Ever since my father first brought home several fresh whole halibut he’d been given, or purchased cheaply  or quite possibly they’d fallen off a truck – ah the good old days, and I helped him sell it, stashed in the snow in our backyard, I was about fifteen years old and hooked.

Hooked on selling, hustling, flogging, dealing and peddling whatever it happened to be. The trick is, if there is a trick, is never to foist something on someone that they don’t want but rather to make them want it all on their own.

Just what the doctor ordered

So, when by chance alone, the lady who was supposed to give a tour to  a husband and wife doctor team touring several Nova Scotia locations and  considering Chester had to cancel and I was asked to do it, I was psyched.

Having lost three doctors here in Chester in a very  short period , this was important , really important. This was not selling a chocolate almond croissant – this was selling a village, a community  a…future.

Serving  on the Our Health Centre (OHC) recruiting committee, I have learned how complex and perfectly convoluted the system is for recruiting doctors. Many of the variables are out of our hands. I know folks are frustrated; my kids have no doctor either. It is distressing.

This couple was youngish with no children and expressed an interest in the outdoors and fitness. Given that my idea of exercise is going downstairs to fill my wine glass a couple times in an evening, I can see that they must have been desperate for a guide.

Our first stop was the new Nordic spa all snow covered, steamy and gorgeous, followed by visit to downtown Chester and to the many recreational amenities that this municipality offers, the trails, the golf course, tennis courts and the yacht club and  a 24/7 access gym.  When I joked to the Missus Doc that a day pass at the spa was probably cheaper than parking in London, she confirmed that by telling me she’d spent  seventy-five dollars for a  parking place only the week before.

She and her husband were equally astounded when I told them that most folks never lock their houses or their cars- though when I see that in print, it does seem a wee bit foolish even though it is true.

They were a lovely couple and I have no idea if they will come, like everyone these days, there are aging parents to be considered, friends and patients to leave and a lot of bureaucratic paperwork to be got through.  Moving is a lot of work.

There are more applicants in the pipeline, we will find the right ones or more to the point they will find us.

Selling Chester and the South Shore isn’t very hard work at all. One need only open their eyes and their hearts- the rest is easy.