Stops and Starts

   The pool is still blue (not the dreaded green) and the grandkids came and churned up the water to distribute yesterday's doze of shock. I don't think I will put in any more as it does tend to cause an imbalance of chemicals. The pool guys will be here tomorrow to install the new pump. I am going with a "variable speed" pump which is a bit more expensive but (supposedly) uses less power, so long term savings. We shall see!

   I opened a can of paint this afternoon to do some touch-up jobs, but the family arrived just as I was about to start. Once they were gone (5-ish, Judy spent half-an-hour looking for her car keys) the notion had left me so I will postpone until tomorrow.

An Eventful Day

   It started with a shocker. My pool pump seems to have died! On the phone to the pool guys before I headed out for tennis and left a frantic message.

   After tennis - it wasn't too hot and we managed two sets - I heard back from the pool company and they will come on Thursday to fix/replace it. Meanwhile I have to dose the pool with "Shock" to keep it from turning green. The phone call was fortuitous timing as Cathy had invited us for coffee and treats after tennis so that's where I headed after and how I spent the rest of the morning. 

This one I took. Cathy's husband joined us. Left to right, Susan, Cathy, Frank and Kathy.

The usual suspects. Frank took this one. They have a very shady patio.

Cathy is still without a car (it's in Florida - long story) so I drove her to the local florists for a flower arrangement - a "hostess" gift for a friend. She has been biking to tennis for the last month!

   The afternoon was uneventful until I started to check messages. Then the power went out and didn't come back until 9:00 p.m. I fixed a salad dinner, read my book and then, when it got too dark to read, went for a walk. It keeps cutting out for moments but hopefully it is finally fixed. At least I have been able to check my mail and watch TV.

From the Garden

   I picked my first tomato today and had it in a sandwich. Absolutely sublime! It wasn't very big (none so far are looking to be big) but it gave me three slices.

   Other than that I have only had some basil and a few raspberries to snack on. The rosemary is looking good and I should get some new potatoes in a week or two as they have all flowered and are now drooping. Still very hot and no rain.

An Unexpected Announcement

   Sad news today. Son and Daughter-in-law have decided to move to Victoria on Vancouver Island sometime in the future. I think it is about 6,000kms. from here. Whether it comes to pass will depend on several factors - work availability, accommodation, selling their present house and finding somewhere to live there. All her family are there, they have been thinking about it for a while and I will be disappointed but not so much as if they had children. That's a long way to go to see your grandkids! Perhaps it means I might be able to visit there from time to time. It's a wonderful city and the weather is more temperate than here in the eastern zone. The five time zones of Canada are Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. I have been very lucky to have all the family relatively close by up until now.

   It has been a hot, sunny day and the family came over for a swim and lunch. Judy brought food again so it was a treat for me not to have to prepare anything. Although I did make a salad and devilled eggs which are a favourite of the kids. There was leftover salad which I will have with leftover Mediterranean chicken for dinner soon.