retraction

My friend Laurel has just written in indignation. "I'm a 905 suburbanite and I would NEVER vote for the likes of Ford or Harper or Harris," she wrote. And I realize that I've been judgmental and closed-minded. My apologies to the seventeen sentient people in the 905 region.

No, I didn't mean that. I just cannot imagine living in one of those communities, with hundreds of identical houses. But then, I was lucky enough to buy a house in the inner-city 24 years ago. We paid $l80,000 for this big semi-detached. I know people with families want some land. But why - why do people want simple answers to complex questions? How can they support - at the moment, by 46% - a loud-mouthed blowhard whose only platform is to cut free trips to the zoo by city counsellors?

Sorry, Laurel.

On a cheerier note, even Sweden is moving to the right. Nearly 6% of the population - the SWEDISH population, one of the most enlightened on the planet - recently voted for a far-right racist anti-immigrant party, led by a 31-year old.

No, no, truly on a cheerier note - I just rode my bike, in the incredibly mild glorious sunshine, to the little market by the Farm. I bought fresh lake trout, meat raised on a small farm, oak leaf lettuce, a huge bag of tomatoes, two loaves of fresh bread, an ear of corn and a stack of dark chocolate. I got my secaturs sharpened, chatted with many neighbours, and rode home.

Neighbourhood. Can't beat that.