Crazy Canadian Weather.

And,  the reason I'm in here, is because I'd rather not be out there.   Seems,  if you're not keen on the weather around here,  just wait a day or two.  Well,  sometimes maybe a week or two.  In the summer at least.  Winters?  That's another story.  They do tend to drag on.

Just a day ago,  it was going down to single digits at night (temps in "C" folks!)  and I had no issues wearing my long trousers for a brief night out last night.

Travelling Companion is away for the weekend for a "girls weekend" (and I don't even like the sound of that, but those aren't only my words) and as she offered to drive a couple other "girls" (really?) that meant that muggins here is "sans car".

Which doesn't really bother me. I mean, I made sure to pick up some beer,  and there's food in the house.  What more could I need?

 And besides,  there was an offer to come by and fetch me by one of our "pub buddies",  (also a term I'm not overly fond of,  but is a reasonable description) as a means to get to the weekly gathering at our favourite watering hole.  Gotta go to the pub!!

After that,  we went to another watering hole for a not too shabby dinner.  I paid.
Yes, I know, I'm normally pretty cheap,  but as the old man here was driven around and such,  I thought I'd step up.
In that tiny group I am in fact,  the oldest.   In the larger group, that's not quite the case.

Speaking of which,  last Sunday we said our final "goodbyes" to one of our somewhat long time friends at what was aptly named "Glynfest".   I'm pretty sure I mentioned his passing back in March. Still can't quite get past the notion that he's gone,  but I'm not going to get too maudlin.   I'll just say, I came to the realization at one point that,  I really wasn't looking forward to this gathering.  And it was not due to seeing all of those great folks,  that's for sure.  I mean,  there were people there whom I hadn't seen in a very long time.  Many hugs.  Many hugs.
No,  it was more like,  not looking forward to that final goodbye.   I guess that's it.  This is all something we have to face as the years roll by.  Gah!

This is starting to get to be a bit of a downer.  Time to snap out of it.

What else?

Well,  the "girl's weekend"  had been preceded by a "guy's weekend" back a few weeks ago.  There was golfing.  There was some *ahem* consumption of beer.  Other than that,  that's all there is to say about that.  "Cone of silence" and all.   No really.  I dare not even show you pictures.  Not for broader consumption.

Well,  I can show you the one,  as our host had set up a little "shrine" to our lost companion.

He was part of our annual "guy's weekend" group,  after all.

We did eat well though.  I have to say that.  Don't make a fuss about it,  but there was even salad. And,  not just one kind either.  We're not freakin' teenagers.  It's all about good eats,  good company etc.



I suppose I could show you another "thing" that I made for the shop.  In keeping with the "Sh*t Bob makes" theme.



It's this:

There never seems to be enough work surfaces when it comes right down to it,  and once upon a time,  I had (and still have) a set of plywood "lifts"  onto which I would place a sheet of  half inch plywood.  It was an awkward, wobbly arrangement,  and I had had enough.

This one not only has a laminate top,  but also folds up out of the way.

Thus:

Took a bit of trial and error to figure out the wooden catch at the top.  I wanted it to ride up on the side of the table as it went up against the wall,  but then to click into place without any worry of it coming down.

I think I got it.

Now I think it just needs a coat of paint.  

I'll get to it.

Oh,  and here's something you might find slightly amusing,  and I dare say something that you've experienced at least once in your life.

Ever gone back to a place of your childhood,  looked at it,  and said,  "Wow,  I thought it was bigger than that"?

Well,  a few days ago,  T.C.  and I took a little trip to the "Port Credit" area (now all "Mississauga" I think) to sort out a bank account at a credit union there,  and decided to take a drive past a house where she spent at least a few years of her childhood. 

I'm guessing from about 1952 to 1958.

She even thought the back yard was big.  Somehow I have trouble trying to picture that.

I vividly recall seeing the elementary school where I spent the first four years of school, and thought, "Wow, I thought it was bigger."   

I guess that's a common thing when you look back at your childhood through the eyes of an adult?  Well,  a grown up.  Not all of us are adults.

And by the way,  there were seven siblings.  

But you know, it's almost the same size as our family home back in rural Nova Scotia.  Maybe our place was a little wider?  No pictures, sadly that place burnt to the ground in about '68,  after we had moved to Ontario.   And,  there were six kids,  although my eldest brother had flown the coop by the time I came around. We'll not go there.

I guess that's about it for a while.

I'll *try* to not be such a stranger.   It's tough,  trust me.  I mean, do you give a rat's tiny behind if I water the plants each morning?  No,  I didn't think so.

We'll see.

Keep those sticks on the ice.

Thanks for stopping by.