Posted on August 10, 2017 under Thursday Tidbits with one comment

Merlin and Smita. Moose on the loose

 

“ My heart’s in the highlands, my heart is not here.

My Heart’s in the Highlands. Robert Burns.

Pure magic.

Every once in a while, you have one of those days that just seems about perfect. You wake up on the right side of the bed ( the “cup is half full” side ). You feel positive as the sun creeps up on a new day. The first cup of coffee tastes utterly divine. The weather forecast is perfect and you are about to head out on a road trip to one of your favorite places on the planet: The Cabot Trail. And you are going to share the experience through the eyes of two women who have come from India to the Coady to share their experiences with other global leaders.

I admit that, while the world still holds wonders for me, “ WOW” moments are few and far between. Those of us old enough to be collecting Old Age Security cheques can be blasé by times, thinking that we have seen and experienced  just about everything worthwhile.

Not so.

I picked up Merlin and Smita shortly after the birds began to chirp. In other words, it was quite early. We stopped in Auld’s Cove for a bit of breakfast before crossing the Causeway. They had expressed an interest in going on a whale watching tour as part of the trip around the Trail. I must admit that over the years, I had seen signage for such tours hundreds of times and never once did it catch my fancy. The plan was to do the east side of the Trail first , traveling in a counter clockwise direction. The drive would be leisurely and we would stop at the Chowder House in Neil’s Harbor for an early lunch before making our way to Pleasant Bay on the western side of the island for a 1:00 departure. We would have supper in Cheticamp and arrive home mid evening.

We were taking pictures at the Englishtown ferry when an e-mail arrived announcing the cancellation of the tour because of unfavourable winds. My guests hid their disappointment but I assured them that we would try and make it back some other weekend before they went back home.

I quickly recalibrated and decided that the cancellation would provide an opportunity to turn this into a leisurely day.  We would go and see places like Mary Ann Falls, Smelt Brook ( one of the least known hidden gems on the trail ) and a hike on the Skyline trail.

We had just arrived in Ingonish Beach when my phone rang. The tour operator from Pleasant Bay told me that a similar business in Ingonish Beach was doing tours because the wind direction on that side of the island was more favorable. We decided to check it out and sure enough, there was a sailing leaving at 1:00. The young man selling the tickets ( a St.F.X. grad ) told us that spotting a whale was a 50/50 proposition. I started to do some mental calculations and knew that if we chose to go out on the “ briny ocean tossed,” we would be in for a very long day indeed in order to complete the entire Cabot Trail.

“ What the hell,” I thought. My guests might never get the chance again so we booked our passage.

While passing the two hours before sailing,  I showed them the actual Ingonish Beach, the Keltic Lodge and the Highlands Golf Links before settling in at the Main Street Restaurant and Bakery. The “ and bakery” caught my eye. We shared a few plates of appetizers and a single piece of coconut cream pie. I’m supposed to be keeping my sweets intake to a minimum but how is it possible to pass up home made pie, especially when you’re only eating a third of the calories?!

Our boat slipped out from the dock on a glorious summer afternoon. The sky was blue and we were greeted by a warm breeze. Over half of the tourists on the boat were Japanese.

My expectations for a sighting were low but that didn’t matter. Feeling the warm sun, the taste of salt in the air and a breeze on my face was all that I could have wished for. Several times I closed my eyes and thought about my good fortune to live in this treasured part of the world.

The first hour was uneventful. We saw some grey seals, a few porpoises and a handful of small blue fin tuna. All of these were spotted close to the shoreline. With no sign of whales, the skipper, a grizzled old guy ( he was probably my age! ) with a three day beard, revved up his converted fishing boat and headed further out to sea. For the longest time, it looked like our quest would be futile until a young girl spotted the telltale spout of water  indicating a whale.

This wasn’t any whale.

On the first trip of the day, we had been told that 3 minke whales had been seen. These are amongst the smallest members of the whale family. The young man accompanying the skipper,  who was our guide, indicated that what we were seeing was a fin whale, a rare sighting in these waters. Fin whales are the second largest mammal in the whale family. They can grow up to 85 feet in length and weigh upwards of 80 tons. ( 160,000 pounds ). The skipper figured that this one was about 70 feet in length… longer than his boat.

For 45 minutes, the fin whale dazzled everyone on board including the skipper who admitted at the conclusion of the tour that he had never witnessed anything quite like this. And yes, it dazzled jaded old me. I was so thrilled for my Indian guests who were enthralled by the spectacle that I didn’t notice my elevated heart rate until the captain finally headed for home port. The whale was majestic and awesome to watch.

Anything from this point on would be a bonus but I knew my friends would see some of the most spectacular scenery in our country as we continued around the trail. There was an incredible amount of road construction from Neil’s Harbor to Cheticamp but being a holiday Monday, many of the work crews were idle. It simply forced us to go slower which paid huge dividends on French Mountain when we saw a moose slaking its thirst in a puddle at the side of the road. We stopped and took many pictures of this huge beast.

It was late as we pulled into LeGabriel Restaurant in Cheticamp. We once again shared two dinners and one dessert and chatted with Brenda Lee, one of the owners of the establishment ,who waited on our table. Brenda Lee is a great woman, with charm and a lovely sense of humour. She also gets around quite nicely in her wheelchair. And speaking of dessert. It was served by a quite tall and good looking young man who caught the attention of several women in the restaurant  including my two friends. There was some good natured ribbing on my part. I was curious as to the most impressive specimen that they had seen that day. A whale, a moose or the dessert waiter?!

The icing on the cake ( creamed cheese on our dessert cake  ) , on a day filled with mirth and camaraderie, was a spectacular sunset just outside of Cheticamp. The artistry of the creator never ceases to amaze.

I think that my guests were concerned about an old guy driving late at night. Fearing that I might fall asleep at the wheel, Merlin treated me to some songs, first in English and then in Tamil. Her voice is angelic.

While their hearts may well be in India, on this day my friends’ hearts were in the Highlands.

Have a great weekend.

P.S. The fundraiser for equipment at Emmaus ( in India ) is going great. After one week, we have raised $3,000 of the $6,000 needed to buy a new piece of equipment. If you are a parishioner of St. Ninian’s in Antigonish, you can go to the parish office. Otherwise stop in at the Credit Union and tell them that you want to donate to the “Investment India” account. Or send an e-transfer at investmentindia2017@gmail.com

 

 Cheticamp sunset

 

Posted on June 15, 2017 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

“Crazy Bitch” taking flight

Passionate? Yes.

Crazy? No.

I am spending ten days in Montreal with our daughter Ellie and our granddaughter…. and their newly adopted Chihuahua, Manny. I’m doing a bit of cooking, and some early morning dog walking . On most days, I walk to school with Ivory and pick her up at the end of the day.

I am also getting a close up look at what it takes to become a stand up comedian.

Ellie is performing a one act show, called “Crazy Bitch” as part of the Fringe Festival. There are more than 100 shows/acts. The competition for audiences is fierce but friendly. All of the performers are uncommonly supportive of their peers. They routinely go to each other’s shows. They hang out after the shows. It’s a family affair.

Ellie has been a bundle of creative energy since her childhood. At an early age, she fell in love with the theatre and acted in numerous productions. She and her sisters and brother, performed music at concerts, festivals, weddings and funerals. They still get together from time to time… one of the great joys of being a parent.  Ellie was a fixture at the Farmer’s Market selling her famous cupcakes. She was an extraordinary producer of wedding cakes. ( Cakes By Ellie ) I know. I helped deliver most of them, one of the most hazardous jobs in the world! https://www.week45.com/no-cake-walk-2/

So, how does one become a successful comedian?  Hard work mostly and an unwavering dedication and passion.

It’s not good enough to be funny and quick on your feet. You have to pay a lot of dues like most other businesses. When she’s not working at her day job, she’s constantly writing, rehearsing and honing her craft. She does much of her best thinking when wandering the trails of Mont Royal. And when you’re getting started, you have to pay great attention to marketing and promotion , most of which are a solo effort. Prior to her shows, she can be found at the Fringe Park on St. Laurent Avenue, handing out promotional cards.

The Montreal Fringe Festival is in full swing and Ellie has several performances under her belt. The reviewers are effusive in their praise of her work and she has been drawing very good crowds. She is on the list of shows “ selling well” on the Fringe website.

Now I know you’re all wondering. Have I gone to see her show? No. From reading the reviews and a gut feeling (!), I decided that I would cheer from the sidelines, far from the Wiggle Room, a popular venue in the city. I am far from prudish. But I’m reasonably certain that this is a PG  production. It hasn’t been listed as such… just a hunch. In this case , “ parental guidance” means that it is not suitable for parents of the performer!

If hard work and steely determination are worth anything,  Ellie has a very good chance of succeeding.

If you happen to be in Montreal this week, she has four more performances before the festival winds up on Sunday. Check it out… just for laughs.

Have a great weekend.

 

Posted on June 8, 2017 under Thursday Tidbits with one comment

TONIGHT

Please join me this evening for an encore presentation of my travels in India. Once again, I am pleased to be joined by my brother , Don who was with me when I encountered the problem with my visa. I think you will enjoy the photos and to hear about what it’s like to be detained in a foreign country.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a Business Forum at the Millennium Center which was attended by over 100 business and community leaders from the Strait area. There were three distinct panels speaking about the current business environment at home and abroad. We listened to success stories and the challenges facing small businesses and small communities. The speakers were excellent and it was time well spent. There was a lot of “ fire power” in that meeting room.

It occurred to me as I surveyed the room that Antigonish is blessed with so many bright, talented people. I still believe that our community has more going for it than just about any place on the globe. We live in a safe and clean part of the world. We have plenty of natural resources. We have a university and regional hospital which brings stability to the economy. Our climate is desirable… except when it’s not! Yes, it has been a tad wet and cold for the past while but we don’t suffer catastrophic weather events.

Most importantly, we have some of the most amazing people in our midst from every walk of life. The question was posed to panelists: “ What is the “ Antigonish Advantage?” Just about everyone said that what makes Antigonish special is the sense of community. People “ from away” feel welcome. Diversity is embraced and encouraged. When something needs to be done, we roll up our sleeves and get it done. We have so many natural advantages in this small part of the world. I think most of all, most people “ get it.” People here understand their privileged place in the world and are grateful.

I also believe that the real strength of the community lies in our volunteers. There are hundreds of unsung heroes who quietly go about lending a hand. They work at fundraising events; they deliver communion to the sick; they sit on boards and committees; they bake treats and make meals when families are suffering the loss of a loved one. They coach children’s sports teams and plan events that benefit the area. They never seek the limelight.

I also believe that the long term success of our community involves welcoming many more  immigrants who bring a work ethic and entrepreneurship. As we have seen from the success of “ Peace by Chocolate”, foreigners won’t take Canadian jobs. Many of them will create new ones.

Our elected officials need to continue to make our area attractive, not just to tourists, but to our young people. Yes. They will go away to work, sometimes because they have to and sometimes because they want to. But we want them to come back and we must give them good reasons including an environment that provides business opportunities , good paying jobs and accommodations that are within their price range.  Every year, ST.F.X. graduates 1000 or so bright people. Many of them say that they love this place and hate to leave. Let’s give some of them a reason to stay.

We must also continue to commit time and resources to our most vulnerable. We need to build on the excellent work of the affordable housing group that will soon launch phase two of their initiative.

I feel very bullish about Antigonish in this sometimes crazy, mixed up world.

Have a great week. See you this evening.