I have driven past the Roundhouse for years. I have admired the red brick heritage buildings and wondered what might happen to them. One day I phoned the owners (Bayview Properties) and asked if I could use one of those building for a Christmas Market. Nomad Holiday Market was born. 

The railyard has huge potential to become a jewel for Victoria and surrounding area, Its close to the water, has a neighbourhood pub and lots of new condos. The Nomad Holiday Market was one of the 1st Markets to be held in an area destined to become a marketplace. It was a privilege to work with the folks at Bayview and the Salvation Army as they let my creative juices flow and produce an impressive market. We were able to raise 2000.00 in donations for the Salvation Army and put 7000 lbs of food in the rail car. Not bad for a 1st show. Hopefully, there is more to come.   ​

​Free thinking is underrated in this day of the giant corporation taking over every aspect of our lives. Sometimes a creative mind can be a bit busy. Too many ideas and not enough time to get them all done. Starting projects and not finishing them is a good example. Mind you, some people may call this procrastination. I have one of those brains, it never stops thinking of something to do. Over the years I have tamed it down to focus on specific projects that have a start and an end. Some long-term some short term. Some work out, some don't luckily as I get older more work out than not. 

Victoria Fashion Week is one of those projects. It was going to be a Fashion Event different from what Victoria had seen too. A way to showcase and show off an emerging fashion scene in BC's capital city. A city known for Gortex and yoga pants as fashion statements. After two successful Fashion Splash events in the inner harbour, it seemed like a good idea to move it indoors. After sitting down with Christina and Andrew from Robazzo A name was chosen. Victoria Fashion Week. 

The minute the name was chosen adrenaline started to flow. How to create an event with a world-class name in Victoria, It seemed like a roller coaster ride from start to finish. A volunteer-run event with no money except for ticket sales. Not easy but not impossible
This is where the magic of manifestation starts. How to become a magnet for like minds to join together to create a vision? To manifest something from nothing to full fill a name and a vision. An open, creative mind can be an amazing thing. Like a funnel gathering thoughts, ideas, discussions, projections and opinions. Then, funnelling all that into manageable amounts of information to be manifested into a reality.  There are always challenges, negative nellies, financial hurdles, and operational letdowns. 

At the end there was a magnificent show. One that I had repeatably seen in my brain. Along the way, I met some amazing, talented and intelligent people.  Luckily for the emerging fashion seen in Victoria two of them took on a second show.  They are above in the picture Natalia Downes (right) and Chriostina Robev ( left )  Stike of midnight Fashion Week event. 

This show went off well smaller and a bit more commercial but it kept the name going. Christina has connected with more talented people to see if Victoria Fashion Week can continue. I wish her all the success and look forward to attending the event.   ​

2019 seen he event lag. No interest in Victoria Fashion Week. There was a show called Victroria Eco Fashion Week maybe this is the new direction. Or maybe I will have to step back in for Victoria Fashion Week 2021  

​Hi Parents,
Just a quick reminder that practices start on Thursday from 6-8pm. No gear just cleats and bring a water bottle. 

• Victoria Renegades PeeWee & Junior Bantam - Royal Oak Middle School
• Westshore Warriors - Juan De Fuca soccer fields (down by the Q Centre)

Your Team Managers will be in touch to introduce themselves this week. 
Bring a friend! All our teams could use a few more players and the best recruits are our players. Please encourage your child to bring a friend or two to 1 of the next 3 practices. For any player that brings a friend and they register they will receive a free night at the movies for 2. 
Games will start September 8/9 depending on the schedule. The Island Football schedule will not be out until a week prior as teams are still recruiting. The schedule will be posted on the www.islandfootball.ca website. 
If you have any gear issues or have any questions or concerns please contact us. 
Sincerely,
GVMFA Board

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For questions regarding Greater Victoria Minor Football Association please email gvmfa.general@gmail.com or go to http://www.victoriafootball.ca

My family traveled to Curacao in 2015 it was a last minute replacement for wanting to go to Europe. Not a bad choice, not because it is so much like Europe but because it is a charming place to visit and it does have a European flair. 

The combination of the floating bridge and brightly painted building makes this place easy on the eyes. The local food has a fusion of European, eastern and Caribbean flavors, The beaches were plentiful and beautiful. I think we went to a different beach each day. Our favorite was Mambo beach.  Some of the beaches were topless which my 10 year found fascinating even nicknaming one beach "booby beach".  Some beaches were very dutch serving Dutch food and speaking Dutch it was almost like we made it to Europe. Almost......

The choices of accommodations are great.  You can go high-end low end but they were much more costly than south-east Asia. about twice as much. That being said it is not the cheapest place to travel but it has character and charm. We are a mixed race family and traveling is always interesting as people are still curious in this day and age,  and some cases not impressed but really ....who cares. It seems everywhere I go other than my home country the 1st impression people have is that I am from that country. Canadians still have a ways to go. In the US people are open and blunt about the racial opinions in Canada we are just more polite about it. 

This was my 7th trip to the Caribbean, this island felt like one of the safest. This Island was one of the biggest trading areas for slavery and instead of hiding it they have created a fascinating slave museum. I did not know what to expect when I entered and therefore was pleasantly impressed by the honesty of the displays and information. One of my ancestors may have come through this Island. Traveling on the torturous ships that were on display. Even my 10 year old enjoyed the journey. OK.... I will be honest African people were treated worse than livestock.  Talk about needing a strong constitution. To know that two of my ancestors made it through makes me proud. You think we would have evolved past this but it is still done to today with women, kids, in other parts of the world and Canada. ( read more here)  

The island has various types of terrain, desert-like and forest. Giant cacti and lots of pink flamingos ( never seen before ). That what traveling is about for me seeing, smelling, tasting, touching something new, relaxing and changing the perspective for a moment in time. ​

Why coach?

My main reason for coaching is bonding with my child and joining him with the challenges that come with playing on a team. I played sports as a kid. I loved the challenge, and in some way, that competitive feeling comes back when I coach. My body may not work like it use to but the knowledge is still there. One of the challenges as a coach is to transfer that knowledge in a supportive manner.

There is something magical that happens when a kid goes from fearful behavior to fearless. Unfocused to focused. Then watching the expression on their face when they accomplish something great. One challenge as a coach is to remember that regardless of the talent on a team. Every kid on the team needs to have the opportunity to excel at their own level

This year I had the privilege of creating a summer tournament team. Something little league on the island has been missing for some time. It is my 3rd summer of being involved but the 1st summer that the league fully supported it. It was a team made up of the kids that did not make all-star team. They had a blast. Without the pressure of all-star ball they flourished. I hope that it is something that continues for some time.

​

Rugby season is hear. I must say I loved playing football but watching my kid play Rugby has been exciting. The great thing about Rugby is that they all get to run with the ball. The Jamborees are two hours long and lots of running. I spent most of my youth running. Running in the forest, running in Track and field , football, soccer, and any were else I could. It keeps the heart healthy. Parents are concerned about injury and they have good reason. I have only seen one injury in 3 years. I think it is  because there is no equipment, kids are taught to hit in a way to avoid injury. 

​Kids sports is a must in this day and age of electronic devices, It is very easy to get addicted to electronic games not only for the adults but kids as well. The basic principle of competing is in everyone. whether it be one on one or as a team. People enjoy challenging them selves. 

Organised sports helps kids challenge themselves, not only physically,emotionally and mentally but socially. Football is one of those games where fear needs to be overcome. Once done, the confidence levels goes through the roof. 

Spartans fall football is looking for some players between the ages of 9 and 11. Looking for kids that are physical or reactive in nature and maybe in need of a bit of discipline. If you know anyone please send them this poster. 

Water filling station at Clover Point. The city has a bright Idea by installed a filling station at Clover Point. Not only does it fill your water bottle but you can a drink from the fountain along with your pooch. As more restaurants and food places stop selling bottled water but offer glasses and filling stations this will prove to be a great idea. 

Take a moment to think about how much buying one bottle (times a few million other people doing the same thing) of water damages our environment. The 1st step is pumping it from a lake or aquifer. Vital sources of water that may be required by the local area encases of drought. Then bottling, labeling, transporting, refrigerating. Most bottled water is packaged in chemical leaching plastic. Try tasting it after it has been in the sun for a while. Then there is the energy usage, oils and chemicals needed to make the plastic bottles and labels. Once the bottles are filled the distribution takes place storing the bottles need a warehouse. Trucking to stores and vending machines. I could go on, but i think you get the point.

Now!

What if there were water filling stations on every other block. Almost as many as Starbucks. We could carry small light weight water bottles. The water companies would make less profit and some people would probably loose there jobs. The environment would benefit tones of less plastic in the ocean and land fills. 

Over the last 19 years Wendy and I created a company that integrated into every facet of our lives. Our house became a factory, our living room a warehouse. It has been an enjoyable ride. This ride is not over yet.



Our goal was to create a product line that was so natural that you could eat it. It could be made in the kitchen without fear of chemical contamination. We succeeded.



It started with 12 tins of Olive oil and the support of the local community and customers we met from Victoria, Canada and the USA. It grew to a point where we could raise our children and sustain a livelihood. Many of you watched us expand from the market at James Bay and Bastion Square to the Mayfair Mall and then to our current store located at 549 Johnson Street. We sincerely thank each one of you for your ongoing support throughout all these years.


On May 10, 2015 We acquired a new partner. This process included selling the retail portion of the business.The retail portion was sold to QI LU, or as she is called in Canada Lucy. She has immigrated to Canada with her husband and lovely daughter. 
 
The Change will help Free Spirit grow and in time become an exporter to Asia. Lucy brings years of marketing expertise and a vast knowledge of essential oils and organic skin care products to the business. Wendy and myself will continue to make the soaps, creams and lotions and creating some new products. It has been a challenge to manage production, retail, social networking, merchandising and website updating. This new partnership will help. The staff in the store are still making the products that have always been made there, such as the soy wax candles, bath salts, body butter bars and the other delicious products that have always been created right in the store. And of course there will be some changes. 
 
The changes have already started with some new labels and some new packaging on some of the products. In the works is a new website and store renovation. It will look fabulous, keep your eyes on the store and watch it grow and transform. Of course all of Free Spirit Botanicals product can be found here on the website. Wendy and I have created a new company called Natural U Organics. This will be the manufacturing company for the products we make for Free Spirit Botanicals. Our website is www.naturaluorganics.com. You can visit it and sign up for it when it is open. The products on the site will be available at Free Spirit Botanicals.  This will be my last newsletter under the Free Spirit name. Thank you for reading, clicking and sharing on social media. Special thanks for putting up with my typo's and grammar mistakes.
 
Since the newsletter is a way for me to get the word out about environmental and heath issues I will continue to write and send them under the natural U banner but not as often as I have been. Of course feel free to unsubscribe if you don’t want them any more or share them with friends if you love them.