NEW YEARS IN GRAVENHURST -

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE OUT THERE - MUSKOKA IS MAGNIFICENT - EFFICIENCY REVIEW, WE CAN ONLY HOPE

SUZANNE AND I HEADED OUT FOR A LITTLE MOTOR-TRIP THIS MORNING, AND THE LANDSCAPE WAS DAZZLING. I DON'T WANT TO GET ALL EMOTIONAL, BUT YOU KNOW, HEADING NORTH ON THE BEACH ROAD, MY FAVORITE ROAD IN THE DISTRICT, WAS AN ETHEREAL JOURNEY, IF EVER THERE WAS ONE. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS A MORE SCENIC PLACE ON EARTH, THAN HEADING THROUGH THE PASTURE OF THE JONES FARMLAND, AND THEN PASSING BENEATH THE CATHEDRAL PINES JUST TO THE NORTH. IF AN ARTIST WAS TO CAPTURE THIS SAME SCENE, OR A PHOTOGRAPHER SNAPPED THE IMAGE, THERE WOULD BE FOLKS WHO'D CLAIM THEY WERE UNREALISTIC OR PHOTO-SHOPPED. IT WAS THAT PICTURESQUE! WE DROVE AS SLOW ALONG THIS PAINTED LANE TO ENJOY EVERY BIT OF NATURAL SPLENDOR. THIS WAS A PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY THIS CELEBRATORY TIME BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS. FOR THE WRITER-KIND, I JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS…..BUT IT'S WHAT MUSKOKA HAS BEEN DOING FOR ME SINCE THE 1960's WHEN OUR FAMILY LEFT THE FOREST OF INDUSTRIAL SMOKE STACKS, IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, AND BROUGHT THEIR KID TO LIVE IN THE HINTERLAND. THEY GAVE ME THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER…..THAT YEAR. NEWS THAT WE WERE MOVING TO MUSKOKA. I WOULD ONE DAY COME TO MARRY "A BORN IN MUSKOKA" GIRL, FROM DOWNTOWN WINDERMERE, AND HAVE TWO MUSKOKA-BORN LADS. SCENES LIKE WE WITNESSED THIS MORNING, AREN'T LOST ON ANY OF US CURRIES. WE KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO LIVE IN SUCH A PARADISE AS THIS. DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM TIME TO TIME? THE SAD REALITY IS, WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS HERE, NEW TO MUSKOKA, WHO COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE LAKELAND. IT'S JUST A PLACE TO LIVE. A RESIDENCE TO FACILITATE AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. I WONDER IF THEY'D EVEN THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES OF A DRIVE ON THE DON VALLEY, ON THE HUSTLE TO WORK, AND A GENTLE, NO TRAFFIC MEANDER THROUGH THE CATHEDRAL PINES HERE?

AS WE PROMISED, WE HAVE EMBARKED ON ANOTHER FABULOUS STAY-CATION IN MUSKOKA, MOSTLY GRAVENHURST, AND I HAVEN'T ONCE FELT ANY SHORTFALL, OF NOT BEING IN AN AIRPORT, ON A PLANE, HUSTLING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS, TRANSPORTATION WOES OF ANOTHER KIND, OR FELT THAT OUR SURROUNDINGS WEREN'T AS UPLIFTING AS TROPICAL BEACHES OR LOUNGING BY THE POOL WITH EXOTIC BEVERAGES. WE ARE BUNDLED APPROPRIATELY IN OUR CHRISTMAS SWEATERS, SOCKS AND BOOTS, HAVE A HOT CHOCOLATE IN A THERMOS FOR THE BACKROADS MOTOR-TRIP, AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ITINERARY TO FOLLOW, SCHEDULE TO OBEY, OR RENTAL ANYTHING TO PAY; OTHER THAN THE CLERK IN THE GAS STATION KIOSK, WHEN I NEED A TAD MORE FUEL. SUZANNE BROUGHT ALONG SOME OF HER HIGHLY REVERED CHRISTMAS CAKE THIS MORNING, AND WE NIBBLED AND CHATTED ALL THE WAY TO THE RE-STORE, WHERE WE COME TO BROWSE FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES. WE ARE SELDOM DISAPPOINTED. THIS MORNING I GOT A HUGE EASEL, AN AREA ARTIST WAS FINISHED WITH, AND A NEW LENS FOR AN OVERHEAD LIGHT IN OUR BATHROOM, BOTH AT AFFORDABLE PRICES. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ANTIQUE-HUNTING THING FROM OUR FIRST MONTH DATING, IN THE EARLY 1980'S, TO THE PRESENT, AND WE'VE SELDOM BEEN BORED WITH EACH OTHER'S COLLECTING INTERESTS……YOU MIGHT SAY, WE FASCINATE EACH OTHER IN THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY. SHE LIKES THE ART I FIND, AND I ADORE THE HERITAGE QUILTS SHE FERETS OUT, PLUS A MYRIAD OF OTHER THINGS FROM KNITTING NEEDLES AND OLD WOOL, TO TAPESTRIES FROM ANOTHER CENTURY. STAY-CATIONS ARE NO DISADVANTAGE WHATSOEVER.

AS FOR SUZANNE, HAVING ENJOYED COTTAGE LIFE ON LAKE ROSSEAU, AND A HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE OF WINDERMERE, AS WELL AS HAVING HAD A SUMMER JOB FOR A LONG TIME AT HER FAMILY'S MARINA (BELOW WINDERMERE HOUSE), WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND A BETTER VACATION…….EVEN WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, IT'S LIKE A HOLIDAY. I ENJOYED MUCH OF THIS MYSELF, WHEN SUZANNE'S FATHER WAS ALIVE, AND WE USED TO HIKE INTO THE COTTAGE ON A DAY LIKES THIS, WITH THE BOYS IN TOW, AND TAKE A PICNIC. WE COULD SIT ON THE DOCK OF THE BOATHOUSE, AND WATCH THE DEER FEEDING ON THE CEDAR ALONG THE SHORE OF FLORENCE ISLAND, LAKE ROSSEAU. IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME IN ALL OUR LIVES, AND NOTHING COULD HAVE LURED US FROM THIS FOUR SEASONS PARADISE.

WE HAVE SOME MORE HOLIDAY TIME TO ENJOY BEFORE SUZANNE HEADS BACK TO WORK (I WORK FROM HOME….WHICH MAKES HER MAD), AND A LOT MORE ANTIQUING ADVENTURES TO PURSUE. BUT THE OPENING CHAPTER OF "ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE," IS STILL MY MOST FONDLY REFERRED LITERARY PASSAGE……THE ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY MORNING MOTORCYCLE TRIP THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE. THE SCENIC ADVENTURES WITNESSED, IN PASSAGE, FROM HERE TO THERE, MOST OF US MISS ENTIRELY FROM A TRULY FULFILLING, SENSORY, EXPLORATORY, NATURAL POINT OF VIEW. IT DEMANDS FULL ATTENTION, FOR THE QUALITIES OF LIFE, AND NATURE, TO BE INTERPRETTED PROPERLY. TO BE THANKFUL OF THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS, THAT MOST OF THE TIME, WE JUST WHIP PAST IN OUR FRENZIED, HARRIED EXISTENCES. TAKE A TIME TO SEE MUSKOKA FOR WHAT IT IS……..A TRULY RESTORATIVE PLACE ON EARTH,…..AND THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

EFFICIENCY REPORT - ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE GOODIES INSIDE

IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE EFFICIENCY REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS, IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, HAS FOUND SOME AREAS THAT CAN BE IMPROVED UPON…….TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE LESS OPPRESSIVE FOR THE TAXPAYERS. HERE'S THE KICKER. THIS IS FOR COUNCIL TO BOUNCE ABOUT, AND DECIDE UPON, AND SEEING AS THERE ISN'T AN ELECTION FOR THREE YEARS, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO GENERALLY, TO INSIST THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS TOWARD EFFICIENCIES ARE FOLLOWED, AND ADOPTED AS THE NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. THEY MAY DECIDE TO TAKE SOME AND LEAVE THE REST. IT DOES UNDOUBTEDLY, DEPEND ON COUNCIL VOTES ON THE IMPLEMENTATIONS, DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. HOW FAST WILL THESE "BETTER PLANS" BE IMPLEMENTED, IF USED AT ALL?

FOLKS HERE, AND EVERYWHERE IN OUR REGION OF THE PROVINCE, NEED TO BRING THEMSELVES UP TO SPEED, ABOUT THE MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE WAY DISTRICT GOVERNMENT AND THE MUNICIPALITIES GOVERN. IF COUNCILLORS LOOK AT THE HUNDRED ODD AREAS THAT COULD STAND IMPROVEMENT, IN THIS MUNICIPALITY, AND THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO IMPLEMENT, THEY SHOULD READ CAREFULLY, WHAT THE CHANGE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WILL MEAN IN THE FUTURE. IF THEY THINK THE DOCUMENT IN FRONT IS TOUGH ON THEM, THEY REALLY NEED TO START ASKING SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KIND OF RE-VAMPING BEING DEBATED AROUND THE REGION. REGARDLESS WHAT OVERHAUL MAY EVENTUALLY BE EMPLOYED, IT WILL BE A HUGE WHALOP FOR THOSE COUNCILLORS WHO MIGHT BELIEVE IT DIFFICULT TO EMPLOY THE LATEST SMATTERING OF EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. A RESTRUCTURING OF REGIONAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE LIKE SLIDING DOWN COARSE SANDPAPER. I'M ALL FOR EFFICIENCIES, BUT I'LL BET A GROUP OF KNOWLEDGABLE CITIZENS, RATEPAYERS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS, WOULD HAVE ADDED AT LEAST 10 PERCENT MORE CHANGES THAN WHAT THE EXPERTS CAME UP WITH. WE SEE OUR GOVERNANCE DAILY. AND YES, WE DO HAVE SOME EXPERTS, WHO SHAKE THEIR HEADS, AND THEN CRADLE-IT IN THEIR HANDS, AFTER READING THE LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE OF THE LATEST DEBACLE……THAT WILL INEVITABLY COST US EVEN MORE MONEY. A NEW POOL COMES TO MIND. GEEZ, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS POOL MISADVENTURE? WILL IT HOLD WATER? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS ARE CROSSING THEIR FINGERS THAT THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WILL HOLD WATER? THERE ARE NO MORE FINGERS TO CROSS!

OF COURSE WE HOPE FOR THE BEST. BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HOPE! THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH MONEY SPENT ON THIS PROJECT TO DATE, THAT NARY A DROP OF THAT PRECIOUS WATER, SHOULD WIND UP IN GULL LAKE.

WILL WE HAVE TO PUT SOME DYE IN FIRST, TO CHECK?

WHEN THE NEW BRACEBRIDGE POOL WAS OPENED, IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. SO WHERE THE HELL IS THE WATER GOING? I'M ASSUMING THEY FOUND OUT!

JUST ONE MORE THING? SPEAKING AND WRITING ABOUT EFFICIENCY. YOU KNOW THAT RED PIANO (EYESORE) STUCK ON THE VACANT LOT, UP ON THE MAIN STREET? HERE'S AN IDEA FOR EFFICIENCY ONE! GET RID OF IT! IT'S REACHED ITS EXPIRATION DATE…..AS A SERVICE TO AREA BUSKERS.