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Wow, was it ever snowy the other day! My recollection was that there was just supposed to be “snow flurries” falling but instead there seemed to be a mini-snow storm taking place.

I had read a weather forecast saying that there was going to be some snow in the morning but when I looked out around 9 AM, I did not see any falling. Accordingly, I asked my wife if she wanted to go to the grocery store nearby just to buy a few products that we might need until we did our full shopping on the weekend. I must admit that I suspected that if we got any snow it would come later in the day so we had enough time to buy some groceries that morning.

I was wrong, really wrong! I looked out a few minutes later and all I could see was snow falling, heavy snow. My wife had suggested that we not go right away and she was absolutely correct. As usual! I think that she really did suspect that the snow was going to fall.

Unfortunately for me, it meant staying at home again. Oh I know that I do not go out all that much in the wintertime but I did like at least to go to a store just so that I could walk around. Not only would it allow me to buy necessary items but I could walk through the whole store just to get some exercise.

By the time it finally ended, my hope of going out shopping was doomed. Too much snow had fallen and I was just not in the mood to take a chance to get stuck, even after going only a short distance to get to the grocery store and back.

I am sure that you know, dear reader, that I had to do something to fill up some of my time. I also am absolutely certain that you knew what I would be doing to do so. Yes, you are correct. Just take a look at the new articles that I have written.

IMPROVE YOUR COGNITIVE HEALTH

I saw a very interesting article that you, dear reader, may be interested in reading. It is useful for senior people themselves or those who are supportive of them:

“How to improveyour cognitive health” 

It was published by Kintell Limited a company in the United Kingdom that just started out in business. It produces equipment for senior people to make it easier for them to live at home rather than going into places like old age homes.

Take a look at their website to learn more about it. https://kintellhome.com/

WINDSOR’S FUTURE

An interesting article in the Windsor Star that tells you a lot about the City of Windsor and what they want to carry out over the next twenty years, not just in the next term of office. Take a look at it:

“Basement flooding prevention, tree coverage top council's priority list” (Brian Cross, Windsor Star, February 13, 2019) 

Here are the main items that are long-term solutions that the City believes are necessary:

“implementing the sewer master plan, ordered following disastrous floods in 2016 and 2017, and increasing the city’s tree coverage and eliminating the long wait time for tree trimming. Projects with eight stickers included: improving the city’s branding, such as the Welcome to Windsor signage as motorists enter the city; economic diversification; and implementing the soon-to-be-completed Active Transportation Plant which will lay out network of bike lanes and paths to increase cycling and walking”

The amount of money involved is not small for some of the projects. Here is one of them for sewage projects:

“I can guarantee it will be a $300-million to $400-million plan, in addition to the $90 million we’ve already approved for the first phase,”

Looks impressive doesn’t it, dear reader. However, I suggest that you go to the article and read what has been accomplished in the past. I am not sure that you would be all that impressed with what was done.

I would assume that the money was not there because of all of the expenses that were paid out on the major projects in the relatively recent past that were constructed. I guess that money must now be available for larger projects since cash presumably is available now.

I would suggest, especially if you are going to run for office in four years, that you keep track of what is actually being spent to use compared with what might be spent. It could form as part of your election campaign depending a lot on the work that was actually undertaken.

BUY OR RENT

Does it makes sense for people to rent real estate properties these days? Alternatively, should they figure out a way to buy a new residence instead?

Based on some articles that I have written recently, you may wonder how people can possibly afford to buy a house. The ownership costs have risen so dramatically in a relatively short period of time.

Nevertheless, one must understand that rental costs are going up very high as well. Those monthly rental fees have risen rather dramatically I believe. Here is part of an article that I read a little while ago. Take a look at this Toronto rental price set out recently:

“Toronto took the top spot for the most expensive rent in the country. This month, one bedroom rent increased 0.4% to $2,270 and two bedrooms remained flat at $2,850.” (Daily Hive Staff, Feb 13, 2019) 

Yet, that monthly rent payment of $2,850 would also go for mortgage amount at around $560,000 for a 5 year period for a mortgage amortized over 25 years for the two bedroom unit. I am sure that you believe that to be a large sum of money on a purchase, dear reader, but remember that the average Toronto house price is $800,000. What it does mean is that house mortgage on it at over half-million dollars may not be enough money to fully fund an average house in Toronto.