Junk Food

    Well, it wasn't all junk food but more than I usually eat and a little less healthy. It started on Thursday when I attended the RTO lunch and travelogue. The meal was chicken breast and vegetables and I left most of the mashed potatoes, but - oh, the dessert! - it was a scrumptious chocolate mousse and I almost licked the plate clean! I can't remember what I ate at dinner time but it was probably salad as I was still pretty full from lunch.

   The travelogue was particularly interesting to me as it started in Lisbon which I visited in 2015. I saw many of the places that were familiar from that trip and some I would like to visit if I go there again. I had forgotten much of my trip but the beautiful photos brought it all back.

   On Friday I attended the AGM of the Senior's group I belong to. It was a rather tedious affair but we were surprised with a pizza lunch when it was over - and cake! As well as the pizza there were fruit and veggie platters and we got two humungous slices of pizza. I brought one home along with the usual free pasta. We are so well looked after!

    I was up in Markham to babysit the grandkids in the evening and had dinner with them - beef tacos with lots of fresh veggies - I ate all the red peppers - and corn and beans. Natalie and I had two tacos but the boys each had three. I am so glad they have good appetites. I was home by 10:30 and peckish again so had the extra slice of pizza before going to bed.

   Saturday dawned sunny and pleasant which was good news as it was the opening of the tennis club. I was there by 9:30, gasping for some coffee but had to play a set before it was ready. Someone had brought Timbits so I indulged again (twice). After some more tennis lunch was served - another big meal - huge sausages in a bun, green and pasta salads, corn and beans and some more delicious desserts. Although there was plenty of fruit, my favourites were chocolate brownie and lemon squares - I had several of each (they were small!).

    In the evening I attended the final monthly dance of the season and worked the 50-50 draw table. The winner got $95. At the intermission (which included tea, sandwiches and more brownies and lemon squares) we were called to order for the AGM and this was a very well run affair and was over in no time. So we were soon back on the dance floor for the rest of the program.

   Today has been wet and miserable so I have had a day at home but I think I will write about that tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Money Back From CRA

    Yesterday I managed to arrive at Bridge lessons on time for once (no tennis as I had a doctor's appointment). We were learning about Negative Doubles and Takeout Doubles but, even though we worked on both for some time, I don't think I could actually use either  bid in an actual game. But I'll keep trying!  

   This was my full day at the Senior's Centre with two fitness classes this morning (I only did half of the second one, just the aerobic part), then two hours behind the counter of the coffee bar. I closed up there early so I could get to the book club meeting at 2:30. We were discussing "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes and we had lots of lively talk. Only one person didn't like it (the same person who panned last month's book!) and several people have read the sequel, "Me After You", which I have now requested from the library.

   Another low carb dinner tonight - salmon, salad and green beans - but I had half a sandwich with my lunch and soup with pasta, so I fell behind today. I will try to do better tomorrow but I am eating lunch out so that may not work. More on that tomorrow.

    I sent off my tax return the other day and I am expecting a BIG refund! I just hope I calculated correctly. It was a tortuous process with having to redo it twice but I finally got it right (I hope!). CRA had made me pay in installments  last year and obviously they had made me pay too much so, in effect, I am just getting my own money back. Maybe they will reduce this year's payments.

On the Go

   Just a quick note as it is long past my bedtime. I got home from dance group at 9:45 and have been dithering around for the last hour.

   I got my teeth cleaned and polished this morning with a new hygienist and she is much more efficient than the last one who was too chatty. I knew all about her family before I got out of the chair. There was a Pancake Breakfast at the Senior's Centre earlier in the morning - two huge pancakes, bacon and sausages with orange juice and coffee all for $5, very tasty but I couldn't even finish the second pancake and didn't need any lunch. I only had half an apple in the middle of the afternoon while playing Bridge with Marie, Diane and Pinky.

    Dinner tonight was a couple of different salads - potato and mixed cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussell sprouts, kale, broccoli and chicory) with a tasty poppy seed dressing. Sounds very healthy, doesn't it!

   Only 8C today with rain this evening and a cold wind. Will go and soak my aching bones in a hot bath with Epsom Salts before I hit the sack - I cut the back grass this afternoon after Bridge and before the rain - plus my feet are sore from dancing. It's now 11:45 - it was a busy day!

Another New Recipe

   I am just off to make a Blue Cheese dressing for my salad before I eat all the blue cheese. It was a special treat as I used $30 worth of PC points to buy my groceries yesterday. There's nothing like free food!

   I got my tax return in the mail today and - glory be  - I am actually getting a refund! This hasn't happened since I stopped working but CRA made me pay instalments last year and I guess they overestimated my income. I only hope my calculations were correct but that remains to be seen.

   I tried tennis this morning but it was very chilly - less that 10C - so I only stayed for half-an hour. I made some bread after I got home and will sample it after dinner. It looks good. Dinner is a salmon steak (also courtesy of the PC points)  with potato salad, peas and some greens with the blue cheese dressing. Should be very tasty!