A tree of memories

Christmas trees are decorated year after year with the same
ornaments. Add a new decoration and its an event to remember. 

For instance, the star at the top of our tree has been adorning Christmas trees for 74 years. It was given to me on my first Christmas by a lady with whom my dad worked. Her name is long forgotten but not her kindness.

The star is not alone. Each decoration carries not only an individual memory but a shared memory as well. Each year my granddaughters decorate our tree and that shared family experience is etched into their memories, there to be recalled on seeing the box of ornaments.

Christmas Turtles

 

Making cookies, biscotti and other tasty treats to share with friends and relatives is a Christmas tradition in lots of Ontario homes. In our home, my wife's Christmas turtles are far and away the most popular treat. It is a popularity that just seems to keep growing as this year my wife has baked more than a thousand of the chocolate covered, pecan footed cookies.

A bit of seasonal country music

 

Have you wondered what Christmas Music would sound like when played with a country twang? Well, wonder no more. Just high-tail it down to London next year to see and hear the sounds of the Hyde Park Christmas Parade. If our country bands has a float in next year's parade, you will have your answer.

No mask for bear

 

The giant teddy bear in the Hyde Park Santa Claus parade wasn't asked to wear a mask but the North Pole elves accompanying teddy were well covered despite being outside and somewhat distant from the crowd.

The elves were just trying to set a good example, I guess. Now, about teddy. . . .

Nash Metropolitan

 

The Hyde Park Santa Clause parade attracts an electic mix of entries. The little heritage automobile driven in the parade was a fine example of this.

When I was in public school in the '50s, the art teacher, a cool dude for the time, drove a Nash Metropolitan. It was a rather unique little car in that it was designed in America but built in England.  The drive-train and suspension were supplied by the Austin Motor Company which also did the final assembly.

Although not a lot of the little cars were sold during its run, the owners truly loved their little cars and kept them and, one might even say, cherished them. Today there are still an amazing number of the little cars to be found for sale.

Residential construction under a dramatic sky

 

The sky was more dramatic than usual. The clouds were exciting and looked especially fine as lit by the colourful light of the setting sun.

Agriplex at Western Fair

 

If one is being vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the two government sponsored vaccination sites is at the Agriplex building on the Western Fair grounds. When not being used by the local medical community for delivering vaccine to the public, the Agriplex is used for agricultural events.

The Agriplex pavilion can accommodate 400 livestock stalls or 450 show booths. The dirt show arena has stadium seating for more than 1500 and the smaller auditorium used for auctions, seminars and presentations has seating for about 330. 

With lots of parking outside the building, the facility is large enough to handle 100 or more folk seeking their COVID-19 vaccination. It must have taken some careful cleaning before being converted for use as a vaccination centre but since the conversion the Agriplex has proven perfect for use as a vaccination clinic.

The Agriplex is easy to find. One only has to look for the building featuring a large, metal sculpture of a galloping horse.

If getting vaccinated in a glorified agricultural barn concerns you, many local pharmacies are also doing vaccinations. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available from a large number of neighbourhood drugstores across the city.