Wednesday, January 12, 2022

We're not in Ontario anymore, Toto

I may be in my 70s with a failing heart but I'd still hit the road for some serious travelling but my doctors, grandchildren and wife are standing in my way. I admit to being intimidated.

But, I've found a way to visit the world without leaving London: Google Street Views. Click on this link and you can walk around the Maya ruins at Uxmal in Mexico. Maya ruins at Uxmal 

These links are not quite like strolling about the site but wait till you see how completely Google documented the site we will visit tomorrow.

Zona Arqueologica de Uxmal


 


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Inspired by Elgin Marbles article

 

I understand the British Museum is again being pressured to return the Elgin marbles to Greece. The sculptures, or more accurately the parts of larger works, were stripped from the Parthenon in the ancient Acropolis above Athens by Lord Elgin. After more than two centuries, isn't it time for these pieces to return home?

As I read about the dismembered marble forms, utterly divorced from their original sculptural origins, with a foot here and a head there, I recalled the art adorning a London home. The sculptures looked to me to be composed of bits and pieces of fired-hardened clay lawn ornaments melded together into works of show-stopping art.

Monday, January 10, 2022

So common but why exactly?

Wrapping trees, especially evergreens, is an Ontario tradition. I did it one year, myself. I saw little benefit and haven't done it since.

So, why do so many folk wrapped their trees as winter approaches and do it without fail? First, this grouping of evergreens represents a fair investment. Each one of those wrapped trees would cost many hundreds of dollars to replace.

The trees are close to a busy road and therefore may suffer damage from salt spray drifting over from the road. Also, considering where these tree are located, near a large cemetery frequented by deer, the wrapping protects the trees from being nibbled by the neighbourhood pests. 

And evergreen trees are prone to suffering ice damage. A heavy build-up of ice can deform tree limbs or even break them. Many evergreens never fully recover from such damage. The burlap wrap prevents this.

Now, what is with the grey, squarish individual fence panels? I can offer no explanation.

Sunday, January 9, 2022

Building early memories


 

The little boy looks no older than three but certain events etched into my memory when I was that age. I think coming down the slopes with dad at Boler Mountain, a hill with not even a two hundred foot drop, will be one this child's earliest memories and it will be a fond one.

Saturday, January 8, 2022

The ski hill is open!

 

Despite so much in the province being closed on account of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Boler Mountain in the east end of London was open for business Saturday. Everyone was, of course, masked. After skiing, the ski gear was returned to an outdoor desk outside the ski rental building. The indoor sit down dining was closed but take-out was allowed. The number of skiers on the hill was carefully controlled with the lift tickets, I believe, being ordered a day in advance.

Friday, January 7, 2022

Living inside a kaleidoscope

A pseudo kaleidoscope window, the lead is actually black plastic (I believe) inside a double pane insulated window, can at times leave one feeling they are viewing the world through a kaleidoscope. The effect is neither here nor there today but back in the '60s I knew young folk who could have expounded on the effect for hours.

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Layoffs as theatres closed in Ontario

With Omicron numbers surging, Canada's largest movie chain, Cineplex, has temporarily laid off nearly 5,000 part-time employees. The closure of its Ontario movie theatres was mandated by the provincial government in response to the surge of the Omicron variant. The provincial restrictions also require restaurants and bars to halt indoor dining

With the theatres operating at reduced capacity, unable to offer food, drinks and popcorn, it is hard to imagine that the theatres were pulling in anywhere near the mone they were in pre COVID days. Food, dring and popcorn are big money maker for theatre chains.

When it reopens its theatres, movie goers will almost certainly have to present proof of vaccination papers, wear a mandatory mask while in the theatre complex and all seats in each auditorium will most likely be by reservation only.

COVID-19 is becoming the gift that keeps on giving.