Here we are starting our another week and it鈥檚 such a lovely day. Feb. 6 the ferry keeps a wide open channel of open water.

Almost a mile wide. You can hear the ferry breaking up the floating chunks of ice. The nights are cold but the days are almost like spring, the snow is melting off our roof. It鈥檚 a kind of day when it makes you glad to be alive.

Great fundraiser

Last weekend, Saturday, was a busy one, but a great one too. I think it made us all feel part of a very generous community and we are proud.

On Saturday last at the Island Gospel church the 亚洲天堂 Lake rotary held a silent auction to raise funds for those who had lost their jobs and some their lives and some very badly injured with the results of the Babine mill disaster.

The church hall was packed with folks giving from their hearts to help those who needed help.

The tables were filled with so much of most everything you could imagine to be auctioned off. A number of local musical groups took part with lots of good music and singing.

One group came from Prince George to take part in the singing as well as supporting the silent auction.

The Lakes District Choir were also present as well as local musicians all helping make the afternoon a success.

A big hand to the 亚洲天堂 Lake Rotary Club  who organized the afternoon as it all went off without a hitch. Hats off to you all it was a success and big time. Even with other events in town that afternoon the silent auction was well supported.

Great job

The L.D. 亚洲天堂 team has done an excellent job of covering this tragic event and I think you should be commended. To be generous is a God鈥檚 given gift and I think we have proved that.

Eagle watching

I am sitting upstairs in my little office when I make up my news and watch what鈥檚 going on at the landing. I notice a big old eagle sitting on the ice by the open water. He is no doubt waiting for either a little duck or a fish to come his way. He sure is patient. At this time I feel like a cup of coffee, I have already had enough to sink the titanic again. That鈥檚 my weakness my coffee but I鈥檓 too old to worry about it now so here goes fresh coffee coming up.

The door is open come and have one with me as I love company.

Otters

Yesterday morning bright and early as I was looking out on the lake I saw three animals running and playing out on the ice, close to the open water.

That was a dangerous place to be. Taking another look I noticed there were otters two big ones and a smaller one. They would swim a bit and then play on the ice again. I have seem them before but only one at a time not all at once. They have a den just east of the landing. It made my day to watch them. They moved on and I have watched to see them again but they have not come back.

Open water

A friend has just stopped in and he told me that Francois Lake east end is open water. It seems from the old Stanton place down. These folks were on snow machines and it was a surprise to see the open water.

By the way he passed on word the ice is very poor and could be dangerous.

A number of folks who do not get the Southside news are wondering about the Southside women鈥檚 institute and wonder if it鈥檚 still active.

Meetings

I have been neglectful in not writing the meetings up in my news. So here is a little burp. Yes they are still very active although they would like new members. Their next meeting will be on Feb. 13 at the SEDA building.

There will be a potluck lunch at 11:30.

All women are invited to join their group to be a part of the voice of their gender in their homes, community, country and the world. The women institutes are the only women鈥檚 group that has a representative in the united nations. Northside ladies are invited and would be most welcome.

Smart meters

On TV last night there was quite a program regarding these new metres that BC Hydro are installing, many are refusing to have them put in to replace the old ones. One reason is the extra cost and for health reasons.

I understand a large number have refused them. There maybe more. I know I will refuse to take one. For that very reason. Maybe BC Hydro had better take a long look at the situation before going ahead trying to shove something down our necks we don鈥檛 want or need.

Here is a little story

I think you will get a kick our of it. Being from Saskatchewan myself.

A good old Saskatchewan boy won a fishing boat in a raffle draw.

When he brings it home his wife looks at him and says 鈥淲hat the heck are going to do with that, there ain鈥檛 no water deep enough to float a boat within 75 miles from here.鈥� He says 鈥淚 won it and I鈥檓 going to keep it so there.鈥� His brother came over to visit him several days later. He sees his wife and asked where his brother is.

She says 鈥淗e is out there in his fishing boat,鈥� pointing to the field behind the house. The brother heads out behind the house and sees his brother sitting in his fishing boat with a fishing rod in his hand down in the middle of a big field.

He yells out to him 鈥淲hat the heck are you doing?鈥� His brother replies 鈥淚鈥檓 fishing, what the heck does it look like I鈥檓 doing.鈥� His brother yells back 鈥淚t鈥檚 people like you that give people from Saskatchewan a bad name, making everybody think we are stupid. If I could swim, I鈥檇 come out there and kick your rear end.鈥�

Take care have a safe week and live to enjoy another week, its鈥� well worth it believe me. Always remember God really loves you a lot and so do I.

P.S. And as someone recently said to me, 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry about old age, it doesn鈥檛 last that long.鈥� How true.