Somewhere Espresso Cafe

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

T Stands for Tuesday

29 May 2026

CHIANG MAI THAILAND

Last week's post.

SATURDAY

It was a dark and rainy day, we had really wanted to go to Doors Open. It turned out to be a 100% rainy day with many activities being cancelled, including the Bruno Mars concert.

John crushed all the boxes and brought them to the loading dock. And picked up yet another Amazon package which included new cushion covers, a cheap and cheerful way of redecorating.

It was a good day for poking about. John went to the locker and found a travelling golf bag he had forgotten about. He also brought up a portable safe (trash) and my old camera bag (can be gotten rid of with other camera stuff).

John's new golf bag arrived and he switched his old one out for Wednesday.

I changed around the living room cushions. I get antsy and like to change things up, just like my mother. 

I worked on some upcoming blogs. I created May's blogger header.

We started gathering things for our sojourn to PEI on Thursday. Golf clubs are packed.

We both read for a while. 

SUNDAY

Another miserable day!

Considering we slept in until 9!!!!! we had a productive morning.

We did laundry. We hung the new pictures.

So much nicer as canvas than framed.

Mamma's is in Toronto. Jerry's was taken in Gallup NM, Flame is Las Vegas and BBQ is Nashville TN

Japan is on the wall.

MONDAY

Monday Mural

Foto Tunes

Well, after a ghastly weather weekend, the sun was shining in all its glory. It was balmy walking to get pedi-manis.

I saved a hundred dollars today, by returning the pants I had ordered that didn't fit, and I don't really need them.

We then went to FCP for our covid boosters, we had received our government notification, advising persons of a "certain age" to get vaccinated.

FCP (Carol and Eric) didn't have any and offered to run to another pharmacy, which happened to be in Commerce Court, so we simply walked over there and got them from Karen, another great pharmacist.

We grabbed Starbucks as we waited for the bus, Iced Caramel Macchiato for me and Salted Caramel Cream Cold for John.

At Starbucks, showed my BFF the pic and she said she'd love some!

TUESDAY

Tuesday Treasures - Homeless Jesus

I went to Starbucks to grab some of the coffee grounds (it was heavy) for my BFF and also to Longo's for a couple of things, bacon on sale and ground pork. Five chicken quarters for $10, gives us two dinners and a lunch.

John used the simulator.

After lunch we took the streetcar to Kensington Market. it was a lovely day and it was crowded. There are a lot of Americans in town as it was a long weekend for them.

John said it was too hot for coffee!

We strolled back and picked up 3 sub buns ($1!!!) where we had bahn mi last week and custard tarts at a different bakery, we preferred last week's.

Our restaurant is advertising this.

WEDNESDAY

Signs

We spent to morning finishing packing and getting organized for a few days away. 

Pt laundry away, watered plants, froze what needed to be.

I checked in online, the weather isn't looking great so far, fingers crossed.

I took the old picture frames down to the dock.

 

John headed out to golf and I went for a haircut. went to the Eaton Centre.

I picked up a Starbucks mango cream matcha, meh, no taste of mango, did taste the matcha, foamy blah.

THURSDAY

We were in PEI in 1990 and 2014.  This time we are flying and are mainly here for John to golf at Crow Bush.

The season doesn't really start until July, so there is no theatre available.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) has been a favourite vacation destination for decades and has often been referred to as “The Gentle Island’.

This is a very detailed map. I found the map here, which also includes great details about visiting the province.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s smallest province, measuring about 224 km (140 mi) long and 6 to 64 km  (4 to 40 mi)wide. It covers a total area of 5,660 square kilometers (approx. 2,190 sq mi), and because of its unique geography, you are never more than 15 minutes from the beach.

We were up at 5:30 and our Uber arrived around 6:10. Easy check in and security, of course, my laptop had to be swabbed.

We grabbed coffees before boarding, we had great seats, exit row, two aisles, and no one in the middle seats. We were about #) minutes late taking off due to traffic.

Flying time is 2 hours and 20 minutes. Charlottetown is exactly 1 hour ahead of Toronto. When it is 12:00 PM in Toronto, it is 1:00 PM in Charlottetown.

Toronto observes Eastern Time, while Charlottetown observes Atlantic Time.

We landed in pouring rain, and waited for my suitcase, which arrived sopping wet.

We got a cab for the $100 fare to the resort. We are at Crowbush Cove, right on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It will still be cheaper taking taxis than renting a car. We are here for golf and relaxation.

The Links at Crowbush Cove is located on the scenic north shore of Prince Edward Island. The course is located at 710 Lakeside Rd, Morell, PE C0A 1S0, sitting roughly a 25-minute drive northeast of the capital city of Charlottetown. It is widely celebrated as one of Canada's premier public courses, weaving through coastal sand dunes, spruce woodlands, and interior wetlands with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The resort is quite nice. They will ferry you around by golf cart to the Crow's Nest restaurant on the 5th hole.

The rain did not let up.

Lunch menu, but we both opted for fish and chips and a beer.

They should get rid of their Miller advertising.

The Government of Prince Edward Island sells off its remaining inventory of U.S.-made wine and spirits to raise funds for local food banks. American alcohol was originally pulled from provincial shelves in response to tariffs, but the province is selling off the stockpile throughout 2026 before phasing out U.S. products permanently.

I wish Ontario would do the same with its US inventory.

The room is a suite, overlooking the course.

We did some Netflix and then had a nap before dinner.

John HAD to have PEI mussels, he thought the broth was rather bland.

I had salmon.

We were shocked to find out the Claude Lemieux had died at 60. I was more saddened to learn that he had taken his own life.

FRIDAY

I got up at what I thought was my usual 7 AM, then decided to go back to bed. It turned out the clock was wrong (an hour off) and we got up at 9:08!!

Headed down for breakfast, bacon and eggs for John, and smoked salmon, cream cheese and bagel for me. 

If I am in the Maritimes, I will have fish!!

NO RAIN! John headed over to the clubhouse at 10:45.

I did something I don't usually do, I put on some music. We had been commenting that Starbucks always has great music playing. It turns out there are dedicated Starbucks Spotify playlists. I googled coffeehouse pops and found that sound.

I did my usual morning reading and blogging.

John played as a solo and messaged me when he reached the water hole in front of our room.

John took some photos.

He came in frozen to the bone!

We went to the bar for a drink and ordered dinner to go, Caesar salad, steak with fries and caramel cheesecake, to share in our room. Delicious!

COOKING

Click here for more recipes.

MENU

Saturday - chicken curry, peppers, onions. John fell in love with Japanese curry when we were on Harbord St. a couple of weeks ago.

This is my first time making Japanese curry and I used Golden Curry brand. We found it way too salty so I added a potato which helped.

I found an article comparing the various brands and will be looking for some of those.

Sunday - spicy Thai pork with salad. Delicious. Will be added to Recipe Box

Monday - chips and eggs with mushrooms and fried tomatoes (for me)

Tuesday - BBQ chicken quarters and salad

Wednesday - mushroom omelet and salad

Thursday - away

Friday - away

WATCHING

Disclaimer- we watched a lot of foreign films. 

We finished season 2 of the Chestnut Man. 

We finished season 1 of Capitani, a Luxembourgish crime drama series. We started season 2.

Four years after the events of Season 1, Capitani, who had been fired from the police force and convicted as an accessory to the murder of a drug dealer, has been released from prison due to inadequate evidence and is now living in a run-down area of Luxembourg City. He is hired by a sex worker to find a friend who has disappeared. Subsequently, he goes undercover for the prosecutor to investigate, and break up, the drug trade in the city.

READING

Spadina and College Toronto ON

I finished a 7-day loan of The Book Club for Troublesome Women. In Virginia, in the early 60s, four women start a book club where they read a feminist book, The Feminine Mystique, that would change their lives forever. 

These women are only 20 years older than I am, I read that book when I was about 16, I can only imagine the impact it had on them! I smiled at Viv putting on her first pair of pantyhose!!!

I was so annoyed that Margaret couldn't open up her own bank account without her husband's signature!! And so proud when she forged his signature!

I finished Anon Pls  From the creator behind @DeuxMoi, the popular - and infamous - celebrity gossip Instagram account, comes a fun, charming debut novel that's a perfect combination of Devil Wears Prada, Gossip Girl, and Smile and Look Pretty. Anon Pls. is for those looking for a fun escape and anyone who wonders, "What's it really like to be DeuxMoi?"

I wasn't going to read this, but then got hooked. It is a bit of a fluff piece, but it is a world I don't know a lot about.

I couldn't find the book Lists of Note that Jinjer mentioned, but I did find this to flip through.

Flights

Departure • Thu 28 May, 2026

Economy Comfort

Toronto YYZ Charlottetown YYG

08:20 11:32

Toronto-Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 Charlottetown Airport

AC 628 • Operated by Air Canada

Aircraft type: Boeing 737 MAX 8

Duration: 2hr 12m

Cabin: Economy Class (K)

Meal: Air Canada Bistro ($)

 

Return • Mon 01 Jun, 2026

Economy Comfort

Charlottetown YYG Toronto YYZ

12:30 13:51

Charlottetown Airport Toronto-Pearson International Airport Terminal 1

AC 2015 • Operated by Air Canada Rouge

Aircraft type: Airbus A319-100    Wi-Fi

Duration: 2hr 21m

Cabin: Economy Class (L)

Meal: Air Canada Bistro ($)

 

Passengers

Jacqueline Mcguinness

Ticket #: 0142327322179

Aeroplan #: 153258520

Seats

YYZ ➞ YYG 16C

YYG ➞ YYZ 18B

 

John Boisvenue

Ticket #: 0142327322178

Aeroplan #: 165184250

Seats

YYZ ➞ YYG 16D

YYG ➞ YYZ 18C

 

Purchase Summary

paymentCard •••• 5001 CAD $2,005.64

 

2 Adults

Air transportation charges

Base fare - departure

Adult ($352.00 x2) $704.00

Base fare - return

Adult ($356.00 x2) $712.00

Carrier surcharges

Adult ($90.00 x2) $180.00

Taxes, Fees and Charges

Air Travellers Security Charge - Canada

Adult ($18.92 x2) $37.84

Harmonized Sales Tax - Canada - 100092287 RT0001

Adult ($110.70 x2) $221.40

Airport Improvement Fee - Canada

Adult ($30.00 x2) $60.00

Airport Improvement Fee Deposit - Canada

Adult ($45.20 x2) $90.40

Grand total CAD $2,005.64

Jacqueline Mcguinness $1,002.82

John Boisvenue $1,002.82

Huong Mai Coffee

Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Weekly Wonders

T Stands for Tuesday

8 May 2026

HANOI VIETNAM

Last week's post.

SATURDAY

We spent the morning as we usually do, breakfasts, coffees, reading, watching hockey, before heading out to lunch and the theatre. We took the 66 bus to the subway over to Yonge and Bloor, 15 on the bus to Old Mill Station and then 30 minutes to Bloor and Yonge.

We had spotted an Asian place the other day that we thought we would try.

John's pork dumplings were delicious.

I had the rainbow dumplings and enjoyed all the colours.

These lamb skewers were very good, we agreed that they were better than the ones we had in Phuket in December.

We took a stroll over to BMT, (now called Manulife Centre, but it was BMT when we worked there in the early 90s).

Yeah, it was a miserable day to be out.

WOW WOW WOW This was actually a docu-concert. An all Canadian show,

Mike Ross and an incredible band of Island musicians are making headlines in Toronto and around the world with their docu-concert, Inside American Pie, which started at Harmony House in beautiful Hunter River, PEI. This show creatively unpacks the stories from Don McLean’s hit song and takes audiences on a musical journey from the 50s through the 60s. 

VIDEO here is just a taste, I plan on doing an in-depth post.

Coming home we walked down Yonge to Richmond (for the Queen St. streetcar, due to the ongoing Metrolinx construction) home. Obviously there was a delay on the 501 streetcar. We walked to the Sheraton for a bathroom stop and it was packed! They were obviously a registration stop for tomorrow's marathon as well.

As we stepped an Out of Service streetcar went by and then a very full one arrived that we boarded.

I forgot to mention that I HAD to buy these, the other day, at Winner's. When we used to travel in the States we loved picking up Goo Goo Clusters (2024)! 2025 MENTION.

SUNDAY 

DAY OF LEISURE PLAY DATE DOWN TIME SUNDAY FUNDAY COUCH POTATO VIBES

One Word Sunday - WHITE

We slept in until 8:30, not like us. I made French toast for lunch. I prepared our pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner. Then I spent a lot of time writing a Inside American Pie post, link below.

MONDAY

Monday Mural - Billy Bishop Airport

Tom reminded me of Monahans TX, where we stayed last year, in his Monday Mural.

Debra, She Who Seeks, posted Leonard Cohen mural in Montreal.

Foto Tunes - Inside American Pie

I fed John a good breakfast as he was headed out to his annual golf game at Wooden Sticks with a friend, this includes dinner. This was also his first golf  game this season as he was rained out last week. It was the best day of the week for gorgeous weather, it went down hill from there.

I was on a mission, first stop passport pictures. I have 11 months on my passport so I needed two paper photos as I must apply in person. I don't want to get to the fall and decide we're going somewhere and have less than 6 months left.

Then I took a shirt and the pants I bought in Vietnam for hemming, it cost me more than the pants did!!

I posted in June 2025 about that yellow building being incorporated into a condo. In that post I included photos of the building in 2011 and 2018!

I wanted to find a new Homeless Jesus sculpture, click here.

Metropolitan United.

This is part of the new metrolinx transit line, under construction. I thought, what a weird way and place to build a station!! So I looked it up!

This large white structure located at Victoria Street and Queen Street in Toronto is a temporary acoustic shelter designed to dampen noise and dust during construction. 

It is part of the Ontario Line subway project, specifically constructed to protect nearby operations at St. Michael's Hospital from excavation noise.

Inside this shelter, massive industrial elevators are used to lower tunneling equipment and machinery underground.

Even the cows were enjoying this gorgeous day!

When I got home, I started going through "stuff" in my trunk, mainly photos and these. The videos and tapes went into the garbage as did other bits and pieces that nobody would be interested in.

I got rid of any duplicates as well.

I found this stamp on a letter from a couple we had met, years ago. The letter went into the garbage.

I found a note from 1968, from my mother, telling me to put my dishes away!!

TUESDAY 

Tuesday Treasures - Billy Bishop Airport

I worked on some blog posts.

Then we decided to get off our butts, and go out for lunch, even though it was not a great looking day.

Yonge and Wellington.

First stop was for covid shots, however, after a chat with the pharmacist, we decided to wait until September when a vaccine for the new variant will be available. Although there is a booster available at the moment, if we took that we would not be eligible in four months' time for the new one. 

So, that out of the way, we picked up a few items for dinner as it is Cinco de Mayo!

Then we took the subway from St. Andrew's to St. George and then walked onto the campus at U of T.

Outside St. George station. It was only later, as I read Tom's (Tom The Backroads Traveller) post that I realized I had taken a photo of the construction of the Wood Tower. I had no idea what was building built in the background and hadn't heard about the Wood Tower!

Various buildings on the campus. I have done many posts on the University of Toronto, click on University of Toronto, in the labels/tags below this post.

We've seen the cherry blossoms many times around Toronto, but we always love seeing them at Robarts Library.

They weren't at their best, it has been very windy.

The glass extension was under construction the last time we were here. 

Here is a 2018 visit.

There are 1,200 individual and group study spaces located in the Robarts Common. Many seating configurations are available, all with power outlets close at hand.

Connections from the main Robarts Library building to the Common are:

2nd floor: Food Court, by the south end of Starbucks

3rd floor: Through the Media Commons

4th floor: Through the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation

5th floor: Through the Map & Data Library (temporarily closed due to construction)

We wanted lunch, and on the spur of the moment I led us into here. Local, non-chain, in the middle of the U of T campus, on Harbord.

I wanted to try a Japanese hot dog, and ordered the first combo I could see.

Thanks, John!

I had no idea what this was, a part of the combo, but I'm always game.

Tteokbokki is one of the most popular Korean street foods in Korea. Among other things, today’s recipe is made with Korean rice cakes, Korean fish cakes, Korean soup stock / dashi stock and gochujang (Korean chili paste)!

Sorry, no fans here!

John had a Japanese chicken katsu curry, which was delicious.

As we strolled along Harbord, we talked about the various places we remembered.

Alan Powell and Art Eggleton Lanes 

Boys of Major, Peperonata, Jewish Folk Choir Lanes 

Bagpipe Lane

Leah Cohen Lane

Frank Kovac Lane 

And the great ice cream place is now a sushi restaurant.

I had posted about the Rock Shop being for sale, a while ago, it still is.

There will be some Monday Mural and Signs posts in the near future.

 

U of T Graduate building

John made cappuccinos when we got home.

Picked up at the bakery, I threw out the expired jam we had in the fridge! This blueberry pastry was two breakfasts for me, it was gigantic.

I completed The 2026 Canadian census is the next scheduled detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Scheduled to occur on May 4, 2026, it follows the 2021 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 36,991,981. 

WEDNESDAY

Signs        

We spent the morning at home and headed out at 11:20 for lunch and theatre.

Building is coming along, I wrote about it here.

We didn't know what we wanted for lunch, Indian curry buffet or hamburgers at the new place on KIng? Figured we'd wing it. It was cold out so we went underground and ended up in the Simcoe Place food court. After looking at Greek, Asian, Jamaican, Burger King, Subway, we settled on Indian.

Neither of us thought it was great, other than being hot (spicy) there wasn't much flavour in the sauces. John had chicken vindaloo and I had lamb.

Time to kill, so we strolled through the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) looking at their exhibits.

They were setting up for The 2026 Canada Media Fund Kids' Choice Award May 6, 2026, as part of the Canadian Screen Awards programming.

Schitt's Creek!

Our destination! Not my photo.

 A Beautiful Noise is a jukebox musical highlighting Neil Diamond's life and career, featuring hits like "Sweet Caroline" and "Forever in Blue Jeans" that was developed in collaboration with Neil Diamond.

It was so good, so good, so good!

The musical focuses on a doctor (psychiatrist) helping an older Neil Diamond reflect on his life and music, charting his rise from a Brooklyn kid to a global superstar.

These sessions trigger a series of memories, with Neil–Now (Robert Westernberg) and the Doctor seated in leather armchairs, watching a younger version of Neil, (“Neil–Then,” Nick Fradiani) live out these flashbacks.

Fradiani is especially effective as Neil–Then, bringing an energetic, vibrant presence as a near-spot-on impression of Neil.

No photos allowed, so I garnered these online.

Mirvish promotional ad.

Interview on Global News with Nick Fradiani, Neil-Then.

It is the US national tour, the primary roles are led by American touring actors,

 Mary Page Nance plays the role of Marcia Murphey (New York) has an incredible voice. 

The Stadium Rally

Click here for the entire soundtrack.

Nick Fradiani 2015 American Idol Winner

THURSDAY

Throwback Thursday 

My Christmas cactus flowered!

We stayed in and did some chores before we headed out at 4 PM. 

I had just read about the "Great Beaver Quest" will see 48 painted beaver sculptures, representing FIFA World Cup countries, installed in Toronto's Old Town from May 1 – September 30, 2026, to celebrate the tournament. The public art project, in partnership with STEPS Public Art, celebrates the area's history and culture.

Well, guess what I found, hanging out in the King Edward, no less.

JAPAN

THE NETHERLANDS

We had been invited by our financial advisor for drinks and light bites at the King Edward Hotel.

He was a very entertaining and informative speaker.

Some photos from the King Edward Hotel.

 Opened in 1903, the hotel was initially planned to be named after Queen Victoria, but it was named in honor of her son, King Edward VII, upon his ascension to the throne.

He was the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, reigning from 1901 to 1910.

Known as "The King Eddy," it was Toronto's first luxury hotel, designed by E.J. Lennox.

The lobby features four giant, ornamental chess pieces in its lobby, which act as a key design element reflecting the hotel’s theme of "royalty, chess, and grandeur". These oversized art pieces define the lounge seating area.

We managed to get the 7:45 bus.

FRIDAY

I met my BFF at 11 and we took the subway to Yorkville, it was cold but sunny.

Going through Union.

We were going to see Les Fleurs de Ville, a free floral trail throughout the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood and discover more than 30 spectacular installations, including our signature fresh floral mannequins. New this year, local floral designers take centre stage as they transform flowers into original couture creations that embody the spirit of spring. 

Click here for the full post of Les Fleurs de Ville.

We saw 27/31 and had lunch. We put in 10,000 steps.

One Bloor West 85 stories.

Tiffany's is just down the block, this is, after all, the stretch of Bloor Street West between Yonge Street and Avenue Road known as Toronto’s "Mink Mile" or "Millionaire Row," representing Canada's most luxurious shopping and residential district. Located in the heart of the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, this area is widely recognized as one of the most expensive and prestigious retail corridors in North America.

Speaking of which, Dior's window was fabulous.

HMMM, two Irish writers featured in Dior?

Inside the Royal Hyatt on Avenue Rd.

We walked to the Museum subway station and caught this shot of the Planetarium being demolished. The McLaughlin Planetarium at 90 Queen’s Park has been closed since 1995.

As of April 2026, the building is being demolished to make way for the University of Toronto's new Centre for Civilizations, Cultures and Cities.

For once, this is NOT Ford's doing.

Haven't seen this local character in a while.

John returned the robot window cleaner, we never even tried it, just decided we didn't need it.

I did buy a new shower head. Ours is almost 12 years old and has an annoying dripping habit.

AROUND TOWN

Headlines are blaring:

Toronto’s transit system to face unprecedented tests when World Cup kicks off next month.

On the same note - the building sent this out.

Don Valley Parkway closed this weekend - Friday 11p-Monday 5a

110,000 cars on a usual DVP weekend. Down to zero.

Events this weekend:

Mother's Day

40K X 3 - Blue Jays

45K - TFC v Inter Miami

8K - Tempo tonight

20K - Sporting Life 10K

193,000 people need to get to where they’re going.

NONE of these events are happening next weekend. No Jays, no TFC, no Tempo. Because the Mayor's Office didn't bother to check the calendar.

Fans queued up hours early outside Rogers Centre for the Toronto Blue Jays' giveaway of Trey Yesavage Angry Bird replica jerseys ahead of their home series against the Angels. Long lines formed at gates like Gate 2 starting around noon.

The famous US chain Eggslut opened and based on the reviews I won't be rushing there. But then again, I do believe breakfast joints are way over priced! Eggs are cheap, people!

COOKING

I used up last summer's frozen strawberries for French toast sauce.

Like a good wife, I made sure John had a good breakfast before he headed out on Monday LOL, sausages and French toast (I had some leftover mix).

MENU

Saturday - Theatre salmon parmesan roasted potatoes lemon sauce and broccolini. Salmon skin wasn't crisp enough and we need smaller portions, 7 oz each is too much.

Sunday - pot roast with carrots onions potatoes celery and homemade stock

Monday - pot roast leftovers JOHN WOODEN STICKS GOLF steak frites and creme Brulé

Tuesday - Cinco de Mayo shrimp tacos

Wednesday - Hurry Curry popcorn

Thursday - King Edward buffet 

Friday - steak, mushrooms, parmesan onions (like the potatoes)

WATCHING

I now have 11 downloaded episodes of MasterChef Australia for binge watching.

We continued with Undercover.

READING

 

I finished Jemima J, a sappy, dreadful read. Just check out the Goodreads reviews.

I started  finished  The Woman at 72 Derry Lane, and I am enjoyed it, a little obvious, but a one day read.

Cookbooks

Sami mentioned loving Poppy's latest book, so I borrowed this one, only to realize she was talking about her latest, slow cooker.