Cameras don't prevent all accidents

 

The London intersections with the highest number of accidents are monitored by red-light cameras. Run the light and receive a ticket in the mail. Was this accident caused by a car running a red? No idea. But clearly this intersection just suffered another accident despite the presence of the cameras.

I've wondered if the cameras can, at times, cause accidents. I admit that when there are cameras mounted around an intersection, I find my self somewhat distracted. I'm thinking about cameras and not driving. When I googled this question I discovered many researchers believe that red light cameras may not make intersections safer.

Scientific American reports that fear of fines may fuel more sudden stops and rear-end collisions.

Television towers are not what they once were

 

When I was a boy there were tall television broadcasting towers all over the province. Every TV had a pair of rabbit ears sitting on top to pick the television signal out of the air. It was not uncommon to jump up, go to the television and turn the rabbit ears to improve the reception, lessen the "snow." Often it was not possible to get completely rid of the snow, especially if the channel was a distant one.

I've noticed these towers are disappearing. One of the towers in town, there were two, had its top chopped and its height reduced. The other tower is still standing on the edge of town but its presence is under pressure.

When I started thinking about this, I googled the topic and discovered a piece posing the question: Will Television Disappear in the Years to Come? According to the linked article many rural Americans have seen most or all their over-the-air stations disappear." 

Television, paid for by advertising, pulled for free from the air has been minimalized by the advent of cable. I can see the day the towers, left with no use, will be removed. The sight of these towers will be relegated to memory along with other sights once so common. Need an example? Think of the smoke on the horizon left by a passing coal burning steam engine.

Sumac spectacular in fall

 

Many species of sumac boast striking red-leaf displays in the fall but some sumac turn bright yellow and others a deep but rich orange. Every fall, I watch for the moment the sumac changes. I find the brilliantly coloured stands breath taking.

The Forest City

There are those who argue that London is no longer the Forest City. From where I sit on Lookout  Court in southwest London, in the former Byron community, The Forest City seems a perfect moniker for our town.

According to the London St. Thomas Association of Realtors, 

London received its nickname of The Forest City from the British Government to poke fun at Governor Simcoe, as he envisioned a prominent, prosperous city at The Forks of the Thames, when it was only a time village carved out of the centre of a forest. Since then, London has prospered and continues to live up to the name "The Forest City" by caring for, continually planting and respecting the history of its trees.

Vine covered barrier lush and colourful

 

The new cars sit in the corner of the new car lot in front of a high wall of lush, colourful foliage. The red leaves are sumac and the nearby green and yellow leaves tumbling downward waterfall-like are a vine the I don't recognize. The thick foliage not only looks beautiful but it also muffles the loud rumble of the Canadian National Railway freight trains that pass regularly through the city.

Is this native or invasive?

 

I thought the tall grass was an invasive grass that has been spotted flourishing not only across the province but throughout North America. I may be wrong. This may actually be a stand of native phragmites. Both plants grow in the wet soil at the bottom of the ditches found beside provincial roadways.

The best ending to a day at school

 

An amazing number of children take a bright yellow bus to school in the morning and to return home in the afternoon. When I was a boy, I never saw a school bus in the city. Still, there are children who are walked to and from school each day. Maybe mom doesn't work. Maybe with COVID-19 mom is working from home and can take a break to walk over to the neighbourhood school. Whatever the reason, I'm sure the best ending to a school day is walking hand-in-hand home from school with mom.

Cooper's Hawk visits backyard

My youngest granddaughter was excited. Gug, get a camera! There's a big bird on the  fence in the backyard. Come quick, Gug!

It was a Cooper's Hawk also known as the chicken hawk of Colonial America. Small birds and little mammals are often on the menu. The large fields growing wild in today's environmentally conscious cities provide a chicken hawk with lots of opportunity to snag a meal.

This is the first chicken hawk that Isla has seen in our backyard but it won't be the last. This worried my wife but Isla set her mind at ease. I know what is worrying you, grandma, but relax. It is all part of the food chain.

Eat carefully, take your meds and keep your fingers crossed

 

My nephew is not fifty-years-old. But the other day he had a heart attack. Is he overweight? No. Does he not get enough exercise. Hell no! Then why? Genes. He has bad genes. His grandfather died from a heart attack and two of his grandfather's brothers died from heart as well: one at only 39 and the other in his early 40s.

Canadians are lucky. We have good health care with which to deal with medical emergencies. As soon as the doctors had his heart stabilized, my nephew had two stents inserted into his plugged arteries. He was then put on some drugs to fight the future build-up of plaque. 

As his uncle with the same family history, I have a good idea what his doctors are going to ask him to do. Watch the diet. Slash the amount of cholesterol consumed.

Our bodies make most of the cholesterol found in our blood. Only about 20% comes from the food we eat. For that reason statins are often prescribed to those who arteries are plugging. Statins help to block the body's production of cholesterol. 

So, why watch one's diet? Why cutback on the cholesterol we consume? Simple: with healthy folk, the 20% does not cause problems. With those with heart disease, cutting the amount of cholesterol found in the blood, even cutting this by a small amount, is important. There is even a class of drugs to help prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. Ezetimibe 10mg is the cholesterol absorption inhibitor that I take. I believe there are number of choices here as well as different statins from which  to choose. 

But that does not mean I don't watch my diet. I do. 

• First rule: only eat red meat, if at all, once a month. Go for fish first, then chicken or turkey and only have these every other day. One become an every-second-day vegetarian.
• Second: eat lots of veggies every day. 
• Third: give fried foods a wide berth and when using an oil for cooking, lean towards olive oil. 
• Fourth: no eggs. Period. I aim to consume no more than 100gm of dietary cholesterol a day. Two large eggs can have five to six times my daily limit. Replace eggs in recipes with something like Egg Creations.
• Last rule: enjoy your food. If you like nuts, have some. Don't overdo but nuts can be part of a balanced, healthy diet. Be creative in the kitchen and you will enjoy dining. In fact, one's heart-healthy diet may turnout to be more delicious than your old plug-your-arteries diet.

Old Chevrolet still a daily driver

 

It looks to me like a late 1920s Chevrolet pickup. Where was it spotted? Not at an antique car show. No. It was spotted on the street being used as a daily driver. At least, it's a daily driver as long as the good weather lasts. Once it snows, it is off the road.

Rare today but when I was a boy cars like this were common. One could buy a used antique car for about $25. Less if it wasn't in drivable condition.

Sadly, the large number of old cars combined with ridiculously low prices meant these fine old vehicles got absolutely no respect. Kids bought 'em and entered them in the weekend demolition derby. A couple of dozen old cars would be driven into a large, fenced field surrounded by seating. 

As the crowd roared the cars were raced about the field frequently and purposefully slamming into each other. The last car standing, running, was declared the winner and the driver would claim something in the order of a hundred bucks.

Inspired by years spent travelling throughout Italy

 

Cynthia has spent years travelling throughout Italy and not just as a tourist but as a tour guide. Cynthia knows Italy. Her home and the grounds surrounding it reflect this interest. My nephew tells me Italy is famous for its gardens--gardens often featuring vine-covered walls. One could be forgiven for feeling one has left southwestern Ontario for Italy when visiting Cynthia.

Dining on the porch during covid-19

 

The porch is big and airy and in these times of COVID-19 it is an excellent place for hosting a lunch with a friend. Not many modern homes have porches like this but this century home does and the owner is delighted to have it today.

Link: The Science Behind the Decorative Gourde Season

 

According to the Smithsonian, "For farmers, breeding for novelty has paid off. Between 1993 and 2007, prices for decorative gourds doubled, and in 2016, the world collectively grew more pumpkins, squash and gourds than corn or mushrooms." Amazing.

Dining out during COVID-19

 

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Restaurants are open at the moment with limited seating. Outdoor patios are popular and large heaters are extending the outdoor patio season. This local restaurant has a front wall composed of sliding glass panels. When the weather is right, the entire front of the restaurant is open. A prefect design for these days of COVID-19.

Our dinners, have just arrived, my wife is still wearing her mask as she sprinkles coarsely grated Parmesan cheese on her dinner. She will soon remove her mask to dine. Our waiter will always keep his mask on and no one will sit closer than about twelve feet away from us.

Unfortunately, the number of COVID-19 cases is soaring in the province and restaurants are facing the threat of another closure. Rather sad considering how truly safe this location seems to be. I do hope it can remain open.

Not quite a yellow brick road

 

It is not quite the yellow brick road of Wizard of Oz fame but it is still quite nice at this time of year. This street is but one bordered with Sunburst Honey Locust trees planted by the city some decades ago. The burst of colour does not last long. In fact, the leaves are already darkening, taking on a warm brown hue.

Speckled Swan Gourd

 

The well-named speckled swan gourd is a popular decorative gourd. Sometimes it is painted before being displayed. But it is pretty well never eaten. If a veggie is known as a gourd and not a squash, it is most likely considered inedible.

White pumpkins

 

Many white pumpkins are similar to the more well know orange variety in that these are edible as well. Apparently some white pumpkins are best used as a fall decoration but most are edible and delicious when baked om a manner similar to that used to cook other fall squash.

South western Ontario is farm country. Many areas have good topsoil, very rich. Team this with some of the best growing weather in Canada and one has great a land with great farming potential. Sadly, the good weather also attracts people and industry and this consumes land that many argue would be better used for farming. Send industry north, many argue.

Turk's turban heirloom squash -- maybe

 

These clearly two toned squashes are, I believe, all varieties of turk's turban heirloom winter squash. Many folk used these as fall decoration but if you should bake them, I understand they taste very much like the butternut and acorn squash with which we are all familiar.

Toad pumpkins are good carving pumpkins

 

It is officially fall and the weird pumpkins are beginning to appear. As a young boy I could never understand why so many pumpkins were grown and marketed simply for decoration. No one every ate these strange pumpkins. I decided it wasn't just pumpkins that were weird. Toad pumpkins, by the way, are excellent for carving.

New home in Italianate style

The large, squarish tower caught my attention. I stopped for a closer look. It is a new, red-brick home built in a style reminiscent of the Italianate architecture so popular in Ontario from about 1830 to 1900. I'm not all that knowledgeable when it comes to architecture but even I know the significance of the widow's walk feature.

A widow's walk is small rectangular platform, bound by a low railing. Inspired by the cupolas of Italian Renaissance homes, widow's walks were very popular for decades in Ontario. Even when the heritage homes are still standing, it is rare for the widow's walks to a have survived. It proved easier to remove them than spend money maintaining them.

The new home features more than a simple, idealized widow walk topping an Italianate tower with the numerous tall, narrow windows sporting tightly curved tops. For instance, note the robust eave brackets, the window shutters, the irregular roofline. I'm sure there's more but I'm not an expert.

It would be neat to have time machine to zip a hundred years into the future. Will this home still have shutters? Home in my area that once had faux shutters now have a clean look. The home owners removed the shutters rather than paint them and most folk think the homes look better.

And will the widow's walk still be present? Or will it disappear just as many of the original, heritage examples disappeared with the passage of time? (And, truth be told, the brick home is, to be accurate, actually brick veneer. The brick is real but it is only one brick thick. The home is actually wood-frame construction. A true brick home has an exterior wall constructed with a minimum of three brick depth and many have use an interlocking five brick design. And the true brick wall does not require the support of a wall-strengthening wood frame.)

Only memories of memories from summer of 2020

Fall is here. Summer is gone. And what memories do we have from the summer of 2020? Mostly we have memories of memories. My wife and I and our grandkids sat together, but socially distanced, and we all recalled stuff that we did in years past. With COVID-19 restricting travel, cottage country was out. I'm sure the sunsets were still beautiful and I'm sure there were folk standing at the water's edge taking in the view but it wasn't me nor my wife nor anyone I know. This is the first summer in 73 years that I did not get so much as out of the county. In fact, I hardly escaped the city. 

A European Immigrant to Canada

 

What can one say about a praying mantis? A lot, I've learned. First, the one shown is not native. Nope. It is a European immigrant that came to Canada via the States. There is also a Chinese mantis but it is found mainly in British Columbia in Canada.

There is one mantis that belongs here: the Carolina mantis. The native species gets too little respect. Why do I say that? Well the European praying mantis is the official state insect of Connecticut and not the  Carolina mantis. And when garden centres sell mantises to dine on destructive insects in our gardens, the mantis species sold is invariably the European. And the insects dined upon may even include our own native mantis. 

The European mantis may threaten the existence of the Carolina mantis. For this reason, some advise destroying the egg clusters of the European and Chinese mantises. I would think it awfully hard to differentiate. That said, there is cluster glued to the underside of the brickwork near where my granddaughter spotted today's example. I think I'd be safe in assuming this was left by the green-winged visitor.

Even 7-year-olds making waffles benefit from trade

 

When Isla, 7, makes waffles for a family breakfast, she does not think of trade but it is an important ingredient in making her waffles a success. The strawberries she used last Saturday came from a local grower but the berries she will soon be using will come from the Imperial Valley in California. The waffle mix comes from a company founded in Seattle in Washington state in the early '30s. The egg is local but not the olive oil. It is imported from Tunisia.

The all important waffle maker itself is made in China. It wasn't all that long ago that it would have been made in either Canada or the USA but for the moment that day has passed. The bowl holding the water came from Portugal, the bentwood bar stool on which she is sitting was made in Czechoslovakia.

She gives it not the slightest thought but trade between nations quietly colours her days.

Two looks at power

 

Windmills were everywhere in farm country when I was a boy. Then they seemed to get somewhat rare. That said, they seem to be making a comeback. 

Townhouses: growing segment of London market

 

Townhouses were somewhat rare when I was young. When friends bought a townhouse/condo back in the early '70s in a community north of Toronto, it was considered a unique development. Not today.  

As I recall, my friends moved into their townhouse/condo in the '70s because of the pressure of fast climbing housing costs. The couple saw the townhouse/condo as an entry point into the housing market that they could afford. My gut feeling is that the high cost of housing is behind the growing popularity of this type of housing.

That said, ease of upkeep and an accurate way to estimate total housing costs probably enter into the equation as well.

A red roof forever

 

I love this home. It looks like a direct descendent of the homes I knew as a child. Homes built in the '20s and '30s in Windsor, Ontario. A direct descendent of those homes but an updated one.

Homes didn't have an attached garage in the '20s. No need. Many folk didn't have a car. As car ownership increased the snoot-nosed home made its appearance. This home borrows from, and improved on, that look in home construction. The jutting snoot is gone but the handy-to-access garage at the front of the home is still present.

This place, with its relatively small size, would easily fit into my former century-old neighbourhood. And yet, with its bright-red metal roof, its paving stone drive, perma-colour shingles and other modern exterior materials, it would stand out. Even the exterior brick would distance it from its neighbours. The brick is coloured concrete and not red or yellow clay.

With its AC unit and triple-pane windows, this home is comfortable in summer and with its blanket of insulation hidden in the exterior walls it is cozy in winter. I would imagine it is draft free.

Folks love to complain. For years our local paper ran stories on the hell of living in the suburbs. The suburbs being places just ten minutes by car from the city centre. But today those stories are waning. Many of the reporters live in the suburbs and like where they live.

Goldenrod: wildflower or weed?

 

 

Goldenrod: it doesn't look like much for much of the year. In fact, minus the flowers it looks very much like a weed. But, come late summer and early fall, huge swaths of bunches of golden flowers sway in the breeze looking wonderful. Very dramatic. And very attractive growing beside public walkways and paths.

Goldenrod is an aggressive plant. It invades and spreads quickly. It is resilient. It handles both rainy weather and periods of drought with aplomb.

A lot of folk believe goldenrod is at the root of their September allergy attacks. According to my grade school science teacher, probably not. He taught us that it was ragweed growing among the stands of goldenrod or near it that was the true culprit. A little googling seems to show support for my old science teacher's position. The story of causing allergic reactions appears to be a myth.

Wild flowers add visual interest to neighbourhood walks

 

These look like wild daisies according to my wife. I love 'em and my wife says she doesn't think the rabbits eat these and they are very hardy. I've got to get these neighbourhood wild flowers growing even  closer to home -- like on my hill behind my backyard.

I'll soon return to the hiking trail that snakes through my area in search of some mature seeds.

Walkways part of new neighbourhood design

 

Attractive, paved walkways are appearing all over London. These are especially common in the new neighbourhoods as walkways are included in almost all new developments.

A richly textured neighbourhood

New neighbourhoods can be fine places to live. Solidly built homes, well insulated, all services buried. Small homes mixed with large homes with medium height apartment buildings also present. Streets have limited traffic, the curved streets do not lend themselves to through traffic, and sidewalks in front of homes are common.

Admittedly it is possible to walk to some retail businesses but my guess is very few do. People walk for mostly for pleasure here or, if they are young, they may be walking to school. The school is close.

When it comes to driving, those living here need only make a very small trip to reach everything normally needed. This may be the suburbs but living here does mean being forced to do a lot of driving. Many journeys are less than two miles.

Preparing for a Halloween that may not happen

The Michaels Store, which specializes in craft supplies, is getting ready for Halloween and encouraging its customers to get ready as well. The store is filled with Halloween themed articles but, and it's a big but, but will there be a Halloween this year. Will kids run from home to home shouting "Trick or treat!" There are good sign that it may not happen. Folks may not want the little kids crowding their porch and shouting loudly and kids may not want to participate.

No fall fair this year

Fall is time for fairs. London has a good one. The land where the fair is held sits essentially unused all year, Then for about ten days early in the fall every year a fair comes to town. Amusment rides fill the space and excitement reigns. 

But not this year. I cannot recall the last time that the fair failed to open. Generally, it simply never happens but COVID-19 has changed all that. That virus has managed to change so much that at this moment a cancelled fair seems a small thing.

Former gravel pit, now a place to play

It was a gravel pit. It was closed and filled. Today it is great place to play. (This photo was snapped by the little girl's mom using a cell phone.)

The Canadian "flag" and proper etiquette

There is an official etiquette for flying the Canadian flag—but these rules are not mandatory for individuals or organizations outside of government. 

Still, many believe it is best if the rules are followed. But many folk do not know the rules. Clearly the business flying these flags beside Wharncliffe Rd. S. leading into London is in the dark about flag etiquette.

First, the position of the maple leaf on these "flags" is wrong. The leaf looks right with a quick glance but it is on its side. Oops! 

Second, the flag should never be used as a tablecloth, seat cover or a piece of clothing. Using it for what is essentially advertising, attracting the attention of passing motorists, is a highly questionable use.

Oh well, the Canadian flag gets a lot more respect today than it did when first unveiled, should I say unfurled, back in 1965. At the time, it replaced the Red Ensign, not Canada's national flag but well loved just the same.

Folk looked at the bold red stripes the patch of white with a stylized, red maple leaf and saw not a flag to salute but something more akin to a beer bottle label. I had teachers in high school who actually said that in class. Shocking.

Black scallop variety of ajuga reptans?

Is this the black scallop variety of ajuga reptans? Maybe. But, it could also be the burgundy glow cultivar of ajuga reptans. Although calling it a cultivar may be too generous. Also known as bugleweed, ajuga reptans is a ground cover that can quickly become an invasive nightmare.

I don't remember the purple leaves of this ground cover in any lawn when I was a child. Today, here in my London, Ontario, neighbourhood, it is everywhere.

Am I going to work to eliminate it from my lawn. My neighbours will apply pressure to encourage me to get rid of it. I will bow to the pressure but I am beginning to question the wisdom of expending a lot of energy doing battle with highly successful plants. I'm beginning to think we backed a loser when we decided to grow grass.

Think of creeping charlie or ground ivy. Native to Europe, it was brought to North America as a garden plant with a pleasant scent when cut. It quickly became a headache, forming dense mats of vegetation in lawns and elsewhere which resisted removal. It grew, expanding its territory, without our help. Any plant like that is a weed and war was declared.

Creeping charlie, bugleweed and even clover were all once treasured plants. In some places bugleweed is still be sold. I confess to be fond of clover in my lawn. Why? It's green even when the rest of the lawn is yellow from lack of rain. It looks good from a distance.

Maybe we should let the plants growing wild in our lawns fight it out and let the best plant win. I wouldn't put much money on grass coming out on top.

This home is a mystery

This home is a mystery and has been ever since I moved into this neighbourhood some thirty years ago. A few years back it sold but the mysterious quality that surrounds the place seems to have been part of the sale. For instance, not many home have a Viking ship sculpture prominently displayed on the front lawn. This place does and always has.

No one knows the home's age. It's old and very solid. A rare concrete block construction, it looks like a place that was  built to last. Even the windows are set in concrete frames rather than the more usual wood.

The four Greek columns on each side of the front porch and the two columns bordering an upstairs window give the home a slightly classic look despite the concrete block construction. I'd love to see the inside. I'm sure when it was built it had lots of wood inside. I wonder if it still has it original doors and trim.

25 years and I'm still shaking my head

25 years have passed since an Ontario Provincial Police sniper killed an unarmed Indigenous man named Dudley George. The killing of George at Ipperwash brought the Ipperwash crisis to a head but it did not result in a quick solution.

During the Second World War, the Canadian government took control of some land in Ipperwash owned by a number of local aboriginal families. The land, taken for military use, was to be returned with the end of the war. It wasn't.

After decades of failing to regain control of their land, the wronged Indigenous people began a very visible protest which came to a climax of a sort when Dudley George was shot. Since then, after a lot of time in court, it is clear the government was wrong.

So, is the land back in the hands of the rightful owners? No. The government estimates it may take another 25 years before all the unexploded military ordnances are cleared from the land.

After the killing of George, I was sent by the local paper to the Ipperwash area. I was a staff photographer on the daily at the time. At sunrise on the first day after the killing, the main highway in the area was closed by a massive fire set by the angry protestors.

I got pictures of the blaze and later I got pictures of a parade of Indigenous protestors marching along the highway. I only managed to get my pictures thanks to the kindness of an older tribal lady. She noticed that I was limping and having a difficult time keeping up. She offered me a ride and so I was able to shoot the march from the open back of a pick-up truck. She was very gracious.

Play during COVID-19

Children seem to have understood mask wearing and social distancing better than many adults. When a cousin came for a play day, most of the day was spent outside. Lots of games to play with lots of distance to separate everyone.

When one little girl wanted to show a certain video game to another, out came the masks. They got a little closer than usual but they logged on and logged off in a very short time. All the children must spend a lot of time with grandparents in their seventies and eighties and none wanted to risk picking up the virus and taking it home.

School may yet prove to be not as risky and everyone fears. The kids may surprise everyone with their degree of cooperation in fighting the transmission of the virus.

Pool noodle art

The colourful lollipops decorating the flower garden at the front of this suburban home are made from tightly rolled pool noodles displayed on white PVC pipe. I'd call this decorative display folk art. Have you seen this done in your area? This is the first time I've encountered a display like this.

Twisted

 

 

I'm not sure if this picture works but this is a shot of an exceedingly old and twisted evergreen. Much of the tree has died and bare, barkless wood remains. Seeing this tree along a trail made me recall the bristle cone pines trees of the American West. At one time it was claimed that the American trees were the oldest living thing on the planet. I wonder how old this evergreen is.

Antiques? Some. Mostly it's just old.

The store inside the metal-sided building sells old stuff as one might gather from the articles hanging on the outside of the shop. If it is valuable antiques you are seeking, you may have come to the right place but maybe not. But bargains and lots of stuff that is simply old can be found in abundance.

Elevator shafts make a temporary modern sculpture installation

The elevator shafts appear first. A four story building will soon follow. But, for the moment, the tall, grey shafts will stand looking very much like a modern sculpture installation.

It's almost impossible to get away from COVID-19 reminders

It is almost impossible to get away from reminders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Go for a walk and there are signs reminding you to practise physical distancing. All folk that I encounter are doing this without being reminded. I may be wrong but I find these signs a bit over the top. What's your take?

Art in the park

Finding a place to sell your art can be difficult. Many artists wonder how they will get a little exposure in the market place. Well, in London, they can set up a display every weekend in the far eastern end of Springbank Park.

Exercise equipment

There's an area in Springbank Park that is rather unique. It contains a lot of equipment designed to encourage strenuous exercise by adults—very fit adults. My granddaughters think the stuff is some poorly designed monkey-bars like stuff similar to what they find in other parks. It's not.

As I think one can see from this picture, the use of this installation is not for the weak of heart, or of body. I watched this chap moving from one piece of equipment to another with awe and amazement.

I hope to see more of this type of installation in other parks in the future. Maybe it could even be made available in a smaller size a size that would challenge little folk, like my granddaughters.

Lid opener

Does anyone else use this method for opening jars with tight-fitting lids?

I always called the tool in the photo a bottle or can opener. The rounded end opens bottles and the pointed end is used to slowly rip the lid off a can. I did not know that where these openers truly shine is when used to loosen impossibly tight-fitting lids.

I've run jars like this under hot water to expand the metal lid. I've tapped these lids with heavy dinner knives without being able to explain why I thought this action should loosen a lid. I've flipped the jars and slammed the jar lid-first down hard on any handy surface. I've even bought tools specifically engineered to take advantage of leverage to increase the force available to open a jammed jar. All to no avail.

Then, my wife showed me this trick. Take the round end of a simple, metal opener and gently lift the edge of the lid until you hear the hiss of air. One may even hear the lid pop as the pressure equalizes.. The lid will now turn easily.

Enjoy!

A storm to remember

Yesterday was a storm to remember. Oh, let me be clear. To me it was just another summer thunder storm arriving with the usual high winds. But for the little boy living at the end of the court it was a day to remember as he and his dad first watched the swirling clouds moving across the sky and then, with large rain drops beginning to fall, the two spectators to the spectacles found themselves moving, moving toward shelter from the rain and mounting wind.

Parks are for everyone

London's biggest park is a destination for everyone, as are most parks. Come alone, sit and quietly enjoy the day from a park bench. Or come with the kids and a rack-fill of bikes and peddle the many kilometres of paved paths and roadways.

In this time of the pandemic, such a large park offers enough space that everyone can enjoy themselves while practising social distancing. No need to ever get all that close to some outside your "bubble."

And if you're not fond of mask wearing, masks are not mandatory while in the park. Just keep your distance and no one will be upset. In fact, you will probably encounter lots of smiles and friendly greetings. Everyone seems very appreciative when others clearly respect the personal space of others.