end of my trip to British Columbia that I had a lump growing on the bottom of my right elbow. It's called bursitis, aka "tennis elbow", although I didn't play any tennis.  Tennis elbow can be caused by a thump to the elbow, or can be caused by doing a repetitive motion. No, not that!

I have no idea how I got such a condition.  You will now further understand that typing this post is indeed taking a lot of effort.  Try typing when you've got a giant bollock flopping onto your keyboard.

I've been to the doctor's who has prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory drugs.  I'm hoping to see some improvement over the next few days,  If not, I have to go to Accident and Emergency to get the big elbow bollock popped.

So there it is.  I've got the flu, a "testicle" drooping down from my right elbow and a bit of lingering jet lag.

While I'm in what I hope is recovery mode, the comment section will be set to the off position on this post.  I really don't want to attempt to keep shoving my flopping ball sack off the keyboard.

Thanks and I hope you are well, eh.

Here is the view out of the plane I flu, um, flew on.  Yes, a window seat with a view of the wing. Although, seeing the wing is reassuring, I was sort of hoping for a view of the scenery below, aka constant clouds.  Note what it states on the wing, " DO NOT WALK OUTSIDE THIS AREA".  A really good idea at 40,000 feet.....

BlogAir To Vancouver.

Hi there, yes it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!  My human dad, Gary, is about to take a plane to Vancouver.  Okay, he's actually leaving on the morning of September 19.  I said goodbye to him yesterday, September 15.  From now and up until October 7, I will be staying with my human brother, Tristan and his girlfriend, Sue.  From the evening of Friday, October 7 until Sunday afternoon, October 9, I will be staying with Gary's ex wife because Sue and Tristan will be spending the weekend in Munich, Germany.  Gary arrives back on October 9.

This means that a soon as Gary gets back from Manchester airport in the taxi, he'll be getting into his car to come and get me.  I hope he remembers which side of the road to drive on.

While I'm pawing this pawst, I visualise Gary doing his final preparations for his trip to Canada.  I sensed how stressed he was because there was over three weeks of him wondering if he would even be allowed to board the plane.  He seems so much better now he knows that all is okay.

It's going to be a real challenge for him.  For my human dad has lots of anxiety and he's travelling on his own.  He hates travelling on his own.  I wish I could of gone with him.  Alas, the logistics would have been too much.

Then again, he is flying on the blogger's favourite airline, "BlogAir".  Hopefully, whatever blogger who ends up sitting beside him doesn't start going on and on and on about blog hops, blog fests or anything to do with the alphabark, um, alphabet!  Hopefully, whatever blogger who ends up sitting beside him doesn't go into acronym overdrive, such as, " I'm doing YA writing with an MG theme and my WIP is coming along real good!"  WTF!!?  ARF! 

You might have realised that I have actually worked for BlogAir.  However, Penny the Pawlet has now retired.  Shame really because I could of taken Gary to Vancouver and had a brief stopover meeting his friends, family and of course, his adoring fans.  Yes, Gary's delusional.  We must humour him.

I will miss Gary and I know he will miss me.  It will be wonderful to see him when he gets back. Gary, if you do get onto a computer when you're in British Columbia, pawlease, pawlease, bring me back some delicious Canadian doggy treats!  

You will note the comments section is switched off.  My paws need to pause.  Pawsitive wishes, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! 

I'm Going To Take Off, Eh!

If you read my last post, you might of worked out that I've endured over three weeks of bureaucratic bullshit, to the bullshittiest extreme.

Oh yeah, I applied to have an extra layer of security on my British passport, despite the leniency period that's still in force during the time I was scheduled to take off to Vancouver. Doing what I thought was the right thing turned into me battling with a bunch of "do not reply" emails.  Over three weeks of frustration, anger, panic attacks, anxiety, mood swings, as I battled with misinformation overload.

How I've managed to keep it together is thanks to you and my constant positive visualisation of greeting my parents on the other side of Customs at Vancouver International Airport.

What happened to me should of never happened in the first place.  I was determined that justice would prevail.  When I first got rejected for Canada's Electronic Travel Authorisation aka "eTA", I had no idea what was wrong.  To make the situation even more aggravating, I hadn't a clue what they wanted from me in regards to documents, despite my several pleas asking them what they wanted.

My head went into speculation overdrive.  Why was I being denied an eTA?   Had the authorities found out about my kinky parties that involved covering myself and any willing participants, with maple syrup?  Maybe they found out about my rendezvous with a moose?  Or maybe, just maybe, they noted the time on Spanish Banks beach in Vancouver when I got caught by a police officer illegally consuming a Molson Canadian beer in a public place.  The police officer yelled at me, "Down that beer!"  I reacted by downing the beer, not onto the ground, but down my throat.  I recall he was not impressed but did sort of chuckle.

It did transpire that they'd decided that I had permanent resident status in Canada and thus, I was supposed to board the plane with an up to date Canadian Resident Card, complete with a photo.  I'd never even heard of such a card.  What a crazy, confusing caper.

Today, I'm feeling rather smug.  I must keep my smugness and my silly grin under control.  After just over three weeks of sheer torment, I have defeated the Canadian bureaucratic monster!   Today, I received, not one, not two, but three emails from the Canadian immigration authorities.  Here's the gist of those emails.  "Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's review of your Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is now complete. Your eTA remains approved.  You remain authorised to travel to Canada by air."  They also stated within one of the emails that they conceded that I had been experiencing technical problems with the account I had to set up with them.  I actually received an apology for any inconvenience caused.

It figures, yesterday I went and got a whole bunch of documents sorted.  I spent almost an hour with a professional photographer as she had to get my photos just right for the Canadian government photo specifications.  After a frantic day and at much expense, I sent all the information required to the Canadian High Commission in London to prove that I actually don't live in Canada.  Then, today, I got those emails.  What a difference a day makes.

In the words of those two Canadian legends, Bob and Doug McKenzie, I'm going to "Take off, eh!