Making a list
Most of us have read the magazine articles about how to survive the holidays. Usually they suggest copious quantities of liquor helps. But there’s got to be a better way. Right? You know I am. I know from personal experience that booze is just a bandage. Oh sure, if you’re a bit tipsy, the wrapping […]
Gifting
The coloured lights are bringing a glow to County nights, and here and there a smattering of snow reminds us of a White Christmas, if the carols played over retail loudspeakers fail to do so. Speaking of carols, the solstice celebration most commonly observed in this community is meant to be about good tidings and […]
A dying breed
Midway through last year’s hockey season, the NHL held its All-Star game. John Scott became an instant fan favourite. He became the captain of the Pacific Division, scored two goals in the three-on-three event, and won the honours as the MVP of the game. He recently retired at age 34, quite young nowadays. We will […]
It’s in the soil
One of the great radio programs, when I was growing up in the late 1950s, was The Archers. Similar to the early soaps in the United States, it had a continuing daily story line, with one character, a Dorset farmer, repeating the line “the answer lies in the soil”. Farmers know the importance of soil, […]
Rising to the challenge
The loonie, Canada’s favourite one-dollar coin, marks its 30th anniversary next year. And the toonie, Canada’s favourite two-dollar coin, marked its 20th anniversary in 2016. Although the coins were introduced without any kind of officially suggested nickname, in each case a public consensus quickly formed around the moniker. The loonie/toonie experience came to mind when […]
Perfectly Christmas
The perfect Christmas is a relative thing. That is, the perfect Christmas often hinges on the relatives. As far as my relatives are concerned, I think we celebrate the perfect Christmas every year. It helps to have a sense of humour and low expectations. But I’m okay with a few laughs and setting the bar […]
Remember
Yesterday, December 6, was the 25th annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The day was chosen because it falls on the anniversary of the massacre at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. On that day in 1989, 14 women were murdered because they were women. Last week, the body of a well-respected […]
FGCU Eagles Basketball 2016
Last week, the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles scored the first 16 points in their game against Ave Maria. They finished the game with 120 points, registering their third straight victory. The margin of victory was 60 points, one of those games that you appreciate every now and then. A cakewalk. Two nights previously, the […]
Mulled wine
Food and drink have very important roles at Christmas. Wine, in particular, has a starring role at tables around the world. There you will find reds, whites and rosés of all different types and agings. And, of course, there are the sparkling wines: Champagne from France, cava from Spain, spumante from Italy, sekt from Germany—or […]
For whom the road tolls
Toronto mayor John Tory is finally stepping up to the plate and taking a stand on the thorny issue of revenue sources for his city. He is proposing road tolls for the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. And he is receiving a lot of support from editorialists and urban planning watchers. So it’s […]