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I'am a sleepy little village in Prince Edward County called Milford. In days gone by I was a very busy place. There were three hotels and three General Stores as well as a mill and a blacksmith. I even had my own Doctor, Times changed and I lost a lot of my vitality but I dream of being a big metropolis again some day just like Toronto or Vancouver. I have a good start. There is a General Store with gas pumps, a restaurant that is open five months of the year and a coffee shop/ice cream parlour. An antique store, two garages and a gift store/video rental rounds out my commercial base. In fact there are two places to rent videos. It is not exactly Blockbuster but a start. I have a church, library, fire hall and post office as well as a Playhouse that is home to an award winning theatre troop. We have an annual Fall Fair as does Toronto with its CNE. There are houses outside my boundaries, so I guess that qualifies as Suburbs. Although I don't have water and sewage I do have garbage and Blue Box pick-up. Can you believe that some people still want to go to the dump with their garbage? That's gratitude for you. The governing body in Picton (I'm not big enough to have my own Mayor & Council yet) is helping me gain Metropolis status. They gave me "No Parking" signs. I would have preferred parking meters with a meter maid going up and down the street giving tickets. This is going to force motorists to use my Municipal parking lot or park on the side street just like the big city. I hear rumours that they are going to license those awful signs that tell visitors SSS AEA eh what stores are in town. It doesn't matter if these signs disappear because the people can't park anyway. My plans for the future are a stoplight at my main intersection with an advanced green so west bound cars can travel down my main street and look at the stores as they leave town on their way to the Mariner's museum and the wineries. Rush hour "No Stopping" signs on King Street would be a nice "Big City" touch. After all, there were four cars went along there in as many minutes the other day. In the summer months, a Ferry to transport visitors to the Island in the Millpond would certainly put me in a league with Toronto. These plans are not just for "my own ego. With so many of my inhabitants moving - here from Toronto and similar big cities, I want them to feel at home. But wait, if they liked all these things in the City why did they, move here in the first place? Maybe, the simple quiet life isn't so bad. Ireally prefer my inhabitants to be happy and friendly. - Bruce Dowdell I A Tale of December - Continued from page 7 This last phase continues through the gift openings and later that afternoon when we visit friends most of whom only see the girls every Christmas. Stage 4 The feeling of coming down that comes over you as the car, loaded with gifts and filled with happy people pulls out of the driveway. Valerie and I sit in the unusual quiet and maybe treat ourselves to some of the precious Vintage Port that Allan brought for Valerie. Stage 5 This stage lasts at least for the next year and, thanks to photos, for the rest of your life as you remember the little things that brought joy and happiness throughout the visit. So, yes, for us, this December was the "worst of times and the best of times". I'm sure that the Best of Times will continue. A very Happy New Year to all of you. - John A Jackson