At the end of every year I and probably you too, look back and say: What could have been done better. What would we have changed?

We are not alone in this thinking for like the world before us, change is everywhere in everything. Finding the time in your life to make Shift Happen is the challenge.

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Created by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod

A lot of people depend on the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive. What started as a compassionate offer of simple warmth to those living on the streets in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is now the largest, longest-running charitable blanket and warm clothing collection in the region.

17 Years

Since 1995, more than 165,000 people have received clothing or a blanket from the annual drive. The 17th annual Blanket Drive will run from November 28 to December 5 across the Lower Mainland.

Thousands of REALTORS® and members of the public will donate. Hundreds of real estate offices will act as drop-off depots and dozens of REALTORS® will pick-up, sort and deliver the donations.

Most Needed

New or gently used

• blankets, sleeping bags
• warm clothing – coats, jeans, pants, sweaters
• scarves, gloves, mitts, hats

New (women, children, men)

• socks
• underwear

Who

Donations to the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive stay within the communities in which they are donated, or if the volumes are too large, go to charities in greatest need in neighbouring communities.

Where

Drop off locations are close by. For a list of drop-off locations and charitable recipients, go to: Lower Mainland Drop Off Locations

Copyright REBGV, Reprinted with Permission

Feng Shui claims that having fish in your back yard pond is a good thing. My twenty-five cent feeder gold fish have grown to be 10 inch monsters with voracious appetites.

One in particular must have jumped tanks in the store. Since buying them a number of years ago this one has grown to be much bigger than the rest. I don’t know much about fish but my friends tell me he or she is a Koi and should be considered very good luck.

Sharing

It seems that this morning others wanted some of this good luck. This morning this guest came to visit my back yard obviously thinking his luck was about to improve by having a free lunch.

My luck was having him stay long enough to snap this picture.

Of Carp

According to the Spiritual Feng Shui, “fish, especially the carp represents wealth and prosperity because the actual word in Chinese for fish also translates to “abundance”. As with most Chinese symbols, the carp has a legend attached to it. According to legend, the carp is noted for its strength and bravery because it swims against the current. According to some the carp turns into the revered Celestial Dragon when it makes a final leap over the rapids.

Kate at HGTV contacted me asking if any of the readers of YatterMatters would be interested in participating in her show. As we have a pretty vocal group of intelligent folks here maybe one of you would like to be a TV star and let the world know how you really feel about the house buying process.

Dilemas

Kate describes the show entitled Urban/Suburban as “a series about one of the biggest dilemmas facing home buyers – “should we buy in the city or the suburbs?”

Kate claims that the “fact is, most of us can’t afford the best of both worlds – the Suburban promise of a big back yard, small mortgage, space to grow and the Urban promise of great restaurants, energy and convenience. And so, in making those tough decisions house hunters realize they’re not just buying a home – they’re purchasing a lifestyle.”

“In addition to the drama facing a family as they search for the perfect home, Urban/Suburban offers the audience a sneak peak into the real estate market across the country – both in the city and the surrounding areas.

Getting Real

Are you facing this this challenge? Are you interested in participating in the show and want to get real about real estate?

You can reach Kate at casting@forcefour.com for details. Tell her YatterMatters sent you.

* Information provided Courtesy of Forcefour, Logos used with permission

A long time friend who lives a life many of us dream of sent me a gift. My friend is a avid blue water sailor, a diver, a raconteur. We met at university and have stayed in touch for almost 40 years.

An avid underwater photographer ‘Smitty’ always thrills me with wonders he finds beneath the waves.

Micronesia

For the past eight months he has anchored off the islands of Palau. His gift to me this year is of a Mandarin fish which I share with you as you dream of being that South Seas sailor.

Twinkling Christmas lights, wondrous window displays, smiles and good cheer combined with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were found on West Broadway in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood this Saturday afternoon.

Above the din of busy traffic and the jingle of cash drawers opening as they received payment for gifts soon to be wrapped and placed under a Christmas tree, were four celestial voices singing Christmas carols.

Over the Moon at Finn’s on Broadway

Over The Moon Quartet

As the four ladies sang a cappella, smiles instantly broadened. In return, granted, was long sustained applause from those near. This melodic afternoon surprise was sponsored by a number of West Broadway merchants as Thanks and Christmas cheer to regular and new patrons.

Who Are They?

Deb Hope, Pat Fry, Donna St.Germain, and Bev Hunter are the Over the Moon Quartet. Deb, a familiar face to many, is of course Global BC’s Anchor – early news. Check out their video gallery. These ladies have remarkable voices that are a pleasure to hear.

West Broadway Business Association (WBBA) Sponsors

Vancity – 3395 West Broadway Vancouver, BC, Canada V6R 2B1	Omega Travel – 3230 Broadway West Vancouver, BC V6K 2H4
GNK Insurance – 3295 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2H5	Just Imagine – 3060 Broadway West Vancouver V6K 2H1
Vancouver Kids Books – 3083 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2G9	Finn’s on Broadway - 3031 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2G9
Bopomo Studios – 2631 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2G2	Ten Thousand Villages – 2909 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2G6
Dairy Queen – 2601 West Broadway, Vancouver	Semperviva Yoga Studios – 2608 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Want to hear ‘Over the Moon’ sing for you – email Pat – pfry at dccnet.com

Logo Registered Trademarks of Respective Owners

On now until December 6, donations are needed.

November 30, 2010 – Volunteers with the 16th annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive are appealing to local media to help raise awareness about the need for donations to this Lower Mainland-wide program.

The week long event kicked off this week and runs until Monday, December 6. People wishing to donate can stop by any of the more than 100 participating real estate offices or provide items to their local REALTOR®. Each year the Blanket Drive collects approximately 4,000 bags of blankets, bedding and warm clothing for the homeless and working poor in communities from Chilliwack to Vancouver.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

“All signs point to it being a particularly cold winter, and for the next seven days we hope to collect enough blankets and clothing to assist thousands of people in need, but we need help getting the message out,” Jake Moldowan, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president said. “Donations stay within the communities in which they are donated, or if the volumes are too large, go to charities located in communities identified as having the greatest need.”

Photo Credit

Where Do They Go?

Through the program, more than 13,000 REALTORS® in the Lower Mainland work with clients, colleagues, local businesses, schools and other organizations to generate donations. The program gives these donations to more than 30 charitable organizations including the Vancouver Police Department blanket outreach program, the Salvation Army throughout the Lower Mainland, and many other shelters in the region who rely on this program each year.

Hands That Help

Last year, Blanket Drive donations helped an estimated 12,000 homeless or working poor individuals. Since 1995, the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive has helped an estimated 81,000 people.

Got A Blanket to Spare?

A list of drop-off locations and charitable recipients is here – www.blanketdrive.ca.

If you live in Vancouver East or Vancouver West and it is inconvenient to drop them off, email me with your name, address and phone number. I will call you to arrange a time for pick up.

Promotion, pick-up and distribution of donations are handled by REALTOR® volunteers from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board.

Thoughts

It’s been a tough year for a lot of people. While you may think that times are tough for you a quick look around and you will find many who have had it worse. So while you are listening to this 1942 version of Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds singing White Christmas, dig around in your closet and I’ll bet you’ll find a blanket that will help someone stay warm.

It is Friday and for many of us the work week has ended and we begin our search for some relief. Sometimes that relief is found in the strangest of places and for me it was in the comments to a CBC News post.

Politicians are easy targets. Our Premier Campbell is no exception and this little ditty about him got me laughing and maybe it will give you a Friday chuckle too.

Islander, Ontario and B.C.

‘An Ontarian, an Islander and a British Columbian all die and go to hell.

While there, they spot a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The devil tells them it is for calling back to Earth.

The Islander asks to call Charlottetown , Prince Edward Island and talks for 5 minutes. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is a hundred dollars, so the Islander writes him a check.

Next the Ontarian calls Toronto and talks for 30 minutes. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is six hundred dollars, so the Ontarian writes him a check.

Finally the BC guy gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When he is finished the devil informs him that there would be no charge for the call and feel free to call BC anytime.

When the Ontarian and the Islander hear this, they go ballistic and asks the devil why the BC guy got to call his home province free.

The devil replied,” Since Campbell became premier of BC, the province has gone to hell, so naturally it’s a local call.”‘

Quote from ExMeathead CBC News

Jay Pozo over at W2 Community Media Arts wrote about the ‘Mile Long Jam’ slated for this July 17 weekend on “Vancouver’s popular and trendy Main Street.”

Admittedly, delivering a prognostication based on 5 sales is from an analytic viewpoint, over the top! However, there doesn’t seem to be a valid reason to explain the prices in this Main street market snap shot other than to agree with Pozo that Main street must be “popular and trendy”.

In the period May 14, 2010 to July 14, 2010 detached properties in the Main neighbourhood had the following results.

Listings

Total Listings decreased 2 units from May/June’s 40 to June/July’s 38.

Sales

Sales decreased by almost half from May/June’s 9 to 5 in June/July.

Expired, Reductions, Increases, Days on Market

• May/June had 1 listing mandates expire which increased to 3 in June/July.
• Price reductions in May/June were 11 and remained at the level in June/July.
• There were 2 price increases in May/June and 1 in June/July.
• It took an average of 32 days to sell a home in May/June and one can only assume because of its “popularity” it decreased to 15 days in June/July.

Average and Median Prices

• May/June’s Average Ask price was $810,988. This increased in June/July to $822,800.
• The Median Ask price in May/June was $790,000 which also increased to $819,000 in June/July.
• The Average Sold price in the May/June was $795,533. In June/July this increased to $828,680.
• The Median Sold price in May/June was $825,000. In June/July this this increased to $840,000.

They’ll Be Jammin’

Looking at these numbers I’m going to make a prediction. I say that Main street’s detached home seller’s will be jammin’ this weekend.

Bob’s Thoughts

• We’re jammin’
• I wanna jam it wid you.
• We’re jammin’, jammin’,
• And I hope you like jammin’, too.
• Ain’t no rules, ain’t no vow, we can do it anyhow
• I and I will see you through,
• ‘Cause everyday we pay the price
• We are the living sacrifice

Bob Marley

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Having short arms creates a problem if you want to pat yourself on the back.

Today is a special day around here at Yatter Matters. It’s so special we have planned to treat ourselves to a Timmy’s donut and coffee as we think about what has happened to this blog while composing 700 posts in the past 31 months.

Thanks

Photo Credit

Having short arms doesn’t preclude passing on a big thanks to all the new and not so new loyal readers. You have visited this place almost 130,000 times and read over 314,000 pages of stuff.

It’s also a day to thank all those who have taken the time to engage and express their thoughts – some of which are as off the wall as are mine. You have made it fun!

Important Rock

Most important, it is a time for a special thanks to those who through this blog have come to know,like and trust me as a professional. In part, because of this blog, they have chosen to hire me as their Realtor® to assist them in their most important purchase or sale – their home.

For that trust, I say Thank You – you folks rock!

Onward

Barring being hit by a bus, YatterMatters should be around for some time – so stick around. The Vancouver real estate market is a great place to be as a Realtor® as it is always changing and through that change provides an incredible source for dialogue about that thing that Matters most – having a roof over our heads.

Onward to post 702 – Cheers Everyone!