Errands and Chores and Flat Tire Blues: Tuesday, January 28th!

Flattery won't hurt you if you don't swallow it. -Kin Hubbard, humorist (1868-1930)

Hi Ms Moneybags, et al! Great news from Spirit Ridge! What with NuFloors and flights to Winnipeg I think you should put Kevin's Volvo up on E-Bay before you leave! You can tell Liam that Pam skidded on some black Ice on the way to War Eagle and car ended up on the lake. Fortunately everybody was able to get out of the vehicle before it sank through the ice! Since accident it happened in Ontario, Autopac won't pay for replacement. Car was too old anyway. Sorry but thanks Kevin!

Renderings for suite look terrific. How much? Hang the expense!!! Just talked to Mike to ask about how he wants to set up deposit account. I will go in to Home Hardware later today to set it up. He said he would be doing a bit of framing, starting next week, and then he would have all the other tradespeople in to start on plumbing, wiring, etc. He will also put down a covering on entrance way flooring, etc., so tell Chloë not to worry! He said he would leave door to basement on to cut down on dust, etc. I will also forward drawing to him. [Hi Mike! Here are the sketches. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!]

Must away to take my Trek into Freedom to repair flat. Then I'll head over to Winnipeg to clean oven and work on gates. Once those chores have been discharged I'll go to Home Hardware and drop off day-care application before making for pool. If my bike likely to be ready in early afternoon, I might go for another ride instead as day is dry and sky is brightening.

Thanks for calling from Stella's. How was your first night on Harvard? Trust things continue to go well. Much love to everyone. Stay well. Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio! Pics: Ready to roll! Too sleepy! One table Blues! Chooch with her "sock" gloves! When heels wear out she uses them for gloves like a good Ukrainian Girl! Think I'll give her my black long-johns!

Rock Magic, Le Corbusier, Cleanliness and Cold: Today’s theme: Chandigarh. It’s several days since I was there . . . as usual, keeping up the blog is bit of a struggle! There have been several significant omissions so far . . . I’m hoping to fill in some gaps retrospectively but we’ll see. Everyday, there are many new, memorable experiences and loads of photos.

So Chandigarh. The city straddles two Indian states, Punjab and Haryana, and is the capital of both. That itself would seem unusual, but Chandigarh is unique and remarkable in other ways.

When India was divided during the Partition, the capital of the Punjab Province of British India — Lahore — went to Pakistan, leaving the newly defined Indian state of Punjab without a capital. The first prime minister of post-independence India, Jawaharwal Nehru, saw an opportunity to create a city “symbolic of the future of India, unfettered by the traditions of the past, an expression of the nation’s faith in the future” and commissioned renowned Swiss-French architect and urban planner, Le Corbusier (a nom de plume – his actual name was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) to design it. 

My guide in Chandigarh said that Brazilians are particularly interested in the city because of their similar example of Brasilia. And bizarrely, Milton Keynes in the U.K. was also mentioned. (I say “bizarrely” because Milton Keynes is closely associated with our family history on my mother’s side. I’ve been to and through Milton Keynes several times. My vague understanding was that it was largely an administrative project, involving the consolidation of a number of towns and villages in Buckinghamshire into a single urban entity. I suppose that it might have involved building some new municipal facilities. But I had no inkling that it was a project on a similar scale to Chandigarh and Brasilia. And I suspect that it wasn’t. But . . . additional research required!)

More about Le Corbusier and his Chandigarh project later in the post. First, however, Chandigarh’s extraordinary Rock Garden cannot go unmentioned. It was built by local public servant Nek Chand as a secret personal project beginning in 1957. Initially, he built by hand — a solo effort, using detritus from Le Corbusier’s building activities and other material that he was able to collect (the ultimate recycler, perhaps). It all took place under the radar, in a forested area of Chandigarh, and was quite extensive by the time it was discovered by municipal authorities in 1975. With public opinion strongly behind Nek Chand’s work, not only did it escape demolition but a crew of fifty labourers was provided to support its continuation. Nek Chand lived to around 90 before passing several years ago, and even at an advanced age, visited the Rock Garden to supervise ongoing construction and maintenance. It now spreads over 40 acres.

I had read about the Rock Garden previously, and expected perhaps to find a small park covered with a moderately interesting, even impressive, collection of figures made from recycled material. But it was so much more than that. Of course, I took many photos, and have included a couple below, but they hardly convey the sheer scale and magical quality of the Rock Garden. It is HUGE and labrynthine, with new surprises around every corner. Nek Chand saw it as a “kingdom” and it really is as if he created fantasy world in his mind and set out to realize it in artistic form. I have never seen anything like it — truly amazing. The interested are invited to Google for more information and images.

From the Rock Garden, it was on to explore Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh, designed on an orderly grid of 30 Sectors (actually 29 – there is no 13), each 1200×800 metres. The city has since expanded to 61 Sectors (although 48-61 are half-Sectors). Each Sector is self-contained, with only four access points from Chandigarh’s major thoroughfares.

Le Corbusier’s vision for Chandigarh is reflected everywhere in the city, including the municipal building code, which limits the height of all buildings to three stories. The centrepiece is the huge Capital Complex, comprising the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly (separate chambers for the state governments of Punjab and Haryana) and High Court (also serving both states).
 

I was able to join a tour around the Complex, which was very interesting and impressive, though I have to admit, I didn’t really LIKE it. Le Corbusier was a huge fan of raw concrete, with no smoothing or polishing. To me, it all just seemed very heavy, industrial and not particularly attractive.

Below are two images of the Capital Complex. The first is the Legislative Assembly. In the second, you can see a swastika. I was already aware that the swastika was an ancient Hindu symbol, far preceding its appropriation by the Nazis, but it was nonetheless a little startling to hear the guide use the word “swastika” in a completely neutral way.

Image: Mushy/Adobe

My final image of Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh, see below, is the Open Hand Monument, which actually rotates according to the direction of the wind — like a massive weather vane. It stands 14 metres high and weighs 50 short tons (I am not sure what a “short” ton is, but that’s what the guidebook says . . . the equivalent of 100,000 lbs.). The emblem of the Government of Chandigarh, Le Corbusier saw it as a symbol of “peace and reconciliation. It is open to give and open to receive.” As well as the open hand, the shape of a dove can also be seen.

[Nettie Stevens at work at the Naples Zoological Station in 1909. Image: Bryn Mawr Special Collections] Chandigarh is very clean and orderly compared to other Indian urban areas, and the guide told me that when “the cleanliness project” was initiated, residents of Chandigarh were somewhat bemused, because they felt that their city was already clean. I looked for more information about the project and found the “Clean India Mission,” a nationwide government campaign that ran from 2014-2019. I have to say that, in view of my observations of India during four visits, a “clean India” would seem to be an extraordinarily ambitious aspiration. The country’s huge population, widespread poverty and infrastructure constraints are considerable challenges. 

Lindsay!

As for the final theme of this post — “Cold” — Indian hospitality is really wonderful, but sometimes, efforts to ensure the comfort of guests through air conditioning go a bit too far. There have been a few occasions on this trip where I have been cold to the point of discomfort. Of course, the room temperature can be adjusted . . . but I find the control panels baffling to the point of being incomprehensible. I’ve called for help more than once. 

Yesterday, a maintenance person was dispatched to assist but was a bit of a language barrier and after a few minutes he left, only to return with a step ladder, climb up and start to poking around vents. After sometime, I managed — with help from the front desk — to communicate that I didn’t think anything was wrong with the system. I just didn’t know how to adjust it to get heat. He showed me and left again. But far as I can tell, my new “understanding” of the heating system had little impact on the ambient temperature.

Natalie!

Before leaving Chandigarh, I went for a short walk around Sector 22, where my hotel was located. Along the way, I met this street-food vendor making deep-fried sandwiches, which he called “toast.” They actually looked quite appetizing . . . especially as it was a little nippy out. But . . . no thank you!

Good Morning! On January 18 I sent out this email "Can't believe we are more than halfway thru' January.  Here is the February schedule.  I don't seem to be getting the responses that I am used to.  Maybe we will have to put out a request for more volunteers.  What do you all think?"  

I did hear back from Patrick but that is all.  I don't want to be a nag or a nuisance but February is almost here and as you can see below I still have 7 dates to fill. Hi again, Wild Bill: Here is message to give you an idea of how things work! Cheers, Patrizzio! Hi Carole! I just spoke to friend, Bill Laven, and he is interested in volunteering. I passed along your email address and he will be in touch. Cheers, Patrizzio!
 

Rain City!

Hello Friends! Not sure if this is the correct address to send this message to but will start here. Before Christmas we changed our carrier from Telus to Shaw and was extremely dismayed to learn that Shaw does not carry CBC Radio One or Two! How can this be? Without question, our National Radio Broadcaster should be available! That it is not is simply outrageous and a complete embarrassment. Staff I spoke to at Shaw had no explanation for this state of affairs. Please advise. Thanks and Cheers, Patrick Dunn.

Thank you for writing to us. We read all messages and will get back to you as soon as we can. Please note that it may take up to two working days to process requests related to our mailing lists. Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is not affiliated with the CBC or its unions. Our role is solely to advocate for a stronger CBC, one that would serve all Canadians. We do not have any influence whatsoever over the CBC’s editorial decisions and programming. If you like, you can send your feedback to the CBC directly here: https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/ombudsman.

Dalmatian!

Dear Ombudsman! Before Christmas we changed our carrier from Telus to Shaw and was extremely dismayed to learn that Shaw does not carry CBC Radio One or Two! How can this be? Without question, our National Radio Broadcaster should be available! That it is not is simply outrageous and a complete embarrassment. Staff I spoke to at Shaw had no explanation for this state of affairs. Please advise. Thanks and Cheers, Patrick Dunn. Dear Mr. Dunn, As Ombudsman, my mandate is to assess whether CBC's information content adheres to the corporation's journalistic policies. The question you are asking me is outside of my mandate and, frankly, my expertise. 

I imagine that the question is best posed to someone at Shaw, even if the staff you have spoken to thus far are not aware of the reason. However, I'm curious to know - are you saying that you are not able to access Radio One or Radio Two on radio, or that you are not able to access them on your cable television package? If it is the latter, I suspect this article I found on Shaw's website may be the answer to your question. Sincerely, Jack Nagler CBC Ombudsman

Dear Mr Nagler! Thank you very much for your more than speedy reply. I appreciate that my subject is outside your mandate and, in spite of this, thank you, again, for suggesting the article you found on Shaw's website. To answer your question, I have already been streaming CBC Radio, One and Two, but still remain extremely annoyed with Shaw's rationale for not carrying radio stations, claiming this takes up too large an amount of bandwidth which could otherwise be used to offer their customers faster Internet speeds, more High Definition channels and increased Shaw On Demand programming. Wonderful, wonderful spin, Shaw!

As far as I am concerned, this is all baffle-gab and nonsense, smoke and mirrors to suggest that improved customer service is their prime concern when in fact this is nothing more than a grab for more profit. Who pays for HD channels and On Demand programming? The customer, that's who. I'd pay for CBC Radio if offered as part of any package I could subscribe to. At any rate, such naked greed casts aside their obvious and certain responsibility, as a good Canadian corporate citizen, to carry CBC Radio, our essential National Broadcaster, at the very least, if not other local or regional radio stations. Let me thank you, in advance, for your concern and patience. I wish you well. Cheers, Patrick!
 

Kitchen Stove Series and Book Club: I am collecting and selling tickets for the 7:00 p.m. show for the Kitchen Stove Series this year. That means that I also get a free ticket to attend the show. 2020 Dates are: Feb. 13th, Mar. 12th, April 23rd and May 21st. This will affect my ability to attend Book Club on those nights. Judi aka Dame Judith Hello Bibliofiles! Since Dame Judith cannot make January 13th, I suggest we meet on the 12th as Pamela said that date would work for her as well. Please let group know your feelings and availability so that everyone can plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

 

Feb 13th did you miss January Dame Judith. Patrick means February! Hi Fellow Readers, Although a great inconvenience, I have to alter my diary, for Dame Judith I can make the 12th Feb 2020. Look forward to seeing you all then.
Colin aka Taffy. I don't need anyone changing the date of the book club for me. Especially if it is a "great inconvenience". Please go ahead and have the meeting on the original date. After Colin's comment I would feel very bad if the date got changed. So please, leave it on the 13th. Judi OMG stop being silly, the 12th is good for me. Colin

Had a lazy sleep-in this morning as El Diablo didn't cause any fuss, as he often does, around 6:00 am, certainly by 7:00 am, so I was able, à la Lady Dar, to lie abed until almost 9:00 am! Once I'd zapped my java, fed the cooperative cats and played "soccer" with demanding Duke, I spent most of what remained of the rest of the morning answering and sending messages. Had a note from Southside Johnny, of Argon Solar, informing me that the solar panels were not communicating with the monitoring system. Almost immediately, I realized that the problem resulted when we changed carriers, from Telus to Shaw, over a month ago now. With our new grandson, Rowan James, I must admit that I'd been too, too busy to even look at the website and discover this. 

By the time I'd sorted things out and made an appointment with Johnny to come by and reinitialize the system it was close to noon so I walked my Trek to Freedom. Work would be finished around 2:00 am so this gave me time to run a few errands. After dropping off Chloë's application for child care at the Y-Day Care office, near the Community Recreation Centre, I stopped in at Rona to pick up some small items of hardware I needed for the gates at Chloë's place. Then on to set up an account at Home Hardware for the work on Chloë's basement suite. By the time I was home it was getting close to 2:00 pm so I suited up and walked back to Freedom. My Trek was ready. Apparently, the inner tube had a large hole in it but tire and rim were otherwise undamaged. 

Pleased that this was the case, I paid my bill, thanked staff and headed out. Since it was already 2:17 pm, I didn't want to head towards OK Falls, [let alone negotiate the gravel pit!], and be on Eastside Road as dusk fell. These being the facts I popped a few Gravol tablets and girded my loins for the Gerbil Merry-Go-Round. By now I can almost ride this route with my eyes closed so I simply put my head down and started to tick off the distance, one loop at a time. On this outing, once I left the Riverside Mall, I embarked on the largest loop, using Burnaby first, and then, after the obligatory seven circuits, proceeding to the tighter loops, off Riverside, and then Dynes, integrating strategic dipsy-doodles, wherever possible, to add more distance to the clock, within each subsequent mini-circuit, so that I could finish the ride before dark really began to fall.

As it was, street lights started to come on, along Lakeshore, shortly after 4:30 pm, and I switched on my own lamps shortly thereafter. Just before 5:00 pm I was ready to return to Burns and was home a few minutes later. Great to be back on a steed that wasn't lame! However, cannot really complain, however, as I don't think I've had a flat in more than a year. Not sure if I've just been lucky or the Armadillos have really earned their keep. Cheers! Map and Stats for ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4489619413#.XjEBaNxjb3w.email

Once back home I started on my shouldares and when I'd finished the ones I perform in the guest bedroom, on the bed, I laid a fire and prepared some dinner. 
 

While the broccoli was bubbling away in a frying pan, on the stove, I proceeded to do the series of stretches I perform against the wall, then proceeded to the Rumpus Room to use the pulley I have set up on the door to this room to do more shoulder stretches. 

These completed I enjoyed a quick shower and change of garb and then ate my dinner while watching a couple of episodes of Longmire. Etta was already sleeping in the crib before I started my supper and Duke was curled up on the chair in our bedroom when I was ready for bed myself. Long, full day so I think I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow!

Baja2020 — Day 21&22 (Jan. 27&28) La Paz (0 km):

We took a planned break from riding and enjoyed two days / 3 nights in La Paz. The days started with breakfast in the rooftop restaurant at Hotel Blue. People attended to laundry and other such matters, hung out at nearby coffee bars to read and relax, and explored nearby areas, before heading out for dinner.

La Paz is a substantial town (regional capital of Baja Sur) and is very “Mexican” (non-touristy) in feel — it has a beautiful and busy promenade (with bike path!) that stretches for a couple of kilometres along the waterfront, well populated with restaurants, bars and ice cream parlours, behind which is a commercial zone catering to the local populace. For those who like such things it can be fun to explore the stores and get a feel for Mexican retail merchandising.

Our one excursion was to Balandra Beach, a “short” (when driving, not cycling) 25 km drive north of La Paz. This is a wide bay lined with shallow sandy beaches. It was a beautiful, sunny day with bright light shimmering off the water. Tourists — at least 50% Mexican — waded in the warm, shallow waters. The brilliant light and leisurely family activities were reminiscent of paintings of European beach scenes from around 1900, and in particular reminded me of an excellent art exhibit (“Sorolla, Master of Light”) that Julia and I had recently attended in London.

We also enjoyed some excellent meals in La Paz. All in all, we found the city to be quietly charming.