Spring sprung a leak

Sunday, 22 March, 2026

It’s one month since we moved in. The second bedroom is full of boxes waiting to be unpacked or put away. Until we have a longer-term commitment, we won’t be changing anything. We want to, and it’s a long list. For now things feel messy. On Friday after my hospital visit, I came upstairs, took a photo – it was my Spring Equinox set – and almost didn’t post it. Seriously messy. Seriously real.

It’s a little better when seen from the couch. Our TV had been so far away that it strained our eyes to look at it, so we moved it closer. I thought, hoped, the coffee table would be a temporary measure, but Krish is keen to keep it. I do hope that won’t be the case. The coffee table isn’t my style, but I suppose it’s serving a purpose right now, and it’s nice to have the TV for relaxing.

There was a rare treat this week. We unpacked one of the boxes from our shipping container. Everything has sat in storage since November 2022. I was beginning to think I would never see our belongings again, but we needed frying pans and it made sense to rescue our own. So pleased about this.

I have my quiet mornings waiting to work. It’s snowed on and off for ages now, like winter can’t bear to go. One morning, looking up from the table where I was setting up my laptop, I noticed the light, the snow, the pale blue of the sky and thought perhaps I might be in Scandinavia. Throughout the snowy days, the people opposite still need to smoke, even during b;ixxards. Nordic it might look out there, but still quintessentially Canadian.

Winter passes, and Spring is next. Speaking of Spring, it came in very, very wet. It continues that way. At least the rain isn’t freezing anymore. That’s the worst kind of winter weather.

Spring in Toronto is funny, anyway. One day snow, the next warm, then a blizzard and so on. They say Toronto has eleven seasons:

• Winter: Cold, grey, and long.
• Fool’s Spring: One 15°C day in March where everyone wears shorts, followed by immediate regret.
• Second Winter: Snow returns right after you put your winter boots away.
• Spring of Deception: It looks sunny, but the wind is biting.
• Third Winter: A surprise April snowstorm.
• The Pollening: Everything turns yellow, and everyone sneezes.
• Actual Spring: Lasts approximately 3 days.
• Summer: High temperatures, high humidity, and nonstop patio time.
• False Fall: A nice, crisp day in September.
• Second Summer: Hot weather returns, causing panic over air conditioning.
• Actual Fall: Leaves turn brown, and construction season finally ends.

While this may seem silly, it’s remarkably true.

My friend, Judy, had asked me if I was interested in one of the restaurants her gym friends had recommended. Of the two, she chose a Korean hotpot place not too far away. The bus was late picking me up, but I got there in good time. My only other hotpot experience had been a shared (with Robin) pot of both on a hotplate that kept it simmering. That time, we collected some ingredients and cooked them ourselves in the broth before drinking it. This was different. We collected a metal bowl and some tongs and then moved along a long counter filled with meats, fish, vegetables and noodles. A server helped us understand what each thing was.

I chose lamb rolls, a pork belly roll, shrimp, squid rings, enoki mushrooms, tofu, Shanghai bok choy, kelp shoots, and a Chinese doughnut (looking just like a mini Yorkshire pudding). At the counter, they weighed it – it came to around $13, less than expected – and I chose a broth. Mala with sesame. A slightly spicy choice and a good one. They brought the bowl to the table when everything was cooked, along with a drink. After the meal, we got a mini Yube soft-serve cone, a lovely ending to a delicious and comforting meal. I’ll go again and make some different choices.

I’m lucky to have the WheelTrans option. It sometimes feels like I’m cheating, but, quite honestly,I don’t know if I’d go out much without it. They have buses, accessible taxis and regular taxis. On the day I met Judy,  it was a bus. The drivers are excellent and help you every step of the way. The downside is that they hold more people, so there are often pick-ups and drop-offs that turn short rides into excursions. Because of all the activity, along with crazy Toronto traffic and roadworks, they can be late. I stood outside in minus 13 just over a week ago, and I waited for 45 minutes. Not good, but how do I complain about this fantastic service, a first-class ride for the price of a bus ticket?

I also took another walk to Contra Cafe on an unusually mild day. There are some odd houses in this neighbourhood, and I’m reacquainting myself with them. There are some strange garden decorations, the art house, the rubbish house and the Greek house. I’ll have to reconnect and check them all out more closely when the weather warms up even more.

There are also some colourful utility boxes along the way. These are on Shaw Street.

I got inspired by the Hotpot, and I skipped the hospital cooking class that day. A friend shared a recipe from the class, and I made it at home. I ad-libbed a miso, carrot and ginger soup and added some shrimp instead of chicken. Enjoyable!

And another insider’s treat with the next photo.

Friday Photos (20 March, Spring Equinox)