Well, I made it through a truly challenging week involving having to be in way too many places on much too tight a schedule, and battling a wicked cold to boot. But here I am in Chilliwack, to accompany my daughter who is participating in the annual provincial Performing Arts Festival. We made it to registration with 20 minutes to spare, which was cutting it just a bit fine, but we’re here and she’s got all her stuff in order and we’ve had a late meal and the beds feel pretty comfy in our hotel room. I’m hoping to get some down time while she’s attending workshops, maybe even work on the sadly neglected blog for a bit.
It all feels a bit surreal. This morning I was working like a mad thing in the greenhouses, trying to prepare things to be left under my son’s willing but just slightly disinterested care; tonight I’m far away from it all, and enjoying the glories of the coastal spring. Rhododendrons are in full bloom, among so much else!
I brought three books along, two of them last-minute grabs from the tried-and-true shelf. Rumer Godden’s China Court is one of my favourites, and I’ve also read Monica Dickens’ The Winds of Heaven several times, but neither very recently, so they will be welcome diversions. I’ve also been saving Elizabeth von Arnim’s Elizabeth and Her German Garden for an auspicious time; this might at long last be it.
I understand there is a marvelous bookstore in Chilliwack, The Book Man, and sure enough, in my daughter’s “swag bag” full of goodies and promotional stuff, there is a bookmark with the store info on it. My free-time agenda for tomorrow is taken care of!
That bed is calling, so I’m going to log off now, but I’ll be back shortly, to chat a bit about books. Stand outs recently were The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, and No Love by David Garnett.
Good night, all.
Leaves & Pages 
Just reading about your life takes my breath away! Mercy! Best of luck to you and your daughter, and Happy Reading to all!
You are travelling with some excellent writers, though I haven’t read The Winds of Heaven (thank you again for introducing me to Monica Dickens). I envy you a new bookstore to explore!
Great minds obviously think alike! I have just finished The Winds of Heaven and thoroughly enjoyed it (I did a post earlier in the week) and I got China Court from the library on Saturday – they had a stack of Godden’s books, which all looked brand new, and I didn’t know which one to choose, so I shut my eyes and this was the one I picked out! Elizabeth and her German Garden is one of my favourites. Good luck to your daughter.
I do my best to avoid Chilliwack (and the Valley in general) but even I have heard good things about The Book Man! Hope everything goes well for your daughter and that you have a great time book shopping tomorrow.
The Book Man was excellent. (And expensive! The prices were reasonable, but I found too many things I wanted – I do believe I went a little overboard. My bookish daughter also bringing a stack to the counter did not help!) If you *do* find yourself in Chilliwack, Claire, The Book Man is definitely worth a visit. Everything is listed online, too – beautifully organized.
Yay! Rumer Godden. Rumer Godden is always a good author to take along with you anywhere.