Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1979-08-22, Page 16Sugar and spice By Bill Smiley , City boys and boat people As a small-town boy who was always pretty closely associated with the country, and nature, it is a constant source of bewilderment to me to observe the reactions of my two grandboys to natural phenomena. They practically ignore them. When they come to our place, with a large backyard practically polluted by birds and squirrels, their great interest in life is the lawn sprinkler, at any hour of the day or night. Oh, they might look vaguely toward a tree when I say, "Listen to that big bird." They might chase a robin or throw a rock at a squirrel. But those things are basically boring to them. Much more fun to turn on the sprinkler, preferably when Grandad isn't looking, give him a good cold shot in the back while he's trying to read the paper, and spend the next hour alternately running through the sprinkler and running around with their wet feet on Gran's favorite rug. Take them up to the local plaza, where a store has tropical fish, a huge old parrott, gerbils, rabbits, white mice, and you'd think they'd be fascinated. One cursory glance and they're off and running, smashing shopping carts into each other, knocking over carefully arranged displays and playing Superman by leaping over the little old ladies sitting on benches. Took them over to see their great- Grandad last weekend. He has a lovely place in the country, about two acres, with a hundred places to hide and climb and explore. Know where they spent their time? Fighting to see who got to drive the dormant snow-mobile in the backyard. Second choice was "racing" an old car with its front wheels propped up on two big blocks of wood. Between the two vehicles, they must have covered most of North America. Took them down to the dock for a fish. They had no more interest in fish or fishing than I have in refinishing furniture. But they were intrigued about how long it would take to drown if I drove the car off the end of the dock. Out driving with them. I point to cows, horses, sailboats and all sorts of things they should be interested in. Scarcely a look. They want to • know how fast we're going, why we aren't going faster, and why I don't turn the air-conditioning to "super- cool" so it will blow their hair around. Street-smart City Boys. Oh, yes, then there are the Boat People. Somehow, I was inveigled into going out fishing with a couple of young colleagues. One of them has a dandy cruiser with a cabin, stove, the works. Seemed like a good idea. Have a beer or two, catch a mess of bass, do a little yarning. For three weeks the weather had been hot and humid. What a treat to get away out on the Bay, far from the heat and stench of town. Cool breeze, great fishing, good companionship. That's the way it is in the beer ads, anyway. We drove to the marina in a cloud-burst. Sky cleared. Spirits were high. So were the waves. Found the guaranteed bass fishing spot. Water calmed. Baited up. They put me on the side of the boat where the bass weren't, while they hauled in half-pound monsters of the deep. Sky clouded. Another cloud-burst. More wind. More rain. No fishing. Visibility decreased, along with the food and the beer. No land in sight. Blown off the shoal where the fish were. Anchor wouldn't hold. Soaked to the heels. Circled the buoy marking the shoal eighteen times while novice steered erratically and skipper pretended he could chart a course. Nothing in sight except rain. Clung to rear seat with white knuckles and kept up spirits of crew with stories of flying formation through the clouds, and the time we came back from Horse Island deer hunting in November through a snow storm, pumps not working, and ten-foot waves. Did quick figures in head, estimating how far to swim if we hit rock, lake freighter or other cruiser stupid enough to be out in such. Skipper finally figured course, broke out emergency medical supplies, blindfolded all of us, opened her up and headed for what was either the north or the south shore of the Bay. Obviously, we made it. I had caught one four-inch rock bass and one helluva cold. But we had bass fillets for breakfast, the sun shone again, my old lady had to forget about collecting my insurance, and I promptly called our minister and told him to put me down for $25 a month for the real Boat People, those poor sods who have escaped from Viet Nam and drowned and starved and thirsted while we go tearing about in our air-conditioned cars, our cruisers with all the amenities, and whine about inflation. City Boys and Boat People. Enjoyed both of them thoroughly. Frozen No Name Pizza 4 to a Pac Maitre De Coffee 10 oz. WITH A $10.00 MINIMUM' ORDER Glad Garbage Bags 10's Sani Flush 47 oz. Heinz Ketchup 20 oz. Chapman's Ice Cream 2 litres '89 3.99 1.29 1.19 .93 1.10 Bill Grocery STEPHENSON Open Friday Nights until 9 887-9226 free Delivery Brussels Menu Ideas Capri 4 roll pkg. TOILET TISSUE .99 Schneider LUNCH oni MEATS 1.,49 Luncheon, Macar and Cheese or Meat Chicken 1 lb. pkgs. Weston Raspberry or Lemon BUTTERHORNS Reg. 83c .69 Cooking ONIONS 2 lb. bag .29 Palmolive LIQUID 24 oz. 1.19 Millbank random cuts Reg. 2.25 a lb. MARBLE CHEESE 2.01 McCUTCHEON GROCERY We Deliver BRUSSELS Phone 867-9445 OPEN UNTIL 9 FRI. NIGHTS 16 THE. BRUSSELS POST, AUGUST 22, 1979 ERNEST BURCHELL A member of a former well known Brussels family and former Perth mayor Ernest Scott Burchell, 65, was killed in a two car head on collision near that town early Sunday morning, Mr. Burchell had been mayor from 1955 to 1969, the longest consecutive term of office in the history of Perth. His father, who served as mayor of Perth in the 1940s, also lost his life in a motor vehicle accident, in 1952. In addition to his 16 years on Perth council, which Smorgasboard served at Callander Members of the Brussels U.C.W. served a delicious smorgasborg supper to the residents of. Callander Nursing Home on Wednesday evening August 15. The patients thoroughly enjoyed the ham and salad supper andthe visits with the women who catered. Mrs. Anne Wylie, activities director for the home, extended thanks to all who so generously donated towards this project. A Post Classified will pay you dividends. Have you tried one? Dial Brussels 887-6641. Obitu ary included 14 as mayor, Burchell was prominent in provincial and federal politics at the local level. Both he and his father ran unsuccessfully for the Liberals in provincial elections, while his brother, Peter, ran in two provincial races and one fedral election. Scott Burchill owned several race horses, was both a director and ''f-:+ime member of the Canadian Trotting Association, and •a director and past president of the Ontario Harness Horse- man's Association. Five years ago, he and his brother Peter, sold Burchell Supply Limited, a farm in- sulation business, to its employees. The company had been started in the 1930s. when the Burchell family moved to Perth from Brussels, Ont. Mr, Burchell is survived by his wife, Pauline, son Fred, and daughters Paula, Cathy, Debbie and Anne Tait; sister Frances Lambert; and brothers, Peter and Joe. He was predeceased by his brother Fred. Queens Hotel SEAFORTH APPEARING THIS WEEK GARRISON SHOW BAND Next Monday to Saturday THE GROWN UPS Walk your way to fitness Have you thought of walk- ing your way to fitness? Walking gets your whole body going - the muscles, heart, lungs and circulation. In fact, many experts agree that walking is one of the most effective exercises for your whole body...whether you want to shape up or simply burn off a few un- wanted pounds. Think of it this way: a brisk 20-minute walk each day for thirty-six days can take one pound off the average per- son's weight. In one year, that adds up to ten pounds, Don't worry about the exer- cise increasing your appetite. It won't. Several well-known nutritionists claim that walk- ing actually decreases appe- tites. WANTED LIARS Brusselsfest Sept. 22, 1979 COME ONE! COME ALL! B.B.A. Meeting Wednesday, Sept. 5 Brussels Inn 8 p.rrl. The sewers are completed! Bring yours ideas for a large promotional drive for the stores. Keep Brussels on the map!!!