Greetings Creekers! This past week I have been approached by several readers of this column inquiring about my holiday. Holiday? No, no no ! There was no column last week because my brain took a holiday and when I thought I was “saving” I wasn’t. Then I did something like maybe clicking on “cut” instead of “copy”? Anyway, POOF!, it was gone, three hours’ worth of writing. “That can’t happen!”, exclaimed a chorus of experts who offered up multiple fixes. Well, it did. I am often at war with technology. I want it to work for me when I need it but lack the capacity (and desire) to understand sequence and process. I am one of those irritating random button pushers and sadly, as I age, it gets worse, but never mind I am saving all the time now!
It was the day of surreal calm after that wicked wind and I took myself out for a walk. There were trees and branches down everywhere and the ground was covered in a thick carpet of needles and cones. I started thinking about political winds and about the storms and madness to come. In the midst of world chaos how does one stay strong and sane and still find the joy and life affirming activities to keep going? Survival skills are required, especially if you are following rabbit holes on the internet and social media. I believe we are so lucky to live where we do. We have easy access to beach and forest walks, live music, artistic inspiration and lots of community events and activities to get involved in.
Forest and beach walks are an obvious pleasure but what about reading a book? There is no better escape and we have a library to help. It is an amazing, free, community resource that is nowhere near as used as it could be. If you have never been in there, or it’s been a long time, go down and check it out. There is an impressive collection of books with new ones added every month and there is a nice children’s collection. Membership is free and the book you want can be reserved. Reader suggestions are used by the new book purchasing committee. If puzzles are your thing, come and take a free one. Hours are: Tuesday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is completely volunteer run and there is always a need for new people.
What can be better than music to take your mind off things? The Legion has music of some type nearly every night. Friday and Saturday evenings feature local as well as touring bands and there is a wide range of music. DJ Night or punk might not be your thing but please don’t assume that’s all there is. This Friday night (that’s tonight!) John Wort Hannam will make a stopover. He is one of those great songwriters that Alberta seems to produce and has won Canadian Folk Music Awards for Solo Artist and Best Contemporary Album. If you like that country sound go and see him. At this point it’s tickets at the door. I should mention that he will be joined by an extraordinary fiddler, Scott Duncan.
On Saturday they will pump things up with the Atchies/Janky Tiger/ Control Group. It will be a night of alt rock, postpunk, horn driven fusion. Tickets at robertscreeklegion.com or at the door.
At the time of writing there are still tickets available for A Night of Bowie at the Hall on Saturday night. Syl Thopson and his six-piece band have been delivering an authentic Bowie experience for more than three decades. It will be a full dance floor so dust off your dancing shoes. Tickets available at tickettailor.com or the door.
I generally only mention stuff happening in the Creek but don’t forget to check out other art, music and theatre experiences up and down the Coast. Signing up for the Coast Cultural Alliance newsletter, looking in the paper and at posters is my old fashioned way, but it’s all online too.
Whether you like it or not Christmas is coming and the first big craft fair of the season, the Xwesam- RCCA 55th Annual Christmas Fair is coming up on the weekend of Nov. 22. More details next week but in the meantime there is a volunteer sign up (volunteersignup.org/LBHCK) and bake sale donations are welcome as well.
Coast Cultural Alliance has a featured artist every week and this week it’s Roberts Creek ceramic artist, Clare Wilkening. Her work is unusual and remarkable, combining her artist talent and her interest in ecological issues. You can see examples at clarewilkening.com, or follow her on Instagram at clarewilkening.ceramics. Her pieces on the theme of marine ecology will be included at the Salish Sea Exhibition at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre on Dec.14. Her studio, located near the hall, will be open to the public on the weekend of the Christmas Craft Fair.
That’s it for me this week. So many things I have forgotten to mention and so many that I don’t even know about. Remind and inform me! [email protected].
