Issue #911
Including:

From Lorne
From Russ
The Ontarion

Hi All,

Over the last several weeks I’ve been filling my allotted space on these pages with long drawn-out writings. This weeks I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel and therefore to most reader’s delight, I have very little to say. And not wanting to disappoint, I’ll say very little. So, that ‘very little’ is about the needless time change most of us went through again this fall, the old ‘fall back’ adjustment to the clock. Its hard on everyone and a waist of effort and accomplishes nothing at all. Way back last spring when we were faced with the ‘spring forward’ half of the cycle our BC provincial government acknowledged that there was a growing desire to abandon the bi-yearly changing of the time. They would have preferred to simply let the topic drop and continue on with the status quo and do nothing about it, just let us all go through the change twice a year because doing nothing is the easiest route for them to take. Because of the public’s demand to stop the changes and perhaps to prove that we in fact weren’t so determined to push for a stop, they held an on-line referendum. The expectation was that there would be very little interest in filling out on-line choices and the results would be a spit, they could go no doing nothing and follow along with the other provinces and states that sat back and did nothing, letting the time changes continue. Our premier even went on the news stated that he was confident that no one really cared and that most people and ALL businesses wanted to continue changed twice yearly, as did the 3 US states south of us.

Well, more people responded to the referendum than to any other issue that had ever been put to the people. And, of the huge number of respondents, about 98% wanted to end the nonsense and stop the changes, and, about 98% of the 98% wanted to stay with summer time time, and abandon ever switching back to standard time. The premier had no choice to acknowledge the results, especially since the news media had picked up on it. He then went around telling everyone that the citizens and businesses of this province wanted to stop the changing of the time. He also stated that the US states to our south were actively working on putting an end to the practice and that they would like to stay with Daylight Saving time, just as we in BC had indicated. Talk about a flip flop when faced with the facts but he’s a politician so thats normal. Then, nothing more was said and as you know, we were faced with switching back last weekend. When asked by various news media types, our premier stated that he was about to introduce the necessary legislation in the provincial parliament and perhaps legislation might be in place for next year. Well, thats a little late don’t you think, given the government had about 8 months to work on it?

Anyway, things could be in place for next year where we will only have to do the ‘spring forward’ next spring and then leave it there. We all sure hope so. Funny though how all the experts then come out stating that loosing that hour of light in the morning would be harmful and there would be sleep disorders and other problems if we were to stay on summer time time. But then ‘experts’ are the last people anyone should be asking for advice about anything. Bottom line is, perhaps and hopefully, next spring will be the last time change for BC. Perhaps, if you are lucky, other provinces will follow suit.

And one last gripe….. the ^$#$&(&%#@%^ Christmas adds hit the air waves one nano-second after Halloween was over. With no respect at all for the need to approach and observe Remembrance Day with the respect it deserves, the worshiping of commercialism takes total presidents. There is even one channel on TV that is showing none stop Hallmark Xmas movies every day. And yes, I write ‘Xmas’ because its nothing but fluff and commercialism.

And to close, you’l all be relived to notice there are no new recording for you to listen to. Out of the goodness of my heart I’m giving you some time off.

doug

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From Lorne

Not much to write about when one is virtually house bound. Procedures begin Wed. Nov. 13 and continue into the 14th with the valve job Nov. 28. All subject to change.

Stormy Halloween brought one, that's 1 person to my door, my great grand daughter., Viv. My thoughts go back to about 85 years ago when we lived in the community of Centreville. Brother Russel would change costume as many as 3 times and hit the same homes 3 times. His take was more than ample and would store it under loose floor boards upstairs. It didn't take long for Howard and I to find said treasure and by the following June would have it all consumed, even the apples. We older ones found more fun dumping outhouses, putting farm wagons on barn roofs, lowering the school flag pole and hanging fence gates on trees. And the greatest achievement of all was placing a horse drawn road grader on the front porch of the Township Hall. Not enough time to trick or treat. That's for younger kids.

Lorne

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From Russ

Brotherly Love.

I’m unable to write my usual type of column today, as my thoughts are about my remaining two brothers, Lorne and Wayne.

Growing up – Lorne was mean to me (which he always denies (LOL!).

And I was mean to Wayne (which he readily admits (LOL)

But, as we grow older we seem to cherish each other’s friendship.

Since I moved away from my brothers, I don’t see them often enough, so I miss them and I take full blame for that! Picture this: We three grow MUCH older, and end up in Sunnyside Home with dementia – only recognizing each other as brothers every second day or so (LOL)

Lorne – You’re a “tough guy”; no longer mean to me. I look up to you as my ‘big brother’ I admire your unmatched skill at ‘story- telling’, and that droll sense of humour. You make me laugh out loud almost every time you write your short, blunt story’s for the Squamidian!

It’s just ‘not right’ that you should be ‘slowed-down a bit’ by your recent fall. Evelyn used to say, “Lorne is so busy with his music you need to make an appointment to see him”. And that’s a good thing – I truly believe your music is keeping you so young and spry!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your up-coming heart surgery.

Wayne – Sorry I was mean to you as a kid (and only you and me know just what I mean, eh!). Always think of you as “the brains of the family”. You are a very successful business man with much recognition in your field of expertise. I’m a little jealous, but He says; “Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy brothers”, so I must not! But, nothing says I can’t go on admiring you – and I shall!

We all appreciate you keeping us posted as to your health. Learning you were fighting cancer was a “shock” to us, but must have been a ‘nightmare’ for you and your family. Good thing you have a positive outlook, a loving, supportive wife; that charming daughter and little “ray of sunshine” to keep you fulfilled and smiling from ear- to- ear!

Please know that you have many friends and relatives who have you in their thoughts and prayers – not that you need them/us, because when it’s all over, you’ll sing; “I Did it My Way!”

Middle brother, Russ.

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

OK, now I know that winter is near! Back in the spring, Adam bought a Bee Barn for Carole to mount on our back fence above the gardens. They are called a barn just because of their shape. They are shaped like a barn and have a red roof. What they are is a series of bamboo tubes about a quarter of an inch in diameter and they are stacked on top of each other to form like a honeycomb body to the “barn”. This allows the bees to enter each tube and deposit their larvae during the summer and fall. They make their deposits and then seal off the entrance to the tube for the winter. The barn must then be removed to be stored inside a shed, not inside your house for the winter months. Then in the spring the barn is again mounted on the fence and the warm weather hatches the baby bees. This is a method of increasing the bee population, which is a GOOD thing! With the threat of colder weather this week, Adam removed the Bee Barn and placed it in the garden shed. I figured this was a sure sign of winter arriving! All summer and fall we’ve been watching to see if the bees were making use of the barn but all of the tubes seemed to bee (pun intended) empty. However when Adam removed the barn the other day he noticed that one of the tubes was blocked. I guess this means Carole’s Bee Barn is working! We’ll see how well it has worked come spring when it’s placed back on the fence. We’ll have to watch carefully to see the one sealed tube hatch! They say that once one of the tubes has been used, it will attract other bees to make use of the barn. What a cool idea this is and fingers crossed, it’ll work better next summer!

Speaking of winter, it sounds like southern Ontario is in for a first blast of heavy snow over the next couple of days. I’ll blame it on Uncle Russ since he lives the closest of all of us to Lake Huron where this snow will originate! LOL! The weather people are calling for some 30 to 40 cm of the white stuff for a first good winter storm! I hope KW doesn’t see that much snow for a first blast of winter. Oh well if we do get hit hard I’ve got my trusty TORO ready to go and waiting in the garage. Adam was good enough to have installed my snow tires on the Jeep last weekend so the vehicles are ready to go in the snow. Both Adam’s truck and our Jeep have new snow tires on them so that’s a good thing when we do get hit with our first storm! There are signs up on our neighbourhood streets telling us to rake our leaves to the curb by November 18th for pickup by the city crews. I guess they didn’t expect any amount of snow before then. I think they were being optimistic!

With winter coming on and Remembrance Day almost here, most stores and some citizens will be thinking of Christmas! Actually, most of the retail stores are already displaying Christmas stuff! The greed of the retailers usually rears its ugly head by now each year so I guess it’s become the normal thing!

I was hoping for at least one or two more nice days so we could take the MG for one last cruise but I guess Mother Nature has put a stop to that fun activity until next spring. I’ll have to place my heater in the garage to soften up the convertible roof on the “B” so I can put it up one last time for the winter months. I also have to disconnect the battery for that time period as well. I guess the convertibles are like the bees and the bears, they hibernate for the winter. I may just do the same! I haven’t checked the Farmer’s Almanac but from what I have heard from other sources our upcoming winter is predicted to be a cold one with heavy amounts of snow. Oh well, after all, it is Canada we are living in and they don’t call us “The Great White North” for nothing do they!

At least, I managed to clean and winterize the lawn mower the other day after I cut the grass for the last time. I think it was on Monday of this week when I cut it for the final time of this year. The next effort will be put into decorating for Christmas but that’ll be under the direction of Carole. So, I’ll just have to wait until she’s ready for that phase of the season and follow orders as usual, LOL! It’s always a fun time when it comes to decorating for the holidays. We don’t put up any coloured lighting on the house any more so at least I don’t have to climb any ladders or walk on the roof like I have for the past 40 or so years to get the job done.

That’s about all I have to talk about this week folks!

Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next time in The Ontarion Report!

Bye for now … Greg

PS: Something To Think About>
Keep those sidewalks clear for the kiddies walking to school!