By Elaine Nyeholt
Many years of de-decorating in the icy cold of January has been avoided this year. Most of the outside lights have been taken down earlier than usual. Prudence did it.
It disappoints me to note that the “old” Christmas lights lasted for years and years, with new bulbs as needed, while the “new” strings of power-smart lights burn out… not the bulbs but the strings, and quite quickly. I get two seasons perhaps per string. So, where is the economy in that? They just fill up the dump sites.
In the building of our new house, the lightbulbs have been LED, naturally. They are not the long-lasting bulbs promised with 12,000 hours etc., and I find that false advertising and very annoying. They cost a lot of money, but other than that, they are not a good product in our experience. I have “old” light bulbs we are still using, which have been used for years and years. Apparently an original Edison bulb still works somewhere in the world. Okay, sorry, I am officially ranting.
Many people around town have expressed a decidedly “enough” attitude about turkey and ham for a while! I can’t disagree, but we are very blessed to have such a complaint. We are moving on to homemade soups, chili, stews… It’s a good thing, ‘specially with homemade biscuits. Winter food has a lovely long, slow-cooking aromatherapy about it that cannot be denied. It is my favourite food time… everything tastes better when the smell has tantalized me all afternoon.
Delta Kids Club is busy again on Wednesdays after school.
The Seniors Branch 123 have agreed to host a Looney Auction luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Multiplex to raise funds for the Cancer Society. This seems to be the only fundraising on these islands lately, so your donations and attendance are appreciated. Soup and bun lunch will be offered from noon to 3 p.m.
Museum memberships allow free entrance to the museum exhibits all year long, and are available for only $10 per year from the museum staff. What a bargain!
The doctor is available for us in Masset on Friday, Jan. 19 and 26, and here in the Port clinic on Jan. 23, 30 and 31.
The Book Club meets on Jan. 22 to discuss Icefields by Thomas Wharton, starting at 7 p.m. in the Seniors Room.
January has no scheduled Rod and Gun shoots, but on Feb. 18 there will be a .22 shoot in the afternoon.
The Thrift Shop in Charlotte is open again and was missed on our forays there. It is always a pleasant interlude. So, now we can de-clutter and take stuff back to what is likely the original source. I know the girls in my life have outgrown a lot of shirts and pants, but getting them to part with them has to be done stealthily.
I still have to put away one of my Christmas trees. I enjoy the cheery light in the evening. It is light now at 5 p.m. though, so that seems to have come quickly!
Badminton should be starting up again now, at the school gym. Watch for posters around town.
The Rec Commission is sponsoring a by-donation Movie Night tonight at 7 p.m. The movie is Despicable Me 3. The children really enjoy this movie and are happy to watch it repeatedly, especially with their friends.