Winterization

Winterize
As a new arrival to Canada in the fall of '78, one of the early additions to my lexicon was the word 'winterize'. I'd received a hint of what lay ahead while viewing a video at Canada House in London a few months earlier, intended to educate prospective immigrants. I remember just one image (and its related voice over) from the entire 20 minute production:
Voiceover: "Many people think of Canada as a land of ice and snow."
Image:

Voiceover: "This is true."

Having owned a VW Beetle in sunny South Africa in 1974, the sight of one buried in a snow bank in that welcome-to-Canada video is one of the enduring and endearing memories of my adopted homeland. For most Australians, 'winterize' means pulling on gloves and a beanie ( touque ) for the occasional frosty morning in mid winter. For the average Canadian, the list of chores associated with the word can last for days! The list is only amplified when planning to flee the winter and head for warmer climes, as that means you won't be around to deal with some of the things that can go badly wrong if you miss critical items. Examples:
Winterize the car:
    - switch all the tires from 'all season' to winter (an accident in winter with 'all season' tires       automatically negates your insurance.)
    - check antifreeze level and dilution (should be good to -20C)
    - put tire chains and ice scraper in the trunk
Winterize the house:
    - turn off all outside water taps
    - use compressed air to blow water out of underground sprinkler system
    - check condition of snow removal equipment (tractor/snow blower/snow shovel)
    - give local snow removal guy a bottle of something good to ensure your driveway is left clear
    - bring pot plants into the garage
    - mulch the base of eucalypts and other warm climate shrubs with bark chips to protect roots
    - put away patio furniture, lawn mower, BBQ
    - rake up last of the autumn leaves from lawn to prevent die-off
    - cut, split, season and stack the winter wood supply (about 3 cords)
    - remove brass garden hose adaptors to prevent cracking during freeze-up

In this our first winter as snowbirds I'm glad to report that our winterization chores are all checked off. As we step off our flight in Sydney next week, frozen pipes and snow-buried cars will seem as distant as that welcome-to-Canada video 35 years ago!