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Issue #1120
Including:

Gale

Russ

Nova Scotia Sus

The Ontarion

Hi…..

First off, this being Remembrance Day, please take the time to remember.

Now, given how fast time flies, I’ll bring this up now and not later. I’ve put together a CD of recording projects again this year, like I did other years. These are the audio songs I’ve recorded and posted links to in the Squid so anyone paying attention might be familiar with them if they followed the links to said songs. So, as per other years, I’ve burned this year’s recording projects onto CD’s so I can pass them out to friends and family should they want one. And that’s kind of the point. If you want one please let me know and I’ll pop one in the mail for you. If you don’t, then don’t say anything and I won’t burden you with my music. It’s that simple.

Interestingly, this is probably the last year I will be making up CD’s to hand out. The reason is, CD’s have long gone out or use. Almost no one has a CD player anymore and you can’t get good old CD-R’s anymore and you can’t get jackets for them. It’s old technology that no one wants and that basically puts an end to my CD making days. I certainly intend to continue recording music but will have to give up on handing out CD’s, or come up with some other more up-to-date method of sharing my music. We shall see. I’m open to ideas or suggestions.

So, like I said, let me know if you’d like a copy of this year’s CD and I’ll send one to you.

*

The Sea to Sky Gondola has been closed for the last few weeks for their annual maintenance. They have done that every year since the beginning as it’s a requirement for their operating license. They basically have to inspect every nut bolt and bearing in the system. Interestingly, other gondola systems around the world seem to be able to confine their shutdown to a week but oh well thats how it goes. Anyway, they had shut down on October 23^rd and have now reopened as of yesterday, November 10^th. So, we have our usual morning coffee spot back again.

We headed back up yesterday morning for coffee and to hook up with some friends who also tend to do that. What we found was the whole retail section all torn up and no yet put back together. They have put in new flooring which meant tearing out all the retail stuff. They are still working on putting that section back together. Aside from that and the mechanical inspections and repairs, they have replaced the deck planks. Those had never been installed correctly in that there should have been a vapor barrier between them and the beams that held them up. However, it was nice to be back up there, sitting by the fire that was not lit and looking out at the mountains shrouded in cloud. Thats always nice because dynamic weather makes for dynamic scenery. Now, life is back to normal, or at least getting there.

And speaking of ‘back to normal’, you may remember that I had to ‘apply’ to have my driver’s license renewed and did that just after we got back from our road trip. Well, my replacement license arrived yesterday. Our licenses here are plastic cards the size of a credit card and contain both our driving info and our health and services number. My new card has my health number correct but screwed up a bit on the driver’s info. It has my hair color as brown. I’ve been white for a decade. It also shows me holding an airbrake endorsement. I used to have one of those but gave it up years ago. These two items do not matter so I’m not going to risk further errors by trying to get some minor issues fixed. They do have my motorcycle endorsement correct, so, all is well.

And lastly, let me know if you want one of those CD’s.

Doug

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From Gale

I promised Uncle Russell that I would attempt to write something for the Squamidian about our trip west so here goes.

The first leg of our journey had been on our "bucket list" for a long time and that was to take "The Canadian" train from TO to Vancouver. It was a 4 day / 4 night trip in a cabin for 2 with brief stops including Edmonton and Jasper. We met people from all over the world who were visiting Canada specifically to see our vast country on this train. One man we met is traveling around the world by train and he said that The Canadian is right at the top because of the service, the view and the incredible gourmet meals - every meal every day and I have never been so full!

After arriving in Vancouver, we stayed at The Sylvia Hotel on the beach (brrrrr) at English Bay. It was built in 1912 and was a popular vacation spot. Vancouver has built up around it but it still faces park and beach and is an easy walk to many sites. We visited Granville Island, the aquarium (very disappointing) and toured Stanley Park by horse and wagon (a great experience).

Next we spent a few lovely days with Doug and Sue after they picked us up in Horseshoe Bay. Many of you are familiar with the spectacular stretch of highway between there and Squamish and the scenic drive up the Squamish River! It was a wonderful visit which included breakfast with Ryan and Kyra.

Finally we took the ferry over to Vancouver Island and a bus to Victoria. We were impressed with the ferry / bus links. In Victoria, we stayed in a hotel with a fantastic view of the harbour and easy walking to view historic sites such as the marine museum, government buildings and the Empress hotel (we did NOT have tea there starting at $95.00 per person !) We visited with friends who toured us around pretty areas such as Beacon Hill Park and Oak Bay as well as sharing some of the local history (and scandals!). Victoria is a great place to visit and even the drive to the airport was scenic.

And now we are home safe and sound with a yard full of leaves to rake.

Gale

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A Note From Russ

Russ’s immensely popular and highly sought after column is not currently available due to the fact that his computer is on the fritz. He fully intends to be back on line once he can get it repaired. He is however enjoying all the benefits of eating Kiwi fruits.

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From Nova Scotia Sus

We woke up to our first snowfall this morning. Not much but enough to get out the salt and sand to prevent anyone from slipping. I have to be careful with clients coming and going for their haircuts. Hopefully it will all go away and give us more fall weather. The good news is we can get back to burning brush still left over from hurricane Fiona.

It sure was great to see the pictures from the reunion held at the homestead. Its great to see family members getting together. Also Doug and Sue had a good trip back to B.C. I was wondering about the trip through the mountains being the most difficult as it was.

Also it was great to read Wayne and family update on their property in New Brunswick. It is so beautiful and inviting!

Sus

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The Ontarion

Hello everyone!

Since I goofed up last week and missed my Ontarion date, I’m making sure to get it right this week!

My first thought this week is to say hello and best wishes for a speedy recovery for Carol from Carole and myself! We sure are rooting for her instant turn around for the good for Carol to be home and well in short order! I’ll say personally, “Get well soon Carol and get home to your loving husband Al” “I’m sure he misses having you close to him at home!

I know what it’s like to be stuck in a hospital room for extended periods of time and It’s not a fun time!

Well, the weather is getting cooler but at least we’re having some sunshine for the next week! We also got some good news yesterday from the Whirlpool People, they have finally agreed to replace our fridge with a brand new model of the same size and hopefully better quality. As you may all remember, our new fridge has been a lemon for the past 13 months and it’s been a real chore to get any service or replacement out of Whirlpool! We’ve had 4 different service people attend our house and none of them could fix the problem with the fridge from new of the water and ice system in the door stopping and starting for days on end. Since we make frequent use of the water and ice that malfunction has been a real pain in the butt. It would shut down for anywhere from 6 to 24 hours at a time and they don’t know why. The computer control in the door and also back of this modern wonder was replaced by the first service man but that didn’t solve the problem and since then it hasn’t gotten any better. So, after I paid the $300.00 for the 4 year extended warranty, I asked Whirlpool to invoke the “Lemon” clause of the service contract and they’ve been dragging their feet in keeping their end of the agreement for over 6 months now. Finally when I called them in Tennessee for the 30’th time yesterday, they agreed it was a lost cause and agreed to have their “replacement team” bring us a new fridge with a reinstated 5 year full warranty this coming Friday! They even graciously offered to install it in the kitchen and take the old one away for free! How generous of them!!!!!! Oh well, it’s about time that huge corporation lived up to their agreement and came through with a new one!

Carole and I are just hoping we don’t get another dud of a fridge since it’s the same new model as the last Lemon we’re getting rid of!

With this all said and almost done I haven’t got much more to say this week but it’s good to be back at the keyboard and I hope you all remember who I am and don’t feel bored with this weeks subject!

This darned fridge has taken up enough of my time and frustration for the past how many Ontarions so I’ll try my best to write a more interesting column next week!

Thanks for tuning in and I’m hoping you are all staying healthy and away from situations that may give you that dreaded “Covid” problem we’re all trying our best to avoid!

Take care all and keep smiling….All the best…. Greg

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Have a Good One
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