Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader
April 2021 - Toronto ON
Jet Fuel Coffee Shop during lockdown in summer 2020.
2020 - Church St. Toronto ON
AS OF TODAY APRIL 16 - LOCKDOWN EXTENDED TO SIX WEEKS NOW MAY 20.
INTERPROVINCIAL TRAVEL PROHIBITED.
OUTDOOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS PROHIBITED.
ALL OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GOLF COURSES CLOSED.
This is the building's take on the "new" rules.
How do I feel?
One of the GTA's largest property developers says it was "extremely inappropriate and entirely unacceptable" that workers associated with one of its dry wall contractors had a stripper at a job site last week in the middle of the pandemic.
Mattamy Homes are major donors to Doug Ford and they bankroll Ontario/Canada Proud. One reason we are not in a full lockdown in this province is because Doug is catering to their interests.
Mattamy Homes are major donors to Doug Ford and they bankroll Ontario/Canada Proud. One reason we are not in a full lockdown in this province is because Doug is catering to their interests.
Enough of my rant!
Saturday was a fine sunny day but we are not going out on weekends, and there isn't really anywhere to go anyway! I did bring out the sketchbook that I hadn't used lately.
Sunday we awoke to a foggy rainy morning, that's fine by me as we aren't going anywhere.
The fog wore off mid-afternoon as I watched Marie Kondo and worked on my embroidery as John worked on the jigsaw puzzle.
The week was quiet, with the lockdown (before the April 16 announcement) our cleaning lady cancelled as she was uncomfortable breaking the stay at home rule.
John did a Costco run on Wednesday, we had planned on going out for a take out lunch but decided to abide by the rules.
Biggest excitement was out our window as dump truck drivers protested, blocking traffic on our 400 series of highways. They are protesting changes to trucking industry standards.
John golfed on Friday and came home to the golf restriction for four weeks. SIGH!
I organized a closet and added items to the charity bag. Some t-shirts went into the bag.
This baby has a baby and needs repotting!! I need to get potting soil and get all my plants repotted, they've all outgrown their current homes and need upgrading.
It's a good thing we can entertain ourselves!
SOPHISTICATED SHAKERS
The Perfect Storm was "perfect" to use up a small rum (from Christmas cocktail package) and a ginger beer I had found in the shop downstairs. The Dillon's ginger bitters were in John's birthday gift.
Based on the latest news these glasses with be used a lot more!
2 ounces spiced rum
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 dashes
Ginger beer, to top Fever-Tree
Garnish: lime wedge
COCKTAIL CIRCUIT - TO DATE
Mai Tai with orgeat which is new to us
Tequila Sunrise
Rob Roy required bitters which we had never bought
New York Sours
Gin Fizz
Rusty Nail
Vodka Sidecar
Vodka Cosmopolitan
Negroni
John received his second scotch of his six month birthday subscription.
COOKING
Saturday I had a hankering for curry chicken and foccacia.
Sunday top sirloin roast with roast potatoes, mashed turnips and carrots, Brussel sprouts and mushroom gravy.
Monday hot roast beef (leftovers) sandwiches and peas.
Tuesday turkey pork meatballs, homemade tzatziki, focaccia and salad.
Wednesday more leftover roast beef, bourbon gravy, mashed turnips and Brussel sprouts.
Thursday air-fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and beans. First time for pork chops in the air fryer.
Friday steak night (my night off mostly) and fries.
I made this 1 ONE UNO (almost) ingredient ice cream with raspberries. So good!!! I had made it last summer and kinda forgot about it. I will be making it again.
I printed off these seven stir fry recipes to have at hand.
WATCHING
Why did I not know about this piece of history and more importantly about these women and what they became?
2020 Misbehaviour is based on the true story of the Miss World 1970 competition and a feminist protest which made world headlines.
Jennifer Hosten, crowned Miss World 1970 then worked with Air Canada in customer relations, and married David Craig, an IT Manager with IBM. They lived in Bermuda until 1973, when they moved to Canada. Hosten earned a Masters of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Carleton University, Ottawa.
Jennifer Hosten Craig was High Commissioner to Canada from Grenada from 1978 to 1981.Tuesday Movies on Monday
Hard Kill - meh
Reclaim 2014 - a stereotypical child trafficking and kidnapping movie based on an adoption scam of Haitian children after the 2010 hurricane. Lots of action, lots of shaking of heads by us at weak story lines.
Margin Call takes place over a 24-hour period at a large Wall Street investment bank during the initial stages of the financial crisis of 2007–2008.
John is really enjoying the series Shetland, I am too, although I found the books to be really tedious.
BOOKS
On my phone Monogamy, I always like a good domestic drama although this is dragging a little. A LOT!
I tried to read This Darkness Mine a 7 day loan, but I couldn't make it past the first chapter!
I borrowed Nomadland instead.
Not a reading week.
I LOVE your new top photo. I am so sorry that you are still in lockdown. Things are fairly normal (except for wearing masks and staying 6 ft apart) here in Florida. Restaurants are open, beaches are open, and the weather is wonderful. It's funny that Canadians are permitted to travel here and return. We have many that have come to rent in our building and then after 3 weeks return to Canada. I 'm sure there must be special rules when they return from International travel. Love your posts!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judee. Canadians are not supposed to travel. The US Canada border has been closed for a year and continues to be closed except for essential travel. The government cancelled all flights to "sun" destinations such as the Caribbean and Mexico from Jan to April. When Canadians do return to Canada by flight they must quarantine at an airport hotel for three days. But many people find ways to get around the rules. Some are shipping their RVs/cars (legal) across the border and then flying and picking it up and driving. Flights are not cancelled into the States, though. These people are irresponsible and dangering others. Are there no quarantine rules when they get to Florida?
DeleteI feel bad for you, Jackie. You have to be terribly frustrated with the imposition of a tight lockdown and the rising numbers of cases. Does it make you feel any better to know that, even though we have no restrictions (!), even though we have had our vaccines, we still feel we need to stay close to home to protect ourselves from all the folks around here who refuse to get the vaccine, refuse to wear masks. We have our own frustrations here.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry books have been no consolation either. And your tv has been of little help.
But you are resilient. I'm glad you've turned to your sketchbook and your puzzles and your plants and your cooking.
Don't feel bad for me, Deb. I am resilient and was just venting my annoyance at the premier, Ford, mishandling of this. He is an idiot. Most cases are coming from factories like Amazon and he refuses to give them paid sick days.
DeleteHe had to rescind his order that police be allowed to stop and ask you where you are going as the police forces refused to comply. He also had to rescind the order to close playgrounds due to backlash from the medical community.
Don't worry, I can keep myself entertained!
Fog makes for beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like this is never going to end.
What did you think of Nomadland? I have several RV women friends who full time who were highly insulted by it.
ReplyDeleteI just started the book, Carol. But I do know that full time RVers did not like the movie. K and R also mentioned they didn't like it.
DeleteI'd recommend the Maclean's article just up on the Ontario pandemic and why us Atlantic provinces are so successful. It is horrifying what is being projected, stay safe. Grandgirl and her partner are moving here on May 1st, planned for a few months now as they saw this coming.
ReplyDeleteI agree on Shetland - tis a rare thing, but the series outshines the books. Same with Vera, could not stand the books but the series are *mostly* good. Brenda Blethyn is superb.
I recommend Bloodlands for the Irish in you. Really, really well done thriller. Full of surprises and twists, AND easy on the eye James Nesbitt.
Loved Nomadland. I hope she gets an Oscar.
XO
WWW
Thanks, WWW. I will find the Maclean's article.
DeleteI couldn't get into Vera, but will try again. Thanks for the Bloodlands recommendation! I had to look it up as I was confusing it with the also Irish, book, Bloodland by Alan Glynn that I read in 2011.
I am curious about Nomadland as I know some full time RVers that did not like it at all.
What a very nice whiskey tumbler.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about your country but here trucks are disproportionately represented in serious road crashes. Quite a number are also poorly maintained. Fifteen years is quite an age for a truck and safety features in vehicles have come a long way in that time.
Andrew, that glass was a set my parents had when I was growing up, it must be at least 50 years old!!!!
DeleteI agree, these trucks do cause a lot of accidents, they are poorly maintained here as well. Just a few weeks ago one pushed a car along the expressway without even knowing.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/truck-driver-charged-pushing-car-gardiner-on-ramp-police-1.5961637
We had dinnner made from beef lefter overs, it became barbque beef sandwhich.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Good grief!! We have it so easy here in Hawaii, though we do complain about all the business closures that have occurred. At least you're managing to keep yourselves (and us) entertained meanwhile.
ReplyDeleteRant away, woman! These are indeed frustrating times.
ReplyDeleteI love everything on your meal plan and those fries are calling to me. Never met a potato I didn’t like.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Nomadland, I haven’t gotten the book yet but see people are talking about it. I’m curious.
Haven’t tried the Shetland tv series but read the first two books. Then I discovered her Vera series and I have only two books left to be caught up.
You are allowed to rant!
ReplyDeleteI love those fog photos!