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The
Squamidian Report – May 25 / 24
Online
Versions
Of This And Past Issues Issue
#1148 Nova Scotia Sus Russ The Ontarion Doug
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From Nova Scotia Sus
Well it's been quite a couple of weeks! Our road, Millsville Road that is, has been on the county's books for repair and new pavement. Our first clue something was happening was all the pipes and culverts started appearing in piles along the road. Finally, we all said, but still not trusting when this might occur. Much to our surprise they got right on it. So far they are digging up and replacing every culvert along the road and then new gravel and then nice stonework to finish it off. I'm just waiting to see if they will replace ours since no water has ever been in our ditch. It sure would look nice. They have been around to ask people where they can dump all the soil from digging the ditches. We agreed to some in a couple of lots we own down the road. When we checked on to see we were so amazed at the amount we got. They had spread it out with a bull dozer to make a nice platform. A couple of days ago I happened to look out our back window and saw a very large bear eating out of our compost bins. That's just great...now I have to worry about getting back and forth to the chicken coops. The next day it was one large bear and 2 cubs! This is becoming a problem! During the day it seems to disappear but you never know and it will be more protective with having babies. Since we have no more compost left we are hoping it will move on. Years ago we had a bear in the yard who took an interest in my hot tub by laying its paws on the cover and leaving a big scratch. So for awhile we will be careful. The chickens aren't bothered as they are in a great pen top and sides. Sus
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From Russ
I just said my 'good byes' to Mac who is flying back to Calgary tonight. Greg left at the same time, as he's leading Mac to Ripley where the gas is always cheaper. Mac has a rental car which he must leave in London with a full tank of gas. The house is too quiet, so I hopped on my 3-wheeler and took a ride around the neighbourhood to find someone to talk to. I found her gardening beside Lake-shore Trail, struck up a conversation, passed some time, now I'm home writing my weekly column for the Great Squamidian. Hope it's not too late for inclusion with tomorrow's News letter. Mac arrived on May 18th, and it's been a 'whirlwind' until an hour ago. Mac is very 'out-going', makes friends quickly and cooks superbly! Think I've gained six pounds in six days! The last meal he cooked for us was a chicken stir-fry - very delicious - a little too hot with fresh ginger root. Greg, who said he wasn't hungry ate two servings, while Mac ate three! He always prepares too much of anything he cooks, and 'forces' me to eat as much as him! In addition to his home cooking, we had a dinner at a local restaurant called the Eirie Bell which specializes in fish dinners. They know I like Tim Horton's, so we went twice in Kincardine, and once in Goderich. Both Mac and Greg were born in K-W Hospital, reared by their grandparents as their father was killed in a car accident when they were infants; familiar with Pennsylvania-Dutch cooking, and very much enjoy a feed of roasted pigtails, were disappointed as we didn't get time to go to the Heidelburg Inn for that specialty! Because it was my Birthday, many neighbours and friends dropped in at the cottage bringing 'well wishes', baking, chocolates, nuts, as well as hugs and kisses. The only things not fattening are hugs & kisses! I want to thank all you Squamidian readers for your Happy Birthday emails. You made my day!! Russ (now in my 96th year, targeting 100!!) On May 21st, 2029 I want you all to come to my Special Birthday party/or funeral, whichever comes first - and if you don't come I'll be disappointed!
Russ ****
The Ontarion
Hello everyone This week was another busy one for sure! Every day was filled with medical appointments including Saturday! Luckily I still have time to write my Ontarion! While driving through kw to the various appointments I couldn’t help but notice the changes taking place in the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo! I’ve been retired for 22 years now and I don’t even recognize the main streets of kw now! There are so many high rise buildings along King st that driving down the main streets is looking like Toronto! I’m sure I wouldn’t remember half of Waterloo’s streets any more! They said on the news last night that Waterloo region will have a population of 1 million in the next 5 years! Wow! I’d say it’s from all of the added immigration that’s being taken in by Canada! It’s no wonder we have no housing to accommodate them all! Now, the region is talking about developing valuable farm land out around New Hamburg! The farmers out that way are not happy with the region trying to expropriate their farms to accommodate future industries! I don’t like the idea of eating up the farm land at the expense of the loss of food production! It seems the government is serving industry rather than the citizens they should be serving! I guess big money talks! Hopefully they won’t end up taking the farms away in an unfair manner! That’s about all I have for this week! Thanks for tuning in again ans be safe till next time!
GREG. ****
From Doug
ow’s it going…..eh? I know I’ve griped this gripe before but if a gripe is worth griping its worth griping until its well griped. I HATE long weekends. Just like where Russ lives, we have to put up with the tourists, the idiots that come up from the city (citiots), the endless traffic that clogs the highways, the shoulder to shoulder entitled people purchasing their last minute groceries in the grocery store, and so on. As usual, this May long weekend was a frustrating exercise in trying to deal with ‘them’. The local highway was shut down twice due to vehicle crashes caused by drivers in way too much of a hurry who have no regard for anyone else. We can’t go anywhere and if we did, we might not be able to get back. What I do like to snicker at is the thought of the ones who head up the forest service roads along the rivers in order to camp for the weekend. As seems to be the usual case for the May long weekend, this one was mostly cold and wet. I envision these young moronic campers freezing in their wet tents that they pitched beside a snow-melt swollen ice cold river. They would stink of camp fire smoke as they huddled in their sleeping bags. But of course I forget that they would be totally unaware of all of that due to the liberal amount of alcohol that they have lubricated themselves with. And of course having the twisted mind that I do, I must wonder how many of them had too much alcohol and did too much huddling together in those sleeping bags and would end up regretting it about 9 months later. The world does not need more of them, we have more than enough already. I did venture out onto the highway on the Harley on Sunday morning to ride down to Horseshoe Bay to meet my riding friends for coffee. The wife stayed home as she was cold and tired. South bound traffic was not too bad because everyone else was headed north. However, when it came time for me to head home (north), I had to contend with the heavy traffic, the backed up pinch points where 2 lanes merge back into 1, the speeding drivers in cars and on sport bikes. (Those sport bike riders give the rest of us a very bad name as they weave in through traffic and ludicrous speeds, scaring the wits out of everyone else). I made it home ok but was glad to be off the highway. By mid afternoon said highway was closed again due to another crash. It goes on and on. The only possible time to go anywhere was the Monday morning but we didn’t need to go anywhere and didn’t have to go anywhere so we didn’t. By early afternoon the highway was blocked again by too much traffic all trying to get back to the city at the same time. A drive from Whistler to the city should take between an hour and a half and 2 hours. On these busy long weekends that drive often takes 6 hours, as it did this time. For the life of me I can’t understand why anyone would subject themselves to that idiocy. The ones who head home bright and early on the last day of a long weekend make it just fine. The rest of them have to put up with each other. There, end of gripe, at least for now. But face it, I’m easily set off so I’m sure I’ll start griping again at some point in the future.
Doug ****
Have
a
Good One ****
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