The Golden Poo

The one picture I forgot to add to the Tokyo blog, (and it is very important) the "Golden Poo". 

It is actually supposed to be a golden flame atop the Asahi brewery beer hall, but most people recognize it in another form, lol. The building to the left is the Asahi beer offices, and is supposed to resemble a "golden beer mug".

I think the cup (well, actually a paint can that is full to the top with rain water) is full at the end of 2018, it's been a good year in the land of the Good Doctor. 

It was a quiet start for my return to work. Our production started a day ahead of most of the other shows after the U.S. thanksgiving, so it was a solitary early morning cast pick-up at the Sutton.

A couple of times a year production does a count of our two-way radios, checking the number at the top of guts of the radio.

…….and another thing, (I'm on a rant about the British Columbia liquor store prices). Why is a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey, from Canada, only $1048 yen (about $13 dollars Canadian) in Japan, but $22 in B.C.?????

…...ha, junior sent me a pic of himself enjoying a visit home to Summerland. He treated himself to a night at the Summerland Waterfront Resort.

He also decided to start his art collection. Interesting first choice.

I think the artist is liking the painting as well!

Endearing pic of the kids, love it!

Junior and I decided to go see a junior hockey (Vancouver Giants) game. Tonight it was a return to the old Pacific Coliseum. (They have since moved the team to Langley). So many memories for me here, from the Vancouver Canucks, before they moved to Rogers arena downtown, to the many concerts many moons ago, like Kiss and Queen. Tonight they honored some  of the N.H.L. player that have played for Vancouver, like Orland Kurtenbach, Dennis Kearns, and Dennis Hull? (Hull never played for Vancouver, maybe it was his appearance in Vancouver when he played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit series against Russia)

Wow, this gang brings back a lot of memories. I spy besides the first three, Stan Smyl, Darcy Rota, Thomas Gradin, Harold Snepsts, Richard Brodeur, and in behind, Glen Andersen (never played here, but is from Burnaby), Dave Babych, and the infamous Gino Odjick.

That was a very pleasant surprise.

The game was good as well, I hate to say, but it seems I saw a lot more effort from these young guns than, let's say, the professional team that resides in this city.?

Junior was digging the shirt I brought him back from Tokyo.

Teala as well, although this Doraemon character is very popular in Japan, neither one of us had heard of him/her/it.

Before the holidays, it was a frosty morning in this Kerrisdale neighbourhood, where we spend two days filming. 

….back at the Bridge Studios, our transport captain Ward had become a little bit of a crow whisperer.

Although, now more and more crows show up at dusk on their way to their roosting

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Dr. Glassman's house. (well the house out in Shaughnessey that we use for his house on the show)

A grainy picture, but it was an incredible view of the moon and Venus on this night.

We were creating a moonscape of our own as we went late into the evening.

We also filmed one day out at the Milltown Marina, which is at the south end of Granville, close to the airport.

…..and one night filming at Point Grey Secondary school

….and film class in in!

This day is starting okay.

...back downtown a couple of minutes before my cast pick-up, enough time to grab a coffee and walk around the seawall by Canada Place.

We ended filming for 2018 back at the Bridge studios. I rarely go on set, but tonight I thought it would be fun to check out the action. Hard to tell, but they are recreating a car driving scene, with some close-ups of the actors inside the vehicle. 

I also checked out the action on the director's monitors.

The holiday hiatus is a time to catch up with people you never have time to see.

It was a blast from the past to hang out with 3 guys I had the pleasure of working with on the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen relay.  Here's Andrew,

…...Pat (with his homemade to die for eggnog)…...

…..and the one and only Donnie Beaupre. How great to see you guys again!

Well, here we go again. In between Good Doctor digs, I started driving around execs for a T.V. pilot that will be shooting in Vancouver in January. First location to look at was in the west end of Vancouver.

We also went to the Strathcona neighbourhood.

….and Victory Square near the Dominion building.

random, but I like it.

The Sutton Place hotel always goes all out for Christmas.

I call this "canvas on the caravan". ( I was behind this vehicle)

…… and back to Victory Square

...and close to Gastown.

…..and then into Gastown

…...and then to one of my favourites, Riverview!

..the last day of filming before the New Year's. Our caterers made it a festival to remember. 

There was beef, and lamb.....

….and the salads.....

….crab legs, oh wow.....

….some of the biggest prawns I have ever seen...

…..and the seared tuna (maguro no tataki)..... yikes....

thank-you John and your team!

…..were almost done....

...I was impatient and bored, so of course a conduit electrical pic along the wall of stage 4 was in order.

….it started raining, thought this was a neat pic of my cast car ride.

I've got both radios on, waiting to hear the end of the year words, "that's a wrap!.

The following week, I was around to help finish last minute errands around the studio. Not much going on at San Jose St. Bonaventure hospital. 

The Good Doctor has cured the masses, empty beds available!

Ha!, perfect, I needed a nap anyways, haha!

All is quiet on the Bridge Studios front, until 2019, happy holidays!

…. I am over the top viligant, why did someone put a small patch of grass on that property that I look at from my place???????

(I know a monster condo building will go up there, and I will lose my view of the North Shore Mountains!!!!!

So, during the break, fellow cast driver peep Jim, and I, decided it was time. (my ride before)

(and my ride now) We decided to trade rims, (mine was more blacked out than his). Yes, I know, not an end of the world problem, but it needed to be done!

Okay, feeling a cold coming on, a hot rum was definitely in order. 

Look what's hot in Japan, Bohemian Rhapsody! Go See it!

Happy New Year, all the best in 2019!