Watch your step

Some folk like the geese that can be found in almost all Southwestern Ontario parks. Lots of us are not so fond of these big, numerous birds. We find them lazy, dirty and sometimes even dangerous. They have been known to get quite aggressive.

But, for me, the biggest problem is the filthy droppings littering pathways and roadways. The filth gets into the pattern on one's soft-soled shoes and then gets tracked everywhere. Ugh!

Pandemic hard on Stratford Theatre

From this angle one doesn't see a lot of this building but one does see enough to identify it as the Festival Theatre in Stratford. The unique multi-pointed, roof-edge treatment is a clear identifier.

The Stratford Festival even gets coverage in distant Chicago.

Designed by Robert Fairfield, the theatre was built in 1957. Inside it has a thrust stage, called this because it extends into the seating space with theatre goers positioned on three sides. And there are lots of theatre goers. There's seating for 1,838 people.

As you might expect, the theatre is closed at the moment as a result of covid-19. The fear is that the theatre, and all the other venues which are part of the annual festival, will remain closed until sometime next year. This is a heartbreaker. The festival has posted the following on their online page:

While the creation of a vaccine and anti-viral drugs will cure this pandemic, ultimately what will cure society in its aftermath is art. We look forward to the time when we can come together again to “live, and pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh.”

A dam that can't hold back water. Oops!

For years the Springbank Dam held back the water of the Thames River creating a reservoir backing up for miles from the edge of town right to the core of the city.

Then the aging dam was left damaged by a severe summer rainstorm. A replacement dam was designed and installed. It was a fancy design with hugh pistons lifting and lowering the massive water blocking gates into position.

Sadly, in use, the gates can trap debris and jam. The design was, to be honest, always questionable. Many were not surprised when the dam gates failed while being tested. The new dam was never put into operation and today it sits idle facing possible demolition.

The river is healthier without a functioning dam. The city has recouped its expenses after winning a lawsuit against the firm that built the poorly engineered structure. The gates are sitting flat on the river bottom and will remain there indefinitely.

Oh well, it is a successful conversation starter.

Dental offices are reopening

Three things to mention here. One, dental offices are reopening in Ontario. Today I saw my dental hygienist.

Two, the charge for a cleaning has gone up by about twenty dollars because of all the costs related to the covid-19 pandemic.

And third and last item, many think all medical procedures in Canada are "free." Not true. In Ontario, dental costs are not covered by our government plan and dental fees can be substantial. Today's cleaning cost me, a retired senior, $163. I put the fee on my credit card as neither my wife nor I have insurance.

Going to the dentist has changed. On arriving at the dental office, you don't entered but remain outside and use your cell phone to call the receptionist and let her know you have arrived. Before entering, your temperature is taken, on entering you answer about half a dozen questions. If you answer correctly, you are given a mask. The only time you do not wear a mask is while a dental procedure is being performed on you.

Room air is trapped by heavy plastic sheets hung over each doorway. To enter or leave a room, one parts the plastic. All staff wear masks, as do all patients. Hygienists and the dentist all wear large, face-covering clear plastic shields as well. And light, thin latex gloves seem to be out and heavier black gloves seem to be in. Rooms are cleaned between patient visits. From the loud, constant background fan noise I heard, I believe the office air was being exhausted at an increased rate.

Don't feed the wildlife, please.

Springbank Park is the largest park in London and it merges with at least one other park to the east. Both parks border on the Thames River flowing through London. The sign asks, "Why we should not feet wildlife." Having worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario many years ago, I can retiterate the warning.

Do not feed the wildlife. It was good advice half a century ago and it is still good advice today.

Jenny Jones playground sits idle

Do you recall the talk show host Jenny Jones. She has been off the air for a few years now. Jones was originally from London, Ontario. London's fanciest children's playground was funded by Jones. She put in $200,000. Thank you, Jenny.

Though it’s theoretically possible, there is no evidence that physical money—or any inanimate surface, for that matter—helps the virus spread. -- MIT

Usually packed with kids, the imaginative playground has sat empty now for months as the covid-19 pandemic replaces fun with fear when it comes to stuff like shared playground equipment. Some question whether or not closure are necessary. MIT claims inanimate surfaces are not a serious source of covid-19 infection.

Strollers are not always six-feet apart

A visit to Costco during the early morning pre-opening for seniors, it was noticed that everyone was wearing a mask. There was not even one unmasked face to be seen. Seniors take the covid-19 pandemic seriously. Senior die.

A visit to Springbank Park later in the day showed lots of young people enjoying the park and enjoying it with others and maskless. Yes, they are outside and this does diminish the possibility of transmitting the virus. Yet, it is hard to believe that a group of seniors would be walking this close together and with no protection.