Inspiration!

Today I got my bike out, checked tires, brakes etc and lubricated gears and chain.  I was ready to roll!  This was to be the first ride of the new year for me, far behind last year’s program when I was training for the Ride To Conquer Cancer.  So what inspired me you might ask? Well, inspiration comes in many forms, from wonderful events, tragic ones too,  from the actions of others and from a gentle word of encouragement, to name but a few ways.

Uncle Ron On HIs Chariot

I was inspired today by four main happenings to me over the past few days. A) The weather has been so beautiful that I actually felt like riding. B) My son Ben reminded me that we should be getting the bikes out and spinning their wheels. C) My uncle, Ron Hussey, while desperately short of breath, mounted his mobility scooter for the first time this year and disappeared towards the mall in Comox.  (He did make it back by the way!) D) Lastly but certainly not the least, young Doug, an 88 year old friend of mine rode his bike to Campbell River and back earlier this week, which is a round trip of about 80Km. Doug is preparing for a long ride. (By the way, Doug  also plays old-timers’ ice-hockey through the winter and nine holes of golf per week through the summer).

Last year, young Doug rode his bike the 240 Km.  from the gates at C.F.B. Comox to the Armoury in Victoria over a two day period. He was one of the group of riders who rode in support of the Boomer’s Legacy project. Corporal Andre James Eykelenboom, better know as Boomer was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan.  He was a medic who dispensed treatment and caring to all he met, young and old.  Boomer died in Afghanistan. He was also neighbour of young Doug.

Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom

 If you want to know more about Boomer’s Legacy, started by Boomer’s mother, you can read about it by clicking  here.  It is an amazing, heart-warming project which now receives help from all across Canada.

So, you see as I climbed on my bike today, I enjoyed the weather, thought of both my wonderful sons who are alive and kicking, smiled as I remembered Ron’s efforts, and teared up when I thought of young Doug riding for Boomer.  I spun around the Comox peninsula and back home for a gentle 17 Km ride to get the body going. I survived, albeit with some parts more bruised than others.

I was greatly moved this past week, greatly inspired by these three men in our community, Ben, Ron and Doug…and the weather helped too.

Good bye for now and God bless.

Baby Canadians….At Eighty +

Judge Watt With Jean, Ron And The R.C.M.P. Officer In Dress Serge Uniform

Yesterday, Wednesday, May 09-2012, was a very important date in the lives of Jean and Ron Hussey, my aunt and uncle.  Yesterday was the day they became, for a very short period of time, the newest Canadian citizens.  Jean and Ron came to Canada in 1988 for a visit.  At that time they were living in the U.K., where they had been born.  They enjoyed their visit very much, so much so, that in in 1990 they emigrated from the U.K. to Canada, determined to make our country their home.  What was special about their decision is that at that time, they were already a retired couple.  They had been courageous enough to make a huge decision.

Jean and Ron felt comfortable in Canada from the start.  They became involved in the community…Ron coached kids in soccer and worked as a hospice volunteer for a while. Jean joined the local Co-Val Choristers and was a member for many years. They became successful, landed immigrants.

Now, in 2012, they have taken their life in Canada one step farther by becoming citizens of this wonderful country.  They have not forsaken the U.K. but rather are now citizens of two marvellous countries. They have officially come to Canada “the true north strong and free” and I know that, “with glowing hearts” they will “stand on guard” for her. Our family and all their friends now, officially, welcome them here, and wish them continued success and much love.

Two video clips are available to you below.  Click the arrow to view.

Goodbye for now, and God bless.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This Little Penny

One little penny

Just a short while ago the government of Canada announced in its budget that it would be phasing out the Canadian penny as it was costing too much to produce them and no one much wanted them anyway. Apparently each penny cost six tenths of a cent more than its value to be produced, which was around $11m annually.

Today I read that Canada’s last penny will be produced this Friday, May o4 though the currency will still be good for as long as it takes for the penny to become extinct.

All this talk of pennies reminded me of the old song ” Five Pennies” from the movie ” “The Five Pennies”  I have remembered that song ever since hearing it while growing up.  If you haven’t heard the song, or seen Danny Kaye performing it for his (movie) daughter, take a 2.05 minute peek here

There’s one line, among a number, I particularly like in this little song.  It goes:

This this little penny
Is the last little penny
And the most important of all
For this penny is to love on
And where love is, heaven is there.

So, as our little pennies gradually disappear from view and from use, whenever you get one in your hand, sing the lyrics to yourself and love yourself, your family and your neighbour, for heaven is there.

Goodbye for now and God bless.

Related articles

• Canadian Mint’s last penny produced tomorrow (cbc.ca)

Well Shake It, Shake It Baby Now….

Today, just for fun I went to watch a master craftsman demonstrating his skills and to listen to him fielding our questions.   His name is Rainer Todson, and he is a master shake-splitter. (If you want to know more background to this event, you can click here and read  a recent article from one of our local newspapers.)

Rainer Todson, master shake splitter.

Before I came to Canada, I had no idea what shakes were other than the milky versions you bought at the seaside if you were lucky enough to go there once a year.   If your town in Wales had an Italian café (ours did!) where the proprietor knew how to make these delicious items, you also might have known about shakes.  In Canada, shakes are roofing tiles.  In Wales a lot of slate is used, on the European continent they might be clay tiles.  In Canada, our original roofing material was cedar which, because of its oily properties, provides marvellous roofing material for homes.  Native peoples were the first to use it here on B.C.’s coast, but cedar is used by many people still and, in my opinion, is probably the best roofing material you can have on your home.

Rainer showed us how to split the shakes from two feet long blocks.  He used two tools, the knife type implement called a froe,  which has a long handle at right angles to a long blade, and a mallet.  Traditionally mallets had wooden heads, but in shake production Rainer’s mallet has a metal head covered in a protective layer of tape, otherwise he went through too many mallets too quickly.  (Nowadays he uses a machine to produce his split shakes)

Rainer uses mallet and froe

Froe resting on block and mallet to the right.

For us, Rainer split several of the shakes the same thickness as the ones he has prepared for the re-roofing of our historic Filberg Lodge.  He and his family are doing the job on the lodge and the new roof, though still unfinished is looking spectacular.

One section of the new roof on the lodge.

Everywhere around the house, the gorgeous scent of this wonderful wood filled the air.  Cynthia remarked that if it could be bottled as a cologne or perfume, it would be a sure-fire winner.

The new shakes going on the roof will likely last for 50-70 years as they are all evenly cut and not tapered.  They are also about three-quarters of an inch thick.

Thick shakes on new roof

Finally Rainer left us with a few tips about cedar shake roofs.  I pass them on for those of you with these roofs or thinking of getting a shake roof on your new home.

1. If you are  thinking of roofing your new house with cedar shakes or re-roofing your current one,  ALWAYS talk first to someone you can trust with lots of experience.  Often people are persuaded into replacing cedar shake roofs that don’t need to be replaced.  Cedar roofs last a lot longer than most people think.

2.  If you must clean your cedar shake roof, just use a blower, and NEVER power wash them.  Better yet, leave the debris on the roof.

3. Don’t worry about moss removal.  Just leave it alone.  Moss won’t hurt your roof and even helps provide another protective layer against the elements.

4.  For the best cedar roof, buy split rather than sawn shakes.

5.  For the best cedar shake roof, hand-nail the shakes rather than use a gun. It takes longer, but hand nailing with galvanized nails produces a better quality roof.

After hearing points 2 & 3 above, one wag was heard to remark to his wife, ” I’m so glad I came and heard these remarks.  I can now relax. Let’s go home dear so I can watch the ball game!”

We all enjoyed the short but informative talk and demo.  It’s great to know that our beautiful Filberg Lodge is in the care of such a craftsman.  Cheerio for now and God bless.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.