EPISODE 657 “I WILL NEVER USE A LEAF BLOWER. RAKING LEAVES IS BETTER” and A LONG OVERDUE CONFESSION ABOUT A ZIP GUN AND WOODEN MATCHES


EPISODE 657    “I WILL NEVER USE A LEAF BLOWER.   RAKING LEAVES IS BETTER”  (FAMOUS LAST WORDS FROM MARJORIE)
                         ( and  the night A 12 year old boy set a street of dry leaves on fire with a clothes peg zip gun)

alan skeoch
oct. 11,2022

THE NEW LEAF BLOWER

“Alan, this leaf blower that Andrew gave me is wonderful.”
“I thought you liked raking leaves?”
“I do…and would like it better if you would help.”
“”i bought you the rake.”
“You could help.”
“But we only had one rake…and now you have Andrew’s leaf blower
you neither need a rake nor do you need help.”

“Oh, yes, Marjorie those mounds of dry leave remind me on s evening back in 1950 when I made
a clothes peg zip gun.   It was an evening of which I am not proud.”


ALL the leaves in these pictures will eventual reach the ground where most will just lie
there and return to earth from whence they came.



Suppose Marjorie is not available to rake or blow your leaves away from your lawn.  Well get 
ready for a big crop of voles and mice this winter….little creatures that make leafy homes in
fallen leaves.


HAVE YOU EVER MADE A ZIP GUN FROM A CLOTHES PEG?

   About the year 1950 homeowners raked their leaves into huge piles in the gutters
in front oft their houses.  I remember one street in particular.  It stretched from Runnymede public 
School in West Toronto down to Bloor Street.    A very leafy street.   A perfect street for me.   I did not
consider myself a vandal although others may differ on that score.  I was a test mechanic,

The October air on that street had the smell of burning leaves.  Some residents carefully burned their
leaves but most people piled them in the gutter.   Which seemed like a god given opportunity to test my
zip gun made from clothes pegs with wire snaps.  Those clothes pegs could easily be remanufactured
into weapons that could snap fire wooden matches…shoot the flaming slivers five or six feet as I 
remember. I had a whole box wooden matches.  Ammunition.

Now on that October evening in 1950 I had never heard of the burning of Moscow.  And grandma never
said much about the burning of Englehart, Ontario in 1906 except to say mom and the Freemans were
burned out of their home.   Perhaps if the danger of fire had been drummed into me, I would not
have set the WEst Toronto street on fire.

SET THE STREET ON FIRE

My 12 year old brain was not sophisticated.  I was just doing a simple experiment.  If  Idrove down 
the street firing lit matches from my clothes peg weapon,, would the street catch fire with flames
racing towards me as I peddled and fired.  I did not expect success.

 When I looked back up the street I could see
some fire and people out beating burning leaves to death.
Were they pointing at me?  I did not return to the crime
scene and took a different route back to our house at 455 Annette Street.

I kept this little secret until today…72 years later.

Today our piles of leaves are collected by the City of Mississauga.   Millions of leaves
are composted into food for gardens.

How did this sensible use of leaves as garden manure originate.  Was the idea hatched
by some brilliant environmentalists?  Or was leaf collectomg started due too the fire I triggered on that street in
West Toronto?   Maybe I am vain.  Maybe I should  not take credit for the City
of Mississauga leaf collecting.

One thing is true.   Marjorie and her leaf blower ensure that no pile of dry leaves are anywhere
near my zip gun.   Truth be told, I do not even remember how to make the gun.
And who uses clothes pins today anyhow?

If you are planning to send my name to the Leaf Police, I will deny the conflagration
ever happened on an October night in 1950.   There is no one to remember.  Hearsay evidence
has little weight in a court of law (I think!)

alan skeoch
Oc.t 11, 2022

Exaggeraton?  Of course.  But with a kernel of truth


SETTIN’ THE WOODS ON FIRE

by Hak Williams 

Lyrics
Comb your hair and paint and powderYou act proud and I’ll act prouderYou sing loud and I’ll sing louderTonight we’re settin’ the woods on fire
You’re my gal and I’m your fellerDress up in my frock and yellerI’ll look swell but you’ll look swellerSettin’ the woods on fire
We’ll take in all the honky tonksTonight we’re having funWe’ll show the folks a brand new danceThat never has been done
I don’t care who thinks we’re sillyYou’ll be daffy and I’ll be dillyWe’ll order up two bowls of chiliSettin’ the woods on fire
I’ll gas up my hot rod stokerWe’ll get hotter than a pokerYou’ll be broke but I’ll be brokerTonight we’re settin’ the woods on fire
We’ll sit close to one anotherUp one street and down the otherWe’ll have a time oh brotherSettin’ the woods on fire
We’ll put aside a little timeTo fix a flat or twoMy tyres and tubes are doin’ fineBut the air is showin’ through
You clap hands and I’ll start bowin’We’ll do all the law’s allowin’Tomorrow I’ll be right back plowin’Settin’ the woods on fire
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Fred Rose / Ed Nelson Sr.
Settin’ The Woods On Fire lyrics © Sony/atv Milene Music


EPISODE 656 THIRTEEN DAYS IN DUBLIN IN 1960 (ALAN SKEOCH BEGINS IRISH JOB)

UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER 1960….13 days in DUBLIN, IRELAND

Note:In June 1960 I spent 13 days in Dublin…did not expect to do so…but it was quite fascinating…If  you
are  expecting mining stories you will have to wait fro the next instalment…I did not get
to the quaint village of Bunmahon until June 13.    


IN DUBLIN’S FAIR CITY

alan Skeoch
Journal June 1 to June 13, 1960
(No one predicted I would have a two week holiday in Dublin)

This is the ancient Knockmahon copper mine on the south coast of Ireland.  That
was my destination in 1960 but it would take 13 more days to get there. Meanwhile
I lived in Dublin.


Dublin, quite a city.  Circumstances prolonged my stay in Dublin so let me give you a short impression.
First thing is the city smells…Jacob’s cookie factory, Guinness 62 acre brewery, Tea shops and horses. The
smell is intoxicating.  The main street, O’Connell Street is wide and busy and for the most part happy in spite
of bullet holes deliberately left to remind Irish people of the ‘time of the troubles’.   The people are super
friendly…policemen who paid my bus fare, citizens who helped me find my way, and one family…the Behan’s,
who sort of adopted me.   Lots of pubs to visit.  Lots of meat pies and sweet rolls to eat.  Trees!! Lots of them
and a huge 700 acre park near the city centre.  Problems?  Of course.  Some obviously deranged people
here and there.  Violence?  Never had trouble except one incident that I foolishly precipitated myself.
To top the visit off, I was able to see The Quiet Man, the charming John Wayne, Maureen Ohara, and’
Barrie Fitzgerald movie about an Ireland that seemed mythical but turned out to be true.  Some Irish might
resent the stereotypes  but I thoroughly enjoyed them with no expectations they would be part of
my experience on the Bunmaahon job.  But so much happened that was similar.   Not that I  felt I
was  John Wayne.  I was however a North American stepping into a cultural milieu of which I was
unfamiliar.

One of the results of my stay  in Dublin was  the naming of our first born child Kevin.  The Behan family
adopted me as if I was  their son, took me around Dublin to pubs I would  never find and allowed me
to become part of an Irish family.

MYJOURNAL:  I thought it was lost until by good fortune in April, 2018, I found it among some old  books in the cellar.  Quite amazing detail.


JUNE 1, 1960


Smooth flight across to Ireland with Are Lingus.  No one there to meet me so I can do whatever I please I guess.
Dublin is  a beautiful city with throngs  of people on OConnell Street.  Friendly.  Girls are very pretty.  Visited
the art gallery and then the museum like a normal  tourist.  Had to remind myself that I was not a tourist .
Found offices of Arbuckle – Smith and Company only to discover our Turam shipment had not arrived yet.
Called Barrie Nichols in Toronto to let him know there will be a delay then went shopping for shirt and shoes.
Supper was no good. Toured Gresham Green.  Called  Mrs.  Behan who  invited me out to their house 
tomorrow when Kevin Behan gets back from Italy. Very tired.  Fell to sleep three times during the day. Being
alone is not that enjoyable.  Need other people to make life really interesting but it looks like I will
be stuck here in Dublin for some time.  No point in heading south the County Waterford and  village of
Bunmahon without all our crates of instruments. Toured Gresham Green.







Huntec had booked  me into the high class Gresham Hotel expecting my stay in Dublin would be short.
But our crates of equipment did not arrive for nearly two weeks.  The Gresham was fancy as pictured
above and expense.  NO one told me the breakfasts were included in the room price.  I skipped breakfast
for a week to save the company money as my expense check was only 200 pounds…not enough
for me to stay at the Gresham so after a week I found a  cheap hotel in Clontarf, the Hollybrook, where
I seemed to be the only guest and the staff made it clear my breakfast as  included.  Even then by the
end of my stay in Dublin the money was  almost gone.









June 2, 1960

I woke up late so  skipped breakfast and walked to the Department of Justice to get my work clearance.  Had to prove I was doing
a job that nn Irish person could not do.  Lots of unemployment here.  Looks like my training on the Turan E.M. unit has put me in a
special  spot.  Few people know how to run it…and it is quite complicated…motor generator, base line a mile or so long, two receiving 
coils with 100 for separation,  a console, picketed lines running 3,000 feet from the base line at right angles, etc.  Had to explain
this  to an official.



After that I took a bus to the the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate, Since I had no bus fare the chap beside me paid my fare.
Guinness is the national drink of Ireland, unless you are a non-drinker.  What a rare privilege to see this massive brewery in operation.
They even have big draught horses harnessed to wagons loaded with barrels of Guinness to be delivered to pubs in Dublin.  The smell
of the horses and the Guinness is wonderful to me.  The tour included a pile of Guinness post cards featuring men lifting bull dozers
or pulling beer wagons with the horses as passengers. Humourous.   And the end of the tour was best. We all got a full pint of Guinness…
my first.  I wasn’t to struck on the black liquid at first but soon overcame that problem.  Seems a tourist can have as much as he or she
wants but I stuck to one pint.  I should have eaten breakfast. Felt a bit woozy…warm and woozy.  Not staggering.

Ah, yes, Guinness is the national drink of Ireland… made from barley, hops, yeast and water.  That does not sound complicated.  
Why is the beer black then?  Because the barley
is roasted rather malted which makes a thick creamy head on the pint.  The thickness of the head is achieved by passing the beer through
nitrogen…smaller bubbles result.  Guinness is so thick that each pint needs  time to settle.  
Is Guinness really ‘good for you’ as the advertising says on billboards across  Dublin?  Some call Guinness ‘a meal  in a cup’ …198 calories
per pint which…less than a pint of milk.  Drinkers  of Guinness get an ‘enhanced feeling of well being’ , an advertising statement frowned
on by the government.  Created in 18th century by Arthur Guinness
and apparently one of the most consumed beers worldwide.  Guinness does seem to be good for drinkers though…lots of healthy 
antioxidants…like fruits and vegetables…slow deposit of bad  cholesterol on artery walls. Or so the story is told.  My ‘meal in cup’
certainly replaced breakfast and gave me an enhanced feeling that the world around me is good.

This  is  high tea at the Gresham Hotel where I stayed for the first week.  I did not know
Breakfast was included in the room rate so  skipped  breakfast for that week.  Fancy
hotel but very unfriendly.



Bought some tomatoes  and meat pie to eat in my room while reading a book. Sort of lonely feeling…needed
a pint of Guinness I guess but afraid to go into a pub alone.  Not fear just felt being solitary would be uncomfortable.
Contacted a sign painter as Ministry of Justice insisted I have a road sign saying Danger in both English
and Irish.  This will take some time to do…will pay extra to get faster work done.  Decided to go back to
the Guinness factory , now have bus tokens, but found place closed.  Got some good pictures though.

I was startled by a crazy woman in middle of the cobbled street near St. James Gate.  She was covered in
blood while singing and dancing and jumping around.  Very sad.  She even relieved herself by lifting her skirt
and pissing without care.  Most on lookers did not stop…treated  her as if a normal situation.  I kept walking 
as well.  Returned to my room to finish off the meat pie.

Phoned down to The Kennedy’s to see if  gear had arrived.  No luck.  Our crew of three will be staying with
the Kennedy family in Bunmahon.  

Then I bought some flowers and took a bus to the Behan home.  Mrs. Behan poured tea and a little later
Kevin Behan came bursting on the scene.  He had just landed from Italy.  Grand fellow.  He took me to a
pub for another Guinness.  Driving back he tried to run over a ‘teddy boy’…or at least to scare him.  ‘Teddy
boy’s are street gang members I assume.    Then he drove me home to my hotel room.

I Was quite surprised at Kevin’s hatred of these Teddy Boys.  Seemed just like rock and roll kids to me…couple 
of my friends had the greased  down haircuts although most of them had brush cuts and  were not nearly as 
fancy  dressed as the Irish Teddy Boys who tried to wear the fancy clothing of Edwardian England.  Some Teddy
Boys did run in tough gangs though.   I think Kevin Behan’s hatred was triggered by the Notting Hill race Riots in
London where some 300 Teddy Boys targeted black people using iron bars and butcher knives.  That was really bad
but most Teddy Boys were just mild rebels like a lot of kids in my high school days back in Canada.  I kept my
mouth shut.  Maybe Kevin had a bad experience. To me those Teddy Boys and Teddy Girls wereThe kind of kids  that loved 
the movie Blackboard Jungle.  I did not tell Kevin that I skipped school one afternoon just to see the movie.
Gutless.




Teddy Boys, so names by their Edwardian dress, were seen as rebels.  Really they looked
much like the Rock and Roll kids so common in Canada  in 1950’s and 1960’s.


June 3, 1960

I woke up at 9 and made my so called breakfast…crumpets and Quosh, an orange  fizzy drink.  Then went to see Mr. O;brien about maps
and he in turn sent me to the Ordinance Survey Office in Phoenix Park.  What an immense place… with so many cattle I could
not count them.,,and a herd of wild deer that had been there since the 17th century Got maps of old mines in western part of County Waterford. 
Not sure they will be of any use at all. 
Spent rest of  day
walking through PhoenixPark. A bunch of soldiers were lawn bowling at one spot.  Then visited the Dublin Zoo.  Wish I hadn’t because 
when I put the lens of my camera  close to the monkey enclosure one big monkey jumped  at me with sexual intent.  

What generous people…an off duty policeman paid my fare back to my hotel.  Bought sausage rolls, buns and tomatoes
for my supper…alone in my room…saving company expenses.  Phoned  Mr. Timlin, our shipment of crates from Canada have arrived in Liverpool.  Went to a movie after which
I was cornered and badgered by a family of beggars on a side street…five them…really dirty.  Dangerous.  My nice feeling of independence is turning into
loneliness.  Wrote letter to Marjorie and went to bed.


Phoenix Park has large herd of semi wild deer that have been there from the 18th century




Streets of Dublin, in 1960, still had presence of horses.  This man was just leading four of them casually
down the street…note evidence of Horse manure indicating this was not an unusual sight.  a hundred years
ago these horses numbered in the thousands.  i.e. There were 100,000 horses  in London in 1850 and  Dublin
would have been similar.  Vast amounts of manure was linked to outbreaks of Cholera but from human rather
than horse
manure.

June 4, 1960

Got up late, very late…around noon.Went to bakeshop for my  breakfast (tomatoes, meat pie, crumpets). Spent most of the day absolutely bored.
Phoned  Kevin Behsn and went over to his house in the evening.  Their daughter Yvonne was very cute showing me her pictures.  Kevin and Mrs Behan
took me on the rounds of the local pubs.  Made me feel like home. One pub had  a creek running through the middle of it, another pub was a castle…ended
evening in fish and chip  store.  I was startled to see so many Presbyterian churches in Dublin…thought all churches would be Catholic.  The I.R.A. had
a rally on O;Connell Street.   Met an American girl who was with Joe Malone.  This is a strange summer…first prospecting job with so many people
around me.  Not the usual  wilderness  of black flies  and endless  boreal forest. All the Catholics I have met so far have been quite wonderful.
I expected hostility but found none so far.

June 5, 1960

Rose early and phoned Dr. John Stam in Holland. He will join me in Bunmahon once our crates get here.  Went to the Gresham  Green Unitarian Church
where Rev. Hicks was quite funny and very British.  Then he spoke about the absence of national Birth control as a cause of war… citing the Irish lady who had 24 children and 
her daughter who had 15.  I suppose that could be a criticism of Ireland’s Catholic majority and the church influence.  But I think his real point was that
overpopulation of planet earth would lead to the three horseman of the apocalypse…famine, plague and war.  

Caught a bus to Kevin and Ronnie’s house where Yvonne was very friendly crawling all over me.  Then we went for a very nice drive in the country.
Many old  castles.  Had ice cream. Mrs. Behan had a nice supper during which Yvonne gave me a carnation.  Yvonne is 6 or 7 years old.  Then Kevin
took me to a pub where we discussed the Irish Republican Army…kevin concluded that “the poison is being drawn out’.  But there are still machine guns
on the border.  I took a picture of the family.  Kevin informed me I would be wise to find a better hotel.  Why? Because my fancy hotel had never informed
me that Breakfast was included in the bill…I had been skipping breakfast or just having another meat pie just to save Huntec and Dr. Paterson some 
money.  My stupidity I guess.  Hotel was so high class  that no one spoke to me at all.  ‘Snob hotel’


What wonderful people…Kevin and Ronnie Behan.  They sort of adopted me for my stay in Dublin.  Their oldest, Yvonne, was  really
a little charmer.  She was so glad to see me each visit that her greetings made me feel embarrassed.  The Behans made such
an impression that Marjorie an I named  our first born Kevin.

June 6, 1960

Today is a national holiday in Ireland.   Took a bus to Malahide and walked back to hotel.  A farmer struck up a conversation in which he said
“Irish people are the laziest people on the earth”…strange comment, perhaps  made as a joke or maybe to draw out an anti-Irish comment from me.
Got caught in deluge of rain while walking to Kevin’s house.  Soaked.  Yvonne and family very glad to see me.  Sincere.  Took a drive to the North Harbour
which was charming except for the fact some man committed suicide there.  Went to a pub then returned to the Behan  home for ’tea’ which  is a misnomer
for a full supper…then watched BBC television for a while before taking whole family to the movie ‘Who Was That Lady’

On Kevin’s advice I made plans to move to the Hollybrook Hotel in Clontarf…cheaper, friendly, with full breakfast.

Picked up a strange fact…Ireland has the lowest marriage rate in the world.

June 7, 1960

Received word  from McNabb and  Timins that the Ronka has arrived but no sign of the Turam.  Moved my bag to the Hollybrook Hotel
on the Howth Road … had  a nice pastoral setting and comfortable old pub kind of registration desk.  Decided to tour the Guinness  Brewery
again.  “Will you be wanting another pint, lad?” said  the man who joined the tour but did not drink.  “Temperance…call us Pioneers over here.”
Later I decided to line up at Dublin University to see the Book of Kells, an illustrated manuscript.  

The BOOK OF KELLS…

An unfortunate event happened while standing in line to see the Book of Kells.  Mostly my fault. I tapped the shoulder of the man in front of me and asked:

“Are you Irish?”
“No, Scottish…visiting.”
“Is this University secular?”
“What do  you mean by that?”…  he said  in rather angry manner
“I mean is it attached to the church or the state?”
“What do you mean by that?”…  he got more angry, I could not see why.
“Just wondered.”
“Are you Catholic?”… now he was really angry, perhaps disturbed. 
“Born Catholic but not so any more.”  Bad  comment on my part…a mistake…like waving a red flag in
front of a charging bull. 

At that remark the guy went wild.  Seemed to want a fight.  I decided best course of action was to get
the hell away from him but he followed me yelling who knows what for his accent was thick. A policeman
rescued me and advised I take a  long ride on the bus and  keep  away from throwaway comments about
religion.

Why did I say that remark…Why trigger animosity?  It was  a  mistake, of course, but I was thinking back
to the St. Skeoch legend.

 Our Skeoch relatives, ancient kind, were Catholic.  Most Scots were in the early centuries.  And there was 
a  connection with the Book of Kells and the Scottish Isle of Iona.  A misty connection…likely  false.  A connection even more ancient than
the 10th century Book of Kells.  At some point I had heard or read that St. Skeoch was one  of the 12 disciples
of St, Columba  when he left (fled?) Ireland  in the sixth century for the Scottish Island of  Iona.  At that time
the use of the term saint was loosely interpreted…i.e. without the approval  of Rome.  Was St. Skeoch one
of the twelve?  Rome had no records but there are places  in Scotland where this St. Skeoch is mentioned.
Maybe our family legend about the rescue of two boys on the Bloody fields of Bannockburn was true.  And
the St. Skeoch convent could have been a St. Skeoch monastery.   All perhaps nonsense since much relies
on hearsay.  All this was in my mind as lined up to see the Book of Kells.  Were our roots  as much Catholic
as Presbyterian. So there are the  roots of my throwaway  comment that I was  ‘born Catholic but gave it up.’

What was I really doing?  Just putting in time awaiting our high tech survey equipment.  The Book of
Kells was fascinating…a  masterpiece of art that survived the Viking raids.

The Book of Kells is one of the finest illustrated manuscripts in the world. 340 folio pages. Written in Latin and illustrated
 around 800 A.D.  when Most people could  not read.   Sometimes called the Book of Columba 
because St Columba and  subsequent Columban monks did much of the work between the sixth and ninth centuries.









Back to my Journal:  June 7, 1960

Bad weather barreling in from the sea.  Wrote a  letter to Barrie Nicholls and John Hogan.  Hogan is a geologist
representing our client. I am worried that the delay in equipment arrival will be cost the  project a lot of money.
Maye I am the only one worried…hope so . Hotel resident  Joe and Moira invited me to have a drink with them
which made for a perfect evening.

June 8, 1960

Arose late after the party last night with Joe and Moira.  Went downtown and bought field books, electric tape and signs
to alert local people to dangers of our project, particularly the base line wire and generator.  Surprised when a  cyclist
fell off his bike into the Liffey canal.  Ambulance came fast. The German sailors and officers from the Graf Spee are
in  Dublin. Since I am the only guest in the Hollybrook Hotel I feel like the lord of this ancient manor house and get
treated as such.  Nice. The expense money if going awfully fast.

John Hogan made a surprise arrival so we finally got to discuss the project.  I phoned Mrs. Behan and then went to  show
and a dance.  One girl at the dance must have crossed herself 40 times while praising the I.R.A.
An interesting evening.  Washed my clothe and went to bed.

June 9, 1960

UP early and had first breakfast since I arrived in Ireland…hotel dining room.
Sent most of the gear with John Hogan who was driving down to Bummahon … the project site in western
part of County Waterford… Gave Mr. O’Brien a quick briefing the Turam operation.  Checked with Arbuckle but
Turam has still not arrived.  

John Hogan and I toured the Guinness Brewery … my third visit.  Then we had a lousy meal at the Temperance
Hotel. Then visited head office of Irish National Sweepstakes and bought 5 shillings tickets for Marjorie.  Walked
back to hotel then walked to the Behan home where kids were really cute.  Yvonne and Denise kept bringing me
corn flakes on the dog’s plate.  Yvonne  seems to like my lap.  Other kids Anella  and Murial also cute.  Then Kevin.
Ronnie (Mrs. Behan) went toHouth for a drink.  A drunk woman was entertaining if a little pathetic.  Ronnie ironed
my shirt afterwards then Kevin drove me back to the Hollybrook.

June 10, 1960

Had  big breakfast … bacon, eggs, fried tomatoes….topped off with a rack of cold toast and marmalade.  What should
I do for the rest of the day now that John Hogan has gone south?  Tour!  Dublin is a  city of wonderful smells.  Guinness
Brewery covers  over 60 acres making lots of beer.  But there is also a strong smell of cookies being baked at the Jacobs
factory.  So I followed my nose and had a tour.  250 employees mostly girls who gave me plenty of attention…including
whistling and touching.  Good time if a bit intimidating.  


The Quiet Man is great entertainment…surprised me that much of the 1920 Irish stereotypes turned  out to be real in our little world  of Bunmahon in 1960.
The Dark Time of the Tourbles was downplayed.


“Alan, do not miss the chance to see “The Quiet Man” while here in Ireland,” said Kevin and  Yvonne Behan.
So I went alone to see the film featuring John Wayne, Maureen Ohara and Barrie Fitzgerald.  What a grand movie.
My work site in Bunmahon could not possibly be as joyful and humorous as the movie but I wish it were so.

Dublin has an under class.  I noticed  and felt sorry for an old one-eyed woman who was  having bread and tea while
I had a steak with all the trimmings.

I am picking up the Irish lingo.  Today  was described as a ‘soft’ day which means it was pouring rain.

Got an urgent message from Arbuckle, Smith and Company saying the crates had not arrived in Liverpool yet. What the
hell is going on?  They told me the crates were there the other day.

June 11, 1960

Getting better sleep now that I am having big breakfast.  Afterwards I went down to Arbuckle to pick up the part of shipment
that has arrived…i.e. the Ronka E.M. unit.  I will take it south on Monday. Sent telegram to Dr. Stam in Amsterdam and wrote
a long letter to Barrie Nichols in Canada.  My money is very short…less than 20 pounds left. Kevin asked me up to tea (i.e.supper
in Irish lingo) then Kevin took Ronnie and me to movie “Once More with Feeling” (no  good). After we took girls home Kevin took
me to meet his mother snd father…all  are in the car business.

June  12, 1960

Wind is blowing from the sea…smashing windows.  I walked to Clontarf Presbyterian Church where Rev. Moore greeted me warmly
and  asked me to join him for a few minutes in the vestry  Guest speaker was a methodist, Rev. Livingston who spoke about ‘Happy 
Harry the Hare” which sounded weird at first but made sense in the end. 

Then another day with the Behan family.  I would not intrude normally but they really made me feel so welcome that to refuse
would  be an insult.  Ronnie prepared another great meal. Yvonne was full of beans as usual…crawling all over me.  We drove
to Houth and stopped at Claremont for a couple of draughts of Guinness…back for ‘tea’ and then to the movie ‘sweet smell of success’
This was my last day in Dublin.  Sad farewell to the Behan family.


Brendan Behan

Brendon Behan and  Kevin Behan were not related.  Two very different people who shared one common wonderful trait.  They loved  people and
an afternoon in their company was an  honour.  

Kevin Behan was my host for the Dublin interlude.  He and his family opened their hearts  and doors to me.  I cannot explain why they did this except to say
the they loved people, loved Ireland and wanted to share this love with a young 21 year old  kid like me.  One result was the naming of our first born child, Kevin,
in honour of Kevin Behan.  Sadly, we never told that to the Behan family.

A poem by Brendon Behan

RED ENVOY

I bring no songs of rolling drums
Of pennons flying gaily
I sing of filth and dirty slums
Gaunt man with hunger crazy
Canticles, not of virtue bright, nor holy austere lives.

I chronicle consumption’s blight
And the haggard face of wives
Who gaze on children, pale and wan
Who see no flowers nor hear birds song.

I see no beauty rave in dreams of justice, unto those
Who keep the wheels of old earth moving
And oil them with their woes
Of burning towns and brimstone red
A phoenix from the ashes dead
Our city, truth and justice wed arise.

I see this old bad order die
In a great swift blaze of fire
A structure, clear and mighty high
Born in its funeral pyre
Worker, know the world’s for thee
Were thou to raise the servile knee
From off the ground.

Brendon Behan

Brendon Behan was a man of the 1950’s snd 1960’s.  He had strong opinions even as a teen ager joining
the Irish Republican Army at 14 years of age.  He was an ardent republican. Regarded the English
monarchy with disdain.  That said, he became very popular and his quick wit amused not just the Dublin Irish 
but the literary world in general.   His most famous play is titled “The Quare Fellow” which is set
in a  prison in the heart of Dublin.  “Quare” is Irish for “Queer.”   Brendon  Behan’s one liners
were quoted again and again by people with both a sense of humour and a knowledge that there
is a dark side to the human condition.

“I am a drinker with writing problems.”

“Ah, bless you sister, may all your children be bishops.”

“When I came back to Dublin I was court mortised in my absence
and sentenced to death in my absence
So I said they could shoot me in my absence.”

“There  is no such thing as bad publicity
Except your own obituary.”

“The most important things to do in the world are to
get something to eat
get something to drink
and get someone to love you.”

Monday June 13  LAST DAY IN DUBLIN

How can I best describe this day?   Like a dam that has suddenly broken free…like  A clock that is out of control  and time spins free …like a race begun once the gun is fired.
Suddenly everything speeded up and I would be gone before the sun set.
This was  be last day in Dublin.  I did not know that.  I did not know that events would move so fast that by evening I would be in the village
of Bunmahon nestled  in an ancient place with the ruins of the Knockmahon mine brooding black and foreboding as the sun set.


My first view of Knockmahon where i would have adventures not forgotten in 60 years.



Events of that fine Dublin day:

Began packing at 8.30…then phoned Arbuckle…our shipment had arrived. Dr. Stam coming by air…Hogan ready to pick us up inWaterford.
time to get a haircut then caught bus to the airport…watched  KLM flight land and Dr. John  Stam cleared  customs. Briefed  him onIrish  officials I had
met…back to hotel for dinner and beer. Back to America Express…then over to see Mr. O’brien.  Took luggage to train station…first class tickets to Waterford
where John Hogan met us with his Fiat…drove to Bunmahon on the edge of the sea..passed the ruins of the Knockmahon mine standing alone on the
edge of steep cliffs that fell down to the sea.  Empty.  No  houses.  No  living things.  Then road  dipped down to the Mahon River and the village of Bunmahon
where we were to be based for the duration of the survey.  Met Mrs. Kennedy who would be our landlady and Irish ‘manageress’ … an expert on the inner
workings of this sliver of Irish  society.  Very Catholic…My room has three Christian statues and  a large picture of  Jesus with his heart showing…hangs above my bed.
Surprised to get my mail…letters from Marjorie and  some.  Jan Stam said he was pleased with my handling of the situation.  He would  be in charge from now 
on and would do the interpretation of the notes from my field book each day.  John Hogan was a geologist with the Denison Mines company.  Three of us.  But
many more will be hired.  Eventually I hired the whole village.  More of that later.



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EPISODE 555 NOT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT….TRACTORS ARE TEMPERMENTAL…DOGS ARE LOYAL

EPISODE 555    NOT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT….TRACTORS ARE TEMPERMENTAL…DOGS ARE LOYAL


alan skeoch
Oct. 8, 2022

Tractors are tempermental.  Especially if they were made in the 1940’s.  Dogs are just plain loyal.

Sorry . These are not good photos.  I had to act fast to catch the tractors and dogs.  All heading for the
farm non stop.  One tractor out of service but both dogs are just fine.








Look way down the road…last part of the caravan…



Both dogs, Faila and Norman following Andrew and Molly.

EPISODE 502 THANKSGIVING WEEK END OCT. 7, 2022 == ROAD TRIP

EPISODE 502    THANKSGIVING WEEK END OCT. 7, 2022 == ROAD TRIP


alan skeoch
oct. 7, 2022


A ROAD TRIP – THANKSGIVING WEEK END 2022  (still time for you to do it)

WE did it all in one day.  Our road trip to Prince Edward County just to see the coloured trees
and buy pumpkins, ornamental gourds, and a meal at a roadside restaurant and then
beat our way home with the sun making westward driving hair raising though beautiful.
Apologies to my cousin Christopher and wife Cathie.  We did not drop in.  Should have done
so for we knew we would be welcome even unannounced.  

Marjorie and I are sending this special Thnanksgiving Episode 502 just a day before the
thnakfiving day week end.  Readers will have time to hit the road.  Or readers can enjoy
a vicarious road trip using our pictures.  

My good friend Russ will never understand why we boys so man ornamental gourds.
“Those things are not edible! Waste of time and money!”,might be his thought.  Maybe
these pics will change his mind.  Things do not have to be edible to be enjoyable, Russ.
No need to call, Russ. I know I have exaggerated your point of view.  

Take a look at the lead picture.  It will suggest a route for you to follow.  Prince Edward
County is now loaded with wineries  Some offering free samples in the expectation
you will buy a dozen bottles.  Nothing wrong with that expectation either.  Sadly the
Barley Days brewery was closed when we stopped.  That kind of sample I would really
have enjoyed so we popped into he Waring House restaurant for fish and chips and
a pint of Barley Days dark.


We cut down to Wicklow Beach from Highway #2 just before we got to Brighteon.
Nobody there but us and eternity.   Parked the truck right beside the water for Woody
to inspect in case a dead and rotten fish floated up.

EPISODE 650 BEES GET ANGRY….ANDREW MAKES QUICK ESCAPE….7 stings result


NOTE:  I MADE NUMBERING ERROR IN PAST TWO OR THREE EPISODES 
CALLED THEM 602 AND 603…..SHOULD HAVE BEEN  648 ABD 649


EPSODE  650       BEES GET ANGRY….ANDREW MAKES QUICK ESCAPE….7 stings result


alan skeoch
Oct. 3, 2022

“Dad, I have to move the bees to a winter home on south side of the barn.
This could be difficult. Stay clear..”
“Why move them?”
“Last year something got the bees in the bee yard. If they are 
close by, I can keep an eye of them.  Skunks like bees as do mice”



“So much honey in here that I cannot lift it.  I will have to separate
the hive.    Could be trouble.”

“Andrew, what made you run?  That cost is supposed to be bee proof.”
“Seven bees managed to find a hole.  Followed the seams until they got
through to my bare legs.”




“Did the bees get you, Andrew?”
“They did.”
“How many?”
“Seven.  They managed to get through the pants in spite of the protective overalls.  Seemed to follow the seams
of the costume..  Smart little creatures.”
“Stings  must hurt?”
“Not too bad.  Just lower legs.  Much worse if they get my face or neck. “
“What if they all got you.  Say a thousand bees.”
“We would have to call 911 if there was time.”
“Why didn’t they attack me.  I was taking pictures.”
“The bees seemed to know you were not going to disturb them.”
“They look mad right now.”
“They are.  You better run.  That’s what I am going to do as I can feel
those few bees that got through my bee proof uniform.”””Run!”

Andrew ran across the bridge .  I ran…walked slowly…down the side of the pond.
No bees followed me.  Only one lone bee checked me out and I pushed it away.
The bees knew.  Heroic of me, I must admit.  Do bees know more than we realize
In that tiny little brain.?  


Andrew got loads of honey this year.  More than his extended family can eat.  And he left lots for the bees to eat
over the winter.

Coyote note from Patricia…yip yip yip is chilling

Note came as soon as Patricia read my episode…see below
Hi Alan
To add to your story and Kent’s, we hear and see lots of coyotes during the winter when the Credit River is frozen over. We see them trotting along – it can be disconcerting when they are running toward you! (They have never stopped near us; they just run on by!)
When we are dog-sitting (daughter Martha’s black Lab), we keep her on a leash during walks. We have never seen one when we have the dog with us.
Once, a pack tried to lure a neighbour’s German Shepherd (a large male named Shadow) to the island in the Credit. Shadow is never on a leash. Most of the coyote pack hung back, hidden among the island reeds, while one lone coyote played and flirted to attract Shadow to follow her/ him (probably her!). Tim, the dog’s owner, saw what was happening and called Shadow back to shore. The big animal immediately turned and trotted home.
We hear the wild loud “yip yip yips” signaling a kill usually in the wee hours of morning when it’s still dark. And very cold. The sound is chilling!! Nature’s way though. Now that Brightwater has taken over a huge patch of what had become coyote territory, we expect to see more coyotes trotting along the frozen Credit River this winter.
Patricia

Fwd: EPISODE 602 SO YOU WANT A PET COYOTE…NOT A GOOD IDEA



Begin forwarded message:


From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>
Subject: EPISODE 602 bark! BARK! Bark! There is s big coyote down there….look!
Date: September 30, 2022 at 5:36:28 PM EDT
To: John Wardle <jwardle@rogers.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>


EPISODE 602    bark! BARK! Bark!  There is s big coyote down there….look!


alan skeoh
Sept 30, 2-022




“Her camouflage is also perfect…her smell is not!“
“Alan, the dog is going crazy…must be coyotes.”

At first we could see nothing.  Then a large coyotes stepped from behind a bush into
the open spot.  It stopped, took its time to check us out and continued to tease
Woody who is very brave when behind a chain line fence.

COYOTES AS PETS…YES, IT IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE

There are people who have pet coyotes but I think taming a coyote

is  bad idea for several reasons.  Breeders sell them for around $400
each.  Cheap $50 coyotes should be avoided…problems there with
health of the animals likely.

KEEPING  a coyote may be illegal in the first place.  So read no further.

If you are determined to get a coyote consider these problems.  First is space.
A tame coyote needs about 1.5 acres minimum space.  Not many people have
city lots that size.  Then it must be fenced about 10 feet high with an extra two feet
buried…12 inches down, then folded back another 12 inches so the coyote cannot
dig itself out.  Fencing a larger space, say 10 acres, won’t work because the coyote
may feel it is in the wild…i.e. not tame.  Fencing the real rate of a male coyote is out of
the questions as in the quote below.

“It is not possible to have a pet coyote if you do not own a large plot of land. And we mean large! You can’t keep a coyote in an apartment or a suburban housing plant.
It’s not fair to the coyote to live in such small quarters and can end up causing behavioral problems.
According to the Virginia DWR, coyotes have a home range of about 6 miles in diameter. Male coyotes can range even further, especially if they are looking for a female or trying to start their pack.”


Your tame coyote may like you as long as you show it you are the alpha parent…the
indisputable boss.  Possible to do.  But be careful bringing friends around.  The coyote
might see them as competition for affection and for food.  Bite them.  Same a applies in
spades for pets.  GRRRR!

What will you feed it?  Squirrels?, rabbits?, cats? rats?   Just about anything it seems but be sure and feed it often
otherwise your coyote will start looking at other livings things like your pet cat.

And do not think you can take a tame coyote for a walk on a leash.  If other leashed dogs are passing by the
coyote could go berserk trying to get them and lots of biting will happen to all in the coyote’s way including
you I imagine.




Who is inside the fence?  The coyote? Or us?  The answer is obvious.


There is no coyote in this picture above.  Could be though.  The picture below is our backyard, unfenced part, and there is a
coyote present…almost invisible.  Coyotes have decided that urban life is OK and now seeing a coyote on your street is
common.  When i was a kid, decades ago, coyotes were almost fictional creatures skulking around the American west where
they originated.  Not so today.




HERE is a coyote story from Kent snd Jan Farrow

KENT FARROW…COYOTE STORY FROM WASAGA BEACH



Hi Allan…..love your backyard and farm and creatures that are lured to them.  We do not have coyotes at the cottage but we do have our passive fox(if there is such a thing at!  We are back to Wasaga after a 4 month stay at the cottage .  In Wasaga we have many coyotes that roam about feeding on rabbits and stray cats.  THREE winters ago we lost a yearling deer , who despite being protected by 5 other adults, was surrounded and consumed on the golf course fairway behind us.  All that was left were the two hind legs.  They take no prisoners when hungry especially when the snow is deep.  We are home for a few more days to let impending hurricane Ian pass and then back to ‘Hodge Podge Lodge ‘ to close up.  Stay safe!<image0.jpeg>

This would have been 3 winters ago when there was close to 18-20” of snow on the ground.  There was a small herd of dear wintering on the golf course….3 adults and two young ones.  We also had 2 coyotes trailing them .  I have them on my trail cam.  We heard the celebratory yipping noises and in the morning my son found the two hind legs.  We see them trotting across the farmer’s fields at times.  Any ways that is natures food chain I suppose.  After all, Wasaga is a Provincial Park.

Kent Farrow

Sent from my iPhone


Kent Farrow