Alan Skeoch

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  • EPISODE 193 INVERLOCHY CASTLE, SCOTLAND….AND A 40 POUND TIP ($100) AFTER HIGH TEA

    EPISODE  193  INVERLOCHY CASTKE,,,ABD A $100 TIP AFTER HIGH TEA


    alan skeoch
    dec.  2020


    A strategic location

     

    The moat that surrounded the castle has long gone but the location at the western end of theGreat Glen and natural defensive postion against the River Lochy gave Inverlochy castle a superior advantage. The old Military Road built by General Wade passed right by the castle and can still be followed back in to Fort William.

    Originally dating back to the 13th century, Inverlochy Castle last played a part in Scottish and English history during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s. In 1645 the royalist Earl of Montrose routed the roundhead forces of the Campbell Chief Duke of Argyll at the second Battle of Inverlochy.

    ON A SUNNY AFTERNOON IN THE 21ST CENTURY A TOURING CANADIAN FAMILY HAD HIGH TEA…AND GAVE WHAT SEEMED AN APPROPRIATE TIP.


    “WOW, GABRIELA WAS A $100 TIP NECESSARY FOR A CUP OF TEA?”

    We had a lot of good times in Scotland a few years ago.  Touring.  Those carefree times that
    Covid 19 has relegated to the deep past.  However, One of our trips startled me a bit.  

    “There it is…Inverlochy Castle…a high end five star hotel and dining room…tops…let’s 
    have High Tea.”  said Gabriela.
    “Sure…can we afford it though?”
    “High tea…scones, clotted cream, tiny sandwiches, cakes, marmalade…we can afford that.”

    And it was a grand visit.  As we drove off…about 40 miles north…I offered to pay
    the bill.  “How much?”  Gabriela gave me the bill.

    “Holy Cow!   You gave them a 40 pound tip for a cup of tea.  $100!”
    “I did not, I gave 4 pounds…$10”
    “Nope…$100)
    So we turned around , drove back…and  the hotel staff were not the least bit
    upset and corrected our error.  They were quite used to big tips though.  This was
    a high end place.  Distillery money built the castle.

    Gabriela is  gone now.  But her memory lingers on.   Memory should  be joyful.
    Remembering the good times.

    A FIVE STAR SCOTTISH CASTLE…A VISIT BY HIGH SPENDING CANADIANS

  • EPISODE 192 MOVIE INDUSTRY … WHAT MAKES A MOVIE SEEM REAL

    EPISODE 192    MOVIE INDUSTRY … WHAT MAKES A MOVIE SEEM REAL


    alan  skeoch
    Dec. 2020

    DATELINE   DECEMBER 10, 2020
    LOCATION: SOUTHERN ONTARIO




    Possibly one of the worst days for anyone to work.  Covid 19 was spiking.  Hospitals across 
    North America were bursting.   ICU’s were above capacity and the death toll in the United
    States was above 3,500 … in just one day.   In Ontario, Toronto and Peel County were in
    lockdown and the worsening situation made further lockdowns very likely.  This  was a
    dark day like no other.  And the pandemic  seemed out of  control.

    It was also a big day for the movie industry.  Two huge 5 ton trucks had just arrived at the farm followed
    by two smaller trucks.  December 10 was loading day.   Marjorie and  I were nervous…only Woody
    the dog was relaxed.  He liked visitors and there had been precious few  of them.

    “Alan, wear a double mask and  keep away from the loaders…social distancing.”
    “Marjorie, I will not have time to document the loading…I will be on the ATV all day…could you keep a record with
    your iPhone?”
    “I will…but I will also be making hot chocolate and a snack for the men.”

    (She did make the hot chocolate but Woody  got the great chevron of  cheese and the cookies)

    But first:

    “Gather round everyone…socially distant but within earshot…I would like to make a short speech.”

    Seven men, all masked, formed a loose circle.

    “This is a dangerous day  for all of us.  Covid 19 is raging.  Hospitals are overflowing.
    The day is Particularly dangerous for Marjorie and  me since we are in he
    most vulnerable age group.  We have two 5 ton trucks to load with a huge number  of objects
    that you may find questionable. This will take the full day.  I know  it  is hard to work with
    the masks but it is necessary.  Please  respect both us and our collection…and be careful.”

    “OK, Rob, you are now in full command,” And the loading began. Really we had three movies
    to deal with.  Large objects were returned with big pieces from other movies.. while we  spent the day filling the two five tons.
    Only one man ignored the rules and kept his mask below his chin jeopardizing us all.  He must
    have been a believer in Donald Trump.   Should I say something?  I did not. It is impossible
    to speak to believers in Donald Trump.

    The day before I had spent several hours putting green markers on the items to 
    be loaded.   The day was cold but thawing.
    T

    Movie people  are  quite secretive lest the story gets out before the movie is completed.   Therefore  I cannot say much about
    the script.  My job  was to provide objects that made the movie set believable.  In this  case a  semi-derelict building with
    long forgotten objects from the recent and  distant past.   This was certainly not a beauty contest.  Nothing pristine.

    Those of you who have been following my stories…my adventures…about the decade in the mining exploration budiness
    might like to look closely at these caribou antlers.  A First Nation friend,  Moses  Lord,  gave them to me on the Yukon job.
    I crated  them and shipped them bak home much to the amusement of all including my Toronto boss, Dr. Norman Paterson.
    “At my expense, Norm, not yours…although you probably would not have complained”.   This is the first movie job  for the
    antlers…shipped in 1962…first earned their keep in 2020.



    In the late 1940’s, my brother and I built our own scooters from orange crates, 2×4’s and roller skates.
    When  the scooters got bashed  up…splintered…we just went to the back of grocery stores and
    got another orange crate.  Kids do not do that any more .  Why?   Oranges come in paper boxes.



    We worked  from 8.30 until 2.30 on the job.  Heavy work at times.  It is harder to breathe through
    the masks doing hard work but the crew followed the rules (with that one lone exception).  Breakage?
    yes, I heard  a loud crunch when crates of clay flower pots were put on the loading ramp.  Made me wince.

    “Alan, how do you know that our things will come back?”
    “We can but trust, Marjorie.”
    “How would our lives be different if  we were minimalists?”
    “Life would be pristine but bloody boring.”

    alan skeoch
    Dec. 2020

  • Fwd: EPISODE 191 .ROCKS ARE OUR BEST CROP



    Begin forwarded message:



    Subject: EPISODE 191       ROCKS ARE OUR BEST CROP

    EPISODE 187    ROCKS ARE OUR BEST CROP



    Jack and Sean were paid for this  job.  

    alan skeoch
    may 2020


    This is a story about rock  picking.


    THERE is a very moving  film called  THE FIELD with Richar Harris  as  a hardscrabble  Irish  farmer whose field  is  all he  has
    in life.   And  he is prepared to die to keep his Field.  I can identify with him.  There are 25 acres on our farm where meh grandparents
    made a living somehow.  7  o 8 acres are swamp or a term used  more fashionably the water acres  are called a  pond.  Another 10 
    acres are bush some of  which  we planted 60 years ago.  Red  pines…worthless for anything but pulp and hideaway locations for
    wild Turkeys.  

    There are two acres of sandy loam at the front of the farm but one of our sons  decided  to plant oaks and maples there
    one week-end.   Our garden soil disappeared.  Now, 20 years later,  he is scooping out the trees to be replanted on fancy avenues.
    Maybe we will get the good land  back but I am not holding my breath.   I will likely have to rely on My Field behind the swamp.

    That leaves my  two acre field…as seen below.   Our best crops are rocks.   Every year more rocks…and more rocks.
    Backbreaking work with a stone boat and  pull tractor.  Even with the bobcat the rock picking is  back breaking.

    Ten years ago i bought a  special hydraulic tractor for Marjorie for her  birthday.  She has  never driven  it but I try 
    to harrow our rock field with it annually.  Take a  look.  These rocks  come up every single year.

    How did  our grandparents ever make a living.?  Simple answer is they did not make a living.  They existed…house 
    with no indoor plumbing,  no electricity,  dirt floor basement, lots of small creatures living between the single layer of  bricks
    and the split lath pleasured walls.  Hiding place for snakes and mice and bugs.  

    Why send this?  Just in case one of you readers longs for the  good old days and are thinking of  buying a small farm.

    alan skeoch
    may 2020


    Now the field  looks a little cleaner.  How did it get this way?   One  summer day Jack Skeoch 
    and his  friend Sean were cycling by our house.


    “Hey,  boys, do you want to earn a  few bucks?”
    “Sure.”
    “I will  pay minimum wage  or better…”
    “Doing what?”
    “It’s a secret.”

    And that was the way I got the rocks picked  before we got the rock picker implement attached
    to the Bob cat.  Better than sending the boys to some sweaty  gym.  Outdoors.  But no girls
    which was a bit of  a  problem.



    The Big Snapper looked  like a rock.  She was burying her eggs…


    Now what to do with the stones.  My Cousin Eleanor and her husband  John built a large farm house with stones like these.
    That skill I do not have.   So we just dumped the stones  in the rock pile.  Every farm has  a place for stones.

    alan skeoch
    Dec 2020


  • EPISODE 191 HOW TO OPERATE A THREE FURROW DRAG PLOW (JUST HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PULL A STRING)

    EPISODE  191   HOW TO OPERATE A THREE FURROW DRAG PLOW (JUST HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PULL A STRING)


    alan skeoch’
    Dec. 2020

    THERE is no feeling like it.  Exhilerating.  All that machinery controlled by one short
    length of parachute chord.  Pull the chord hard…the three furrow plow drops and sods
    begin to turn.  Pull it again and  the plowshares  lift so you  can make your turn and then
    do it all over again.  Wonderful feeling.  I wish the IHC W6 and the old John Deere drag
    plow were willing when spring comes.

  • EPISODE 190 STATIONARY NEW HAMBERG THRESHING MACHINE…UNWELCOME ANYWHERE

    EPISODE 190   STATIONARY THRESHING MACHINE…UNWELCOME ANYWHERE FOR SOME STRANGE REASON


    alan skeoch
    dec.  2020


    NOW  THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL MACHINE…BUT I GUESS ‘BEAUTY IS ONLY
    IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER, NAMELY ME.



    My previous Episode 189 tells the story of my impulsive purchase of 4 thresing machines  at a Kitchener auction many years
    ago.  This is the story of the smallest of them.  It was made in New Hamberg, Ontario sometime between  1850 and 1900 and
    designed to sit on a barn threshing floor where the sheaves of wheat , oats or barley could be hand  fed into the threshing cylinder.
    Not many of these machines  have survived the change from small farms to large corporate farms.    As  a matter of  fact
    not many people would even know what the machine did.  IT could have had wheels at one time perhaps.

    About 20  or 30 years ago I gave the thresher to the City of Mississauga and  it was kept in the small barn beside the Bradley
    Museum.  Nothing was done to indicate the importance of the machine.  

    “That thing takes too much space”, some museum manager
    decided…with follow  up questions.
    “What is it  anyway?”
    “Why do we have it sitting there?”
    “Who gave it to us?” “Is there any paper work?”
    “Let’s get rid of it.”

    RING…RING…RING.
    “Hello, Alan, how would you like a small threshing machine?”
    “What colour?”
    “Sort of a faded orange…quite  old…stencilled says New Hamburg Manufacturing Company.”
    “Do you know where it came from?”
    “We have no idea.  No paper work.”

    “Well, let me tell you.  I gave the machine to the City of Mississauga.  It is an important artifact.
    “It was yours?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, we do  not want it anymore…come and get it.”  “Or it will be disposed  of …”

    Now that was a double shock…First, no one knew I gave it to the Bradley House museum decades ago
     Second, they were dumping the machine and just by chance called  
    All this at my personal expense…I felt badly treated  by my own city of  Mississauga.  
    Almost like I had backed up and dumped a load of garbage.  I still feel
    let down.   The ‘come and get it now’ phone  call was a real slap in the face.

    Sp I asked Andy to help once again.  This time no safe place in mind until after the pick up.
    I sent an email to the Wellington  County Museum…seemed a good fit since they have an
    immense historic  barn with lots  of room and  the thresher was designed for a threshing floor.
    No answer.  NO ANSWER!   Not just a ‘thanks but no thanks” but NO ANSWER AT ALL.

    So what to do?  “Andrew, we’ll  take the machine to Bill  Brooks…he owns a machine shop
    in Rockwood and has helped in the past.

    And that is where it rests today…two years later.

    Imagine that.  Here  I have a very rare ‘flat to the floor hand fed threshing machine … a rare machine …and
    no one has the imagination necessary to see that it is preserved for future  generations.


    After the urgent call…i.e”.Come and get it or it goes to the garbage dump”…my son Andrew helped immediately.  Then Bill Brooks and his brother Joe Brooks helped.
    They put it under cover where it sits today.  The thresher would look perfect in the Wellington County Museum. The  gigantic barn which  is near empty.  But no one will
    respond.   Bill Brooks  cannot keep  it forever.  And our barns  are full.  What should we do?


    Museums are loss leaders.   They do  not make money.  They take up space.  They are unnecessary.  Right?  


    alan skeoch
    Dec.  2020