Runs in the Family

Vancouver, Day 18

It's been so much fun these last couple of weeks to stay with my aunt Virginia and her husband, Eric.

Virginia moved to Canada back in the '70s and I've been out to visit her more or less once every 10 years since then. She's always been an inspiration to me - for her politics, the way she lives her life... and her photographic skills! She was once a professional photographer but I'm not sure she feels very comfortable as the subject of a photograph... So, thanks very much to her for letting me take this one!

Today I went shopping for an iPad for her and we were joined afterwards by Spokes for lunch at what Virginia billed as "the best falafel place in Vancouver". I think she was right! We then moved on to her favourite neighbourhood coffee shop for affogato (well, she and Spokes had some but I don't 'do' coffee so I had an iced chocolate drink with almond milk instead. Delicious!)

After last Monday's fantastic experience at the Vancouver Poetry Slam it would've been remiss not to attend again this week. So, naturally, we attended tonight. And the quality of poetry was just as impressive. As was the guest poet. This week it was Honey Sanaa who'd flown all the way from New Orleans to perform. She was phenomenal! Here's a poem she performed tonight www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoQsRSwgxxw

One of the best acts I saw over the weekend but didn't have a chance to write about was The Wainwright Sisters, Martha and Lucy.

They both have the same father, Loudon Wainwright III, and both have mothers who sang in successful 'sister acts', Martha's mum was Kate McGarrigle (of Kate and Anna McGarrigle) and Lucy's is Suzzy Roche (of The Roches) but Martha grew up in Canada and Lucy in the USA and they've only recently started working together in a musical sense. To great effect!

One song they performed at the weekend (also available on their album, 'Songs in the Dark') was written by Lucy's aunt, Terre Roche, and so fits perfectly with today's aunt-themed blip! It's called, 'Runs in the Family' and here it is... www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-n_HYwZHI8