Opening the Cottage and a Side Trip to Marks Point Park

May 31, 2026

Last week, our daughter, Andrea offered to drive with me to the cottage to open it up for the season. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

We left Sunday morning and arrived at the ferry dock about an hour early. It was a beautiful day. The new ferry wasn’t up and running yet but it was the last day for the Sandy Graham. Starting today a barge is taking its place until the new boat passes inspection.

When we arrived at the cottage we went to see our neighbours and shared some tea before the work began. We heard stories about how bad the mouse infestation was for some of our other neighbours. Fingers crossed, we opened the cottage to find only one dead mouse and minimal evidence that mice had even been there. We wiped down all the counters, swept the floors, put the deck furniture back outside, unpacked all the cushions, set up the BBQ and racked the leaves off the pathways and the deck.

Not wanting to return on the barge the next day we decided to take the old ferry back to the mainland that evening and have dinner at Andrea’s cottage which was only 10 minutes away. Seeing we weren’t rushed for time we decided to explore a road that we don’t normally take. We took it as far as it went and ended up at a very small park called Marks Point. We parked the car and walked towards the water.

There wasn’t much to see so after 10 minutes we got back into the car and drove to Andrea’s cottage. The lot next to her place had recently sold and the new owners had cleared out quite a few trees. Hopefully that is all that they’re planning to take out. It certainly changes Andrea’s and Josie’s view but there is more sun on their deck.

What Londoners Do on a Sunny Saturday

….in Stoke Newington

Line up for ice-cream
Go for a Family Bike Ride
Head for the Park
Go for a Walk
Enjoy the Sun from a Bench
Have a Hen Party in the Park
Check out the Weekend Fun Fair
Enjoying a Slice of Pizza for Lunch
Sitting by the River
Enjoying a Drink Outside the Pub

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Tunnels

thanks to Sue W and Gerry C for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2026/03/21/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-tunnel/

Tunnel in London, King’s Cross St. Pancras
Entrance to the Greenish Footway Tunnel
Tunnel in Westport, Ireland

Excessive – Weekend Challenge

thanks to Sue W and Gerry C for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2025/11/22/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-excessive/

Some people can never have enough candy or sweets but when you see it displayed row upon row and in giant pastry cases you have to wonder if are obsession with sugar isn’t somewhat excessive. On the flip side, though, I find it overly frugal when individuals can make a chocolate bar last an entire week or take their Hallowe’en stash and spread it out over months.

A Day of Learning to Ride a Bike, Trekking to Argos and Ending the Day at the Pub to Watch Arsenal Women Win the Championship

Today started out slowly. We were waiting for our eldest daughter to arrive in London from Toronto before heading out for the day.

After Andrea arrived we took Sevin outside to practise learning how to ride her bike. She took a few spins of the driveway with her father close behind before we walked to Argos to pick up some pillows that we had ordered earlier in the day.

The walk to Argo’s was substantial and we stopped at a famous noodle house for a bite to eat. More about that tomorrow.

We also stopped at a Waitrose to pick up a few more groceries and decided to take a bus back home. We wanted to get back home in time to catch the UEFA Women’s Champions League at one of the local pubs.

After missing one bus because the driver didn’t stop, waiting for a second bus and then having to walk a ways we finally got home, put away the food and made our way to the pub with the whole family.

The first two pubs were packed and one didn’t allow children. We ended up in the pub closest to our flat and we got there in time to see Arsenal score the first and only point of the game. The pub erupted in cheers when the hometown team won the championship.

Sevin was delighted with the outcome and thoroughly enjoyed her pizza and chips.

A Week of Art

enjoying other people’s art

Last Thursday I enjoyed a concert in the afternoon put on by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto. They featured the tenor Asitha Tennekoon with pianist Steven Philcox and a string quartet. Here is short description of this man’s musical journey into opera.

https://www.amplifiedopera.com/asitha-tennekoon

After this very moving concert I walked over WAAC and took in the the show featuring photography for this year’s Contact Show.

On Saturday Kevin and I drove to the Better Living Building and spent a couple hours exploring the beautiful art at the Toronto Art Project. It was fun meeting artists that we followed on Instagram and conversing with new artists.

On Saturday Kevin and I continued our our art filled weekend and took the train into the city and enjoyed an afternoon listening to a big band group of young people , the Angela Pincente Orchestra at the famous Rex.

The Rex is Toronto’s oldest jazz club.https://www.therex.ca/events/angela-pincente-large-ensemble-9gmm4-txnft-w799d-h3m7j