Kelowna, 25 February

Another dull snowy day here at home in late February.

Kelowna, 27 March, 2018

My first FollowMe drone video

The Second

China, 11-17 April

The trip so far has had many challenging moments. First in Shanghai China Mobile had me locked out from getting a SIM card when my passport was entered into the system. I was told to return in an hour to get one. After getting the phone service from a very thoughtful lady I found I didn't have enough time to wait in line for the train tickets. I tried to get in the front but was rejected by the people in first line I tried. I very kind man in an adjacent line told me I could get in front of him. I got to the train station in time but most people had already boarded.

When I arrived in Urumqi the extensive security system and checking on leaving the station caused me to be confused as how to find the way to the bus terminal. After passing through security for the Bus Rapid Transit system and paying the 1 kuai fare, I had to go back out and around the barriers to get to the local buses. I finally got the right one and went to the hotel.

The hotel was one of my least desirable experiences. The room and bed were clean but the property was dismal and the shower had little water that was barely warm enough to endure.

On leaving the city I had to go through 3 sets of scanning security (2 with pat downs) to get to the train station waiting room. I'm glad I went to the station with about 6 hours to spare.

I arrived in Khorgas at 07:42 16 April on train K9789 from Urumqi.

Khorgas, 17 April, 2018

I spent a large part of the day exploring Khorgas and talking to office workers and bank employees to understand whether ownership of residential and commercial property is permitted to foreigners.

See album

Kazakhstan, 17 April - 10 May

Kelowna, 6 July

We have been home now for about 2 weeks following our curtailed trip to Oregon due to Lindea's accidentally broken hip. She is getting around with help and working on the arrangements required for the Okanagan Gem Show.

My plans for the lecture trip to North Korea are mostly complete and I have a full weight allowance of books to take with me for the Pyongyang Science and Technology Book Fair. I'm fitting in the things I need to do around the requirements for her care.

Kelowna, 22 July

Smoke from the Peachland combined fire as seen from the drone near our home and aerials of farm.

Kelowna, 27 July

Fire flares up on mountainside about 830m from our house.

I have composed a calendar and map to provide Lindea with information and guide me on the lecture trip to Pyongyang.

Pyongyang,27 September

Junior classes at Kumsong #2 Secondary School
I taught "The Environment" to them for one week.

I taught different aspects of Internet technology, including web design
and JavaScript to the senior students in the pervious two weeks.

See album

Pictures added 3 October

From Vladivostok, 30 September

Six pictures provided by Viktor Bogatov, Chief Academic Secretary,
a friendly professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok

Kelowna, 4 October

I finally got the railing up the driveway installed!
It sure has made Lindea happy.

Now she can walk up and down in the snow more safely.

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Ongoing

I have been working on a family project for the past few weeks to help my son-in-law Steve have a fast and attractive website for his IT business in the Okanagan.

The result is at Mission-IT.ca

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Kelowna, 11 November

We woke up this morning to see our first winter-like day of this season.

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