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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-05-04, Page 16* N. N.N. N. 'N. Na • v, 0 NOTICE vo Ronnenberg s Insurance Office, r S / I Brussels TRUST CERTIFICATES Now Paying 9 Vi% for 5 years Brussels Office Open Tuesdays & Fridays Phone 887-6663 Monlkton Office Open Monday . Thru Saturday Phone 347-2241 INTO for moo and 1111,111111111E111 New Styles! NeW Shades! ' .New Concepts! SMART -SUITS LEISURE SWS JACKETS = SLACKS liriced1O OleUse PLANNING A SPRING WEDDING? We . can supply yOur iormal clot rhiS fOr man arapielr /lien's Wear MAW. CORNER .C11-06N 481-01J2 1 3 Sugar and Spice by Bill Smiley Fuel for anger I was so mad when I began writing this I column yesterday that there was smoke starting to come out of the typewriter keys, so I stopped and let them cool off overnight. They're still warm, but just touchable.- Reason for my rage was that I had been royally shafted three times in a row by three different service stations owned by three different oil companies, to tune of about $200 and a great deal of personal inconvenience. In each case the ineptness of the so-called "service" was equalled only by the rapicity of the operators. My first impulse was to name names and lay the sordid facts on the line. But I was boiling so buoyantly that there was no way I could have written an honest, objective account of the piracy I was subjected to, so I'm glad I slept on it. I didn't want to label all Sunoco, Fina and Gulf Service station operators as highwaymen, because that would have maligned a couple of local operators who have not, to my knowledge, while I was watching, mugged me. They were not involved. Suffice it to say that the n ext time you see Wayne and Shuster doing one of those comedy commercials in which you are assured that a big American oil company's only aim in life is to give you the best possible service at the lowest possible cost, switch to a soap ad. At least the soap merchants con you blatantly, and take you to the cleaners literally, rather than figuratively, as the oil companies do. And I thought plumbers were rough! After tangling with a few "mechanics" in a few dab's,. I could have kissed an honest plumber who chanced along. He'd probably have charged me five bucks for the privilege of kissing him but he'd have looked good after those various grease- monkeys who seemed more interested in rape than kissing. Nobody wants to hear my troubles, but don't care. I have to purge myself of this bile or be sour on servicemen all spring. I don't want to go through my life hating mechanics. Some of my best friends are mechanics. But I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one. On second thought 1 maybe I would. She'd certainly be financially secure for life. Now, the sad saga. It was March blowing itseslf out like a polar walrus. Bitter cold, wind gusting to about 50. We were on our way to the city for a couple of days. Stopped for coffee at one of those big, drive-in restaurant-service stations which have nothing going for them except a monopoly. Their coffee is lousy, their food is swill, their staff is surly, slovenly, stupid, or all three. You know the kind I mean. Terrific architecture with nothing inside. You've been stung before, and sworn you'd never do it again, but there's nothing else for another forty miles. Drank the lukewarm dishwater they call coffee. Turned the key to get going. Nothing. Couldn't be the starter. Had just had a whole new unit put in, two weeks before, at a cost of $70. Must be the battery, in that very chill wind. No problem. Get a boost. Walked around to service centre. Nobody home. Out front three young gas-jockeys pumping fuel like mad. Tried to get some help .-Was almost completely ignored. Finally, one of them told me with some delight that the mechanic was on holidays, that the tow-truck was away somewhere, and that he personally was too busy to even lift the hood. Mounting frustration and seething anger commencing. But I'm a patient man, a reasonable man. Finally, kid arrives with tow-truck.Gives battery a boost.I turn key with relief. Horrible scrailing sound. No more. Everything dead. The kid reckoned my new starter unit had just stripped its gut out. He was just guessing, of course. A little background music here. We were on our way to hear our daughter play in a concert. Her mother had brought a complete new corduroy outfit, made by hated, for the girl to wear at the concert. And there we were stranded at a wind-swept "service" station forty miles , from anywhere. Only by dint of great forbearance and awesome threats of law-suits did 'II get one of those turkeys to call a garage in the nearest town, and arrange to have the car towed there and repaired. We hitched a ride down the road with two lovely women from up north, bless their good souls, and they took us into the city, getting themselves thoroughly lost in the process. Taxi to concert site. Daughter , doesn't want new outfit. Missed concert. Taxi to hotel. Total taxi bill, $14.00. O.K. No sweat. Next morning, phone garage to which car towed. Sure he can fix. No problem. "You pick up tomorrow. Before noon. I quit noon." Next day, taxi 45 miles north (no bus) to garage. Ca(r fixed.Bill $99.00. Garageman won't accept credit card though sign in window says he will . Borrow enough from cabbie to get car out of hock. Decent cabbie, took cheque, was sympathetic. His cab bill, $40. Drive car all way back to city. Something wrong; doesn't steer right. Wh ole day shot. Arrive hotel, no parking space left at the inn. And I'm skipping over the bad par ts. I'm sure this bitter little tale has mechanics everywhere slapping their knees in hilarity. But I'm afraid it left a slightly rotten taste in my mouth. One service station made a mess of the job in the first place. The second one ., advertised service and gave none. The third guy hosed me to the hilt because I I was comparatively helpless, and was ugly about it into the bargain. I'm sure there are some good service stations, somewhere. I'd like to come across one. And maybe there is one among the many American oil companies operating in Canada which is more interested in good service than selling gas. Maybe. Will attend Festival for Life Local people will attend The " Festival for Life in Ottawa May 5, 6 and 7. Theme of the Festival is "Let Them Live." About 2,000 people from across Canada and the United States are expected to attend. To publicize the Festival, Adrian Keet, past-president of Li Voice for Life, Wingham has , walked to Ottawa. Mrs. Adele Chettleburg and Mrs. Sally J.. Campeau will also attend. 4" Among the speakers at the Festival will be Marshall McLuhan, Director of the Centre for Culture and Technology Audrey Mayer's Jewellery & Gifts Where Personal Service is still russels important 887-0000 ,-* i ,b 1.4. Say I Love You with charm bracelets & charms, necklaces or a family ring. Mother and love differ only in name for the miracles they work are one and the same. 16 THE BRUSSELS POST, MAY 4, 1977 Annual water tests recommended "Householders with private wells should conduct annual water quality tests to ensure safe drinking water," says Dr. Hugh Whiteley, agricultural engineer at the Ontario agricultural College in Guelph. This is a good time of year to take bacteriological water tests because water tables are high. If problems are likely to occur, they will show up now. Bacteriological tests are available free of charge through local health units where the householder must pick up the necessary sample bottles and instructions. Through bateriological tests, it is possible to determine whether disease-causing organisms may be present in the water supply. Dr. Whiteley says there are two parts to the bacteriological test. Samples are first checked for the presence of coliform bacteria. "If there is no coliform bacteria present in the sample it means you can be confident there are no disedse-causin o anisms7"-. If colif m acteria are present, the sample, is then checked tl faecal coliform bacteria. "When a few coliform but faecal coliform are present, ux water should be monitorel through regular testing. If or/ several months no faecal colifotz appear, the water is probably sift to drink if tested quarterly,". • Dr. Whiteley says fit presence of faecal colifotie bacteria usually results hoz septic tank or manure story area seepage. When fuel] bacteria are present, the watt can carry diseases such a$ dysentery or typhoid. Although the seepage problem occurs more often in older-bored or hand-dug wells and springs, Dr. Whiteley says even nest drilled wells should be checked annually. Bacteriological water tests i not check for the presence of chemicals in the water supply, "If a peculiar taste or odor noticed, or if there is reason to suvest_chem'cal contamination; —Contact the local he th officer fo advice."