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Issue #1059
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From Russ

From Nova Scotia Sus

The Ontarion

Hey There, it’s me again,

Labour Day weekend, the psychological ‘New Years’. At least thats how it’s always felt to me. Last weekend was Labour Day, obviously. The highways were packed with people madly trying to fit that one last ‘day’ in, doing whatever it was they were trying to do. The shopping malls become packed with back to school shoppers, new shoes, shirts, back packs, crayons and so forth. A mad house I tell you, a mad house. But it is that mysterious divide between the summer ending and a new start, a new beginning, which is why it feels so much like’ the real ‘new years’.

Our long weekend around here was typical, problems on the highway, new forest fires started by careless campers, ferry cancellations as BC ferries always seems to have at least one ship taken out of service on long weekends due to mechanical issues. In fact thats one of the way to tell it’s a long weekend, a ferry boat is broken and hundreds of passengers are stranded either on the mainland side or the island side. Happens like clockwork.

As kids I always dreaded the ending of summer, being forced back to school. (I hated school). I would have spent the last couple of weeks of summer up on the farm helping with the hay or grain harvest. I’d have been sweating in the fields, mucking out the cow and pig pens, and stinking like the stuff I’d been shoveling. I’d come home rather ripe and have to endure that long hard scrub in the tub. Looking back I’m kind of surprised that our dad even let me into the house until a few layers of dirt were removed outside. He probably wanted to burned my cloths in an attempt to remove the odiferous offenses to the olfactory senses. But thats just conjecture and I have no proof, and besides, we couldn’t afford to waste garments that were at least somewhat still serviceable. I’d have given anything to be permitted to stay on the farm, be a hermit and not bother or be bothered by anyone.

And then of course there was that first day and week of school. That was always hard for me as I just never quite fit in the way others did. As the years went by I learned to like that but in public school it was a bit of a nuisance. But, the years have gone by way too fast and now we all look back on Labour Day and going back to school, some looking back on pleasant memories and some not so much. It’s funny though how this particular weekend, the one that ends summer and starts a new school year can still provoke memories and feelings. No other weekend effects us quite the same way.

Perhaps this little video is appropriate given the emotions that the Labour Day weekend can evoke. Called ‘Pack Up Your Sorrows’, it was a song done by PP&M way back in the early 60’s or so. With ‘The Wife’ down in Maple Ridge taking care of the kids and the renovating crew having the holiday Monday off, I was finally able to try doing some videoing again. It has been quite a long time since I was doing that kind of thing, at least it seems like a very long time, and it took me a while to figure out how to do it again but I got it done, for what its worth. Hope you enjoy, sing along if you want. It’s not a recording with all the extra parts and voices, it’s just a video, me and my guitar, the way I look and sound in real life.

Pack Up Your Sorrows

the video

doug

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From Russ

About Point Clark ,,,,,,,,,,

"It's ours again!" say the permanent residents of this 'Resort area' known as Point Clark.

As the 'Senior member' of the Brubacher Clan, and likely the oldest resident of the 'Point', I am pleased to make the following Report: The Labour Day long weekend has passed and the renters, campers, visitors, and squatters have made their departure. It is quiet again, except for AECON, the company installing our natural gas lines, doing bad things to our roads with their noisy equipment. The workers are polite, professional, and considerate - unlike some of our rude Summer visitors who feel they own the roads and can and do, disregard all rules, and laws. I'm glad I don't live on the beach. Those who do, tell me about the occupational take-over of the sandy beach, and noisy parties that seem to go on all night long, to say nothing about the mess they leave behind. Thank God I'm a "second row" dweller!

It is Thursday afternoon, September the 8th and it is just like Summer without the humidity - we can take 26 Degrees, with clear skies, no wind, and a calm, lake - so blue it is impossible to describe, for the next month!!

Have you noticed all the Robins have gone South? And what happened to our mosquitos this Season? I never was bitten, nor bothered - as a matter of fact, the insect population has been noticeable by it's absence here in the 'Point'. Likely the lack of rain this Summer has something to do with it? They tell me "lack of insects" is NOT good news - many birds and tiny creatures live on insects.

The Winter birds are also scarce - haven't seen nor heard a Blue Jay all Summer long! There is however a lone Cardinal that pays me a visit almost every evening around suppertime. I don't feed the birds any longer as I'm unable to get around outside that well, so it is a bit of a mistery why the Cardinal arrives so frequently. I told a dear friend about this, and she said the Cardinal is likely the 'spirit of a past loved-one' - say what?!

As most of you know, I have written a book honouring my/our parents. COVID set me back two-and-a-half years, as no printing was being done, and now there is a shortage of book paper! I'm also waiting for a person who is doing the 'art-work' for the covers. Hope I don't die before the book is printed! Seriously. Sister, Evelyn had started the Family Book, but unfortunately passed away before she finished it. Brother, Lorne had a 'treasure-trove' of old photos, and could name almost everyone shown, but he also passed away before he even got started! Brother, Howard, who has been deceased for many years, was a great painter/artist, but as far as I know, had no interest in writing a Family Book. Brother, Wayne has moved to New Brunswick, where he's extremely busy building a new home for a 'new life', and has no time for writing.

Finally, the thought just occurred to me, that I should name someone in my Will who has helped with my book, and has the time, talent, and willingness to carry-on to printing same, along with a fund to cover costs incurred to print sufficient copies to be given, at no cost, to those who have expressed an interest in receiving same.

*

Tune in again next week if you want to read "A Shot in the dark"

It's an old story, by an old man who will carry, as a 'regret' for life what he did as a youngster, in the home of our parent's best friends in Centreville.

PS: This story first appeared in a short book I wrote several years ago, titled "A HIGHWAY RUNS THROUGH IT" and which was xxx rated and therefore given only to selected readers.

Uncle Russ.

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From Nova Scotia Sus

The long weekend in September has been a yearly tradition of friends gathering for a music and camping festival in our area. Our friend Allen hosts this event on his lovely property. His main occupation is a sound man for the DeCoste Entertainment Centre in Pictou. Many years ago he renovated his unused barn into a beautifully crafted music hall, complete with a stage and 2 floors of balconies to enjoy the music. He controls the sound while local and "from away" artists come to play for fun and the pleasure of performing in such a unique atmosphere. Valdy, Johnathan Edwards and Lennie Gallant have been known to show up on occasion. The local musicians are every bit as good. During other times of the year there are dart games and smaller gatherings. We are so fortunate to have such a place in our neck of the woods.

Sus

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The Ontarion

Hello Everyone!

I guess we should start off this week by saying “God Bless The Queen!” she most certainly did have a positive affect on our lives here in Canada and 51 other countries around the commonwealth! I remember vividly singing God Save The Queen every morning of my public school life and many occasions again during our High School Days as well! Of course having a British sports car in Carole’s and my life over the past 33 years as well. I think of her and the monarchy every time we get into our MGB to go for a drive!

As I stated last week, we were in need of having a large number of bricks on the west wall of our house. With that wall facing west the wind and all the bad weather hit that side of our house for the past 47 years many of the bricks on the two corners as well as the fire place brickwork on the base of the chimney had crumbled away so they needed to be replaced. We managed to find a young man who has 18 years experience as a brick layer and had done some repair work on our neighbour’s house last year. As it turned out, it just so happened that he is the son of one of the Waterloo Fire Fighters that worked with me on the same shift for many years. In fact his dad did brick work as a side job during his time on the WFD! His name is Tim Weiler and his son’s name is Richard and I remember him coming into the WFD Head Quarter’s station with his dad as a little boy! What a coincidence ! Anyway, Richard is now a Toronto Fire Fighter and runs his own business on the side doing Brick Laying! Richard spent last Sunday and also this past Tuesday repairing the brick work on our wall and he did a wonderful job of the repairs. If I ever have anyone ask me who did our brick repair work, I’ll most certainly recommend Rich to them for their needs!

I think I’m going to cut this week’s report short and thank all of you for rejoining the Squid once again! Please keep your word and write in to Doug and Russ and Myself on a regular basis! I have to cut this weeks write up short because I have a busy evening ahead of me!

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

Bye for now….. Please stay safe…… Greg.

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Take Care
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The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.