In the middle of Everywhere
It was December in 2008. My family and I, including kids and dogs piled ourselves and “Christmas” into a borrowed van and headed off on an amazing adventure. We began by driving several hours over a mountain pass. A bit nerve wracked, we arrived safely in the small fishing town of Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the wilds of Canada. On a big, ‘ol clunky fishing boat, we travelled for several more hours, northwest toward Hot Springs Cove and Cougar Annie’s Garden to a small floating house in a bay somewhere in the middle of Everywhere. In this exquisite...
Read MoreMikulás
December 6th is a day of celebration in Hungary..It is the feast of Saint Nicholas, in Hungarian, Mikulás. Children put their polished shoes filled with hay out on the windowsill for Mikulás’ white horse. Of course they also set out treats for the old Bishop, delivering gifts to good children. At age seven a child is thought to be able to think logically and sequentially. In my seventh year, a mere two weeks before reaching that magic age, mother let me produce some rather crooked cookies for Mikulás. She said he would not mind because he is kind and loves crooked cookies. I was...
Read MoreTake Charge of Your Finances
November was Financial Literacy Month, and this year’s theme is “take charge of your finances!” We’re encouraging new and seasoned investors to take charge by playing more active and engaged roles when it comes to their investments. One way you can become better engaged is by understanding investment fees and charges. Whether you are a DIY investor or you’re working with a registered investment advisor, it’s important to know what you’re paying to buy, sell or hold an investment. This article can help you better understand the structure of investment fees, and how investment...
Read MorePause for thought
Did you know that almost half of the savings you have built up in your RRSP/RRIF (Registered Retirement Savings Plan/Registered Retirement Income Fund) could wind up being paid out in Tax at death. Tax free transfers to a surviving spouse will delay the inevitable, but won’t avoid it. First of all, let’s start at retirement. Say you have an RRSP you have been contributing to for years as you worked, or possibly, as your spouse worked (these contributions could have gone into a spousal plan for you). You can convert to a RRIF at the same time as you retire, but, you are not...
Read MoreLesson Learned
You know how when you’re in a hurry, everything conspires against you? How the lights are always red, and the crosswalks are full of ancient people pushing their walkers at a snail’s pace, so that even when the lights turn green, you’re still stuck at the intersection, waiting for the crosswalk to clear or Christmas to come, whichever happens first? Well, yesterday I was on my way to work, running late, when I realized that I hadn’t had a cup of coffee or eaten breakfast. A sensible person would have kept driving. I am not a sensible person, and I was born hungry, so I stopped at...
Read MoreCommunity Paramedics
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Georgia Nelson the Community Paramedic for Chemainus. Whilst I had heard of the position and seen their vehicles I really had no idea as to the purpose and scope of their role in communities. I felt it would be useful if she could let Island Woman’s readers know exactly what services and support does a Community Paramedic provide. Thank you Georgia. Trish Summerhayes. Publisher. ********************************** I was asked by Trish Summerhayes to write a blurb about my role as a community paramedic. I have been a paramedic for 5 years,...
Read MoreHam and pea soup,
fresh baked bread, blue cheese, candied walnut and pear salad, baked stuffed apples – Serves 4 generously Pea soup 1 pound split peas Pick over the peas to be sure there are no pebbles or other foreign items. Cover with water and let sit overnight, refrigerated. The other option is to cover the peas with boiling water and let them sit for 1 hour. Drain the peas well. 1 ham hock, approximately 900 gm 1 small onion roughly chopped 1 small carrot roughly chopped 2 ribs celery, roughly chopped 8 cups water or enough to cover all of the ingredients 2 bay leaves Place all of the...
Read MoreHappy Halloween!
Here are some financial tips and ‘tricks’ to keep your finances in order. -maximize employment benefits – your employer may match a pension contribution up to a certain percentage, take advantage of your medical and dental insurance while you have it -spend less than you earn – simple, right? Make a budget and stick to it. -don’t automatically sign and send in the mortgage renewal document you receive from your financial institution. Many times, you are able to shop around and get a better rate and/or terms – talk to your mortgage broker. The...
Read MorePole walking
Urban Poling or Nordic Walking? Rhonda Smiley, Cosmetics Manager, Chemainus Pharmasave. 250-324-4488.
Read MoreFood for the Season
Swiss steak, garlic mashed potatoes, oven roast veggies, poached pears – Serves 4 Swiss Steak 2 lb chuck steak Salt and pepper as required Flour as required 1 tablespoon oil Cut the steaks into 8 even pieces. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Dust with flour. Heat the oil in a pan large enough to hold the steaks in a single layer. Add the oil and heat the pan over high heat. As soon as the oil is hot add half of the steaks and sear well on both sides. Remove the steaks and repeat with the remaining steaks. Remove the steaks from the pan. Do not wash the pan. 1 tsp oil 1...
Read MoreWhat’s a business coach?
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or work for a big company, a coach is someone completely focused on your success! What’s that like? Well, a great coach listens for opportunities and sees what you might miss and assists you to keep up the momentum when you need it most, during those difficult business and personal issues, conflicts and change. You also have a mentor for those business challenges or questions, they can provide the timely business tips and know how that you need. A trained coach asks questions that bring out those aha moments that pivot perceptions,...
Read MorePretty Polly…
Every morning it was the same routine for Martin. The 6.30 am scratch on the bedroom door, the gleeful kisses from a six year old Corkie, Spam, patiently waiting all night for his early morning run in the garden. Next coffee and off for a walk with Spam, just around the neighbourhood. A few neighbours would be out walking as well. Martin chatted with each of them as they met. It was leisurely and somehow fulfilling. Since retirement the routine seldom changed. Martin was in his early 70’s now, a widower, with Spam his loyal companion. He often mused on the wonder of the smell of the...
Read MoreHolding on by a Thread
We humans are both fragile and resilient. This has been brought home to me vividly as I recently watched my father fight for his life. His wish was to live, to continue to enjoy life to its fullest. He was a strong, healthy man, until he wasn’t. My father loved the good life; family, friends, good food and conversation and nature in all its abundance. He loved providing for those around him with fresh fish, home grown vegetables and all manner of food foraged from local forests and shorelines. He grew up on the West Coast of Canada with deep ties to the wild and he traveled the world,...
Read MoreVaping.
I cannot understand for the life of me why vaping been allowed and legitimised into Canada by our federal, provincial and municipal governments. What were they thinking about? oh silly me, more taxes of course; no matter what the costs. I think vaping is incredibly stupid and dangerous on 2 fronts. !. Why should I have to walk through the huge, obnoxious clouds that these things generate when I am out walking. What am I forced to breath in? 2. What chemicals are the users breathing in and passing on to me? We have spent 20 years or more actively, and successfully, encouraging...
Read MoreChloë Angus:
A Fashion Mosaic of Ancient and Modern Culture. Since before she can remember, Chloë Angus has held a deep appreciation for Indigenous art and culture. Coastal First Nations people were her neighbours during her formative years in the small fishing village of Egmont on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast. And when she moved to Vancouver, reverence for First Nation’s artistic traditions catalyzed into her namesake fashion brand – an elegant clothing line which celebrates the iconic beauty and power of their craft. “I had to share their art with the world,” she says. “I wanted to create a truly...
Read MoreFemale Construction Workers
I found the article below to be a very interesting read. Construction workers are in great demand, they are well paid and include good family health benefit plans All projections point to construction being a driving force of the Island economy for years to come . Women can ,and must, be a part of the financial and security that this will provide. Trish Summerhayes. Owner/Publisher Island Woman Magazine. ******************************************** Slowly perhaps, but ever so surely, more women are starting to move into careers in the construction trades...
Read More