Happy Canada Day

I love holidays. Canada Day is tomorrow and once again there are events all over the city. The States celebrate Jul 4 th and I have been at two of their events, once at Disney World and another near Virginia Beach. Give me a reason to celebrate and I am in. I wish the entire world a wonderful weekend. Find those moments of serenity and peace. I still pray that wars will cease cold or otherwise. We live in such a beautiful planet. Let's unite and take care of it and all who lives. Later.

This is an event for men in abusive relationships from their perspective. It is free and on line. It should be global.

For Love of Country - Military Policewoman For your own ebook or book, order on line from me at www.silvaredigonda.ca

The following morning, we were rushed out of bed by our senior course leader. She was one of us, a new recruit, and had been appointed our leader for the day. This was to become a ritual, to give us the opportunity to demonstrate our leadership abilities. I soon learned that food would taste better after missing several meals. The day was spent compiling a will. I named my father executor and chose Rose as an alternate should anything happen to my father. (Rose chose me to do the same.) The day would not be complete before receiving our vaccinations. The side effect was exhaustion. Other women suffered headaches, and some felt so ill they were sent to the hospital. The feeling that I had been here a month rather than three days began to weigh. That night I slept soundly. The next morning I received a letter from my mom and Sam. These letters would become an important event in our daily lives away from home. In class we learned about the military rank structure. We were all at the bottom – privates. After four years as a private, the rank of Corporal is attained. After that the structure continues by promotion: Master Corporal, Sergeant, Warrant Officer, Master Warrant Officer and Chief Warrant Officer. Then there are the Commissioned Officers: a cadet parallels us. This is followed by Lieutenant and Captain (parallel to Corporal), Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and General. There are also four levels of generals. The day was mostly spent marching. We also viewed a film about drugs and their effects. At one point we gathered in the auditorium where we were welcomed and informed that we had been selected from a vast group of potential recruits across Canada because it was believed we were the best. Here that would be proven or disproven. This was the first day that I did not feel tired since arriving in Cornwallis. The following day we received our “kit,” which consisted of more uniforms and other military accessories. The entire day was spent on fitting and refitting into standard sizes. In between we were taught how to shine shoes and sew. I had to sew a name tag to my housecoat and after three attempts, I was informed to try harder in the future. We were told to ask when we did not understand anything. When someone did ask for any clarification, they were treated as if they were stupid and informed that the thinking could not all be done for them. Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “For love of country : military policewoman.

www.silvaredigonda.ca

Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse. Continues……..In the Neighourhood: When not living with abusive partner

Tell your neighbours to call police if they hear a fight or screaming in your home. Tell people who care for your children who has permission to retrieve them. Let your neighbours know that your partner no longer resides with you and ask them to call police if they see him/her near your home. Provide a photo and description. Ask neighbours to watch your children in an emergency. Hide clothing and your Emergency Escape Plan items at a neighbour’s house if possible. Use different grocery stores and shopping malls and shop at hours different from those when your lived with your partner. Use a different bank or branch and take care of your banking at hours different from when you were living with your abusive partner. Choose another doctor, dentist and other professional services you would normally use (My tid bits: It is not always easy nowadays to even find a doctor so if you decide to keep your health providers I would suggest you brief them of your circumstances so they can alert you if your ex partner tries to attend and/or get information about you. Abusers are usually smooth talkers and will try to make you look like the abuser. In my home office I have an exterior camera , panic alarm to police, intrusions alarm and fire alarm. So let your therapist know what is going on, including your fears etc…I have found that some men are embarrassed about their situation. Don’t be. You are not alone.) Do not put your name in your apartment building directory (or place another name there while informing building management and the post office). To be continued with at work.

Voting Day in Toronto today and Fairbanks Summerfest

Well, one of the beauties of living in a democratic society is voting for whom we want. We have 102 people wanting the Mayor's spot and a dog is somewhere in there. I will be so glad when this is over because all I have been hearing about is who to vote for, who endorses who etc....It will be nice to take a break. Many people do not vote and that is too bad. People in history have struggeled to be able to vote and that should never be taken for granted. My attitude is whoever wins - wins. Good or bad. I do hope that there will be a revision to future possibilities of being a Mayor. Right now it appears that anyone, criminal, animal, discontent etc....can apply. We should have some qualifications, perhaps an IQ test. This weekend was full of festivities in Toronto and this time I chose the Fairbanks Summerfest. It was full of children and it was difficult not to walk over one. They had lots of free rides, free popcorn and other free items. This is the Toronto I love. I was also going to go to a community BBQ but by then the sweat and heat was too much. So, I bought lots of ice cream to bring home. I have posted a photo of a 1988 police car next to a current one. Ignore the lady in the photo.

For Love of Country - Military Policewoman www.silvaredigonda.ca

At 9: 45 the next morning we were awakened. The entire day was spent socializing. The girls were very friendly. It became quite clear that privacy and time to myself would no longer be a possibility, as we continued to hear about the endless rules. We were not permitted to close the doors to our rooms unless we were dressing. I started to hang around with a girl named Mary Oster. She was a real country girl with a hearty laugh and wonderful sense of humour. She spoke of her several brothers and how she used to kill the rats stalking her barn. Her dream was to marry and have half a dozen children. (This wonderful, happy woman would be emotionally destroyed fifteen years later, and die shortly thereafter.) Before the day was over, two girls had asked to be allowed to leave. The military, each had said, was not for her. They departed or rather were “released.” I was okay so far. I must have learned a hundred rules that day, as well as how to make the perfect bed. It only took one hour to accomplish the feat. Two of the other women were shouted at, without reason, and some began to taunt me for having an unusual name and for being of Italian descent. That night I slid carefully into my bed, to avoid making it in the morning. The following morning, I tucked the blanket and sheet under the mattress, which was all the bed required to look fresh. That morning I attended a lecture regarding fires and learned more procedures. After the lecture we lined up for uniforms, which they called work dress. Later, in the common room, two of the women pressed mine for me after watching me struggle with the iron. Washing clothes I managed to handle myself. The meals were a disappointment. The food was actually terrible – tasteless and soggy: not at all what I had expected. I had been assigned to a work detail which consisted of scrubbing, washing and polishing the exit section of the barracks. Already I was beginning to miss home and felt like I had been at the camp for a month. Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “For love of country : military policewoman.

silvaredigonda.ca

Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse. Continues……..If you are not living with your abusive partner.

If you are not living with your abusive partner: Change the locks on the doors and windows. Install a peephole in the door. (In my previous careers one of the problems with peepholes is that a perpetrator would be able to push it out and see inside). Change the locks on your garage and mailbox. Again children should not answer the doors themselves. Keep your restraining order with you always. Ensure the school, day care and police have copies of all court orders, including restraining orders, custody and access orders as well as a picture of the abusive partner. Can you predict the next likely violent incident? Be prepared. If you have call display be careful about who can get access to the stored numbers (eg. last number dialled). Have an unlisted number and ensure your own number is blocked when calling. Have pre-programmed numbers of people to call. Contact your local Victim Services to inquire about their supports for you. -Consider moving your furniture around differently, something your partner won’t anticipate (unless he reads this) and cause him to trip or bump into it which would alert you that someone is in your house. Put your kitchen utensils and knife block in the cupboards. If you live in an apartment, check the area when you come out of the elevator and walk towards your apartment. Alert security. Purchase rope ladders to escape from your elevator ( I would really raise this as a possible problem. You would already be scared and you don’t want to fall). Consider putting wires around your balcony (again check with the rules of your building). Replace wooden doors with steel/metal doors if possible (ensure the pins cannot be removed by the exterior). Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for each floor. Consider a guard dog. Install outside a lighting system which lights up when a person is coming close to your house. Install security systems. To be continued with In The Neighbourhood. A reminder that this was provided by the Peel Committee against Woman Abuse. I provided my own comments in brackets as a precaution to think about. Police Stations also have community support where you can go and ask questions.