The Oxford Cafe

Mainly sunny, temps minus 5

Glorious day. Lots of fun yesterday - can't quite believe we got everything done without annoying everyone, mostly ourselves. It started off really well at the eye doc. We can, and have, sat there for 3 hours waiting...but this time he took us immediately and Michael was in and out in an hour. Eyes great! Small issue perhaps with the right eye - pressure a little high - but he has an appointment with the glaucoma man when we get back. Then off to do some fast chores...see our friend Sharon's painting in Cafe Creme - a coffee shop/gallery in Westmount. Then we met Jim and Sharon for lunch at another cafe/gallery.

Sharon is full of life and energy and beans. Great artist and wonderful friend. Such a joy seeing them both.

Then off to Charlie's hockey game. Thank God they had heaters in the area. Those places can be refrigerators. Close game...the other team's goalie was fantastic. And the woman sitting next to me - we struck up a conversation she was there to root on her grandson - pointed out that the other team was both girls and boys. Indeed, their best player, by far, was a girl. But until she pointed it out I hadnm't noticed. So much padding. Only the hair sticking out was a clue.

Charlie is a wonderful player. Very fast, very skilled. And his team one. But a squeaker...1-0.

I dropped by the locker room to give him a mass of fudge from the Sutton fudge lady. Enough to share. Then scooted over to the funeral home for Ron Jamieson's visitation. He was 93 and owned as little red sports car. Very lively man. So this really was a celebration.

Then home - and Michael and his son went off for dinner and I watched a fun documentary on Valentino. The designer.

I must admit I wasn't even tempted to watch the telethon on Haiti. We've given quite a bit of money and I just could not stand to see more of the suffering, or hear about it. Perhaps in a few days. I still watch the news. Still organizing an event in the village for when we return, as a fundraiser.

Needed, and took, time 'off'.

This morning Michael and I met sister-in-law Mary (Charlie's mother) and her mother Marg - visiting from Toronto - for breakfast. At Jim and Sharon's suggestion we tried out a place that was new to us - but close to Lower Canada College, where Charlie's hockey tournament is being played. An old style, bit worn, Ma and Pa diner called the Oxford Cafe, in the Notre-dame-de-Grace area. We had a booth, and shared our breakfasts of Eggs Benedict, plain pancakes, mango and black current pancake, fruit plate and bacon. And syrup. And hot chocolates and coffee.

Yuuuum. As you can see, we are in training for Sandals. Hate to have our stomaches shrink.

And now home for a quite afternoon. Bliss.

Speak to you tomorrow.