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Very often, in writing this diary, we tell of the less pleasant things, as well as some of the good things about the area. Our purpose in providing this information is to enable buyers to beware. No-one else will tell you the unpleasant things about an area. We have never seen information like this made available before. Buying a home is the most expensive investment you will ever make. We are not sales people. Apart from our own homes, we do not own any property in the area. Please do not write to us telling us the good things about this area .. any sales person or the local tourist office can provide that information. Of course, they are only interested in selling. That is the only information they want you to know. For other such matters of interest about Guelph go to http://www.sentex.net/~oficserv/Guelph.html

Thursday 30th November 2000

The last day of November already. We had enough snow that it settled, but during the past week the temperature was up to 7 above, we had some rain and the snow was washed away.

I haven't been anywhere or done anything recently. Very boring! I had been saving up to have a vanity and faucet set replaced in my bathroom. The old second-hand vanity was crazed and didn't look very hygienic. The taps were just about due to have their washers replaced anyway. Also the supply pipes didn't have proper cut-off taps under the sink. Mr. Jay Smordin of About Plumbing (who is a Master Plumber with many years experience) did a very neat job, as usual, with his assistant, Doug. It makes up for having a very boring couple of months .. to have a new set in the bathroom with sparkling crystal-top tap.

Friday 24th November 2000

Since Sunday we have had frequent snow and some squalls. Buffalo area had severe off-lake snow and the city closed down. Glad we don't have to bother about that any more.

It has also been very cold - windchill down to -25ºC.

I was annoyed again by local children. I had put a piece of equipment at the front boulevard with a sign:"FREE" - in the hope someone would be able to recycle it. Instead, children came along in the afternoon and smashed it. This is an incredibly rotten town (Guelph) for spoilt brats. I really wish I could afford to move.

So, these pieces of human excrement caused me to have to :
* Spend 3/4 hour calling different departments of the local government (most of whom did not reply), trying to find out where and if I would be permitted to dump the equipment.
* Spend money and time and gasoline - driving across town.
* Strain my back picking up the heavy piece of equipment.
* Spend more money and waste of time at the dump.
* Waste more money and time using medical services for my back etc.

Over the past couple of years other people's children have cost me hundreds of dollars in damage repairs and waste of time fixing things. If they don't want children why the hell do they have them? Surely they can get themselves fixed!

Sunday 19th November 2000

This morning the snow showers began to settle. .. fortunately not sufficient accumulation to require shovelling - so I was able to go for a long walk. The sun came out and sunglasses were necessary. Even with a windchill of -11ºC I was still very warm after walking fast for an hour.

On Friday I was totally ticked!! My home assessment arrived. In spite of the lack of services in this town and the really crummy area I see that my city taxes have increased by 45% in the last three years. Is this to finance all the new building that has taken place? .. not to speak about the developers and politicians who are on the make! (See what others think about this also at http://www.sentex.net/~oficserv/Guelph.html ).

Friday 17th November 2000

The weather is slowly deteriorating. We have snow showers today again, but the temperature is about 3, so it is not settling.

To my surprise both the candidates I voted for won in the local elections. Actually I was a bit disappointed because they have left wing affiliations! Trust me .. I should have been listening to all the information. People say that this will not affect their performance, but I doubt this is true. Politicians - and anyone else for that matter - tend to be affected by their radical political inclinations:

If a person is Conservative then (to me) that means capitalist. Capitalists believe in earning their own, saving and investing their own and insuring their own. They have their own ideas. They start businesses and invest their capital. They like to get every penny from their ideas and factories. This policy taxes the Labour people most severely.

If a person is New Democratic Party then (to me) that means Labour. Labour expect to have jobs provided, they are not entrepreneurs, they do not start factories and earn using their own ideas. They hope to be cared for and to have everything worked out for them. This policy taxes the entrepreneurs most severely.

If a person is Liberal then (to me) that means free to go either way and they try to be generalists. It makes sense (to me) that Canadians have been Liberal. So many of them worked on the land and had to be generalists. It certainly is a difficult role - to be really fair to everyone.

Add to these policies the fact that, as soon as people find themselves in a powerful position they do the following things:

Use the public money for themselves
Become corrupt
Practice nepotism
Practice graft, bribery and coersion

Occasionally politicians do none of those things .. then they go down in history as being exceptional and sometimes even become saints. Often they are assassinated.

Monday 13th November 2000

Today was polling for local council officers. I had not taken much interest in local politics until recently. The only reason I am interested now is that I see so much apparent influence by developers and no attention being paid by people who actually live here. I think it totally inappropriate that council officers should meet privately with developers at any time. So far as I am concerned they should meet only at the proper meetings, state their interests and discuss everything above-board.

Until this week the weather had been really pleasant. Beautiful sunny days and calm nights. We have had an easy time this year. The temperature has been 10 to 14 during the day.

On Saturday I went to see the amazing "Charlie's Angels". What a magnificent, noisy, giggly, acrobatic romp! I really enjoyed it very much. Being a senior has its' compensations.

Wednesday 1st November 2000

This afternoon I collected my beloved Moose from the vet's office. He had been kept in the cold storage overnight, as I couldn't manage to lift him on my own. It felt so strange to collect him .. in a black plastic bag. I don't think I will ever be happy about this decision, although everyone I speak to thinks I did the right thing. I am sure he would have gone on his own very shortly.

I stopped on the way out to the farm, as it is quite a long drive. The weather, for the past two weeks, has been spectacular. Temperatures about 18ºC, brilliant blue skies. So it was this afternoon. I undid the bag and straightened Moose out. His lovely face was spoiled and he had obviously departed.

The farmer had very kindly dug an immense grave for Moose, big enough for a large human being. Well, that was about the size of Moose's love and spirit. .. and, as Forrest Gump would say, that's all I have to say about that.

My sincere thanks to Crimson Lace Golden Retriever Farm. Providers of excellent companion dogs .. and the friendship and love to go with them.

Return to other months of Diary from Canada at http://www.sentex.net~oficserv/Canlet.html

Link to the Movies Pages at "movies.yahoo.com"

Visit a site for many photographs of North American Birds and animals.

Rhona Raskin Home Page at http://www.rhona.com.