Some more Hopedale shots.

View of older part of town.

Little brook on rocks.

Rock hockey in Hopedale [Frans words not mine] Fran and Kendra.


Dog teams summer place.

What's left of the Old Hopedale DEW line site.

graffiti, highest point of site, view east, not too shabby is it?

The more things change the worse things get.

NL Minister for Transport John Hickey was interviewed by CBC Goose Bay this morning. The interview mainly centered on roads in Quebec, kind of strange, or is it just me. Mr. Hickey said he will be seeking a meeting with the Quebec counterpart to urge them to start work on upgrading the 389 that links to the Tran Labrador Highway. See here
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/08/30/quebec-labrador.html

Problem with all this talk I see is, I have not heard any announcement that the Feds are anteing up their portion for either the TLH or the proposed work on roads in the lower North Shore, until we hear that all is a mute point and just baffle gab as both governments have said any work is contingent on Federal monies...sigh.

In keeping with CBC Goose BayÂ’s policy of not covering stories that effect the North Coast there was no mention of the Ministers recent visit to the North Coast, like the day before yesterday.
The Northern Ranger service and operation continues to regress, roads can do with some upgrading, fresh food that is either flown in of boated in continues to regress just to name a few issues, yet no mention from CBC, or the Minister, onwhetherr this was talked about on his visit.

Given the lack of coverage of anything Northern Labrador by CBC of late I have thought up a new name for the Goose Bay operation; SCLBC or South Central Broadcasting Corporation.

More on Hopedale.

While in Hopedale I noticed that some work was being done at the old cemetery [grass being cut revealing old headstones].
With not much to do one day I wandered in to have a look. About 30 headstones had been revealed, all lying on the ground. Some were legible, some not, all but two were of burial places of woman, all were German by the look of it.
The oldest one that I could make out was inscribed; Elizabeth Schneider 25th march 1721 Boatswain [as best I could make out] Moravia 23 Dec 1797.
Another ; Beata Glitsch 3 Maerz 1842. Also; Beath Beck 5 juny 1846.
Beatus Elsner 4 July 1852.
Beatus Bubser geboron den 23 Mar 1854.
One was just inscribed; Mathilde Jnnuiertok 1804 angerartok Oct 1857.

I presume the whole cemetery will be cleared some time, quite a large job.

Credit Due.

I received my August 12 Bell ExpressVu bill on Friday. It was much anticipated given the reception problems and my constant interaction over the last six weeks with ExVu, CRTC, Telesat.
The bill is four pages of some what confusing charges and credits, some items I have been charged for I do not remember asking for in my package, I will deal with them on that later.
The bottom line is that in the AMOUNT DUE I have a credit of 25.34 bucks. That’s not too shabby seeing as I pay out the full amount owing, and on time, each month. So I have a free month and 25.34cr.
I wonder if all ExVu customers received the same treatment, I know of several customers here who have received a credit, but the problem was northern Canada wide.
The problem of low signal strength on numerous transponders still exists; I’m waiting on a clear sunny work day to call my contact at Telesat to try tweaking the signals up some what. Not sure how much change can be effected; if it is in the NOT MUCH category then ExVu will have to rearrange their pricing packages to reflect the constant disruption to our viewing pleasures.
One other thing of note that is missing from the bill, no indication of why I was given the credit, no apology for the angst caused by ExVu policy of ‘admitt nothing’ and ‘blame the customer’. Because of my contact with knowledgeable technical people in this field I did not go through many of the hoops and expence ExVu put other customers through, ExVu bad.

Scene's taken on Northern Ranger, 23 Aug. lll

Having fun or whar?

The two guys who cleaned up the lounge.

Tourists and locals mingle.




Scallop dragger in the run.

Scene's taken on Northern Ranger, 23 Aug. ll

A couple of young Nainimuks cleaned up the lounge, then numerous people did sessions on the guitars and these two ladies sang along to "Labradorimut", I choked a bit.

It was a magnificent day to be on the water heading into Nain, no wonder people put up with the third world provincially operated ferry service; but for how much longer? One has to ask.

Scene's taken on Northern Ranger, 23 Aug.

Couple more pics of Hopedale.

Amaruk Inn and part of origianl community.
Rear of Moravian church complex.

Some shots from Hopedale trip.

1. Fran enjoying the streets of her youth.
2. New subdivision.
3. Moravain [front of] mission complex.



4. Showers over the airstrip
5. Lonely husky.

So my search for the PWG on the North Coast of NL came up empty. Not even a flag pole at the main building complex in Hopedale.

No sign of any PWG in the new or older sections of town [you will have to take my word for it]. Actually there was a dearth of flags of any type or color. I only noticed two flags, the washed out faded ones of the new Nunatsiavut Government, and I hope they asked for their money back on that lot, very poor quality indeed.
I only made it to the dock in Natuashish but I am positive that not a one PWG flag would be found there either; you will have to trust me on that too.

There was a lot of great rock formations, here’s just two in B&W.

In search of the elusive PWG.

After an unsuccessful search of the town for the allegedly prevalent PWG flag I leave today for Hopedale to continue, where I’m almost positive my search will be just as fruitless.
For those not familiar with the PWG, it is a flag of old, it was flown, I’m told, in Newfoundland many years ago to represent the colony, then self governed Newfoundland, or at least some aspects of same. In modern times the PWG has been taken up by Newfoundland nationalists and disgruntled townies, or so I’m told.
While I’m on my search I will take the chance to visit some of my in-laws, and spend some time with Fran, who took the Northern Ranger down on Wednesday.
For the record, all the flags I did come across, and there are many on cars, boats, flag poles, were maple leafs, tri color Labrador flags, and the most prevalent being the washed out looking one with the Inukshuk on it[they got’a do something about that]. I do remember seeing the flag of NL up poles at times, but only on special events it seems.

At the moment it is planed that we will return on the next run north of the Ranger. I love that trip; alas the Ranger is worse for wear and lack of care.

After a cool several days down in the single digits we are back up into the high teens, even into low twenties at times. The little garden of flowers I planted out front is finely starting to show some color, lot’s of people stopping to have a look. My second crop of lettuce is starting to show promise, and the few tomato plants are slowly stretching up, will bring them inside after September and have fresh tomatoes for Christmas, I hope.

Being a cloudless day yesterday I called the Telesat honcho to see if he could do more tweaking with the weak ExpressVu signals. He called back and we went through all the transponders again. He seemed puzzled by the read outs and has to go over them with other folk at Telesat. We will get together again when I return from Hopedale. I still have not heard from ExpresVu in any follow up from my complaints to CRTC, except the one call from their Toronto office a couple of weeks ago.

Friendly Port.

I'm assuming that the 'Atlantic Future' came in out of the gale yesterday. Quitted down today, but still lot of low cloud and fog with drizzle. Most of the scallop boats are out today, busy at the plant with two shifts now.

From the photo memory book.

On the way to Watson's Bay by ferry, Sydney Harbor, August 2001


Aimee and Fran on the path above The gap, Sydney 2001.



Third picture is of the top of The gap. Years ago this spot was used quite often for people who were fed up with life as they new it. The is a fence right along, but it is only about 4 feet high.

The weather is wanked dudes.

See, the weather forecaster people get it right at times, like if you predict something for long enough it will happen. Yesterday was RDF all day, today we have some serious rain and the wind is picking up to a mini gale. I would not want to be out in a tent in this sure, but I know some who are, my thoughts are with you.

Things quite on the strike at the mine. A few of the lads have peen picketing near the VBNC office all week; they finely had some ‘official’ signs come in. The Nunatsiavut Government has again called for both sides to get back to the table. Leader William Andersen says that the government will not get involved on either side. Guess that puts the kybosh to appeals from some of the strikers asking the Nunatsiavut Govt. to do an early release of the next five thousand dollar pay out to beneficiaries. This pay out is over a couple of years, it goes by age groups starting with the older to the younger. I won’t comment on this as I thought it was a stupid thing to do with monies that are already in short supply. OK, I did comment.

Given it’s such a gloomy day I thought I would get into something different. Noticed these pictures, taken from a cell phone [mobile down under] by cablog.com/au

First one is the sky line of Sydney taken from a walking path near The Gap at Watson’s Bay. Now if you want to talk about great harbors of the world Sydney sure can not be left out. From memory they don’t empty untreated sewage into it either, but that’s another story.


Second picture is part of the cliffs at The Gap, you cam make out the walking path, and some seriously dangerously situated houses. Back down the hill towards the harbor are a couple of attractions visitors to Sydney should not avoid. The Watson’s Bay Hotel and Doyle’s restaurants and take out fish and chips on the wharf.
You can get there by road, but by far the best way is a ferry from Circular Key near the bridge. In my travels I’d forgotten what great fish and chips are really like. There are many good spots to get F&C in Oz, but it is hard to beat the setting and atmosphere at Watson’s Bay. We stopped in on our visit in 01. You order your meal; everything is fresh and cooked as you order. You can sit at some of the tables on the wharf, take away, or just stroll to the park and sit down with the sea gulls. I had battered flathead, fresh oysters, and chips. The others went for crab, chips and mussels.

The hotel has an outdoor restaurant, part of which is on the beach fronting the harbor. It was quite crowded on our visit, so we strolled in the park after scoffing most of meal at a table on the wharf.
It sure is a pleasant way to while away some hours.

On the Bell ExpressVu front there have been developments of sorts. On Friday a little birdie told me that some one from ExVu had been making inquiries of some of their customers by phone. Customers were asked if they were having troubles of the reception kind. Response was in the affirmative. Customers were then asked if they knew of me, and CRTC was mentioned, but I'm not sure of the context.
Interesting indeed.

Won the battle, not yet the war.

I was able to watch my beloved McNeil News Hour last evening, the first time in weeks. All the offending transponders on the ExpressVu system were up with readings in the low to high 60Â’s. Still not high enough for bad weather, but ok for sunny to cloudy.

The news hour was a little disappointing though; the whole hour was taken up by reports and interviews on the latest arrest of alleged terrorists in England. While I agree that this is very news worthy, and some things need to be reported to the public for their safety, I do not think there was enough information on who, what, where for this story to take up so much of an hour news program. Of course CNN was blanket coverage, with little to nothing new to report for hours on end.
I did see some where a report of how the recent cease fire in Darfur has resulted in 27 thousand more people being displaced, and the atrocities on the increase. Also mentioned some where was a report stating that the authors of the report thought that the westÂ’s attitudes and approach to the problems in Africa border on racist. Well color me white!

The balmy weather continues, lot of cloud and light rain at times, but it gets up to the middle to high teens most days.
We were expecting a visit from old work mates of FranÂ’s these past two days. They were on a small [90Ft] cruise ship. The ships itinerary was flexible, but it was indicated it would get into Nain. Unfortunately no sign of her, bummer really, Fan was excited with the prospect of seeing these people after 30 years, thems the breaks.

Hassle Inc.

I have read places that Bell ExpressVu is a company that is some what difficult to deal with when problems arise with their sytem.

Well we up in the northern latitudes can now attest to that sure. For around six weeks an unknown number of customers of ExVu have been calling about weak to no signal on about 8 transponders. As I have mentioned before, the run around was given in no uncertain manner, even when many customers tried to explain that this was a community or regional problem the same spiel was given, “it is only an isolated issue, check this check that”. This went on for many weeks. One could be excused for thinking there was some sort of avoidance here on the part of the company. At best there is a distinct lack of coordination and correlation in their technical help system. The dots should have been connected a lot sooner as to a wide ranging problem.
After checking with a variety of sources over a fairly wide geographic area, it became clear to me that something was amiss, either with uplink or down link with the satellite.

After many phone calls, e mails to ExVu, and the CRTC, I finely received a call on the evening of the 8th from a person in the executive office of ExVu. He admitted there was a wide ranging problem, mainly in the northern latitudes, and from BC to NL to Nunavut.
So the admittance of a problem was there, unfortunately no idea given as to what the problem was, or how long to correct it. Also not given to me was any promise of re imbursements for the lost programming.
Earlier on the same day I had called Telesat, who operate the satellite, so I already had information as to the wide ranging area of the problem. Telesat did not admit to what the problem was, just that their was a problem.

So we sit and wait. Not for long though, yesterday I get a call from a gentleman at Telesat, he asked me if I would be kind enough to help with monitoring the signals while he attempted to set things right. I agreed to do this, in for a penny in for a pound as they say.

So he called back in the afternoon and I spent an hour on the phone as he came and went doing what ever it was he was doing. Seems there were other people on the line with him also. The end result was that all the problem transponders had their signal strength raised, some substantially, others just a small bit.
What made it more difficult is that just as he called to do the corrections it started to rain in Nain, so this affected any accurate test of the signal strength. So it was left until the weather patterns clear and we will most likely do it again.
There was some interference last evening as usual, but not as bad as previous. This morning the signals are up, but the main effects are as the sun goes down and into the early evening, when all the good shows and news are on, so we await again with crossed fingers.

We will also wait to see what Bell ExpressVu comes up with in the restitution field. I have spoken to several people who are fed up, and if they get treated like this again, or are not treated fairly with some rebates, then they are going to look else where for their television service.

In like a lion, out like a ?????????

I zoomed passed the LG and his entourage [on my 18 speed] as they came out of the Nunatsiavut offices yesterday. They were all spruced up in their suites and uniforms, quite fitting I suppose.
Unlike we first were told, Ed departed the HMSC Montreal here and headed back south. Seemed a bit of a let down, arrive on a Halifax-class frigate; depart on a scheduled run of a Dehavilland twin Otter. Word is that a helicopter owned by a keen political party supporter was supposed to pick Ed up for the trip south; it did not work out for unknown reasons.

Speaking of things that don’t work out; I have it on good authority that a recent run of the Sir Robert Bond was a little over crowded. There were people who embarked at Cartwright for the run to Goose Bay who not only could not get a birth, but could not get a seat to sit on. Standing up for any length of time, because there are no available seats, is not what one would call ‘having a vision for the future of tourism in the province’.

After the long weekend I will be back on the attach with Bell ExpressVu, Telesat and the CRTC over the on-going satellite signal problems, going on for 7 weeks now. It’s very frustrating and humiliating the way people get treated by the corporate agenda and there public minions, but I’m determined to get this thing resolved, not that I’m alone, but you can’t get ExVu to admit any one else has the same problem and has reported it.

Monday Morning.

It's a civic holiday in town today, not lot's going on, lot of people "gone off", some hanging around for the Lt. Governor who came in early on the Montreal, anchored off. The Moncton is at the dock.

CBC was reporting that the strike at VBNC in Voisey's Bay could last up to two months. Inco claim to have enough concentrate stockpiled to last awhile. There is a good pile at the dock up the bay, strikers are talking about blocking any attempt to get it out to Ontario or Manitoba.

More this n that.

What a beautiful weekend to date. Warmer again, nice breeze keeping bugs to a minimum.
Lot of action down the dock last evening what with the coast guard vessel Mathew in for a crew change and fuel. Then the scallop boats lining up at the crane to off load the days catch, plus local speed boats arriving back from fishing, hunting etc. Very nice idyllic scene indeed.
Not sure why they have allowed six boats to drag for scallop, the plant is not really geared up for that many boats, seems an ideal number would be no more that four.

No more word on the strike at Voisey’s Bay mine, not sure how long VBNC can keep a couple of hundred workers over there without production, if that’s what’s really happening.

The whole town has been invited to break bread with Ed tomorrow. The queen’s representative Lt. Governor Ed Roberts is due in for a few hours. I’m told he is coming in on another coast guard vessel, the Montreal. Also supposed to be in is the Moncton. Busy little harbor sure.
Ed is supposed to go as far north as Saglek, the ships will head on up to Nunavut with some Rangers on board. It’s the usual showing of the flag thing, sovereignty and all that. Plus everybody and his dog wants to make an appearance at the new Torngat National Park reserve.

After several days of total frustration with dealing with a Canadian company and there stunned help line system [Bell ExpressVu] it was a welcome relief to deal with an American company. Had occasion to call the Continental Airlines lost baggage help line desk. First call I spoke to an Asian sounding man who was very helpull and friendly, he helped sort out the incorrect and incomplete information in their system. I had to call back late last night as the luggage was to be delivered to St.John’s before heading up here. A lady with a distinct southern drawl was also very helpful, and did not mind one bit that she did not know where the hell Nain was in relation to YYT. So get off your bloody high horse Canada corporate, your second rate by a long shot.
The luggage is still a big if, one piece is not located and one is in St.John’s to be sent up tomorrow, but the whole experience of dealing with people who seem to know what they are doing, and do not mind things being pointed out to them, was quite up lifting.

Not sure if this story spreads an ominous cloud over Goose Bay or not. http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=43f1becd-1cfe-452d-982f-53e29ca0d7d5 One could wonder how many special reaction troops does Canada need, or better yet can recruit. The number seems familiar; the PC’s were promising 750 for Goose Bay. Maybe the NL nationalists are not fear mongering all that much after all.

Other stuff.

I spent part of the afternoon listening to the first internet broadcast of Radio Free Labrador [RFL] http://www.smartlabrador.ca/rfl/4 Some great music, wish them well, perhaps this will help bring the eclectic parts of Labrador closer. I sent an e mail to them while on air, something about the accent of the host, BBC and the colonies. Not sure if host was being careful or what, or perhaps it was me being from the antipodes with a different sense of humor. Any way I think I sorted out any confusion with a second e mail.

Man I’m steaming and ready to pop. Spent good part of the morning and some of afternoon on the phone and e mails with Bell ExpressVu, CRTC and Telesat Canada.
There has been a Labrador wide problem with ExVu satellite for at least six weeks. This is not the first time I, or for that matter others, have informed ExVu of the problem, but the refusal to deal with the issue is to say the least frustrating. I would love to come face to face with some executive from Bell, and to a lesser extent from the CRTC, it would be rumble in the jungle for sure.

I never deal with these people while under any banned or legal substances, so now I’m about to partake in a legal substance.............or two. Will get back to the above people next week, they will be sick of this grumpy ol bloke for sure if they don’t get their act together.
Have a nice evening everyone.

Noticed a picket up near the local VBNC office this afternoon, pity the local has not sent in some decent signs. Only one or two at max strickers there.

Breaking 2.

According to the company; workers have been brought in from outside of Labrador to keep the power plant operating at the site.
"This violates the letter of the Impact and Benefits Agreement [IBA] between the company and Aboriginal groups" according to the president of the Steel Workers local at the site. The president of the local also works in the power plant, when not on strike that is.
A spokes person for the Nunatsiavut Government said they are looking at the situation to see if any breaches have occurred.
Kind of a gray and muddy area if you ask me. An IBA has provisions for hiring percentages of local people, so what happens when the locals withdraw there labor? Wonder if that was taken into account in drawing up the IBA?

UPPERTY DATE.

Nunatsiavut Government issued a press release on Tuesday [that I only noticed this morning] stating their concern that the IBA may have/is being breached due to the strike. It does not take sides and hopes that both sides can get the dispute over with quickly, so all parties are not overly impacted in negative way.

Breaking.

CBC is reporting:
Union are claiming that replacement workers are doing the jobs of striking workers. Example; people have been brought in to maintain electricity to site. "That is my job" claims a striking worker. Company is claiming that it is not doing anything wrong, and it's OK to bring a few people in to keep power and heat to the workers not on strike.
Solution; send the non striking workers home, or have management do the work.
More to follow.

Strike chatter.

Some talk over at freenewfoundlandandlabrador about the strike at Voisey’s Bay VBNC site, something about the unfairness of wages and the fact that the resources are being taken out of the province. One thing for sure is that Ottawa can’t be blamed for allowing the resources to be taken out to Ontario. Politicians in this province of all levels and all stripes went along with that big con job.

As to wage parity, as far as I can tell there is a $5.00 an hour difference between Voisey’s Bay and other INCO facilities. At least in the mill where most of the strikers seem to be from. There are other issues in the grievance, but they are not being talked about. I don’t think that difference would come to $30,000 a year as is the speculation.
Workers for VBNC get a set salary per month, with overtime added if worked. Shifts are two weeks on two weeks off.

Travel costs by air are covered by VBNC from anywhere on the north coast and out of Goose Bay. There was rumblings some time ago about expanding that free travel outside Labrador, not sure what came of it.
VBNC workers while at the site receive free accommodations and three free meals a day. TV, access to internet, telephones recreation room, exercise room are all there. Not a big compensation for being away from home, but no one is holding a gun to any ones head to go work there.

As to coastal strikers, the big worry I would think is to prevent, if possible, any shipping movement into Antalok Bay, and to some how prevent any strike breakers from starting the mill up again. I see on the VBNC web site that they have removed any indication of shipping in the next little while, next due ship is September, OR NOT.

I’m just writing this for information purposes, some may have gathered that I’m no fan of the whole shebang.

Artist in residence.














Artist leaving residence for the wilds of Labrador.

Not on the big one, on the one to left.

Double Yum Yum

Caught a nice looking recipe for blue berry/nectarine crunch on a cooking show last week. Thought I would try it some time.

As is usual up here one has to improvise, and not wanting to risk life and limb by using my wife’s fresh blue berries, I thawed out some frozen red berries, cut up some nectarines made my usual pie crust for the bottom; mixed rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, some nuts for the top, and presto, red berry/nectarine cobbler, or kuchen. It was a little on the bitter side, blue berries would have addressed that I would think, but I like desserts to have some bitterness, seems others think it is OK as not much left this morning.

The fish plant should get a lot busier this week. They have had just two boats dragging for scallop all season, late last week three more boats arrived, so barring breakdowns and weather they should be smoke’n. Speaking of which, a good amount of char have been coming in with a good portion of that being smoked.

Weather is unsettled, rain, drizzle, cloudy, could be like that for rest of week.

CBC’s Ann Budgell interviewed Elizabeth Penashue this morning. Elizabeth is worried what the proposed Hydro development on the Lower Grand River [Churchill] will do to the ecology and environment. Ann tried twice to get Elizabeth to address the question of benefits to local business people, and business peoples concern for local employment. Elizabeth would not be side tracked, and only wanted to talk about her concerns for the people and their environment, which I may add are a lot more genuine than any local business persons. I might add Ann was just doing her job.

Enough already.

A wet weekend with more in forecast.

The strikers over at VB have been taken out, court injunction issued over weekend, peaceful protest at site ended.

The workers on the coast did not make it home though, weather necessitated them flying direct to Goose Bay.

One of the strikers was interviewed on CKOK yesterday, made a good case for their demands, why they are worried about not being on site [possible strike breakers being brought in]. He wondered if any pickets up at the Nain and St.John’s offices of VBNC. Also asked for Nain residents to surround the dock area at VB with speed boats.

Just reported on CBC; seems a company official issued a verbal promise that strike breakers will not be used, this was recorded on a video camera before workers left site.

Yum Yum.

It’s been a busy week in the kitchen, besides cooking evening meals for 5, keeping up bread for same, I have baked 15 loaves of bread, 120 cookies of different varieties, and 2 jumbo pizzas, all for a group going into the country next week. Beats canned food eh?

The veggie pizza for the group [at back], plus two for our consumption last evening are pictured.

It is good pizza weather too, did not get above 9c yesterday, same today with fog and drizzle. It’s been 6 weeks since we have had temperatures below 10c. One summer awhile back we were lucky to get above that all summer. That was the one we spent in PEI and NS, lucky choice for us, not for the bloke from Quebec City who was house sitting for us.

I had contact from a reader of the blog down Brisbane; reader was so a taken with the photo of the radish a flight for Paris is eminent. For North American folk, Brisbane is pronounced Bris-bin not Bris-bain

Strike 5.

My rabid contempt for anything VBNC Inco may have led me to hastily post information that was not quite accurate. Corporations do it all the time, but I would like to think Im better than that.
There may or may not have been strike breakers at the mine mill site, information from some workers indicated that there were, jury still out on that.

Any way, tensions are high, some striking workers took the company offer of flights home, most workers at the site [40 Im told] in the striking union did not. They are being put up in their accommodations; I hear VBNC is seeking a court injunction to remove them.
A number of strikers who were not at the site picketed VBNC office in HV-GB. I wonder if any pickets will go up here at Nain office?

I hear that the gap in the hourly rate between Sudbury and VB for some categories is about $5.00. The company offered up an extra .75 cents an hour. Not sure what other benefits come into play, things like free air transport in Labrador, lodging, food, I believe VB workers pay something but not sure how much.

All this just confirms what I have been saying all along, local people negotiating with INCO really did not have a grip on who they were dealing with. This applies to the past NL government, LIA with the IBA, unions, local people with the Environmental hearings.

Getting some nice light rain this morning, suppose to be a wet weekend, no complaints, good break from all that sun, wont have to water the garden, good for the berry crop, fill the ponds.

Here is a picture of a company representative.

OK, it's not.

It is some weird kind of radish I'm producing this year. This one only 61/2 inches long, I took one out and gave it to a neighbor that was 8 inches looked more bizarrear that this one.

I just looked at the seed packet, the variety is called "French breakfast", no comment on that. They are supposed to be tubular, so that's relief.

Apropos something deeper.

A friend sent this link to me this morning http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2564.htm give it a read, or better yet listen to it. After listening to it, and your have a strong stomach, listen to some speeches by some of today’s leaders of the so called free western world.

Will/should make you realize how badly done we all are. Talk about history reapeating it self too.

Strike 4.

On CBC; Bob Carter of VBNC, “company is in process of orderly shut down of the mine mill”. “Attempting to remove the striking workers”. “No plans to continue production”. “No replacement workers”. “Four additional security people brought in”. “200 to 250 workers will remain at site to maintain the site during disruption”. “Unknown number of contractors still at site”.
Typical PR bumbo jumbo from piss ant Carter.
Funny how he does not have a better handle on how many workers, and who they work for, imagine if there was some sort of catastrophe in there?

Strike 3.

Holy crap. CBC is reporting that the other 200 odd workers at the mine already have collective agreements, one of the clauses is a "a no strike clause", guess tension is not a strong enough word.
Depending what happens, the site that already has lots of tensions [unreported] will not be a pleasant work environment.

No evidence of cops in there is the reports, maybe some soldiers of fortune will be brought in , if any spares can be found, would imagine most are busy in Africa and Middle east though.

Getting supplies into strikers plus where to rest will be a big challenge, it's a big plus for the arse hole company. If it was up to me I'd take the land back and kick the scum bag company out. But that's just me.

Strike two.

Two twin otters landed in Nain early from Voisey’s Bay, minus any striking workers I might add. Those two planes plus a dash 8 were sent in to evacuate the strikers, once the strikers realized that strike breakers were near the site, at the old construction camp actually, they refused to leave.

The pilots of the planes were told by VBNC to go to Nain and wait further instructions. Be interesting to find out if the other 200 odd workers in there will go to work, tension tension tension.

Bring the barstard company to their knees.

Strike at Voisey's Bay mine eh?

117 workers have gone on strikes against VBNC. Now the locals will get a real taste of what it’s like to work for a large multi national conglomerate. Worse yet for them, it is at a remote site, going to be difficult to picket. But Paul Pickett of CBC is covering it, that's appropriate..

VBNC [Inco] already have replacement workers [strike breakers] at the site. Word is they are from Inco’s other mining areas in Ontario, shame on them.

Woke up this morn’ and thought I was in St.John’s.

Narh boy. Thick fog blanketed town early, nice break from this really beautiful weather run. Did not lat long though, back to sunny and in mid teens. Oh well, have to suffer through it.

Heard the Minister for Works, Services and Transport being interviewed on CBC this morning. Ann Budgell [who is spending some summer time in Labrador] asked the minister if there was any progress or chance of new construction this year on the Goose Bay to Cartwright section of the Trans Labrador Highway. “I have some good news to report” said the minister. He then went on to describe the good news, himself, three mayors and who knows who else are going to Ottawa for meetings with the feds.
If that’s good news then thank Yahweh he did not have bad news to report. Maybe it was just me; but it sounded like Ms Budgell was not all that pleased with the waffling and rhetoric that the Minister is want to go on with. Oh that’s right, he’s a politician.

Filling in time.

Two of our latest carving purchases, nice small ones, different from the usual offerings. The tall one is 81/2 inches high.

My radishes are quite large, at least to what I'v produced in the past. Nice mild twang too them.

My back has been playing up again, hence more time indoors, not that I have been idle, baking bread, cookies, into a turkey for tonight. Been watching the British open golf in between, some dry old course, very similar to some of the links courses I played back down under. Tiger is back it seems, he sure stuck to his game plan of not trying to hit the skin off the ball off the tee, that won it for him IMO, that and the talent.

Animal update n stuff.

Conservation officers from Goose Bay and Nain have been out looking for the bear since yesterday afternoon, doing it by chopper. Locals spotted a bear to the northern part of Nain hill this morning. I guess in this case conservation officer is an oxymoron.
The conservation officers did report that the musk ox is still out on the island, or near a bout’s, that it was on in the spring. Not sure how being way out there will get the bear, but guess they took opportunity to check on the musk ox.

The M/V Clipper Adventure was in town this morning. Looked like a good lot of tourists out taking in Nain. Several members of the drum dance troupe were giving a performance for them; some small crafts were on display and for sale near the council office. These visits of cruise ships usually do not drop much money in town to date. Suppose you just have to stick at it and hope things change.

After a cooler night [7] it is again getting warmer, nice breeze making it comfortable for walking around.

Politics, yuk, but ya gotta be in it..

Our beleaguered MHA was in town last week for couple days. If he is not beleaguered he should be.

Wally must have been pressed for time again; he did not get up to see me. That’s OK too; I can always send e mails of faxes, none of which he responds too in writing. He did call me maybe once or twice over the years, and he pulled his caddy up besides me as I was walking from the hospital back to my hotel in the Valley once. Each time it was to berate me for not being a good little boy for not thinking the sun shone out of you know who’s you know what. To be fair Wally did give me credit once when he introduced me to the premier of the day, Roger Grimes. It was for all the ground work I did resulting in Nain getting a new diesel generating Plant.
Any way, an interview Wally did on CKOK was aired yesterday. Wally sounded some what different, not sure what it was, maybe his stutter was not as prominent, would have to hear the interview again to pin it down. Wally went on with the usual rhetoric about all the constituency hard work he has been doing. Things like improving the marine transport, quality of fresh foods, more jobs outside the mineing area and fish plants, plus others. Earth to Wally, things are regressing in those areas, and have been for years.
One strain through out the interview did strike me as different. Wally kept giving the heads up to work the Provincial Government is doing on our behalf. Why he almost begged his constituents to be really nice to the new Minister for Works Services and Transport. I’m told that Wally is a good constituency man, and I believe he is a good party man, so it is odd that he would be tripping over himself to give the other party kudos to that extent.

Maybe Wally is just good bloke, or maybe he is just a politician.

Divers and Sundry.

Up to 30.6 yesterday, some balmy night too. Temperature dropping like a rock this morning though down to 9, light rain falling, nice.

Sad about the incident yesterday, the family had to ID the clothes, must have been very traumatic for them, our condolences go out to them.
Nothing official yet, or on CBC, so will leave things at that.
Mindless rumor mongering and inaccurate information distribution can have a detrimental effect on people, pity some mindless arsholes would not think about that before putting their mouths in gear.

Life goes on as they say. In that vain, some ‘food by mail’ made it to at least one of the stores yesterday. Charged down there as soon as I heard. What was there was in fair to good condition, things like corn, lettuce, mushrooms, celery, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes [my fav] and other items. Enough to satisfy mosts hunger for some variety and freshness in foods. People were coming in at a constant rate, one teacher remarked that it’s the first time she has been able to get to the fresh food before all that was left was the dregs, holidays are good in more ways that one.
Not sure if the other store I use had any come in, will check it out today. To be fair, there is a third store that had fresh foods come in on Wednesday, alas I do not patronize that one, long story.

I’m getting a bit pissed by the reaction by some and media coverage of the ‘evacuation’ going on in Lebanon. I won’t get into the rights and wrongs of the whole conflict, plenty of those on both sides of the issue.
It bugs me to see well fed, fit looking people bitching no end over having to spend 15 hours on a modern cruise ship used in their escape from Lebanon. Many Lebanon/western county people seem to have no thanks in them. Seems like most counties responded fairly well, many modern vessels and planes used, many military ships and planes used for defense and evacuation, even what is describes as Stephen Harpers plane brought some back. Here I was under the impression that it was Canada’s plane, but I digress.
Looking at these images and reading the stories I can’t help but think about the on going atrocities in many other parts of the world. Places like Sudan/Darfur, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Congo, the east African nations, and on and on. Where the hell is the Western Governments flotilla of cruise ships and Military might? Where the hell is the western media blanket coverage of the hunger, rapes, mutilations and murder that has been going on for years.

Angry in the great steamy north I am.

Tranquility Broken.

It’s just below 30c, with a warm westish wind that must make it over 30 for sure.

We have a Quebec chap staying with us for 3 weeks, he had opportunity to take a boat trip up to the Torngats last week, blew him away. Brought back some amazing char too.
Last evening after super he decides to take a hike up the pole line that runs up to the top of Nain hill. About 8 poles up he came across some clothing and other items plus some bear spore that gave him cause for concern. There has been a man missing for about 2 weeks, hence his concern. So after talking to my wife about his find he took them down to the RCMP.
Long story short, the remains of the missing person and cloths were found, apparently eaten by a bear, not the cloths the person. Ground search and rescue and cops are looking for the bear.
Not many people will be going into the woods behind our place for awhile I’d guess, not me for sure.
The details of what/how are still to come out.

Not complaining.

Man this weather is like that battery bunny, just keeps going and going. Days have not been below PLUS 17c for about 2 weeks now, most in the low 20’s, balmy days and balmier nights. Reminds me of late summers on the south coast of NSW. Even getting the rain showers, quite heavy Tuesday, we need that for sure.

The weather is lifting my spirits; need that as it is heavy going trying to get some one in a responsible position in Government, any Government, to pick up the ball on the transportation and fresh food issues that deteriorate here on the Labrador coast.
I’m going to keep plugging away, squeaky wheel and all that, even if it is one wheel it still needs greasing. I know there are more wheels out there, just need to figure out how to attach all the wheels to the one vehicle.

The Main Man.

Well OK, he jagged this one, but then don't we all at some time. One he broke rod on was larger, must have put up a hell of a fight.

This n That.

I must say I’m saddened by the death of the two RCMP officers out in Saskatchewan, for some reason I was under the impression they were badly injured but had good chance of recovery. Maybe I did not pay attention to the story, or perhaps the stories I read were not accurate, what ever, it is a sad loss.
There is a lot that can be done to improve policing and the laws that the police have to work by, but I always give officers on the ground a degree of lee way, there lot is generally under appreciated by many, me included.

It got up to 27.1 here yesterday, RDF and mid teens in St.John’s I see.

Our grandson went off fishing with his Nama and Papa yesterday, came back after 7. His mom and himself came bounding in with a big garbage bag, had half a dozen char that Matthew had caught, two over 3 pounds, he broke the rod on the largest. We were given two nice ones, be good with scrunchions tonight. I asked, “how come the fish are not cleaned”, his response was, “I just got back Grandpa”, like he was going to clean em, maybe in another year or two he will.

Some nice rain falling at moment, and about 15, good for the berries and the ponds.

Things are a bit slow at the fish plant so far this year. Only two boats doing scallops, the word is two more are on their way up. Char has been steady but not what you would call spectacular, more are coming in now, and I hear the Co Op received a large order for smoked char so this lift in char landings will help fill that.

I have many stories of the inequities of life here on the coast crashing around in my head, so many that my head hurts at times. I’m want to write about them, but I usually defer for various reasons, one of which is I like to get the facts first, and that takes time, then I like to approach the power brokers and the players to try sort things out that way. Alas that does not always work, just like the deterioration of the marine shipping and transport in general. Given time I’m going to write about some in next little while, and to hell with the local attitudes.

The heat goes on.

Up to 21.3 here yesterday. It's been 15 and above for about 15 days now, most days there is a brisk breeze, bugs sure get you if it drops though.
I hear the char are on the way in already, kind of early, but so is everything associated with the weather.

Being so hot I debated on having a BBQ or cooking in kitchen. Seeing I had to make bread anyway I decided on pizza and salad from the garden. My 12 grain is popular at moment, so did up 4 loaves with enough over for 2 piazzas. One was your usual salami, tomato sauce, 3 cheese. Other was chives, bok choi stems, asparagus, basil and 3 cheese.
The salad was bok choi leaves, spinach and the chive flowers with a honey/mustard/pepper vinaigrette.
A nice home made Bolero washed it down well.

Pity about St.John's getting all that crappy weather eh? Guess it's true, money cant buy everything.

Congratulations.

Congrats are in order to John Hickey, and to Danny, for Mr. Hickey’s appointment to the provincial cabinet. Now we will learn first hand if having a local in cabinet does makes a difference to Labrador.
Mr. Hickey stated on CBC local this morning that he will work diligently to ensure we get a fair shake, he did waffle on about IF the Province would ‘go it alone’ on projects that have an alleged 60 million of provincial monies budgeted but await funding commitments from the Feds. Mr. Hickey also committed that his first trip would be to the coast, to asses first hand some transportation issues.
This is the third minister of transport in the present government, kind of a revolving door, any one who has an interest in improving the transportation service up here will have to go through it again.

It is interesting the growing amount of animals that are finding their way into the community of late. Last night the big draw was a porcupine; it was hunkered down amongst large boulders in a rock quarry.
Two bears that hang around the dump and other areas are becoming really tame, not a good sign. No further sign of the moose or the musk ox sighted in the spring. A cross fox is hanging around the perimeter of town, no word of rabies’, could be just looking for cheap meal.

Rather predictably the weather has been great since the long weekend, sun and not much wind, up to about 15 yesterday and supposed to get to 20 today. Environment Canada keeps putting the wet cold front back each day, not many complaining about that. This pic was taken by daughter on way out to Black Island yesterday; they saw lots of fish but no luck with the rod.






Our garden is now producing some nice salad vegetables, sure is great to have that fresh produce and knowing what was used to grow it, all organic maybe slower, but has it’s certain rewards.

Summer Visitors.

Weather is not very summery today, and not supposed to be over the long weekend. Kind of predictable that, like it’s predictable that our politicians will always disappoint ya, collectively or individually.

So we have this cruise ship in for the morning, only about 40 odd passengers, it can take 122. It’s the Lyubov Orlova headed up to Kuujjuaq for summer cruises out of that port, if you can call it a port. Seems the powers that be are attempting to get some sort of mutual tourism gig going between the two Inuit areas. I took the shot over the deck of the mv Astron; she is on her second trip of the season.

The plane [Cessna caravan] is chock full of high tech gear, it does geophysics runs in an attempt to define further what eldorados’ lay beneath the earths surface. It is here for six weeks, does a run in morning and another in evening, weather permitting. The appendage aft is an add on………and you thought it was a male plane.

Pickling the pickled peppers.

What a pretty pickle we are in with this ever increasing scandal emanating out of the house of assembly in St. John’s. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/06/27/audit-companies.html Actually we have been in the pickle vat for some time. Some of us suspected, some of us were sure, that we long had a very mediocre bunch handling the affairs of the province.

I’d say many people here in the Torngat riding will feel very let down by our member being implicated in the scandal. I think many many people all over the province will feel anger and disappointment, or maybe some will even feel vindicated. For once we have bi partisan participation, what a way to get it eh?

It’s clear that a public inquiry is needed, so let’s get to it as quickly as possible. The air needs clearing, no need for these yo bo's to have their summer break, surly it is clear they have not earned it.
Some blogs are speculating on who would be best to sit on the inquiry panel, one name rings true for me, Lynn Verge would be ideal IMO.

Coincidence or not, this link from a friend in the states is appropriate. http://dingo.care-mail.com/cards/flash/5409/galaxy.swf
He is an old sin city hand, so I suspect it is not a big coincidence.

We was robbed mate!

Scum sucking near sighted referees of FIFA.

Tasted good too.

Made this pie using red berries [partridge berries] from last falls crop, baked it as usual and added some strawberries and blue berries from the store. Just the right amount of tartness overriding sweetness. A big dollop of Blarrrh ice cream toped it right off.

On the weather front, it sure has people baffled some what. Temperatures are on the whole higher for longer periods of time, we then get these south westerly winds most of the day and into the early evening that are more like fall winds. Yesterday this front threatened for some time, when it hit there was a loud, one crack of thunder, a big downpour, and then it was over.

The evenings have been nice enough to want to sit out side, alas usually the wind drops, so the mossies eat you alive. If I knew this weather pattern was going to go on for years I would invest in a bug proof gazebo or something.

Some people are even asking the question; where are all the hordes of black flies? My wife responds with, who cares as long as they stay there.