but would you believe that to date, I have still not received my Noront shares and warrants for my Freewest shares, tendered to Noront on Dec.8!!

I have a small account with Vanguard, a most respected firm. I understand that it takes from 1 month to 6 weeks to wrap up tender deals, but this is more than sloppy. Vanguard says that they have had difficulties with the Canadian transfer agents, and are at their mercy, and must sit and wait.

Initially, I was told that I would receive Cliffs Resources stock! I said no, that I had tendered to Noront. They insisted I would receive Cliffs stock. I tried to be patient and just let it go temporarily, awaiting for details to work out. Last Thursday, I called and was advised that just that very day things had resolved, and yes, my account would be credited with Cliffs Resources stock that night. Again, I said that I should be receiving Noront stock. I checked on Friday. No stock credited to my account.

That's when there was a review of events, and a fuze blew! One broker and two different supervisors called me and said that a big mistake had been made, and that I was indeed supposed to have received Noront stock...and had actually received Noront stock originally, but the Agent had sent "restricted" shares, and these had to be returned for the "unrestricted" shares. Also, because of Noront's increased offer, the Cusip no.'s were different on the certificates, and the computers did not make the necesssary adjustments, or some such. No one could tell me why I had been scheduled to receive Cliffs shares, but many very sincere apologies were expressed.

I still haven't received any shares, but Vanguard says they hope to have it resolved somtime next week, and they will call me immediately when the shares are in my account. I asked if the warrants would be listed, and they did not know!

So, if anyone else is still waiting to get their Noront shares for tendered Freewest ones, have patience. Circuits will be rewired soon!

What a fiasco! I called Joanne Jobin just to be certain of the Noront offer terms, but she has not returned my call.

Thanks for listening to this saga. I do not think I'll tender shares in the future! I'll just sell them!

Happy Holiday weekend everyone, and don't forget the Valentines!

Jacki