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IN THIS ISSUE

• Zvonko Springer begins his "volunteer" work on the railroad
• Dick Monaghan reports on an opening of the British parliament
• Jack Peaker speculates on the existence of UFOs
• Readers comment on the Remembrance Day issue
• Burke Dykes defines "old"
• Miriam Ockenden sends the story of an obedient wife
• Marilyn Magid forwards a request for a dental appointment
• Kate Brookfield offers a valuable housekeeping tip
• Dick Monaghan suggests an interesting article on Snopes´

Zvonko Springer´s group starts on the railway construction:

BUILDING A NEW NATION

Next morning we were wakened at 6:00 and went to fetch a brown liquid meant to be coffee and a chunk of white bread for breakfast. The morning roll call and raising the flag with singing of the anthem was at 7:00, after which the camp commander read the daily orders. At about 8:00 a group of 100 mostly men left the camp to pick up the tools and proceeded to the first working plot. The tools on disposal were shovels, pickaxes, and heavy hoes, as well as dozens of wheelbarrows. The first task was to clear the undergrowth and bushes along a stretch that was marked by wooden posts for the future railway line.

Groups of tens were in charge and started working, exaggerating it too much. This slowed down soon as the heat rose and by noontime they were keeping to the shadows. The first working enthusiasm evaporated with the sun burning on our perspiring bodies, seeking for anything to drink. All the time I kept on a shirt and covered my head with a makeshift handkerchief but never stopped working. I set the pace for others who worked with me in pairs filling the wheelbarrow that were kept pushing back and forth.

At noon a group from the camp brought us "lunch" that consisted of jugs of ersatz coffee, large loaves of bread, and tins marked UNRRA. Tins of about 20 pounds contained cheese, coconut butter, marmalade, sweet minced blood sausage, or anything that happened to be in them. Each group got a tin of unknown content but when it was opened, wasps knew exactly where to go. You can imagine what happened to tins containing cheese or butter or sausage at temperatures over 40C, and the swapping that went on. Everyone tried to get his portion and get far away from the tins swarmed by wasps, with their contents melting into a thick brew. The plague of wasps and other insects was one of the worse experiences of this railway construction. The lunch break lasted half an hour, after which we returned to work at the peak of daily heat in the climate of continental Bosnia.

The first working day finished at 4 p.m. after eight hours of back- breaking work. We returned to the camp at a very slow pace, with enthusiasm evaporated in the scorching sun. Soon we were queuing for dinner, exchanging complaints of sore hands and sunburns. I had expected that would happen so I had taken precautions, like holding firmly any handle, not letting it turn or move in my hands. Keeping my palms dry was another precaution, as well as putting on an ointment that I used on a sore calf after horse riding. However, several workers had blistered hands that would become a real problem for a paramedic - and there were none with the brigade. Striking the flag and singing the anthem was far less joyous than the night before, as well as the "spontaneous" after-dinner gathering around the campfire.

The next morning waking up was accompanied by heavy sighs and swearing, including some from the girls behind that blind. The odours inside the tent were getting ghastly and I was happy to get some fresh air and hurried towards the spring to refresh myself. The morning roll call was becoming a routine, but the number of workers became smaller daily. Several charge hands were missing too so groups had been reorganized to collect tools and wheelbarrows for the daily chore.

When the clearing work ended, we started a cutting for the railway line. The excavated material had to be carted away a few hundred meters to form a fill for the rail bedding. The fill had to be compacted and a new tool appeared at the site. It was a large wooden stump with two handles fixed at each side to be used for compacting. The lifting and dropping of this heavy stump became one of the dullest jobs, but allowed intervals of relaxation from time to time. I decided to go for the carting with a wheelbarrow as it offered constant movement and precluded any discourse with others who were loading or compacting.

To be continued.

Dick Monaghan writes about

PARLIAMENT

Just by accident, I got in about the middle of a TV show about the opening of parliament in Great Britain. Those people know how to party! I think I learned something important about a serious problem with our system. It´s not a problem of substance (strip away the hoo- haw, and they have the same problems we do. See below). It´s a matter of style.

I assume the opening of parliament is second only to a coronation in its spectacular costuming and ritual. In comparison, our national legislature kind of sneaks in to work.

I got there while the queen was reading her message, written by the incumbent Labor party. Nothing new here; it was a collection of windy intentions of the kind every political party uses to convince the electorate it is the only body capable of increasing services, fixing the roads, defending the country, curing AIDS, and lowering taxes, all at the same time. The thing that saved it was the "Imperial State Crown," which arrives and departs in its own carriage, along with the "Sword of State". Both reside in the Tower of London. The crown looked as if it was a foot high and encrusted with jewels. How can anyone fail to be taken seriously with that kind of headgear? She reminded me of the Red Queen in "Alice in Wonderland". I was waiting for her to say, "Off with his head!" but the opportunity didn´t present itself.

It might have: the commentators noted that a man (whose title and function I missed) who approaches the queen by climbing a few steps had "reverted to ancient custom" and left the queen´s presence by walking backward down the stairs. The same man, they said, had flown in the face of custom some years ago, fearing he might trip over the cape on his costume while walking downstairs backward, and turned his back on Her Highness while executing his office. This time, however, (to the jeers, it was said, of the liberal-minded) he followed historic practice, even though he jeopardized his dignity, not to mention his health.

My opinion of the Duke of Edinburgh has not been too high since I saw the movie about the queen (with Helen Mirrin), but after watching him sit in his sailor-suit and nine pounds of medals and being required to listen to his wife recite a political speech, I had just a twinge of empathy.

I have never, with the exception of the coronation, seen so many different costumes in so many colors, or so many rituals rooted in history. Maybe we need to spice up our congress with uniforms and rituals; it keeps the restless at bay while lending a false air of importance. Well, maybe not; our legislators don´t need something else to hide behind.

When you get to substance, I was somewhat relieved, if slightly disappointed, to find that the British are no closer to solving their problems than we are. Representatives of the Labor, Conservative and Liberal parties were on hand with a moderator and a journalist to explain what was going on. The Labor spokesman said his party was best able to understand and solve the nation´s problems, the Conservative member cast some doubts on this, and the Liberal wondered if either of the other two even had a clue.

Actually, it´s hard to imagine Dick Cheney or Nancy Pelosi in crimson robes and wigs.

Jack Peaker asks

ARE THEY FOR REAL?

Ufologist John Magor for 10 years published the Canadian UFO Report out of Duncan, B.C. His name is still known by devoted ufologists.

Many sightings may be attributed to natural occurrences, or experimental aircraft, among other things. These apparent UFO phenomena have been documented since ancient history. In 1450 BC, during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, there were "circles of fire" in the sky. They were described as brighter than the sun and about five meters in size. The vision of these fire circles lasted for a period of about five days before ascending higher into the sky and disappearing.

A UFO phenomenon was reported by Alexander the Great´s army in 329 BC. When the troops crossed a river into India, two silver discs were spotted in the sky. These discs apparently dove repeatedly at the men, causing panic.

In the skies of Nuremburg, Germany, on April 14, 1561 the sky was said to be filled with objects that appeared to be battling. It was said the smaller discs and spheres emerged from larger cylindrical objects during this aerial battle.

UFO sightings continued throughout more modern history beginning in the late 1800s. Sightings of alien spacecraft became popularized many of the mid-western United States, with their big clear night skies. Many describe these flying objects as elongated silver sphere-shaped glowing objects, and were given the nickname "Flying Saucers".

The most popular modern day story of UFOs would be Area 51. Area 51 is in southern Nevada and is owned by the government of the United States. It is a remote piece of land that consists of an airfield. The government uses it for classified development and testing of new military aircraft. It became famous as the centre of UFO conspiracy theories. Some of the rumoured activities of Area 51 include meetings with extraterrestrial beings, the storage and examination of an alien spaceship, and other activities related to a shady world government.

There are many people who claim to have actually seen these Flying Saucers. Here is one of the stories:

Jevanica Wetsio, a wine grower: "I was hang gliding over an area I knew well; it was nothing special. My attention was attracted by something unusual. It was going towards the horizon above the woods. It was something I couldn´t define, considering the distance. The shape was about 2000 meters away, and the closer I came, the more the object became difficult to define. It was hovering like a helicopter. I realized it was nothing like that. It generated a very strong light and lacked hard outlines. It had a very strong bright halo of light. When it was three to four thousand meters, it went away from me in a very impressive way. It was so fast that you could barely follow it with your eyes. In form, it was domelike with three or four objects hanging from the sides. The diameter was between five and 10 meters and it was black coloured. Within a moment it had disappeared over the horizon without a sound, and without a smoke trail or anything. I wanted to keep it to myself as these types of things are unexpected. That evening, when I got home, I didn´t even talk to any family about it. Later when I went to a restaurant I met a friend interested in hang gliding who had seen me flying in the area. He insisted I must have seen something special, because he had. Looking up, he had seen something which he couldn´t define but which had hurtled across the sky and then disappeared. We decided that he had seen the same thing as me."

To be continued.

ED. NOTE: To see an interview with UFO believers with Larry King, go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW2of08hBos

CORRESPONDENCE

A number of people wrote about the Remembrance Day issue of The Spinner:

Betty Fehlhaber of Kelowna writes: Thanks so much for sharing "A Pittance of Time". If only this could be applied to every day rather than just one day a year.

Dixie Augusteijn: What a lovely letter - it shall be featured and read this afternoon here at our ceremonies in Lord Dufferin.

Irene Harvalias: I think of ALL the Tale Spinners I´ve received over these many years, the Remembrance Day one was the one that touched my heartstrings, and I just wanted to say thanks! How beautifully simple, and simply beautiful!

Maura Boguski: Thank you so much for this e-mail. I always think of my Dad and all the pipers who would come back the the house on November 11. I was in Vancouver for 11:00 today. These men went towar so we would have a free country, not so young men could freely carry guns and shoot each other on the streets over drugs etc. Yes, I do run on about things like this.

Peter Weatherby: It was always a very solemn day.... I remember going for a walk with my father, and standing with him, our hands clasped, for the two minutes´ silence at 11 o´clock. He served in France in the Great War, and fortunately came home alive.

Bob Brown´s account of the 11th of November in London is very moving. I did not have dry eyes as I read it. "They shall not grow old." Thank you.

Burke Dykes sends this

DEFINITION OF "OLD"

First, you tell your friend that you are having an affair....

Then your friend asks you, "Are you having it catered?"

That, my friend, is the definition of OLD!

Miriam Ockenden sends this story about

THE OBEDIENT WIFE

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money, and was a real miser.Just before he died, he said to his wife, "When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me."

And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him.

Well, he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there - dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said, "Wait just a moment!"

She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and put it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and they rolled it away.

Her friend said, "Girl, I know you were not foolish enough to put all that money in there with your husband!"

The loyal wife replied, "Listen, I´m an honest person; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the casket with him."

"You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him?"

"I sure did," said the wife. "I got it all together, put it into my account, and wrote him a cheque. If he can cash it, then he can spend it."

From Marilyn Magid comes this story of

A TRIP TO THE DENTIST

A Scotsman phoned a dentist to enquire about the cost for a tooth extraction.

" £85 for an extraction, sir" the dentist replied.

"£85! Huv ye no´got anythin´ cheaper?"

"That´s the normal charge," said the dentist

"Whit aboot if ye didnae use any anesthetic?"

"That´s unusual, sir, but I could do it and knock £15 off.

"Whit aboot if ye used one of your dentist trainees and still without an anesthetic?"

"I can´t guarantee their professionalism and it´ll be painful. But the price could drop to £40".

"How aboot if ye make it a trainin´ session, ave yer student do the extraction with the other students watchin´ and learnin´?"

"It´ll be good for the students," mulled the dentist, "and it´s going to be very traumatic, but I´ll charge you £5."

"Och, now yer talkin´, laddie! It´s a deal," said the Scotsman. "Can ye confirm an appointment for the wife next Tuesday, then?"

Here´s an valuable tip from Kate Brookfield:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES

Always keep several get well cards on the mantel ... so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you´ve been sick and unable to clean.

INTERESTING WEBSITE

Dick Monaghan writes: I thought you might find the following article from snopes.com interesting: http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/ canada.asp

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO ALL OUR AMERICAN READERS! MAY YOU HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR....

"I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." - Edward Everett Hale