Something we saw when we were out recently. The guy was driving flat out (maybe 8mph). Only in Halifax..
We have arrived at the time of year when we see and feel some significant weather events. It rained a lot on theThanksgiving weekend (last of that hurricane) with what seemed like tree stripper winds. Then the next day showed the trees just about as full as they had been before. Better still, the frog pond at the park that had dried into a giant mud flat by summer's end had refilled and the ducks were back. Again today and yesterday we've had lots of very heavy rain and strong winds besides. Happily it all let up for a few hours, long enough for us to have a good walk in the park. The coolest part of that was when we rounded the point to the beach area to find huge waves coming out of the fog. The sound alone was absolutely mesmerizing but all the more wonderful was seeing the heave and curl of the waves as they broke far from shore and again as they burst on the rocky beach. We sat and watched for a long time.
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies”
– Groucho Marx
♥️
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteA great sight and picture. My next door neighbor, who is wheelchair bound, also skips along like that but additionally with 2 service dogs in tow, but wisely sticks mainly to the footpath.
Strangely enough across the pond down under we have had similar stormy weather which as you aptly say brings with it those tree stripper winds.
I sometimes think the quote could be applied to a lot of things including teaching. It seems to me there is so much more paperwork for teachers and lecturers who then have far less time to devote to preparation and effective face to face instruction. There is a propensity to have over burdensome administration / assessment systems.
Best wishes
Hi Lindsay,
DeleteYes, it was a pretty funny sight to see, particularly the look on the bus driver's face even more than the guy in his motorized wheelchair. I guess he figured if bikes are supposed to be on the road that's where he belonged too.
We kind of expect tree stripper winds here in autumn (in fact, they've been doing a good job of it these past few days) but it surprises me to hear that happens there in spring.
I agree with you that teachers are under far too much pressure these days. Some of their stories are sad indeed and the children suffer. Perhaps some day things will change for the better.
All the best
Y-e-e-e-s! Around here in France we know slow-moving, teeth-grinding vehicles as "tractors" and "sans permis." And they always seem to drive as close to the crown of the road as possible.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking our local "tractors" and "sans permis" are simply a menace on the sidewalks. This guy took it far to the next level.
DeleteHuh...I didn't know Groucho knew Trump!
ReplyDeleteWe've been having rain and winds (separately and together) of late, after a few days of unseasonable 80F days; I love wet wind, stand in it with my face pressed into the onslaught.
I love your drawing and the look of determination on the scooter driver's face!
He also said, "The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.”
DeleteOur weather has also been both calm and wild - sometimes both on the same day. Autumn would be my favorite season if I didn't harbor my current dismay at what comes after. When I was young I loved winter too. Just goes to show..
I'm not at all good at drawing mechanical things (or architecture) but people's expressions are fun to illustrate. Glad you liked it :)
oops - just remembered another Groucho quote: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well I have others.”
(for clarity - I don't like either of them.. at all)
I wonder, what is the difference between 8mph, whatever K/ph one chooses, in the long view. Let's say it's a mile, or 1.6 kilometers. The fool on the hill is doing 15kph, the bus wants to do 40. What's that work out to? Just how much of a hurry do we need to be in? I know, I'm retired, and don't have the perspective of a woman working at Hudson's Bay, or whatever you have now, but hell.
ReplyDeleteJust how fast do we need to get there, and how often are seconds telling in the long run?
Damn, I'm becoming a Luddite, eh?
Mike
Yes, Mike, that's 15 kph (well, 13) to 64. People are generally happier at lower speeds and most definitely safer. I'm retired too and have been since we got here from Portland - the Bay, as it's known these days, is still here but just like in the US most regular people shop at Walmart. It's ubiquitous.. and nasty for all the same reasons it is there. Yes, Luddites are us mostly because I think those of us who are prefer quality to quantity.
ReplyDeleteJust in case you're interested, Raul Ilargi, has written a very interesting piece about current events both in the US and further afield. Many years ago my husband convinced me that we gain far more insight into events by reading and understanding (to the best of our ability) economics rather than politics.
On the other side of Canada, we also have had extreme winds (tree stripping indeed!) and rain most of this month, usually more typical in November. We had severe weather warnings with a potential leftover of a typhoon but it fizzled before hitting us. The worst storms were on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Our power was out for about two hours one night so we were lucky that it wasn't worst..
ReplyDeleteA charming, humorous drawing, Susan! Hope you have a pleasant late fall with many opportunities for those seaside walks.
Nice to see you again, Marja-Leena. Yes, it's true that autumn can provide some very intense weather conditions, but I'd thought more so here than there. I'm glad you didn't lose your power long enough to have it be a serious inconvenience. Funnily enough, ours usually stays on during foul weather and goes out for what seems to be no reason at all on clear days in summer.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed seeing the little picture. I'm still trying to find my way around the creative block. :)
Those blocks seem to be enormously creative when it comes to find ways to block our creativity, eh?
DeleteHere's to help you find your way around this creative block, loveliest of all Susans. :)
This time my block has been made of brick, about forty feet tall, and no doors. Hopefully I've found a tiny crack..
Deletelove your drawing. and the sound of the sea.. I havent' been to a proper beach for a while, I must make an effort. x
ReplyDeleteSo happy it gave you a smile, Claire. I remember my dad telling me that in England you could never be more tha 70 miles from the sea. I hope you get there soon - on a nice day, that is.
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