Phone number sleuthing connects old acquaintances

Finally a break in the weather and we survived OK. The days are getting longer and spring will follow, before we know it. Many folks are away on holidays and some are still moving out of the area, into the cities, some to the Battlefords and some to Saskatoon. We will miss every one of them as attendance at events dwindles.

The seniors met at the Do Drop In for their regular monthly meeting Jan. 9, with eight present. Names are being taken for the seniors’ driving course for those over 55 years that will be arranged if 20 people sign up. It is still hoped that the shuffleboard tournament will be a success Jan. 24. They are great fun-time days.

Maureen Campbell gave the library report. Their annual meeting is set for Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m. Their next bingo is set for April 10. Both the public computers have been replaced and a smoke detector has been installed in the library. The new hours are 5 - 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 1 - 5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. Don’t buy that book – borrow it from your library.

Donors’ Choice has dissolved and the proceeds were split between the seniors’ club and the Community Complex. This is appreciated very much.

A request was made regarding loaning out the chairs. Robert will take care of this. The blue chairs have had the seats cleaned and look better, thanks to Maureen. The Edam Manor is sponsoring a cribbage tournament every second Wednesday afternoon at 1:30. If you have a team of two interested, call 306-397-3000 to register.

A new house was moved into the village on Beach Avenue Jan. 7, but it was too cold to stand around and watch it being unloaded. However we have seen it since and it looks quite happy on the foundation that was waiting.

Beth Joseph has returned from her Christmas holiday. She travelled to Japan where her son Bob has an English school where he teaches. He has been there 20 years with his wife and two children. Then Beth went to Cochrane, Alta. and spent a week over New Year’s, with her daughter Anne and her family. It’s so good to get to see them, but she’s happy to be back home with her memories. 

Flight travel time across the Atlantic was shortened considerably when the jet stream was going that direction, at a speed of 250 mph. The plane travelled at nearly 700 mph, almost double its normal speed, so it made the trip across in four hours rather than the usual six hours. However coming the other direction you would add on an hour or two, as they bucked the wind.

Norwegian whist was played in Tower II Jan. 9, with four tables in play. Top scores were by Ken Tucker, Yvonne McPherson, Carol Huys and Beulah Corbiel. It was a very nice gathering on a very cold day and enjoyed by all.

The Meota Lions Club held a Christmas lighting contest and the winners were Lawrie Ward, Maurice Bru and Leo Lessard.

When my girls came from Carstairs, Alta. in early December they dug fresh carrots that morning and brought them out. They were covered with straw bales and the ground was not frozen. What a flavour they have!

Bob Rutherford, 87, of Saskatoon, knits tube socks on a knitting machine, with four helpers to finish and pack. They are closed off at the toe by machine and hemmed at the top. He makes about 2000 pairs every year, never selling any, but donating them to the needy across western Canada. His son, and donations, supply the yarn he needs. Tube socks have no heel but they work just fine and are warm.

Jam sessions are still going on, a nice place to spend a couple hours on Tuesday mornings, at the Do Drop In.

Contract bridge was played on Jan. 12, with top score by Maureen Campbell and Linda Ard.

Duplicate bridge was played Jan. 5 with top score by Maureen Campbell and Linda Ard, second high were Mary Greenwald and David Sharpe.

A former Spiritwood resident, Doug Bonk, in Dawson Creek, B.C., called wanting a phone number for John’s brother Richard and his wife Yolande Pearson, in Kelowna. B.C. He called my cousin in Fort St. John for my number first. He got it wrong and when Helen Clarke in Meota answered she was able to tell him the right number, she being a former Spiritwood gal, too. So I made a couple phone calls to Yolande’s family after telling him that Richard had passed away this spring, and was able to contact the home where Yolande lives. So I then gave this number to Doug who called and talked to Yolande. She remembered him and both were happy and I’d done my good deed for the day. Doug talked about the great Spiritwood reunion he attended in 1993 as one of the best times in his life. His wife has since passed on, too, after 20 years in a wheelchair.

Beulah Corbeil celebrated her birthday for three days this past weekend. Saturday her two sons visited. Marcel and his son Joseph, came from Layton, Utah and Blair and his wife Erna came from Beaumont, Alta. Their two daughters Felisha and Jenna also drove out from Beaumont. Sunday the boys and Joseph had dinner with their mother before leaving for home. Monday her card-playing friends surprised her by coming for the afternoon, bearing gifts of flowers, baking, fruit and a birthday cake. The day was topped off by a visit from her brother-in-law Maurille and Roseanne Corbeil from Edam. The day was often interrupted, with 14 phone calls coming in from all over. Beulah was very appreciative of all her company, who made it a weekend she won't soon forget.