Indoor Tennis

    Tennis at Carol's condo this morning but only three of us were present. We played Australian singles (server on one side and the other two receiving)  but at one point Carol declared that we mustn't try to win points as it was so one sided. So we just hit to each other - not so much fun but still exercise. We didn't play close to our normal 2 hours.

   The condo is right opposite a Garden Centre so I went in on the way home and picked up a dozen tulip bulbs which were 50% off. Their Christmas displays were gorgeous and I was sorely tempted but they were also expensive. I will pick up something Christmassy later next month at the local shop.

   Planted the bulbs this afternoon. I put them down pretty deep to try to foil the squirrels. We'll see what comes up next Spring!

Some photos from our day trip to Epidaurus:

The Lion's Gate - this is where, supposedly, Clytemnestra greeted (and later murdered) Agamemnon, her husband, after he returned from rescuing Helen from Troy. She was later murdered by her son.

This is purported to be the mask of Agamemnon but there are doubts as to its authenticity.

Some ancient artifacts in the Museum at the site.

An Island Adventure

     A tasty pre-preprandial snack while I type tonight - blue cheese on crackers with my home made red pepper jelly. Unfortunately it is the batch that didn't set very well so it is dripping everywhere. Despite frequent finger-licking, the computer keyboard has become rather sticky!

   Cold today with the threat of snow. Yesterday we had torrential rain pretty much all day but at least it wasn't the white stuff! I am so tired of the dull grey days we have had this month but that is typical of November.

   Bridge this afternoon but I had terrible cards and hardly got to play any hands. At least I didn't disgrace myself and get the booby prize (the lowest scorer). I shopped this morning for a few things at the bulk food store including mincemeat for tarts which I will make later this week.

Some more photos from my Greece trip:

The Harbour at Hydra. We got there by hydrofoil and returned on a catamaran.

There are no cars on Hydra. Everything is moved by donkey.

At a museum up above the town - a wonderful view! As you can see the weather was gorgeous.

More Photos

      Not too cold today - after my morning chores -kitchen clean-up, ironing etc., I made a pot of carrot and lentil soup. Then out to rake some more, ready for the last garden rubbish pickup of the year. I now have four bins filled.

   Before lunch I got a loaf in the bread machine and it turned out perfectly. I used a little less yeast which seemed to do the trick. After lunch and a nap another bin was filled with leaves and a load went in the composter. The outdoor air-conditioning unit is now covered for the winter and compost is piled on the rose bushes. I am ready for the snow to fly!

View from the ferry as we arrive at the island of Poros, our home base.

Our hotel on Poros and the jetty where we got the water taxis to the port.

Black Friday

    I'm not much for bargain shopping at the Malls so I stayed home and did my usual Friday routine. The temperature got above zero this morning and the sun was out so I raked up two bins of fallen leaves after I got home from Fitness class. 

   After lunch I was out again to try Pickle Ball with my new paddle. It worked a treat and I played for nearly two hours - 12 minutes on and 12 minutes off. There weren't so many people there today, probably shopping for bargains. Although I have a few things coming up on Fridays soon, I will try to get down to the community centre as much as possible. It is really good exercise.

   I have finally managed to locate where I saved my photos from my trip to Greece so here are a couple taken on our first day in Athens.

Climbing up to the Acropolis - it was very windy up there!

A side view of the Parthenon. It's hard to get an idea of how large it is when up close.

Another Weekend Over

   Finally got up-to-date on all the blogs I follow - I was out last night babysitting (I don't know why I call it that as the grandkids are 12, 10 and 8, hardly babies) and didn't get home until after11:00 p.m. so didn't have a chance to check them yesterday.

   Today has just whizzed by which is good on the weekend as I don't usually have much to do. I slept in so was still eating breakfast at 9:30. Made soup, did laundry and read the Sunday newspaper. Then it was time for lunch and the finals of the ATP tournament from London. I didn't get to watch the whole match as I had dance practice at 2:00 p.m. We learned three new dances for the Burns' demos in January, quite easy dances but fun to do.

   I had an errand to do on the way home so it was almost 5:00 p.m. before I settled with my drink and snack. Dinner is leftover Shepherd's Pie I brought home from Judy's last night. I love when someone else does the cooking!

First Snowfall

Yesterday evening I had a rather slippery drive up to Markham to see Judy performing in her amateur theatre production of "Calendar Girls". It was hilarious but I spent the evening wondering what the drive home would be like as the snow was falling thick and fast. I did get home safely and there wasn't much traffic on the road at that late hour.  

   We have already had a few flurries but here's what greeted me when I got up this morning. It was pretty wet snow as you can see from the puddles on top of the pool cover. It was like cement when I tried to shovel it so I will just wait for it to melt. The weekend is supposed to be a bit milder.

'Flu Shot

    This has been a very depressing month with very few sunny days. I can't remember such a bleak November. Today was -4C when I went out but I still had my fall jacket on so I was freezing! I think I will have to bite the bullet and get my winter coat out. Once I start wearing it, it is on until April and I am so sick of it by then. That's why I am delaying.

    Interesting conversation with the pharmacist this morning. I went for my 'flu shot and seemingly there is a super version, but you have to get it from your doctor. I declined to have it (had to sign a waiver) and related to her that a friend was told by her doctor that the new version is untested. She (the doctor) refused to administer it as she said her patient would be a test guinea pig! Just saying, take that as you like.

   Probus meeting this morning (a very interesting speaker) and then lunch at Boston Pizza with friends. I had chicken quesidellia (sp) and Caesar salad, all for $10. A pretty good deal in my books!

Paperwork

  Fire on again as it is very cold out - flirting with negative temperatures for the next few days (and probably longer!)

    I haven't been out all day and spent the afternoon working on the Minutes from last week's RTO meeting. They are running to 4 pages which is very much frowned on but it was a very long, contentious meeting. I will try to weed out any extraneous facts once I am finished. Everyone complains if they are too long but also complains if their report is edited too much! We have 15 committees plus the President's report, the Treasurer's report etc., etc. This is my last year as Secretary so the end is in sight. Next year I will take over the Craft Club position which is much less stressful. 

   Having a glass of wine with an avocado and salsa dip to dial down the stress and it's working. Salmon and broccoli for dinner, Yum! Second episode of "Outlander: Series 4" this evening. Can't wait!

On the Injured List

   I reluctantly went to a trivia event this afternoon but it turned out to be quite fun. Our team did rather badly but we had lots of laughs..... and there was a free glass of wine and all you can eat pizza! What's not to like?

   I had played tennis in the morning and had a bit of a rush to be back out again by 12:30. Now my knee is very stiff and sore - I should really have stayed home with ice on it. I think I will have to skip Pickle Ball tomorrow afternoon but I will see how it feels after Fitness class in the morning.

   Judy decided she didn't need me to babysit this evening so I am cosyed up by the fire with some good shows on TV. I was quite happy to stay home after such a busy day. I will see them next week.

Glass vs Plastic

     I read a scary article in the newspaper recently about the dangers of reheating food in plastic containers. Seemingly, that's a no-no! So tonight I am reheating dinner in a pyrex dish which dates back to before microwaves. It is taking forever! Already 9 minutes and the food is barely warm. What's a person to do?

   Still dreary and miserable but not cold. The tree on my front boulevard has yet to drop its leaves so raking will have to wait until next week, at least. Craft club followed by Bridge so I have had a busy day.

Last Grass Cut

   I hope I can put the lawn mower away until Spring - both areas cut and the fallen leaves mulched in the process. I will have to rake later in the month but the big tree out front is hanging on to its leaves.

   That was the morning plus some other tidy up jobs in the garden. This afternoon I put a loaf in the bread machine and it turned out well. Since then I have been tackling secretarial jobs for the RTO committee of which I am Secretary. It was sunny this morning; in fact I had my jacket off for a while when I was working outside. By 2:00 p.m. it had clouded over and the temperature dropped. We had "frost on the pumpkin" last night.

Pickle Ball

   I have just found out that you can play Pickle ball at my local community centre (not the Senior's Centre) for free 4 days a week. I tried it today for the first time and found that my tennis skills transferred quite well to the pickle ball court. In fact I had to work harder than I do at tennis.

   It is very popular and only the first 24 to sign up get to play. There are three courts and you play for 12 minutes before switching with the next group. So, in theory, it's 12 minutes on and 12 minutes off although I had to sit out two sessions as there were some extra players allowed in.

   The coach let me borrow his raquet and gave me a brief lesson but I will have to buy my own if I plan to be a regular. They are not as expensive as tennis raquets. The scoring is tricky but I won't have to worry about that until I improve somewhat. I will probably only play once a week as I am going to fitness class on two days and playing tennis (indoors now) occasionally as well.