Vinyl Cafe Story Exchange

"Pollock's Hardware"
by Rhian Brynjolson from Winnipeg, MB

Last night we gathered together as many neighbours as we could fit into our local community centre, set up tables for a potluck and said goodbye to a community institution in Winnipeg's north end.

Pollock Hardware has been in the neighbourhood for as long as any of us can remember. The original owner bequeathed it to his stockboy. The current owners tried hard to find a buyer, but the time has come for them to retire out to the cottage, so the doors are now closed.

We have all appreciated the variety of things we could find at Pollock Hardware. We live in an older neighbourhood with older houses that require ongoing repair. It feels like something always needs plumbing, patching,glazing, hanging, grouting, plastering, unlocking or fastening. In our neighbourhood renovation is thought of as a leisure activity. We work our way through kitchens, bathrooms, windows, hallways, living areas, decks, fences… and then start all over again.

Pollocks always seemed to have what we needed.

It is a mystery to me how all of that inventory fit into that store.

And the staff all seemed to know what we were talking about when we asked vaguely for ‘the thing that fits inside the tap’. And not only that…but that they seemed to know exactly where to find it inside the store – even though no one had ordered the part since 1953.

If they didn’t have the part, they’d improvise one out of baling wire and charge you 14 cents. Once I was told “No, we don’t carrythat, but I’ve got some in my basement at home I’m not using. I’ll bring it in for you tomorrow.”

There were also, of course, the gagets. They had a wonderful stock of beautiful, practical, simple machines that don’t blink and beep. Machines that don’t require electricity and counter space. Friendly, low maintenance machines that sit quietly and obediently in bottom drawers until they’re needed.

We enjoyed the cider and cookies they served at Christmas. All of these things made Pollock Hardware feel more like a small town general store – or maybe even a community centre. It was common to stay and chat for a while, trying to postpone the renovation work waiting for at home.

So last night was difficult. It was a sad but special night last night. A number of people took turns thanking Wayne and Lois for their work; for helping to establish part of Main street as a business zone and improving the neighbourhood, for helping with the gardening projects at Luxton School.

Our local MP, Judy Wasylicia-Leis presented them with a letter from parliament. Sharon Corey, a local artist, presented them with a painting of the store. Everyone had pitched in to have the painting framed. There were hugs and toasts and a cake wishes for a happy retirement.

I'm still getting used to the boarded up windows and the padlock on the door. I don't know where I'm going to find the washers for the antique plumbing in my house. I'm going to miss the cider and cookies at Christmas. So I'm buying a share in the co-op that a group of people have started to try to keep the store open. More than 50 people showed up at the first meeting and we're hoping that the credit union will give us a mortgage. And that this story might have a happy ending yet…

Welcome to" Jude Alan Arsenault"

Jude Alan Arsenault was born on March 26th at 2314hr. weighing 6lbs. 13.6 oz.

Proud parents are Kerri (Alan and Andrees daughter) and Joel.

He was born in Perth-Andover.

Maple Syrup Time

A co-worker takes orders every year for maple syrup. I would say it's a 1 litre bottle and she charges $13.50. She usually gets swamped with orders every year, so she limited our department to 25 bottles.

Certainly a sign of spring!!!!!

Lights out at 8:30pm local time tonight

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

That Time of Year Again

Some of Tools of the Trade!

Yesterday I started to "Spring Clean", defined as

"A thorough cleaning, especially of a residence when winter is over."

My spring cleaning consists of:

washing windows, walls, baseboards, door casings, pictures, furniture, doors

vacuuming sofas, chairs, floors, heaters, lamp shades

applying murphys oil to hutch, kitchen cupboards

washing draperies, blankets, throws.

So far I have the livingroom and family room done as well as the kitchen minus the cupboards.

I would like to have it done by easter weekend but working Mon.-Fri. only leaves me the weekends and I REALLY don't want to spend all my weekends working. Maybe I'm toooo ambitious considering easter is only 2 weekends away.

By the way HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!!!

(in my opinion yesterday felt more like spring :-)

Stupendous Saturday

My crocus' are all in bloom, the tulips are coming up, I spotted my peonies peeking through the ground and as I walk around the gardens other perennials are emerging. I want to rake all the dead leaves away but in the back of my mind I say "NO it's too early", but in reality we are a whole month ahead. It's now 1100hr. and already it's 8 degrees .

When you look outside it is soooooo beautiful that if it wasn't for the fact that there is no leaves on the trees and the grass isn't green you would think it is going to be a hot summer day.

This is all the snow we have left in the tard.


WELCOME SPRING!!!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

IF YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE IRISH

YOU ARE LUCKY!