Home  >> Stories  >> The Tale Spinner #2010-28

---

IN THIS ISSUE

• Lyle Meeres writes about cruising on the Danube
• We get letters from Anne Rahamut, Dixie Augusteijn, and Jean Sterling
• Betty Audet reminisces about sewing in her family
• Zvonko Springer forwards a story about an old motor
• The editor causes a traffic jam
• Sites are suggested by Bruce Galway, Carol Hansen, Geoff Goodship, and Tom Telfer

Lyle Meeres continues his story of their

EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE

People on board had taken a great number of trips, like Jack and Heather, who average three trips a year, and they have been doing this for years, despite being a decade younger than us.

By now we had eaten with most of the Carlson Wagonlit group of 40 travelers. Many were quite outgoing so we heard a lot of stories. I liked this feature of the smaller boat. Jack retired at 40 because he´d seen both of his parents die young (he´s now 60, very fit, and a whiz with his $1700 camera). One young male server did not ask, "Can I get you something?" but "Have you any wishes?" He was so pleasant and hardworking that he was a real favorite.

We stopped, probably as ships take turns going through the low water, despite the shallow draft of these vessels. I watched a kayaker pass us, which is rather like a bike passing a Porsche.

Most dining tables were set for six, with some arranged for four. When the buffet in the centre was busy, it was slow moving. The waiters were excellent at getting dishes out and at clearing the tables. We heard they work eight months steadily and then get four months off. When the ship arrived at an end point, passengers had to be off by 9:00 so the next crop could climb aboard at 3:00, so there was no rest time.

Everything that day was extremely late since the ship picked up the tour groups more than two hours late, and then we had two male entertainers with accordion and guitar giving us a Bavarian style show, leiderhosen and all. Supper was about 9:00. We slept better but woke to a jogger thumping overhead, plus the noise and fumes of the ship docking.

We didn´t really know what to expect out on day 12, at Passau, but it was very pleasant. After an apple pancake breakfast, we went with our guide, Daniel, by bus up to a lookout point at a former fortress overlooking the river. A short walk took us to a breathtaking view as the morning fog dissipated. The cathedral was on the high point (as someone said, "ABC - another bloody church). Austria was over one set of hills, and the Czech and Slovak Republics were just around the corner.

Then we drove back to town for our walking tour. Daniel, a post- graduate student here, was personal, humorous, extremely knowledgeable, with excellent English - I thought our best guide yet. Outside St. Stephen´s Cathedral (I wonder if anyone has counted how many cathedrals we saw that are named St. Stephen´s) was a council member serving as a church guide. Daniel said the man had, two weeks earlier, announced that he meant to be mayor in 20 years; Daniel said that he would move in 20 years.

Daniel was one of 9,000 university students in Passau, and a guide for several years in a city where tourism is the number one business. Daniel´s first degree was free. After that, the university was not allowed to charge over 1000 Euros per year because the constitution says that education must be accessible to everyone.

Passau is the city of three rivers. It was another Prince Bishop city, and rich because boats had to have permission to pass or they would be fired on (extortion is an old art). The Bishop caused a separating space to be built between the cathedral and his house, and then he had another residence built because he didn´t like his house to be in the shadow of the cathedral. Citizens were not fond of the Bishop and had another cathedral built and hired their own priest. Of 83 churches in Passau, only three are Protestant.

Inside St. Stephen´s, the decoration was astonishing. The exterior was plain. The interior said, "If this is the work of men, imagine how beautiful heaven must be." The plaster figures were built around wire that came out of the walls, then straw was wrapped around the shaped wire, then plaster was added to the shape. To slow hardening, alcohol was added to the plaster. Someone asked, "Why is the plaster over there brownish while the rest is grey?" The answer was that Italian workers were brought in, walking from Italy each spring for 30 years and home each fall. These workers used cheap white wine as the alcohol in the plaster in one area, and the wine wasn´t very clear.

Around the frescoes on the ceiling were four holes which supported scaffolding for the artist. The artist, in a sense, had his nose on the ceiling, but he had to imagine what his painting would look like to observers on the floor. There was no natural light, so the artists rigged a ring of candles around their heads (the original "hotheads"). This work could not be done by German, French, or Dutch artists because the techniques were taught only in Italy. When we went outside the cathedral, we saw the back of a statue built in the centre of the square. The statue was created in the period when the church lost its political power. The statue was of the king, and he had his back to the church and his arm held forward to emphasize the point that the church was no longer the political force.

Daniel talked about not seeing German flags except on official buildings. He suggested that after the Holocaust, the German ego was hurting, so flags are rarely seen (this fits the tone we heard in Nuremberg). Consequently, the German identity is much more closely associated with the language, which is unique in Europe, since language never did anything wrong.

When we walked around to the back of the cathedral, it was Gothic rather than baroque. We then went down a narrow, sloped street. In the winter, the cobblestone would have bits of gravel spread so it wasn´t slippery. One recent winter had snow, rain, snow, rain and a total of four to five meters of snow. In one area, Daniel´s uncle went to a meeting and parked his car in a no-parking spot (a requirement for genuine Italians), got out, and lit a cigarette. While he was standing there, a block of ice fell and crushed his car. Daniel commented that it was a rare time when smoking was good for the health.

As we walked down the narrow street, some windows above had plants, but one had a plant and a beautiful young black cat that watched us pass. I wished my camera battery had not given up - I think this could have been the best photo of the trip.

When we were down, a nearby building had lines marked and years printed to show the high water marks of floods. Often all three rivers have melt water arrive at the same time. When this happens, boats cannot come in because they can´t get under the bridges. Thank you Daniel, for making Passau come alive!

We went to the top deck after lunch. It was windy but there was time to appreciate the new width of the Danube, the S-curves, the villages, the farm buildings, and the treed but rocky hills lining the river. There were many walkers and cyclists on this section, but this was not at all like being on the Rhine or the Main.

To be concluded.

CORRESPONDENCE

Anne Rahamut writes: Cat cartoons are really great. I´ve kept this one for years. It depicts a cat sitting before his dinner bowl, staring at a notice pinned on the wall at his eye level. The notice reads, "Remember, you are a guest in this house."

ED. NOTE: I can´t imagine the cat being impressed by such a notice.

Dixie Augusteijn writes: How very nice of you to remember my birthday - I have fond memories of the Spinners and always read it online.

Liz and husband came up about a week ago and will stay until after my birthday, then return to the boat which is in a marina in Virginia. Oldest granddaughter was here yesterday with her children. The oldest, who celebrated her 17th birthday when in Paris as an exchange student, is now signed up for summer school with a biology course. Granddaughter #2 is still in Afghanistan in a research and evaluation unit stationed in Kabul, and granddaughter #3 is doing biology in B.C. This summer she will be doing research on butterflies and bumblebees, which seem to be disappearing. Grandchildren do grow up!

I am not having a big party for my birthday as it is too difficult to get them together, but will have lunch with a cousin and his wife who celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary, so we make it a combination splurge.

Elizabeth is already making plans for next year -if I am still around - and has a place rented! I wonder if I will make it, but I still feel reasonably well. Last year I had the shingles and am still dealing with the after effects. I would advise everyone who has ever had chickenpox to hurry out and get vaccinated against shingles; this is the first year vaccination is available and though expensive, it can save you a great deal of discomfort and pain.

In reading the Spinner, I am so glad many of the old timers are with us. I must get busy and write something for you, though in a retirement home there is not much excitement of the kind you can tell.

Thanks again for that card - I shall play it again right now. With love and a hug to all - Dixie

ED. NOTE: to see the card sent in your name go to http://arunaurl.com/3kea

Jean Sterling writes: I was at the library today, and I was reminded of two books that I liked. They were by Leon Uris (I noticed his name in the U section). The first book was "Exodus" and is probably his best-known work. It tells the story of Israel from the Jewish perspective. He wrote "The Haj" more than 20 years later, and it tells the story of Israel from the Palestinian perspective. Essentially these two books show that there are two sides to a story, and Uris had the ability to present both sides equally well.

We had two cats who were "lap kitties". They loved to sit on a lap - especially in winter when the floor was cold. If said lap happened to have a book in it, they would simply make themselves comfortable on the book. My husband even ended up with both of them trying to occupy his lap at the same time.

Relating to the site which claimed you should not send a man to do the shopping: I have two LARGE bottles of lemon juice recently purchased by guess who. It takes me about a year to use one small bottle of lemon juice.

Betty Audet remembers her family´s pursuit of the fine art of

SEWING

Mother (Rita) and Nona (Nellie Stevens) made a sewing team that kept the family well dressed throughout the depression and war years. Mother did most of the cutting while Nona did most of the sewing. Mother spread material on the kitchen table, pinned on the pattern and cut it out. Then Nona took over, basted, and stitched it on her elderly sewing machine that was pumped by foot. (Young people today, few of whom seem to sew, would find it difficult to think of a machine that is not electric, does not go over pins, and does not have fancy stitches.)

But Nona had been well trained as a seamstress, and could turn out well-made garments, even including some tailoring. Father´s shirts with stiff bands for holding stiff collars were among the garments regularly made. Clothes were made for the children, sometimes from used clothing. Suits were made for Tom and Dave using Father´s old ones. Coats were made from those bought at the Salvation Army, taken apart, washed, and cut into coats to fit small children. Shirley´s favorite garments that she remembers were a lovely rose-colored light wool dress, and a royal blue taffeta evening gown for McMaster days.

Mother had a sewing machine too. It was an early White in a square cabinet that had belonged to her mother, but it was not easy to keep in adjustment and it was hard on her heart to try to pump it. She used it occasionally and she had used it while making my Christening robe before I was born.

They believed that girls should learn to sew at an early age. We all learned to make doll clothes well enough to win prizes at hobby fairs. The first doll garment that I was taught on was a bathrobe for a doll. I was so young that by the time I was eight, I am sure that I could not remember working on it, but it was well done. It was pink striped flannel with blue seam binding, and included tiny domes to fasten it. All our dolls had extensive wardrobes.

By the time we were 10 or 11 we were permitted to use the sewing machine under supervision. The summer after I was in Grade 8 and Lila in Grade 7 we were permitted to make dresses for ourselves. Father took us to Eaton´s to choose the material. Mine was blue, a French fine-textured weave and the print had blue, aqua, white and green in it. Lila´s was yellow with little white flowers.

Another favorite of Lila´s was a very firm heavy cotton in royal blue with a rope pattern. I recall that it had long ties for a bow. By the time we took sewing in school, there was little for us to learn, and we were much faster than most of our fellow students at putting garments together. We were given extra tasks and sometimes helped out a friend with difficulties, although the teacher frowned at this. Lila remembers making buttonholes for her school sewing. They were so expertly done that her teacher would not believe she had done them herself until she had checked with Mother.

For the war effort, the school was producing leather jackets for seamen on the North Sea run. Large machines with heavy needles to penetrate leather were used. Some of our noon hours were spent stitching leather remnants into pieces that could be cut for the jackets. Lila knit socks and scarves as well, which she preferred. Even Tom and Dave knit cotton squares for washcloths.

When I began work, the first item that I purchased was a White sewing machine, electric, and capable of stitching over pins, thus avoiding a lot of basting. It remained at home during my four years of teaching and Lila and Shirley used it too, but Nona stuck to her own familiar machine. Lila made her wedding dress on it one summer and I made the bridesmaid´s dress to match both in a stiff taffeta. (I later wore Lila´s dress for my own wedding.)

Quilt making was included in our sewing knowledge, and I still have blocks that I put together as a child, with pieces left from cutting out family clothes. One summer when I was supervising a playground, I had little girls put together nine block patches. I particularly remember two primary- aged English immigrants who contributed two blocks each. Nona put them together into a quilt top and the girls from Young People´s learned how to quilt on it in our living room. It was on display at the playground fair and sold to raise money for craft materials.

All of us continued to be sewers, and to this day make some of our own garments and household items. Children and grandchildren have also benefited from these skills. I know Lila added smocking to her sewing skills and used it extensively on children´s garments.

I can recall the first embroidery that I did very clearly. Father thought that girls should learn this skill and bought pieces for Lila and me after I had finished Grade 9. Mine was a yellow tablecloth with black figures to be done in cross-stitch, and I still have it to this day, although it has been used enough that it is no longer in good condition. His interest probably paid off, for all of us have done various forms of embroidery throughout our lives.

ED. NOTE: Our treadle sewing machine was a Singer, and while I never became a seamstress, I still had it many years after I was married and widowed. I don´t remember what became of it....

Zvonko Springer forwards this one:

THE OLD MOTOR

The marriage of an 80-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman was the talk of the town. After being married a year, the couple went to the hospital for the birth of their first child.

The attending nurse came out of the delivery room to congratulate the old gentleman and said, "This is amazing. How do you do it at your age?

The old man grinned and said, "You´ve got to keep the old motor running."

The following year, the couple returned to the hospital for the birth of their second child. The same nurse was attending the delivery and again went out to congratulate the old gentleman. She said, "Sir, you are something else. How do you manage it?"

The old man grinned and said, "You´ve got to keep the old motor running."

A year later, same thing with their third, and after the delivery, the nurse once again approached the old gentleman, smiled, and said, "´Well, you surely are something else! How do you do it?"

The old man replied, "It´s like I´ve told you before - you got to keep the old motor running."

The nurse, still smiling, patted him on the back and said: "Well, I guess it´s time to change the oil!... This one is black!"

FROM THE EDITOR´S DESKTOP

I marked the first really warm day we´ve had this year by passing out in a little green grocer´s aisle, where I created a traffic jam, especially after seven paramedics came in. For the second time in three months I found myself in an ambulance, which I´ll swear hit every bump on the road to the emergency.

To make a very long story short, I had a couple of ECGs, two blood tests, and a chest x-ray. The second heart and blood tests were to make sure that nothing had changed in the six hours between them. There was no change so they let me come home to my cat, who was sure I had deserted him.

Fortunately, before going to the grocery I had been to the library and so I had books to read while I waited out the interminable hours. The ward was not quiet - it was a madhouse, with stretchers cluttering up the aisles, and nurses and paramedics and doctors rushing among the patients. There were hours when the only people I saw were nurses with pieces of paper in their hands, who pushed aside the curtains of my cubicle to ask if I were a missing patient - I never was.

The long and short of it was that they could find no reason for my brief faint, but I am instructed to go back to have a heart monitor strapped on my chest for 24 hours so they can see if there is anything wrong with it - apart from age. The doctor told me that they always suspect the heart when someone falls. The monitor is not due to be used until July 22, probably because they don´t have enough of them to go around.

Since then I have been lying low, mostly because it is too doggoned hot to go out. It was 32 degrees here today, and at almost 9 o´clock it is still 25. I know that is not very hot compared with many parts of the continent, but it is unbelievable here on the wet coast.

If your Spinner should not appear some Saturday morning, you can check the reason for its absence on the two websites that carry it: http://members.shaw.ca/vjjsansum/ or http://nw-seniors.org/stories.html

In the meantime - keep cool!

SUGGESTED SITES

Bruce Galway sends this: Here is what happened when professional astronomers pointed the Hubble Space Telescope at what appeared to be absolutely nothing and left it there, first for 10 days, and then for 11 days. Then they made the images into a 3-D presentation:

Bruce also suggests this site with host Bill Cosby:

Carol Hansen forwards a new ad from the UK - started by a man who was not hired to do it, but because the cause is so important to him, he came up with this idea. The video has gone viral around the world:

Geoff Goodship stumbled on this site, and plans to revisit it many times:

Tom Telfer writes: During the early days of the Internet, Rotarian John Coenders assisted Rotarians around the world. Every Sunday, he published his Sunday Morning Ramblings. This letter contained jokes, quotations, poems, etc. With his passing, I took it over and called it Jocoe´s Journal. Items are added to the blog every weekend:

Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity´s ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries:

From this week´s ScamBusters comes this mention of a new type of phishing highlighted recently by a specialist who works for Mozilla, the organization that makes the Firefox browser. You can see his video demonstration of tab-nabbing (sometimes also called "tabnabbing" or "tabnapping") here if you have Adobe Flash installed: http://vimeo.com/12003099