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FEAR: “ALAN, WE ARE GOING TO DIE!”

FEAR…FEAR…FEAR…FEAR…FEAR

FEAR changes people.  The picture above is Marjorie today in 2018.  The picture below was taken in 1994 HIGH above western Newfoundland. We were wedged in an old Cessna 170 about 2,000  feet above the  Strait of Belle Isle heading north to L’Anse aux Meadows, one of the most mysterious UNESCO world heritage  sites  on this planet.   Why the fear?  Lots of reasons…Lots of reasons.

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Dad and Alan Skeoch…plowing and cultivating – ONE GLORIOUS SUMMER, 5th line, Erin twp, Wellington county

Subject: Dad and Alan Skeoch…plowing and cultivating – ONE GLORIOUS SUMMER, 5th line, erin twp, wellington county
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2018 23:04:02 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Alan Skeoch, Marjorie Skeoch

ERIN TOWNSHIP, WELLINGTON COUNTY, 5063 FIFTH LINE: HARDSCRABBLE FARMING WITH RED SKEOCH AND HIS SON

DAD may have called me A ‘goddamn fool’ but he did not mean it.  Actually he loved  fooling around with the old horse drawn junk I bought at auction sales.

“Keep the  goddamn tractor in a straight line, I’ll manage the plow.  I could do a lot better with a team of horses that’s for sure.”
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BUILDING A SCALE MODEL TRUCK FOR KIDS: around 1976 … GOOD TIMES.

Subject: BUILDING A SCALE MODEL TRUCK FOR KIDS: around 1976 … GOOD TIMES.
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2018 18:21:52 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Marjorie Skeoch

Kids  arrived in droves  after  I built the truck  in my garage and wheeled it out to the front lawn.  Flattering.  Kevin, with the gun, looks about 8 or so…making the year of the picture 1976.  That’s Andrew on the left.
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COLD CHINESE CHECKERS IN WINTER FARM HOUSE

Subject: COLD CHINESE CHECKERS IN WINTER FARM HOUSE
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2018 11:30:30 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Marjorie Skeoch
BOARD GAMES!  HOW  JUVENILE!   Well, that may be so, but Marjorie  and  I play  about 20 games a week.  So  farm I have been  a winner of most but Marjorie  is catching up.  When she does, the  game will end.  Sore loser.   The kitchen of the farm house is about 9 degrees…cold.  Has been  so  ever since we moved  the wood  stove to the scrap yard and converted to central  heating.  Who can  afford central heating?  Grandma and  Grandpa  Freeman lived in this single room all winter…so cold in the rest of the house that there  were always icicles  and frost on the furniture.  They made do…probably played Chinese  checkers as well.   The checker board is home  made.

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KEVIN AND ANDY AND MARJORIE…LOADING FOR MOVIE FEB. 16, 2018

Subject: KEVIN AND ANDY AND MARJORIE…LOADING FOR MOVIE FEB. 16, 2018
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2018 11:17:17 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Kevin Skeoch ; Marjorie Skeoch; Gabriela Skeoch; Eric Skeoch; Alan Skeoch
This was  a bitterly cold  day…wind blowing icy air…Kevin and Andy  helped me load some ‘diamond quality’ set and prop material  for the Movie ANNE (of Green Gables)…Marjorie arrived in the barn to finish off the job.  Note Kevin holding  our recent acquisition, a playground  horse on a huge spring.   I had a scrap  yard spring welded  to an aluminium horse… by Bill Brooks  down the  road, just in case  you have a similar wedding planned for two  pieces that would  otherwise be called junk.   If you need  to understand the sheer joy of this venture then consult  the famous  ‘Acres of Diamonds’ speech, one of the most famous speeches ever made.
alan
PS  Try walking in winter with your toes  exposed then you might understand  how I  felt wearing my big plastic Boot that is supposed to help  my torn Achilles tendon.  The Boot was not designed for winter walking.  Toes were  ready to be snapped  off and put in a fine drink by evening.  Fine drink? Sure,  Like that Dawson  City speciality.  Never heard of  it?  Do a  search.

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Skeoch farm. for ZANA Feb 10 2018 (and others)

Subject: Skeoch farm. for ZANA Feb 10 2018 (and others)
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:09:58 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Zana Ancerl
Feb. 10, 2018  Skeoch Farm: Miserable day

HI ZANA,

We did the best we could in tough conditions.  See pics below.  The short pipe and  knuckle fell off somewhere in deep snow…searched  until dusk but no luck…It can be faked  or replicated by your carps…you have one as a copy so should  be easy.
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alan

Subject: alan
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 13:04:12 -0500
From: Alan Skeoch
To: Eric Skeoch

Hi Good news today…NO OPERATION…HEALING although i will have to wear the cursed Boot for another 6 weeks.

Physiotherapy can start in earnest which is good I saw a lot of miserable people at hospital today…sat there for 3 hours…then saw doctor for 3 minus…he touched my foot and said to see him in 6 weeks…for three seconds…then took one riser out of the cursed Boot. No ultra sound just visual. Do not have to sleep with boot on anymore. The oddest thing about this whole affair is that doctors (Have seen 5 or 6) have never really touched my foot. Only the Physiotherapist has given it a a real rubbing. Female. Touched me!!! Wow! Law suit maybe. A visit to the hospital makes me realize how very lucky I am. really should volunteer to help out I have signed up for a climb to Mount Everest in early April. Marjorie does not approve but realizes I will need a holiday by April…and the last time I fell from a mountain was 3 years ago in France. Bit wiser now. My biggest worry? Worried that my curling team will forget I even exist…they are doing so well without me. Will I be better for one or two of our last games.  Wish I could say yes…must look at calendar.

alan