Poles and holes

For both man and dog going for a walk in my home suburb doesn’t get much better than this.

They’ve just started to install underground power in our local streets and as a result lots of metal light poles, all painted an attractive Edwardian red, have sprung up next to the old wooden poles (which should have been retired long ago).

As a consequence, every dog now has twice as many poles to sniff and … well, do what dogs do.  And even better, the electrical contractor has placed holes at regular intervals down the street.

There are coloured pipes at the bottom of some of the holes, none in others and no hole has the same combination of pipes and colours. 

Don’t ask me what the holes are for, in fact, it doesn’t matter.  The important thing is that they are there, and as any bloke knows, few things fascinate like a well dug hole.  Women will walk by them, but men will stop, observe and, if there’s company, discuss.

There are no rules about how many can stand around a hole, nor is there a time limit.  Its kind of like a barbecue, only minus the beer, conversations are short, amiable and involve lots of head nodding.

For a bloke in the ‘burbs, out with his dog (the one family member guaranteed to give unconditional affection), walking pole to pole without the need for snowboots, does it get any better than this?

We need to talk!

After almost a quarter of a century in the City of Canning it's clear that I live in a special place that's on its way to getting even better.  The best bit of course is the people, being involved in school, sport and community organisations has meant meeting a huge range of terrific and sometimes courageous characters.  Now, as a recently elected City of Canning councillor, the positive experiences continue.

So why a blog?
A very good friend once lent me a book titled 'Don't Mourn for Me, Get Organised!' Its message was clear, if we talk and share our stories we can accomplish things that a single individual never could. 

In my blog I will share my stories and experiences about Canning and welcome your comments.  Along the way we will visit the beauty of the Canning River Regional Park, consider the multiple future visions 'they' plan for the city (and how we can take charge), talk about neighbours and neighbourhoods and, hopefully, laugh about life in our own special patch of suburbia.

Other bits
If you ever want to talk to me in my role as a City of Canning councillor please flick me an email on cllrboylen@canning.wa.gov.au