In the middle of February, I briefly mentioned the log house on the east side of the late John Dashney’s place. Most recently, the place was home to John and Penny MacMillian. And now, in the revolving-door nature of Dunvegan’s real estate market, it has new owners once again.
This got me to thinking about other persons I had known in my short time here who had called the little cabin home. And from there, I recalled Peggi Calder mentioning a long-past owner of this abode: Norman Jeffs.
Back in the very early 80s, or even the late 70s, Norman had given her and other DRA volunteers a lesson in the most efficient way to chop onions. “We used to hand chop all the onions for the hamburgers and hotdogs. I was cutting them the way I’d been taught,” recalls Peggi. “Norman said no, no! Cut the onion in half, standing on end.” According to Peggi, he then laid each half on its side and sliced them. Next, he turned the group of slices, which always stay together, in the opposite direction and sliced through them again. And, voila, instant chopped onion.
From this encounter, you might have thought that Norm was a chef, or, at the very least, worked in a professional kitchen. And perhaps he had at some point in his life. However, Gavin Scott, a friend of Norm’s who still lives in outside of Dalkeith, tells me that Norm designed aircraft interiors for a living. Who knows? Perhaps he’s the guy who came up with that really neat upstairs piano lounge in the front of early 747s. This was back in the days when air travel was designed for people, not sardines.
I have also learned that Norm was extremely well trained. Jan Geddes, who lived down the road in those days (and now resides in Victoria), recalls sitting in at her huge kitchen table chatting with Norm when Gavin dropped by with his dog (also called Norman). As Gavin came in, Jeffs rose to greet him, at which point Gavin bellowed, “Norman! Sit!” to his dog. And apparently Norman Jeffs obeyed without a moment’s hesitation.
Norm had a dream: to take a photo safari to Africa. And one day in the early 1980s, he padlocked his little log house in Dunvegan and, figuratively, set sail for the Dark Continent. The Overlanders Expedition he signed up for took him across North and central Africa and through sixteen countries. In eight months, he covered of an impressive 18,600 miles. Upon his return, Norm asked Jan to help him organize an exhibit of his photos at the Vankleek Gallery. It was scheduled for July 29th to August 18th, 1984. Regrettably, Norm never made it to his own exhibition. He died of a heart attack shortly before it opened.
Jan recalls the day he died. “I was up early and everyone was still asleep. So I took the phone off the hook and slipped outside to garden… I was working beside the driveway, when I felt a presence behind me… I felt cross with myself and refused to turn to look… Going inside I hung up the phone and it immediately rang. An exasperated nurse was on the line and told me that my neighbour, Norman Jeffs, had suffered a heart attack the day before while cutting his lawn, and that his condition had worsened. He had died in an ambulance en route to another hospital. He must have ‘come by’ to say goodbye while I was gardening.”
A simple memorial service was held for Norman Jeffs on the grounds of his log house. Fred Cappuccino officiated. While Fred is a little hazy on the details of the service held over 30 years ago, he does recall that the “altar” for the memorial was fashioned from beehives. It turns out that Norm was also an avid apiarist. Following the service, friends and family scattered his ashes around his little log cabin in Dunvegan. No doubt in violation of some by-law or other.
When this column goes up on the Dunvegan-Times.ca blog, I hope to include scans of a couple of prints from Norm’s 1984 exhibition… courtesy of Gavin Scott.
Amber-coloured spotlight
The Dunvegan Recreation Association is always looking for volunteers. And they’re not alone. Volunteers are what make most community organizations and events possible. I‘ve been told that certain government agencies recently held a symposium on volunteerism in Cornwall. (Of course, they held it on a weekday during working hours, when the only folks who can attend are bureaucrats.) Their solution — which was a forgone conclusion before attendees even stepped into the room — was a web-based “portal.” The suits are convinced that throwing up a quick and dirty web site that allows organizations and individuals to find each other, on-line, will solve the “volunteer shortage.” It won’t. Volunteers are recruited on the ground… by word of mouth.
Take Amber Kilgour, for example, the DRA’s most recent volunteer recruit. Mark Franklin’s daughter, Amber studied International Development and Globalization at Ottawa University, but decided she liked farming better. So she returned home, accompanied by her husband, Jace Kilgour. Jace is from High River, Alberta, and is a pipeline welder… or was until the Sunny Ways crew took over.
Amber suffers from what the family calls “AAT” (Aggressive Adoption Tendencies). If it even vaguely looks like it needs a home, she’ll adopt it. In addition to 40+ Holsteins, she cares for one donkey, two horses, three dogs and four house cats. You get the picture.
So, to help moderate her AAT tendencies, her Aunt Vivian suggested she might like to get off the farm, do some work in the community and socialize with Homo sapiens.
Amber has already volunteered at a number of DRA events including the Community Halloween Party, Santa’s Visit and the Winter Carnival. Amber appreciates that the DRA meetings are short and they take place AFTER chore time (7:30), so she can make them.
If you have a few hours to spare, why not join Amber and offer to help strengthen your community. Give Ben Williams a call at 613-525-4006.
Soccer time is here again!
While we’re on the topic of volunteers, I’d also like to shine the spotlight on Mona André. The Andrés live in Yvon Leblanc’s old house on the northeast corner of the crossroads… and for the second year in a row, Monica has offered to be the DRA Soccer Rep and keep the Dunvegan soccer program running. These days, most families are signing up for soccer on-line at glengarrysoccerleague.ca. But Monica tells me that the DRA will still hold a soccer registration day for those who want to do it the old-fashioned way. Registration will be held in the DRA Hall, 19053 County Road 24 on Sunday, March 20th from 1-4 PM. If you have any questions regarding Dunvegan soccer, you can reach Monica at 613-527-1604.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Some of these items may be a bit down the road, but I wanted to mention them nonetheless. You’ll see why in a few moments.
Friday, March 18th – Euchre Luncheon
Just a quick reminder that, this coming Friday, the DRA Euchre Luncheons resume. Given the recent nice weather, I had been thinking of doing away with the soup course. But since forecasters are calling for wet and wild weather all week, I think I’ll go back to my original plan. So please make a point of joining Linda Burgess and I for soup, homemade sandwiches and sinful sweets. Admission for all these good eats — plus an afternoon of cards and camaraderie — is only $5.00. A 50/50 draw is also part of the fun. The monthly tournaments are held at 19053 County Road 24 starting at 12:00 noon and wrapping up around 3:30 PM. Come one. Come all.
Friday, April 4th — Pizza, Crokinole & Taffy
I’ve lost track of how many years the DRA has been holding this popular family event. However, I know that some of the present-day participants attended when THEY were children and are now bringing THEIR kids. How’s that for staying power?
The event starts at 6:00 PM with delicious pizza — for just $2 a slice! Soft drinks, water and coffee are provided free of charge. Once dinner is done, the no-holds-barred crokinole tournament begins. Even if you’ve never played this uniquely Ontario game before, don’t shy away. Mastering the basics of the game only takes a few minutes. And once you do, you’ll be rewarded with hours of fun.
In my mind, the highlight of the evening is when organizers call a break in the crokinole frenzy to serve fresh-boiled maple taffy drizzled on beds of snow. (This is one of those years were volunteers have had to collect pans of snow and squirrel it away in freezers.)
The Dunvegan Recreation Association’s annual Pizza, Crokinole and Taffy Party will be held at the DRA Hall, 19053 County Road 24. If you own a crokinole board and a set of crokinole “buttons,” please bring them along. They might be needed.
Friday, April 15th – GPM Annual Meeting
While it’s still a fair ways down the road, I did want you to make a note on your calendar that the third Friday in April — which will also be a Euchre Luncheon — has been chosen for the museum’s 2016 Annual General Meeting and Potluck Supper. I’ve learned that this year’s “Volunteer” Award” will be presented to the Twistle Guild.
Another item of note that will take place at this year’s AGM is the joint retirement of Kent MacSweyn and Terry Sweitzer. This dynamic duo has quietly toiled in the background for seven long years, preparing budgets and handling the museum’s day-to-day finances. And they both deserve a huge vote of thanks for doing so. Terry and Kent took over from Lionel Lustgarten in 2009, just as Marlie Tilker will take over from them in 2016. Thank you, Kent and Terry.
Brief Hiatus Notice
Because of unforeseen circumstances, I will have to take a break from this column for a short while. However, I look forward to returning to my seat in the Dunvegan-Times wheelhouse as soon as possible.
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