Not 100%

   Bitterly cold this morning with a strong wind from the north. It was -8C this morning and only got up to -5C this afternoon so I am hunkering down at home.  I am very glad I decided not to go skiing with Judy and the kids but I did make it to the fitness class and, after coffee, stopped in at the library to get a DVD of `THe Forsyte Saga` which will keep me busy this weekend. I ordered it several months ago and have it for a fortnight - should be enough time to watch all the episodes.

    I felt a bit under the weather this morning and had to push myself to go out. However, I`m glad I did, just took it easy - no high impact aerobics for me today! I slept for a couple of hours this afternoon which is unlike me - usually I just doze off for around 20 minutes. I think I am coming down with something but don`t have a fever so it`s probably just a cold. Tomorrow will tell the tale!

   Davis Cup on TV this afternoon - Britain versus Canada and the Canadians are not doing too well but I will keep my fingers crossed for them in tomorrow`s matches.

Daylight Hours

   It is 5:50 p.m. here and I have just had to turn on the lights. How does that compare to your part of the world? The days are definitely getting longer and we had sun for most of the day which was very welcome. Our high was 2C but  it is forcast to get quite colder overnight so who knows what tomorrow will bring.

   We had a couple of centimetres of snow overnight so that was my first chore today. I got half of the driveway cleared before I went to fitness class, then came home and cleared the rest before returning to the senior's centre to man the coffee pot. The sun did the rest and I came home to a nicely cleared driveway. Chicken casserole for dinner and I will be leaving in a few minutes for my Wednesday dance group. A busy but satisfying day! 

Keeping On Top of Things

   Still  in the minus temperatures and only a couple of glimpses of sun, but no cold wind which is welcome. There's been a few snow showers, not amounting to much, but I put the car in the garage in case there is more overnight.

   Tennis this morning - Joan, Hendrina and Brian - we had two good sets and some fairly decent rallies. I felt I had a good workout. Home for just a few minutes before heading out with my packed lunch for Bridge class. That was over by 2:30 but I cleaned up the kitchen at the centre before leaving - it was in a bit of a mess so obviously someone had to leave in a hurry. At least it will be tidy when I am in there tomorrow afternoon. Picked up a new jigsaw puzzle and can't wait to get started on it, but I have another one on the go that I have to finish first.

   I have made an interesting version of one of my favourite dinners tonight. Tuscan chicken, but I skipped the chickpeas and artichokes and added green lentils to give it some substance. I was able to use  up some ingredients that had been lingering in the fridge which always feels good. Despite my small shopping last weekend I still have a very full freezer and shouldn't have to buy much again this week. My pension came today so I am feeling quite flush, but that will fade as the month progresses. I am saving up to pay for my river cruise in the Spring - more on that later!

More Like Winter

     Sunny all day but very cold. I think it was probably no higher than -5C but the sun did make it feel cheerier. I slept really well last night, not waking until 7:45. I had stayed up until after 11:00 p.m. watching a new episode of "Father Brown", so it was almost midnight before I put my head down. Right now I have the fire on and am sitting as close to it as possible - too cheap to turn up the heat as I was out most of the day and am going out again in an hour.

   Started off the day with my step workout tape - that warmed me up! Then a quick shower, packed myself a lunch and left for the Hava Java social at Calabria Bakery. I had a large cappuccino and a pastry, courtesy of RTO, and chatted with fellow members for an hour. Next stop was my Bridge group - one really good hand but most were not so great. Pinkie brought us each a slice of rice cake she had made for Chinese New Year, so generous of her. We all like treats. I had my lunch there and another coffee to drink with the rice cake. I think I will just have a bowl of soup for dinner but there will be tea and cookies after dancing tonight.

    Judy is taking the kids skiing at Brimacombe on Friday, a P.A. day for them and has invited me to join them. I am watching the weather  -if it's to be as cold as today I will give it a miss.