Author Archives: Fran Martin

SILVER BLAZE 2017

30 Sunday Jul 2017

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The 22nd Annual Silver Blaze Sweepstakes will take place

Saturday the 12th day of August 2017

at

 2 o’clock in the afternoon

at the

South Surrey Country Estates of Dame Johnston-Keddis

SilverBlaze program

Come for an event-full afternoon of high stakes betting, games and prizes.

For your dining pleasure High Tea will take place on the Manor House Terraces.

The theme this year is Hats and Ascots

Reserve your Grandstand seats now.  Petrels are urged to RSVP  so that the staff will be able to set up adequately for the large flock.

Please bring a potluck dish suitable for a hearty supper for the hungry Petrels who come from far and wide. The BBQ will be set up for those who’d like to char a little something for themselves, and Cook will be on hand to assist.

Sherry, ale and other delightful libations are welcome.

The Gamekeeper requests that you keep your dog on a leash so as not to disturb

the chickens.

For added info and directions to the Estate, please contact Fran at franziskah@shaw.ca

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Reichenbach Falls on July 15, 2017

11 Sunday Jun 2017

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On Saturday, July 15, 2017 The Stormy Petrels will flock to Shannon Falls on the Sea-to-Sky.

[Left: Shannon Falls, BC / Right: Reichenbach Falls, Switzerland]

About Shannon Falls

Shannon Falls is located just off Highway 99, 58 km north of Vancouver. BC. According to the BC Parks website, it is composed of a series of cliffs, rising 335 meters above Highway 99, making it the third highest falls in the province.

In 1792, Captain George Vancouver set up camp just west of the falls, which were named after Shannon who, in 1890 – 1900, owned the falls and surrounding area and used the clay deposits to make bricks. (you can’t make bricks without clay!)

The park also holds significant spiritual value to the Squamish First Nations, the first people to live in the area. They told of a two-headed sea serpent, Say-noth-ka, who lived in and around Howe Sound. According to legend, this beast travelled both on land and in the water. Some versions say it was Say-noth-ka who formed Shannon Falls by slithering and twisting his powerful body up the mountainside, wearing down a spillway for those cascading waters

We will, once again visit Shannon Falls, as our substitute for the Reichenbach Falls. The resemblance is truly uncanny!

If you require any additional information, please contact your Consulting Detective at franziskah@shaw.ca

– “Reichenbach Falls” (Shannon Falls) ceremonial wreath tossing – 10:00am

– Train Museum and picnic in Squamish – 11:00am

FillWyIyMDAiLCIxMjAiXQ-1_2_3-Railway

-– Margaret Dennison Starrett gravesite visit at Capilano Cemetary, North Vancouver

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–- “Toad Hall”

[Photo sources: Wikipedia and Flickr]

June 6, 2017 Meeting

01 Thursday Jun 2017

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“The Adventure of the Second Stain” was first published in The Strand Magazine in December 1904 and in Collier’s on January 28, 1905.

second stain

The morning paper announced: “A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16 Godolphin Street…”

How was this event connected to the two distinguished visitors to Baker Street?  One, Lord Bellinger (twice Premier of Britain, and the other, the Secretary for European Affairs.

Why did the Secretary’s wife call in at Baker Street? After her departure, Holmes, smiling, mentions to Watson: ” Now, Watson, the fair sex is your department.”

What did she want of Holmes?

Watson tells us that this was “…the most important international case which he (Holmes) has ever been called upon to handle…”

secondstn

This adventure, the last in The Return, was ranked as #8 by ACD his list of 12 favourite stories.

Please join the Stormy Petrels as they discuss this case on Tuesday, June 6th at 7:00pm, meeting at their usual Hampton Place lounge.

Contact Fran for more info.

Bonus question:  What sort of weapon was used to rid the world of Eduardo Lucas?

 

 

May Meeting

15 Saturday Apr 2017

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“Come, Watson, come!” he cried. “The game is afoot.”

So begins our next story for discussion at the Stormy Petrels May meeting: “The Abbey Grange”

One imagines Holmes smoking his cherrywood pipe* as he comments on Watson’ s writing style, prompting Watson the remark (bitterly) to Holmes: “Why do you not write them yourself?

*we are told that he smokes this type of pipe when his is in a “disputatious mood” (Copper Beeches).  In this adventure, Holmes and Watson also happen to be discussing the same subject of Watson’s writing style.

In this case, we hear from Scotland Yard’s Stanley Hopkins, that one of the richest men in Kent, Sir Eustace Brackenstall, is dead.  His beautiful wife, formerly Miss Mary Fraser of Adelaide, South Australia, has given her evidence as to what happened.  The marriage had not been a happy one, as everyone seemed to be aware.

We see Holmes examining ropes, cords, wine glasses, and the cork of a dusty bottle.

Thinking over all the evidence and the eye-witness account of the Lady and her maid, why did Holmes suddenly exclaim: “It’s wrong – it’s all wrong – I’ll swear it’s wrong.”

Join the Stormy Petrels as they delve into this story on Tuesday, May 2nd, 7pm at the usual Hampton Place at UBC.

For more info, please contact Fran

Bonus question for those attending the meeting:

What was the name of the ship on which Mary Fraser met Jack Croker?