Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians

May we work toward achieving better leadership, sound policies, a healthy and successful future; both socially and economically. 

May we use wisdom and determination to build a stronger democracy; use our common sense to prevent catastrophic mistakes, eliminate corruption, and give our beautiful place a fighting chance to make it.   

Somebody needs a hug and a hand-up - reach out to one of them. 

Merry Christmas

So this is Christmas - what have we done?

Let me start by wishing you all a very beautiful holiday filled with family time and love.

I look forward to the New Year and hoping we can all do the best we can to make this place the best that it can be.

The future in the eyes of the children must be carefully nurtured with only them in mind.

We must continue to do better for the seniors of Newfoundland and Labrador who invested their lives before us.

May the greed and lust for power be muted by a sense of public duty and honour.

May your neighbour be well this year and may you ensure the well being of another person.

These are but a few wishes made much more real by action we can and should take.

Thank you to all those who are working over Christmas ensuring essential public services are met.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight

The Christmas tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador burns very bright. This year there are beautiful stories of people helping one another.

Christmas cards supporting causes like the Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House adorn mantles throughout our wonderful province. Turkeys and Hampers are on their way to families who need some help this year. Communities are reaching out to families to lend a helping hand and meals are being cooked to share with those who may have been alone otherwise.

The Children's Wish Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador are working hard to make wishes come true for kids who are facing health concerns. Families, friends and neighbours are helping those who have lost a loved one.

The Salvation Army Kettles are present and hopefully filled to help families have a warm and cheer filled Christmas. Eg Walters and the Community Food Sharing Association are working very hard to fill bellies all year round.

Many individuals, employee groups, and companies have come together to each help a couple of families to have a wonderful and joyous time this season.

Christmas carols are being played and concerts performed to bring the gift of music to people all across Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are homemade pickles, jams, cakes, cookies, sweetbread, and suet pudding.

There are mummers, choirs, and raffles and of course all kinds of crafts made from wood - stone - seal - wool.

People are coming and going from rural to urban and urban to rural.

Smells of Turkey and Ham are wafting through the air - spilling from the oven vent to the nippy wind outside.

Snow sparkles - icicles hang playfully from rock cliffs and the combers do their thing in the sea of blue.

Yes there are polar bears, moose, caribou, rabbits and partridge running around and wood stoves are burning.

Christmas trees are decorated and stockings are hung.

Children young and old are excited waiting for Santa and family get-togethers.

This Christmas take the time to reflect, to help another, to love your family and friends, and to enjoy stories and song.

A special thank you goes out to those who must work this week - the health professionals, staff of our hospitals and clinics, corrections, police, ambulance, and firemen and women, those working in retail like gas stations and convenience stores, those working in the industrial sector offshore and on, ferry operators, hydro workers, highway and roads maintenance, those working in long-term and personal care homes, and those in the news media and anybody else I have not mentioned.

Stay safe out there - drive carefully and don't drink and drive. Watch out for pedestrians and keep your pets safe.

POISON don't CUT Christmas trees on side of road

So the Department of Natural Resources is warning all you Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that if you are going to get a Christmas Tree - do NOT cut one on the side of the road. They tell you to measure out 102 metres from the centre of the road and then cut one.

You can however spray poison on everything on the side of the road - so you can see moose better - but you bad people don't dare cut one. Unless of course you have one of those giant whipper snippers that we see wiping out tracts and tearing up the ditches everywhere in the province.

For years Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who use wood for heat have been warned - not on the side of the road. No No No - naughty people. Yet poison away.

If you told people they could cut all trees on the side of the road - then we might not need to poison the land. All that wood that people could have used to heat their homes has been reserved for poisoning and ripping up by commercial operations.

Yes - it is time to warn the people who want a Christmas tree - mind you rules.

Poison a lake, a river, a forest, or a bog - but at no time can you cut a Christmas tree on the side of the road.

Does anybody notice the absurdity of this. Wake-up Minister Dalley - give me a break.

While you are at it - fix your regulations - they represent a paradox. Take some time and read the legislation and regulations you are responsible for as a Minister.

Harper and Mansbridge the Christmas Message

Can't Wait

Tuning up the old violin here today as I await the Christmas/New Year fireside chat between overpaid Mansbridge and unwanted Harper.

The two - civil - casual - well coiffed pair will sip some coffee - put on a serious but welcoming face - and quietly discuss all the abhorrent behavior and lies of the Prime Minister.

You'll smell shortbread and turkey from your television as they oh so quietly tip-toe around the ghastly details. Elite to elite they will hypnotize you; Peter with his voice and Stephen with his blue eyes.

As Stephen quietly dismantles any thought that Duffy and Wright are not the only ones involved - Peter will toughen up and say but - but and then let the Prime Minister repeat the speaking notes.

Both men like who they are - no they love themselves - and certainly we must love them too. Peter - after all is the only newsman in the land that Stephen will address - minus the media police. Peter will be "free" to ask the tough already agreed to questions - and the Prime Minister will not refuse to answer with the already prepared responses.

The CBC - having lost hockey will rebound in spades - as they and only they will get the holiday visit.

The Prime Minister has been surrounded by corruption, incompetence, lies, and crooks - and he appointed them all. Peter is the patriarch of our public broadcasting system - slightly less popular than Don Cherry - but filled with grace and finesse.

Yes I'm looking forward to another year where Stephen Harper controls the media - while we the public do not get the direct answers - out of his mouth.

I wonder whose suits they will be wearing - and what colour ties. Think about it - the PM interviewing the PM - matching  monogrammed Towelettes?

So this year - we will once again - get to feast on a turkey and a ham.

Next year who knows - perhaps Rogers will get a 10 year exclusivity contract for chats with the Prime Minister.

Enjoy Your Christmas Your Family and Friends

The Beauty of the North - A Christmas Treasure

Canadian Tire Blows It - PR should be fired!

On Facebook Canadian Tire announces that "now that Christmas is over..." It's not over - your selling season is.

What a ridiculous pitch to make - while they are asking you to come in and spend more!

Here is the quote:

"Have things settled down around your home now that Christmas is over? If so, it could be the perfect time to get organized! Check out our storage and organization sale"