Stratford, Brookvale, New Zealand, Willowdale, Switzerland…Places of interest for me this week.
And here’s why:
STRATFORD
Well, first off, as I was riding my bike into town yesterday, I couldn’t help but stop at the farm on the corner of Kinlock and Stratford Rd. How many times do we drive by this beautiful sight and never stop to watch these incredible horses play and laze about. Although there are not many farms left in operation in the (now residential) area of Stratford, this place does remind us of the fact that not too long ago most of Stratford (Crossroads, Bunbury, Rosebank and Kinlock) was indeed agricultural. The year I was born, 1962, was the year the old railway bridge was replaced with a 2 lane vehicle bridge that spanned the Hillsborough River between Charlottetown and Southport. And in 1995 (the same year the Town of Stratford was founded by the subsequent amalgamation of Bunbury, Southport, Kinlock, Keppoch and Crossroads) the new 4 lane bridge was built by Strait Crossing Inc. as an add-on contract while the Confederation Bridge was being built. Next time you drive by the horses on Kinlock Rd. stop and have a visit.
BROOKVALE
The days are getting shorter already and it would appear that setting out earlier in the afternoon would be the preferred idea if one wants to get in a good mtb ride at Brookvale.
NEW ZEALAND
The other morning my daughter Ashley video Skyped me from the backpacker (hostel) she is currently staying at in the South Island of New Zealand. She has been there since January and is now experiencing New Zealand winter! I took a pic of her as we video conferenced.
WILLOWDALE
As in Willowdale, Toronto. The riding that Martha Hall Findlay will win in the soon-to-be-called Federal by-election. Martha Hall Findlay was on PEI this week to visit with various groups and to give a speech at the Charlottetown Liberal Association’s Fundraiser luncheon. The new women’s caucus was privileged to have Martha spend some time with them sharing some of her insights. As well, the Liberal Youth of PEI had a chance to meet with her aboard the “Fairview” on a harbour cruise. Here is the gang:
SWITZERLAND
In a very classic FOAF (friend of a friend) way, I have been cloaked with the honour of being on the politician friend list of Herr Peter Rukavina of Charlottetown. His friend Dannie Jost of Bern, Switzerland was recently elected as a Parliament Member at Berne City Parliament (Stadtrat). Peter now claims 3 friends as politicians. Dannie is numbered as #58 in her Parliament. The only number I am aware of being assigned to me in the PEI Legislature is the number on back of the gold MLA pin I was issued a few weeks ago. I am # 60, but I don’t know what that means yet. (will update). Here is the Bern coat of arms:
