10th - 12th June 1998

Wednesday 10th June
Just as I got up this morning Claire arrived home - she'd been let 4 hours off work early so we went to Sea-Trek to see if they were doing their harbour tour - they'd already done a bit of it but said the guy would come over and pick us up for the second half.  So after getting a coffee and toilet from the Coffee Pod we embarked. We went to the Eagle's nest and then over to pick up the people from the Big Tree Trail.  We then went up the Inlet - saw some starfish, oyster farms and various other stuff.  It all lasted about 2 hours but it was really enjoyable.  Then we decided we'd go to the beach and work on our tans - and we've been here for almost 4 hours.  We're at South Chesterman and it really is gorgeous.  Hot, sunny and the scenery is stunning. Now we just have to go and get ready for our big night at Karaoke - I wonder if I'll pull?!  Claire says I'm in there and it shouldn't be too hard if I really want to.  Why not? Is what I say!  I've got 4 weeks left.  No enough time for something serious but enough to have some fun.
Well, we stayed at Chesterman until gone 7pm and then we went back into town.  We went to the coffee pod for some free drinks - then to the library to get some numbers for driveaways.  We then went to softball to check we weren't playing - we weren't/
We then went and bought a bottle of peach cider and sat on the dock and drunk it.  Liz said that Matt had been in looking for us ad she had sent him down to Chesterman's but he never found us.
We drunk our cider and had a really good chat about friendship and our degrees.  I saw Al who was back from the fishfarm and I saw Matt who was on his way back to the campsite for a shower.  We went in the bar to go to the toilet and everyone was in there - Ilan announced that he got the job at the Wick.  So, we said Hi to everyone and then went back to the van to get changed.  Pretty soon after we went back - Matt showed up so I went over and talked to him.  We ended up talking all night - along with singing RESPECT!  Christie was in the bar too but she wouldn't sit with us and I don't what was going on.  Matt said he's not with her but still living with her so things have to be discrete - and he really wanted to go for a walk with me after the bar.  So we left the bar and Matt got a lift home with Christie and he said he'll cycle back and meet me at the Chevron.  I waited for what seemed like ages, Claire and Al arrived so I could get my fleece out and then Matt showed up.  We walked to the school and sat on the swings and then we sat in the doorway. We talked for about 3 hours about everything and then we kissed.  It was such a sweet kiss, nothing else going on just pure snogging it was lovely.  We went back to the van and he cycled home.
When I got in the van I saw that Al had decided to stay the night.  So I slept with Al's feet in my face and him snoring!
$1.61 choc croissant, $6.50 cider, $8 Canterbury

Thursday 11th June
Claire went to work at 8am so I went with her - I didn't relish being in bed with Al all morning.  I tried to get over my hangover and looked at my email.  I wrote to Rich and Robbie.  Doug turned up - he'd been sacked for moonlighting at another fishfarm.  He then realised he had a week off along with Claire and Al so decided to go on holiday.  We'd already said about going to Kennedy lake and Claire said it would be OK it Matt and I just went for one night and drove back tomorrow.
Matt came in and saw me at work so I told him and he was pretty excited.  After work I met everyone in the bar as Doug and Al had been there all day.  I couldn't stay and watch them being like that so I went back to the van and got changed for softball.  Claire and I were both playing at the same time on different pitches.  Matt showed up to watch and then afterwards we sat around (we both lost) and tried to inspire some enthusiasm with everyone to go get the boar and make it out to the lake.  We went back into town to try and find Al and the VW.  Doug 'forgot' where he put it.  The VW was at PNG and Al was passed out in his van.  So the convoy was ready.  Claire, Al, Doug and Sister in the VW, Matt and I in Calvin and Ilan in  Zoe behind.  We got as fas as industrial way and Claire stopped - they had forgotten the boat!  So Ilan took the lead and I followed.  It was a long way - it took 2 hours - finally reaching our destination at midnight.  We still weren't sure if it was the correct sport so we lit a fire and waited.  They arrived about half-an-hour later, Claire being stressed after spending the whole journey with two drunk people telling her how to drive and insisting they knew the way when they didn't.  She was almost in tears by the time she got there.  We sat and drunk and ate marshmallows, Matt and I went for a walk and talked.  Then pretty soon we all went to bed.  They sky was really clear and the moon was out.
$1.90 Fruitopia, $2.40 sausage sandwich

Friday 12th June
We heard Claire, Doug and Al sorting out the boat.  But we carried on lounging.  We eventually got up and went in the lake - Matt wouldn't get right in as he said it was too cold.  He made us dinner, pasta & sauce, but we then started talking about Christie and I lost my appetite.  We left at 1:30pm and drove back to Tofino because Matt had to get to work.  I dropped him off at Bella Pacifica and then went and slept.  Danielle came around and said that she really couldn't give us anymore than $1700.  But she was really nice and said if we couldn't find a buyer by the time we leave she'll still have him for $1700.  I then went to the B&W and tidied and cleaned Calvin - he looked so good.  I went to Aaron's and showered and did my dishes and then went back to Chevron and waited for Matt.  He arrived, cycled home and then came back.
$13.50 condoms, cream cheese, crisps.

<these are extracts from my diaries written whilst travelling and working in Canada and the US in '97-'98>