As I surfed the web last night, I head a tremendous crack and a thunk. No, it wasn't my brain finally coming loose and hitting the floor. Across the road, the top of a tree blew down in the gusting wind. It landed in the yard next to it, missing the dog.

This is just another step in the decay of the abandoned house across the street. Almost a year ago, an arsonist set fire to the back of the house, which gutted it and badly singed the tree. Since then, the house has sat empty with wide-open broken windows. I'm astonished that nobody has torn it down or begun renovations. I'm also astonished that it hasn't turned into a crack house.

Once upon a time, this was a lively, thriving residential neighbourhood.