Shaken and stirred...

Last week I had a very unsettling experienced and it has stayed with me...
I am still trying to make sense of it.

It's something that has completely blind sided me

and left me quaking...

I was driving in my car...a Volvo estate, along a quiet street in Oak Bay.

 In case you are not familiar with these cars they are a very sturdy and heavy vehicle.

Anyway...

I was driving at 40 km, which is the new speed limit in our residential areas of town, 

when and I passed a cyclist.

The next thing I heard was shouting and swearing.

 When I looked back in my rear view mirror and saw the cyclist racing up to my window.

He was shouting and swearing saying I had clipped the mirror on his handle bar.

I said "oh my goodness I am So Sorry if I hit you I am SO very sorry."

"Are you OK?"

(I felt and heard nothing inside the car even though the windows were wide open)

He said "You are NOT SORRY"

"You are a terrible driver!"

"You were going too fast and passed me between two parked cars!"

I said "I am Sorry if I clipped your mirror."

"I didn't think I had passed that close to you."

By this time he was red in the face, and still yelling so I suggested that we call the police.

He was having none of this and yelled at me as he sped off...

"Respect the bike, Respect the bike!"

He then rode right through the stop sign and swerved onto the road ahead...

my heart was pounding and I was shaken.

I looked around for witnesses and saw no one.

I slowly drove away looking to see if he was in sight.

He was nowhere to be seen.

As soon as I got home I got on the phone to the police and made a full report...

I explained how shaken up I was by this event.

It was all the yelling and swearing that had me so upset.

I was not even sure that my car came in contact with his mirror but if it did I wanted them to know.

(I looked at the passenger side of my car and could find no evidence of any marks or scratches)

The report was filed and within the hour I received a call from the Police...

The previous week there was a report exactly like mine...

a driver reported a cyclist who intimated that his bike had been hit 

the driver had no idea or evidence to that effect

an apology was forthcoming ~ despite lots of shouting from the cyclist.

The driver had filed a report with the station and the cyclist had not.

The officer assured me that I was right to report the event and counselled me not to lose any sleep.

I consider myself a very careful driver and I look for cyclists.

I obey the speed limits and am very aware of pedestrians.

I drive defensively...

Now I am left uncertain, shaken and wondering...

and I'll never know for sure.

Sitting with a mug of Lapsang Souchong Tea

on my wee patio

by the back door

listening to the birds

watching the bees flit from flower to flower

trying to make sense of this event.

What have I learned from this?

I'll never know if my car clipped his mirror...

but one thing for sure is that I'll be on the look out for this same cyclist

in case it happens again.

Life is full of unanswered questions...

Thank goodness for the roses...

they are such a cheerful tonic and I hope in time this feeling of unease will fade.

Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Hostess

XO

Post #1189...garden snapshots on a sunny Canada Day

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.

Before you read much more be warned that The Hostess is feeling a wee bit GRUMPY

you may even want to click away and go read another blog and I don't blame you at all...

Look away from the computer screen...

Last Sunday two hornets stung me on my right hand...

Mr. HB drove me to the clinic as the swelling was immediate and then the redness starting going up my arm almost to my elbow.

Three days later I am still  puffed up like a balloon.

Itchy, hot and the worst thing is that I need to take antihistamines to try to control the reaction.

I've iced it and put a soothing salve to help calm the itch 

but I don't feel much like doing anything else...

So instead of gardening today I took some pictures to share with you.

Our birdbath has seen better days

the concrete is falling apart so we popped a flat pottery dish on top to keep the water in

the birds are very thirsty and I am trying to do my bit so I have a few spots where they can drink.

Some annuals for instant colour to perk up the patio extension...

The Garden Shed

we have left the grass to go brown as we are very aware of the water situation

 and with this drought we all need to do our best to conserve.

"Grampa's Peas" are ready.

We'll have to pick a bag and deliver them to Isla and Henry so they can taste garden fresh peas.

fragrant sweet peas 

Abraham Darby, a David Austin Rose

Onions

Hosta ~ White Astilbe ~ Bleeding Heart

the name of this plant escapes me...

I have a foggy brain with these antihistamines...

I'm so grateful 

that the exterminator was able to stop by and take care of the hornets nest 

 he had to gear up in a white suit, mask and a hat with mesh netting.

He needed to cut away some of the clematis as the nest was secured to the fence behind many many branches.

He sprayed the nest and then knocked it down before sealing it in a bag and taking it away.

I hope they don't decide to rebuild...

my little vintage French chair and table are right beside the fence just a few meters away...

we want to feel safe when we are outside in the garden and I certainly don't want the grand children getting stung.

Here's my new weapon for wasps and hornets...

and now that the pity party is over 

I'd like to share with you a blogger who will confirm that the attitude of gratitude is alive and well...

meet Ellie who lives in Paris and has serious health issues (ALS) but it does not prevent her from living life to the fullest.

Go and visit her blog and say hi...

you'll be amazed by her strength and creativity.

I challenge you to share random acts of kindness...

I'd love it if you could report back on the things that you did....

I think we can all benefit and be inspired to make our communities a better place to live one random act at a time.

Happy Canada Day!

MIssing in Action...

Hope you have enjoyed a great week...

Mr. HB and I took a wee bit of time off to gunk hole in the Gulf Islands aboard our Sea Ray.
The weather was stupendous, the food delicious, the pools warm and the books divine.
I bet you never even noticed my lack of posts I was totally offline...MIA.

Gowland Point Beach a 30 minute walk from Poet's Cove at Bedwell Harbour, on Pender Island.

Our summertime custom, 

which quickly became a habit was to sip a cocktail, nibble some food and play crib.

Do you know what this is?

We got in a few long walks to "help negate" happy hour cocktails and the appies that we munched with gay abandon.
I gained 5 pounds even with the swimming and walking so will be back and vigilant on the WW points system and pounding the pavement when I can see above the pile of laundry in the basement!

It's a car stop...with no transit on the island and one taxi this is how the non walkers get around.

No need to hitch hike just stand and wait for the next car to stop.

Darling daughter and I did this a couple of years ago and were picked up by the most eccentric woman I have ever had the pleasure of conversing with...

oh and her very shaggy wet and drooling doggies shared the back seat with us!

There were a few wildlife sightings at dusk.

Some seaweed encounters...

A fascinating read which BTW is the third book I have read in 10 days!

I wish that I had invented Zip Loc bags...

they are a galley slave's best friend.

Our salmon is marinating in garlic, diced ginger, green onions, soy sauce and a pinch of sugar.

I usually use maple syrup but had none on board so I had to be creative.

"One Pot Wonders" 

are the name of the game on board with one burner.

We are fortunate enough to have a microwave and a BBQ.

 I try to keep the meals simple.

My pedicure is still intact but many of the crystals have fallen off my flip flops...

(too many salty beach walks)

 I will be replacing these before next summer.

We celebrated Henry's first birthday this afternoon and he is the most adorable blond boy in the entire universe...

I am feeling very mellow despite the fact that I am dealing with a mountain of laundry.

But you all know how much I LOVE doing laundry!

and dishes...using pure linens.

Will be back in jiff...

thanks for stopping by.

A beautiful woman inspires...

I saw a stunning looking older woman in the grocery store.
She had fabulous style and her hair was a shock of silver and her skin was radiant and beautiful.
It looked almost opaque.
She wore a rich shade of red on her lips and her skin was quite wrinkled and I noticed when she spoke to the clerk that her eyes twinkled...

I could not help but stare and I did want to know more about her...
she was wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt with a red cardigan draped over her shoulders
if I had to guess her age I'd be thinking she'd be around 80.

She had a simple gold bangle on one wrist and a large pair of Tahitian grey pearl studs in her ears.
Her handbag was black and had no visible signs of the brand or maker.

She had a large straw tote for her groceries...
I noticed that she had a few pieces of fruit, some vegetables and a small piece of salmon in her cart.
I assume she lives alone.

She had a lovely manner about her...
someone that you would not easily forget
perhaps she was a model or someone who performed on stage
she was so poised and relaxed, comfortable in her own skin.

This woman unknowingly inspired me to take a good long look at how I looked.

It was windy and my hair was a mess, my coat was undone
my lips were bare and I think I looked rather frazzled...
I was frazzled inside so I am pretty sure that it showed!

I could have made the effort to smarten up even if it meant putting some lipstick on in the car and smoothing my hair, doing up my coat and putting a smile on my face...even though I felt weary.

The McCartney Rose

the perfume is unbeatable

these petals hold the scent for days

often I'll pop them in a pretty dish and enjoy them for until they wilt

speaking of enjoyment

my newest and most favourite magazine 

has arrived...

I'm going to put my feet up and sip a cup of tea...

and dream a bit.

 Perhaps I'll meet that seriously chic lady at the market sometime soon...

and I'm going to tell her how beautiful she is next time.

I compliment strangers often

do you?