Alan Skeoch

Author: terraviva

  • Fwd: EPISODE 127 Fall colours… sept. 2020 with an explanation

    NOTE…I REDUCED SIZE OF PICTURES…LESS CHANCE OF  OVERLOAD


    Begin forwarded message:


    From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>
    Subject: EPISODE 127 Fall colours… sept. 2020 with an explanation
    Date: September 26, 2020 at 10:56:25 AM EDT
    To: Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>, John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com>


    EPISODE 127     FALL COLOURS…2020    (with an  explanation)

    alan skeoch
    Sept .2020

    Here  are some of the fall colours that I am sending early  so that some of you or all of you can 
    get out and see them.  

    What about finishing the Violence theme?  I  know…I know.  The story is written but has to be changed.    

    I know or at least I hope you are looking forward to Part 2 of the Little Finger Story.  The reason I  am reticent to send it is that it seems
    too egocentric.  Who wants to hear about nice things that happen to some people. Who really cares  about my life story?  That is my
    problem,  The damn story just seems too egocentric.   When I get the nerve to send  it please forgive.

     My last year of high school made me very nervous.  There were failures.  It took me some time to understand that failures are common
    in life.  Lots  of them.  The important things is the response to failure.   That last year in high school taught me that great lesson.
    And then it turned into one of the best years of my life…followed by wonderful years at university.  It is written but I think I have to reduce
    the good things…sounds vain… like too much bragging. Like sitting with a person who only talks about himself or herself…triggering one
    thought,  “How the hell can I get away!”

    Here is a twist.   Someone asked me once why I went to university of Toronto back in 1959.  My answer
    came immediately.  “Hopefully to find  a wife.”  The way I figured out my life was that most things passed by…some in days, others months
    and years.  But marriage could  be a lifetime so therefore was  more important than all  others.

    How does this  connect to Football and my broken little finger?   Well, if I have the nerve you will see in the next Episode.  Meanwhile
    here are some pictures that are best right now.  In a month they will be skeletons.

    Let me put this story differently.  I hope readers  can look back at their lives and see that good  things happened sometimes  in the
    darkest hours.  When I taught high school some outstanding students  worried me the most.  They had never tased  failure and
    when failure happened as it does  in life they might have the greatest difficulty handling it.   The kids that tasted failure seemed  to
    have the best chance of success.   Too much failure, of course, is deadly.  

    Will I have the nerve to send Episode 128?  Maybe.  

    Meanwhile … get outside if you can…find a tree.

    alan skeoch
    Sept. 25, 2020

    P.S.   As I write this note on the last Saturday morning in September 2020, the Covid 19 cases are surging.   When I started writing these
    Episodes I expected them to number around  14 not 127.   We are in troubled times for sure so take care.   Our leadership at the top seems
    sound so let’s take the simple advice…wear a mask, wash your hands and keep socially distant.  You can do that and  still enjoy
    the fall colours.


  • EPISODE 127 Fall colours… sept. 2020 with an explanation

    EPISODE 127     FALL COLOURS…2020    (with an  explanation)

    alan skeoch
    Sept .2020

    Here  are some of the fall colours that I am sending early  so that some of you or all of you can 
    get out and see them.  

    What about finishing the Violence theme?  I  know…I know.  The story is written but has to be changed.    

    I know or at least I hope you are looking forward to Part 2 of the Little Finger Story.  The reason I  am reticent to send it is that it seems
    too egocentric.  Who wants to hear about nice things that happen to some people. Who really cares  about my life story?  That is my
    problem,  The damn story just seems too egocentric.   When I get the nerve to send  it please forgive.

     My last year of high school made me very nervous.  There were failures.  It took me some time to understand that failures are common
    in life.  Lots  of them.  The important things is the response to failure.   That last year in high school taught me that great lesson.
    And then it turned into one of the best years of my life…followed by wonderful years at university.  It is written but I think I have to reduce
    the good things…sounds vain… like too much bragging. Like sitting with a person who only talks about himself or herself…triggering one
    thought,  “How the hell can I get away!”

    Here is a twist.   Someone asked me once why I went to university of Toronto back in 1959.  My answer
    came immediately.  “Hopefully to find  a wife.”  The way I figured out my life was that most things passed by…some in days, others months
    and years.  But marriage could  be a lifetime so therefore was  more important than all  others.

    How does this  connect to Football and my broken little finger?   Well, if I have the nerve you will see in the next Episode.  Meanwhile
    here are some pictures that are best right now.  In a month they will be skeletons.

    Let me put this story differently.  I hope readers  can look back at their lives and see that good  things happened sometimes  in the
    darkest hours.  When I taught high school some outstanding students  worried me the most.  They had never tased  failure and
    when failure happened as it does  in life they might have the greatest difficulty handling it.   The kids that tasted failure seemed  to
    have the best chance of success.   Too much failure, of course, is deadly.  

    Will I have the nerve to send Episode 128?  Maybe.  

    Meanwhile … get outside if you can…find a tree.

    alan skeoch
    Sept. 25, 2020

    P.S.   As I write this note on the last Saturday morning in September 2020, the Covid 19 cases are surging.   When I started writing these
    Episodes I expected them to number around  14 not 127.   We are in troubled times for sure so take care.   Our leadership at the top seems
    sound so let’s take the simple advice…wear a mask, wash your hands and keep socially distant.  You can do that and  still enjoy
    the fall colours.

  • Errolr…I meant Shelter Valley Road and River…change the Instructions

  • EPISODE 126: SHELTER VALLEY ROAD TO WICKLOW BEACH TO RUTHERFORD’S FARM TO BRIGHTON AND HOME (EASY)

    EPISODE 126   SHELTER VALLEY ROAD TO WICKLOW BEACH TO RUTHERFORD’S FARM MARKET AND HOME


    We left Mississauga at 10 a.m. and drove east with no particular goal…all self-contained with
    lunch and water and Woody.  Those of you in semi isolation might like to duplicate the trip
    which is perfectly safe unless you have bad tires and a poor sense of direction.


    The Shelter Valley Road and Shelter Valley Creek run under the 401 with access from Highway 2 just a bit east of Port Hope.
    Likely you have driven overtop as these trucks are doing en route to Kingston or Montreal.  We parked, had lunch and walked on a
    trail to the Shelter Valley Creek…as  we have always wanted to do.


    the leaves are just breaking into colour…if you follow us you will even see briber colours.

    Marjorie packed a lunch…Ontario peaches and salmon sandwiches.


    the salmon are easy to spot at Port Hope in the Ganaraska River.    They are also present yet hidden under the 401 in Shelter Valley Creek. 
    Big ones.  Trapped there.  Do not tell anyone.  Promise?


    Wicklow Beach is long and lovely and so accessible at any point…three strides from truck to beach.


    Under the 401 and all alone


    On Highway 2 just outside Colborne is Rutherford’’s farm market…


    Free parking I thought until we saw this sign…but about half a mile on there is a huge free parking lot right on the beach.


    the wild asters are full of honey bees right now…Sept. 23, 2020

    Hiding under the shelter Valley Creek bridge are a bunch of big salmon, their backs sometimes out of the water…and
    no fishermen.

    The old canning factory in Brighton is now a huge antique market.


    The Ganaraska River runs through the centre of Port Hope.  It is one of the great salmon spawning Rivers in Ontario…and a visitor
    can almost touch the salmon.  No fee involved.


    Woody had a good time.  I know he looks forlorn…that is just one of his acts.


    This picture was taken just to show you where to  park on the Shelter Valley Road…room for two cars only.  Nobody there today.



    Wicklow Beach…now where on this planet is a beach more accessible.  Free.


    Next week the colours here will be orange, red, beige…etc.


    Even though there will be no halloween this year we bought 3 giant pumpkins for $20 and will carve them
    early with candles…why not?


    INSTRUCTIONS
    Drive east to Port Hope…south to centre of Port Hope…stop to look at the wild salmon struggling up the Ganaraska River…then
    drive east on Highway 2 to the Hidden Valley Road…left up the road for a mile to the 401 bridge…take a 10 minute stroll
    to the Hidden Valley Creek bridge…then drive back down to Highway 2 and continue east to the Wicklow Beach sign…turn right
    down a charming empty rural road to Lake Ontario…turn left when you hit Lake Ontario…you will find free parking just a few steps
    from the water…maybe go for a swim (we could have done so in the nude for the beach was empty…we did not do that…wish we
    had)…then continue east until a rural road cuts back left to Highway 2…drive east to Rutherford’s market…spend a few dollars…giant
    pumpkins at $8 each (loss leaders…who could make profit at that price?)…..then continue east to Brighton…there is a
    delightful Antique store on the north side before you get to Brighton…nice man owns it…high end stuff at very reasonable prices…
    and there is another giant collectibles story in the old canning factory in Brighton.

    By the time we got to Brighton it was 4 p.m. so we headed home…got back at 6.30…sun still shining…trip took 8.5 hours with many
    many stops. 

    Next visit we will try to reach Picton but if we fail then we fail…In the past we have driven to Picton and stayed
    overnight with fancy suppers…but not now for the spectre of Covid 19 hangs over  us all.   Peaches, salmon
    sandwiches and giant raw red peppers were better than some fancy dinners  anyway.

    You do not need to follow our trail…make up your own trail.   You are unlikely to confront Covid 19 unless
    you blow a tire.

    My cousin Christopher lives in the County…so if we blew a tire he would put us up no doubt…as long as we
    were masked and socially distant.  What a weird world we live in at present.  We never gave that terrible Covid 19
    threat much thought today.

    alan and marjorie

    P.S>   I had hoped to buy a six pack of Barley Days beer on the Picton Road…but failed.  So there must be a next time.
    Sept. 23, 2020

    We really should have stopped down and waded into the lake.  Marjorie was in favour.  I was more modest.  Kick
    myself for not doing it.

  • EPISODE 125 MARJORIE HOLDS A LUNCHEON DURING THE PANDEMIC. WILL SHE BE VOTING FOR BIDEN OR TRUMP?

    EPISODE 125    MARJORIE HOLDS  A LUNCHEON…FOLLOWS THE RULES


    alan skeoch
    Sept .2020




    NO JOKING MATTER…I SHOULD NOT MAKE LIGHT OF THE FEAR THAT ENVELOPS US ALL…BUT I COULD
    NOT RESIST.  


    The real story is that Marjorie had a luncheon for retired school teachers at our farm…8 of them…social distancing and face masks were worn
    except when eating. 

    Just for the hell of it, I held a fake rally outside our barn at the same time.  What is the difference? Who would organize my
     rally…President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden.?  

    On the same day, Sept 22, 2020,  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke the all Canadians.  The Covid 19 virus has arrived again
    and could be worse than the original viral Pandemic.

    On the same day, Sept. 22, 2020, fourteen party goers in Scarborough who ignored both masks and social distancing were
    each fined $880.  Will they pay their fines? 

    alan skeoch
    Sept. 1010