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 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Weekly Wonders

February 6, 2026 - Toronto ON

BANGKOK THAILAND

It was our usual weekend staying at home, although John did brave the frigid temperatures to walk over to the bank branch to attempt to fix his ongoing online issue.

WOO HOO - FIXED. Now if only they had listened to us in the first place, we/they could have save hours of time! It was the old landline phone number that was attached to his account!!

I helped John solve his gmail font shrinking problem by turning off the pinch/zoom function.

John's grandson was interviewed here, after winning a big game.

SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 1 - BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Congratulations! We made it through the year of January!

The moon was still shining brightly when I got up.

MONDAY

Monday Mural Bangkok Thailand

Foto Tunes Vietnam

Today was Groundhog Day

I froze 5 bananas from the Costco run, now we can make banana bread!

They must be gutting the sold condo next door, it was 3 days X 8 hrs of non-stop drilling. We just got a noise warning for next week for our floor.

John had an eye appointment up at Yonge and Davisville.

Living with the snowstorm aftermath.

Walking down to Longo's.

We have our own ICE warnings - sign in middle of photo.

And just like that we were fogged in.

I took photos before they come to replace our track lighting Wednesday. The last track, by the window, will not be replaced.

TUESDAY

Black History Month

I set the oven timer for this morning so I could bake some frozen scones for John. I had one in the afternoon and it was good!

I did another cleanup of my drafts folder. I also did my monthly laptop maintenance.

John worked on a problem with his laptop for most of the afternoon, bad/missing drivers.

I did a vegetable run to Costco, to get some fresh air as well.

WEDNESDAY

I added to my Chips collection.

The work continued next door, but it was perfect to muffle the noise of our electrician replacing our track lights.

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They were missing a connector and the electrician was really ticked and would have to come back on Thursday.

Hall light replaced.

There was some sort of promotion being set up at Union Station. 

This year FanDuel is celebrating the Coin Toss at the Super Bowl with the Flip of Destiny, where you can win by calling Heads or Tails. An exciting addition to choosing online, is the Flip of Destiny arches, where Union Station visitors can choose Heads or Tails and the results will be tabulated from February 2nd until February 8th. Historically Heads has been called 28 times and Tails 31.

I went to College Park and got a couple of spring tops in Winners and then to Farm Boy.

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I did well on a pork shoulder for pulled pork.

THURSDAY

I went for a haircut at 9:30. I cut through the Royal York Hotel on my way back.

Love this ad, we will have to check it out.

Kyle came back to connect the lighting. He moved it a bit forward on this wall.

We took down the stuff that was on top of the bar, yes, there is one left in this photo, but it came down. The lantern, which I didn't even know was up there, is being decluttered. 

FRIDAY

Honestly, I haven't felt the last few days to be that cold!!! I did walk underground to Union though, because we had a dusting of snow overnight and the streets were greasy. I did a grocery run.

I did some paper shredding and a few other chores.

The condo weekly newsletter had this cute image.

I guess John really does want new wine glasses, he broke two this week!

IN LOCAL NEWS

LATEST - Full GO Transit train service expected to resume Saturday after earlier derailment: Metrolinx

GO trains still running on modified schedule 3 days after Union Station derailment.
Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West trains were delayed, cancelled Wednesday evening due to an equipment issue.

Suspect arrested after stolen vehicle driven into Queens Quay streetcar tunnel: Toronto police.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle into the Queens Quay streetcar tunnel and fleeing the scene on Tuesday morning.

Eglinton LRT is FINALLY opening on Sunday

Update expected in Frank Stronach case after Toronto sexual assault trial delayed.

The 93-year-old tycoon, who became one of Canada’s wealthiest people as the founder of the auto parts manufacturer Magna International, is facing 12 charges related to seven complainants.

UPCOMING

COOKING

Saturday ham (freezer - the last piece) mustard mashed potatoes broccolini

Sunday ribs (prepared/frozen) potato salad

Monday curry chicken

Tuesday GF quiche (leftover ham, gruyere (leftover from onion soup) and broccolini) and salad

Wednesday bulgogi (last of the frozen), snow  peas, bean sprouts, onions and rice. I made extra sauce using this delicious recipe (new)

Thursday bacon, turnips and mashed potatoes

Friday steak scored potatoes (new) and mushrooms. these potatoes were a hit, and a nice change.

WATCHING

Narcos is an American crime drama television series. Set and filmed in Colombia, seasons 1 and 2 are about Colombian narcoterrorist and drug lord Pablo Escobar, leader of the Medellín Cartel and billionaire through cocaine production and distribution. The series also focuses on Escobar's interactions with drug lords, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, and various opposition entities. Season 3 picks up after the fall of Escobar and continues to follow the DEA as they try to shut down the rise of the infamous Cali Cartel.

I started The Traitors UK. I've never heard anything about the series. It is interesting from a human perspective.

READING

Black History Month at Toronto Public Library

BOOKS TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

I didn't have a great reading week, it happens.

I read The Switch in a day, it started so promisingly, then went downhill. I mean really, didn't you take into account CCTVs and alarm systems have data recording. Then, that ending?????????

I had on started Fall from Grace while we were away, but my downloaded version only had a third of the book, so I borrowed it again. Sorry, I like his books, but who wouldn't have made copies/scanned all the pertinent information and kept it in another safe location rather than only at home?

Chasing the Dead, I found this a bit boring, perhaps because I thought the concept was a bit far-fetched, but who knows, stranger things happen.

I flipped through some library magazines.

Where Coffee Meets Your Mood

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

January 16, 2026 - Toronto ON

Chiang Mai Thailand

SATURDAY SUNDAY

There is something to be said for winter weekend mornings. They unfold more slowly as we can sleep in later, relax with our coffee(s). 

This is definitely our Sundays!

This year, I/we are trying to bake something every weekend so we can have a supply for breakfasts. John is enjoying learning about baking and even flipped through my Learn to Bake by Paul Hollywood. I get him set up, and follow behind him cleaning up, which makes the job go quickly. I also supply the music.

I came across this on FB! And my cousin in England gave it a thumbs up!

I spent more time than I usually would, researching a new manual, hand held juicer. We've had two kinds, the latest one spurts the juice every which way. I settled on this. REVIEW BELOW

I also ordered some flameless candles and dessert plates (I love them) for the dining room.

Amazon reminded me that we needed gluten free saltine crackers, so I bought 5 to get the 5% discount, this should do us for the year. Amazon suggested I bundle them "to save on packaging" for delivery together on Tuesday. When you offer me a discount for doing that, I will.

John settled in for his sports Sunday, although he did bake!

I talked to my friend in the retirement home, she is not in great shape, between her scoliosis and sciatica pain. 

I did a couple of blog posts.

I caught up on reading blogs. I sewed on the button that fell out John's new bamboo shirt the first time I washed it! I stuck on the groom's hat, once again!

 

Both Amazon items arrived at the same time.

The  juicer is going back, it did not come in a manufacturer's box, it looked like it fell off the back of a truck, very rough around the edges and it is too big!! 

Box as per listing and online image - metal looks nothing like this.

John started to feel a little strange, woozy, around 4, I asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, he said no. Then he said his balance was off. I kept checking on him.

He finally said he felt high! I got him settled and noticed he had the tin of Rescue and I asked why? 

He said oh it had spilled and he just took a couple! He had bought them (on the shelf) for his anxiety when travelling. he usually only takes one. Once he realized what he'd done, he thought it was funny, I didn't! I was so stressed out.

MONDAY

I didn't sleep well, and got up at 7 all hyper!!

Call me impressed. The electrician got back to me at 7:45 AM requesting my e-mail for his estimate.

I got the return ready for Amazon. Did a couple of posts. Sorted some more trip photos, I continue to wean out the meaningless ones.

We had all the laundry folded and put away by 10. 

I brought my Uber claim to the office.

We started preparing our dinner menu for company on the weekend.

YAY, the shuttle bus (from the accident) is back in service.

We popped out hoping to find more of the Quality Street chocolates, but no luck. Did buy some more of the chips at 2 for $2.22.

I took grief from T for not taking better care of my plants! Sorry, plants, I'll try to do better. I had to throw one out.

TUESDAY

We fixed up the bottles on the bar that had lights in them, they needed new batteries. It's amazing what can get done when you put your mind to it.

We moved the robot vacuum, Parnell, into the bedroom.

There were more odds and sods jobs done. 

I went to Rexall for seniors day, but couldn't find my card! I think I left it on the counter in Commerce Court, I'll have to go in there this week.

This sign was on the door to the loading dock.

It was BOGO at Longo's, I got two packs of cherry tomatoes, $5.

I got the charity bags ready for John to take in. He also returned the juicer, got the car washed and picked up white wine for our visitors. He also scored some yogurt on sale at No Frills.

WEDNESDAY

I slept in *sigh*, I hate that.

It's seniors day at Bulk Barn, with prices these days, you have to take advantage of what you can.

We were on the subway and we are coming into Dundas Station when it announces TMU station??? I know TMU is at Dundas - Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson, big scandal etc). But renaming the stop, was news to me. All the signs had been replaced.

Toronto's Dundas Station was officially renamed TMU Station (for Toronto Metropolitan University) in December 2025, a change funded by the university as part of a partnership with the TTC to address historical concerns about the original namesake, Henry Dundas, and to foster transit innovation. The rebranding, which replaced signs and announcements, followed the removal of Henry Dundas's name from other city assets, like Yonge-Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square).

John said he didn't remember visiting the Toronto Police Museum as we walked by.

Interesting, John mentioned he'd never come out from the subway directly to the TB escalator up to Front St. before.

When we got home, John made popcorn and we watched a movie. I brought out my knitting.

The candles and dishes I ordered arrived. Why do they use that awful Styrofoam on the dishes? It sticks to everything!

Watching Jeopardy, and I got one of the river questions Bangkok right, it was the river we did a dinner cruise on.

THURSDAY

And we got our snow storm! It's a Snow Day!

Most schools and businesses closed for the day. Traffic got lighter and lighter.

We hunkered down and enjoyed. We hung a couple of pictures, rearranged some plants, picked up the balcony plants that had fallen over.

Our dinner nook. 

I made strawberry limoncello granita!

By noon the shuttle bus had been cancelled. The plows were out in full force.

1 PM

City of Toronto - While the Major Snowstorm Condition is in effect for Toronto, residents are encouraged to use public transit and leave vehicles at home. 

Vehicles parked on snow routes will be towed at the owner’s expense until the declaration has been lifted. 

We are slowly completing our trip posts. I started on our Japan recap.

FRIDAY

I prepped as much as I could for dinner tomorrow. 

I even brought out my sewing machine to get it set up to make some pillow shams. John did a great job threading it for me, but then the bobbin got twisted. I'll get back to them.

John did a grocery run to Metro for odds and ends. He did pick up pork chops for a good price, 4 decent sized for $6, that's two meals for us.  Butter was also on special so he grabbed some.

We actually didn't really stop all day. In fact, I was in the kitchen for so long, I didn't even realize we got more snow.

John was reading my blog and said I guess we won't be going to the States in the future (we definitely have no plans!!!) because of my anti-U$ posts! 

Winterlicious starts this week, we need to pick a couple of spots. Here's a sample of 25 on the list, several of these I would love to try.

And talking about restaurants, British cuisine is having a moment in Toronto and where to find it.

Irish style Chinese food?????

COOKING

I came across this old post about ice cream and thought it was a fun read.

I am working hard on not wasting food! I was going to cook a frozen roast beef on the weekend, but Friday's steak was so big we used the rest on Saturday. The roast beef will be for company on Saturday, perfect!

We are still trying to eat out of the fridge/freezer/pantry. We had sausages for lunch on Sunday. The chicken was in the freezer for the divan. 

I used up another frozen soup stock, this time beef, for lunches.

John baked blueberry breakfast crumb cake and it was good! We had it for breakfast with yogurt all week.

Saturday leftover steak quesadillas. John really enjoyed the leftover steak this way.

Sunday chicken divan - to use the broccolini John bought and finish the naan bread

Monday leftover chicken divan

Tuesday hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and beans

Wednesday pork schnitzel (2 pork chops freezer) potato salad beans 

Thursday liver (freezer) fried onions and mashed potatoes

Friday crying tiger steak roast potatoes. John is experimenting. It was very good, the sauce would be great on ceviche. Neither of us thought the marinade added any value.

I thought this lemon drop sounded interesting so I went looking for a recipe. 

WATCHING

John and I finished MasterChef Australia 2021 together. I bought the winner, Justin Narayan's cookbook, because we watched and enjoyed him. Justin and Pete were just a joy to see their friendship.

 I'm catching up on My Kitchen Rules Australia season 15.

This City is Ours is a British crime drama television series. Set in Liverpool, in May 2025, it was renewed for a second series. The series centres around Liverpudlian crime boss Ronnie Phelan, whose desire to retire from criminal life, after one last major drug deal, triggers an intense power struggle between his long-time right-hand man, Michael Kavanagh, and Phelan's impetuous son Jamie.

We watched Rogue City 2020 Caught in the cross hairs of police corruption and Marseille's warring gangs, a loyal cop must protect his squad by taking matters into his own hands. This was very good!

One Battle after Another  2025 When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

She Walks in Darkness  2025  young Spanish civil guard goes undercover within ETA, the Basque separatist group, spending over a decade locating their hideouts in the South of France. This was really interesting and I now want to read more about the Basque.

We watched the latest season of Landman.

I watched Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story 2025. Unravel the case of Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, whose child abuse arrest with parenting Youtuber Ruby Franke exposed a twisted tale of manipulation.

Vanished at Sea Amy Bradley Story March 24, 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley, 23, is enjoying a family cruise vacation when Amy suddenly vanishes without a trace. This twist-filled 3-part documentary mystery explores the theories, and a family's desperate search for the truth.

The Carmen Family Deaths A fishing trip ends in tragedy when Linda Carman vanishes at sea leaving her son Nathan adrift for days. His rescue stirs up questions about his grandfather's murder and ignites a battle over inheritance that leads to shocking revelations.

READING

I subscribed to BookPage, thanks, Tina! I have been so busy unsubscribing from various newsletters, I am excited for a new one.

I read The Red Letter, my first by Daniel G. Miller, not that I particularly cared about the characters, too trite. But it dealt with the Catholic Church so I always enjoy seeing the hypocrisy and misogyny blossoming there. 

I finally get to read a Freida McFadden, our library has only had her audio books, and I don't have the patience for them. The Perfect Son WOW I never saw that coming!

I finished another Freida, The Locked Door, was okay, another twisted end.

I started One by One, and am really enjoying it!

John is reading Hidden Order by Brad Thor. Sadly, the bad guys are Americans but the topic is very much aligned with today's challenges: The Federal Reserve and FBI management.

Now this is scary!!