Watching My Weight

   Still pretty mild and sunny this morning so I walked to fitness class. It stayed sunny most of the day but was clouding over when I walked home at 3:00 p.m. It's still 10C but the temperature is supposed to drop overnight and we may get some snow flurries. It was extremely windy as I walked home but it seems to have died down now.

   Nattering with the ladies after class I found out that we are to be restricted to one class per day at our centre as there are huge waiting lists for the next session. Since I didn't get into any of my favourite classes anyway this is purely theoretical for me. However, it may mean I will move up the waitlist. The supervisor promised to look and see if she can find me a spot since I volunteer at the centre. That would be great but it may mean jumping the queue. I hope no one finds out!

   I have some backup plans in place in case I am at a loss for activities. I plan to try the RTO Nordic Pole Walking group which is becoming very popular, and I have heard that some of the other community centres (which are not free like ours) still have some places in their fitness classes. Who knew we seniors were such an active lot?

   Salmon and peas for dinner tonight. I weighed myself this morning and was a pound lighter, despite my binging on junk food twice in the past week. That is quite heartening. I would love to get below 140 lbs. but as long as I don't go back to 150 lbs. I am quite satisfied.

Bridge and a Movie

   Very much milder today (12C) but rain for most of the day. This morning I visited Fairview Mall where my oldest grandson told me there was a Lego store. He has asked for Lego for his birthday this weekend. There was such a choice and I have no idea what sets he has - he has lots - that I settled for a gift card. Now he can go and choose his own or put it towards a bigger set. At least he will get something he likes.

   While I was at the Mall I stopped at a bakery café and bought two whole wheat croissants and a delicious spinach and feta pastry for my lunch. I had the pastry before I went to Bridge class (I only had some banana and yogurt for breakfast), really brunch rather than lunch, then had a coffee when I got to the seniors` centre.  

   For once I was on time for Bridge lessons as I didn`t have tennis, and I learned a lot. The session is over until April and I have signed up for the next one. After the lesson we played a few hands. Margaret was my partner and we were mostly successful.

   I took in a movie later in the afternoon - `Hidden Figures`, very good - and was hungry again when it was over so used another of my Burger King coupons, `Buy One, Get One Free` for $5.50. I had a whopper and a veggie burger and certainly won`t be nibbling for the rest of the evening!

Eating My Veggies

   Fancied some cabbage recently and went looking for a small one - all were humungous and the smallest was over 5lbs. I'll be eating cabbage until the cows come home. Yesterday I had it braised with nutmeg and some parmesan - it was delicious - and today it is to be boiled with lots of butter and pepper. If anyone has a great cabbage recipe, please let me know!

   The morning went by quickly today - oat bran for breakfast, my step exercise program followed by a soak in the tub, a few light chores (just polishing all the glass surfaces with Windex), then set off to walk to the senior's centre for Bridge. It was milder today but still chilly (4C) and I forgot to wear a hat so I was ready for a coffee when I arrived. The coffee there is really good so I have to ration myself. I ate my lunch a bit later and managed to get to 5:00 p.m. without nibbling.

   Marie and I had terrible cards today and half way through demanded to change seats with the other pair. It didn't help much but we did make a couple of contracts after that. Still, not our best day. 

Checking Out the Housing Market

   Nothing much happening here. I went out for a brisk (as in cold) walk this morning and saw that a house on my street, which is up for sale, was holding an open house this afternoon. Being nosy, I went to have a look and was quite surprised, given its dilapidated condition, that the asking price was almost $1 million! It really needed a coat of paint throughout. They will probably get their price, if not more, given the current state of the housing sector - more demand than supply. Another house on my street went for $1.28 million recently.

   I read an article in the newspaper yesterday that claimed the housing bubble is about to burst and we homeowners should all sell up and rent. I think not! I plan to hang on here until I can no longer look after the house. Rents in a half decent building here are exorbitant, anywhere from $2 to $4 thousand a month! The mind boggles.

   Made carrot and lentil soup for lunch today but it didn't hold me and I started nibbling - nuts, dried apricots, tortilla chips - not good! Maybe I need to have a more substantial lunch. Dinner is chicken stew and cabbage which I will have around 7:00 p.m.

   I finished my current Ruth Rendell book this afternoon - excellent ending! It would have made a great movie but now I am on to a P.D. James book and gradually reducing the pile of books by my bed. Once the weather warms up I will be busy outdoors and only reading at bedtime.