We better not complain about our cold temperatures when we watch the news and see and hear how bad other parts of the world are getting floods and fires and winds, etc! We are used to what we’re getting and can cope, but the storms that are happening are so bad no one can cope with such disasters. Many lives have been lost, as well as livestock.
New Zealand has been having torrential rains and winds, and are cleaning up after eight to nine inches of rain. Sea coasts have been piled up inland up to a meter high with gravel and seaweed and grasses. They got the tail end of a hurricane that hit Australia first. Mud slides closed off the only road in to Dunedin on the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Island. The Herald newspaper called it ‘4 days of hell’ the worst in 500 years! A couple of friends from Osoyoos are spending two months down in the Aukland area and will have some stories to tell.
The Vawn Christmas Snowmobile Rally is slated for Jan. 27. Phone 306-397-2796 for info.
In England our summertime speed bumps are called ‘sleeping policemen.’
We have been warned about aspartame in our foods, sweeteners mostly, now we are being told to watch for another poison that’s being put in our foods - trisodium phosphate. This is in many cereals, and a variety of manufactured foods. It is used in cleaners for concrete floors, for tiles, for stripping varnish off wood, etc. Look it up on Google, it’s scary.
A Come and Go Tea, hosted by her family, celebrating the 90th birthday for Gladys Schindler, will be held in Caleb Village on Jan. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. Gladys originated from the Belbutte district where she lived for 30 years, and has since resided in North Battleford. The cake will be cut at 2:30 p.m. so folks can enjoy sharing and taking pictures and visiting. It is expected her four children will attend and many of their families, including two great-greats.
Canasta was played at the Do Drop In with four tables in play Jan. 12. Top score went to Eric Callbeck and Arlene Walker, second were Bob Lesko and Paulette Neale and third were Marion Ottas and Vivianne Lesko. A nice social time for all.
Shuffleboard was the game of the day on Saturday, with 15 seniors gathered at the Do Drop In, along with games of Scrabble and Chit Chat. Much merriment was heard during games and a break took place at noon to partake of a bountiful potluck lunch. Top scores here went to Ken Schmidt and Tom Morgan, next was Linda Ard and various partners, third were Maureen Campbell and Cora Christiansen and fourth were Gail Hinterman and Svend Christiansen. We welcome newcomers from Trevessa Beach, Ken and Judy Schmidt, along with Bob and Vivianne Lesko from the same area who have been coming for a while.
A dozen seniors gathered for their monthly meeting Jan. 12 at the Do Drop In. A nice letter was received from Clayton Wolfe who played for us at our Christmas party. Some inspection has been done with the floor problem and some repair done but new covering is being decided as well as more repair work. The name of Rhea Delisle will be added to the senior’s plaque of deceased persons. The next shuffleboard tournament will be Feb. 10. Maureen Campbell read the library report – in December there were 221 patrons and it was open for 57 hours. The newspaper article about the history of the Jackfish Lake area, written by Duane McCartney, can be copied and picked up at the library. The annual inventory has begun with over 5,000 items to scan. Lakeland libraries are holding a winter Reading Contest, running from Jan.4. to Mar. 2, withwinners to be drawn Mar. 16. For info contact your library; it looks very interesting for young and old. Nomination forms are on hand for volunteer nominees with Rivers West Health district. Annual bowling with SSAI in Prince Albert is slated for March10 and 11. One team will try to enter from this area. SSAI raffle tickets for cash prizes are on hand also, so contact a member to help support the organization. Our speaker from Philips Lifeline is unable to come in February. The Anglican/United Church is holding their annual pancake supper Feb. 13 in the Do Drop In, from 4:30 to 6:30.0. The next meeting is on Feb. 9.
Thinking it was time to get with the real world, one of our seniors wrote a book that she wanted copied for each of her grandchildren for Christmas. With help from her daughters she ordered them online from Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 1. She was assured they would arrive within the week. They tracked the shipping so knew where the order was every day. They were printed and mailed out Dec. 4 to Hong Kong where they were processed, then to Cincinnati, Ohio, processed again, then to Â鶹´«Ã½AVern Alberta (assume Calgary) on Dec. 6. Then to northern Saskatchewan (assume Saskatoon) arriving Dec. 7. It took 12 days to get them from Saskatoon to Meota after 12 e-mails, lots of excuses and a 40-hour process change. They were finally delivered by courier to her door in Meota Dec. 19. When it arrived the address was clearly marked. Suddenly she doesn’t feel very modern!
The following account is connected to our family. On Jan. 13, three fellows aged 30-40, went fishing in a big fishing boat off the coast of New Zealand. About three miles out the boat hit something underwater that punctured the vessel. They had to abandon the boat as it slowly sank. They were wearing their life jackets, stayed together clinging to the cooler (there called a chilly bin) and tried to get wet cell phones to work. They were able to return calls made by the last person who they had talked to, so someone sent for the coast guard to rescue them. They were also hoping no sharks were in that area.
First on the scene was the coast guard helicopter who rescued one of them and the coast guard boat saved the other two soon after. It was an ordeal that lasted nearly four hours and not one they plan on repeating. The event was on the news that night. Just reminding people how you have to be prepared and keep calm and only then will things work out safely.
