Christmas Day December 25, 2007

Marine Forecast issued for Eastern Lake Ontario. Issued: 3.00 AM EST Tuesday 25 December 2007 for the period ending at 3.00 AM Wednesday with an outlook for the following 24 hours. Forecast: Wind west 25 knots diminishing to 20 late this morning then backing to southwest 15 this afternoon. Scattered flurries tapering to isolated this morning. Waves 2 to 3 metres lowering to near 1 this afternoon. Outlook..Moderate southwesterlies diminishing to light southerlies then veering to moderate northeasterlies.

I absolutly love this less than 15 minute commute to work. It is Today will be cloudy with sunny periods. 30 percent chance of flurries this morning. High minus 1. Tonight Overcast. Low minus 4. the little place is Ok and even has all manner of extra space for myself and rufus.

Happy New Year to one and all!

Robin & Rufus

Today is my last day off before I start the Holiday sprint of double time shifts. Getting VTO yesterday saved my bacon as I managed to get what I needed at a first level from the shop and have now finished building a settee from the Com Pod cushions giving me a place to sit down. There is much to do with the place and I need to focus on sealing the place up before the cold comes in earnest as there are no sealed windows on the east wall and if the wind comes from the east it is like being in a wind tunnel. A cold wind tunnel at that.

Christmas Day was just another day on the phones fixing peoples computer issues with the bonus that there was free food for all at work with a low call volume.

Boxing Day December 26, 2007

It is still very early in the morning and I am trying to be quiet after I woke early and misread the clock. The place is still very much a rough camp with bed sheets for drapes and furniture that I cobbled up from 2X4’s and existing trailer cushions. It is warm enough and has shown no leaks less than fifteen minutes from work. Rufus is busy checking all the windows as he becomes more familiar with the place and considers an outside foray. He has taken to lying in the fold of the bed sheet where it hits the floor and he can watch the outside street. His eye continues to worsen and I suspect his vision is already seriously impaired. He already wants out which is a huge fear as the street in front is fairly busy and his depth perception faulty leaving me with the inescapable fear of freedom V/S safety.

Rufus is adapting better than expected to all the moves and strange digs. He is doing well living as an indoor cat. Equally important is since we moved; there is more cat love than he showed in six months aboard Defiance. Rufus seems mostly contented to observe from his window tent and beat up the occasional ball while spending long hours curled up on the settee which has space for us both comfortably.

We get one channel with the bunny ears and it is very weak with a lot of interference from the electronics on the air base less than a block away. Listening for the aircraft and identifying their sounds is a joy I could not have imagined before getting the hearing aids. I can not decide if it is a heavy or light Hercules, a CF18, a light or heavy Airbuss, or one of the heavy lifter C5’s . All very cool and a delightfull change for the countryside commute as something is always changing as these folks get it done.

December 27, 2007

I hate to think what 2008 is going to bring for our planet. Global warming is out of control with a lack of will by industrialized nations to take meaningful action. The North West Passage is becoming a cruising ground with ice free conditions last year. I also know that my body has given out and it will be another who takes Defiance north. Even Waupoos is changing becoming yet another extension of GTA Metro thinking which will mark the end of my attachment to the place. For 2008 there will be more changes making the place far less hospitable to the serious cruiser on a fixed budget.

Instability and the emerging issues between Islam and the west overseas where terrorists are gaining strength in Pakistan this year. The overall division of the worlds populations grows and I predict will increase this year. I am concerned with an general apathy in Canada as to events overseas. I am against a fortress North America but equally recognize legitimate security concerns. What we do not get is enough documentary from these regions showing what is really going on so you folks back home can understand the severity of the issue.

With those cherry thoughts it is time for me to leave. We can all make a difference if we are heard.

Thursday 27 December 2007

Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario. Issued: 10.30 AM EST Thursday 27 December 2007 for the period ending At 10.30 AM Friday with an outlook for the following 24 hours. Forecast: Wind east 15 knots veering to south this afternoon. Wind veering to west 20 this evening then diminishing to 10 to 15 overnight. Periods of rain or wet snow tapering to isolated flurries this afternoon then ending late this evening. Waves 1 metre or less building to near 2 this evening then lowering to near 1 Friday morning. Outlook..Light and variable increasing to moderate to strong southeasterlies.