Pigeon Cafe

Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

 November 2025 - Toronto ON

BROOKFIELD PLACE TORONTO ON

Last Week's Post Kraft Tea

Last Year's Post Sam James Coffee Bar

Five Years Ago Inspired Sunday I wasn't doing weekly recaps back then.

SATURDAY

I made French toast with blueberries for breakfast. 
We spent a lot of time sorting out power adapters, chargers, cameras, USBs for backup etc. Then we worked on our Tokyo agenda. Pooped, we both sat and read.

John returned a phone charger he bought since we got our backpack back.

Sunday

We had our first snowfall!

We made sausage sandwiches for breakfast. I made a pumpkin raisin loaf with cream cheese icing for the week.

We both puttered with our Tokyo itinerary, rearranging the schedule and filling in the blanks.

The dining room table is getting cluttered as we gather travel paraphernalia.

Monday

Monday's Mural was from August on Lake Shore Blvd.

John and I went to Manulife's Remembrance Day flag display. It was cold out!

Manulife's Toronto headquarters at 200 Bloor Street East hosts an annual Remembrance Day display of over 12,000 Canadian flags, not poppies, on its front lawn. Each flag represents ten members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have fallen in service, totaling over 120,000 service members honoured. 

The display is a long-standing tradition for Manulife, usually on view for the public from early to mid-November, culminating on Remembrance Day (November 11). 

I took these two with our small point and shoot camera that we never use as I want to take it as a backup on our trip. I think the photos are decent. 

We'll see what we can get for the old DSLR cameras from Henry's when we get back, a winter activity.

Why do Americans say "Happy Veteran's Day?

TUESDAY

John went for his hearing test and then bottled some wine. He was going to Costco but couldn't get a parking spot!

I picked up a few needed items at the $ store and Rexall's.

There were people lining up for tickets at Scotia Arena, strange attire on a winter day! Sabrina Carpenter??? was in town this week.

Although we had snow this week, it is gone and the golden leaves are still here.

We received two new power plug/adaptors. We have a bag full of plugs collected over the years that we will get rid of when we return. I might put them on the Buy Nothing group.

We decided to get rid of the music CDs languishing forever. I put together a sample group to take to a used store. 

You really have to wonder about some people.  We received this note this week.

Dear Residents,

We are pleased to inform you that water service to the 03 line in the High Rise zone has been fully restored. The plumbing issue was traced to a blockage within a unit line, which has now been resolved.

We kindly remind all residents to ensure that their unit drains remain clear. Clogged drains can result in water backup and cause significant damage to units below. Additionally, please verify that your unit is adequately insured, including coverage for potential damage to other units.

GARBAGE CHUTE UPDATE

The garbage chute blockage in the High Rise zone has also been cleared. We urge all residents to refrain from disposing of large items in the chute, as this causes serious maintenance issues and service disruptions. Please use designated disposal methods for oversized items.

IMPORTANT – UNIT ACCESS DURING EMERGENCIES

This morning, our team was unable to access several units on the 03 line due to unauthorized changes to front door locks. These locks are no longer compatible with the building’s master key system, which significantly hinders our ability to respond to emergencies such as floods or fires.

Please be advised that in emergency situations where access is required and a unit is not on the master key system, we will be forced to bust the front door and enter the unit.  All associated repair costs will be charged back to the unit owner.

To ensure the safety of all residents, any changes to front door locks must be reported to Management immediately so that the lock can be integrated into the master key system.

I am glad to say that the office does have a key to our unit, as they will check on it when we are away.

WEDNESDAY

John went to the dealer's to get his snow tires put on.

I went to Longo's for some groceries for the next week. Watered the plants, made arrangements for T to come in to check the condo, water the plants while we are away.

The condo painted our front doors. They look nice and fresh.

THURSDAY

John did a Costco run for a couple of things. I did a good clear out and organized the closet in the spare room (AKA John's workout). I managed to free up two shelves. 

We now have to get rid of these speakers that we bought in January in Palm Springs for watching our shows on the laptop. I put them on FB Marketplace, but nothing so far. 

UPDATE SOLD $20.

I also did some plant tending, hopefully the pothos will like it here more than the spider plant.

 John defrosted the small drinks fridge.

We spent a lot of time honing our trip itinerary. We also looked at our photos of Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok to review what we had already done in 2015. That made me decide to use some of those photos as my headers for the next few days.

Then we watched our video of our 2017 cross States and Canada trip. 

Click here for our road trip recap.

We had a brief area wide power outage late afternoon.

Looking west, not towards Toronto.

FRIDAY

It was a gorgeous day as we headed to the Eaton Centre. It is Friday so the old City Hall was open, I had visited it during the summer. But John hadn't so we stepped into the Courtyard and the guard said we had 10 minutes!

An unusual sight these days!

We stepped into the Eaton Centre and discovered they were unveiling their Christmas Tree with music and a light show!

Video here, in case this doesn't work!

Then we headed to the currency exchange as they carried all that we needed. The bank did not.

We walked back underground and got Starbucks frappuccinos.

It then took an HOUR to get home due to a personal injury accident at Park Lawn!

It looks like I will reach 10,000 published posts before year-end!! 

COOKING

Saturday lamb stew (freezer) carrots turnip onions celery potatoes

Sunday chicken coconut milk red curry paste naan bread (all in freezer)

Monday leftover lamb stew 

Tuesday leftover lamb stew added fresh vegetables and stewed tomatoes (freezer)

Wednesday pork schnitzel beans mashed potatoes

Thursday rotisserie chicken Alfredo

Friday steak onions green peppers mushrooms baked potato

WATCHING 

NR. 24 Number 24 should be mandatory watching for all kids.

Young apprentice Gunnar Sønsteby from Rjukan decides to resist Nazi-Germany on the day of the invasion to later become the leader of the "Oslo-gang" carrying out countless daring acts of sabotage making him Norway's greatest war hero.

We watched 60 Minutes interview with Margaret Atwood.

Cardinal  has a whooping 7.8/10 rating. We are on season 4 and it is fantastic. The unforgiving chill of Canada's Northern Ontario brings a touch of Scandi-noir class to the familiar plots of murder, kidnap and unfulfilled sexual tensions in this quality detective drama adapted from the novels by Giles Blunt.

The relentless freezing temperatures constrain people at every turn. Even murderers must plan ahead and bring snowsuits for those they kidnap from their homes if they want them to stay alive long enough to make a ransom video. Everyone must don their parkas or hurry between car and truck lest mother nature, rather than a vengeful killer, get them.

READING

 

I read A Darker Domain by Scottish Val McDermid, whom I have not read in a while. This is book 2 of the Karen Pirie ITV series aired on Britbox.

The novel is set during the UK miners' strike of 1984–1985 in Fife. 

I did an Historic Women post on author Rebecca Solnit who coined the term "mansplaining" and I had never heard of her. The Toronto library has many of her books, so I have added some to my TBR list.