Beautiful weather in October. Bought another motorcycle, a 2006 BMW 1200 RT. Great deal on a nice touring bike. Not as much fun as the Aprilia but should be better for touring. Will try both in the spring and then sell one.

CBC radio asked me in for an interview on the major players in the Middle East. We had 12 minutes so covered a lot but I did miss a few points, most notably the negative impact of the settlers and occupation of the West Bank. You can hear the interview here https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-110-daybreak-south/clip/16098828-a-former-canadian-ambassador-joins-daybreak-discuss-growing

On the home front, I split the firewood we will need two years from now, built a rose trellis out of the aluminum frames I had bought a few years ago, and planted some tree seedlings along the driveway that I had been nurturing for several years. Also busy with the getting-ready-for-winter preps – servicing the bikes and ATV, cleaning the clubs, and draining the irrigation. We had some rain gutters put on the new equipment shelter and motorized screens installed to keep out the wasps and extend the patio’s season. I will need to make and install two triangular screens and another on the 4th opening – project for the winter.

We had a pretty good harvest this year, especially tomatoes, kabocha squash, and very hot peppers.

And I will leave you with a photo of Taisho enjoying the first frost of the season. I leave Sunday to join Mizuho in Japan for a few weeks while we leave T and house in the hands of our house/pet sitters.

Another busy fun month. Purchased a new induction stove as a computer board (1 of 3) on our 9 year old one expired and took out two burners. Bob had two leaking hydraulic hoses that were fixed by an independent mobile mechanic. Played some golf, had some dinners, attended a concert and an unusual Japanese film (Evil Exists not Here). Quick motorbike trip to the Kootenays and an anniversary holiday in Sun Peaks. Also attended 3 board meetings – Regional Planning Advisory, Chamber Music Kelowna, and the Okanagan Student Support Society (a non-profit we are setting up with a friend).

Trimmed loads of dead branches in the forest and dragged them out for burning or chipping. Finished the equipment shelter and annex and began work on a rose trellis.

Next month should see progress on the trellis, the planting of trees, splitting firewood and getting ready for winter.