Bananas, Burgers and Burton.

You ever had one of those days? You know the ones, when you can’t find your socks in the morning and as the day goes on every. Little. Thing. Goes. Wrong.

Yep, I had one of those days a few days ago,….

It started when I sat in the car ready for work and reached down to put my cell phone on the dash.. No cell phone? Where is it? I jumped back out of the car, ran into the house, back upstairs, downstairs and after searching found it sat on the coffee table. I am sure I didn’t put it there, but there it was.

I got to work and as there is a lack of spaces usually you park behind each other – moving your car if someone in front of you needs to get out. I usually try to park behind someone who doesn’t leave the office much. But today, somehow, I was one of the first there and had to park at the front. Of course when I went to leave shortly after I couldn’t find the person who was behind me!

My job for the day was simple – I had installed server software on a PC last week at a travel agents and was expecting to install software onto the PC’s of the agents themselves to connect to the server. But when I arrived I installed the first one and couldn’t ‘see’ the server. It turned out I had forgot to set the computer not to log off, so had to return to the office to pick up a monitor, keyboard and mouse, to log onto the standalone server to reset it. After a 30 minute round drive, I returned and failed in this simple task. It just wouldn’t work. So after an hour trying to solve this simple task I gave up and called tech support – a nice guy based in Arizona. He spent an hour looking at the same things I had looked at before giving up and reinstalling the entire software suite and re-setting everything I had done last week. He said he had no idea why it wasn’t working.

I then finished the software installation, before calling a different tech support in Florida as the customer told me he kept losing connection to the incoming phone lines. This fault also wasn’t solved after 2 hours on the phone, so I had to set up a reset overnight and hope the fault cleared.

My simple one hour day had taken 7 hours and I achieved very little apart from knowing whatever happened wasn’t my fault.

It was time to go home and this week was Burger week in Winnipeg. (Le burgerweek) when loads of Canadian Cities have restaurants making special burgers for one week only hoping to win the champion burger prize. Winnipeg has over 100 cafes and restaurants taking part this year including two of our favourites – Sherbrook Street Deli and 1958cafe, run by our old mate Ross. We decided to try the deli this evening and 1958 the next day. However, the deli closes at 5.30 so when Buffy said she was running late and wouldn’t make it home in time I headed round to pick up a burger as a takeaway and bring it home. The waiter was very happy to inform me that they were sold out when I arrived – Bugar - especially since we now know it won one of the best burger prizes. I had one more errand to run before the end of the shit day – There was just one thing on our shopping list – a shopping list that normally has multiple items at any time had just one – BANANAS. I had a feeling as I walked into Food Fare that it wouldn’t work out and so I stood, open mouthed, with a feeling of frustration and a little amusement as I stared at the completely empty Banana shelf. It was the cumulation of a shitty day and the final nail in the coffin.

Fuck you non existant bananas. Fuck you all the way home you bastards!

The next day was much better – Things went right at work and at home. It got even better when me and Herr Buffmeister III went to 1958 to try the ‘Smash that loaf’ burger. We went in, sat down and were joined by Adam and Alena who just happened to pick the same day and time to try the same burger.

The burger was great – a mini meatloaf wrapped in bacon and covered with a poached egg. Plus, lots of other flavours I loved. The best burger of burger week for me!

 

Smash that loaf

Smashed

Anyway, that was a couple of weeks ago – We have been busy since as normal, so here’s a little update on a few bits and bobs….

Another fine weekend was spent at the cabin - the weather was nice enough for a cooling swim in the lake and me and Buffy vied for world domination with a game of Risk - I wont tell you who won - Its not about the winning, but the taking part. 

Buffy 'Taking part'.

Morning at the lake

There were also a couple of unexpected guests at the lake that weekend - A pair of huge Bald eagles. We do see Bald eagles around sometimes but it is unusual for them to fly in and land in a tree right above the cabin. Buffy heard them chittering and we spotted them high up right above us and watched them for a good 20 minutes before they flew off into the wilderness. Cool!!

A pathetic jump I know - But proof I went in!

Last week we helped to celebrate Randy and Krys's wedding. Much like our wedding last year it turned into a rainy day, but the family of crazies that we all belong to didnt care and we had a great time watching the ceremony and then partying into the night - Buffy and Jon were also asked to play violin and guitar for the ceremony and did a great job. A great day -  so congratulations again to Krys and Randy and for keeping the crazy wedding ceremony tradition going!!

The crowd!

Susan is under the blanket!

Jon and Buffy play on

I cant help but smile!

The day after the wedding was my birthday - We had arranged a trip to the pub to watch the football with the usual crowd, but Buffy had also arranged for a whole load of friends to turn up too! Thanks to everyone for coming but especially Rebecca who brought little Holland down to give me a birthday card! Awesome!!

We got to see a couple of Winnipeg legends this last week –

First one of our local pubs was hosting an open mic night led by the lovely Al Simmons – a children’s performer by trade, but a lovely man with a wry sense of humour. Buffy even managed to spend a few minutes on stage chatting with him and breaking a Guinness world record (sort of) before she sang her songs.

Buffy and Al - a burgeoning double act..

Then this Friday we went to The Burton Cummings Theatre to see the man himself – Burton Cummings, in concert. I had never heard of Burton Cummings before coming back to Winnipeg, but a couple of years ago, heard a song on the radio – ‘Stand Tall’. I loved the song and when the announcer said the name Burton Cummings, I didn’t know he was from Winnipeg. I looked up the song online and found out! Anyway, we were out shopping and looking through old albums in a thrift shop a few weeks later and came across his album of greatest hits – How could you not love that face!!

We bought the album and when a few months later found out he was coming home to play some shows in the theatre that bears his name, we had to buy tickets.

 

Burton does his thing

 Stand Tall....

The end of the show

It was a great night – the crowd was a good mix of old and young and for a nearly 70-year-old man, he has some energy – playing a set of nearly 2 and ½ hours with no break – some newer performers could learn a thing or two about how to play a show. Also, the shows are being put on to help pay for some updates to teh aging but winderful old theatre. New seats are being planned, the bathrooms and lobby area are being modernised and there is a huge new sign outside that you can see for miles!! 

The brilliant new sign - in the shape of Manitoba!

Today is a lovely wet, autumnal Sunday afternoon. After a few beers at Stef’s apartment last night we had a nice lie in before breakfast at 1958. Then to walk off the food, we had a wander around Wolseley in the rain – enjoying a wander round one of the back lanes that is slowly turning into a little tourist destination. One of the residents is an artist that specialises in nature style pictures. She has been painting Canadian style pictures on garage doors and fences in this little back alley near us. It’s a lovely way to brighten up the area and something I hope can get even larger – such a nice way to spend a cold wet afternoon.

We then went home and put together our new, handmade tables – made by our good friend Lori, who also made our dining table. We have been oiling the table tops for the last week with tung oil and finally they are ready to be put together. We love them and they certainly make the front room look a little nicer. Thanks Lori!

Finishing touches

Complete

The last word for today must go to one of the local money lenders – I’m not saying I am super clever, but I just want to ask a question – what does % mean, because I don’t think they know and feel th eneed to explain!

Thanks for reading - watch out for leaves.