We seldom think about how reliant we become on the internet until we can't access it. Yesterday I went down to the local hardware store for some bits I needed. As I parked a lady came running up after noticing smoke in a neighboring building. We looked close and there was indeed some smoke coming from the former lumber manufacturing plant across the street. The owner of the hardware store phoned the fire department. When we went back outside the smoke was thicker and within a few minutes fire had obviously gained a good hold on the building and contents inside. I stood on the corner flagging traffic another way until the fire department arrived a few minutes later. By that time an end wall had come down and things were definitely way out of control. The flames were higher than the telephone wires and we could in fact see them burning.

All this meant the internet was down as well as power for a while. The local firemen were kept busy late into the night. Thankfully no one was hurt in the fire. My client who owns the building has plans for the property, which this fire may just hasten - good news for us.

It is all pretty exciting news for little old Yarrow.

This morning we got back internet for a few minutes but before I could do any posting or answering emails the power went out again. This time it turned out to be a regional electrical substation going up in flames. The shop is black once more and it may be a while before things get up to speed. Here's hoping.

I'm posting this from the Fox & Hounds Pub as we do a little work there this afternoon. Thank goodness for wifi !

Stay tuned...

-grampa dan