A sign of the past

It has been years since Walter Spivak trucked gravel, sand and other aggregates from this site. But two decades ago sections of the open space behind the Byron Somerset Public School were deep gravel pits which were coming to the end of their productive lives.

The aggregate business is an interesting way to earn money. You dig a hole in rocky land and make oodles of money selling the stones. You then charge folk to dump clean fill, dirt dug from other sites, and you make more money. With the land restored, you sell it and make another killing. And the really funny thing is that society benefited every step of the way. (At least, society benefited here. Spivak supplied a lot of important aggregate to a growing city and the reclaimed gravel pit has provided land that has been put to excellent use. For once, we are building on something that wasn't A1 farmland.)

Geek Dinner features caribou

The monthly Geek Dinner, held last night at the Black Shire Pub, featured caribou — oh, not on the menu, just on the program.

SocialMedia, a Toronto company specializing in the fermenting of word-of-mouth campaigns, gave the organizer of last night's dinner a kit to promote a campaign being waged to save the woodland caribou.

If you're thinking you don't give two-bits for the woodland caribou, you're wrong; It's antlered head adorns the Canadian quarter. Once abundant across the country, they are now found only in Ontario and in people's pockets. Boreal woodland caribou require undisturbed habitat — no logging allowed — if they are going to survive. They also require a lot of support from concerned Canadians.

What groups use the talents of Social Media? Well, the David Suzuki Foundation , Greenpeace, Canopy and ForestEthics all are behind the Save the Bou campaign. Like to sign the online petition? Click the Save the Bou link above.

Geek Dinners are always interesting 'cause Geeks are cool.

Café Milagro

I love this little story. I'm going to write it, post it and tell Mai, the lady whom I believe is shown in the picture. If there are errors, she can let me know.

For years the Café Milagro has been a fixture in the centre of Byron, the now suburb but former village in the southwest of London, Ontario. The little restaurant was already here when I moved to Byron eons ago. I believe it was a Spanish-owned café at the time, hence the name.

Today it is owned by a lovely woman named Mai, who came to Canada from Thailand. Under her ownership the menu changed and expanded,  now featuring an international mix with an emphasis on Thai cuisine.

Where else would one be able to order pad Thai, Italian wedding soup or a Chicken Fajita Wrap from the same menu? I've heard the pork tenderloin with roasted red potatoes is delicious and others have remarked on a cheesecake dessert served warm with a hot fruit sauce.

I've been there a couple of times and it can be crazy. Mai was the only one waiting on tables the evening that my wife and I were there. We were not in a hurry and so it was not a problem. The food was good, the service friendly — but Mai did look a little stressed.

I love supporting local businesses, especially ones that I can walk to. I find the Café Milagro worth the walk. Be warned: the last time I got enthused about a place, my review got mixed reviews. Some folk had a good experience and others... 

Cheers,
Rockinon

Row of Houses on Pall Mall Street

At one time this row of houses on Pall Mall Street facing the CPR tracks and the former CPR passenger station were looking a little worse for wear. Today they show what can be done with a little money and a lot of imagination. You may notice that there are no driveways to be seen. There is a rear laneway running behind these homes.


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Midnight Fog

Spring and fall are the best seasons for fog in the London, Ontario, region. Some might question the use of the word 'best.' As a photographer, I like the stuff.

The other night, passing through our front foyer, I noticed this thick midnight fog. The lights on our suburban street actually do have a warm glow.

I admit the effect is greatly enhanced by my digital camera. I thought of shooting the scene with other settings, but I liked the warm look.


Cheers,
Rockinon

Halloween!

It was Halloween and do you know what that means? Bowls and bowls of candy, bags and boxes of the stuff covering the bottom of a closet. The first year we lived in Byron, in the southwest of London,

Ontario, we had 200 kids and we ran out of candy. We said never again but we meant running out of candy and not kids. I doubt that we got two dozen trick and treaters. Oh well, I got lots of candy and I didn't even have to leave home to get it.

(Our little Bat Woman is Fiona in a picture by mom. Earlier in the day Fiona was busy making a Thriller video for YouTube. Haven't heard if she has gone viral.)

If only Thunderbirds had wings...

The driver of this Ford Thunderbird may have wished his bird had wings. Unable to clear the railroad tracks over Waterloo Street at Pall Mall Street, and not quick enough with the shift into reverse, the soft-topped car was trapped by the heavy railway warning gate. Luckily the train passed without incident, unless you count the embarrassment endured by the driver.