North Nova News

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. No matter how old I get, birthdays are still special and I still want to count them. I keep reminding myself that when I am much older I will think 54 is young, so I better enjoy each year as it comes. April is a busy month for birthdays, I didn’t forget about Rosemary and Sue. I spent my day doing just what I wanted to do. No chores, just pure pleasure. I also would like to thank Karin for writing about Australian life. This is a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting but probably will never get there. I don’t mind flying but I just can’t imagine being on a plane that long. Flying out to B.C. is about as far as I want to go. So the internet is the answer. A while ago I followed the journey of a man who traveled the Tropic of Capricorn from one side of Australia to the other raising awareness for the flying doctors.

Well the lobster fisherman are now quite confident they will get out on time. The ice has gone and you can see nothing but the blue ocean all the way to Prince Edward Island on a clear day of course. It’s about 15 miles across the Northumberland Strait by ferry from Pictou to Wood Islands, P.E.I. The ferries will start up around the beginning of May and is a very worthwhile experience. Some tourists like to take the ferry one way to Prince Edward Island and then come back by the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick. The 9-mile bridge is beautiful and has to be one of the wonders of the world but in order to see anything from the bridge you need to be in a van, bus, or truck. The railing is too high for an ordinary car. We traveled across in our truck last summer and the view was spectacular.

We are getting closer to the sailing season and everyone is getting excited, especially us. This year Peter is starting a new cruising business on our sailboat, Rojotoo. (pronounced Roho, which is Spanish for red) We have already received much interest in this new venture and yesterday our first phone call!! Today we are headed down to the marina to scrub up the boat and do any adjustments necessary before the boat goes in the water. It’s hard to do any business on it until it is actually floating! He will be hiring a student this summer to crew for him as required from the Department of Transportation. I will crew whenever needed. Our little brother, Zane, is hoping he can help too. Peter will be putting us through an intensive training session so we will be prepared to handle any situation. I took sailing courses last summer and reached my level 2 so now I’ll have to brush up on my knot tying and nautical terms. If you are not using them all the time you tend to forget. At least I do. I’m sure I will have lots to write about once the adventure begins. I hope you like sailing stories.

Well I must get this column off to Doug. I’ve left it to the last minute. It is 5:14 am. in B.C. now and I’m counting on Doug not getting up that early to put the Squamidian Report together.

Until next time

Sus

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THE ONTARION REPORT

April 26, 2003

Good morning everybody! It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday here in Kitchener. I must say that I think the Jolly Green Giant has been hanging around our neighbourhood. Everything is green and filled with buds. FINALLY! One can sure tell it’s Spring at last, all you have to do is take a drive on Saturdays and you’ll see that every second driveway has a garage sale happening. I think they should call them “Driveway” sales instead. Oh well, no matter, as long as we get rid of our junk. Actually there is some pretty cool stuff in some of the garage sales. I once sold a car in a garage sale a friend of mine was having. I just stuck a quick sign on the windshield and in 15 minutes I had a buyer. You know, now that I think of it, I’d be surprised if anyone showed up for garage sales with the SARS scare on in Ontario. I’m sure you have all heard of that problem. We are all hoping they’ll be able to find a way to cure this illness. Although, they say it’s based on the common cold and they’ve never been able to cure the common cold, have they! Oh well, I’m sure some “Brain” in the medical profession will find a way.

We’ve been enjoying some pretty nice weather for the past week here in Kitchener. It’s been sunny and around 15c most days. If this keeps up, we’ll be mowing our lawns within a week or so from now. I guess that’s nothing new for Doug. I gather from what he tells us, he has a snow shovel mounted on his lawn mower so he can switch from snowing to mowing from one day to the next. It really does sound like he has crazy weather patterns out there in Squamidia! I was actually inspired to head out to the Grand River valley a few days ago with my digital camera to see if I could capture an eagle on chip (film). I wasn’t able to find any eagles but I did take a couple of nice scenic pictures of the river from up on the cliff in what used to be called Cressman’s Woods.

It’s a beautiful part of Kitchener located on the south eastern edge of the city. From up on the cliff, I was able to see the area where Doug and Sue lived before their move west. I think Doug has the pics posted on his website. I’ll try to take more pics of Ontario for future reports. Since most readers of the Squamidian originate from this area, I’m sure you will be able to remember what you see in the pics. I told Doug a few weeks ago that I came across a newspaper article about Bald Eagles in Ontario. It said that the Grand River Valley from Cressman’s Woods south to Blaire/Cambridge area was a nesting ground for Bald Eagles in Ontario and that conservationists had documented 15 adult birds there in the past 3 years. They are going to release several more Eagles that have hatched in captivity this past winter and as of August 1^st this summer, you will be able to track these birds on a website. The birds will be fitted with transmitters that can be tracked via satellite and will be shown on the website. The site for anyone interested will be www.bsc-eoc.org I’m going to check it out come August and I’ll let you know what’s happening if anything.

Well, I made it though the official Retirement Banquet. They very kindly presented me with a 2x3 ft water color print of the Head Quarters Fire Station in Waterloo. It looks great hanging in a place of honour in our family room. I was also given a cheque by the union to buy myself something to remember them by. They used to give each retiree a “Lazy Boy” chair but decided that most of the guys already had furniture. It makes much more sense to let us purchase something that we’ll use. I’m going to take my time and make sure to find just the right item as a memento to 29 years on the job. It’s hard to find something that someone my age doesn’t already have. By this stage in life, most guys have every tool they’ll ever need.

Also, between Carole and I we’ve accumulated most of life’s necessities. I’m sure I’ll come up with something to fill the bill in the near future. Maybe I’ll just go buy a bunch of Tim Horton’s gift certificates and treat Doug when he comes to Ontario! The Chief and his staff also presented me with a Gold pen as a personal token of appreciation. I almost told him that I’ve stopped using a pen and do all my writing with the computer but I’m sure I’ll still use the pen occasionally. Well, it’s Saturday and even though I’m still fighting this darned cold, I think I’ll take some time to wash the car and clean out the garage. Better to work a cold off than to lie around moaning and complaining about it. I hope all of you are keeping healthy and are enjoying the nicer weather that’s finally arrived. Until next week, keep smiling and we’ll talk to you then!

GREG.

PS: Something to Think About>

“No man is ever a failure until his wife thinks so”!

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The Melbourne Report

G'day everyone,

wow, it's another fabulous day in a week of perfect weather. Jennifer and I just came back from a walk in our neighbourhood. Actually we went to check out a garage sale in our area. Ah, garage sales - how I love to rummage through other people's junk and stuff and how I love a bargain...

The first one we went to today didn't have much of interest. Just a lot of nick-nacks and clothes, and pictures. I did manage to find a 1 meter stainless steel ruler for the bargain price of $6. (I believe they cost at least $30 or more new.)

We noticed another garage sale sign along the way, so we took a leisurely stroll down Roach drive, intending to check it out. Along the way, we noticed the lovely gardens. Even after living here all these years, I still marvel at some of the exotic plants and trees in people's gardens here. We rarely venture to this part of our neighbourhood, so we admired some of the more creative garden designs and some of the exotic plants, trees and shrubs. For instance there was a large palm tree with a short trunk like a large pineapple, and the large palm leaves sprouting up and outwards like a very large fountain. There were also some very tall and narrow shrubs/trees which looked pretty interesting. Something I've never seen anywhere before.

On our walk we also notice that the tall gumtrees lining the street are now in bloom. This attracts a lot of noisy birds which feed off the nectar of native trees. The gumtree blossoms are kind of cute(when you take a close look at them), they come in different shades of pink and red. Sometimes they are quite a sight when they are just bursting with orangy red flowers. There's nothing like it in Canada.

The gum trees here are something to behold. There are many beautiful varieties, some are especially striking due to their lovely pastel coloured trunks. Some of these have no bark, they are kind of naked, multicoloured, in pale pastel shaded greens, yellow and pink, or grey. Quite lovely really.

The other natives I love are the yellow wattles. They are trees or large shrubs with flowers shaped like yellow pompoms. The leaves of the gums come in many different shapes and colours, some in unusual purpely, silvery greens.

So if you ever come and visit here, I think it could keep you busy just checking out the different flora.
I know my mom was amazed at the plants in people's gardens when she visited here in 94. She couldn't get over the size of the rubber trees, jade trees and hibiscus shrubs, and the size of the hibiscus flowers, some the size of dinner plates.

Well, I got a bit sidetracked, as I usually tend to do. We were on our way to the second garage sale...

They had a lot of new music CD's for $4, lots of kids toys and games, lots of books. Stuff that was new or like new. There was a lot of temptation, but I only bought a CD, which I have always wanted to buy, and Jenn found a good book for $2. So we went home happy...good thing there weren't any other sales nearby, because once you start it's hard to stop, until you run out of money...

These days I have to kind of control my buying urge, since I have no room left to put things, but when we first came here with practically nothing, boy did I have fun going to garage sales.

Well, the week has gone fast, as always. We had some fun, we ate a lot, we partied a fair bit too, best of all we had perfect weather through the whole week. What a bonus...

I am not going into major detail today, since I have had too many distractions and interruptions the last few days.(actually all week). Jennifer has also been monopolizing the computer, since she was working on my website, (while chatting with her friends). She won't have as much time next week when she goes back to school. We didn't get the site finished, but she's made a good start. Might actually be open for inspection by next week.

Have a great week!

Karin

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Hello all!

Ewan Cameron is alive and kicking in the city. There are a few of you that I've really wanted to e-mail directly, but it just hasn't been possible recently. I've really enjoyed the reports and after talk. It seems worlds away, such a vivid contrast to my own life. Life in Toronto isn't bad, but it is fast, tough and grimy.

This morning (Thursday) my department hit the ground running. We were informed that we have until Friday morning to pack up and clear out. The strategy is to split the critical departments in to groups and relocate.
Theoretically, if one building is exposed the rest of the people would be able to keep working. We are essential technical specialists who work on the Rogers cellular network.

Normally I work, and read the Squamidian, in a great glass castle near Bloor and Yonge in Toronto. It has a gym and a good cafeteria, and far too many distractions (all of them female). Monday I start work from a
parts depot in Mississauga, indefinitely. Every tool and procedure that I've been learning over the years is rewritten in 24 hours. It;s like I've been sent to the Siberian front!

Two years ago I saw a woman on the subway wearing a mask. That was the last one that I ever saw, other than paramedics. Still, I have to say that the indignant way that the politicians react bothers me a bit. The
media may indeed blow things out of proportion. But frankly the leaders only see money from tourism dropping. We should come across like we want to snuff it out calmly. We should remind the world that Canada is a big place with other travel options.

As for Torontonians, the last thing any one here worries about is SARS. The exceptions are the people who rely on tourism. Life has hills and valleys.

I guess Sue won't be doing any audits in this part of the world for a while!

All this is on top of the usual pace of life in the city. It never, ever stops. Earlier this week I scheduled Friday off just to get caught up! It's not all bad though, just busy. The weather has been getting
much better. On Saturday I'm going to a special ceremony for my cousins who are passing in to adulthood. A Bat Mitzfa and Bar Mitzfa for Phoebe and Max. I don't know what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it!

On Sunday I'm going to a meeting of the Clan Cameron Association of Ontario. We are a "featured" clan at the Fergus Highland Games this summer. One of the things that I hope to accomplish on Friday is paper
work for the meeting. I'm the secretary. I'm the secretary of an actual organization. Those of you who know me well can imagine how absurd that is!

But I've been "quarantined" from my computer! This is the last message from here for a while. But I'll still get all your messages forwarded to a lap top, which I have yet to understand how to use. I would have had
my own home computer by now, but I didn't have any time! I too have spent time improving my bathroom.

I would have visited Squamish by now, but I didn't get time last time! This year I'm going whether there's time or not. That's all there is to it.

Immediately after work today many of us charged our way through traffic to the Skydome. I had never been there before. Every year before this I was working a late shift and missed out on the softball tournament. I
scored a run in the dome. It was our team's only run of the night, but it was great fun. I hadn't played in about ten years, but I can still hit and run. Still can't catch or throw.

The view from the home plate is difficult to describe. Big. Real big. The whole area around the Skydome and CN Tower has changed so much. I forget that the mechanical/electronic maze that we shuffle through every day actually leads to some really dramatic architectural skyline.

Another little day-in-the-life glimpse in to this part of the world is the construction. I'm sitting in a new tower that was a hole in the ground a year ago. It isn't quite finished yet, but almost. Once and a while they X-ray parts of the structure. These rays are calibrated to detect irregularities in concrete etc. The scary part is that they don't always notify everyone when they begin! Someday I may want to have kids, so I'll say goodbye for now.

Someday I'm going to move to Squamish, or Picto, or Melbourne, or K-W, or Ottawa or somewhere else fairly normal like the rest of you!

much love,
Ewan

P.S. in Toronto "The big O" means something very different. Sadly, I can't remember what.

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The Greg of Ontarion fame has sent some pictures he has taken with his handy dandy digital camera. They are of my old ‘back yard’, the Grand River valley behind our old place on Hidden Valley Rd. Anyone interested can view them on my web site. Just go to the bottom link along the left side of the page once you have entered and ‘Gregs Pics’ will take you to them. Thanks Greg.

Nice to hear from Ewan, but he might feel out of place if he were to live someplace ‘normal’!!

Have a good one.

the doug