I periodically send out test messages to those in my email address book. People seem to be changing addresses less often. I chalk this up to a larger number of people avoiding their ISP's mail for a permanent online service. I did get a note back from an ex-colleague in Ontario. We had worked together in the United Arab Emirates a decade ago. The photo to the right has not been altered. It was taken in front of our building on Carnarvon Street in New Westminster. The grass really was this green yesterday afternoon. I want to include a snippet of my emailed response.
"I am happy to hear that events went well on your visit here. We were away in September but I'm glad you ran into some good weather while visiting. Vancouver's weather can be great right through the end of October. As I'm typing, the sun has come out of hiding. It had vanished during the last four days. New rainfall records were broken. After moving here, I found the initial winters on this coast a bit depressing. It's because of the all the grey days. One does more than 'get used to it' and now I actually look forward to the wet months. It's better 'n traipsing around in snow."