Birthday

Henri is really an ideal worker for me. He came here yesterday and spent most of his time cleaning my roofs. I never have to tell him what to do. He sees things needing doing and does them. At the end of the day yesterday, he told me he’s done all he can do and won’t be back until February when he’ll come back to prune all the Ferns.

Our day began, however, with a walk. When I arrived, I was surprised to find Di at my window once I’d parked. She wanted me to sign Nola’s birthday card, so I did and then we all walked together. When we got back to our cars at the end of our walk, we had a tailgate party with muffins and Russian tea cakes to celebrate Nola’s and my birthdays. They gave me a wonderful hand-made card with a photo of my cuddling with Hank, a favourite canine friend.

Once Henri left at 3:30, we went for our afternoon walk in chilly damp air. The fog stuck around all day, making everything feel cold and damp. It was wonderful to come back to a warm home and a cozy fire. I fed the brood and then I went into the village to have dinner with Nancy, Steve and Kris. They knew it was my birthday and organized the night out. Wow! Seventy-seven years old. I never thought I’d make it.

Today is foggy again, and cool, so Her Highness and I will spend our day with the cats by the fire. 

A Lovely Slow Day

Everybody here is so pro postal workers and anti-government. It distresses me. I grew up very pro-union, but I am fed up with this strike. Yesterday was the 18^th day and I want the government to force a settlement. It is harder on rural communities to exist without the post than it is for urban people. I rely on mail delivery for the many things we cannot get on our island. 

In just 10 more days, I see my pulmonologist, Dr. Dorschieid. It took begging in a letter to the head of clinical services to become reinstated as his patient. I had been dropped due to a fuck-up at St. Paul’s, and initially was offered an appointment in May/June of next year. Meanwhile, as each day went by, I could not walk without great difficulty breathing. I’m no longer expecting a fix, but I’m hoping that a review of my current medications may lead to something that improves my lot.

My morning was lovely and it was reasonably long. It was sunny and bright yesterday, and there were a bazillion birdies feeding at my feeders as Her Highness and I went out to the car to go to Ricki Ave. trail. They cheer me up my wee avian amigos. Sheba and I went into the village to shop for food and long johns after our walk, and then we came home, and I got busy cleaning and tidying the house before settling on the chaise to read after lunch.

Our afternoon walk was super, too. I ran into Rhonda who leads the fitness classes I went to before I had to quit. She is a wonderful person. It was great to see her. It was only 6° but I was feeling a monster love for trail walking. I felt wonderful, and I haven’t felt that way for quite a while. These endless days of solitude soothe my soul.

This morning has dawned blue with fog. The dense fog obliterates the tree tops and it looks cold out there. Humid Winter air makes me want to stick close to the fire, but tonight I dine with Nancy, Steve and Kris at Woodfire restaurant. Woo hoo.

Yay Dalgleish!

Sunday was a day of many naps. I loved having nothing pressing to do. We had a brilliant morning walk together in Elder Cedar and then we came home to chill. For me, that meant reading, but I kept falling asleep. The evening, of course, was spent in front of the telly, and I went to bed early. Late in the night, I awoke feeling sick to my stomach, but I resisted my body’s desire to have me throw up. I went back to sleep and this morning I am feeling rather fragile.

Monday was similar, but our morning walk was with our friends—well, it almost was. I had to turn back because I was feeling too vulnerable to walk. We came home, and I went to bed, hoping to recover. Oh, I felt nasty, but it felt very good to be home where there is a bed, a fire, my beloveds and a toilet.

I felt better in the afternoon, and so I went for a long walk with Her Highness. We went to the Ricki Ave. trail, and when I parked, I saw Mark walking along the street. I met Mark and Amy when I was part of the Sunday walking group. They had a magnificent Great Dane named Juno. How I loved her, and so I was devastated when I heard that she had very suddenly and unexpectedly died while she and Mark were walking in the 707 park. Poor Mark could not lift Juno, and so he had to leave here there and fetch friends to help him carry Juno back to their house.

We walked together for almost an hour, and then I came home to a lovely warm and cosy home and built up the fire for the evening. And yowza! I got to watch two new episodes of Dalgleish. Yum! And then to bed.

Today is sunny and bright. We’ll enjoy our walks today, and I will enjoy reading my penultimate Richard Osman book. I read yesterday that The Thursday Murder Club will soon be a TV series with Helen Mirren starting as Elizabeth Best, the octogenarian spy. I can hardly wait, but the thrill of these books is in the humour that comes more from Osman’s wit than action in the story, and that may not translate to the screen.

Baking & Dinner Out

Saturday was pleasant because I was not stressed about the dessert I had to make for my dinner at Stacy’s. It was a dull cool day, but there was barely any rain, so being indoors and baking was a treat. I made a chocolate cake that always goes over very well. My friend, Dana, once said it was the best chocolate cake he’d ever had. It’s secret? I mix dark cocoa into two cups of hot coffee, and I often add shredded beetroot for both taste and colour.

I usually make a chocolate buttercream to frost it, but for this one, I decided to make Italian meringue and frost it with meringue that I can bake to brown. I think the meringue makes for a very showy cake; that’s why I like to make it.

Our walks yesterday, were short. Sheba’s foot is sore and with my breathing issues, a short walk also works well for me. Our second walk was carefree because the cake was done, the frosting is fine, and all that was ahead of me was going out for dinner and then My Day all day today. I shall do naught but eat, walk, read and watch.

Dave and Urusla spent the day moving into their yurt. Their son, Will, came up from Victoria to help them move the furniture in and get set up. Nine months, from start to finishing a brand new home.

I left for Stacy’s after feeding the brood, stoking the fire and giving Her Highness a bone to chew on while I was with my friends. I hate leaving her alone. She was invited along, but both Stace and Bryce have big dogs and I think having three of them in the house is too much.

We had a blast together, and dinner was truly delicious, and my cake was a hit. How can anyone resist rich chocolate cake with lots of meringue icing. Yum! And we all said out goodbyes at 8:30, so I was home and back with Her Highness early. I had such a good time, but nothing beats being at home.

And I came home to some great news: Dalgleish, season three starts tomorrow. I am overjoyed because I really love the series.

I learned to type on one of these.