Cataract Surgery

Recently, I have been having cataract surgery on my eyes (Well, of course, I wouldn’t have cataract surgery on my knees).  I am sure that many of you have experienced this surgery, but I wish to address those who have yet to have this experience.

For many years, I tried to prepare myself for what I thought would be an agonizing encounter.  Everyone told me that it is a simple 5-minute surgery, but it was impossible to dismiss the thought of being fully awake, creating nightmares of ‘dodging the knife’ and disastrous consequences.

In my case, I presented, admitting that I had eaten a good breakfast, only to be told (with some annoyance) that by having food in my stomach, I could not be given a sedative … meaning that the arms of Morpheus would not be available.  Thus, a return of the nightmare.

Having waited for more than a year, cancellation was out of the question.

The pre-op consisted of putting various drops into my eye to ‘freeze’ it, and strapping my head to the bed (It occurred to me that there was absolutely nothing on Earth that could stop me trying to avoid a sharp scalpel).  Very bright lights close to my eye were switched on, and I was aware that things were moving around, but there was no pain and ten minutes later I heard the surgeon say, “That’s it.”

Arriving back in the pre/post-op room, I was invited to sit in a comfortable armchair and given a carton of orange juice and cookies.

The reason for writing this was to say, ‘GREAT NEWS’.  Because of the bright lights, you will see nothing and, because of the ‘freezing’ you will feel nothing, and NOBODY EVER TOLD ME THIS.

 Now, my duty is done.

P.S.  I did not enjoy the six weeks applying medicine eye drops, 5-times each day, following the surgery.

International Spies

Vague Rules of Law

From police states to liberal democracies, there are laws from governing immigration to home security and human rights that are well known, ignored, or quite vague.  Today, the point is being made that immigration is out of control, due to laws being ignored by foreign populations assuming their ignorant rights to cross international borders, and governments colluding with these people for political gain based on a fear that human rights could be ignored.

This begs the question;  Whose rights are more important, the citizen whose livelihood is being eroded  by uncontrolled immigration, or the immigrants who seek economic assistance to better their lives.  Today, a UK media story details government pensions to senior citizens being approximately 60% of social payments being given to so-called (officially undefined status) refugees.

There is another, related, example of vague laws;  international spies.  China has been arresting foreigners for years, usually for political reasons, but China is not alone in this matter, in fact, many countries play a game of ‘tit for tat’ with each other.  These actions become problematical when rules of law become so vague that when statements are made, for example, authorities in Beijing giving only vague details about detentions, saying that someone was "suspected of engaging in activities endangering national security" while insisting any arrests were lawful.  The present situation (The arrest and detention of two Canadians in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, resulting from a request from the United States for her extradition to face charges of fraud and violating international sanctions against Iran) needs expert clarification. 

Left unsaid are the many examples of arrested foreigners who, apparently, were ‘endangering national security’, and still remain, usually, unidentified.

Personally, having lived and worked in China, I am very aware of the vague regulations (based on laws) that may trap foreigners into difficult positions.  For example, foreigners over the age of 65 are not permitted to work in government institutions, i.e., universities.  Knowing this, as a young 65-year old, I left feeling annoyed.  There are other foreign teachers who stay, in collusion with the universities, who would eventually be arrested, deported, and banned from future visa issue.  This would be followed by useless TV interviews … and life goes on.  This applies equally to younger ex-pats who may be seen lounging outside various bars every evening, feeling quite nonchalant about their long-expired visas.

The moral of this comment is;  resist arrogant thought that regulations in other countries should not apply to foreigners … if you go around with your eyes closed, you will soon trip up.

*

Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year

Remember;  The celebration of Mass for Jesus Christ starts on the eve of the 25th of December and continues for twelve days ending on the 6th of January.

Aerospace 20 - Bombardier Turboprop Era Ends

The writing has been on the wall/s for a very long time.  Bombardier’s relationship with the de Havilland name comes, finally, to an end … truly the end of an era.

Bombardier has agreed to sell the Dash 8, Q400 programme, together with the de Havilland name, to Longview Aviation Capital, the parent company of Viking Air for $300 million.

Longview will continue to produce the Q400 at Downsview, Ontario, and Bombardier will transfer the Global business-jet assembly to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The entire de Havilland product line is now reunited under the same banner.  Having transferred the C Series programme to Airbus, Bombardier was seeking options for its remaining aircraft business.  “We decided to sell the Q400 to a better owner.” said Bombardier President and CEO Alain Bellmare (A very intriguing statement).

The interesting result of this agreement is that Longview Aviation Capital (Viking Air) now, owns the type certificates and manufacturing rights for all de Havilland Canada aircraft from the DHC Chipmunk, Beaver, Otter, and Twin Otter, through to the Dash 7/8 turboprop series and the CL-215 amphibious aircraft.

Not quite the end of an era yet, it seems, even though Bombardier has, just, announced the lay-off of 5,000 positions globally.  The government’s opposition is going to have a field day.

Food 11 - Black Trumpet

Continuing to place a restaurant review within my Blog may be a need to refer to it as a journal.  Nevertheless, being sadly, unable to encourage Followers (or anyone else) to make politically correct comments … here is another.

The Black Trumpet restaurant in London, Ontario, has the most wonderful, Indonesian teak inspired, interior decor found anywhere.  The name, seemingly, inspired by the black trumpet (black chanterelle) edible mushroom.  The whole area is divided into a number of comfortable and varied sections permitting both individual and group settings.

I ordered an entree of Seafood Linguine comprising;  sautéed shrimp, scallops, overrated mussels (Please chef, study the long list of ingredients found on a list of sea food), spinach, and cherry tomatoes, in white wine dill cream sauce, which had signs of prior preparation, confirmed towards the end by a complete loss of temperature.  Nevertheless, the dish was saved by a very palatable glass of sauvignon blanc (Map Maker, New Zealand).

Seafood Linguine

The chosen dessert was, truly, a wonderful surprise;  Black Chocolate Brownie with caramel sauce, fragments of fruit, and ice cream.  This was absolutely delicious and deserves a Gâteau du Grand Prix.

Black Chocolate Brownie

During the summer, meals (or an afternoon glass of wine coupled with a slice of Black Chocolate Brownie, ‘smile’) may be enjoyed on the patio of a beautiful, private, Zen-inspired garden.

A couple of McDonald’s-inspired reviewers who, obviously, prefer plastic chairs, have ignorantly, and incorrectly, complained of expensive dishes, which should not influence your choice for a visit.

https://blacktrumpet.ca/