CRAFT CORNER
Snowman Door Greeter- December 17th 1:00 p.m.
If further questions call Rosanna Olsson 634-9780
We wish for you a wonderful 1998
filled with health, happiness &
contentment
Fox Talk Editors
Keeping in touch Joan Beveridge - JessieBrown
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Welcome cards were delivered to Larry & Nancy Hill, Arne & Hanne Pedersen, Derek & Pauline Tickner, Richard & Alice Demers and Richard Shantz.
A Sympathy card was delivered to Angies' Kitchen, (St. Agatha) on the passing of Angie Torok- Graham.
Flowers and card were delivered to Dave Beveridge after his operation. -----------------------
ALL WOMEN WELCOME
If you would like to join the group going to Stratford this month Please Sign Your Name on the sheet below.
Your reservations will be phoned in for you the Thursday before the meeting.
You will be contacted about your ride 2 or 3 days in advance.
Lunch is at the Festival Motor Inn
For more Information call Maureen Wills
Today I gave myself a gift!
Browsing through a delightful little book of sayings, Apples of Gold, I chuckled when I read that �Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form.� If that's the case, that's one bad habit I've avoided. I always thought I had a lot of bad habits because I was too busy to relearn good ones. One day when I retired I would take care of those. Well, here we are living at beautiful Foxboro Green, supposedly re-tired, but still life is so full, and there is not enough time to do all the things I would like, let alone change bad habits.
Take the other day...
A neighbour invited me for coffee, ... if I was not too busy. I was feeling almost over- whelmed with all that had to be done, much of which had piled up over the last 2 months when life took an unexpected turn. Knowing I had to get this issue of Fox Talk out in half the time, pack for a week in Hawaii with our daughter and her family from Australia, then prepare for Christmas on our return, I nearly took a rain check for sometime in January.
But I really didn't want to wait 'til then, and I needed a break. Some things would just have to wait! So I went this morning, and discovered I not only gave myself a gift of some time out, but I also gave myself the gift of a friend. Over coffee we discovered we had many things in common, and we are looking forward to doing these things together in the days ahead, while getting to know each other better. What a nice gift!
Needing more exercise in my life, I determined to join the water exercise group. I have been to three sessions now, and each time came away with not just the glow and good feeling that comes from a workout, but also because I enjoyed being with the new ladies I met there. I think it's true that a friend is a present you give yourself, and around here we have ample opportunity.
As our community grows, the challenge will be greater, and we will meet all kinds. There will be those who give and forgive, and others who get and forget. But during this Season of Gift Giving, let us determine to be the kind of person who is
the first to give a friendly sign, to nod first, smile first, speak first, and- if such a thing is necessary,- forgive first.
The best gifts are tied with heartstrings. May your holidays be blessed with both giving and receiving such gifts.
In this Issue....
Turkey at it's Best
by roving reporter- A. Honeyborne
Rumtopf Recipe by H. Stainton
Getting in the Swim
by Marg Macdonald
Community Calendar and
Special Events of the Season
Recreation Committee Report
Deadline for Submissions: 1st of each month.
Editors: Bill & Maureen Wills
117 Golf Links Dr.
Timely Tips: Put some table salt instead of expensive weed killer on dandelions that grow wild in your garden or in cracks in the pavement.
Recreation Committee Report
Flag: It has been decided by the committee not to fly the flag during the winter months. The wind and weather conditions cause rapid deterioration in the material and means that the flag has to be replaced too often. Many thanks to the Pedersens for donating the new Canadian flag to the Foxboro Centre.
Mail Room Bulletin Board: Doreen Greig has offered to look after this board for us. We have had difficulty at times, finding space for notices and so we are in the process of formulating a policy limiting the time notices can be up, and the size they are allowed to be. There will also be file folders provided for sign-up sheets so that they will not take up board space. Please be patient! This is an attempt to clear up the space problem we have with the bulletin board and we are more than willing to hear constructive suggestions.
Rules and Regulations: Some changes have been made to the format and composition of our Rules and Regulations. These will be posted in the Centre. One important change is that we have defined how the third change room is to be used.
A third change room has been provided. It has been designed for use by the disabled. It is also for the use of residents bringing children of the opposite sex (e.g. grandmother - grandson) or when several children are brought at one time. It is not intended that adult guests must use this room. Families may wish to use the room as a group.
Contact Persons: The list below is of people to be contacted if anyone wishes to bring anything regarding the area noted to the attention of the committees or the clubs involved. In some places, the tennis courts for example, the person responsible will be in charge of setting up a sign-up system for court times. We perceive a need for some co-ordination to book areas of the Centre for fitness classes, tournaments or any other type of group activities. Contact people are listed below to do these jobs.
Water Work-outs/Swim-ercise by Marg Macdonald
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays some ten to eighteen women stir up the pool as �Professor� Mavis Crawford orders them through a series of exercises such as hip twists, cross country and the Can Can. For more than an hour these brave atheletes swing legs, knees and hips. As we are all new to these exercises no music is allowed! When we are more skilled and can remember what comes next, music will be added. Although we have a serious workout everyone has a great time. Laughter is an essential part of our routine. Thank you Mavis!
As there is some interest by men, a sign-up will soon be posted and sessions started in the New Year. I hope that with enough interest we will have exercises year round, Monday to Friday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and that the sessions will include all who are interested, both men and women. Most are attending at least two of the three classes per week. All report the presence of new muscles and some report pounds lost! If you are interested, join the gang Mon. and Wed. 10 a.m. and Fri. 1:30 p.m.
Because of the increased organized activity at the pool, the Rec Centre Committee has asked me to manage the booking ofthe pool. I will try to arrange activities in
the morning to keep afternoons clear for general swimming, especially during the summer..
In the New Year look for Swim Classes with Mary Wright and Marg Macdonald for those who wish to improve their swimming skills.
And Finally.... contributed by Willie Lootens
When the song of the angel is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the king and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock....
The work of Christmas begins.
To find the lost, to heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,
To build the nations,
To bring peace among peoples,
To make music in the heart.
News from the Social Club by Marg Macdonald
Ernie Whitlock, co-Social Convenor, with the support of eight enthusiastic volunteers, has planned an exciting Christmas season of celebrations, which began November 30th with the decoration of Foxboro Centre, inside and out. While the men clambered up and down trees arranging lights, the ladies prepared mulled cider, cheese and crackers to warm the atheletes when they came in to decorated the �Tayler� tree, already erected and set ablaze with lights (Fred Lashbrook assisted by George Jones). Christmas carols floated through the air as Helen Lumby with the Allen's keyboard, kept all in tune. A little wind and rain never dampens a good time!
December 18th we will celebrate Christmas together, with Angie's supplying food for 100, from main meal through dessert, including fruit cup for anyone still watching their waist line. Precious few! Dinner will be followed by a gift exchange- gifts small, fun and just plain crazy will be distributed by ?. Music will swirl throughout the Centre during this grand celebration.
December 24th the community will glow with light as residents place candles on either side of their driveways at the roadside outside their homes. The recipe is as follows:
Cut down a large plastic bottle, fill 1/3 of bottle with sand, place 3� candle in sand and then put the bottle into a paper bag (prevents candle from blowing out). Finally, place paper bag into a plastic bag. If you are now completely confused see samples in the Mail Room.
Time of lighting of candles: 5 p.m.
A very merry Christmas to all!
Note from Ernie: Paper Bags for the luminaries will be available Dec. 15th in the Mail Room
Courtesy of MURRAY'S IGA
b.y.o.b.
means: Bring Your Own Beverage
Community Calendar
December 1997
Wed. 17th 1:00 p.m. Crafts -Snowman Door greeter
Thur. 18th Foxboro Christmas Dinner -The Centre
6:00 p.m. Cocktails B.Y.O.Beverage
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Wed. 24th 5:00 p.m. Foxboro Festival of Lights
Wed. 31st 8:00 p.m. New Year's Eve Party
January 1998
Sat. 3rd 2:00 p.m. Foxboro Decorations down
If inclement weather, same time next day
-------------------------- Open House
Tuesday October 7th 3 p.m. -8 p.m. at The Centre.
New Fall line of Week-Ender Wear plus 5th Avenue Jewellry
Men are welcome to browse for gifts for their spouse. Gift Certificates also available. Percentage of proceeds to benefit Social Club.
Do you know how fast 30 k per hr. is?
Mr. Barnhart has done his part regarding the problem of speeding in Foxboro, by posting signs to the trades and reducing their speed limit to 20 k. per hr.
Now as residents of Foxboro, it's our turn to address the problem of speeding, because some residents and visitors are just as much to blame as the contractors. If we don't do something about this problem I feel someone is going to be seriously hurt.
If you observe someone speeding or driving in an careless way, take down the licence plate number, the name of the company, or the address they stopped at, and as soon as possible give me a call or phone Bob Barnhart.
If you have any other ideas or suggestions that might be a solution to this problem, please give me a call.
Bob Price 634-5243
That Other Turkey by Audrey Honeyborne
I became a multi-millionaire soon after arriving in Turkey on October 25th. But, before you ask for a donation to your favourite charity, I should explain that 1,000,000 Turkish lira is the equivalent of $100.00 U.S.
Turkey has been called �The Cradle of Civilization�, and its history goes back to the early Stone Age. Our tour leader Ahmet, who has a Master's degree in Archaeology, brought the past to life with his explanations. This vast country has a foot in both Europe and Asia, and this strategic position has exposed it to a succession of invaders, all of whom left their mark. Archaeological sites abound, of which perhaps the best known is Troy. From the poems of Homer, we are aware of Helen and Paris, and, of course, the legendary Trojan Horse. Interestingly, the unearthing of Troy was undertaken by an amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann in 1870, it having remained buried from the third millenium.
It would be unfair to suggest that archaeological wonders, and the beautiful mosques throughout the country, represent all that Turkey can offer, for there are thousands of miles of unspoiled beaches, pretty fishing villages, forests, mountain ranges, ultra-modern cities and attractive market towns. The coastal area, washed by the Mediteranean Sea, rivals that of any other country bordering the Sea. Temperature-wise, a low of 9 C in winter and a high of 29 C in summer is normal. Turkey is one of only seven countries in the world that is self-sufficient in food, and in the world gastronomy list, the Turkish cuisine comes third, following French and Chinese. Incidentally, the desserts served at dinner were truly decadent!
Turkey is a land of contrasts. It is ancient and modern, lush and arid, and it is a photographer's paradise! There are areas that look like lunar landscape, and areas where hot springs gush out lime-laden water to form fantastic �cotton castles� like icicles.
If you are concerned about the safety aspect, be assured that at no time did I feel uncomfortable or threatened. The children are delightful, and are anxious to talk with visitors. They greet you with a smile, and somewhat shyly ask in English, �What is your name?� A feature that tends to bring them together is that they wear school uniforms, ties, black shoes, and short haircuts! Remember those days?
Getting to Turkey is easy via British Airways to London, England, and connection to Istanbul with the same airline. The tour was named �Turkish Delight� and arranged through Globus Tours. The whole itinerary, food, accommodation, transportation and guide were exceptional. Without a doubt, this tour was among the most fantastic of all my travels.
The Night Before Christmas (In a Politically Correct World)
Contributed by George Lootens
'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to �Elves�.
�Vertically Challenged� they were calling themselves.
And labor conditions at the north pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 ducks, and you know, that looked stupid!
The runners had all been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.
His pipe's second-hand smoke had his workers quite frightened.
His fur trimmed red suit was called �Unenlightened.�
To show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over use of his nose
And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.
And as for the gifts, why he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's war-like or non-pacific.
No candy or sweets... they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No baseball, no football... someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe
And Nintendo would just rot your brains all away.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy,with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue, everyone, everywhere.. even you.
That gift's in the library, so please take a look.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good book!�
Note of Thanks:
Thank you Carol and Augie Sherban for your time and effort in making the arrangements for Foxboro's first Octoberfest outing at Hubertushaus in Mannheim. The accomodation, food, music and entertainment was superb. It was a great way to get to know our neighbours better. We, the residents of Foxboro Green who attended would like to express our sincere appreciation for a fun filled evening.
Out of the Recipe Box of Hermina Stainton
Rumtopf
Store this fruit topping in a tall, narrow jar or crock to keep most of the fruit beneath the syrup. Spoon some over ice cream or pound cake when you're ready to celebrate.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cu. packed brown sugar
1 cup water
4 large pears, cut up
4 medium nectarines or peaches, (peeled, if peaches), pitted and sliced, or one 16oz. pkg. frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed.
2 cups seedless red grapes, halved (if desired)
1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut up
2 1/2 -3 cups rum
Method:
In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium-low heat till sugar is disolved. Cool.
In a 4-quart, tall, non-metal crock or jar, combine pears, nectarines or peaches, grapes and pineapple. Pour cooled mixture over fruit.
Add enough rum to cover fruit; stir gently. Store, covered, in a cool place overnight. Place in the refrigerator and store, covered, for up to 4 months, stirring occasionally and using portions as desired.* Let Rumtopf stand at room temp. for 30 min. before serving; return remaineder to refrigerator.
Makes about 3 qts. (24 servings).
*Note: To replenish the Rumtopf after serving part of it, you may add 2 cups chopped fruit, (any combination of the fruits) plus 1/2 cup brown sugar to replace every 2 cups of fruit and syrup removed. (The top layer may darken during the storage period.)
Nutrition facts per serving: 148 cal., 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 1 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrates, 1 g fibre and 0 g protein. Daily Values: 1% vit. A, 11% vit. C, 0% calcium, and 1% iron.
Computer Interest Group News
______________________________________
The month of November has been a busy period with much help and participation from our members. We have given hands-on learning sessions for Windows '95 (Jeanne Malich), Word Perfect (Marcie Fry), Databases (Dave Crawford) and Spreadsheets (Bill Wills). Demand has been high and more than one session of each has been willingly presented by our leaders who have enjoyed sharing their knowledge as much as their students have appreciated their forward steps. Our sincere thanks to the leaders.
Newly installed on the computers is a program called Quicken Home & Business '98. This is an excellent tool for managing personal finances (Checking, Savings and Credit Card accounts) and monitoring your investment portfolio. It is also very suitable for the Condo Treasurers to track their small business type of accounts and generate reports and statements for their members. We shall be giving tutorial sessions on this in the New Year.
The Internet and E-mail connections have generated considerable excitement as several members are now able to exchange long distance messages with children and friends, plan golf games in Florida and investigate travel opportunities. The information on the Web is limitless and and almost always free! By the time you read this we will have given a learning session on these facilities as well as an open presentation by Burnell Poole from our Internet Service Provider, Golden Triangle OnLine.
We have recently launched a group Newsletter which is being written by Jeanne Malich and E-mailed from her winter home in Florida! So join up with us and let us help you get connected!
New Year's Eve Party
December 31st 1997 8 p.m.
Foxboro Centre
Mystery Snacks -Coffee supplied- B.Y.O.B
Noisemakers supplied
Let's bring 1998 in with a BANG!
Bring your own Party Hat - bowler, top hat etc.
Big Band Music
Please sign up in the mail room if attending.
The Social Committee has formulated a policy that Foxboro Centre Christmas decorations will be removed the first weekend after New Years . This year it will be done Saturday January 3rd at 2 p.m. or
the next day if the weather is bad.
Speaking of a good book! Why not curl up in a chair beside the fireplace in the Library for a couple of hours, and read �The Best Christmas Pageant Ever� by Barbara Robinson. It's the kind of book that's worth making a part of your Christmas tradition.
The Denver Post captures it when it says �The book is outrageous, lively, funny and wonderful. The Christmas story takes on a strangely moving depth of meaning and shines through with a new brilliance.� Look for the small red paperback on the lower shelf to the right of the fireplace. I'll put it there just as soon as I finish reading it... again, for the third year.
Weekly at The Centre
Scrabble: 1:00 p.m. every Monday
Bridge: 7;00p.m. every Wednesday
Ladies Swim: 6:30 p.m. Monday & Thursday
Ongoing Developments at The Centre
The furnishing and equipping of the Video Room is now in its final stages and should be completed before the Christmas break. This room will be equipped with quite sophisticated high tech equipment, but if there are those in the community who have interest in more traditional camera and/or video club activities, they should know that Bob Barnhart is willing to assist in securing a place for such activities and in providing �seed money� to launch such a club.
Billiards Room Bob Price
Building Keys Eric Plevka
Computer Room Russ Wilson
Craft Room Joan Beveridge
Fitness Room Russ Wilson
General Building Concerns Eric Plevka
Kitchen Joan Beveridge
Library May Aquilina
Mail Room Doreen Greig
Pool Area Bookings Marg Macdonald
Salons A & B Al & Heather Keith
Storage Areas Bob Price
Shuffleboard, Horseshoe Pits &Tennis Courts Wally Morrison
More Expressions of Thanks
from the Social Committee:
�To all who came out to decorate The Centre, (around 75 turned out), and for the ornaments donated for the tree
�To those listed in the article above, for their contribution
�To the Craft group for the hand made tree ornaments
�To Dick and Doreen Dean and their crew who decorated the trees outside
�To Ernie Whitlock for his delicious chicken wings
we say a hearty �Thank you!�
