Canadian & Convenient BBC News reported today that our favourite Canadian coffee and doughnut shop, Tim Horton’s, is exporting itself to the UK. The linked video shows befuddled Brits being quizzed on the finer points of Canadian coffee retail. Fairly standard expansion procedure for the recently merged-with-Burger-King corporation I’d guess so you’ll soon see a few outlets on … Read More →
Literally translated as Wind & Water - Neither of which you want when shifting the furniture I’m admittedly a person of strange hobbies and habits. Since I can’t yet afford to build the (very) small house of my dreams, one of my favourite outlets is to diagram small space structures and live vicariously on paper. It dawned on me last weekend that in my current living space of ostensibly three rooms … Read More →
All Smoke & Mirrors... well, mostly mirrors In continuing random overheated afternoon efforts to clean up the old truck a bit, I realized that the inherited front plastic license holder was a bit of an eyesore. Not being the type to offer cheeky driving advice (“put down the phone and drive”), shout about politics or sports (I detest both), or otherwise engage … Read More →
My What A Big Nose You Have The newly acquired elderly truck was showing its age and I couldn’t quite pin down why. The body style on this model hasn’t really changed significantly for almost two decades. Not until I drove past the dealer lot with a sea of brand new versions did I realize what had happened. Old man bling. The … Read More →
At Ease in the Deep Growth Some might question the wisdom of acquiring a twelve year old truck with a few rusty corners and a broken radio. Then again, I’m used to getting strange looks from people so naturally I did just that this week. So long fun little red car. You were a blast but you can’t haul plywood and … Read More →
Plenty of room to spare I don’t talk to many people these days so it’s easy to notice when my few remaining friends in America and the UK all seem to ring at once. Over the past six months I’ve noticed most of that short list has been calling “just to check in and oh by the way… I wanted … Read More →
My Free Smart Phone - Incredibly Cute Cat Not Included So I finally broke down and got a smart phone. Sort of. The carrier that has given life to my 1998 flip phone these past few years runs a scheme where a few dollars of ‘loyalty credit’ from each bill goes towards purchasing your next phone. Since I haven’t gotten a new handset in ages … Read More →
Yadda, yadda, yadda... Sometimes I write about technology in an attempt to demystify gizmos and gadgets for the masses. Here’s an example where I wanted to explain internet phone service to some friends. It was just convenient to park it here between the casserole and brownie recipes – which by the way I’ll resume posting next week. I’ve … Read More →
Plenty of Maple Syrup for Everyone Hello UK. We hear you’re getting tired of your current club and are thinking about cancelling your membership in June. Don’t feel guilty. It happens. People change and sometimes you need to move on in order to grow. I’m sure you and the EU will laugh about your time together at the neighbourhood Christmas party… … Read More →
Pesky Hackers It seems this blog has become a target for random hack attempts from afar. I doubt my ramblings actually attracted the attention of real humans but automated bots troll the net for unsuspecting marks and when I started adding links on YouTube, that threw my address into the deep end of the pool. Expect some … Read More →
Fashionably Warm Feet At All Costs The latest snowstorm has knocked out my power, internet, water, and generally comfortable living for the last four days… and counting. Usually it’s a few hours, perhaps overnight, but the nature of the heavy wet snow this time has made repairs particularly troublesome because of all the tree fall. While I applaud the work of … Read More →
The first dig out of the season. Nothing like an hour shovelling to start the day. I always revel in the first snow of the year. Probably a holdover from getting days off school when I was a kid but the truth is I’m really good at getting snowed in. My pantry is deep and my catalogue of books and videos is vast. I’m easily entertained and fed. Of course with … Read More →
Happiness is everyone getting their own grass on Christmas Morning and then eating the best bits of your sister's patch when she's not looking I’m not a fan of government interference. The Nanny State irks me no end. Here in my corner of Canada they’ve taken meddling to new heights with everything from price controls on petrol and dairy to policing people’s recycling. They actually have someone paid to check that you put your trash in the right coloured … Read More →
Loads of fun in the snow. Can't haul plywood and hay. So I’ve had my little red car for a few years now and love it. I drive barely 5000 kilometres a year but those that I do manage are enjoyable. All wheel drive is handy in the snow and let’s face it, red is the colour to have. About the only drawback to the Juke … Read More →
Ouch. (edit: Months into this tale and it hasn’t ended well with warranty support – be sure to read the updates at the end of this post) I have to report a kitchen casualty. One of my most trusted pots has fallen in the line of duty. Years ago on the radio show we did a … Read More →
"My what soft lips you have", said the Big Bad Wolf Autumn is here and for me that means chapped lip season. You know my consumer outrage when I feel like I’m being ripped off. Case in point, lip balm. I was partial to those tiny jars of the stuff so conveniently kept in a pocket this time of year. I went to stock up at … Read More →
A Nickel of Pest Control I love when homemade solutions to a problem work better than the commercial answers, especially when the former is a mere fraction of the cost. Thus was the case when the late summer harvest brought a tiny menace to my doorstep. In August with garden produce in full swing and the heat at its peak, … Read More →
Funnier than he looks I was delighted and surprised today when I discovered that Doc Martin is back for a seventh season starting this week. Who is Doc Martin you ask? Doctor Martin Ellingham (played by the talented Martin Clunes) has made me laugh with dry wit for six previous seasons in a uniquely British comedy-romance-drama created by Dominic … Read More →
Fit for a watchman Sir Terry Pratchett succumb to what he called ‘the embuggerence’ in March of 2015. When first diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease years earlier he didn’t shy away from the topic, nor did he slow down to ‘take it easy’. He kept writing like a furious madman until his final days and was said to have … Read More →
I wouldn't come near me today if I were you Some days you know you should just go right back to bed. Some days you don’t realize that fact until it’s too late. Sunday morning started well enough with one of those nearly perfect cups of tea. The sort where you get the brewing time and the cream ratio just right. The temperature rapidly headed … Read More →
A few pictorial snippets from the north shores of Nova Scotia within around fifty kilometres of the farm. Mostly from 2014 (click any to swellify and start slide show)
The old field entrance of the farm in Autumn Testing, testing… Is this thing on? (tap tap tap) Ok, so back to basics here on the farm. I’ve not had the drive to update you kind people of the interwebs for quite some time and I think that needs to change. You see, I need resources to build the empire. Commerce. A modest flow … Read More →
