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What’s Been On Your Calendar for October 2024?

Retirement Reflections
Another Busy Calendar Month
Birthday Celebration at Harrison Hot Springs
Friends and Family Make the World Go Round (and music helps too)!

Please join my cohosts and me and let us know what’s been on your October calendar.
Sue @ Women Living Well After 50
Jo @ And Anyways
Debbie @ Deb’s World

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

78 thoughts on “What’s Been On Your Calendar for October 2024?”

  1. I visited a U.S. friend in Minnesota where she drove north along shoreline of Lake Superior in this early Oct. Just fabulous red-orange gold flaming autumn glory forests, hiking trails along lake’s rugged rocky coastline. It is the wildest of our Great Lakes. Along Route 61.

    I was in Chicago visiting 2 other bloggers in Sept. So I feel I visited the U.S. and learned more at a ground level, at a time in U.S. history before pivotal Nov. 5 election.

    I had a plane ticket credit…so just booked a 2025 short spring trip to VAncouver to enjoy the cherry blossoms at that time of year. Are you aware of the annual festival? Highly recommended and nothing like it in CAnada.

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    1. That is so cool that you were recently able to drive along Lake Superior and Route 61. It is especially beautiful this time of year.
      I’ve been to the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Fesitival and it is fabulous. We also have fabulous Cherry Blossoms on Vancouver Island (2 of these trees are in our own yard). 😀 We will be in Vancouver this year for the Sun Run which is sadly right after the Cherry Blossom Festival!

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      1. I didn’t realize I have to log in properly to attach my avatar. 🙂 Yes, Sun Run is insanely huge and I get the powerful feeling when I lived in VAncovuer for 8 yrs. that outside participants come to Vancouver, not just for the marathon, but to enjoy West Coast vibe. I don’t need to tell you that!

        I used to live 1 block away overlooking Pacific Blvd. by B.C. Stadium and saw start of run. But we made sure to disappear faaaaraway from the running crowds 2 hrs. before start. 🙂

        B.C. Stadium during 2010 Olympics:

        Iconic Photo Memories- 2010 Winter Olympics. Part I – Cycle Write Blog

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      2. Hi, Jean – Thank you so much for logging in to let me know that the Anonymous comment was you. I thought it was but wanted to be sure. The Sun Run will be a family event this year with our eldest son and his animation staff running together, with our youngest son joining from Hong Kong and Richard and I walking it. You know what they say about a family that runs and walks together…they are usually tired! ❤

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      2. Those are 2 fantastic attributes, and I’m delighted to hear that. I initially typed “festival” but thought that that might be obvious that it’s the festival-of-birth only to me… Glad the Fbirthday hit the mark. It seems like a very busy October! Is November going to be more relaxing?

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    1. Thanks, Joanne – For this coming year, Richard and I are focussing on a bunch of shorter, more local trips, as opposed to longer, farther ones. For his birthday this past September, we went to Tofino (2 hours drive away). For my birthday, we went to Harrison HotSprings which was on our way to Kelowna where my parents live. Both were perfect local getaways! ❤

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  8. Hi Donna – I always love how you put your posts together – full of photos that tell their own story, with a few words thrown into the mix to season it all. It looks like your October was full of family, friends and things to do – you can’t ask for more than that can you? Roll on November!

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  10. I’m convinced you make the most out of every month with so many great fun, family and friend connections Donna. And sometimes “you” just gotta make it happen, right?

    Thanks for hosting WBOYC

    Denyse x

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    1. Hi, Jo – Thank youfor reading and commenting. I love connecting with your blog – I feel we have lots in common. And speaking of your blog – it is never too late to link up here. I just took your recent post (which was fabulous) and added it to the InLinkz. Hope that is okay. (If not, just let me know and I can change that.) ❤

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  19. Belated happy birthday to you & Richard. I had a BD in Sept & the celebration continued on to the end of Oct! Thanksgiving w/e was filled with family & fun at my cousin’s home & I was able to cheer on both granddaughters at a ringuette tournament. The w/e prior was a celebration for my aunt’s 85th BD. There’s a new routine since mom’s passing in Aug. Time has opened up. I’ve rejoined the Seniors Center Without Walls activities – chair yoga, gratitude group, writing for fun. The yard & garden have been “put to bed” & the last of the tomatoes canned leaving more time for 0.11c rummy with friends, writing, walking, fireside reading. October was also a month for body works – massage, chiropractic treatment, Bowen therapy as well as house maintenance – septic & furnace/duct cleaning. All summer long, I inflated a long tractor tire before each use. Well, that tire’s finally repaired & replaced in time for winter storage. I spent 2 days with the neighbor little. I don’t call it babysitting; we have playdates! I enjoyed the second Beetlejuice movie every bit as much as the first just in time for Hallowe’en. Like you, life is full.

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      2. I had written my post in advance and hadn’t originally included a picture from the concert (because it hadn’t happened yet). The concert was so exceptional that I went back and added in an EJ photo. But I had to take out my one of Bowser. (Shhh, don’t tell Deb….or Bowser)!

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  21. Happy belated birthday. Glad it was a great one. Gosh I also haven’t been to those hot springs since 1978? Should put them on our list for the winter ski trip. Glad to see your Mom looking well. Thanks for hosting. I always look forward to recapping my month but missed Sept so mine is a bit long!

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  26. Hope you enjoyed your mom time, spa day, bday and grandson time. Sounds like a very full, very enjoyable month. We have natural hot springs about 90 minutes from here and I would love to visit. Just have to convince PC. Wishing you the best November. P.S. I love how you and Deb have become such dear friends. I think I am remembering correctly that you met as bloggers and hit it off so well, and she eventually moved very close to you and you’ve been buds ever since. I may be making this all up but I think that’s right!!

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    1. Hi, Lesley – You have a fantastic memory (along with many, many other talents). The only addition is that Deb’s daughter moved out to Vancouver Island, not far from me. So when she first came to the Island to visit her daughter, we had our initial meetup and hit it off very well. I am forever grateful that Jemma moved near me! ❤

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  28. what a great month Donna – lots of beautiful memories. The hot spring spa looks really lovely. I will be adding that to my list of places to visit whenever I manage to get back to the Vancouver area. Thanks for sharing

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  29. Hi Donna – you and Richard live life to the full … great to see via your images – while knowing that blogging is a great experience … cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi, HIlary – My sincere apologies. I have no idea how I missed this comment last week. Richard and I do try to live our lives fully but with a balance of relaxation. We don’t always get the balance right but we do try. I hope that all has been well for you.

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    1. Thanks, Barb – It is always stressful trying to get to Kelowna (where my mom lives) in the winter months (massive mountain and Highway From Hell in the way) but once we are there, I am so grateful for that time with my mom and other family and friends. ❤

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