RIP Martin Chapman

 So it was a sad thing this week when I had a to write an obituary notice for a man who was a co-worker many years ago. I really admired Martin Chapman, the former CBC Radio newsman in Sudbury. He was a great reporter and an able mentor to so many young journalists. He was indeed an old-school broadcaster with a booming baritone voice, but he had a great sense of humour and loved to entertain people with stories and performances of bluegrass music. It was also hard to call up other co-workers to get their comments about Martin and to have them share some memories. He was a good guy. The world just seems a lesser place now that he is gone.

Tipping and other stuff

 I noticed in the National Post this week a long article about how some Toronto restaurants will stop tipping and will instead impose an 18 per cent surcharge.  Not everyone is in favour of that. 

Now having seen my two children working hard over the years in the hospitality industry I am generally inclined to tip generously. I don't do it for good service, I do it because the servers and restaurant workers deserve a better income.

That said I find that I am usually in a good mood when I go out to dinner or lunch and have others cook my food and serve it to me. How can I not be? How good can things get when other people feed you? Of course we have to pay for it, and I do not begrudge that for a second.

If you are going to complain about the cost of going out to dinner, then shut up. And stay home. I am just pleased that I can afford it.

I find that when I am enjoying myself in a restaurant then somehow the serving staff pick up on that and they too become nicer and work harder to please the customer. 

By the way I was in North Bay on the weekend and was pleased to spend some time in restaurants. Enjoyed myself immensely. I got a room for a couple of days at the Sunset Inn on Lakeshore. I enjoyed a good book, some beer and some time at the beach. Life is good.