Karen and I went for a long walk this morning while Joan went for a run and the rest of the family sat around the living room and kitchen drinking coffee and eating toast.

Karen finds it very beautiful here; so do Joan and my parents. Obviously many people do, as they seem to be flocking here from all over Canada. The amount of building construction going on around here is incredible. Our walk took us through residential and grape-orchard areas above Lake Okanagan, so we could look down over the valley and see the sparkling water of the lake. Karen was enraptured by the view.

I wish I could be as impressed, but all I find heady out here are the delicious aromas of blooming flowers. I don't like being in cities for long, but aside from that, I prefer to see more sky and less hill and mountain.

Mom and Dad have picked up some mild sleeping pills and have been sharing them with me since we got here. I take half a pill and sleep through the night rather than waking up feeling sick and afraid, hence am not exhausted and tearful the next day; I feel better able to cope.

Our brother showed up yesterday from Edmonton, so the whole famdamily is close by for another day or two. But he, Karen and I will head back to Salmon Arm in a couple hours. Joan returns to her work at the hospital at midnight and the rest of us will spend the next day pacing the floors at Mom and Dad's. Karen might bake; Cameron will go golfing with Dad; maybe some of us will go shopping. Visiting is hard work.

The shower is free, so I can have a turn.