I have been home for two weeks now and I seem to be only scratching the surface of my garden, paperwork and general housecleaning.

I eventually took care of a major priority item, cleaning, perhaps cleansing is more appropriate, the trailer. Bugs were dealt with with a purple concoction that  had to be significantly diluted.

It worked.

Vacuume, washed the floor, washed the sheets (queen size!) and the carpets.

I began polishing it today and it’s gleaming.

Neighbours and several friends have visited and the reviews were all good.

I spotted a bit of rust on the window frames and sent photos to Escape Trailers and we’ll see what happens.. This is not normal although you’d think so judging by some of the comments on the Escape Trailer Facebook page…stuff along the lines of “suck it up” and “no big deal”.

Well, it’s not their 6 week old trailer!

Having said that, most folks supported me and were indeed surprised.

You expect wear and tear but not rusty screws on window frames six weeks into the exercise!

My friend Jim suggested dabbing a bit of grease on the culprits (the screws) and I will do that in the morning.

I will book a few nights at the St Lawrence Parks campground in Long Sault for the week of July 17. It’s 80 km from here and some of the campsites are right on the St Lawrence. They are unserviced but I have the technology, rusty screws and all!

Hopefully I will be able to find something nice. Camping on an island in the middle of the St Lawrence less than two hours from here…sure sounds good! It comes highly recommended from friends and you can rent small cabins as well for those not tent or trailer oriented.

This time I will barbecue something while there…what else would be good? Boeuf bourguignon perhaps!!

I hope the weather holds up, the last few days in Ottawa have been wonderful.

I should bring nothing but a good book, pen and paper and get to work writing.

Speaking of writing….A few months ago I submitted a 150 word short story to a Manitoba publisher, a small contest they organised to celebrate Canada’s 150 the birthday. It was open to non-Quebec Francophones, if that’s what we are called, and I am looking forward to hearing from them.

150 stories are to be published this year, perhaps I will be one of the chosen few.

It follows.

Ronne

Vous n’auriez pas vu mon chien?

La tempête, sa laisse s’est brisée. Parti en fou. Pas vraiment mon chien, celui de mon chum parti voir sa mère vers les Rocheuses. Ça fait deux ans. Le crisse! Mettons que c’est mon chien.

Elle travaille au café.

Je t’ai reconnue, tes beaux yeux, à travers tes foulards. Tu les as vues les montagnes? On pourrait y aller ensemble.

J’aimerais bien, pourrais ramener le chien en même temps!

Le promènes-tu par ici? J’te gage qu’il est proche. Doit faire sa ronne de lait.

Sa quoi?

Sa ronne de lait! Coudon, t’as quel âge?

Chanteur de pomme, t’es cute pour un p’tit vieux, tu pourrais bien m’expliquer… la ronne.

Imagine un cheval. Commence avec ça.

J’te gage que mon chien est au café. Je t’en paie un. Pour les montagnes, on verra. T’avais reconnu, le bonhomme. Dis-moi, après le cheval… quoi?