Issue #958
Including:

From Nova Scotia Sus

From Russ

From Karl

The Ontarion

Hi All,

My neighbor and I did a nice motorcycle ride up toward Whistler earlier this week. Just after we started to head back, he signaled that he needed to pull over. Turned out he had forgotten to do up his helmet strap. We had taken out helmets off and somehow doing his back up got missed. That happens to most of us once or twice during our years of riding. I don’t know why or how it gets forgot as it’s is baked into our muscle memory. But it does, and, that’s not actually what I’m writing about, only that it reminded me of something from perhaps about 45 years ago….

At the time back then I was flying Lazair ultra-light aircraft out of good old WW airport. I was also flying Cessnas at the time but because I didn’t have anywhere to go when I flew, there wasn’t much sense in going nowhere at 120 mph. It made more sense and was more fun to go nowhere at about 45 mph. As well, you could legally fly much lower in an ultra-light than in a certified airplane. Now the thing with those Lazair’s was that they were a totally open flying machine. Basically just a lawn chair fastened to some flimsy metal tubing, powered by an engine that was not much more than a glorified chainsaw engine. Now heres where the ‘forgetting’ comes in. I had signed out the ultra-light from the WW flying club, did the usual, minimalistic pre-flight checks etc and radioed the tower that I was ready to taxi. At the end of the runway I was given clearance for takeoff and clearance to head to the area east of the airport that was out of the way and sort of reserved for slow, low, flying. It wasn’t until I was lazily flying around that I realized I’d FORGOTTEN to do up my seat belt. Yikes.

To make it worse, I was well aware of some Transport Canada bulletins about ultra-light pilots who had been unintentionally ejected from their aircraft due to failure to buckle up. Face it, you are just sitting in a small open lawn chair about 400 ft above the trees, feeling every bounce caused by turbulence. It required TWO hands to hold and buckle up those dangling belts. One hand was very much needed to hold and control the stick. To let go meant the craft would immeadiately pitch or roll or do both. Unlike a more traditional plane where you sit more upright and the stick is between your knees and can therefore be held with your knees, the sitting position is much more horizontal and the stick could not be held between your knees. So, with my free had I managed to reach down and find and bring one end of the belt up and onto my lap. Then, holding the end of the belt with my elbow (I was way younger and way more flexible then) and still holding the stick with that hand, I managed to find and grab the other half of the belt. I have no idea how but I somehow managed to get both ends together and clicked into place, but I did, without falling out, which you have probably already figured out because if I had fallen out, I would have just been a splat in some farm field east of the airport and you wouldn’t be reading this. To understate, I was relived. At the end of my flight time I came in, landed, taxied back to the flying club ramp and parked the ultra-light. I never told anyone about overlooking a rather important pre-flight item but I never forgot again either. And yes, I went on to enjoy many more flights in that craft, always buckled up snugly.

If there is any interest and if you are lucky, I just may at some point relate the story of when I was flying a Cessna 172 with 3 passengers along for the ride and found myself running out of daylight. I was an hour north of the WW and hadn’t had any night training at all. As to how that turned out, well, just like in the story above, I’m still here.

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Ok kids, this week’s selection is my cover of an oldie by Crosby, Sills & Nash called ‘Teach Your Children Well’. Not much I can really say about this one except that while fun to do, it sure could use some harmony as well as that steel guitar that they used so effectively in it. It was actually one of my favorite songs to play when there were places to play but I must be doing it very poorly because almost no one ever recognizes it. Or, and equally possible, I’m the only one around anymore thats old enough to remember said song.

Teach Your Children

doug

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From Nova Scotia Sus

Hurricane Teddy has come and gone. Luckily by the time it hit Nova Scotia it was reduced to post tropical storm Teddy. The winds on the south shore were the strongest with lots of warnings to not go near the ocean. Of course many people did not heed the warnings as was shown on TV. It is quite exciting to see the big waves come crashing on the rocks but it's the odd wave that washes people away never to be found. Here on the north shore we experienced high winds and lots of much needed rain. Our pond that had been showing so much of the banks filled to the brim. So Teddy did us a big favor. Our big rain barrels are full again and the garden is saved. Pumping water from the pond to keep the garden alive during our long drought worked but even the pond could not afford anymore loss.

Doug I am so enjoying your music videos. It is like a walk back in time to listen and sing along with you all those old folk tunes. We may live far apart but we can still sing together even if you can't hear me! When this covid thing is over and done with I'll take a trip out. We have great memories of playing in our band, Some Peoples Children! You are keeping the music alive! Folk music will always be in my heart.

Keep up the good work!

Sus

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From Russ

Nightmare!

I’d joined a police department in a small town 50 miles north of Toronto to escape the pressures of being a Sergeant with KPD. The pressure came from at least two sources – jealousy from the Ranks and my immediate superior. I won’t name the town or any cops so they can’t sue me.

Going back into ‘uniform’ in a new ‘space’ was a comfort – new faces – new friends – new (rented) house in a new neighbourhood. Cool.

The discipline was lacking and every soldier and cop knows what that means. We called our sups by first name, not by rank, the Chief was not respected (we didn’t come to “attention” when he entered our “Guard Room”, nor salute when meeting him in public.)

“Relax Bru, nothing ever happens in this ‘jerk-off’ town”. That was the general feeling among the ‘troops’.

Then the shit hit the fan!! Two murders in one night! Unbelievable! Where to begin? Do we move the body so we can see “how he died?” Do we first have to call the Coroner? Should we take photographs of the “crime scene?”. Seems none of us had ever investigated a murder before but, somehow we stumbled through it – for now.

After a “trial-and -error” type of investigation, which lasted 24 hours non stop, we were given a 16 hour break from duty. This meant no cops on the ‘beat’ (but the town’s people wouldn’t miss us anyway), and the Station locked-up and in darkness for the entire night.

Picture this: Day Shift arrives to find the outer doors kicked-in; locker room floor strewn with our cop stuff. Them bastards!

“Hey! My Sam Brown’s gone! Where’s my gun? Shit! My cap! My clean shirts – bullets – hand-cuffs – everything gone!!”.

“George! We’ve been busted!”. Somebody hollers when the Officer-in-Charge arrives . . late as usual.

“Call me Sergeant, dammit” he snarls. “What the f- - - k happened here?” “They smashed-open our lockers and stole all our stuff”.

The Chief of Police arrives (looking bleary-eyed, and smelling slightly of booze) and things start happening – FAST. All personnel are called in for a ‘special conference’. The ‘Press’ hears about our break-in and joins the meeting. Cops try to keep them out, but the ‘newsies’ remain. (As is their right).

The meeting comes to ‘order’, and our chief begins to address the assembled troops: “The question on everyone’s mind is; Who did this? We suspect it was perpetrated by a ‘Gang’ from the GTA, made up of “outlawed motorcycle members” who have been growing in size and notoriety of late”. The chief goes on, “We, as a civilian police body have been rendered defenceless, as all our ‘fire capability’ has been stolen and is now in the hands of criminals who will no doubt seek their revenge on us in a matter of hours”. Stern and scowling, he continues. “We have no recourse than to request the aid of our Military”

The good news is, they’ll come to our aid (upon the request of the Mayor and Council of the town of ^^^^^^^). The not-so-good news is it will take them 3 days to assemble and arrive from Camp Borden.

The writer will attempt to continue the above at a later date if possible. As sometimes he is able to re-enter that stage of sub-consciousness.

By former Sergeant, (now Constable) Russell G. Brubacher.

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From Karl

HI everyone,

Well October is here and hope everyone is well ? Here in Melbourne we are still in lockdown can’t go more than 5k from out house and can’t leave the State BUT we will get through this, Another 3 weeks to go before we find out if they will ease restrictions but can not wait to get out to take photos again past the 5 k radius from my house ,Here in Australia we have hit 800 Deaths from Covid 19 and over 600 was from Aged Care facilities ,I still get out for my walks around the beach for Sunrise and Sunsets which is the best time to get out to take photos around here also Spring has sprung here in Melbourne Lots of flowers and Bird life to take photos so I don’t get too bored to choose from ,Doug I love your songs you do GREAT work buddy and I love everyones story’s, 2020 has been has been a SH.T year for lot of people but we can look back and be thankful that we have come through this ,Russ I hope you try The Medical Marijuana for your pain “IT Works”believe me ,Well I will close for now and looking forward to your next instalment Stay safe ALL.

Karl

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

Well, what was forecast to be a rain filled week has turned out to be not a bad sunny one! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for many more like this one in the fall’s future! It’d be nice if it lasts until shortly before Christmas wouldn’t it?

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Here’s a quick question for you!

When was the last time you saw more than 9 Bluejays in one place other than on a baseball field on TV? I’d be willing to bet it’s been a long time if ever indeed! Well, as you all know, we have a flagpole in our back garden that has a large bird feeder hanging on a bracket on the pole and it’s a very popular hangout for many breeds of birds throughout the spring summer and fall seasons! Carole was in the kitchen the other day and happened to look out the window at the feeder and low and behold, there on the feeder were 6 large male Bluejays with another 4 on the ground at the base of the flagpole under the feeder. As it turned out, Adam had filled the feeder with fresh black Sunflower seeds and they of course are supposed to attract Bluejays. Well, as far as that goes, it sure does work and we have the proof of that! Adam quickly got his camera out and managed to sneak out to the edge of our yard and take several photos of the Jays gathering on and around the feeder. Unfortunately by the time he took the photos a few of the Jays had moved into the bushes and trees surrounding the feeder and were not as visible all at the same time as they had been from the kitchen window. I guess several of them had been scared off by his movement to the fence to take their pictures! However he did manage to get a few photos with several of them still on the feeder! It was quite a sight to see them all gathering at one time! I’m sure it’s an unusual happening!

We had no idea that so many Jays would gather together let alone travel in a flock like this! They have come back each day for the past few days and enjoyed a feast of Sunflower seeds both in the feeder and on the ground below! It’s an amazing sight for sure and since Jays are here all year round, we hope to keep on seeing this spectacle throughout the winter months. Of course we still have many sparrows and other birds frequenting the feeder such as Cardinals and Cedar Waxwings and Robins enjoying the back yard with all it’s shrubbery and seed attractions due to the gardens aligning the fence. It’s amazing to watch the activities of the birds of different breeds from our windows! We’ve even had Cardinals nesting in the small trees that stand just outside the kitchen window at the entrance to our patio. The Robins used to nest in a small decorative watering can that stood on a shelf on the back wall of the house by the patio. However, they were scared off this year by a cat the discovered their nest and during the night attacked the nest and ate the baby Robins! SO, to prevent that happening again, Carole removed their favourite nesting spot from the wall. I’m sure the Robins managed to nest somewhere else in our trees and bushes since they are still frequenting the back yard and digging for worms in the lawn!

Along with the feeder on the flagpole, I have built about a half dozen bird houses that I’ve mounted on the fence etc to give the birds a place to make their home over the years and they are usually filled with nesting materials. It’s interesting to see how they are attracted to the bird houses as well. The first bird house that I built was when I was 10 years old and in Cubs at a local church on Lancaster St. One of the cub pack leaders whose husband was a woodworker took our pack to her house to enjoy a couple of evenings learning how to assemble a bird house each. It was fun and kind of got me interested in woodworking myself. My first birdhouse was painted blue and my dad helped me mount it in the willow tree in our back yard on Floyd St. It was also used over the years of my youth by many different birds! I’m sure I will continue to build and replace the bird houses in our yard here for as long as they are needed by the birds that live in them year round. I can assemble a couple of these houses in and evening of woodworking in my small basement shop and it’s satisfying to see the outcome of my efforts when they are mounted out back!

I’m not sure where Bluejays like to nest but it would be nice to see them living in our garden bushes if that’s possible. Oh well, until such time, we’ll just have to keep on feeding them their favourite Sunflower seeds to give them a reason to hang around out back!

That’s about it for 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>
If you like bird watching try hanging a feeder in your yard!
PPS: Check out the pictures that Adam took of the Bluejays this week! See the attachment!

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