Monday, January 28th - Live and local, from Timothy's...

...here in downtown Charlottetown. It's Monday morning once again - the start of another new week,

Things have pretty much settled down into a routine, somewhat, however that is always subject to change.
I joined a local women's fitness program last week. I had a coupon to buy one month and get one free (thank you Brenda). I went on Monday at 2:00 to register and do a bit of an orientation. It's not a big place but has more than adequate equipment for some low impact strength training. At that time there was no one else there so I had the place to myself. I finished my circuit and found it not too bad. I went back again Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I went around the same time each day (right after "Escape to the Country" on TV) and there was only one other person there each time. This should get me through to the last week of March, when I move out to house sit in Wheatley River.

I also have a friend who's in the hospital so I spent part of my mornings there as well visiting with her. With those two activities as well as my card calls, my week went by fairly quickly.

Brenda and Meghan were in town on Thursday evening for a music concert that I backed out of. I'd tentatively made other plans to go to a movie but in the end I spent my evening reading, having just picked up the next book in the Outlander series.

Because we didn't get together on Thursday to watch Grey's, we decided to do it on Friday instead. Friday feast lives!  Many years ago, when I was first here by myself, Brenda and I started Friday Feast. That entailed us taking turns planning and prepping a meal for Friday nights supper. They were great evenings and we had opportunities to try some different recipes. Bernie, being the good sport that is, was always most generous with his compliments.  So, I suggested that I could bring supper on Friday. I had a pork roast in my freezer in town and put it into the slow cooker overnight. When I went out to Fort Augustus I dropped it off and plugged it in at Brenda's.  Our friends Jackie and Helena came out for supper as well so it was really a great night.

I had to go out to Fort Augustus early as I was having lunch at Sharyn and Pat's. On my way I stopped in to visit with Jens and Linda. Good opportunity to catch up with everyone. After lunch we had our basket making class. I'm obviously not as diligent with my work as I was the only one who was finished by the end of the day. Next week I have to take something else to work on so everyone else can finish theirs and then we can all start the next project at the same time. All in all I was pretty pleased with my first completed basket.

After spending the night at the VanGaals, I headed back into town on Saturday morning. It was a pretty quiet and relaxing weekend. I spent Saturday tidying up my room and organizing a few things, then it was out for a nice long walk. I've set myself up on a website that helps you keep track of calories so I've been trying to stick to some healthy eating. That's required a few trips to the grocery store for fresh veggies, fruit etc. But that gives me a destination to walk to.

Saturday Brenda and I were scheduled to volunteer at an event at the ski park with Biathlon PEI. Unfortunately we had rain and mild weather so it was cancelled. They were hoping to reschedule but there are no weekends available so it's put off till next year. Too bad for those who have worked so hard.
Saturday evening I decided to go out instead of sitting in reading. I checked what was playing at Cineplex and saw that "The Green Book" was playing. Brenda told me she and Bernie had seen it and enjoyed it, so off  I went. It really was quite a good movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sunday was again really nice weather - sunny and not cold. So after going for a lengthy walk I came back and made something to eat (low cal of course!)  In the evening I walked over to the carriage house at Beaconsfield. The Vinland Society (Icelandic people) were hosting a presentation. One component was instruction in making "Skyr", an iceland recipe that is really a cross between a soft cheese and a yogurt. We got to sample it and it was very delicious. When I finally have a kitchen again I plan to try making some at home. It's essentially the same process as making cheese.

I was home early enough to catch the final episode of Outlander, Season 4. Now it will be a long wait for Season 5, that hasn't as yet begun production. But that's okay, I'm reading the books.

Brenda and I are tentatively looking at going over to Halifax this weekend. She wants to visit her aunt. It will be a short trip - going over on Saturday morning and back on Sunday afternoon. That should give James and I a chance to catch up. There may also be a stop at Ikea on the way home !

Lloyd is enjoying his trip so far. Check it out at 'norockerforlloyd.com' and click on BLOG for his latest posts.

One more thing:

When Lloyd retired we were invited to supper at our friends Charles and Laura's. Charles is quite the creative fellow and came up with this little piece of literature that he read, quite expressively when we were there. I wish I had taped it. Here's what he said -

Lloyd's working days are done

Lloyd'll eat when he's hungry, gonna sleep when he's tired
Cause Lloyd didn't get laid off, sacked or fired.
Now that he's out to pasture he's gonna do just as he pleases.
Life for him got better with age, like the finest of cheeses.

His adventures are just beginning, it's time to start anew.
You might see this gentleman in Hanoi, Singapore, or Kathmandu.
No more night shifts for Lloyd, unless he wants to watch a lunar eclipse
No more life labouring interruptions till the last puzzle piece fits.

Sandy won't have to calculate his sleeping routine
Before accepting an invitation to any social scene.
Lloyd likes to  ponder, and tinker, to putter and think
And if the mood strikes him he can enjoy a stiff drink.

No more splitting wood or moving everything they own
Juggling houses or chasing goats that do roam.
Carefree as a schoolboy with a coin in his pocket he's a real dandy
He doesn't have a care in his head and the world's just a big bag of candy.

Oh the places you'll go to, the things that you'll see
I hope one day day the carefree man will be me.
The folks that you meet will inherit bits of your knowledge
Some of them old beggars, and some will be Rhode's scholars in college.

But one thing's for sure, and of it, I'm certain
He'd never utter a complaint no matter how much he's hurtin.
Lloyd's always been caring, the king of the kind
Always ready to lend a hand, leave no one behind.

Though he begrudgingly endures the notes of the Highland Piper's sonnet
He will suffer the sounds in silence, with his hearing aid in his shirt pocket.
Lloyd likes to walk, and walk, and walk some more
But with tired old soles, he paid the cobbler that works at the store.

Let's pause a moment to discuss his diet.
His motto has been, 'if you make it, I'll try it'.

He's not too picky about his veggies, few men are humbler
But the one green he can't abide is the common cucumber.
It's not the taste, the look, or the feel he despises on his pallet
It's the way those cukes rebel when concealed in his salad.

We look forward to stories of Lloyd's travels by boat, plane or car
We certainly know that you've worked mighty hard to get this far
 Yeah, we do think we're lucky enough to count him as a friend
All can agree that he deserves all the best things in life that his future will send.

Here is a quote that a wise man once said, since it fell on my ears, it's been stuck in my head.
"There are many things that I don't know how to do, but there's nothing that I won't try"
That's the motto that I try to abide, it's the difference between the mighty and the meek
The man that taught it to me, just retired last week.

January 21st - While the cat's away...

I must say it's been a bit of a whirlwind since Lloyd left last Wednesday.

I've decided in his absence I would try to get more active and eat healthier. So my first stop was a nutrition workshop at the Superstore on Thursday evening. While I didn't learn much that I didn't already know, it's good to have a reminder.

With overnight bag in hand, I then headed out to Fort Augustus for our usual Thursday night routine - wine and snacks in front of the TV catching up with Grey's. We had planned to maybe go cross country skiing on Friday morning but a) I forgot my ski boots and b) it was just really cold. Instead we opted to work on some pants that Brenda needed hemmed.

I had a lunch date at our friend Sharyn's at noon. They just returned from a cruise and I wanted to hear all about it. After lunch the two of us went up to the Shamrock Club for the start of this year's LEAP program (Learning Elders Arts Program).  The subject this year is basket weaving. We worked for 2 hours, from 1 till 3, and got a good start on the first of 3 baskets we will complete over the next 8 weeks.

Sharyn starting her basket

My basket, thus far

On my way back I stopped in to see Anna, whom I had watched over while Pat and Sharyn were away in October. She's 87 years old but sharp as a tack and so interesting to talk to. After a glass of wine and a lovely visit with her, I went back to Brenda's. Earlier in the morning we had decided to go into town Friday night to a concert at the Pourhouse. The entertainer was Garrett Mason. We'd seen a play in the summer portraying his late father's life. I searched Garrett on youtube and after hearing him I knew it would be something I would really enjoy.

Brenda and I made our way into town and arrived at the Pourhouse in time to grab a bite to eat along with our beer. While we waited for the show to start, her cousin Maureen and her husband George arrived, so we made room for them at our table. All in all it was a really terrific night. When Garret comes back to town again I will be sure to take Lloyd. After the first song, I immediately thought of my old friend Doug. He was a huge blues fan and would have loved this show.

Garrett Mason

When the show was over I walked back to my place and Brenda walked back to Meghan's. We had parked our cars before the show and met at the pub on foot. As I walked home I thought about how extremely lucky I am to live in a place where I can walk the streets, alone, at 11:00 at night and not feel the least bit uncomfortable or threatened. 

Saturday morning Brenda dropped Meghan off at her exercise class then picked me up to go to the Farmer's Market. Our friend Helena drove into town and joined us for coffee. As usual the market was a bustling place. On our way home we swung by a local park where Meghan was participating in a "snowga" class - yoga in the snow. Not my idea of a good time but good for her! 

"Snow Yoga"

After Brenda dropped me off I spent the early part of the afternoon reading a book then headed out for a walk. I walked up to get a few groceries and walked back, a total of 1 hour walking. I was very proud of myself. Then I sent Lloyd an email. He had texted me on Thursday to tell me he  was on the flight to Hanoi and that was the last I'd heard from him. I was starting to maybe get a little concerned as to his whereabouts. Finally on Saturday evening (morning for him) he sent a message. By the time he reached his destination he was exhausted and slept the better part of two days.  I spent my evening binge watching Netflix. (The new season of Grace and Frankie was just released.)

Sunday was promising a snow storm, followed by rain and then a flash freeze on Monday morning. The weather arrived as promised. During the snow, I took a walk up to Sobey's and back - just to get some more walking in. 

Now it's Monday, and as expected there is no school due to slippery roads. I ventured out and am sitting at Timothy's enjoying a coffee, before I venture back out to  carefully walk home.  I have an appointment this afternoon  at a women's fitness facility to sign up for the next 2 months. Wish me luck!

Check out Lloyd's travels at norockerforlloyd.com  Under the picture there is a row of words and one of them is BLOG. You need to click on that one to see the latest posts.

January 17/19 - He's officially retired!

After over 5 years at the homeless shelter, Lloyd is finally retired, just a little over a week before his 67th birthday.

He finished work last Friday morning and it's been celebrations since. It started with lunch at the Culinary Institute.

Can't wipe the grin off his face at finally being retired!

 Then it continued with a gathering with the boys in Bernie's shop on Friday night while we girls went into town for supper. After we ate we picked up pizzas to bring home to them.

Saturday was a busy day. We drove out to Summerside to drop off some oil for the airplane. The fellow who bought it was flying in later that day to view it. Charles and Laura met us there as they'd never seen the plane. They were there to see it as Lloyd said goodbye for the last time. Another chapter of his life came to a close.

Captain Charles

The end of a era for Lloyd

Then it was dinner at the VanGaals on Sunday evening but not before Brenda, Meghan and I had a chance to do a little snowshoeing for the first time this season.

 Monday was lunch with Mike and Willow at a local Indian restaurant before we went out to Wheatley River for dinner with Charles and Laura. Tuesday was lunch at the Culinary Institute with Jens and Linda. The rest of the day was spent taking all of Lloyd's stuff out to Fort Augustus and then ensuring he had everything he needed to take with him. We had a late supper of beer and nachos at The Gahan and then off to bed as we were  up at 4:00 to get him to the airport by 5:00.

He was flying standby but got on the flight with no problem. On to Toronto. Unfortunately the weather there wasn't great so his flight to Hong Kong was delayed by 2 hours. Sadly he missed his connecting flight to Hanoi. So as I write this, he's waiting for morning to catch the next flight (many thanks to Patti for rebooking his flight for him).  But the long stretch is behind him. Once he gets to Hanoi, he's on his own! Be sure to check his blog - norockerforlloyd.com
 He can keep up with things here by my blog, and I can keep up with him on his. Works in theory, so we'll see how it works in real life.

Monday, January 7th - Welcome Winter!

After a very white late fall and a GREEN  days since the 25th and I'll soon be able to get my skis out! There are usually groomed trails in Victoria Park, and that's within walking distance of where we are staying. Haven't heard yet that they are up and running but I'll get my skis out of storage in advance. (One of the few things we can actually put our hands on)

Last week was a busy week for cards but this week will be much quieter. It will mostly be spent getting Lloyd and all his stuff ready for his trip. The countdown has begun and he only has four more shifts left to work. When he comes home on Friday morning, he's officially finished!  Then just the weekend and a couple of days and he's off, a week from this coming Wednesday. I know he's pretty excited about his upcoming trip.  I think Monday or Tuesday will be spent transporting all of his stuff that's not going with him, out to Fort Augustus. That will give me more room and leave less to pack up when it comes time to move out to Wheatley River later in March.

We did manage to extend the holiday festivities one more week by attending a couple of events on Saturday. Our friends Charles and Laura postponed their New Years Levee till this past Saturday because of the storm on New Years Day. We went out there around 3:00 and spent a couple of hours socializing with a really diverse and interesting group of folks. We left reluctantly in time to go out to Mermaid to visit with our friends Jackie and Helena. Brenda and Bernie were there as well and so the eating and drinking continued.  Jackie fishes Oysters and had some nice fresh ones on hand for us all to enjoy, and enjoy we did!  Jackie really enjoys shucking oysters for guests and has provided us with his services on a couple of special occasions. This time it was just us and we took full advantage. Even Bernie got in on the action to try his hand at shucking.

Gee, lobster last week end and fresh oysters this weekend. Does it really get any better?  I don't think so.

January 3rd - Welcome 2019!

What a busy couple of weeks! In spite of our current housing situation, we actually had a really great Christmas and New Year. That's of course to our network of amazing friends.

Our festivities actually started on the 21st as we celebrated the Winter Solstice with our friends Charles and Laura. We enjoyed a lovely meal at their place on the longest night of the year.

Then it was a short hop to Christmas eve. We stopped in to visit Frank and Laurie, and Cooper, of course. They had a pile of people arriving as we were leaving so it was going to be a party for sure. We were on our way to the VanGaals for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. We are so fortunate to be included each year. Numbers were slightly down this year but a wonderful time was had by all. Delicious food, good wine, and great company. While we didn't have a tree, they were more than happy to share theirs with a couple of homeless people!  Doesn't really get any better than that (next week I'll post a photo of the gift that Brenda and I received).

We headed back to town later in the evening. When we got up in the morning, we collected everything we needed to cook a delicious Christmas dinner at another friends home. But first it was back to the VanGaals for brunch. They were the happy recipients of four lovely sized lobsters and called to see if we were interested in sharing them. Really, you had to ask??? So off we went to enjoy  what we all decided might just be a new Christmas morning tradition. They weren't expecting any of the kids to arrive till afternoon so like us, they were alone.  Needless to say, it was a splendid morning. I texted Patti and told her what we were having and she said that was "just mean!"

After brunch, we made our way over to Blooming Point. Our friends Jens and Linda and the two of us were planning to go out for dinner on Christmas day, but there was only one place that we could find that would be open and it was horribly expensive (and I've since heard from someone who was there, that the meal wasn't very good). So we picked up everything we needed and brought it with us to cook a nice dinner. It was such a treat to have a whole kitchen to ourselves and have someone to enjoy our efforts.

Boxing day was fairly quiet, although I did work at one of my stores, taking down Christmas cards and putting up Valentines - welcome to the world of retail!  I had three stores to do and only three days to do it so I started early.

On the Saturday between Christmas and New Years, Brenda came into town and picked up Meg and I and we went to the market. After touring around there, we dropped of Meg and the two of us went out to Fort Augustus. We spent a very productive afternoon making turkey pot pies with her left over Christmas bird.  I helped chop veggies and fill pies until we had quite a collection to go into the freezer. You know what they say, many hands make light work.

We had a deadline as we were going into town to a concert at the Guild.  We picked up Amanda and then Meg when we got to town and took a tour around the Brighton aree to view the Christmas lights before heading to the show. Another great evening with good friends.


The next thing was New Years Eve. I had found some lamb shanks at the store over the holidays so I suggested to Brenda that I could bring them out and cook them at her place. She was okay with that. So we left early afternoon and arrived to put them in the oven and get everything ready for another nice supper. Lloyd had to work on New Years Eve so he left after supper. I stayed as there were a number of people invited over for nibbles later in the evening.

There were 11 of us altogether to usher in the new year. At one point, early in the evening, we were watching youtube and saw the fireworks display last year in London, England. (I called Patti and suggested to her that perhaps we should be there for new years eve next year - she agreed that this could possibly be arranged.) Another great evening with good friends. I stayed over and Lloyd came and picked me up in the morning.

Lloyd and I had planned to attend several levees in town on New Years Day but it started snowing in the morning and kept up pretty much all day. Several of those we planned to attend were cancelled. By late afternoon it had eased off and the plows were out clearing the streets. We checked online and found that the levee at the Old Dublin Pub was on from 5:00 to 8:00. Lloyd had to work that night but we could go for a little while. We arrived shortly after 5:00 and the place was already hopping. The kitchen wasn't open but the bar was and we were treated to a complimentary bowl of delicious seafood chowder. People just kept streaming in and we were glad we had arrived early enough to get a table. There was a live band playing cover tunes and they were really good. We would have absolutely stayed till 8:00 if  Lloyd hadn't had to work.


As we walked back to our temporary accommodations, we were treated to some beautiful snowy scenes, which were sadly missing on Christmas. It figures, we had snow really early on that stayed around and then left just in time for Christmas. But it's back so now we can just settle in to enjoy the winter.

Lloyd has one week left to work before he retires and then he's off to Viet Nam. His last day to work is January 11th and then he's away on the 16th. He's getting pretty excited about it and already has his back pack ready to to. It should be an interesting time for him - and for me, all alone in the big city!