Been very very long! Me and Molly are holed up in our Ottawa Valley home, made the year’s maple syrup and I am almost fully supplied with next year’s firewood. Tilled the garden.

Normally I’d be in Cape Breton by now—lobster opening day today in fact, but it wouldn’t be the same even if we were down there. No deadheading on my buddy’s fishing boat, certainly no gigs. No pub sessions. The past few years I got back into busking because I discovered the Sydney waterfront is fertile ground for yer stirring shanties when cruise ships are in. Believe it or not they are now planning to start coming again in August, and fall looks as busy as ever, lots of big ships. Don’t know what to make of that. Masked busking or just stay away? Provincial borders are still sorta-closed anyway.

I’ve been too dispirited to play much music. But I’m happy to have lived long enough to be (temporarily, but still) receiving a living wage from the Canadian government to be an unemployed folksinger. So, speaking rhetorically, god bless Canada, and all of you.