42 - Sunday, June 18, 1989 - North Shore News CLOSE- TO-HOME VACATIONS Wise travellers know when to stay home PROBABLY THE essence of “Travelling wisely’’ is knowing when to stay home. We were guests at a reception the other day. Another guest ap- proached me with, ‘‘And when is your next big trip, Barb?" “Over the bridge and home. I've got a big day tomorrow." .“‘Must be really something to keep YOU home.”’ . “Yeah. Garbage day." eee A courier was dispatched to our house a week ago and returned to the office with the letter. “Couldn't leave it — nobody lives there.” He had that one right. Nobody “lives” at our house. We simply exist, among the refuse and rubble. weet Our living room, dining room, entry and hail echoes. It never echoed quite so well as the other night. Our oldest daughter found a skipping rope and gave it a try in the living room. She decided I- ought to join her and discovered I still had the agili- ty to “‘cut in.””. We were jumping to the full view of anyone driving by and I’m sure our ‘neighbors thought we were demented. Brian came screeching upstairs, ““You’re. knocking the house down!” : My daughter and I decided that — might be a worthwhile pursuit, considering the current state of destruction. Just wait until next “week ~- two walls are biting the dust, just as we will be. Doors are coming off their hinges to be replaced with some fancy ones, giving us the chance to - taste sawdust as well. wwe There are remodelling, both dreadful. OFFERING MOTORHOME RENTALS All excellent late model motorhomes and vans $87-5288 1377 LLOYD AVE. NORTH VANCOUVER The first, destruction, is the worst. . Aside from the dust and debris is the set of nagging fears that go along: ‘“‘Did I make a mistake by tearing out that wall?’’ ‘What's that carpet going to look like when I see 100 square yards of it and it’s too late?’’ “Can we afford it?"’ The construction end of the whole mess is bad, too, unless you’re stone deaf or don't mind hammers and saws. My first day of that had me phoning all over town, begging friends and family to take me away. travelwise Barbara McCreadie ” Brian obliged by buying me -lunch and another friend took me out for a late afternoon cocktail. The problem there was that the singer in the place we chose was little better than the electric saw and we considered the option of paying her to quit. wie There are hidden pitfails to renovations. You may be able to stand furniture piled mile-high in one room. You may not be able to Stand trying to find some essential two phases to # piece of correspondence you tucked-away for safekeeping. After a while, the junk begins to depress you. Why bother cleaning the kitchen? Shouldn't it resemble the scheme in the rest of the house? Cooking in all that mess isn’t in- spiring. Neither is entertaining. My turn to host bridge club ar- rived. Several friends offered to take my place but what would be the use? It’s going to get a lot worse be- fore it gets better and I'd be acting as permanent host for months, just to pay them back. Instead, I had a Shipwreck Party and told everyone to be prepared — wear their grubs and take allergy pills. One didn’t believe me and I don’t think she’s recovered as yet. tee And, now, comes the question of travel. We had some nice little plans but most of them have been put on hold. One school of thought was to get away, starting afresh when we teturned. But, does anyone really want to come home to this? I could easily become in illegal alien instead. -You can’t leave anyone else in charge of the job. All it can take is one small misunderstanding and you’d be wondering if aborticn was still possible when the kid’s 25 ” years old, You can’t just up-and-leave a husband, either. He hasn’t heard a word I’ve said for 30 years — why start now? (PRINCESS CRUISES MEDITERRANEAN Join CKNW’s BOB P| BYE on the Royal Princess Aug. 25 - 12 days. Fly from Van- | couver and cruise Venice to E00 To complicate matters further, although it did give us the cash to get on with the job, we sold our “recreational property’’ down south. Brian gets weepy every time he thinks of it, and every time he contemplates spending another weekend here in Shabby Acres. What’s a kind and thoughtful wife to do? I got out the classified ads and made a call. There’s a condo on Whidbey Island to be had for $90 U.S. a weekend, and ! took a flyer on it — booked and paid. Now, if I haven’t caused enough trouble by ripping out wails and carpeting, this might be grounds for divorce. It might be lovely. Again, it might be a horror story. Most people don’t keep reczeational property like we kept that little jewel-box in Sudden Valley. If you think in terms of white plush carpeting, navy velvet, china and crystal and oil paintings, you'll get the picture. It if works, Pil let you know. if it doesn't, I'll do the same. Wish me luck. Besides, it’s only $90 and my Sanity at question. Travel, even small stuff like this Whidbey Island weekend, is always a risk. On our many family holidays to Maui | usually booked something tight out of the classified and never regretted it. However, Brian was a bit younger and more flexi- ble to change then. If this column is printed under my maiden-name, mid-July, you'll know what happened ane And, speaking of travel risk, consider the danger that some travellers have faced — coming to British Columbia. If you’ve been reading the daily papers you'll be aware .of-the carnage involved when two couples from Bellingham were beaten-up by a group described as: ‘‘Skinheads.’’ Not in China — try Vancouver. And the trial is on for the fine Canadian accused of decapitating a French girl, waiting to pick cher- ties. What-a helluva way to see the world. DAVID SKILLAN’S. “Simply the best way to see Africa” KENYA SAFARI $4875.00 per person (Via London) Departures. 2 OCT, 1989 & 4 JAN. 1990 KENYA/TANZANIA $5176.00 per person (Via Amsterdam) Departure, 3 FEB. | Nobody knows and loves Africa like we da, and nobody does it better. We operate exceptionally rewarding and memorable tours personally ¥ escorted by Vancouver-hased Satan Veteran, David Skillon. All our tours : f are Fust-Class & Deluxe and always include the major i places of interest at m fair & affordable prices Adventure in grand style with us. For brochures & further details caill David ‘at 879-9377. -SKILLAN’S TOURS & SAFARIS. 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