Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
February 2024
Village by the Grange McCaul St. Toronto
Another quiet weekend. We had a video cchat with John's son and grandson in Montreal. John's grandaughter has tickets for Taylor Swift's November Toronto concert and hotel prices are insane but I was able to book a hotel suite for her here in our building.
Superbowl Sunday
Monday did not turn out as planned. When John got up he had an alert from our bank that he was overdrawn as a $26,000 debit had been processed. He immediately contacted the company that had processed it, and they said they had no idea and would need to investigate. He immediately called our branch (voice mail, of course). Then called the fraud department who "red flagged" it and suggested visiting the branch. Plans changed and we headed down there. We were shown to the manager who promptly reversed the charge and promised he would monitor it for any NSF or overdraft fees which he would immediately reverse.
Tuesday we received an email from the processing company that basically said "to ALL OUR ESTEEMED CUSTOMERS due to a system glitch blah blah. We will cover any charges you incurred as well as a monetary compensation". PHEW! The monetary compensation was a whopping $25, that doesn't even start to cover the cost of all the manpower involved in investigating and fixing the problem.
While we were waiting I snapped this mail truck. Canada Post launched a new commemorative stamp to honour the legendary Salome Bey. Fans of the acclaimed singer know her as Canada’s First Lady of the Blues.
Tuesday John used the golf simulator. I went to Longo's and snapped some Valentine photos.
It's February, girl, in Canada. She obviously lives in one of the condos along the PATH.
These flowers were going fast when I came in here on Valentine's Day.
Union Station has a new display.
I came out of Union onto Front St. this was the view to the right.
And to my left, it looked like snow clouds. It never did happen.
Not sure what this is with its right hand drive.
Wednesday Valentine's Day the office tower where we wait for the bus was giving out candies.
These were so good I had to google them. Mary's Brigadieros are on Danforth and Woodbine.
John brought two boxes of chocolates home.
We replaced our coffee pot as the old one had started to overflow, that is, not stopping when the mug was full.
Thursday we were promised a snow storm...I went to Longo's to stock up just in case.
It was very wet snow and didn't amount to much.
Friday morning.
We had loose plans to go to the museum, but got lazy and just went out for coffee in the afternoon instead.
We did another Balzac's, this time in the UP Union to Pearson train station. John had the peanut butter mocha and I had a flat white.
Blue Bovine is a new steak and sushi restaurant to open next week in Union Station.
COOKING
Saturday stuffed roast chicken, roast potatoes and mashed turnips and carrots. This was a $9 chicken from Metro, we also had leftovers for breakfast and lunches. The bones were then used for soup.
Sunday SUPERBOWL chili with baguette.
Monday quiche
Tuesday hamburger patties, gravy, mashed potatoes and beans
Wednesday Spaghetti Alfredo with prosciutto, Caesar salad (John made) and my first ever creme brulee ✅ it's been on my to do list
(I forgot to take a picture) it was very good.
(I forgot to take a picture) it was very good.
Thursday chicken tenders with honey mustard dipping sauce and Caesar salad.
Friday steak and loaded baked potato (cheese, broccoli, sour cream)
WATCHING
I watched and enjoyed a CBC Toronto made series called Bollywed, a heartwarming docuseries centred around the Singh family, who have been operating the iconic bridal shop, Chandan Fashion, in Toronto’s Little India for almost 40 years.
I also watched Stranger Than Fiction: The Nanny Killers. The murder of French au-pair Sophie Lionnet by her employers made headlines all over the world. From the horrible circumstances of her death, to the obsession of her killer with a pop-star ex-boyfriend and their crazy delusions of celebrity paedophile rings, it was a case that seemed too unbelievable to be true.
The Tenant - we gave up on it.
In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical crime drama film. It is based on the true story of the Guildford Four, four people falsely convicted of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings that killed four off-duty British soldiers and a civilian.
Brassed Off
Jagged Edge is a 1985 American neo-noir legal thriller film. A lawyer reluctantly takes the case of a man accused of killing his wife, but remains uncertain if he is guilty or not.
Poor Boy's Game is a 2007 Canadian drama film. On his release from prison for the brutal beating of a black man, Donnie, a young white boxer, is coached by his victim's father, George for an upcoming fight against a talented and vengeful opponent, Ossie.
No Accident is a 2023 documentary. In August 2017, white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia, viciously attacking counter-protestors. Two lawyers, convinced that the Trump DOJ would do nothing, decided to sue a group of violent rightwing protestors.
READING
We Were Once a Family was a heartbreaking horrific true story of the Texas adoption system.
On March 26, 2018, rescue workers discovered a crumpled SUV and the bodies of two women and several children at the bottom of a cliff beside the Pacific Coast Highway. Investigators soon concluded that the crash was a murder-suicide, but there was more to the story: Jennifer and Sarah Hart, it turned out, were a white married couple who had adopted the six Black children from two different Texas families in 2006 and 2008. Behind the family's loving facade, however, was a pattern of abuse and neglect that went ignored as the couple withdrew the children from school and moved across the country. It soon became apparent that the State of Texas knew very little about the two individuals to whom it had given custody of six children—with fateful consequences.I started Her Last Holiday and I am enjoying it.
Taylor Swift atm is in concert in Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteShe picked a little girl, gave her a hug and put her hat on her head - very sweet.
(I'm in Perth and it's in the news all morning).
Yikes to the bank-trouble.
But free candy is a sweet idea.
A snow storm... we're in a heat wave...
Yum food in your house!
That mural at the Reference Library looks incredible. I'm glad to hear the $26K charge was reversed promptly. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy the huge overdraft at the bank solved itself so easily, I almost choked on my coffee reading about it! What a night mare before it sorted itself out.
ReplyDeleteYour city is very beautiful dressed up from Valentine's Day!
Good photos. The Valentine's cakes are cheery to see! You look like you're in the downtown area? The bank notice seems scary -- glad it's been reversed. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are close to downtown. We have a shuttle that takes us downtown in about 15 minutes.
DeleteLove the Valentine photos. I never think to snap photos until I see your posts with all the lovely colors of your hometown! Happy week!
ReplyDeleteGlad your bank was able to reassure you about the problem so quickly.
ReplyDeleteHope you will take a photo when you make another creme brulee!
What a relief that the bank took care of that banking issue!!! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteLove all the pics as usual!
That withdrawal would completely stress me out. I am glad they took care of it quickly. I've had similar situations but when it's in "pending" limbo, who knows how long it would really take.
ReplyDelete