My Morning Walk - Downtown London

Casting Shadows

Some mornings or afternoons I walk from Wortley Village to Downtown London. Takes about 20 minutes. Then I walk around a bit, window shop, check out the Xabis installation north of the Court House and wonder out loud - who makes the best French fries?

["I sometimes stop at the arena to buy a Knights ticket"]

I usually head home with an interesting photo or two to show my pals.

Link to more My Morning Walk

Photos GH

It Strikes Me Funny: A summer newspaper series made for TV

I need a director and producer, preferably with a TV camera and deep pockets.

Are you out there? Because my weekly column is quickly becoming a summer series about some of our city’s distinct neighbourhoods and I think it would be a big hit on television.

And not because I’m tall dark and handsome and have a winning way.

[I’m more like short, grey, reasonably pleasing to the eye - if you stand several steps back - and have found a way to sidestep responsibility. For example, ask me to write or talk about a certain topic and I’ll reply, tell me what you know. Voila - my role is done.]

No, my series would be a smash hit because as I cycle around the city I’ve found countless areas of interest, all pleasing to the eye, which doesn’t translate as well to radio or print.

Just the other day I saw several backyards in Oxford Park in which I’d love to sit down and so would millions of viewers. Admittedly, not all at the same time, but isn’t that what people want? To sit down and not spend time mending the fence?

I even found one yard with no fence. I loved it. It contained a shaded gazebo and fire pot, and is the perfect place to sit and chat with neighbours and ask questions like, “What kind of plant is that? Oregano?”

Or, “What’s that guy doing cutting his grass in his underwear? Let’s go see.”

Yup, perfect for TV.

But first I need a producer and director with deep pockets.

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Have you noticed anything of interest in your neighbourhood recently?

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It Strikes Me Funny: I get nailed for typing too fast

... And thinking too slow.

In today’s The Londoner a reader complained about my fact checking ability.

He was spot on.

Henry R. wrote: “Harrison asserts a recession in the early 1990’s, coupled with provincial Conservative government policy related to welfare benefits resulted in an increase in monthly food bank clients from 1991 - 93.”

(The Conservatives didn’t govern until 1995).

Then he asks: “Was this simply an honest mistake on Mr. Harrison’s part? Or was he trying to slag the Conservatives in general, perhaps out of general revulsion for their views?”

Yes, and partly.

I was trying to slag the Conservatives, but not out of revulsion. I disagreed with their policies.

And I should have written: “A recession in the early 1990’s resulted in a steep increase in monthly food bank clients, and provincial Conservative welfare policy of the late 1990’s kept them there.”

Good catch, Henry.

Readers keep me on my toes, as it should be.

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Coincidentally, Henry and I both like the word ‘slag.’ I used it earlier in the week.

Also, if you catch a mistake, let me know.

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The London Food Bank Challenge: Breakfast was OK, but lunch?

I’m one of a dozen people who recently agreed to live on the groceries a typical food bank client receives.


Not a bad idea. With the number of food bank clients rising quickly in London (approx. 2,500 per month in 2008; 3,000 per month in 2009) the challenge is a direct, hands-on way to learn more about the 24-year-old nonprofit organization and thousands it serves as best it can.

How long will the food last? What will be my challenges, concerns and complaints?


It’s early days, but so far I can honestly say that yesterday’s breakfast was just fine (Kellogg’s Muxlix, tea and a snack bar) but lunch wasn’t.

I ate the following at noon yesterday:

More tea - but I miss my coffee.

Whole wheat roll (one of six I was given) - with butter, it was fine. Nothing to write home about so I won’t.

Chef Boyardee Beefaroni - Not much taste, too much salt, I wouldn’t even take it camping.

Did I say I miss my coffee?

I’m predicting the bulk of the food won’t last longer than 3 - 4 days and my wife and I will have to cheat a bit to keep meals fairly healthy. Should be interesting.

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Are food banks under stress or doing well in your city?

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Sugar in the Morning: PC white grape juice slams cranberry cocktail

News update:

I moaned and groaned something fierce yesterday about the amount of sugar that was in my bottle of cranberry cocktail.

And well I should. 35 grams of sugar in a 250 ml serving (63 per 450 ml bottle) is way out of line.

Farther still out of line is the PC white grape juice I just had with my lunch. (I diluted it with lottsa tap water).


37 grams of sugar per 250 ml serving or 269 grams per bottle (1.82 L).

We have a winna!!

Can you beat that?

[Click here for yesterday’s posts and moans and groans]

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London Food Bank Challenge Part 3: Answering questions about my food choices

I am taking the London Food Bank Challenge this week, am eating meals from food items purchased for $30, had to drop St. Pat’s Day celebrations from my calendar (who can afford 3 pints of Guinness on a $30 budget?) and just finished lunch made with my own two hands.

The Food Bank wants to know how I’m doing, so here are a few words:

I think I can live on 30 bucks for 7 days and wait until 5 p.m. this coming Sunday for Guinness.

Preparing breakfasts for the duration was simple and cheap. I routinely eat a ton of oatmeal each winter and an eight-day batch, containing rolled oats supplemented with 1 or 2 teaspoons each of flaxseed, raisins, dried cranberries, bran, cornmeal, millet (birdseed), quinoa, and bulgar, totalled $1.25 or about 16 cents per day. Add a slice of toast and jam and I’m under 50 cents per day for a healthy start to the day.

Purists will take me to task about my oatmeal recipe (“What’s with the birdseed? It ain’t real oatmeal?”), I might be stepping outside the rules each morning by using my stash of free coffee cards from The Little Red Roaster (Guinness I can put on hold, but caffeine waits for no man) and my reputation for Spartan-like self-reliance may have been tarnished when I happily accepted a gift of chocolate chip cookies from a neighbour.


Pancake lunches and a huge homemade mac and cheese casserole keep costs under 50 and 75 cents per meal respectively.

Though I don’t look too manly in a frilly apron I’m finding my way around the kitchen without problem.

My wife even eyed my casserole enviously when I pulled it from the oven yesterday. I may be asked to create it again.

Conclusion: Meals can be cheap but I’m not eating a balanced diet so far. How do low-income families manage that important task?

London Food Bank Challenge: Part 1 - Spend only $30 for food for one week

Jane Roy, co-director of London’s Food Bank, called two days ago and asked if I’d be willing to take the Food Bank Challenge and live on a very small grocery budget for one week.

She explained that an average household (2.5 people) earning less than $20,000 per year spends only $72 on groceries.

“How much money am I allowed to spend?” I asked.

“We rounded it up to $30 for one person,” she replied.

Though I immediately saw a lot of oatmeal and a frilly apron in my future I said, “Sure, I’ll give it a try.”

Once off the phone I sat down in my study with pen and paper and started a short grocery list. Within a few minutes I realized ‘short’ was definitely the operative word.


I also realized if I wanted nutritious fruits and vegetables and a bit of meat on my list I’d have to cut back on a few familiar routines for the week.

For example, there would be no coffee, refill, bagel and cream cheese at The Red Roaster for breakfast every morning. My budget would be shot in no time.

Nor would there be the traditional cold beverage after my Friday hockey game if I wanted to eat on the weekend.

It dawned on me there could be a good story in the Food Bank challenge.

It had a defined beginning, middle and end, intrigue, involved eating and I have a weekly deadline.

I smell Pulitzer.

[Visit Four Mugs and eat, drink and be vegan to see what I may be eating this week]