As Monday gave way to Tuesday, the clouds rolled in, bringing the city back into its traditional Spring overcast conditions. Oh yeah, and by Wednesday, rain.
As usual, Tuesday after work was time for electrolysis. This week marked the first week of the second pass. Since there is still so much to be done, I didn’t think that I would find it such a relieving and happy occasion, but, well I did. If everything goes as (I think) it ought to, that should be around one more year’s worth and my face should be complete.
That’s the first removal project.
The office where the very nice electrologist methodically zaps each and every hair follicle with the intent of killing it is located across the street from the Westgate Mall – the city’s first, but now being demolished for replacement with another sort of mixed development.
As a recovered local history nerd, I think I ought to feel something about the loss of this mall, but, really, if I do, it’s that these older malls were (and are) so often wonderful spaces for new smaller businesses, for seniors in need of a third space, and, really for their original intent: commercial space in a neighbourhood where zoning mostly confined it to those areas.1
That’s the second removal project.
Although I will never be the sort of girl that enjoys the rain exactly, I can’t help but appreciate that April showers have been living up to their promise and have been bringing May flowers.
We’re still another week or two out, but the neighbourhood’s usual early-bloomers are very much out and looking rather splendid. Among the photos above, is a lovely star magnolia tree in front of a home on Lewis street that is always very much appreciated by myself and others with a camera. ☺️
Camera
Lens
Film
Developer
Time & Temp.
Scanner
Location
Date(s)
Filing
Nikon EM
Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8
Fuji Acros II
HC-110 Dilution E (1+47)
5m at 24℃
Plustek 8200i / SilverFast 9
Ottawa, Ontario
April 28, 2026 (1-7)
April 30, 2026 (8-12)
Series 7, Roll 073
- Since I don’t want to relapse into the nerddom of the picayune, I’ll just say that as pieces of built heritage, I do not see the city’s remaining 1950s (or early 1960s) shopping malls (like Billings Bridge, Carlingwood, and Elmvale) as being especially valuable. As active and long-serving commercial spaces, they have very little of their original look and feel left and are not particularly strong examples of built heritage in the way they might if you could feel like you might be standing in a Steinberg’s or A&P. ↩︎