HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-09-15, Page 4Sugar and .Spice
by Bill Smiley
Separate holidays
"I hate you, Bill Smiley! I 'hate you!"
This line, was not from a disgruntled
student, an irate parent, or an ungentle
reader. It was my wife talking.
The occasion was our parting for our
annual separate holiday, and she was a bit
irate, ungentle and disgruntled.
She had been up at' seven, ironing my
shirts and packing my bag. I was up at the
stroke of 10, well-rested and ready for
breakfast. ' e
Quite a bit of planning had gone into our
holiday. I was to fly to Halifax for a weekly
editors' convention. She was to climb into
the rusty old Dbdie and head west to see
her Dad for a few days. My daughter and
husband were to come and stay at our place ,
for a couple of, days, with the- grandsons.
It all seemed perfectly logical and simple
to me. But nothing is ever simple to my
wife, except on those ,fairly frequent
occasions when I am completely baffled by
something that must be fixed around the
house, and she finally does it with an
exasperated kick or a triumphant crow. We
keep a lot of triumphant crows in the
basement for such instances.
At any rate, on this occasion, it finally hit
her, an hour before we split, that there' was
something rotten in Denmark. She had
been shopping and house-cleaning for two
days to leave everything spotless and
well-stocked for the kids.. She had been
planning the meals and the scrubbing and
cleaning she was going to do at her
father's. And she had been working like
somebody in Upstairs, Downstairs to get
me off on my jaunt clean and respectable.
She got a bit grim around the lips on that
last morning, but didn't crack up until I
came down, fresh from my bath and shave,
and inquired urbanely: "Is my bag
packed? The limousine will be here any
moment to take me to the airport."
That's when she emitted the opening
line of this column. I knew what it was
immediately. I, patted her back and said:
"There, there, dear. You don't have to
start scrubbing at Grandad's the minute
you arrive. Take a half hour break after the
drive and have a nice c, up of tea."
As it turned out, everything worked fine.
After pounding me a few on the chest, she
had a good cry and we both felt better. She
got the floor scrubbed at her dad's the
very of ternoon I was out on the Bluenose
II in Halifax Harbor. . She had cooked a
good dinner and had the dishes washed at
her father's just about the time I was
slurping into my third lobster and listening
to a good Dixieland band in Halifax. And it
took her only two hours ,to get the car st
arted for her return trip, just about the
time I climbed aboard to be coddled by
stewardesses on my return trip. I think
separate holidays like that are good for any
marriage.
And it seems even better for the woman
in the partnership. She got home rested,
refreshed and looking wonderful. I got
home exhausted and looking like a skeleton
with white hair. It must have been the sea
air that tired me out.
Another thing. Splitting like that is about
the only way we can get 'to see, our old
friends. She had a grand visit and some
good talks and even went for a couple of
drives with some of her long-time friends,
and caught up on all the sensational dirt,on
everybody. And I went . for a sail on the
Bluenose, walked around Citadel Hill 'and
sank the odd refreshment with some other
old grumps as we reminisced about the
days when selling a $10 ad was the
highlight of your week, and getting out a
12-page paper was about the equivalent of
cleaning the Augean stables.
My old friends in the business are in '
pretty good shape, considering that most of,
us are grandfathers. Quite a few are
semi-retired, turning over the papers to
sons and daughters, and themselves
working a day or two a week.
That's the way I'd like to ease into the
twilight years. But I don't have a paper
anymore, my' son is in Paraguay, and my
daughter is busy having babies. I wonder if
they'd sell me a piece of the high school
where I teacli,- so I'd have a good racket
going ,to pass along to my grandsons?
'The_re were some poignint moments and
some fuitiones at the convention. There
was a-tear in most eyes and a lump in most
throats when Cecil Day, one of the grand
old publishers ._of the Maritimes, was
given a standing ovation and choked up
completely with emotion when he tried to
respond.,
There was sheer delight in listening-in
as one editor tried to talk to a pretty and
charming young French lady -in pure
Ottawa Valley French.
There was great fun, and not a little
confusion as Don McCuaig of Renfrew,
Per. Hvidsten of Port Perry and Bill Smiley
of Midland planned, well into the wee
hours, the Grand Post-Convention Tour to
Paraguay, starting on Nov. 12 from
Pickering Airport in a Sopwith Camel.
And there was a very warm and
unexpected experience for yours truly. No,
it wasn't sitting next to Joe Clarke and
Maureen McTeer and Robert Stanfield in
the coffee shop. It 'wasn't listening to. a
speech .by Howie Meeker, though both
these things happened.
It was the announcement of a new award
for Canadian community newspapers:
Outstanding Columnist. It was a well-kept
secret until this humble ' columnist was
called to the podium and presented with a
handsome plaque and an even handsomer
cheque. I was so flustered I didn't know
whether I was receiving a Standing Ovation
or just a Warm Clap. Whichever, thank
you, chaps and girls. There are some
excellent columnists writing for your
papers, and I'm glad, you .said it before you
had to say it .with flowers.
FAMILY 'DINNERS. • ,
4
01
THE
ALTO INN
BANQUETS
and
HOURS
8 a.m../ p.m..
,Sunday: 10 30•-
'Closed Moindav 88/-9293
Ethel
Home sold
Correspondent
Mrs. Cliff Bray
Mrs. Percy Stephenson has
sold here place to George Gill and
has nioved to ilainitton to live.
Her neighbours and friends of
Ethel presented her with a lovely
wrist watch before leaving.
Mr. and Mrs: Andrew Bremner
And Doris and Mr. and Mrs: Win.
HeWitt of Atwood attended a
birthday party on Sunday for Mrs.
Edith Walters of Blyth who
celebrated her one hundredth ,
birthday.
aRupsIELS POST # SEPTEMBER 15 1076 -
Nine projects in. Huron'
receive WOntario grants:i
•. .• T •
The Van Egmond POnndation. is.. Wintatio 'office, and
have been approved for grants. b.y.
Wintatio. The' Foundation is
among. nine projects. in. Huron Wingham• • Minor
"Association
receS1,000 towcailtialoguclit
HistoricNTulil'p7 Jail i n Godendt.
eiltcawrd9rt'hef$11h16.: \. eligible for a grant of $10,090. to .
and -artifacts in their jail, .
• :The '„ Precious Blood loot
Teacher Association in WI'
eligible for a grant of :$691'
construct a creative playOui
The Ashfield • Re04.•
Committee will receive .*
equipment worth $642, ,and,
Seaf°rthMinor Association will • • t
equipment worth $2,54,:pfw
one-time activity grant 0450'
in-province travel. •• '
•
6 'vf 44q1
4,1
Good selection of
complete the restoration of the
historic Van Egmond House. The
Miran grants total $31,229 and
range from $50 to $10,000.
Other grants include:
The Blyth Lions' Club , is
eligible for a grant of $10,000 to
construct a community bowling
green and clubhouse..
• the - Township of Stephen ,is
eligible for a grant of $5,606 for
renovations to its athletic field.
The: Goderich Lawn bowling
Club will receive equipment
valued at $1,670 from the
I
• 601.27ZP-
JP
pE
re
Mrs
A
tt
ere
tOr
lee
eeti
d
th
gist
as
ript
e.
(C
om
undo
plo
elni
ay t
hen
She
who
y21
a
me
Mrs
nigh
hen
m.
gra
ihn
low(
hen
ith,
aylor
U
a
'ONEIDA
Stainless Steel
flatwear
Fine selection
of serving trays.
Open Every Friday till 9 p.m.
For Your Shopping Convenience
Mayer's Jewellery ilfeinber B.B.A.
G • .
riftS
:
wher
I
e
s
Personal
Importa nt.-
Service
_ Audrey & Lloyci
Brussels 887-9000
4411,-,s'6111*01"..r..t.
Opening
new .doors,
to small
business
Financial assistance
Management counselling
Management training
Information on governm
programs for business
Wayne Rounding
one Of our representatives
will be at
Wingham Motel, WINGHAM
on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
September 21,
Ii you require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and
conditions or if you are interested in the
FBDB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
For prior infortriatiOn C011211.560 or
*iito 1036 ()nut& Street gtratforti