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The
Squamidian Report – Dec. 30 / 23
Online
Versions
Of This And Past Issues Issue
#1127 Russ Karl Nova Scotia Sus ********
How’s it going….. Believe it or not, we’ve made it to the end of the year which means this is the last Squamidian issue for 2023. It’s been another year of massive political and social and economic upheaval. We’ve had health issues and environmental issues as well. But, here we are, battered and bruised but for the most part we’ve made it. So, I guess we are all a bit tougher than we had figured. I couldn’t agree more with Russ when he writes that this was the Christmas that wasn’t. It just didn’t feel Christmassy, and didn’t look the part. It felt empty instead of full. And that seems to equally describe the year. On a brighter note, I did manage to take one of my motorcycles out for a toot on the 26th. I had wanted to do that on the 25th for obvious reasons but the never ending rain never ended. It did however let up for a few merciful hours on Boxing Day. So, at that point in time I gave in to some deep primal urge and pulled the cover off the Enfield, muscled it out of the corner of the garage, and fired her up. Riding felt good, felt free even if it was just half an hour or so around the local neighborhood. The bike was happy. I could tell by the way she responded to the throttle and by the sound of the engine. I didn’t uncover the Harley because she is not currently insured. Hopefully she didn’t feel too left out. Now here’s something rather unbelievable and frustrating; there was another highway overpass hit on Thursday by an over-hight transport truck. Over the past 2 years overpasses have been hit 26 times by transport trucks. It’s usually an oversize load, being too high for the clearance available. Other times it’s by a dump truck that has headed down the highway with it’s box still in the raised position. This shouldn’t be happening but it has been, time after time and it causes major traffic problems and those highway overpasses are very expensive to repair or replace. In this case, it was another oversized load, and, get this, the trucking company involved has been responsible for 6 other hits over the past 2 years. In a news interview, their spokesperson claimed that THEY are the victim of the bad drivers they hire. ???? The BC government had just, finally, raised the traffic fines for this kind of incident from a tiny little $100 all the way up to $500 which is still ridiculously too little. The trucking company has had it’s license pulled until they can explain to a judge why they should get it back and that will only take a few days because that’s how it seems to be. The trucking industry in BC has been getting away with all sorts of shoddy procedures and getting forgiven for all sorts of traffic violations and crashes for years because of their political lobbying, and there is a darker side to it as well. Some of you will not like what I’m about to say but it is a fact here, most trucking companies in the Lower Mainland of BC are owned and operated by an identifiable ethnic population that has used the ‘race’ card whenever the ministry of transport has tried to issue fines, or tighten the rules or control the licensing of their companies. The trucking industry here has now become so dangerous to the general public that the highways are simply not safe, all in the name of profit. And thats how this years has ended. So, happy new year everyone. Doug ****
From Russ
News from the Point - It's 4:00PM, dark and raining - like it's done all day, and said to continue for the next day or two. Just finished eating half of a home-made turkey-pot-pie - it was delicious! They arrived at 1:30PM huddled under one umbrella, in the pouring rain - so both got wet. Doug, and Kathy Biers are my neighbours - moved here from Wellesley two years ago - couldn't ask for better 'next door' types. Kathy frequently brings me meals, while Doug looks after my fallen trees - he heats with wood, and keeps his efforts. They say we should learn something new every day - today, I learned, "He passes a lot of gas", according to his wife. On Christmas morning, my son Greg, and I went to the 'main Anglican church' in Huron/Kinloss in Kincardine - arrived early to get a parking spot close to the church - needn't have worried - there were only four cars in the lot (built for 60!) Where is everybody? Maybe they're 'car-pooling', and will all arrive at once. We sat in the car until almost 10:30AM - the time the Christmas Service was to start, still, nobody came!! The front doors of the church were wide open - expecting a rush of worshipers. A still greater shock - this church, built to seat about 250, was empty, save for a lady playing the Grand piano. Then a lady with a big smile, and a big head of red hair appeared from nowhere, and greeted us most vigorously! She ushered us to a seat about 4 rows back from the steps leading to the altar, where one has to look up at everything. Bang-on 10:30AM, the Priest arrived wearing pure white robes - as he was greeting us - 'us' being one couple, plus Greg and me, the piano player snuck over to a seat near the altar, placing her near the Priest to whom she was married. The Reverend Eric Williams did his best not to show disappointment at the turnout, but it showed on his priestly face, and echoed in the all-but-empty church. The Service was "Holy Communion", and instead of performing this ancient ritual at the altar, they took the Service to us. The couple stood in the aisle up close to the Priest - Greg stood in the aisle, behind them, while I sat, expecting to be served as done in my 'home' church (St' Luke's, Point Clark). Yes, I did receive The Holy Ucharist at my seat. I was proud to see my son taking Communion, and doing everything right (He is not a regular church-goer - maybe once every four years or so) After the Service, Eric, and Lynda performed the usual 'farewell' - Greg and me went directly to our car, where Greg "exploded in a tirade of oil-driller language", (not fit to be printed here) - cursing the fact of the disappointing attendance at such an important service in the main church in The Circle of Faith. "Not that I should complain - Hell, I'm not much of a good Anglican" said Greg after he cooled-down. We were both very disappointed at the poor attendance - Greg vented in anger (at himself?) I was sick with disappointment. Was going to give my story today as, "The Christmas that wasn't", but it wasn't God's fault either. What has happened to "The Reason for the Season" is my fault - and maybe partly yours as well. But, this time it didn't "feel" like Christmas - no snow. Temperatures in the double digits. Commercialism taking over. Canada - once a Christian Country is now a "melting-pot" with Christianity stuck to the bottom of the pot.
By Uncle Russ (Part of the "Silent Minority") PS Happy New Year!! ****
From Karl
I would like to say Happy NEW YEAR to ALL I hope you all have a great new year we in Australia are having great weather in Melbourne right now but up NORTH not so good lot of flooding on the East coast of Australia ,We are expecting my buddy COON ak Peter Paterson to visit us in January 5th to visit for 3 weeks so looking forward for the visit we haven’t seen each other for years there is a lot happening in Melbourne around that time like the Australian open Tennis ,well I hope everyone stays healthy and we are sending BIG hugs from Australia to you ALL “CHEERS”,I will send a few photos from Melbourne if you look closely in the top left you can see a meteor shooting through the picture with lightning ,enjoy.. Karl
****
From Nova Scotia Sus
Happy New Year everyone. It's been an easy winter so far except for one big blast of snow. We did have some big winds that gave us more downed trees. Wayne and family had the worst of it losing their chimney. Luckily the temps were up and no fire in the chimney. That is what I fear when the winds are high. We heat our house with wood all winter long. It is so cozy. Now that Christmas is over we can relax a bit. We had some great meals with family and friends. I planned a two week holiday over the Christmas season. Here's wishing everyone all the best in the New Year!
Sus ****
Have
a
Good One ****
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. |
