This is the first of many great posts that will contain anecdotes and photos from my life.

Today is the last day for our swing set. It was 17 years ago that I installed this swingset for Colin's grading day present from grade primary (1988). All four boys spent many hours playing with their friends on it. The slide was the first to fall apart a few years ago and the main frame is starting to collapse. It is now time to take it down... a sad day for everyone.




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Devon is spending this week at a basketball camp in New Glasgow at one of the new high schools in the county. He is enjoying it very much but is complaining a little of having sore muscles. It is great that he has the opportunity to stay active this summer playing his favourite sport. He even got his hair cut in order to be able to see while playing. As you can see by the before and after photos taken on Sunday.




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Last week Adam told me about a piece of software that lets you speak to other people over the internet through their computers. You must have a microphone and speakers or headphones. It is also possible to have a conference call with some of the participants as Adam and Devon and I did last night. This software can also be used to call regular phones, anywhere in the world, from your computer at a cost of two cents per minute. (cheaper than any other carrier) All you need to do is go to www.skype.com and download the software and install it on your computer. The best thing about it is the price....free. I am waiting until some other family members have it installed so I can test the conference call features with more users. Here's to technology.

I downloaded a demo version of the genealogy program Reunion 8 today and found it to be everything and more than what I have been looking for in this type of software. I was using Family Tree Maker when I had a PC but it is not compatible with the MacIntosh platform. I want to be able to publish my family tree on the web and this program can do just that. I made the leap and purchased it today from one of the suppliers in Ontario. I now have over 500 names saved in the old program and will transfer them to Reunion 8 when the program arrives. Stayed tuned for the new updates to the family tree page.

My trips to visit Dad and Bev take me across the Kennebecasis River via the Gondola Point Ferry. My visits are usually for the weekend and I arrive at the ferry about 6:00 pm on Fridays, along with everyone else that is going to the Reach for the weekend. I usually leave an extra 30 – 40 minutes in my trip in order to wait in the line-up but this trip was much better, however, and I got across in a record 20 minutes. Both ferries were on and there were fewer cars than normal. It is always enjoyable to take the ferry over because it forces you to relax near the end of your trip. I hope they never build a bridge there!

This is just another chapter of the school system in the West Pictou area. A few short years ago there were three permanent buildings and a few portable classrooms at the West Pictou site. Now there is one. The old elementary school building that all four boys attended in now all but gone. The portables were the first to go and then the annex was torn down 4 years ago. With the decreasing population in the area and the building of the two new high schools only grades primary to eight are still on site. I hope the local politicians realize that we all have to work together and create a dynamic place to work and live. Here’s hoping.

Due to the fact the new neighbors have millions of kids, friends and dogs, Bev decided she needed her privacy back. A new fence was therefore in order. It looks great.




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