CANADIAN IDLE

It's Time.
The Victoria Day Weekend.
The Bowls Bell tolls for the traditional start of the Ontario lawn bowling season.
I have spent the winter producing and starring in a new series of Canadian Idle.
We were on location in Orlando/Kissimmee and Treasure Island on the Gulf in Florida. But we didn't want to miss the opportunity to experience the fun of snow in Ontario so did some hard time in Dresden during January and February.
But that was then and this is now.
Of course before the Queen's Day action I take my hot and cold wardrobes and head to the lee of the escarpment. I love the Niagara Falls openers. It is like a high school reunion without name tags but planned activity to give you space and interval to remember everyones name.
And St Marys was an oasis in the desert of rain.
By the way the greens ran very well both in the Falls and The Stone Town. Excellent work Jeff Clapp and Larry McLellan. Play both for a treat this summer.
Saturday and Sunday we did our traditional doubleheader. Fairmont first, what a beautiful day, and off to Burlington the next day for the premier preDistrict  gathering of the Provincial pretenders. I am not sure of District 15 but every other District in this province, 1 to 16, Windsor to Ottawa made the trek to central casting and turned around and went home after. Thirty two teams drawing and driving , laughing and frowning. What a great group of people for social interaction to be serious competitive yet loose and relaxed. It works for me.
And again my thanks to the greenskeepers at these facilities for outwitting Mother Nature and creating a surface that played well and will only get better.

My health- many know but if you don't, I am a prostate cancer selectee. I have had surgery and radiation in the hope to eradicate those frisky, evasive little cells. My PSA is the barometer that measures the search for zero but I am slowly creeping up the ' what do we do next ladder'. I feel good, do what I have always done , don't fret over what I can't control and greet each day with the same enthusiasm.
I tell you all this because many ask me when we see each other after the winter and besides I want to repeat the preventative message.
My PSA was in the 30's before I received treatment. I had been going for the blood test on a regular basis but notification of the results were not forwarded in a timely fashion.
Number 1, be responsible for yourself.
One in six men will be a prostate victim. Next time you are in a crowd start counting and asking.
It isn't an exceptional case, it is part of your neighbourhood.
Number 2, don't wimp out. Get the blood test and the rectal examination.
This cancer has a high cure success rate when detected early.
Number 3, is there a choice?
I will be running our Cancer Challenge again this year. Many have joined in to have some fun and help the fund.
As last year's Cancer Bowls Challenge Supportors know, many have money held in escrow for disposition as you wish.
By all means join us when the Challenge 2012 opens for business. Details to follow.

Huron Perth Men's Circuit
Men's tournaments can survive and thrive.
Bowling to-day in St Marys. Awaiting the results.