After supper on Friday (chicken wings) we watched The Martian, which was excellent.
Saturday, October 1 – Very pleasant weather most of the day, despite a chilly start. Drove to Creemore, about an hour north-east, where they were holding a two-day arts festival. Had sugar-heavy breakfast at the bakery (cherry Danish for me), before visiting the old station, where a couple of guys – guitar and bass – were singing Last Thing on my Mind, then various studio exhibitions. A few of them were excellent (eg Susan Auld, Martha Bull and a friend of Roger’s called Sarah); others were very average.
Visited a few shops too, and I chatted to a number of people. One guy liked Dot’s perfume or maybe just her. We took more sugar-heavy stuff home to eat with a cup of tea, and Dot bought one or two items. David is apparently not too bad, but his team lost to Arsenal, whereas ours beat Blackpool 1-0 away. Roger spent some time on his machine, cutting the lawn. Many messages saying last night’s NIE reunion went really well. Did a bit of reading and fell asleep. Lovely steak for supper – afterwards watched pilot of Lewis: excellent.
Sunday October 2 was quite cool to start with, but became warmer, especially in the sun. Had big breakfast at about 11am (pancakes, bacon, sausages and fruit) then half an hour later did a three-mile walk in the Albion Hills, genuinely just down the road, off Old Church Road. Nice autumn colours and a few turtles. Later read and slept a bit. David and Chrissy arrived just before 6pm, and we travelled to Orangeville for a meal at Greystones, paid for by David. Dot and I had lovely burger. Merry ride home, and all in bed by about 10.15pm.
Monday October 3 – Sunny with early frost. As I came down into the kitchen to get Dot an early cup of tea (Barbara, David and Chrissy were there) three coyotes walked across the frosty lawn. I was too slow, but Chrissy got a couple of pix, which she sent me. David and Chrissy did work in the small room: we had breakfast. Dot and I went out for a walk, then David, Dot and I had a talk out on the deck while Barbara was cooking the lunch.
Afterwards, David and Chrissy left, and the four of us went for another shortish walk. Having problems with itchy ankles and shins for some reason. Did a bit of reading after we got back. E-mail from brother Phil saying he was having an operation to repair an umbilical hernia at King’s Lynn on Wednesday. Later watched a couple of episodes of Lewis, then went to bed.
Tuesday October 4 was our last full day; beginning to feel tense. Latish breakfast – scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Finished reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, which was often good. Went for a walk in the Hockley Valley and found a weird caterpillar. Quite good views, but felt very tired , as I did for most of the day. Later had salmon and mashed potatoes, and a discussion about Covid which wasn’t very helpful. Sent some photos of our Orangeville meal to David at his request. Later watched another Lewis episode – one of the best.
Wednesday October 5 – Bad night, undoubtedly because we’re leaving today and I “discovered” that our seats on the plane weren’t together. However I checked in this morning and found I could change Dot’s seat to next to mine. We did most of our packing before breakfast, and afterwards Dot and I walked right and down to Mount Hope Road, then 100 yards or so up it. Very quiet except for man delivering mail to boxes. Back home via Scott Road.