On the front page of our local paper there was a headline that caught my eye and no doubt others as well.

No doctor in E.R. to assess local stroke patient. In the long run it turned out o.k. but it could have been a disaster maybe even a death.

It was very fortunate this lady鈥檚 son had his certified in level three first aid and knew that she could have had a stroke. He also knew that the first hour for stroke patients can be very critical.

Stroke researchers say that time means so much in the chance of recovery. It also stated the nurses and the paramedics did an awesome job but can only do so much. This kind of publicity is not good for 亚洲天堂 Lake sad to say especially in the medical fields. We have also learned our ambulance service did an excellent job, hats off to you.

Bears

Ed Neave was driving up the seven mile road and he saw six black bears and a young grizzly. It looked to him like some one had shot it鈥檚 mother and left her remains here as there was a pile of grizzly bear hair all around.

Ed also said the blacks were in very good shape and filling up on berries as there were lots of huckleberries all over the place. A young fat black bear is really good eating about now.

We always tried to get a young berry fed black every year. My late wife Jo used to like to render the fat from a bear as she used to say you can鈥檛 beat bear grease for making pastry as it was the best you could get. We used to heat the bear grease, mix it with pine tar and paraffin wax and it was the best you could get for leather boots and saddles and also harness.

The pine tar gave the bear grease a pleasant smell and make it keep longer.

It seems to me that our weather pattern is changing. We seem to be getting these gale force winds almost every day. Now we have had snow all around us but not right here. Our Uncha mountain was just white a day or so ago. It just seems a bit too early to have snow. This has been a different year, not what we are used to.

Big fish

Last week our friend and neighbour, Herb Larson who lives during the summer months on the Francois Lake east road, brought me a picture of his sons catch. This fish was caught in Francois Lake and it was a beauty. It was a char which weighed in at 30 pounds and it was 36 inches long. What a fish. Like a true sportsman they let it go back into the lake. But the picture proves it. I will be sending it into the paper.

90th Birthday

September 24 afternoon and evening were very special for Anne Cannon with the celebration of her 90 years birthday. The party and dinner was held in the newly renovated Francois Lake hall.

Everything was so well done up for this very lovely ladies birthday. Before the dinner meal the Greer Valley Blackbirds played and sang some of the old songs that we all enjoyed. This is a family group and their music and singing is wonderful.

They came from Prince George. A great dinner was served and it was great too. Lots of variety and lots to eat, and so well served. After the meal Ross and Jan, another very popular couple, played some good old dance tunes.

A number of Anne鈥檚 family were there plus a large number of her friends. Her son Richard spearheaded the whole evening with the great help of a number of his good friends. The tables were so well decorated up too.

Potlatch

On Friday last I was invited by the Skin family to attend a potlatch at the Grassy Plains hall.

The Skin family have waited two years to be able to purchase two headstones for their family members. Jimmy Johnny Skin and Elsie Skin. The headstones are beautiful and the family must feel very proud of them.

There was a very nice and well prepared dinner meal served before the actual potlatch. The hall was half full of many gifts for this potlatch. The hall was packed with family and friends to help with the finances.

It seems the Frog Clan were also involved in this potlatch as they were the workers.

I could feel a lot of love and generosity between everyone who was there.

Service

On Oct. 1, 2011 there was a gathering of remembrance for the late Robert Elsie Peebles (Bob) at 2 p.m. at the Francois Lake hall.

The hall was just packed with family and friends who loved and respected this fine man. Bob spent the greater part of his life here at Francois Lake.

The Peebles names is so well known throughout the whole Lakes District.

Lunch and a time to visit with family and many friends of the family.

When we have to say goodbye to one of our old pioneer members it seems to leave a space that is very hard to full again. Bob had been a friend and good neighbour to our family for 70 years. I will always look back to those wonderful musical evenings we used to have now so many years ago.

Bob loved music and he had a great memory for all the old songs he liked to sing.

Bob leaves his wife Frances and such a wonderful family that will fill the place that Bob has left and so many friends. God has a special place for men like Bob and we must have faith that someday we will meet him again and he will be waiting for us.

Weather

We have had our first frost last week and it was a bit of a wake up call. Winter tires, antifreeze, oil change, and just an all-around checkup.

A saying my dad always used to say and I quote 鈥淒on鈥檛 get caught with your pants down.鈥� A good saying and I always remember it.

It鈥檚 now my time to close up so take care, enjoy the beautiful fall colours and always remember God loves you and so do I.