An Outing

   Yesterday I was out of the house by 7:40 a.m. to catch the bus to Muskoka. It was a trip with the Seniors' group but the day didn't look too bright. We just prayed it wouldn't rain. We were on the road by 8:00 a.m. and arrived in Bracebridge around 10:00. By then the skies were beginning to clear and there was the odd flash of sun. An hour at the Maple House for a tour and time to shop, then on to the riverside to board the "Lady of Muskoka" for our cruise up the river and around the lake.

    We had lunch on the boat and very nice it was (salad, chicken with vegetables, followed by coffee and carrot cake), watching the scenery go by as we ate. After the meal we sat on the top deck with clear skies and a light breeze. It was very relaxing and a pleasant change from my usual routines. After a wander around Bracebridge - there are some impressive Falls in the town -  we were back on the bus around 4:00 p.m. By 6:00 p.m. we were hitting the heavy traffic on the 401 across the top of the city and it took us 45 minutes to arrive back at the parking lot. However, as I had no other plans for the evening, and leftovers to warm up for dinner, it was no problem for me.

   Today Judy and the kids came over for a swim and lunch. They also helped me clear the raspberry bushes (creating yummy desserts for after the sandwiches) and Elliot vacuumed the pool. They had to leave right after lunch as they had a swimming lesson but at least I have clean pool and just a few more raspberries to pick!

At the Coffee Bar

     First thing this morning I biked over to the Seniors' Centre to run the coffee bar. This will be my station every Wednesday morning for the rest of the summer while Maria is at her cottage. It was quite busy with the (mostly) ladies from the various classes grabbing their java fix. There are a couple of Keep Fit classes, a decoupage group and a belly dancing class. Then the morning finished with Line Dancing. There is also "drop in snooker" but I don't think I had anyone from that group buying coffee. We also sell pies which are a popular item. So it's a pretty active morning.

    Biking there and back is my substitute for the Stretch and Strength class which I normally would be attending on Wednesday mornings. I didn't sign up for it this time as I am getting plenty of exercise swimming and playing tennis So that freed me up to be the "coffee lady".

   Just a bit of gardening this afternoon followed by a swim. It is considerably cooler today but the pool has retained most of its heat. Thanks be, the humidity is back down to comfortable levels!

    I received a welcome package in the mail today - some old photos from my mother's albums that my brother was weeding out. I hope to put them on my Tribal Pages website (http://elliot99.tribalpages.com) so I was very grateful that he saved them and sent them to me. It would be a shame if these items were lost to posterity.

   Fish for dinner tonight, fried probably with sweet potato mash and peas. Another load of raspberries too - they seem to be never ending and are the best crop I have had in recent years.

Hot, Wet and Humid

   Right now it's raining fit to beat the band so I have had to resort to indoor activities. I did get some tennis this morning but it was very hot (29C) and humid, so I quit around 10:30. I was so lethargic on the courts and there was a huge crowd so leaving early was a no-brainer. I was planning to cut the grass but now it is too wet. Too bad!

   Came home to watch Wimbledon - the Ladies' quarter finals - so now they are down to 4 and will play the semis on Thursday and the Final on Saturday. There is no one I am particularly rooting for and It's likely Serena Williams is going to take the title. She lost the first set to Vica (Victoria Azarenka) today but came on like gangbusters when push came to shove.

   If the rain lets up I will make a quick run to Metro and the library (I have a $5 off coupon for cheesecake!) as there is a book I need for Reading Club waiting for me. Until then I plan to play on Duolingo - I'm practising my French in case I decide to spend a month in France next year. I am toying with the idea and saving my pennies! According to the program I'm 24% proficient in French (I doubt it!). However, it's getting darker and I just heard some thunder so I may be stuck at home.

   Leftover chicken and kale for dinner tonight and I will cook some oven roast potatoes. I have an avocado that needs eaten and a red pepper to roast so there may be a salad on the table too.

* Update:5:30 p.m. The rain has stopped, the temperature has dropped to a comfortable 24C, the garden is well watered and the pool is filled. I am back from the store with the aforementioned cheesecake. Quite the bargain, almost 1/3 off the regular price. I have stowed it in the freezer for the next time I have company and so I will not be tempted to eat it all myself!

  

Four varieties, so everyone should get their favourite.

The Greek Vote

   Very depressing news about the Greeks voting no to austerity. I can't see how they will survive on their own as it seems likely they will have to leave the European Union, lose the Euro and revert to the drachma. Thank goodness things are relatively stable here. although I am sure the TSX will take a beating in the next few days.

   Well, enough of that. My life continues in a stable manner, except for a big bill from the pool guys which arrived today. This is on top of the bill for opening the pool and seems to be mostly chemicals. I will have to query it to make sure it is legit.

   Still one lone Canadian in the Wimbledon tournament. I watched Pospisil's match this morning from start to finish and he competed so well, coming back from 2 sets down to take the match - quite a thriller! Serena and Venus Williams played each other and Serena won, not surprisingly. I didn't see the match but I'm sure there will be a full report in the paper tomorrow.

    Marie, Pinky and I played bridge this afternoon with a new friend who was my partner. Unfortunately she kept telling me how badly I bid and played, which left me feeling a bit disgruntled. Admittedly she was quite a superior player compared to the rest of us, but I would prefer her not to be so critical. I did tell her that I was a relative newcomer to the game before we started and it's not as if we were playing for money or even keeping score! 

   In the pool twice this afternoon, once after I got home from bridge and once after a stint of gardening. It is quite steamy hot today and the water has reached 77F. I hope it cools off a bit tonight. Fish in a curry sauce, kale and potatoes for dinner and still more raspberries!