Canadian Welcome

Many parents have to work during the summer and wonder what to do with their children while they’re away. School is out for the summer, so that’s not an option – although high school students can attend summer school. Fortunately there are many day camps.

These are usually run by community centers, church groups, or private organizations.Fees to attend a day camp will depend on the organization running it and can range from a minimal charge to quite an expensive one. Children at a cheaper day camp would usually play games, go swimming, and do crafts.

The more expensive ones cater to special interests. Things like horseback riding or hockey, although they still would have swimming as part of the program. Good day camps are necessary during the summer, both to help parents with day care and to give children interesting and meaningful ways to spend their free time.

Technorati Tags: day camps, summer, children, activities, swimming

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While I’m on the subject of credit, be careful when giving out your credit card number. My son-in-law was on the phone about a free trip he had supposedly won. He gave them his charge card number for what he thought was a small handling fee. The next thing he knew, they were telling him about the large amount of money they had just charged on his card.

He informed the credit card company right away, but was told that since he gave out his card number, he needed to try to resolve it with the travel company first. Only if that didn’t work and a number of weeks had passed, could he dispute the charge with his credit card company.

So yes, you should have a credit card to establish your credit rating, but keep the maximum amount fairly low, and be very careful when giving out the number to anyone.

Technorati Tags: credit card, credit card charge

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Since I’ve been on the topic of crime, I thought I’d tell you a little story.

When my oldest son was about 13 years old, he and some friends got themselves some pellet guns. There is no law against having a pellet gun. The problem is that it looks just like a real gun.

Anyway, my son and his buddies were in the backyard having target practice. They set up a row of garbage cans and tried to hit them. Sounds innocent enough, but it was dark outside and a neighbour heard the shots and called police.

Before we knew what was happening, the police were at the door with our son. They explained that because the pellet guns looked so real and in the dark the teens looked like full-grown men, the police had gone after them with guns drawn and ready to shoot.

My son got quite a scare that day and we decided never to have a pellet gun in the house again.

Technorati Tags: pellet gun, police, guns, target practice

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First, I have to tell you I am a dog person. I love dogs (smaller ones) and have often had one. Our last dog was a Sheltie, an amazing, beautiful dog that looks like a miniature collie. Besides the fact that Sheltie’s shed a lot, they have a very high pitched bark. Not my husband’s favourite sound. So now I have only a fish and a hamster – not nearly as affectionate and friendly, but the hamster at least lets me pet him.

I have never had much luck with birds. We had a pair of budgies at one point, but they both got sick and died. I never tried to have one again. But my son-in-law, who swore he would never have a pet in the house, brought my grandson a finch and says it’s so easy to care for, although it makes a mess of the floor around the cage. Finches are small birds, this one is a zebra finch, so it has dark stripes on the body and a bright red beak. An attractive bird, likes to sing, and my grandson loves him.

People in Canada enjoy pets and many businesses now offer pet care while you are away. Does that seem like an unusual business to have? Some are even called doggie daycare – for the dog that doesn’t like to be alone while you are at work.

Technorati Tags: dogs, Sheltie, birds, budgie, zebra finch, pets

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My two year old grandson loves Thomas the Train, both the toys and the TV show. And every other small child that comes to our house seems to get excited whenever they see one of our Thomas toys.

Well, today I found out that Indigo is having a big sale on the Thomas the Train Roundhouse, plus free shipping. Now I just need to find somewhere to put it.

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