December "Wrap-Up" Meeting at Fred's Place

The gang of the OVGRS met at Fred's place for our December "Wrap-Up" Meeting.

We discuss how we felt the season had gone and we talk about any improvements required for the following season.  All in all it was a great 2019 season of train ops with few rain-outs and lots of train action fun.  That's Father Fred holding the can of beer telling a story to Lawrence as Steve adds some commentary.  Pat is standing in the background beside George.  Seeing as we're nearing Christmas, Fred apparently is asking Lawrence what Santa suffers from when he gets stuck in the chimney.  Steve calls out "Claus"trophobia!  Hehehe.

Sid is all a-shine as he Pat and Doug are backlit from the incoming sunshine provided by Fred's large picture window.

Len turns to Bill and asks..."Who hides in Henk's bakery shop over Christmas?"

Bill is quick to reply..."Well...a mince "spy" of course!"

We are blessed to have Johnny Chuff Chuff (on the right) with us all the way from the Toronto!  He had just noticed me (Mike, the school teacher) taking the picture of himself and Moe, so he turned to Moe and asked this question..."What's the difference between a school teacher and a steam locomotive?"  Moe looks at Johnny to hear his response..."Well, Moe" Johnny says, "A school teacher tells you to spit out your gum while the steam locomotive says "Choo, Choo, Choo!""

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Pat turns to George and says...that was a real funny one as I am still laughing behind the camera!  "Thanks, Johnny!" I say..."I'll remember that one to use in the teachers' lounge on Monday!"  Hehehe!

Brian holds up his hand and says..."I've got a better one than that!"  Steve turns to Brian and replies..."Let's hear it!"  "OK!" Brian smiles..."Why can't a train engineer get electrocuted?"  "Why?" Steve anticipates.  "Because he's not a conductor!"  The whole rooms cracks up!  Steve tries to one-up Brian..."That was a good one, Brian.  Here's one back at you!  Why can't a steam locomotive sit down?"  Brian smiles broadly..."I know...because it has a tender behind!"  Whaa Whaa Whaa.

Meanwhile over at the table with all of the Christmassy treats we find Paul gaining the attention of Garry as Gene signs the guest book.  We wonder if Paul had ridden his motorcycle to the meeting so we ask him this Christmassy motorcycle question.  "Paul...what motorcycle does Santa ride?"  Paul is quick to respond..."Why...Holly Davidson of course!"

Johnny turns to Moe and asks if Steve and Seanna have the chili ready for the gang yet.  Then Moe wonders if Steve and Seanna had put the prescribed number of beans in the fall chili sauce.  "What do you mean...a prescribed number of beans?" Johnny inquires.  "Well," Moe iterates..."it's gotta be 239 beans only!"  "239 beans..." Johnny intervenes.  "Yes, 239 beans!" Moe calls back.  One more bean than that would make it "too farty!""  A collective groan is heard around the room.

Here's Seanna and Steve in the kitchen performing the magic!

One of the lads was heard to say that they actually ate their wife's "five alarm chili" the night before and that they were now declaring a national emergency at their southern border! 

Now, which lad from this gang photo would have said that?

Hey we notice Henk checking over his notes below the farthest lamp.  A great big note of thanks goes out to Henk for being our treasurer throughout the years!  Being the money man for the group, Henk offers up this cute Knock Knock joke.

Knock, Knock

Who's There?

Cash

Cash Who

I always knew you were some kind of a "nut"!

Doug, seated in the big, leather chair says..."Enough with the crazy jokes and let's get the business part of the meeting over with so we can enjoy the camaraderie of the group."  A great big note of thanks to Doug for chairing the meeting and making sure that all valued points were discussed.

Paul, standing with the coffee in his hand has arrived.

Doug begins the meeting..."Two drunks were walking upgrade by the railroad tracks.  One of them said, "This is the longest stairway I've ever been on!  The second drunk replied...it's not the stairs that bother me...it's the low bannister!"

And thus...the meeting was adjourned...

...making it time for socializing.

Hey, ore train Bob arrived!

No meeting could be complete without a snowflake of inspiration from our one and only Bill Sn3 Scobie.  Moments before the crew had been discussing the need for a new canopy cover.  Bill stood up and said..."forget the canopy cover we need some new Irish chairs for the outdoor lounge."  Irish chairs?" we all call out looking over at Mr. Scobie.  "Yeah," he responds..."We need some new Paddy O'Furniture!"  We try to tell Bill that we are nearing Christmas and not St. Patrick's Day.  He responds to our alarm by adding..."Why shouldn't you iron a four-leaf clover."  We all look on in stunned amazement as he goes on..."You don't want to press your luck!"  O Bill, the man of many hats!    

The chocolate cheesecake bits must be saying something to themselves as they listen in on all of these strange conversational offerings.

Fred regales the crowd while Neil in the background listens attentively.  Neil is one of our newest members in the gang having been brought in by none other than Mr. Neil Lowes. 

Oh look, there's Barry all the way from Belleville.  So nice to see you arrive, Barry.

Just a short few years ago, Barry and his lovely wife Bonnie, moved to Belleville.  Each summer they host our group for a  great day of train operations on his magnificent outdoor railroad.  Speaking of jokesters, one of my favourite NHL hockey players (and one of the funniest) Dennis Hull (brother of Bobby Hull) was born just a few miles outside of Belleville.  You're in great company, Barry!

Paul has arrived and is enjoying a story from Steve.  Steve begins..."A man and his wife check into a hotel.  The husband wants to have a drink at the bar, but his wife is extremely tired so she decides to go to their hotel room to rest.  She lies down on the bed...just then, an "elevated train" passes by very close to the window and shakes the room so hard she's thrown from the bed.  Thinking this must be a freak occurrence, she lies back in bed once more.  Again, another passing trains shakes the room so violently, she's pitched to the floor.  Exasperated, she calls the front desk asking for the manager.  The manager says he'll be right up.  He is skeptical but the woman insists the story is true.  "Look, if you don't believe me, lie right here on the bed - you'll soon be thrown to the floor.  The manager lies down next to the woman.  Just then the husband walks in.  "What," he shouts, "are you doing here!?!"  The manager calmly replies, "Would you believe I'm waiting for a train?"

Skipper Bernie...our Craig Leigh yardmaster.

Hey Doug...so nice to see you!

A fuzzy Fred and two fuzzy lumberjacks.  Gene...in the center was telling Fred and Bob this story..."At a station stop, the railroad's president walked up to the locomotive and spoke to the engineer.  "You were going 65 mph and the speed limit is only 60 mph.  I saw it myself on the speedometer in the business car!"  After a heated exchange, the engineer finally said, "You couldn't possibly have been going 65.  My speedometer said 60 and we never saw you go by us!"

The smiles on Neil's, Paul's, and Pat's faces say it all.  We love gathering as a group at the OVGRS to enjoy friendship, food and train talk!

Love the jacket...has to be Bill's!  "Where's the funny hat, Bill?"

Seeing as I took the pics and wasn't in any, here I am in a different season with a different hobby alongside my bandmate, Doc Watkins.  Actually we were playing a gig last night at a private party in the Glebe with some 70 people or so in attendance.  This is a picture of two Mikes...my dentist, Mike on sax and bass and me!  Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada