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Thursday 28 October 2021

Chilly Weather


 It was *b.....* cold on the tennis courts this morning, hence the gloves and winter jackets, but we managed two sets although the wind got stronger, the longer we played. Kathy and I were the big winners, more because of the conditions than our better play! You can see we weren't the only crazy people out on the courts. Although we are all wearing sunglasses there wasn't really enough sun to warm us up so we quit after an hour and a half.

Tuesday 26 October 2021

One More Thing

    Just when I thought things were finally getting done, I woke up to a rather cold house this morning. The temperature was 13C, no wonder I got up in the middle of the night to put an extra layer on the bed!

   I got on to the energy company toute suite, and within minutes had an appointment booked for later in the morning. Very efficient! The technician came around 10:00 a.m. and had things sorted quite quickly - it was the thermostat not the furnace which was the problem. 

    Yesterday's trip to the car dealer went without a hitch although I decided just to wait for the work to be completed instead of bussing home and back. A couple of little repairs needed but not too serious for a 14 yr. old car! I was there for three hours so not much else accomplished.

   It has been a miserable day today and I haven't been outdoors at all. But I am thankful for a nice cozy house once more!       

Sunday 24 October 2021

Good news!

 My neighbour coughed up for her portion of the repair to our communal fence after complaints about the guys I had hired to do it. Of course she had the option to find someone else but never did, so it was up to me.  So money in the bank and I am solvent again!

   Still waiting for the electrician to install a new outlet for the stove but he has agreed to come on Wednesday. Things are getting done. One minor annoyance - the car dealership is not providing taxiing service because of Covid so I will have to bus it home after dropping off my car tomorrow. I'm hoping daughter will be able to drop me off on her way home from work to pick it up. It should be ready by then. Best laid plans and all that!

Wednesday 20 October 2021

Things Finally Working Out

    Judy came for lunch on Tuesday as it was her birthday and we had a lovely chat although she had to be back at work in an hour. After tennis I went and picked up Dim Sum at the local Chinese supermarket. It was a bit tricky as I didn't know the name of the items I wanted - a lot of pointing and gesturing as English was a second language for most of the girls behind the counter, but a fun experience! I got home just before Judy arrived and popped the Dim Sum in the steamer to keep it warm. Then we had it with a pot of green tea.

   One less thing to worry about - the back fence got fixed today. It looks so much more sturdy and I am very happy to have it upright again. My neighbour has agreed to help with the cost - as they say, "good fences make good neighbours", so I hope she is as happy with the work done on it as I am.

   And, "hallelujah!" the guys are supposedly coming tomorrow to fix my leaky basement. Frankly I will believe it when I see it as I have been on the phone to them several times to get the job done. Stay posted!

Monday 18 October 2021

Heating Turned On

    When I got up this morning it was only 14C in the house so I started up the furnace. I may turn it off again later in the week but, for just now, it's needed! I have brought in all my outdoor pots just in case there is frost. The plants all look so healthy having spent the last few months outdoors.

   It was cold at tennis on Sunday but I was quite comfortable (compared to one of my friends) as I was dressed in layers. Having said that I must say I didn't shed any layers as we played. The Scandinavians have a saying, "There is no bad weather, just bad clothes", and I entirely agree. No point in being cold when you can add another layer!

    Still without my stove. The repair man came today and replaced the part but now I need an electrician as it seems it's the outlet which is at fault. That won't happen until next week, I'm afraid, but I have one booked.

    The car is booked for its service next week and I will call to have the furnace serviced before the end of the month - always something needing doing!

Saturday 16 October 2021

Waiting - not my best attribute

    Still without a stove - they have promised to come on Monday (the part has arrived) but were supposed to send me a "robo-call" with the time but no message so far. I will just have to wait and see, I guess.

    I am managing without the stove quite well although yesterday I just had a cheese toastie for dinner. I have made soup and stew in the rice cooker so far and made my breakfast omelet in it today. I also made a batch of green tomato chutney which turned out well. Tonight I am going to try to cook chicken thighs in it, in a salsa sauce with mushrooms. The main inconvenience is that there are only two settings - cook and keep warm, so there is no way to control the heat. So far I haven't burned anything!

   I will have the fire on tonight as it has turned quite cold. It will be chilly on the tennis courts tomorrow!

Thursday 14 October 2021

What I Am Reading

    Great day on the tennis courts this morning! I was actually feeling too hot by the time we finished just shy of 11:00 a.m. Kathy was the big winner today after two sets but I was lucky enough to be her partner for the second set so basked in her glory!

   On to my current reading material:

Set in Glasgow, Scotland ( and in my home town of Bearsden) it's a rather dark but intriguing crime novel with a very twisted ending. Recommended.

Every book list is agog with reviews of Sally Rooney's latest novel but I thought I would start with an earlier one. Set in Ireland, the characters in this one are far from "normal" in my opinion and I recommend it with some reservations. 

Set in France this one is highly recommended by a friend but I am rather sated with WWII stories.  The characters are mostly stereotypical  (cruel Nazis, beleaguered Jews, downtrodden but brave French).

   I would say the Sally Rooney book is the most well written with The Nightingale a close second.


Monday 11 October 2021

Thanksgiving Monday

     Just a regular Monday for me as we had our big feast at daughter's house yesterday. That way she has a rest day before returning to work. There were seven of us and, as is our custom, we went around the table before we ate telling what we are thankful for - and there was a lot!

   It has been very summery this weekend and I finally pulled up the last of the kale plants. Now my vegetable garden is empty as that is the area the guys will have to dig up to fix my leaky basement. No word yet as to when that will happen but at least I am prepared. 

I got quite a good picking from the last kale plants and will use it tomorrow.


Saturday 9 October 2021

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

    The stove is still not fixed but a part has been ordered - to come in `two to five business days`! With this being the Thanksgiving long weekend that means it will be at least the middle of next week until I can cook again.

   What to do in the meantime? First I figured I could get by with my toaster oven and microwave. That was OK for a couple of days but limited my choices of meals. However, today I got out my crock pot and simmered a big batch of stew all day. It is almost ready and smells delicious! 

   Also I realized my rice cooker can be used to boil or reheat loads of things. Today it was soup from the freezer and tomorrow I will use it to prepare the roast potatoes for the Thanksgiving lunch. Luckily daughter is hosting the meal at her house but my roast potatoes are on the menu by special request. I like to parboil them first and will take them to her house to roast. I`m sure I will think of lots of other tasty meals using these appliances. 

   I am trying to be philosophical about the whole experience (leaky tap, wet basement, falling down fence etc.) but have come to realize I have plenty to be thankful for, especially to be able to celebrate the holiday with family.

Wednesday 6 October 2021

Expenses

    Expenses keep adding up. Yesterday my stove went dark (only way to describe it, nothing worked), but luckily, just as I finished cooking dinner. A guy is coming tomorrow to fix it (I hope!) but tonight it is leftovers heated in the microwave. The worst part is the initial visit is $120 just to evaluate the problem and give a quote. If I go ahead with the job that payment is deducted from the final bill. So, who knows what it will turn out to be. 

    However, I haven't heard back from the wet basement repair guys or the chap who is to fix my back fence, so no money laid out there yet. Maybe I can put them off until the Spring?

   I have decided to get a new liner for my pool as it is looking rather shabby and I suspect I have a small leak. That will be done in the Spring but, wouldn't you know, they want half the cost paid up front. I will try and put them off until next month.

Tuesday 5 October 2021

Last Trip to the Dermatologist

    Final visit for treatment to my ear but - halleluiah! - I got the all clear and no need to return. I am so relieved, I wasn't even upset that I had to wait half-an-hour for my two minute visit. I skipped out of the clinic with wings on my heels, I can tell you!

    We had tennis planned this morning but it was a drizzly start. It has been on and off rain since Sunday and we were itching to get on the courts. However, we persevered, dried off the courts as much as we could and hit the ball tentatively for half-an-hour. Finally the drizzle stopped and the last hour was fairly dry. Not many opportunities to play before the courts are closed at the end of the month so we have to make the best of it while we can.

    One more thing to check off my "to-do" list - got the plumber here to fix a leaking tap and it took him literally 10 minutes to replace the leaking part. It was the line leading to the cold tap and he replaced the other one while he was at it. No charge as I have a Parts Plan with the energy company, well worth the monthly premium as plumbers here are expensive!  

    

Monday 4 October 2021

The Last Barbecue

     I'm afraid I am not one of those hardy souls who BBQ all winter, so I had my last BBQ last weekend. Just sausages but they were yummy with a freshly picked corn cob. Yes, I did find the farmer who comes down here with his crop and sells it from the back of his truck.

Can't claim this beautiful display - it's one of my neighbours who definitely has a green thumb.
Another view of my neighbour's front border.

The barbecue sits on the front porch with this lovely planter. It comes indoors when the weather gets chilly.

It's just a table top BBQ and is stored in the garage for the winter
.

It's powered by this propane tank which is just about empty - it's done the whole summer.