Early Strawberries

Wonderful winter weather and a very early spring is having a positive effect on the strawberry patch. We have had a few red berry's this past week but in a matter of days the whole patch will be red. Never have I seen the number of berries on each plant and rarely have there been the weather to take advantage of this harvest.

Last year Theresa and I had difficulty in getting even a small number as the competition from the chip monks and blackbirds was impressive. This year there will be enough for them and ourselves.We hope that the local U Pick farms are as fortunate as we and experience a bountiful crop.

Nature is balanced and because of the sudden frost causing the apple crop to be injured probably the other crops will help bring balance to the overall picture. In any case Theresa and I will enjoy one of natures favourite treats..Strawberries.

Minister Raitt

Nobody likes a strike, specially if it impacts them. During the past months the government has intervened in the labour movement in a way like no other government ever dared to do. In the name of economic growth and stability, this government has once again stepped in and taken away the working man's right to fair negotiations and protection of his wages, health benefits, and pension. The right to strike was always meant to be the last resort in labour negotiations, but if corporations realize that the government is going to side with them, the need for true negotiations is negated.

Minister Raitt has been in  the front line for this government trampling the rights of the working people and will be rewarded. What she has done is wipe out a century old right for workers to strike when all else fails. I realize many people are anti-union but our country would be a lesser place were it not for the men and women who made gains  for the workers against tremendous odds. This government is embarking on a policy of feeding the corporations and the rich with their policies, and watch the fallout from the real plan for EI. This program is being sold as a program to help unemployed people to get work. That is the selling point. The real plan is for corporations  to be able to bring foreign workers into our labour force at wages far below the union rates.

This legislation will bring the government into the position of placing workers in jobs where they will have to accept wages at 30% less than their usual rate. Sounds good and looks good on paper if you are not one of the workers involved.

We hope that the government will get out of the business of labour bashing and start serving the country by helping the working class, and not only the rich and powerful.

Ottawa Valley Visit

For almost 30 years I lived in the Valley. Although part of Ontario and Canada, it is sort of like Cape Breton. People there have their own language, especially sayings,  greetings which are mostly polite and a way of life unlike anywhere else. Most of the people I associated with during my stay there were newcomers to the valley but after you live there for many years, the folk accept you as one of them..

The purpose of my visit was to attend the funeral of a close friend, and when it comes to funerals, the valley people have the right idea. The time shared during the wake and before the funeral is all about the person who is being honoured, stories and myths. Lies and half truths abound but all in good fun. People mix and greet, and for most people it will be the first time they've seen one another since the last funeral - except for John and Joan who attend most every one.

In the few hours I met so many people for the first time since the last funeral that I began to feel at home again. We miss the valley for its beauty and quiet way of life but it is the people who make the Valley special. There are more characters there than nearly any place I know and they express themselves through their music, dancing and story telling. Politics and religion have played a big part of the valley lore and you have to be impressed with the Irish flavour of the area when it comes to Saint Patty's day.

My children grew up in the Valley and have a number of friends there still but everywhere you go you will find people who came from that area and they get together to talk of olden times back there. Theresa and I love our time shared with friends there and our only regret is we never seem to have enough  time to really visit.The short times we do stay there become precious memories and valuable experiences.

End of May

As May fades into the past and June bursts forth with all the energy that mother nature can give I feel like there is a need to become activated and energized once more. May has been a difficult month emotionally and this usually causes me to rev up the engines and bring peace to my troubled mind. There are so many events that impact me least of which are the problems I see with our country.

Personal events strengthen a person and leave you counting your blessings, but events on the larger scale frustrate people because as one person there is very little you can accomplish. The last few years have been difficult ones for many countries and the endless bloodshed in the middle east has been nothing less than tragic.

Reading the accounts of the world issues makes us who live in Canada appreciate our own true safe and abundant life style. Even with this in mind there are 200,000 homeless people, close to the same number living in homes without clean water and healthy food. Children who if not nurtured in an atmosphere conducive to a proper Canadian life  will become our next generation of needy and unemployed persons.

With so much to be done we have a government who believe that the balanced budget is the most important issue. It is an important goal but care of its citizens must be the top priority. Many people never see the poverty first hand but if you walk the streets of our major cities or observe the activity at our food banks you see the face of poverty - of poor, needy people.

We now take for granted that the poor will be looked after by handouts from volunteer organizations and government can dismiss their obligations and look the other way. One United Nations  observer was invited to look at the poverty of many Canadian people,  particularly our First Nations,  and when he made his report he was loudly and publicly criticized in open session of parliament. His report stated that he could not understand how one of the wealthiest nations in the world would have such a problem of providing  food and care for its people.

I feel very strongly about how our government looks after the elderly, handicapped, homeless and the needy. Looking at this as a criteria for the health of our democracy shows that we have much to be thankful for, but much to be desired as well.

Dr. Suzuki

One of the most respected men in the world and without doubt the most respected and influential in Canada in matters related to the world environment and health of our planet. If you have read anything about this great man during the past 40 years you will realize that when he is upset, he has good cause.

The path that this government is taking with regards to the safety nets established for the protection of our citizens and the country as a whole, causes him to be distressed. Never, during his lifetime, has he been so aggressive in his attempts to bring the people together to stop the rape of our environmental system, and to try to have this government return to a democratic process, if changes are required.

Dr. Suzuki is adamant that the direction of this government is trying to make Canada more friendly to big business by dropping the requirement,s such as impact studies and due diligence, when a company wishes to do business in Canada. During the last months, the government has made cuts to the most essential safeguards. Even the way our food is processed and inspected will be of major concerns as the number of budget cuts will make it impossible to guarantee proper safeguards for our citizens. All this is being done in the name of a so-called budget.

This government will not face the house members in proper debate and in question period. Their every answer is scripted by the PM's office. Today we have a handful of the PM's cronies who act as the only body able to make decisions for the Canadian people. Many of these same people were part of the hated Harris regime in Ontario, and now they are acting the same way in Ottawa. This small block of men are not Conservatives, but are really the core of ultra right-wing group who stole the party away from the true Progressive Conservatives.

Cracks are forming in the party and members are hearing the complaints of their electorates and will demand change. Already some members are publicly asking for changes in the way the budget is being presented. I feel that this unrest will become more clear when the press do their job and the ordinary citizen sees what is going on. Dr. Suzuki is leading the charge. We should become informed and aid him in his desire to bring Canada back to its democratic roots and change what is taking place in Ottawa.

Check out the David Suzuki Foundation website to learn how you can help.

Playing Hooky From School

Back in 1952 my friend Tom and myself were trying to figure out our future as graduation was right around the corner. It seemed that there was little variety in our possible choices. If you did not go to university or college there were few options. Join the Army or Air Force , RCMP or Teachers College. As we hung out at the light post we looked up into the blue sky and there was a jet trail. It caught our attention as we just read about an Air Show at the Reserve Airport the next day.

Our minds clicked at the same time. We decided to skip school and go to see the jet planes firsthand. There were to be a number of Saber 86's. But how could we skip school and not get caught. We had never missed a day of school so it would be risky. In any case our mind was made up.

We would have to get our hands on some coin to buy lunch but asking Mom would make her suspicious. I managed to find $1.35 and Tom about the same. Next morning we left for school as usual but hid our books at the Jubilee, a abandoned coal mine only a few yards from where we lived.We did not know where the air port was as neither of us were ever there and actually we only were to Sydney a few times.

We dressed warmly as there was a cold wind and as we held out our thumbs hoping for a ride we lucked out and got a ride in the back of a half ton. We huddled down and after quite a few miles were left off to begin again. We were not so lucky this time so we walked to keep warm. Finally we got a ride with a lady who was going to Sydney so were arrived in the city not knowing how to get to the airport.We asked a policeman and he pointed us in the right direction and we walked what seemed like miles before we were picked up again.

This man drove us right to the airport entrance. As we walked up the narrow road to the terminal we could see a crowd of people looking at the Saber jets. It was so exciting for us. We rushed the last steps to stand in front of this jet plane with a real live pilot explaining the facts about the craft. He saw us and asked if we would like to sit in the cockpit. We jumped at the suggestion and what a thrill to be part of this day. Following that we had to clear well away as the planes were going to put on a demonstration for the crowd.

For the next 30 minutes we were spellbound as the planes flew at great speeds and made what we thought were dangerous maneuvers. It was over all too soon. We had to find our way home so we asked people who were leaving if we could get a ride to Sydney Mines. No one was going there but one took us to Perry Louis's corner. It was a long hike home and we had no idea of the time.

All our talk was of the planes and the pilot and the show. We both made up our mind that we would join the Air Force together and become jet pilots. Well we arrived home and already the family knew I never attended school. It was 6.30 pm and supper was over. What was I to say.

I was so excited I told the truth and the family were so caught up in the story I was forgiven for playing hooky. It was the first and last time I did this and I am not sorry as it was one of the best days of my life. I went to sleep that night dreaming about flying about the skies in my very own Super Saber. I never joined the Air Force but I did go to Normal School. I never regretted that decision.

Darcy and Matrix

Oakville is home to the guide dog program for Canada. It is supported by The Lions Club of Canada. This program involves hundreds of people and dogs. The dogs are trained for specific programs and will be farmed our once they graduate from a several year training program.

One of the wonderful parts of the program is the socialization program. When the dogs are selected for a program at a young age they are given out to selected people to keep them for about a year. During this year the dogs wear a  bib which identifies them as being in the program and can stay with their adopted master everywhere they go. People in Oakville have embraced this program and aid in the socialization program.

Our granddaughter is a university student at Guelph and she was selected as a suitable foster parent for her dog Matrix. This coal black beauty is intelligent and as a young candidate must be socialized before entering the formal section of training. Darcy has this dog by her side every day while attending classes and social functions. Darcy has become so attached to this four legged friend that I am sure it will be a sad day when she has to give him up come next month.

If Matrix is found to be unsuitable for the formal program Darcy would have first dibs on full ownership and that would suit her just fine. I find this program offers people an opportunity to participate in a life saving program for the people who require the services of a dog.

Darcy coaches hockey and Matrix is there as assistant coach. Matrix is everywhere Darcy goes much the same as the nursery rhyme about Mary who had a little lamb and every where Mary went the lamb was sure to go. That is the way it is with Darcy and Matrix. They came to our house yesterday and we loved the visit and the fact that a young university student is offering her services for the good of needy folk who require Matrix to make life better.