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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-04-06, Page 5n the Street By Jim Beckett Bonjour. Our family was fortunate enough to be part of a sporting/cultural/ fun weekend where our children played four hockey games with teams from St. Bruno, Quebec, a beautifut'city just on the outskirts of Montreal. Thcevent started as a suggestion last year by Frank Kints who thought it would be a good idea if last year's Bronco Atom hock- ey team could go to Qucbcc and play against young Paul ('llar- rette, one of their former team mates. Paul Charrette senior, who had coached the Broncos in Exeter before his transfer to Big 0 in Montreal, took over those duties again, doing an admirable job. The four games provided a mixture of competition and sportsman- ship that will be part of the memories of our young players. All in all an enjoyable weekend. Paul and Nancy say the T -A arrives in about four days so I'll take this opportunity to thank them and their St. Bruno hockey parents for providing us with an enjoyable weekend. - • 'Many events that are planned several months ahead have a way of falling apart at the last minute but this Bronco reunion was not the tase. The fact 100 percent of last year's team made the trip is an indi- cation of the fun they had while playing for Paul and the respect they have for him as a coach. * * * * * * * Because the T -A docs not have a travel editor, I'm filling in this week with a few tips about travelling with your family and getting around a strange city. Rule 1. Do not trust people who claim they have a short-cut that will save you distance and time. I mistakenly placed my trust in an Exeter parent who spoke with such confidence about getting around in the big city. One short-cut after another turned into a disaster...but somehow we always managed to find our way back to the hotel. Thank heavens for the large, green Holiday Inn sign. Rule 2. Take a crash course in French before driving: It's vital on Montreal freeways to remember. that Est means East and Ouest means West. Write it on your wrist if you have to. As far as feel- ing you have to know French, it's not necessary. Thc vast majority of Quebecers we met could understand English, and even those that couldn't had plenty of pat •r,:e with us. Rule 3. Fill up with gas before leaving Ontario because the price jumps. considerably as soon as you cross the provincial boundary line. Rule 4. If you're travelling with a family, saving moncy - be- comes a factor in order to have more money to hand out for junk food later on in the day. One morning we had a hearty breakfast for five in the hotel, just managing to keep the tab a few pennies under $20.00. The next day we gave in to the wishes of the children and enjoyed a substantial breakfast at McDonalds. Thc food at McDo- nalds was at least equal, if not better, and the bill came to S11.00. Rule 5. When you leave your hotel have a final look around the room to make sure you have everything with you. It's no fun being on your way home and discovering you might have left something •valuable in your room. After driving back and searching our roam there was still no trace of a missing camera, which contained many of our weekend memories. About an hour and a half later when driv- ing past Cornwall, still feeling a little depressed about the loss of the camera, our youngest son popped out behind the rear scat in the van and said "Is this what you're looking for?" Rule 6. Don't always believe what you read in the newspaper: My navigator was totally convinced Tim Raines and George Bell were traded in what the newspaper described as the biggest swap in history. I read him the story from the new Montreal Daily Ncws while keeping my thumb over the final paragraph that identified the story as an April Fool prank. Sightseeing Tip. If you're one of thc .001 percent of hockey fans who cheer for the Montreal Canadicns, a visit to Montreal is a chance to make a pilgrimage to the Forum. There's a rumor that 1 tab fan Larry Taylor kissed the ground outside the Forum. It's a fact he spcnt just under $100,000 on Canadicns souvenirs -which included two coffcc mugs and a jacket for his son. Buying beverages. The debate about selling beer and wine in Ontario in convenience stores could be a tempest in a teapot. It's readily available in Quebec with no apparent problems. In fact, 1 think it's a convenience that is probably used more by tourists and visitors who don't seem to mind paying a little more for saving the time of finding a government -run outlet. Young drivers. One difference in Quebec is youngsters are al- lowed to drive lightly powered motorcycles on local streets. it was quite a surprise to sec some of the youngsters we 'had just played against leave the arena and hop on some of these machines. Banking PR. Many caisse populaires (credit unions) have an ex- tra room that they make available for community functions. After one of the games we wcnt to the credit union basement for a quick unch and visit with some of our Quebec hosts. It was beautifully finished and was provided for us at no charge. No wonder credit un- ions in Qucbcc arc so popular. Language barrier. If you enjoy meeting people, your visit to Quebec will be fun. My youngest son Ryan and his new friend Marc Andre proved there's always some way you can find to com- municate. Neither could speak thc other's language but they were having the time of their lives with a real competitive game of X's and O's, proving laughter is the same anywhere. * * *_* * * * Jackie Rowe from Ellison Travel called the other day with a prediction that Thursday (tomorrow) will be a busy shopping day for Exeter retailers because of the scvcral busloads of visitors cominglo Ellison's Travel Show. She said they will have plenty of time to visit our local stores. * * * * * * * An Exeter business will be represented at the Toronto Mine Show next week. 'Roger Dougall, owncr of R.H. Dougall Building Products will have a display featuring his made -in -Exeter atriums. « * * * * * * Times -Advocate, April 6, 1988 Page 5 What can you buy for a dime? By Adrian Harte card limits and reduced to just win - Considering the amount of mon- dow shopping. Unless, of course, ey and time we invest in shopping you follow the T -A guide to una- these days,_onrcQuld almost call it bashed consumerism. our national pastime. T to only —The -goal is to find what can still problem with shopping is its cost. be bought these c -tys-lora-dim An injudicious shopper will find . we took to the streets of Exeter him.or herself quickly beyond credit with a whole dollar, determined to bring back the most interesting and intriguing items available in our price range. Those of you who think that even penny candy has gone the way of e:—s assenger pigeon might be in for a surpnse. e -search ar= gains at 10c or less can keep the ad- dicted shopper amused for hours. A first stop at Fincher's uncovers tit selection of pipe cleaners in two dozen chenille colours. The price? . Only five cents apiece. Seven cents will give you a choice of cleaners in glitter. Joanne McKnight says she sells the pipe cleaners mostly for craft use by Sunday Schools, Brownies, or anyone looking to make fuzzy wire creations. However, she also says many farmers buy them by the handful. "I don't know what they use them for. 1 can't figure it out," says McKnight. Her only guess is that they might be used for cleaning milking machines. Six cents buys a bright yellow balloon. Fincher's still stocks bulk balloons at a bargain price, much to the surprise of some- customers. McKnight explains a package of 12 balloons costs 51.29, but you can buy 21 in a choice of six colours for the same price. This is a big difference if you are planning a big party or a parade. A stop at Shaw's reveals the truth: penny candy is alive and well. Mickey. Struyke points out that seven varieties of one -cent can- dy are still available. Many more types of gum and sweets still cost less than 10 cents. Struyke thinks children are eating more candy than ever before because she secs many coming into Shaw's and spending a dollar or more, on the inexpensive treats. Searching for something more cultured -on which to spcnd our ten cents, we unfortunately discover that rubber monsters cost 20e. Nevertheless, a pair of used paper- backs can be had for five ccnts each. Both books arc of dubious literary value. One even describes itself as "a novel of wanton love", but Struyke says the used book trade has dont really well since she began trading in previously -enjoyed fic- tion two and -a -half years ago. Five cents is the rock bottom price for the used books and most cost up- wards of 25e. A 99¢ miniature lighter- boasts more than 1000 lights, but Shaw's still sells matches at le a pack, yielding 1,980 lights for the same BUTTON BOX - Brenda Triebner of Polka Dot Fabrics explains that the box full of sale -priced buttons can keep shoppers captivated for many min- utes. • .1141. lifillilaitS•N • fir, tc' COttltr'ONUll' fNateortInt, PENNY CANDY - Mickey Struyke shows off Shaw's selection of loose candy, most of which can be bought for Tess than 10¢. DIME STORE - A search of Exeter stores for interesting items purchased for 100 or less turned up a pair of used paperbacks, a white chocolate milk bud, some imposing buttons, high quality nuts and bolts, wire straps, co- loured pipe cleaners for making fuzzy animals, a balloon, and free batteries. Who says a dollar doesn't buy any- thing these days? money. • Ten cents will also buy you a taste of Sugar and -Spice's famous chocolate. Since all their loose chocolate is sold by the pound a single milk bud weighs in at only nine cents. This is a great deal hen -you rnns�'ddeer our choices of milk, dark or white enolate. BF--- course, one would not want to make a habit of buying ninc cents worth of chocolate, especially when Sugar and Spice's staff are still _busy tidying up their store after the Easter candy season. The staff are looking forward to the May open- ing of their new factory on High- way 83 where they will, hopefully, have more room to move around. "That button_ .box can become • very addictive," warned Brenda Tri- ebner at Polka Dot Fabrics. "There's always a matching button just around the corner." Indeed, the bargain hungry shop- per could spend hours searching - through Polka Dot's selection of discontinued buttons. They are sold 10 cards for a dollar, or 10 cents each. A quick search turns up a card with three metal buttons with very officious -looking crests, perfect to dress up that blazer for the yacht this summer. What ap- pears to be an imposing motto enameled around each crest turns out to be the alphabet. But who would get close enough to read it anyway? Don Boyes at Huron Tractor was. not sure at first if anything could be found in the showroom or parts counter for 10 cents or less. "The coffee here is cheaper than that, to the customer," said Boycs. Ignoring the free coffee, a pair of nuts and bolts was purchased for a dime. Normallysold at S1.79 per pound, these arc no ordinary nuts and bolts. Made of grade five steel. they. will bounce like ball -bearings when dropped. Triple markings on the head signify their quality and a light chrome plating completes the look. These would be just right to fix the kids' swing set this year, or to put the handle back on the lawn mower. A quick chat with Pat, York and Russ Watson at Radio Shack in MacLean's revealed that the only 10 -cent item in the department was a spade terminal for a telephone, and four would be needed to make a connection. However, Watson pointed out that a Battery Club card was free and thus less than 10e. The card entitles the holder to one carbon battery every month for a year. Watson agrees the idea is to bring customers into the store on a regu- lar basis, but the card holder has a choice of battery sizesworth up to 89e. A trip through MacLean's electri- cal department turned up some po- tentially useful wire clamps at only two cents each. These will hold those nagging loose wires to wall, patio decks or ceilings much better than staples because they are stamped from aluminum and can't rust. With deadline fast approaching, the shopping spree came to an end, leaving many stores and stones un- turned. One wonders what could have been achieved with a little larger budget. After all, a pencil shatvpcncr can be had for as little as 15c, and those rubber monsters de servecfa closer look. - TAX TIP OF THE WEEK A PUBIC SERVICE OF H 8 R BOCK, EXE If R Q. t•1y w ilex only income is $1,5041 m dividends from a bust fund \I.n I claim her as my dependant? A. You have the option of including her dividends in your income. In this way, you will increase your claim for a married exemption. You could also benefit Isomthe dividend taxi credit and the $1,(X41 ins est ment income de- duction. WISH YOU COULD TRICE IN A MOVIE? GRANADA MAKES IT EASY. At Granada, vont can "Hage it alt. Have it nus." With 4 'nt (If I Tur latt ,t stereo HiFi V'CR's you can watch the in(tle' in the , ornt( in (TI' - y(ntr (iwn home. Or von can talk your favourite •ht s'with (Inc of our remote -control +-event. 2S-dav ltr(tt rarnntahle model' and watt h them at your leisure. You won't find a better ,election of \'('R' am w here. . And how vi.m•p av really is up to von. You can bur tt, Iq,c it or rent, it. The choice iL vour'. tt', all topped oto "11fI ,ur no-extra-chatrt_c in-home "(iranadac over" service. c. So "Have it all. Have it now." Corn(' to Granada r HAVE IT ALL. HAVE IT NOW. SPECIAL OFFER El ctrohom• HVRE71 VHS VCR x15..95 p.r month* Corm In for dNall. • soma M 12 seethe snob( GRANADA HOME ENTERTAINMENT rAUM1M HAS SNOW1100M5 114 Rl'WH124 - OM JUST AAOIMU II U4PMR row you CA, L US WM Oscar's Video & Records 358 Main Street Exeter, Ontario 235-2685