Unusually I am listening to CBC FM 103.3 on a Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM radio. With the advent and my discovery of Apple Music my usage of the radio as a source of music has evaporated. Nonetheless when, as today on a sunny summer afternoon, I am lucky enough to have nothing better to do than sip my chilled espresso while staring out the drawing room window, I find a bit of Chopin on the radio is intriguingly archaic and uniquely restful.

The Tivoli Audio company was founded in Massachusetts by Henry Kloss, an audio engineer, and Tom DeVesto, an entrepreneur. Their first product, the Model One, was designed to receive FM radio signals in congested urban locations and distant or low-power stations, as Kloss noted; the mid-60s wave of Japanese radios struggled to do this.

While it isn’t every hour of the day that one is guaranteed the amusement of classical music from CBC FM, today is Sunday and seemingly the retiring sounds of classical music have prevailed.

CBOQ-FM is a Canadian radio station. It broadcasts the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s CBC Music network at 103.3 FM in Ottawa, Ontario. CBOQ’s studios are located in the CBC Ottawa Broadcast Centre on Queen Street (across from the O-Train Line 1 light rail station) in Downtown Ottawa, while its transmitter is located in Camp Fortune, Quebec. The station was launched on February 27, 1948 as CBO-FM. It adopted its current callsign in 1991, when its AM sister station CBO moved to the FM band.

Earlier this morning I tricycled about the neighbourhood. There were many people – including a goodly number of couples – walking their dogs. I met one such couple – Anthony and Teresa – with their dog Henry on Johanna Street. They are long-standing friends with whom I happen to have a number of associations including reciprocal business ventures and he too is a member of the local Masonic Lodge. He informed me that the brethren meet every Wednesday for coffee in the Lodge rooms on Mill Street. He invited me and my partner to attend; and we may well do so.

Prior to that particular encounter I spoke briefly with Wanda (who lives nearby).  She is always full of prep and vigour; and today was no exception (though she did mention the humidity of the increasingly stifling air was getting to her). Lately the temperatures have been 30°C and more. But everyone agrees the summer weather is a welcome modification.

Later this afternoon we visit my erstwhile physician at his country seat in the Village of Ashton. We’ve been told to bring our bathing suits for a dip in the pool prior to enjoying an early dinner on the patio overlooking the meadow.

The early morning threatening rain showers have moved out of the area, leaving perfectly clear blue skies and lovely warm temperatures. Naturally, in keeping with my standard but narrow agenda, I amused myself earlier today by driving my EV. I suspect I have now learned all the tricks I am likely to absorb regarding the modern technology associated with the machine. Back to the mandatory features of quiet and alignment, all is well.

Meanwhile the golden crowns of the cornstalks are increasingly evident, During the occasions of wind gusts associated with the humid temperatures the field of corn moves in waves. We have yet to see the stalks “as high as an elephant’s eye” but it is coming. And then will be the manifest pleasure of corn-on-the-cob with butter and Maldon salt!