Hey energy lovers! I will not be participating but I will be cheering on the thousands of athletes participating in the last IRONMAN CANADA to be held in Penticton, BC. (August 24-25, 2024). Some may recall that I, (solo female) completed Penticton’s first IMC in 1983! I will be staying with Jean and Steve King and hanging out with the so beloved and totally amazing Sister Madonna Buder.

August 9 2024 and I look once more at my blog dyanegoingsolo@blogspot.com. Very out of date to say the least! Today is the day I am endeavouring to resuscitate my social media links and see how to make my experiences and messages come alive, be real, etc... How many years has it been? ok, I have been busy living out there and now is the time to pull back and be a bit more circumspect. I could start another blog but let me just work on this one for now. If you are reading this please encourage me!!

I'll just pop up a photo of the delicious birthday cake that the Childhaven home children gave me in April when I was teaching english in their Bangladesh and Nepal homes 'n schools. I realy miss the warmth, fun and learning shared from March through June this year (2024).

Let me get back at this social media thing!! testing testing testing. May 1, 2024, Labour Day in Nepal!

Tyson is a lively two today! October 5 2020

https://vimeo.com/464427083  

Over a year later - Tyson!

November 22, 2019

Just over a month ‘til Christmas and here is my annual round robin intended to reach out to family and friends.  First, to wish you as much of a joyful and peaceful Christmas as you can muster and share with those around you.  Second, to say that, thankfully, all is well here on the Western Front.

To look back at 2019, it has been quite a year for me, and for just about everyone I know.

My Grandson Tyson is a strong and sturdy almost fourteen-month old love of Arran and Teresa’s life.  He is developing nicely, crawling, standing, reaching, pulling, pushing, pressing, twisting and turning the many educational toys that they have in the house.  He loves books and it is delightful to watch as he listens attentively when Teresa and Arran read him stories.  He decides which book should be read and turns the pages, one by one, and then back to the beginning for reconsideration and to have it read again.   Often, when asked, Tyson points out the subject being discussed.  Yes, Tyson brings joy to us all with his love of life. He is totally present!  He is a lesson to us all!  I see them every one or two weeks and A and T keep me up to date daily with clips, videos and Facetime visits of Tyson’s development.   

Despite Tyson’s current challenges, which will have to be faced as time goes on, Teresa and Arran live each day fully with their son.  I cannot tell you how proud I am of my son!   Tyson’s first surgery will be scheduled sometime in January and the first bone issues will be dealt with, as the surgeons deem appropriate.  We, Tyson’s families and best friends, trust that whatever intervention is necessary Tyson will continue to show us how determined, strong and brave an individual he is. 

In July my school friend Jasmine shocked us with having a sudden stroke and then another.  By the time I returned to Ireland Jasmine was in a coma.  I was with her and her family for the last few days of her life.  Jasmine died on October 29 and, three days later, my one hundred year old Auntie Evelyn passed away.  It was a total privilege to be home for these two events and spend time with members of two very special families.

In August, after avid fundraising, and thanks so much to those who contributed, I joined a group of over 100 cyclists and we completed the annual 225k BC Ride for Cancer.  We cycled from Vancouver to Hope, B.C.

I am quite an avid ‘yogi’ and 2 or 3 times a week I get up at 4:30 to join others in a 6:30 a.m. early morning Sanga yoga class.  I continue to teach English at home and, once a week, I volunteer as a teacher assisting elementary children in their “One to One” reading/literacy program.  I also volunteer as a ‘Family Support Person’ at the Children’s’ Hospital here in Vancouver. 

Oh yes, from August through to the beginning of November, I worked for the cruise ships coming into and leaving the Port of Vancouver.  It was a fun and interesting job.  Even though I cannot do it myself, it felt good to assist people going to exotic places on cruise lines!!  I have been asked to return next year.

Another hat! For the past month I have been assisting a delightful 34 year old refugee from Rwanda.  I have been host cum Mom cum facilitator cum good friend to Jean Bosco.  He is now a  fully fledged ‘Permanent Refugee’ living in Canada.  I am working with members of the Refugee Committee from the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. It has been a most interesting and rewarding experience for me.  

That’s about all my chat for now.  Of course, there is always more to share, and always the wonder of how are you doing?  Let’s keep in touch and maybe we will see each other in 2020.  Meantime, good old-fashioned e-mail, for communication and WhatsApp, Facetime and Skype if we want to get close and personal, and all this  for free!

Cheers and the warmest hugs reach your way!

Love,

Dyane

Tyson Cameron Lynch, born October 5, 2018

Please contribute to 2018 cancer research!

I've got my bike and helmet, but to guarantee my 2018 Ride success, I need your support. Help me reach my goal!

http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/DyaneLynch

I am back on my bike and in training again!  This time my efforts are for a worthwhile goal that everyone can relate to. Please support me and the intrepid 'Riders for Ryders team' as we focus on this year's Ride to Conquer Cancer.

In August 2018, we, the 'Riders for Ryders team', along with hundreds of others, will be cycling over 200 kilometres.  Our destination this year is Hope, B.C.  The journey will take two days.   

Funds raised through The Ride for the BC Cancer Foundation will support cancer research, treatment, and services at the BC Cancer Agency which is a leader in cancer research and treatment. 

Please click on the link above for further information and to donate to my ride.  Heartfelt thanks to those of you who have already contributed.

Dyane

Who never ever gives up!

Banff to Jasper Relay, June 2, 2018

Never ever give up.

I've got my bike and helmet, but to guarantee my 2018 Ride success, I need your support. Help me reach my goal!

http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/DyaneLynch

I am back on my bike and in training again!  This time my efforts are for a worthwhile goal that everyone can relate to. Please support me and the intrepid 'Riders for Ryders team' as we focus on this year's Ride to Conquer Cancer.

In August 2018, we, the 'Riders for Ryders team', along with hundreds of others, will be cycling over 200 kilometres.  Our destination this year is Hope, B.C.  The journey will take two days.   

Funds raised through The Ride for the BC Cancer Foundation will support cancer research, treatment, and services at the BC Cancer Agency which is a leader in cancer research and treatment. 

Please click on the link above for further information and to donate to my ride.  Heartfelt thanks to those of you who have already contributed.

Dyane

Who never ever gives up!

Bro in law, Matthew  90 on December 11!

https://youtu.be/L8WxXdrDaJA

June 24 2017 Arran and Teresa marry

Resilient Dyane!

Hear ye, hear ye!!!

I am changing my logo identity as a writer from 'Relaxonthego' to now be 'Resilient Dyane!' what do you think?

Go to resiliency568.wordpress.com to read my short flash stories.  These entries will, in the not too distant future, be published as part of my life memoirs.  Fun, eh?!

God Bless Us, Everyone, this Christmas and in 2017!

December 4, 2016

 My Christmas e-mail blurb to family and friends:

                               God Bless Us, Everyone …… 

A run down of my year, two thousand and sixteen.

Thanks to checking back with my MacBook Pro storage and their labeling of photos of the past year I can give you a thumbnail run down of my, annoyingly non lucrative and quite unproductive, year.  I cherish some photos that remind me of some special moments.

I returned home to Burnaby late 2015 after many months of travels and exploits, check my blog if you like (Mexico, Peru, Ireland, Spain, Portugal…). Christmas time 2015 Arran and Teresa were away in Asia and I had some pleasant festive times with the Galloways, the Ways and with Karen Kirkpatrick, Sue et al.

The highlight of this year is that Arran asked Teresa to marry him on his birthday, April 21, and she accepted!  They are planning their small wedding in June at a small resort on the sunshine coast.  Their dogs, Billie and Rocky, are the ring bearers!  I am very happy for them and they are enjoying fixing up the house that they bought in Vancouver a couple of years ago.

After Christmas 2015 I was in a car accident and, now, I don’t have a car!  Yes, I miss my trusty blue Honda Civic, and, yes, it is expensive to start over.  Now I walk and cycle to places, but for all that, I am probably that more fit?  To add to this loss, a few weeks later, in January, my dishwasher gave up the ghost!  Thanks to the help of neighbour, Lianne, we dried up the puddles and Arran installed a nice new floor. 

Interesting, the start-off of year 2015, and here I was, without a car and no dishwasher!  This means I continue to be more time/ energy-conscious getting to my early morning yoga classes in Vancouver and to my ESL home tutoring students.  When at home I spend stretches of time writing some more of me life memoirs … slow and steady … ;}

This Summer I bought a year pass for the Grouse Grind mountain and enjoyed challenging myself during the months of May, June and July.  Each climb I endeavoured to beat my own time getting to the top of the mountain.  (2.9km ascent, with an elevation gain of 2,800 feet).  And, I did!

Rosemary and Matthew came out west in February and we had good times together, first in Vancouver, and later I joined them for a few wonderful days later in Victoria.  When there, I caught up with some dear old island friends, Margaret Martin, Christine and Mel Johnson, Sally Hughes, also Sandy and Robert Hatton.

Lesley, Mac and Sidney met me in Victoria and the four of us drove over bumpy roads into the Walbran valley in the center of Vancouver Island.  We slept in two tents under the stars surrounded by ancient trees and ever-flowing rivers.  Memorable.  Wide eyed we were as Mac regaled us with effective activist stories of saving portions of the Walbran valley.

At different times during 2016, good friends visited, including, Ann Atkins, Edna Rogers, Anna and Rodney Williamson, Gillian / Bob Catto, Heather Powell, and, currently, Fatima Bacot and soon, her daughter Thalia.

In June and again in September I housesat two different friends’ houses, the first near my old stomping ground, the University of BC, and the second in Steveston, south of Vancouver.  Both were great places and ambiance  to hang out on my own, with cat and plants and sometimes with friends.

I continue to support the wonderful Child Haven orphanage in Kathmandu.  In September friends and I went to the CH annual fundraiser in Vancouver.  Cathy and Mickey will be coming home soon from Nepal, in time for Christmas with their family.  She is doing fantastic work in the mountains of Nepal while finishing her PhD.

In August, after some bike training, I joined the “Conquest Team” for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. All, except me, were under 30 years!! They were a terrific bunch of folk and very supportive of my endeavours. We cycled from Vancouver to Seattle. Thanks to friends and family, I raised well over $3,000.  Wonderful ride, beautiful scenery, mostly along the Pacific coast.  A fun, inspirational and empowering journey. We camped one night in Mt. Vernon, Washington State.

Throughout the year, I spent a lot of time with my good friend, Valerie Way.  I had happy times with her family after the birth of her first grand daughter to Dave and Julia.  Very sadly, Val’s partner, Dave Roberts, passed on, after a too long illness.  I was happy to be around for Val during some of these sad and stressful times. RIP dearest Dave. 

As with all of us, we have loved ones who are experiencing medical and emotional challenges.  Throughout the last several months I have spent times with Nony, a neighbour upstairs who is successfully overcoming a debilitating illness.  A lengthy saga, but Nony is strong, resilient and, thankfully, she is home again from hospital and she continues to make good progress.

All this been said, I hope that I find you and yours feeling good and looking forward to many positive things in the new year.  I look forward to our future encounters.

Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Namaste, Slainte and Namaste! 

Dyane

         

December 2014 until December 2015 ~ starting with Sandduning in Peru .....

To visiting the condors in the Colca Valley and flying above the Nasca Lines ...

To paying tribute to ancient Inca burials ...

Times in Lima ...

Then flight to Iquitos and onto the Amazon ...

Visiting San Pedro tripal village up the Amazon ...

Back to the hostel in Cusco ...

Visiting sacred floating on Lake Titicaca ...