The Squamidian Report – Aug. 4 / 18
 
Issue #845

Including:
From Russ
From Ewan
From Lorne
From Sharon
From Sus
From Maggie
The Ontarion

Hi All,

And how do we know its a long weekend??? Simple, PetroCanada has bumped up the price of gas by another 4cents. Just like clockwork, each and every time. Grrrrrr!!

Wow, this has been great. We've had input from several readers regarding the subject of childhood memories, in my case, memories from up on the farm. Please keep the input up. Write your own childhood memories and send them in. One of the requirements of staying on the mailing list was agreeing to be involved once in a while. Some are meeting that agreement wonderfully, some not so much. The thing about my memories of being up on the farm is that thats where my memories come from. 'At home' was just that, daily life. Its the things that stick out and catch your attention that are remembered. Given the time and culture of well over half a century ago, its the farm that still stands out the most for me although I have written about everything from stealing berries to exploring the forests and swamps as a kid at the homestead in the past as well. So, being how this is a VERY hot summer with very little happening besides forest fires, its a good time for thinking back and dragging up those old adventures. Give it a try, you'd be surprised how easy it is to access those old brain files and how fun it is to dig them up and share them.

In a lot of ways. This current theme is very much like the kinds of conversations we would be having if we were all gathered out at the homestead reminiscing. Cool. By the way, I had promised that I'd do my section about more tractor driving up at the farm doing the harvest and spreading manure but due to the very large and wonderful involvement by so many of you I'll leave that till next week in order to keep this from being way too long.
doug
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From Russ

"exhume" (cont'd) Phase Two

It has been said, “A good cop never gets wet, hot/cold, or caught short”.
The very hot/humid summer we’ve been having here in Ontario puts me in mind of “pounding the beat” during my rookie years with Kitchener Police, and the ways I found to cope and survive.

First, let me describe how we were ‘dressed’ as we marched, single file like a flock of penguins, out onto the sidewalks of our fair city:
Pants; dark blue with the familiar red stripe down the outside of the legs, same weight, winter or summer; very hot, itchy material, which gave some of us diaper rash...both irritating and painful, and which shortened our ‘paces’ considerably! Not that one could immediately perceive, but most of us wore summer-weight briefs and tops...it was soon evident who did not!  We were permitted to discard our tunics (thank God), on those extremely hot days, and it soon became obvious who was NOT wearing an underwear top! His shirt, long sleeves and buttoned at the cuffs (good quality, made by Forsyth Shirt Co., Kit.) stuck to him like wet wallpaper! At least one cop (we called him “Rip”) never wore underwear or socks, as these items “were not issued free by the PD.
 
By the way, I want to say a few words about those raincoats we were issued: Picture a full-length, black rubber ‘gown’ with sleeves; you couldn’t bend down, and it was impossible to run while wearing one. Mine hung past my knees, and we were ordered to “keep your coats buttoned at all times”, which meant I had no access to my handcuffs, whistle, violation book, or revolver. Dangerous.
But, the second worst part of wearing these ‘body bags’ was directing traffic in the pouring rain; ‘hand-signals’ meant raising our arms...open cuffs acted like funnels, directing the flow of water down your sleeve and along your arm where it met up with the sweat running from the arm-pits; the natural result being a soggy waistline and damp pockets...which is where I CARRIED MY EXTRA 6 ROUNDS OF .38 CAL. AMMO! Dangerous. “Keep your ammo dry was the battle cry”.
But, by far, the very worst part of wearing those water-proof, air-tight raincoats, was when you farted! Hot air rises, and you soon got the full benefit!!
 
We were issued neckties made by Frame Necktie Co., of Kit., and we referred to them as “strangulation” neckties. They were also dark blue, and soon became “sweat-stained”.
Our caps were called “forage caps”, and were styled after those worn by the Gestapo in Natzi Germany during World War Two. We were often called Natzies by those who hated cops.
In rainy weather, we were issued clear plastic forage cap protectors which were stretched over the hat like a condum. Now, instead of the water soaking into our hats, it ran down the back of our necks!
There was no “winter hat” issue during my time on the Force, but the regular hat was ‘winter-proofed’ by attaching a band of cloth around the outside of the brim, thereby closing-off the “summertime ventilation holes”. I always had trouble with my hat...it was too large in hot weather (as those vent-holes did little) and my hat kept sliding over my eyes and ears. I have been blest with very large, limp ears, and the action of the hat pushed my ears forward/down....some of my friends called me “Dumbo” the flying baby elephant!
 
Police boots; made by Grebb Shoe Co., Kit., built to last ‘in all kinds of weather’ were, for me “the most painful part” of being a foot patrol beat cop. Pounding that hot pavement caused blisters, corns, and bunions so painful, my own Mother “could not believe it was actually me whom she saw”!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved the look of the uniform, and was proud to wear it, but walking for eight hours @ $1.21 per just wasn’t worth it!
I envied those lucky cruiser cops who could sit in, and ride a nice new car all day! But, meanwhile, I had to “keep cool”.

Some stores along King Street had awnings that were rolled down during sunny, hot days, providing shade on the sidewalks....but a cop was not supposed to stand under them. NO, he was ordered to “stand on the curb, facing traffic, so as to be visible and available at all times” We humans (even some cops) are extremely adaptable, and so in order to get some temporary relief away from the scorching sidewalks, I would go into the movie houses on my patrol. The gal in the ticket booth would give me a strange look as I bypassed her and walked into the seating area. I’d stand at the ends of the aisles, observing the patrons, and never once looking at the movies (yeah, right). Oh, how welcome was the air conditioning! Not many businesses, and very few private homes had AC back then. But, I couldn’t linger too long, as I might be reported.  But reported I was. Each time I entered a movie house an usher or maybe the manager would make a ‘written report’. Was I in trouble? Maybe if I “malingered” or “abused my position as a police officer”. But, to my surprise, a cop was, as part of his crime prevention duties, not only authorized, but required to inspect movie houses to discourage sexual assaults and other crimes”. (nobody told me THAT during my very limited “In-Service Training”)
I remember the names of the movie theatres on King Street; Lyric, Capital, Fox, Century (College Street).....and, help me out here; what was the name of the new one on the north side King, West, past Young? Biltmore sticks in my craw...No?
 
Before we leave the subject of “strangulation neckties”, I’d like to re-live the time I was called into a restaurant on my downtown Kit. Beat. It seemed they had an “unwanted, drunk” removed.
“Have you phoned the station?” I asked.
“No, we saw you walk by and....”
“OK’ I’m on it”, and I go in without any hope of back-up...if I need it. And I NEEDED IT!
I’ve always depended on ‘diplomacy’ because I’m only 5 ft. 9 in. and 168 lbs. soaking wet, not used to using force or fighting....but this time it didn’t work! The trouble-maker was about my height, but had arms of a baboon, a neck like a bull, and 40 muscular pounds on me! He suddenly pounced all those pounds on me as he shoved me backwards over a table, while pulling at my Frame Co., necktie until he had what I’d describe as a perfect noose!
“Ugh-ugh!” (can’t breathe...can’t undo the knot...I’m dying!!)
God was not ready for me yet, as another beat-cop walking past on his way to the station, hearing the commotion, rushed in and pulled the bad guy off me.
“G-g-g” I gasped....the tie was still VERY MUCH KNOTTED AROUND MY NECK AND I COULDN”T UNDO IT!! Somebody cut the tie just in time (or I wouldn’t be sitting here typing this true story for my ‘fellow Squids’). Some of you may have heard this before, but it was my “near death” experience that caused the KPD (and several other Police Forces as well) to scrap the tying type neckties, and start using “Safety-snap-offs”.
 
Next week we’ll talk about “why a good cop never gets ‘caught short’”
 
By your old friend, Uncle Russ,
Ret. Sgt.

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From Ewan

When I was a kid my favourite playground was at Victoria Park in Kitchener. It had a whole bunch of really fun equipment, and I never spent enough time there to tire of any of it. There was a high slide that came down in a spiral, balance beams, big tires and a most impressive fort with a three story tower. I considered it a castle. Years later when I moved to Toronto I visited High Park and discovered the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground. First of all the park quickly became my favourite part of the city. It is a sanctuary, an impressive size for a city too, with a great many amenities but also room for quiet places and relative seclusion. Some of it has a greatly refined beauty while other areas are fairly wild. There is quite a bit of history there, it opened in 1876 and grew to about 400 acres. Somehow people prevented it from being cut up into condominiums or any other type of project through the years. There is a view of a large maple leaf emblem in red flowers. The playground was built in 1998, by a great many volunteers.
 
When I came across the playground for the first time it was like seeing the castle from Victoria Park again, or maybe the big brother of it. People took care of that wooden structure. There were murals all over it, which looked as though painted by children. Somehow most of it was spared graffiti, or maybe others diligently removed it. There were so many spires, and all tucked into a lovely valley at the Eastern entrance to the park. The wood was dark, and the murals stood out almost like stained glass. One of the buildings is in fact a miniature Cathedral. I never spent much time there or explored inside it having no child along but it seemed like exactly what I would have enjoyed. It upset me very much when the biggest part of the castle burned in 2012. It was a young man with some serious mental problems, one of a long sad list. Fortunately no one was injured, but many were dispirited. Many thousands of people were upset by it, maybe hundreds of thousands?
 
By the time I’d found out about it there was already a major effort being organized to rebuild. Canadian Tire donated about $50k, with more from TD, Lowes and other companies. That renovation guy from television, Mike Holmes, agreed to lead the rebuild. Many more people donated what they could and many volunteered to rebuild it. There are some down sides to living in a city but I guess that is one time when it helps to have so many people to chip in. I didn’t do much but I put something into the hat. It made me happy to see the new and even more impressive playground. Again it was volunteers who made it and again it was mainly out of wood, but this time they had more resources and more professional guidance. It blended well with the rest that was saved and continued in the same spirit. Again there were murals from children and there were also imaginative coats of arms on shields in some places. One of them depicts the emblem of the fire department who put out the fire, helped cut the shields and even helped when construction crew collapsed in the heat.
 
This week was my first real time off in about two and a half years. I did take a few days off to buy our home, two weeks when Quinn was born and a few days to get married. There was one day for a funeral as well. What I mean is this was the first time off when I could just be home with my family and not go too far or stay busy the whole time. So finally we got to go back to my see my old love High Park. It was such a fun and proud moment to take Quinn to the playground there. I counted nineteen spires, and many smiles. It was a lovely day, with perfect weather and lots of fun. He explored some of it but there is a lot left for him to see and do, and for us to see him do. After all he doesn’t even know what a castle is yet!
 
Years ago I listened to a program on CBC radio (Ideas) about serious study into playgrounds and safety. Some of the findings were interesting. Apparently children are only really seriously injured when they fail to estimate the risk in trying something before they begin. In other words when they go into a situation which they did not predict they can quickly find themselves in over their heads and seriously hurt. In cases where there is potentially dangerous equipment but the child is able to see the danger in it they will tend to only do it when they are ready. It’s the surprise of a hidden danger that gets them, and making that apparent is a key to avoiding serious injury while allowing them the chance to fail or hurt themselves to an acceptable extent. Making risk apparent is more important than making it ever more safe. It sort of reminds me of the way they mark downhill ski trails. People just need an idea of what they’re getting themselves into and for the most part we can sort ourselves out from there. We’ll see if all that holds true as Quinn grows. It’s tough to know how I’ll actually act in the moment.
 
Thank you again for the farm memories. Keep them coming!
 
Ewan
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From Lorne

Recently a house on King St. E, Kitchener, burned.  That normally  would be of no interest, but in this case, it was. My brother Howard, his wife Terry and their kids lived there many years ago.  At that time Terry turned the front of the house into a very well known restaurant, called it TERRY'S LUNCH'.  Howard was on the City Fire Dept and actually would help Terry with the work. The Dept. had a rule that firemen were not allowed to do 'outside' work, meaning any work other than their job of fighting fires. So he was given an ultimatum. Either work in the lunch counter or be a firefighter, not both. So he quit his job with the Dept, claiming it interfered with his social life. Just a bit of family history that I would have forgotten had it not been for the burning house.
Lorne

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From Sharon

Here we are in Squamish having a great visit with Doug and Sue.  Gary and I have had an amazing time traveling the USA.  We have gone from home and followed route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. We stopped at some route 66 museums, some things came back from childhood, the jukebox on the tables and the soda fountain shops we had down town Kitchener.  The people who built that highway really had some tough going.  Some businesses are still in operation such as cafe's and hotels, the décor is still the same. We stopped at the St. Louis arch, unknown to us the arch was closed for 3 years but happened to reopen the day we went. So many activities going on. From there we stopped at a resort for overnight.  I was so glad it had a pool.  The temperature was 100 degrees F. We then worked our way to Amarillo Texas.  Texas gets down to business they do not tolerate drinking and driving, they have signs posted you get a DUI Jail, very blunt.  We went to the Cadillac Ranch were 10 Cadillacs are buried nose down halfway into the ground the tailfins  sticking out of the ground form 1949 to 1963. They change colors everyday, people spray paint them which you are allowed to do.

Gary and I stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico were we visited George and Marie ( Gary's cousin) we went to route 66 old town and it was very nice. We wanted to go on the Breaking Bad tour but it was booked up, we did manage to get a picture of the RV that was used in the show. From there we went to Williams, Arizona and stayed overnight and the next day we toured at the Grand Canyon, WOW!  Both Gary and I were in AWE what we saw your eyes seem like they are deceiving what you see.  This day was a little cloudy and drizzly when we arrived but the sun soon came out. It was indescribable what we saw colors of the rocks change with the light. From there we went to see Las Vegas, we stayed for 2 days only spent $20 on gambling.  It was something to see but very hot another 101 degree F. day.  When we left Vegas we went to Corona, Southern California there we stayed in a trailer for 5 days just to relax and unwind, the weather was hot 102 degrees, the pool was great the people were friendly.  The geographical forms in the southern states are very sparse and not much green and the hills or mountains are very rocky. Something that you see in pictures.  Gary and I went to Los Angeles and took in the Hollywood sign, the Queen Mary and the Griffith Observatory. Gary wanted to see what the rush hour is like in Los Angeles, guess what it is not as bad as Toronto. When we left Corona we drove the 1 or 101 hwy along the coast we stopped at Stopped at Santa Monica Pier were the end of route 66 signed the book. We then went to San Francisco and toured around went to Haigh and Ashberry the Fishermans Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.  We went up the coast and saw the Big Sur we stopped at some scenic views of the ocean. The roads are very winding around the mountains. Worked our way up to Oregon, stayed on the ocean at Golden Beach we had rustic accommodation private balcony overlooking the ocean and a fireplace. I could have spent a week there. We drove through the Napa Valley how beautiful. We went as far as Eureka I expected it to be a nice place but really was not lots of homeless people.  Gary and I drove to Kelso were we stayed and worked our way up to Port Angeles were we caught the Ferry to Victoria BC we stayed at a friends on the island and visited his camp for the night. We did a few sightseeing drives and then took the ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and we went to see what all the rage was about Wreck beach.  It was ok but too many steps down. Then we are here at Doug and Sue's.  Gary and I are off to visit his Aunt and Uncle in Surrey BC, hopefully we can see some of the cousins we have not seen in awhile. After we leave BC we are going to go through the USA again and stop at some of the tourist attractions on the way home. Probably home on August 14 or 15.
Sharon

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From Sus

To my fellow Squamidians,

I would like to introduce you to my niece, Michelle Gusset, who lives in Zurich Switzerland and is visiting with her daughter, Emillie, and husband, Sven,
 for a few weeks here in Nova Scotia.

She comes from the Brubacher clan and is my sister, Dianne's, daughter and many of you know her.  She became interested in the newsletter when reading about the old days on the farm from everyone.  She likes the idea of better knowing some of her Brubacher relatives.  Living so far away she has very little contact with her Mom's family in Canada except for me of course.  Doug has put her on the list and I will encourage her to write in once in awhile.  She speaks German and English.  I know she will enjoy all the articles and especially hearing what her great uncles have to say. She will have a Canadian connection.
Sus

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From Maggie

Cox Bay Beach , Tofino and  the PM
 
On Monday, Ron and I flew direct to Nanaimo from Toronto.  Even though we had upgraded, it was a bit like a tin can!   Once there, we had the great pleasure of staying in Parksville at a resort called Tigh-na-mara.  The view from our balcony was spectacular – and when we arrived the tide had to be a half mile out!  It was the perfect beach for kids, dogs and old folk like us!   The water was warm when you finally got to it, and the sand was full of treasures that kids love: shells and little crabs and other unidentifiable shell-things.  The beach had boats that had been stranded at low tide, and it was fascinating watching the tide come in rescuing them from their sandy beds.  As soon as there was enough water, a few disappeared on the horizon. 
 
On the next day,  we drove the hair pin bends to Tofino to Cox Bay Resort.  It was very cool as it is a private condo complex where owners rent out chunks of time.  We had a full first floor apartment with a patio and a garden, and were about 100 feet from the beach.  The beach was spectacular with huge waves crashing in  (8 ft swells one day) and surfers flying every which way.  We spent hours watching them – in fact the next-door resort had a lovely patio where we could enjoy lunch, and see the odd expert really catch a wave.  The water was numbingly cold – getting the feet wet was enough.
 
One afternoon, I noticed what seemed to be a security person with an earpiece .   I had heard rumours that Justin Trudeau was staying at the resort next door, and sure enough he was out there being flung around by the waves like everyone else.  A lady watching told me that he was one with the hat, easy for the security guard to see I suppose.  Sophie was right in front of me teaching one their kids to surf.  Behind me at the edge of the beach were what seemed to be black-clad guards, but they were reasonably inconspicuous – chatting in groups.  Probably laughing at their boss being flung under the waves!
 
Politics aside, It was nice to see that a known family could enjoy a holiday in relative privacy at a regular resort.  We met a few Americans who had ended up surfing with Justin, and they couldn’t get over the differences between how things are in Canada and the US.  This morning, I went out for a walk on the beach, and Justin was out for a run.  Just him, and one guard running about 30 feet behind, who looked with his little back pack maybe had a gun inside.
 
Our time in Tofino was really terrific and so peaceful – having the  PM on the beach was an interesting add on.  I’m writing this on the ferry as we sail to Vancouver to spend time with my son Andy and his family.  Here are a few pictures of our adventures …..and the PM (the ones of the surfer in a hat).
 
By the way – does anyone know – in the rock pool picture – are those sea anemones?
Maggie
   

  

  





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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everybody!
WOW, what a day Friday was! Wednesday I drove to Sarnia to a British Car Supply place and picked up a new black interior for the MG. Thursday was spent removing the old beige interior panels and Then Friday I spent the whole day installing the new black interior panels in the car. The seats were replaced about 19 years ago and they are still like new. I managed to find them at a place called Plazek Auto Wreckers in Hamilton. They were out of a 99 Mazda Miata with only 8,000 km on it and the owner wrecked it. I picked them up for $300.00 and they were virtually new. They were easy as pie to install in the MG. All I had to do was drill four holes in the floor of the car on each side of the passenger compartment and they bolted right in! They are fully adjustable and even have the reclining feature for the backrests. They are black and of course the rest of the interior panels were beige. That’s why we decided to install a set of new black interior panels so they would match the seats finally! I must say, they look amazing and the entire interior matches now! With the new paint etc and the new interior it looks and even smells like a new car. It even looks like it should be sitting on the showroom floor of a dealership somewhere! LOL! Of course there are no British Leyland dealerships anymore since they went out of business back in 1980! I’m becoming more and more proud of this little British car with every improvement. Just a couple more items that I’d like to install on it and it’ll be totally refurbished. I may install a luggage rack on the back trunk lid as I like the looks of the MG with the rack on the back. The last item I’d like to purchase for the car is what they call a “wind blocker”. It’s a screen that sits up behind the seats about headrest height and it blocks the wind that usually hits the passengers of a convertible in the back of the head and neck. It makes it a little more comfortable when cruising on a cooler day! The wind blocker also folds down when not needed on warmer days. Other than those two items, I still have to install the new roof and R WEE B will be completed! Can’t wait!

I think the British sports car feeling is catching! My nephew’s daughter’s boy friend just bought an MGB for himself. It’s a burgundy coloured one that’s been totally refurbished by the previous owner. The vehicle was owned by a member of the Waterloo British Car Club and apparently was gone over from stem to stern! I’ve only seen a picture of it on Facebook but my nephew’s daughter has promised to bring it over to the house to show us their new MGB. Should be a photo opportunity once we have both of these lovely vehicles sitting side by side in the driveway. Again, I can’t wait! I hope that she and her boyfriend enjoy their MG as much as Carole and I have enjoyed ours! It only gets better with each improvement! With the new paint and body job, the new interior and the new stereo it’s hard to believe that this vehicle is almost 40 years old! I think that my nephew’s daughter’s boyfriend’s MG is a 1976 but it looks almost exactly the same as our 1979 model. Of course except for the colour!

The interior job is almost complete and Adam and I are going to finish the last couple of tidbits tomorrow, Saturday. The only thing we have to do is recover the piece of interior that is on the top edge of each door where you rest your arm when driving. It’s called the door cap or bolster and it runs along the inside edge of each door tight against the window. It’s worn from people resting their arms on it for 40 years so it’s just a matter of recovering each one with new vinyl that I purchased from Sarnia the other day. Then the newness will be complete!

I know I’m likely boring the lady readers with all this car talk but hopefully even the ladies can appreciate all the work that has gone into my hobby project over the past 29 years that we’ve owned the MG. I know the guys can identify with this project and hopefully enjoyed reading about the restoration as much as I have enjoyed doing it and sharing the story! I’ll send a few pictures to Doug once it’s finished and he will be glad to share them with the Squamidian Readers.
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On the health side of things, I attended a meeting with the Kidney Specialist at Grand River Hospital the other day as well and he told me that the battery of tests that they put me through showed that both my heart and kidney function have improved markedly since the last visit two months ago. My kidney function was sitting at only 16% when I was last tested. This week’s workup showed that the function is now at a healthier 21% and the specialist was very happy with this result! Of course so were Carole and I when I told her of the results. The Doctor also said that my heart function is showing “normal” after all the surgery it’s been through! With the improvement in both Heart and Kidney function it sounds like I’m going to be around for hopefully quite a few more years. I’m feeling better every day and can’t believe what a long haul it’s been to manage a recovery from all I’ve (we’ve) been through over this past 10 months! I can only express how grateful I am and also how grateful Carole and Adam are as well for the amazing work of the Doctors and nurses at St Mary’s Hospital on my behalf! They truly are miracle workers! I’ll be forever grateful that we have such talented medical people right here in Kitchener!

Anyway, I’m now a happy guy for sure and don’t intend to squander one second of my new found health on anything foolish! Happy to be on the green side of the grass indeed!

That’s about all of 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>
Have faith in the force of right and NOT the right of force!

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Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.