The last year or so has brought a worrisome lean to the ancient outhouse. Fearful that a rambunctious BM might deliver someone on an unwanted ride into the Great Bras d’Or, I spent a day jacking up the comfort station, removing the old posts – just as well since one of them was reduced pretty much to dust below ground – and replacing them with creosoted railway ties that should last a good deal longer than I will. The day’s exertions left me wearily aware that a 63-year-old body is no facsimile of the 20-something version that built the outhouse back in the early 70s.October delivered peace and quiet just as sublime as that we enjoyed in May but evening arrived far sooner. Stillness was broken occasionally, by honking formations of Canada geese, wing-whistling surf scoters massed on the saltchuck opposite the cabin, noisy woodpeckers – pileated and hairy – hollering from the woods. Warmed by the Drolet woodstove we pigged out on Lee Child ‘Jack Reacher’ novels, exhausting most of the Cape Breton regional library system’s entire supply.
October is Celtic Colours time. The annual music festival is always a guaranteed good time and this year was no exception. We enjoyed Lennie Gallant, Old Man Leudecke and others at Boularderie school and an Irish-themed evening at Lower River Inhabitants with Liz Doherty et al. What we liked best were two free events at Knox Church in Baddeck, where CBC Cape Breton hosts daily two-hour recording sessions. We especially liked Scot guitarist Tony McManus and the PEI Acadian group Vishten.We’re back in Victoria on Saturday, enjoying a notion that a few folks might be happy to have us back: bro-in-law Marc promises to retrieve us from the airport, pal Doug Hensby will produce a feast of Indian food mere hours after we’re back. Will Mary and Mike have a hike planned for Sunday morning? Surely life can’t be that good.
Alan
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