In Ottawa, the potholes are full-blown on every heavily travelled street and road, especially at intersections and under over-passes. Last week a new one opened at the intersection of King Edward Avenue and Rideau Street; I darned near broke the rear axle dropping into it. The Cyrville Road on the way to Home Depot is like the impact area on a mortar range.

The potholes come into bloom every winter during the first major thaw, which usually coincides with Winterlude (the municipal winter carnival) so as to wreck the skating. Proof positive, as if more were needed, that Ottawa is no place for a person of finer sensibilities once the novelty of the first snowfall has worn off. In my case, that usually happens about nine seconds after the first snowfall begins turning to slush and pounded ice.