February 2/08 – I went out to perform a close up magic show for a Doctor’s ‘Christmas Party’, at Ric’s Cafe. I felt in great condition… no more cramps. Yay!
February 3/08 – Ann and I went to a fellow fisherman’s home (Dave Lock and Josie Jones) for a delicious lunch. Wow, what a spread… there was nothing wrong with my appetite. Later in the evening, I attended a Magic Lecture by David Regal.
February 5/08 – I attended our annual VMC Auction Night at the Langford Fire Hall. It was a long night, but I felt pretty good. Not tired.
February 6/08 – We had some fly fishing friends over for supper. Barry Stokes & Pauline Loos and Derek & Bev Peach. Derek & Bev will be leaving for a trip to Africa, next week. It was a very relaxing evening… not tired.
February 7/08 – Chinese New Years – Ann went to the Crystal Jade Restaurant for supper with the Eng family (actually Victor and Willie were in Mexico), while I went up to Sidney to visit with friends Ron & Lynn Gardner and their son Kevin. We ‘jammed’ with our guitars, etc. I had a riot. Lots of fun.
February 12/08 – Susan Robinson came (from Arizona) to have lunch with us. Susan’s on a quick trip home to get checked out health-wise. In the evening, I went to celebrate Steve Hendry’s 60th birthday at the Ribs & Bones Restaurant. Again, nothing wrong with my appetite.
February 13/08 – Willie & Jane invited us to a fundraiser with MLA Ida Chong at Golden City. Full house. Delicious supper. I ate good… not tired.
February 14/08 – Rick Smith (from Hawaii) invited me to a Sushi lunch. Smitty came to participate in our annual Y Racquetball tournament. In the evening, I went to Bill Reece’s home to help ‘bag’ grab-bags and sort prizes for the racquetball tournament. Later, we went down to the Y to unload pop, juices, etc.
February 15/08 – Ann and I enjoyed a very nice luncheon at the Swiss Chalet Restaurant with our RVing group, the Victoria Wanderers. Later, I went down to the Y to help at the registration desk and take photos. Ah, it was great to go down to the courts, even though I didn’t play…
February 16/08 – I went down to the Y early in the morning, helped at the registration desk, took more photos and sold raffle tickets. I went home in the afternoon for a quick nap, then came back to help in the evening. These were long days but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I wasn’t tired. Great to see and watch the gang play. I sure miss the Y.
February 17/08 – Wind up at the Y racquetball tournament. After helping with cleaning up, I rushed over to the Strath to take photos and sell more tickets. I had a delicious ‘bangers and mash’ lunch. What a great weekend.
February 18/08 – At this time, I’m still having blood tests done three times a week. I thought it would be interesting to check the results… After a long weekend… surprisingly, my white blood count was OK. I felt good, so in the afternoon, Ann and I were very ambitious. We cleaned up the yard and dump all the debris into Rick Cordick’s utility trailer. Later, we pulled out the awning from our 5th Wheel and washed it. It now looks like a ‘million bucks’. We’re getting ready to head out to Weir’s Beach, in a few weeks, with our RVing group.
February 19/08 – Ann and I went to Glanford Middle School to perform at magic show, in the morning. In the evening, I went to the Chief and Petty Officers Mess for a Flying Tying session.
Not tired.
February 20/08 – Tom Walton drove me to the Cancer Clinic, as my medical team warned me about being tired and sleepy after my Chemo Treatment. I had an appointment with Dr. Yee, in the morning. He was very pleased with the way my white blood count was holding up. He then changed my tri-weekly blood check up to only once a week. Yay! In the afternoon, I had my Chemo Treatment, which was called my cycle #2. This was the ‘double whammy’ treatment. Good job Ann came to pick me up… I was really tired and sleepy (Benodril). Once getting home, I went to sleep (around 5:00pm). My neighbour Fred, phoned me around 7ish and told me to check out the eclipse of the moon. It was a clear night. The eclipse was awesome! I went to wake up Ann but she was no where to be found. I finally found her, in her sewing room, downstairs. I was so disoriented… I thought it was morning and it was only 7:00pm at night. Jeez…
February 21/08 – Wow, I slept right through the night. This “double whammy” treatment set me back a whole bunch. I met up with Dave Cutler for coffee at Starbucks, at Tillicum Mall, in the morning. In the afternoon, Ann and I went to a celebration of life for Ross Simms, long time friend in our Magic Club. I was a little tired in the evening.
February 23/08 – It’s been three days since the Chemo treatment. I’m finally starting to feel somewhat ‘normal’ as the chemo drugs are slowly working its way through my body. Ann and I cleaned up the house as we’re expecting guests on the weekend…. Omar Fattah, Suley’s brother will be visiting and staying with us on Sunday night. I was 'bushed' by the end of the night.
February 24/08 - We had a wonderful visit with Omar. He is currently living in San Miguel, Mexico. I drove Omar around Victoria, in the evening, to enjoy the fine sights of our Capital City. It’s been some 9-10 years since he’s been here.
February 25/08 – I got up early to cook some breaky for Omar, before he left. He and his friend Azah (she stayed with her friend Erika) had to catch the 9:00am ferry sailing to Tsawwassen, in order to catch the 1:00pm flight from Vancouver to Mexico. I felt good… not tired.
February 26/08 – My friend Dave Lock invited me for a “float down the Cowichan River”. I got up early to get my weekly blood test done at Victoria General Hospital. Upon completion of the test, I went over to Dave’s home to load up our ‘fishing’ equipment. We drove up to Cowichan Lake, where we proceeded to go to “the Weir”, to unload and launch our pontoon boats. After a quick lesson on the ‘rapids’ at the Weir, we proceeded down the river…” Wow, what an experience! As we traveled down the Cowichan River, we had to dodge big boulders, fallen trees and fight the swift current. What a rush! Upon getting home, I was a bit tired from the long day and had a quick nap. It was a good day!
February 27/08 – Because my pontoon boat was still on the back of my truck in the morning, I decided to go fly fishing. Ann had to work a morning shift at Helmcken Market, so I headed to Prospect Lake. Of course, I did my dishes and laundry duties, before going. I caught three little rainbows. They were very small. No keepers. Ann and I had a busy afternoon: banking; post office; money orders; buying medicine; and getting car insurance. I’m on my third day of Neupogen. This is the drug that keeps my white blood count up. After each Chemo Treatment, I do five days of Prednisone; then immediately five days of Neupogen. Health-wise, everything is OK.
February 28/08 – It was a lazy day today. Ann and I had a relaxing day. I just did some regular chores and practiced on my guitar. Had a shot of Neupogen. I’m feeling good.
February 29/08 – I relaxed in the morning, knowing that I have a magic show to perform in the evening. Had my last shot of Neupogen (until next time). I performed at a 60th Birthday party for Ian Wade. Ian’s wife Debi and Ann are “fellow quilters” and good friends. The magic show went off very well… no more cramps anymore. Later, after the magic show, we jammed with our guitars and sang, in their basement. Great evening. Lots of fun. Not tired. I can feel it … I’m slowly on the mend!
Friday, February 29, 2008
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Obituary: Tony Eng Lived a Magical Life
Former owner of Trick & Joke Shop succumbs to leukemia and skin cancer
Jeff Bell, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A meeting of the Victoria Magic Circle last night turned into a memorial for one of its most accomplished members, Tony Eng, who died Sunday at the age of 61.
The hope when the meeting was planned was that Eng would present his namesake trophy to the winner of a competition for the best close-up magic trick. Instead, fellow magicians like Shayne King took time to share thoughts of a man they respected and admired.
"He taught me a lot, he gave a lot of magicians their start," said King, who managed Tony's Trick & Joke Shop for Eng. He has continued at the store since it became Murray's Trick & Joke Shop two years ago under Murray Hatfield.
Hatfield said running the store has shown him just how far-reaching Eng's influence has been. Eng's legendary demonstrations of his sleight-of-hand at the store counter were a long-time attraction, Hatfield said.
"I can't tell you how many times since we took over the shop that I've had people coming in and saying thinks like 'We're here from Bakersfield, Calif. and we were here five years ago, and it was just the high point of our trip'".
It was all because of Tony and the way he made people feel.
"Tony was a master and definitely one-of-a-kind, and he will be greatly missed by both the magic community at large and by a lot of non-magicians who just happened to come in and meet him through the shop."
Hatfield said that many people he speaks to are finding the news of Eng's death hard to believe.
"This has been such a blow. For the last three days, I've been hearing nothing but people just being in shock. Tony was such an awesome guy -- not only was he an exceptional performer and a great businessman, he just was a really nice man."
The response to his death means a great deal to the family, said Sandra Eng, one of his two daughters.
"The word is starting to ripple out there now and it touches my heart every time I hear how significantly Dad made an impact on people."
She said her father, born in Victoria in 1946, was diagnosed last October with both a form of leukemia and a rare type of skin cancer.
His fascination with magic went back to his early childhood, she said.
"He got his first magic kit when he was eight and did his first paid gig at the age of 12."
His ability as a musician had him performing at innumerable charity events over the years. He also became a Sunday night fixture at the Japanese Village restaurant, where he entertained diners for two decades.
Her father had many interests outside of magic, as well, his daughter said, and entrepreneurial skills that saw him run a successful wholesale business and establish the Premier School of Bartending.
"He loved to play racquetball. He was a fierce competitor and his Y buddies are going to sorely miss him. He also went fly-fishing, he did woodworking and he went RVing. Mom and Dad started travelling in the last few years quite a bit down south to Arizona."
A tribute is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
