Another press club about to be shuttered

Two photojournalists enjoy brewskis at the London press club prior to its closing.

The London City Press Club is one of only two fully functioning press clubs still operating in all of Canada. At one time the club was located immediately across from the paper and the reporters, photographers and editors would all go to the club after the paper was put to bed. Those were the days when journalists often were the hard drinking and hard living figures portrayed in movies and novels. Ah, do I have stories . . .

But at the end of the month the London club is closing. The membership just isn't what it once was. The present club is a couple of blocks from the paper. The former digs got too expensive as staff cuts at the various media outlets slashed the membership. The industry shrinkage has continued and now even the new press club cannot be afforded.

The stand alone press club will be history.

Bill Sandford, left, a retired shooter for the Toronto Sun, and George Blumson, right, a retired shooter for The London Free Press, were spotted recently at the press club reminiscing about the "good old days" as they quaffed a couple of cool ones.

Note the pictures on the wall. All pictures in the club were shot by members including the photo of Diefenbaker that can be discerned behind Sandford.

Fiona prints her name in sand

Kids in Canada are fast learners. It is clear that my young granddaughter, not yet two, has learned to spell her name before being able to say it. And if you believe that, I have a bridge you might like to buy in Brooklyn.

But Fiona is a certified ham. That's no lie. She may be young but she can follow instructions. I thought she did an exceptional job with this shot. But she only cooperates to a point; When she's certain I've got some shots, she insists on seeing them on the back of the camera.

Geek Dinner

Decisions. Decisions. Damn menus.

The Geek Dinner in London, Ontario, is held the first Wednesday of every month. For Londoners who have encountered a problem blogging, for instance, the Geek Dinner is a good place to fine an answer. I know; I have. It is also a good place to grab a meal, a draft and a little friendly chit-chat.

I'm almost completely deaf on my left side and suffer from severe tinnitus. Crowded restaurants have a lot of background noise and that makes it difficult for me to hold a conversation. I only stay long enough to grab a meal and get a little education.

Gigs Grillhouse, where the dinner is held, often has live entertainment. I always say I lost my hearing at an April Wine concert some decades ago. According to the geeks, the live music at Gigs is better than the stuff for which I sacrificed my inner ear and it may not even leave you deaf.

Another plus!
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Previous posts:

• Geek Dinner July 2010
• Geek Get-together April 2010
• Geek Dinner December 2009
• Geek Dinner features caribou November 2009

It's a good life.

If you're a Canada goose, it's a good life. Folks feed you, predators don't eat you, and come winter you can just stay put. You can forget the long migration south because you can remember folk feed you.

London, Ontario: The Forest City

London, Ontario, has been known as The Forest City for about 150 years. Originally it was a bit of a joke and a gentle put down. Folks outside the city would refer to London as that city in the woods, The Forest City.

But over the years the meaning changed and Londoners took the nickname to heart. When folks say The Forest City today they are describing a beautiful, tree-filled city. This may be over stating the case a bit but a recent survey rated London number two among Ontario cities when it came to the amount of urban tree coverage. We were bested by Oakville; Very fitting, wouldn't you say.

I think my picture, taken almost from my door step, confirms that The Forest City is well named.

A toady post

Found hiding in my London, Ontario, flower garden.

Not being a naturalist, I think of toads as out of their natural territory when I find them hiding in the foliage of my flower gardens. In truth, the American toad is quite comfortable some distance from water and is commonly found in urban gardens, especially after a rain or in the evening. American toads are one of two toads native to Ontario. The other is Fowler's toad and it keeps closer to water.

According to the Toronto Zoo Website the male toad's call is a long, uninterrupted fifteen to twenty second trill that can be heard over some distance. The lower the temperature, the longer the trill. If you'd like to hear a toad's call check out the Zoo site; They have a short recording posted.

London, Ontario, latest train station

I've been down on the VIA train station in London since it was built. I've been wrong. It's a good station and a fine addition to our downtown. (I was down on it because the new station is here because a beautiful old station from the 1930s isn't.)

A friend bicycled from Toronto almost all the way to London; I picked him and his bicycle up just outside of town. When it was time to leave, I took him downtown to catch the early morning train to Montreal.

It only cost $20 to take his bike to Montreal on the train. There are hooks in the baggage car and the bike, wrapped in protective plastic bag, was hung safely on a set of hoods where it stayed all the way to Montreal.

My friend doesn't own a car. He takes the train a lot. He assured me that London's station was one of the best he has been in in North America. He said that I should be proud. Now, I am.