Not What I'd Planned to Do!

    "Sound of Music" last night with Judy - what fun! It was a marvellous production and the cast (especially the von Trapp children) were so good. We both enjoyed it very much. There was a reception afterwards to meet the cast but we didn't stay long as we had a long drive home - Judy especially.

    Today I had a good game of tennis with Soo, Paul and Washington. It was very close (7-5 in the tiebreak) but I put the last shot in the net so Soo and Paul came out on top this time. Maybe we will have a rematch next week.

   This afternoon I buckled down and finished the Minutes for last week's AGM. That should be my last act as Secretary but they haven't been able to find a replacement so who knows? I would have liked to have been out gardening but I had to stay indoors to wait for the person coming to spray protection on my new furniture. She was to come between 1:00  and 5:00 - Sod's law, she arrived at 4:35! The couch and chair are still wet so I'll be sitting on the floor to watch TV tonight. At least I have the Minutes out of the way.

    

Expensive Replacements

   We are currently experiencing our first thunder storm of the season - it has rained off and on all day but I did manage a few garden chores during a dry interval this afternoon.

   The pool guy was in early this morning to start up the system and I did manage to catch him and ask him to replace the chlorinator. I can't open it to add pucks and it is over 20 years old so due for replacement. He is also going to look into a variable speed pump which will be quieter and use less power, all good, but an expense I didn't plan on. I would also like to replace the shed that the pool equipment is kept in, as it is very shabby, but that may have to wait until next year.

Finally Spring Has Sprung!

   Some flowers in my garden:

A double-headed tulip.

I think this is a type of low growing phlox.

Magnolia - not in my garden and a bit past its best. I will try to catch it earlier next year.

Self-seeding forget-me-nots. They are in almost every border.

Indulging Myself

   Lunch out twice this week can't have been good for my slimming (or maintaining) attempts - I daren't weigh myself for a few days of abstinence. Ironically it was almost the exact same meal both times and very good it was too.

    Tuesday was the final monthly lunch with the retired women teachers group I belong to and today it was the AGM and lunch with the other teachers group (RTO). Why, oh why did they choose the same week and the same location? The desserts were different but it was salad and a rather a good roast beef main course both days. I hardly ever eat beef so it was quite a treat - and they remembered the horseradish sauce!

   The pool is open but not quite filled or running, that will happen next week. I have the hose filling it at the moment but it will be a week or two before it is warm enough for swimming. By then it will be June and probably much hotter. Then I will be glad of a cooling dip!

Victoria Day

   It's been a good long weekend for me - finally out on the tennis courts both yesterday and today, Dim Sum with the family (a late Mother's Day party) and today Steve came over to fix my back gate and fence. It took him well over an hour in a very brisk wind so I rewarded him with lunch.

   The weather has been rather mixed - yesterday beautifully warm and sunny (we sat outside at Judy's) but today starting off nice but cooling off in the afternoon as the wind picked up. Presently just 14C. I spent some time in the garden today, tidying it for the pool guys coming this week to uncover the pool.

   My new family room furniture came on Saturday and I am very pleased with it - this will do me until I kick the bucket!

A Day Out

   Yesterday the grass could not be left another minute as it was already a bit on the long side. I cut and raked it after my stint at the Senior's Centre kitchen but didn't do a very good job as it was still wet from the morning's rain. It will have to be cut again before the pool guys come in next week (not sure which day) to open the pool.

   I was running an RTO trip to the theatre in Cambridge today so it was an early start with the bus loaded and off by 8:30. The traffic was very heavy so we were rather late for our first stop at a pewter studio in the village of St. George for a tour of the workshop (very interesting) then a chance to buy in their showroom.

I bought this rather lovely lapel pin but there was an overwhelming amount of items to choose from. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Next stop was The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant in Brantford for lunch. I had salad with warm crusty bread, Dover sole and three veg with lemon and an interesting spinach butter sauce, and a huge slice of cream covered cake with raspberry coulis and coffee. Unfortunately I was so full by the end of the meal that sitting through the theatre performance was an endurance test of my ability to stay awake! The theatre was new and quite beautiful but the show was just OK ('nuff said!)

   We had quite a fast trip back to the city as we were largely going against the traffic (people heading out of town for home) so I was home by 6:30 for a light dinner (yes, I did manage to eat again) and some TV before I head for bed. Up early again tomorrow for tennis - if it stays dry for once!

Phew!

   Just back from a few days with the grandkids while their parents were on a trip. We got on fairly well but it was a relief to hand them back. Luckily they were in school two of the days so I was able to carry on with my usual daily activities. The weather is still very mixed. Both of my tennis days (Tuesday and Friday) started off wet and it was later in the morning until the courts were dry enough to use. Not too many participants! Thursday was dry but the wind was bitter so I was back to my winter coat again!

   It's Mother's Day today but I had to bow out of the celebrations as I had an upset stomach. Perhaps we will do it again next weekend. I slept almost all day and still can't eat too much and have a bit of a headache. So I will just take it easy for a day or two.

Leftovers

    I have been so lazy, not posting for a week but, in my defense, it has been a busy one. Only one night at home since last Tuesday!

   Monday and Wednesday were dance groups, Thursday I was an usher at Markham Little Theatre's production of "Skin Flicks", and Friday was a marathon session at the tennis club to  prepare for today's Opening Social. It was and wasn't a great success, mainly because of the inclement weather, but it dried up enough by noon for people to get on the courts, and there's always a good turnout when free food is on offer!

   Despite going out last night, I stirred myself sufficiently to make a chicken pot pie. Last Sunday's roast bird was still lingering in the fridge so it didn't take much imagination and effort to turn it into this:

I had it with my homemade pickled beetroot. It was delicious!

There's enough left over for tonight and possibly tomorrow's dinner.