Posted on June 19, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

Bedtime stories

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?

It took me years to write, will you take a look?

It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear,

And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer.”

Paperback Writer – The Beatles

Bedtime stories.

Librocubicularist. “The sesquipedalian librocubicularist (say that five times quickly after a glass of merlot!) is the name of a person who reads books in bed.”

If you were one of the lucky ones, your parents (usually your mom) read to you in bed. Not only was this a sure-fire way of getting you to close your eyes and go to sleep but it was also the start of you imagining the world in shapes, colors and sounds through the magic of books. Any reputable study will show that children who are read to at an early age develop language quicker than those playing a video game.

And then, along came Dick and Jane.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t an avid reader for much of my life. I tended to go in fits and starts. When I was a teenager, I was far too interested in sports and girls and had little time to read. I had modest success in sports but failed miserably in the other pursuit.

I read a lot during my university years, but my marks indicated that I obviously didn’t read enough. I was too busy playing sports and chasing young women. I played golf, Junior B hockey and even made the St.F.X. football team as a kicker. Still wasn’t able to make the grade with women!

“The years passed us by like a soft whispered sigh,

Not noticing youth as it flew.”

Now that I am retired (am I retired?!), I consume books almost as fast as sugared donuts. I have become a true lectiophile – a lover of reading. So far in 2024, I have read 25 books and am on pace to read 50 for the year.

Those of you new to my writing (all you Guysborough Journal fans) will soon discover that I have written and published 7 books of my own. If you’re having trouble sleeping, pick up a copy at The Curious Cat or 5 to $1.00. Certain to cure insomnia!

Turning the page…

I’m still conflicted about the notion of eternity and paradise. I’m pretty sure I know what hell is all about. Most days, I’m convinced that paradise is on earth. If life hasn’t left you too harried, think about the things around you. I fully expect that if there’s a heaven, there will be lilacs blooming every day of eternity. We’ve just come through lilac season in our part of the world. Is there a more delectable smell? How about the soothing sounds of a gurgling brook? The awesomeness of a sunrise or sunset. If there is a menu in the great hereafter, I am hoping that the angels serve Bailey’s Irish Cream crème brulee.

And Mozart, all day and night.

Epilog.

I just finished a 4-day stint as a music teacher at a P-8 school. In this school, music classes are 30 minutes long so there is steady traffic every minute of the day. For these four days, I had a steady diet of ukeleles and boom whackers. Now I know why liquor stores were invented. I’m usually game for a substitute job in music because if all else fails, I still have my trusty guitar ready to play Country Roads or Sweet Caroline for the 1000th time.

And speaking of paradise, stay tuned next week when I will be publishing a story about Seawind Landing Country Inn, a slice of heaven perched on the shores of Tor Bay.

Have a great weekend.

Posted on June 5, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with one comment

 

 

Len’s Lovely Liscomb Lodge Lunch

 

“There are places I’ll remember,

All my life, though some have changed.”

In My Life – The Beatles

And, some places never change.

I love to travel. Seeing new places and experiencing different cultures is the best education possible. I’ve seen a few wonders of the world including the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon. Since Covid, travel has reached new heights when it comes to unpredictability. Sometimes it’s easier just to stay home and travel in your own backyard.

I have travelled across Canada at least eight times. It is a vast country and extremely diverse. There are three places that have left a lasting impression on me. I have a visceral reaction when I return to these places from time to time.

In the summer of 1972, I travelled to Victoria, B.C. for the very first time. My brother, Don, fetched me from the ferry terminal at Schwartz Bay in his 1958 MGA. On a magnificent May morning with the sun shining and nary a cloud in the sky, we headed for the city with the roof down. Cresting a hill near Royal Oak, I stared in awe. In the distance, I witnessed the snow-capped Olympic Mountains across the Juan de Fuca Strait in Washington State. Each time I return to Victoria, I look forward to this drive with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning.

In the late 1960s, I played in a band. The Escorts performed at dances in Antigonish and Cape Breton. We had a regular Saturday night gig in the summer at St.Peter’s Hall in Ingonish Beach. Traversing Cape Smokey and coming down the back side, it was like arriving in Shangri-La. It was magical. There’s something about the Cape Breton Highlands National Park that is very difficult to describe. “More than a feeling” in the words of Boston.

It’s a short jaunt from Sherbrooke to Liscomb Mills. Most of the drive is through non-descript forest. Crossing a bridge with gentle water falls on your right, you arrive at one of the most scenic and idyllic places in Canada. According to legend, Liscomb Lodge was a hotel built in 1960 to cater to fishermen chasing salmon spawning in the Liscomb River.

Liscomb Lodge has a unique feel to it. Perched near the banks of the Liscomb River, it is a blend of rustic and modern. It has some of the original buildings including quaint cabins but it also has traditional lodging. It has tennis courts, shuffleboard, a sauna and a swimming pool but for my money, it is the restaurant that is the centerpiece of the operation. The dining room hovers on the banks of the river. It oozes tranquility with several bird feeders nestled near the windows where patrons can see an infinite variety of birds. Over the years, I have come to Liscomb for conferences, family gatherings and quiet getaways. I am completely enamored with the setting.

Recently, I travelled to Liscomb for lunch. I hadn’t been there for some time. I was aware that the lodge had hired two distinguished chefs. John Haines and his wife Tracy Wallace have 55 years of combined cooking experience. John and I go back a long way. I met him over forty years ago at his grandparents’ home on West Street in Antigonish. Even as a young man, he had a knack for cooking, preparing meals for Brian and Jean.

We started our lunch with an order of onion rings. I must admit that I don’t normally indulge in this often-greasy appetizer. We were not disappointed. The coating was light and crispy. Easily the best onion rings that I have consumed. I had a bowl of seafood chowder which was generous in portion size and delicious. The broth was exquisite. There’s always room for dessert. I’m convinced that there’s a separate chamber in the stomach reserved exclusively for this purpose! The blueberry creme brulee was simply heavenly.

If you’re not too full after leaving the restaurant, you can always stop and have a game of chess at the giant outdoor chess set.

Special places. Special memories.

It’s your move.

Have a great weekend.

Posted on May 29, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with 2 comments

Spring cleaning or spuddling?

 

Spring is a time of hope and renewal.

And ticks and June bugs.

And beers and burgers.

In our part of the world, we have the luxury of four seasons. Now some cynics have often opined that we really only have two seasons in Nova Scotia: summer and 8 months of poor skiing! This past winter was similar to those that many of us experienced as children. We had many snowstorms, a few of epic proportions, delighting those who love to ski, skidoo and snowshoe. Lots of grumbling by those who needed to shovel their driveways.

Spring is busting out all over. With apologies to Messrs. Rodgers and Hammerstein. The leaves are out. June bugs have arrived on our screen doors. Allergy season is in full bloom. Many of us take this opportunity to do a bit of spring cleaning. Just last weekend, I got out the feather duster with the long extension, and dutifully went through my apartment. What prompted this call to action was not necessarily the onset of spring. After what seemed like months of dull, drab, cloudy weather, the sun emerged. It is truly a beautiful thing when the sun is streaming through your windows. However, it also exposes one’s shortcomings and this includes cobwebs. I was walking down my hallway the other day and was rather appalled at the cobwebs hanging from various nooks and crannies.

One other sure sign of spring is Bulky Waste Collection days in the town and county. It is a great opportunity to get rid of junk cluttering up your home and garage. Everything from old sofas to neglected treadmills can be parked on the sidewalk outside your home and municipal employees will come along and pick them up. It is a wonderful service.

Recently, I stood outside on Court Street for hours waiting for the garbage trucks to arrive. I guess I misread the notice from the town. I put on a few pounds lately and thought that it was Bulky Waist Collection week!

I have been doing a lot of reading lately and continue to learn new words.

We all know them and have probably worked with a few. These are people who have a knack of appearing busy but actually doing little or nothing. Folks in the 17^th century had a word for this: spuddle: to work ineffectively: to be extremely busy whilst achieving absolutely nothing. It’s not always easy to spuddle but computers have made it infinitely easier. Theoretically, you could be in an office in front of a computer all day, frantically hitting the keyboard and never coming up for air. There’s a good chance that a spuddler is a) checking their e-mail; b) reviewing their Instagram page or c) playing Minecraft. The next time you see someone working hard at doing nothing, just tell them that they are spuddling. They’ll probably take it as a compliment.

We are all aware of the demise of newspapers. Gone are the days that we would eagerly wait for the early morning edition of the dailies and for those of us small town folk, our own weekly paper. Technology has overwhelmed the print business, and most people now consume their news, sports and entertainment from multiple platforms on their smartphones or tablets.

It makes me sad that we no longer employ reporters and writers who keep tabs on the comings and goings in our small towns. I used to be a writer for our hometown paper, The Casket but unfortunately it is now a shadow of its former self.

Bucking this trend is the Guysborough Journal. A family-owned paper, it has been in existence for 30 years, keeping people in Guyborough County and beyond well informed and entertained. I am pleased to inform you that starting today, I will be writing a monthly column for the Journal. It will be called Through Len’s Lens. The world as I see it.  For old times’ sake, why not go to the nearest store that still carries newspapers and pick up a copy of the Guysborough Journal. Or better still, take out a subscription.

Spring into action. Support local newspapers.

Have a great weekend.