Today in the Wreckhouse winds have exceeded 150 KPH and I'm wondering if anyone has attempted to run it? Hopefully not! A few days back my Granddaughter and i made a short walk to the little pond in the area on a calm morning. That place has such beauty when the winds are calm and hopefully our short walks will soon turn to longer hikes there.

A few shots from our little walk.



She had to test the light ice that formed on the pond throughout the night.

Seeking Canada's best bathroom

From CBC News::::

Had a bathroom experience lately that left you speechless — in a good way?
Nominations are being accepted for Canada's Best Restroom Award, which honours public washrooms across Canada that are "immaculate," "inviting" and "memorable," according to the award's website.
The contest follows a U.S. competition. Past winners south of the border have not only boasted spotless facilities — they have also included spectacular views and impressive fixtures.
The contest, appropriately sponsored by Cintas Canada Ltd., a company that sells bathroom-management supplies among other things, is accepting entries online until May 10, 2010.
"There is no question that restroom hygiene plays a big role in determining customer satisfaction and repeat business," said Cintas Canada marketing manager Leslie Molin in a release. According to Cintas' website, 95 per cent of people surveyed "say they avoid establishments with dirty restrooms."
Ten finalists will be announced in July, whereupon the best bathroom will be decided through internet voting. While the only prize is bragging rights, and attention for victorious washroom, the winner will be announced in September at an awards gala.

I sometimes dread the thought of using Public Restrooms but i will give credit where credit is due. When shopping out of town I avoid certain places and one of the Stores that I have no qualms about using the Restroom is Kents Building Supplies in Corner Brook. I shop there about once a month and have always found the Bathroom there immaculate. On the other end of the scale is the Restroom in a Service Station near St. Georges on the TCH. I have never went there yet and found it tidy no matter what time of Day i dropped in. I wonder how anyone can actually eat at the Restaurant there if they use the Bathroom when they enter?

From VOCM News.

O'Rielly Family Holds News Conference

It will be two weeks tomorrow since Donna O'Rielly left her job at a New Brunswick shopping mall, and disappeared from her closest family and friends. Her family believes she was abducted in the parking lot. They have offered a $25-thousand reward as a final effort in asking the public, or even the person responsible to come forward with information. RCMP continue to treat her disappearance as a missing persons file. O'Rielly's daughter, Karen Streek, says it's hard for the family to remain optimistic.The 54-year old O'Rielly lived in this province before moving to New Brunswick.


Meanwhile RCMP in Moncton have released two still images from mall surveillance video the night she vanished. Police say the two images show a man and a woman separately at the rear entrance to the mall near the food court at different times. They believe the individuals could have been in the parking lot at the same time O'Rielly was leaving work from the south entrance on February 26th. RCMP hope releasing the images will identify these people who may offer more information that could help the case. They continue to treat O'Rielly's disappearance as a missing persons file, but her family insists she was abducted. O'Rielly lived in Isle aux Morts and Gander before moving to New Brunswick. The last time O'Rielly was seen was on surveillance video released by police showing her leaving the mall that night.

 

Farewell and thanks for the memories. Years ago when the news in this Province was pretty dismal you always gave us a little smile when you came on the airwaves. I blogged about Billy back in 2006.

Well-Known Open Line Caller Passes Away

A long-time caller to VOCM's open line shows, and a well-known local character has died. Bill "The Moon Man" Sweeney passed away suddenly at St. Clare's hospital on Saturday. He was 72. Bill was a frequent caller to VOCM Nite Line in particular, and former host, the late George MacLaren, was the man who gave him his famous moniker for Sweeney's contention that man never landed on the moon. Bill endeared himself to many, and alienated just as many people with his sometimes argumentative style, all inflected with a devilish sense of humour and a skewed look at life. Bill Sweeney is resting at Barrett's Funeral Home from where the funeral will take place on Wednesday at 12 noon.

Our Miss Newfoundland and Labrador. Great story and great Lady.

 

Yeah i know,more sarcasm.

VOCM NEWS:::::::: Premier to Undergo Surgery

Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week, and he's expected to be out of office anywhere from three weeks to three months. Acting Premier Kathy Dunderdale says Williams is the US for the surgery. Dunderdale says the prognosis is good. She says he went to the States following the advice of his physician, and the option to stay here in the province was not given. Dunderdale says the day to day operations of the province will continue as usual, and she is asking Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to keep the Premier in their thoughts and prayers. She declined to get into specifics of the surgery or exactly where it will take place. She says there will be a period of recovery, and then the Premier will address the situation.  Dunderdale says there will be no quick action taken on any issues including any byelections. The resignation of MHA Elizabeth Marshall to go to the Senate, has left the Topsail riding vacant. Dunderdale says the business of government will go on. They do have legislative deadlines to meet but they will wait until they have a better idea of what the Premier's recovery time will be. Dunderdale says they will not get ahead of themselves. Dunderdale says those who are criticizing the Premier's decision to seek treatment in the United States, rather than here in the province, need to reserve their judgement until all the details of his condition are revealed. She says the Premier has full confidence in the province's medical system and he was very grateful to the health professionals who have treated him so far. Dunderdale says the procedure he has to undergo is not offered here. She says people need to have patience until the details are out.

The Opposition Parties are wishing Williams a speedy recovery. Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones says her thoughts and prayers are with the Premier and his family. NDP Leader Lorraine Michael says at this point she doesn't have any concerns about the operations of government.

 Hopefully our Premier will come out of this ok and be back to work soon. A Facebook site has already been put up for those who wish to comment. Click on the link to go there.

 

Getting our first real taste of Winter here on the Southwest Coast of the Island. A few shots i took earlier today.

 

VOCM NEWS:

Seal Protest Foiled 

A planned protest by PETA against the seal hunt was sabotaged by Cousin Jason of K-ROCK in St. John's this afternoon. A PETA protester, a young woman from Vancouver, was standing outside the Delta Hotel protesting the seal hunt holding a sign saying "Stop the Seal Slaughter" and was joined by someone dressed in a seal suit. The person dressed up turned out to be a Newfoundlander who took off the outfit saying "Down with PETA". She was visibly embarrassed but stayed in her location. Later someone from The Downhome magazine dressed as its mascot 'Salty Dog' came up and put a pie in her face. It caused quite a stir on New Gower Street and the RNC arrived to talk to the protestor.

Story from the Telegram.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals got a taste of its own tactics as one of its seal hunt supporters was pied in St. John’s, N.L., today.
A woman wearing a seal suit was waiting for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to arrive for a speech when a man in a yellow salty dog suit approached.
The seal hunt supporter shoved a cream pie into the woman’s face after knocking off the head of her seal costume.
The man then took off down the street.
Twenty-one-year-old Emily Lavender said she was happy to take a pie in the face for her cause.
PETA took credit earlier this week for hitting federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea in the face with a pie to protest her support for sealing.
Lavender held a sign that said: “Harper Stop the Seal Slaughter” as a handful of seal hunt supporters counter protested.
Lavender doesn’t think it was over the line to pie Shea.
“It was a little tofu on her face,” she said. “It’s not nearly as embarrassing as the blood on her hands. And it’s time she stop supporting the largest massacre of marine mammals on the planet.”
Wallace Ryan of St. John’s told Lavender to leave, that she was embarrassing herself.
He wore a T-shirt that said: “If seals were ugly, nobody would give a damn.”
“We’re here to point out that PETA has incited violence and hate against Newfoundland and Labrador for years,” he said.
Sealers rely on the spring hunt economically, Ryan said, and PETA has no right to interfere

I do hope if we get a PETA protest in our area it'll be the chick in the above photo. I would wipe the Pie off her if ol Salty Dog slapped her with one.

It's not to often i Blog about the weather but this Winter it's almost ideal from my perspective. I shot the above Pic this morning and it shows that even the Table Mountains have very little Snow so far this year. I also noticed this morning that the Trail to the top near Cape Ray seems bare so i might even attempt to take an ATV Ride up there this Weekend.

Looks like I'll be taking that Giant leap. I will be starting a Facebook account. Just a note to those who might want to be my friend,* If i don't accept you it's not because i dislike you, It goes way beyond that!

January 16-2010

A January Walk.

Hardly any snow and the Temperature around minus one so we did a bit of Beach Coming and later walked around the small stream at Cheesemans Park. Hopefully the Weather will continue to cooperate so we can take a stroll in the Wreckhouse tomorrow.

With an estimated 700 Moose/Vehicle accidents a year in the Province you would expect the Government to seriously look at a Cull along side of our Highways in the Province. Apparently we will be getting one soon and not because of the Moose Vehicle Accidents but simply because the Moose are eating the the trees that grow in our National Parks.

I shot the above photo in Gros Morne National Park last May. It's a good example of what the Moose are doing there and no doubt the population is high in that area. It's possible to see 80 along the roadside from Wiltondale to Rocky Harbor.

Hopefully the Government will take into consideration the people who live within the boundaries of the two Parks and only allow the additional licenses to be issued to those residents.

CBC Story on the Moose Cull here. ( Video )

A few Photos of the Seashore around Cape Ray today. Temperature + 3 and no snow on the lower elevations. The exception rather than the norm for this time of season.

This past Christmas i was lucky enough to be given a copy of "The Badger Riot" by the Author  herself, JA Ricketts as a Christmas Gift. Judy was good enough to autograph it to me using a bit of humor and for that i really appreciate. So it loks like my first Book to read in 2010 will be the Badger Riot. ( Thanks Mugga )

A photo of the Wreckhouse area I shot from a Fishing Boat,December 23-3009.

The Photos can give the viewer an idea of how the winds sweep down through those Glacial Valleys after passing over the Table Mountains near Cape Ray.

Article from Todays Edition of The Gulf News.

Council wants Wreckhouse forecasts changed

BY BRODIE THOMAS
The Gulf News

The Port aux Basques Town Council is hoping the winds of change will blow through Environment Canada’s forecast structure.
Councillors are questioning Environment Canada’s decision to group Wreckhouse in with the Stephenville-Bay St. George weather forecast.
It results in Wreckhouse wind warnings being read in the same breath as the Stephenville forecast on radio. Warnings also appear with Stephenville’s forecast on the Environment Canada website, rather than with the forecast for Port aux Basques.
Members of council feel the forecast can be misleading for tourists and truckers arriving in the province because they might hear a Wreckhouse wind warning for the Bay St. George area and think they can safely drive through the Codroy Valley.

More of the Story,click here >>>>>


And a related article by Brodie Thomas in the same Edition.

Who has seen the wind

Yesterday,December 23rd. I helped a friend move his Boat from Codroy Harbor to Port Aux Basques for the Winter Season. The weather was remarkable and even on deck there was really no need for warm clothes or gloves. The only Snow left is mostly on the higher elevations and the Long Range Mountains.

A spectacular Day! No winds and the Temp hovering around 0 Celsius. We got out for a short walk along the Seashore and saw a few Seabirds. Hopefully we get a few more days without the winds before 2010 starts.

This one is on the far West end of The Wreckhouse .

This one almost made it through the Gauntlet and went off the road sometime throughout the night do probably to high NW winds and whiteout conditions in our area the past 24 hours. I'm sure the consumers of goods here in the province picks up the tab on all those accidents we have here.

Still no Digital Warning Signage at the Wreckhouse 

Fierce winds blow truck off highway

Last Updated: Thursday, December 10, 2009 | 2:02 PM NT

CBC News

Extremely high winds have prompted the RCMP to urge drivers, especially truckers, to stay off a section of the Trans-Canada Highway on the southwest coast of Newfoundland that is notorious for dangerous winds.CLICK FOR STORY LINK.

Today's accident happened at an area in the Wreckhouse region we call the "Starlight Mountain."

Once again luckily no one was hurt!

Avatar,looks like a Sci-Fi i just might like. Fox says it's the costliest film they have made but from the preview i suspect it will not be a Box Office failure. This just might end up being the highest grossing films in the history of Fox. So just click on the play button below for a preview. Or click here for a Trailer link.


Official Avatar Movie

RIP James.

We have been following the story of young James Delorey age 7 the past few days. James died last night at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax  after being found unconscious and suffering from hypothermia after wandering away from his home in Cape Breton.
 James was autistic and i do know a bit about it after working with some clients for two decades that has it. It's tough at times to work with an Autistic client but to be the parents of a child with Autism must really be quite the task at times. Some people with autism  can walk away, run away,or you can even say "escape" from a place even where they are well looked after. They do it without a reason and no clear understanding of what to really do next. It's just part of their behavior which can at times be unpredictable. A week ago we had an Autistic client in for surgery. When they took him into the O.R. area sedated a bit they told us to leave if we want because it would be several hours. We told the Operating Staff, no we could not. We asked them to come and tell us when he was sleeping and only then could we go. I don't think they really understood what could happen even in that situation. We have decades of experience with Autistic clients and we know from past experiences what can happen in just a few seconds. A lot of people might try and judge the parents unfairly in the case of young James Delorey and why he ran off but there are those of us who really know that this can happen at times and no one is to blame.

A story that just keeps popping up in NL and it seems no solutions anytime soon.
Click on link for CBC story.

Woman believes government action could have saved husband's life 

Hopefully the Government will at least start cutting the brush along side roadways and make the corridors much wider. In our area we see brush cutting done by Grant workers in mid winter at times and this only cleans the top off the alders. By mid summer it's actually thicker then the year before. Machinery is a must for this type of operation and it must be done on all roadways that have a high population of moose nearby. More either sex Moose Licences must be issued and Wildlife must decide what each Moose areas population will be sustainable at. The Moose story in this province is one of success and it still can be with a population 20 - 25 % smaller then what we have now. I'm sure at that population we will see a reduction in accidents on our highways.

I had my H1N1 Shot.

Today i received my H1N1 Vaccine shot at St. James Elementary School in Port Aux Basques,NL. I have to give the staff at Western Health in Port Aux Basques a thumbs up for the organizing. My number was #150. I arrived at the clinic at 12:40 pm and there was a long line. They started the process at around 1: pm and the instructions were simple to follow. They called numbers in a series of ten and then we made out a form with our info on it. (i had forgot my reading glasses and one young lady from Western Health noticed me squinting and  immediately assisted me without me having to ask) next we moved to a table where they double checked our MCP numbers with the forms we completed. On to another table for a quick question or two and directed to a section where five Health people were giving the shots. All of them very pleasant i might add. Next a Nurse gave us some verbal information on what we might expect and asked us to sit for 15 minutes just to make sure things were ok. I was back in my home in Cape Ray at 2 pm! So one should give credit where credit is due. Class A job,Western Health,Port Aux Basques Region!

Interesting.

It's November 10-2009,my 54 th. Birthday. I had the day off and went for a great Quad ride for a few hours. Took sometime and just sat down on the top of a Sand Dune and relaxed a while. Shot a few pics and returned home.                                              

Three Beach Birds feeding in the shoals.

Looking North towards home.












No wind which seems strange for November here.












Cape Ray in the background.













A place we locals refer to as Cape Gut.The community and Table Mountains are in the background.

Why does this suggestion make so much sense? 

I'm sure Doctor Graham saw a dozen patients today at her clinic in Port Aux Basques who may of been at high risk for developing complications from influenza. If she could of administered the H1N1 shot to those patients and it might of made a difference in a few ways. They would of not had to go wait in a line for one. Advice from a family doctor is much more appreciated then from a Health Care person in an assembly line type situation scurrying to administer the next dose to another person. Yes, this suggestion makes so much sense. Mr. Kennedy,are you listening to your Doctors?

N.L. doctors want to administer H1N1 vaccinations

CBC News

A physician in Port aux Basques, western Newfoundland, says her patients should be able to receive H1N1 influenza vaccinations at her office instead of only at specialized clinics.
"We find it very frustrating as physicians," said Dr. Wendy Graham. "We'd like to be a part of the program. We don’t want to see any current vaccine that exists in our province sit in the refrigerators for months. We've been asking to be a part of this program. We'd like to get vaccine into our patients as soon as possible."
She said many doctors have cold storage, and they already administer several types of vaccine.
Graham says the association that represents Newfoundland and Labrador physicians is lobbying the provincial government to get doctors involved in the vaccination program, which is targeting the strain of H1N1 influenza A causing the current swine flu pandemic.
Nurses employed by regional health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador have been giving residents shots at designated centres throughout the province.
The province is trying to make sure that the vaccine if first administered to health workers, people at high risk for developing complications from influenza and those who care for people who can't get vaccinated.