Anyone in the autumn of their years, pondering their mortality should take heart from the advice given by a tough old cowhand from Southern Alberta to his grand-daughter.
"The secret to a long life" he counselled "is to sprinkle a touch of gunpowder on your oatmeal every morning".
The grand-daughter followed this dictum religiously until her death at the venerable old age of 103.
She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, 25 great-great grandchildren and a forty foot hole where the crematorium used to be.