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INTER -- Cm you love it? Groups of adults and young people, babies in arms or sleds standing on the frozen millpond, shivering, eating hot dogs and drinking hot chocolate. Only in Canada, you say. That's true but only in Milford, is more accurate. Seeing people skating on the pond brings back memories, some of which I've shared with you before. But I was reminded of another skating event when several days ago a neighbour called Her Nibs and asked if she would like to go skating. Valerie doesn't skate; being born in England it was not then a favourite sport or means of recreation. Probably because England has more rain than snow and ice. A few years ago, when we lived in the Beaches in Toronto, Valerie decided that perhaps she should learn to skate since all her staff could, even their little children, as well as all of our friends. Even I, not anywhere near a Toller Cranston, could navigate the rink, usually without falling. So we bought her a pair of skates, I retrieved mine from a box of junk, had them sharpened and off we went. We were fortunate. In Kew Beach Park there was an outdoor hockey rink with artificial ice - it was also used for lacrosse in the summer. It was ideal to learn to skate since one could clutch at the boards and walk along and if one chose take little forays with hands poised above the boards to grab when a fall was suspected. We chose a period of time when the crowd was light, although I find children quite sympathetic to novice skaters. They've been through all this themselves and have weathered the humiliation, let alone the pain, as one crashes to the ice. I'put on Her nibs skates and held on to her as we walked onto the ice surface. I found a spot for her to hold onto and, trying not to show-off at all, skated round the rink a couple of times (just to make sure I still could). Then 1 took her by the arm and we commenced to walk and . sometimes slide, more by accident than design, around the rink. We succeeded in circumnavigating several times and then hied ourselves into the penalty box to recuperate. After several hours of this, Her Nibs was improving to the a planned slide into the boards which she clutched desperately to avoid a fall. 1 We decided to take one 8 last rest in the penalty box and watch the skaters, some of whom were very good. "Hello there" said a voice and we looked to see our neighbour Bunny, to whom we had mentioned that Her Nibs was going to learn to skate. Bunny had obviously come down to show us how it was done. § She was dressed for the exhibition in a pair of form fitting slacks, white sweater that showed beneath a short fur jacket (we learned later that she had borrowed it from her mother) and a white toque with white gloves and white figure skates. Off she went around the ice and Her Nibs, somewhat disgruntled said "I hate show-offs" and suggested that we leave. As we started out of the penalty box Bunny, skating majestically towards us shouted "So long" and proceeded to do a counter clockwise spin. "Who does she think she is. Sonja Henie?" said Her Nibs At that moment Bunny fell. A ground shaking fall that made me and everyone else, I'm sure wince with the obvious pain she experienced. We helped her up and she Cried on 2 pd 8 Country Shears Family Hairstyling 2058 COUNTY ROAD 17 1/2 KM. FROM MILFORD By appointment only. Call Linda at 476-2770 CLOSED TUESDAY & SUNDAY