January 31, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Walking.

This is the best place for walking, especially at this time of year. A cool breeze always comes off the ocean. The temperature is moderate. Today was 74 degrees and cloudy. Even at the warmest days it never goes over 85. And the walking paths are shaded so even if the sun is shining you are able to walk comfortably. And it is level ground. Add all those factors together and you realize that walking in Nuevo Vallarta is pleasant. So we all walk every day. Wendy and Ken walk on the beach every day. One time they walk north and the next time they walk south. Usually they walk morning and afternoon. Ian has decided to walk twice a day too. He walks with Rita after breakfast. They walk on the sidewalk or on the bicycle path. This morning they walked a long way to see all the other resorts. And in the evening after dinner they walk around the building but within the compound. Rita walks everywhere and always walks her 10,000 steps. Today she went way over and she was tired so she went to bed early. I only go off the resort if someone comes with me so mostly I walk at home. Today I walked around the building before walking to the pool. Last evening I walked on the balcony, which is the easiest place for me to walk. I try to walk 5,000 steps or more. If I do not walk 3,000 steps a day my legs hurt during the night but if I walk over 7,000 steps my legs are even worse. So I try to keep a balance. Walking here in Nuevo Vallarta is a pleasure. I feel just like the baby bear: Not too cold or not too hot, but just right.

January 30, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Pedicure.

I am always a bit irritated when I have a pedicure in Mexico. I expect the procedure to be substantially cheaper than in Mississippi. And it is not. The same is true for a massage at the spa. The charge is about the same as in the US. I feel sure that the ladies doing the treatment gets much less salary than at home but my charge is the same. The dentist costs more than half for the same or better service so what about the pedicure? But while I am here I always have a pedicure at least once so I put up with the price. I notice that the routine is different too. She started out by sanding my feet. Next was putting lotion on my legs and giving me a calf and foot massage, the part of my pedicure that I love. Finally she cut my toe nails and finally put on polish. I have had no polish on my toe nails because I developed white flecks so I left them alone to rest. Wendy had blue polish so I did the same. I selected navy blue. I call them my Salvation Army blue polish. The lady was competent and pleasant, chattering away the whole time. I of course, can not understand but I answer anyway in English. She has no idea what I am saying to her, nor her to me. But we had a good conversation anyway. The business is booming. All morning folks were coming making appointments. The day was fully booked so appointments were being made for two days ahead. One lady in the shop speaks English so she makes the appointments. The place is clean and well appointed so I was happy. I was pleased to see the amount of business. That is a good sign that tourists have returned. Now I am set until I return to Mississippi.

January 29, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Mexican Cotton.

Here I wear only Mexican cotton. When we first started living here in the winter many years ago, we met a lady who makes shirts for both ladies and men. And she makes them all from Mexican cotton, which is very light, a perfect weight for this climate. Both Ken and I have been wearing those shirts ever since. The first time I met her at the Plaza I bought two tops, one in green and one in light brown. Obviously I wore the green top a lot because this year I ripped the seam and the top edges were flayed. Rita went looking for the same lady in the Plaza and she found her. She used to be on the second floor. Now she is on the first level, Yesterday Rita and I visited her to see if she was still making the same blouse. I liked them because they have big pockets. She remembered making that style but she no longer sells them. But she agreed to make two for me. We selected the colors. Rita took my ripped shirt so she could make a pattern. Next Tuesday my shirts will be ready. I will be able to wear those shirts for the next ten years at least. This cotton can not be purchased in the US. Even in the south it is nowhere to be found. When I ask in the stores, they just tell me it is Mexican Cotton. I love the fabric. Now I will have two new Mexican cotton shirts to go along with my half dozen in my drawer. I am a lucky lady...and very comfortable too, wearing my Mexican Cotton shirts.

January 28, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Palapa 509.

On the beach in front of Playa Royale are multiple little thatch roof huts with a small table in the center. They are called a palapa. There are five rows with at least 25 columns. Each palapa comes with two lounge chairs and two regular chairs. Obviously, the best palapas are closest to the water which is row 5. Ken is in charge of securing a palapa. Right after breakfast, Ken takes his book and towel and heads to the beach. Wendy joins him after a second cup of coffee with me. His favorite is palapa 509. It is close to the water. Plus the roof is low which provides more shade. During the day, in order to stay in the shade you must move the chairs. Mostly, Ken is able to secure 509 but this morning we went to the market so he was only able to secure 409, one row back. Yesterday Ken was steps away from his favorite palapa when another couple beat him by a second. He was relegated to 409. The rule is that if you leave your palapa for over an hour, the staff is supposed to move your stuff so someone else can use the palapa. Wendy and Ken watched when the folks in 509 went for a walk. But they returned in just over an hour. In truth, the staff does not enforce the rules anyway. After fifteen minutes, the folks in 509 got up to leave so Wendy and Ken were about to take over 509 but someone else swooped down and claimed it. Dissed again. We call it the palapa war. Fortunately, there are lots of them both on the beach and by the pool. We have fun every morning as Ken heads to the beach to claim their favorite palapa. I want him to send up a war chant of success whenever he has claimed 509 which they both call "our palapa". But so far no war chant. But most of the time he its successful. And everyone is happy at palapa 509.

January 27, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Mexican Breakfast.

I started off my morning by drinking a cup of good strong coffee, made by Wendy. I was sitting on the balcony. Soon, Wendy brought me breakfast which I called my Mexican breakfast. I know I could eat this same breakfast any where in the world but sitting on the balcony overlooking the Pacific made me feel as if it was a Mexican breakfast. It was delicious. Half of my large plate held cut up papaya. It was perfectly ripe. I had a big mound. On the other half of my plate I had a piece of avocado toast. The bread was multi grain and tasty and the avocado was soft and ripe, which was perfect. And I had thick avocado over every part of the toast. I ate every bit of every piece on my plate. Wendy always brings me breakfast while I am sitting on the balcony. Sometimes she brings me toast and cheese and sometimes she brings peanut butter and banana on toast. Sometimes I get yogurt. I always get fruit too. So my breakfasts are always good. But today was extra special. And I loved every swallow.

January 26, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Mega.

The Mega is a large grocery store. Wendy, Ken and I made a visit the day after our arrival. It has lasted us for three weeks. All three of us loaded our individual carts. Much to my surprise, we did not overlap, except for butter. But now Rita and Ian are here so the decision was made that Wendy, Ken and Rita would take the taxi to the Mega while Ian and I would stay home. The three ladies made a list on Wendy's phone, which was transferred to Rita's phone. They were set. Right after breakfast, they headed off, full of vim and vigor. When they returned, they took three carts to bring the groceries up to the condo. They told me that the trunk of the taxi was full, Ken had bags at his feet in the front seat and Rita and Wendy had bags between them in the back seat. Our kitchen is not small but the counters were full unloading the carts. Finally the extra bags got lifted to the floor. We had groceries everywhere. I sat at the bar and cheered while Ian returned the carts downstairs. Then I watched in amazement as all the stuff was put away. All three helped and soon the shelves were full, The freezer was full. The pantry was full. The fridge was jammed with food. It was a cook's paradise. Hats off to Wendy, Rita and Ken for filling our larder. We certainly will not starve any time soon. And that is a good thing.

January 25, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Water Weights.

Every time I get into the swimming pool, I perform my exercises in the deep water, using the same ones I do using small weights at home. In order to compensate for the lack of weights, I use the resistance of the water, plus I do them twice. And I work my legs by doing several hundred bicycle peddles, all in the deep water. It is not perfect but it works to keep me somewhat fit. When Kathy arrived, she told me that for Christmas, she was given a set of water weights, which she would be trying out for the first time. I was interested. This week, when Kathy saws me in the water, she come over and gave me her new water weights. She showed me how she had used them and gave me more suggestions. I worked with them for about thirty minutes. In order to perform my exercises I was forced to keep my feet on the bottom, which tells me the exercises are harder. No problems. I liked them. Two days later I borrowed them again and performed all my old drill plus a bunch more. The weights are light but the resistance against the water makes the work harder. I worked harder. The next day my arms and shoulders were sore. I had overworked my muscles. I have not been to the pool since. These water weights work but I must work my muscles slowly. I know better but I was just trying out a bunch of different exercises. When I get home to Mississippi, I will order two pair: one to keep in Mississippi and one to bring to Mexico. The weights give a good work out. I was surprised how effective they were. From now on, I will go slow and steady.

January 24, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Balcony Party.

Every evening we have a party on the balcony. We are five in the condo. Every day, each person does their own thing. By the evening, we are ready to find out what everyone else had done during the day. About 6:30, we convene on the balcony. It feels festive because Wendy brings out sunset food. This evening we ate hummus and cut up cucumbers, along with chips, guacamole and pico de guja. Everyone brings their beverage of choice. And we talk and enjoy each others company. Today Wendy and Ken took the bus to old town Puerto Vallarta so we had to find out everything about the day, including their luncheon food. Rita and Ian walked to the Plaza to make an appointment for a pedicure for me and to see the tigers and birds at Paradise Village. So we talk and watch the sunset, except tonight we never saw the sun. It stayed behind dark clouds. Well after the sun has set, who ever is cooking goes to work, And we eat promptly between 7 and 8. Our evenings are delightful and have the feeling of a party. The evenings are beautifully warm with always a bit of a breeze. Part of our fun is that we are sitting on the balcony in sandals and light clothes while our friends and relatives are in the cold. We are grateful for our evening balcony party and we enjoy every minute.

January 23, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Burrito Restaurant.

Kenny and Anne discovered the little restaurant in the Plaza two years ago. They came for a week of fun in the sun and ended up helping because Ken was in the hospital. The place had just opened so I knew nothing about it. They learned that they served only Burritos, which were delicious and inexpensive. Also the place was clean and cute. They always shared one as they were big. Two yeast later, the restaurant is still open and still clean and cute. Their menu has expanded. Their burritos are still huge. After my dentist visit, Ken, Wendy and I went there for lunch. Most people carry out their food but we three sat in the little restaurant. Wendy and I shared one. I must say that the. burrito was delicious. We ate a pork burrito. Along with the pork, lots of things are stuffed inside, there wrapped up for easy eating. In addition to the expanded menu, the name has changed. It was called The Burrito Place. Now it has a fancy name which we can not remember. But we do know that we intend to return!!

January 22, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Mexican Dentists.

Americans and Canadians who live part of the year in Mexico visit Mexican Dentists. Today I had my teeth cleaned. I have been doing it for years. The dentistry is high tech and the dentists are well trained. The work they do is of a high quality which is the most important thing. But they are also inexpensive. Dentists in North America are excellent but they are expensive. So everyone gets their teeth attended to while they are here. The dentist I use has her office in the Plaza. She used to be the only one on Nuevo Vallarta. Another dentist has set up shop across the street in the hospital building. Ken had a filling replaced the last year we were here and he used the new dentist because he was closer to us. But I stick with the first one. Marilyn, a lady I chat with by the pool uses the dentist across the street. Last year she chipped a front tooth. The dentist attached the chip and made the back secure, all for $30. Last week Marilyn went to have it checked. All was well. The dentist did not charge her. Pretty nice. Bucerias is the next town . There are four American trained dentists working there. Those pricing is even lower. Many folks from our resort go to Bucerias for dental work because of the price. But not me. I pay what they tell me to pay knowing that the price is more than half the cost of a cleaning in Mississippi. No scraping here. They use ultra sound and high speed water. Pretty fancy. My teeth are shining white all for 700 pesos.

January 21, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. 2 X 1.

The Beach Restaurant here has two for one happy hour. If you order a beer, you get two. We have often suggested that we should go but have never done it. Yesterday afternoon we decided that the five of us, along with Kathy and Ted, would celebrate and go to Happy Hour. We had lots of fun. Wendy and Ken were smart. Wendy ordered one drink while Ken did not. So when two drinks appeared, they both had one drink each. The rest of us just ordered a drink so we got two. I had 2 cans of beer in front of me, as did Ian and Ted. And Rita ordered a margarita so she had two. We tried to order dips but the kitchen closes at 5. We nibbled on nuts. All 7 of us watched the sun go down, which was the first time we had watched sunset from the beach. After we chatted a bit, we decided it was time to go upstairs and have dinner. Rita was cooking thin chicken and rice. When we all stood up, Rita asked Ian if she could hold his arm. No one noticed. But when Rita started cooking, she decided that she was in no condition to cook. She was about to burn herself. Ken took over and cooked dinner while Rita and I sat on the balcony drinking water. I had been able to drink a half of my beer and gave my second to Ted. The bartender at the Beach Restaurant is not careful. Sometimes the drinks are extremely strong and sometimes they forget the liquor. But Rita got two stiff drinks. We five have decided that from now on, we will pour own own drinks at home. Tonight Rita prepared a delightful dinner of sautéed shrimp, salad and fresh baguette. No more 2X1 for us.

January 20, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Birds.

Yesterday at breakfast, frigate birds put on a display. We were sitting on the balcony watching the show. There were at least 30. They fly low and they fly high. One moment they are right in front of our eyes so we can see their white breast and long tail. Next they would sour so high that we could barely see them. Normally we see a few flying together but yesterday there was a large flock. I have no idea why. And I have no idea what they were doing zooming around the sky. They barely flap their wings. They were magnificent to watch. Out at sea we spotted the brown pelicans diving for their breakfast. They also fly beautifully but the most impressive activity we saw was when they dove to catch a fish. They dive straight down and. come up with a fish. Both Wendy and I were impressed. Close to the building we see lots and lots of swallows. They are small and close to us so we watch them as they catch the bugs from the air. They also are skilled at flying, changing directions to catch another bug. I think they are cliff swallows but they do not stop for me to get a better look. I enjoy these birds with all the skills on display. Again, I am fortunate to watch these displays of flying by these birds. Very impressive.

January 19, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Rita and Ian.

The day was long but they made it. Their flight from Toronto left at 6:30 which meant they left for the airport at 3:30. They were late leaving due to two bouts of de-icing so the connection in Dallas was tight. But they arrived here, which is all that matters. The airport was also a zoo with many flights arriving near the same time. They were weary but are happy to be here. Rita and Ian have been here with us in Mexico several times so they know the place. After changing into cool clothes, they walked to the market to have a walk and to purchase essentials such as beer and the fixings for margaritas. Our evening was delightful. As is our custom, we ate sunset food on the balcony. Some time later we ate dinner prepared by Ken and Wendy. We all enjoyed dinner on the balcony, dining on roast port and rice. And we caught up with each other. Wendy had not seen Rita and Ian since the farm and last summer they were not able to come to Nova Scotia. We enjoyed each others company sitting in the warm air on the balcony. We all five agreed that it was pretty special. Now Rita and Ian have gone to bed early. Tomorrow will be an easier day for them. I am delighted they are here, The five of us will have a fine time together.

January 18, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sunset Food.

Last evening we invited Ted and Kathy to come and share our sunset food, and of course, watch the sunset. They had just arrived on Wednesday and spent all day Thursday getting settled in. I was keen to talk with them because I had not seen them at all last year as they spent three months in Australia and News Zealand. Kathy and Ted are good friends. When Ken was ill, they helped me in many different ways. Ken coined the tern Sunset Food. We look over the Pacific Ocean and the sun goes down in front of our condo. Typically we snack while we watch the sun go down. Thus sunset food. Wendy prepares goodies which we enjoy while sitting on the balcony.Kathy and Ted arrived at 6:00. The sun was too bright so we stayed in the living room and nibbled until it got to be closer to sunset at 6:40. We moved all our goodies to the balcony, awaiting the beautiful sunset. Except it was a dud. The food was good, thanks to Wendy and the company was top drawer. But the heavy clouds hid the sun. There was no sunset at all. But we enjoyed our company and we enjoyed our sunset food. We three had no complaints.

January 17, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Another excursion.

We have taken this same excursion many times, but it always brings pleasure. We three left at 11:15 to walk to the hotel/timeshare. Today was the first time I had walked all the way. As a sign of increased security, the gate keeper at Paradise Village asked to see my membership card. This was a first. At the hotel, I changed dollars for pesos. We walked to the end of the resort and ate lunch at my favorite spot overlooking the water adjacent to the beach. We all ordered tortilla soup plus a salad. Delicious. Our walk home took us along the marina where we always see many iguanas. We were not disappointed. We stopped into the Plaza so I could make a dental appointment to clean my teeth and to pick up a few groceries. Then we walked home. I had no problem walking there and back and we enjoyed our journey which was successful. Once at home, Wendy and Ken headed to the beach while I put my legs up and took a nap. Old age has its own rewards.

January 16, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Lunch With Pat & Tom.

Every year we have lunch together in Nuevo Vallarta. They stay in the old town of PV, generally for two months. They take the bus and meet me at the condo or at the Plaza. And we enjoy good food and each others company. This year we had lunch on Tuesday, along with Wendy and Ken. And we had a good time. I suggested we walk up to La Isla, our favorite restaurant by the road. Everyone agreed. Tom and Pat arrived right on time, which is a trick when you take public transportation. The bus driver let them off right in front of our condo so we three were sitting on the bench all ready and waiting. As we were walking, Pat told us that she had fallen in PV, just since she had been here. Not good. Fortunately she did not hurt herself. Evidently she is prone to falling. I must remind her to take Tom's arm. Our lunch was delicious, as always but they were busy so we had a long wait for our food. But we were busy chattering away. Pat and Tom live in Toronto and spend summers at their cottage. And they are birders. They also take Spanish lessons every year in PV. This year, three times a week at noon they improve their Spanish. Several times they have taken the bus to the Botanical Gardens, which is on the south side of the city. Ken and I have never gotten there so you can tell that they are much more adventuresome than us. Gill is my contact with Pat and Tom. But now we are friends all by ourselves. I always enjoy my lunches together in Mexico and I hope to see them next year.

January 15, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Cleaning Lady.

The first thing she did when she arrived at 11:15 was to go to the balcony. This lady was special. Normally, when the cleaning lady arrives she strips the beds and removes the old towels before cleaning. This new lady spent one hour cleaning the balcony. First she swept the floor. Next she wiped every part of the railing. We have large sliding doors, all windows, so she washed them all, inside and out. She washed the tables and chairs. And finally she mopped the floor. The balcony was clean and it took her one hour to do it. I was impressed. Our condo gets cleaned once a week. The beds are changed as are the towels. I have watched this process for many years and I am always grateful that I do not need to clean condos for a living. It is hard work. The cleaning folks do not speak English, which is why they clean for a living. I always tip them well, usually at the beginning of their work. I had not seen this particular lady before and I was impressed with her work. Finally she completed her work but she did not leave until 4:15. I know she had already cleaned a smaller unit before she came to me but I was hoping she was finished for the day. I certainly was weary just watching her work. I am happy to be able to afford for folks to clean my homes. If I do not hire them and do the work myself I would deprive them of their salaries. And every time I see the cleaning lady come to clean, I am grateful that I do not need to do the cleaning myself. I was certainly impressed with the lady in Mexico who cleaned my condo. And I was grateful too.

January 14, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Market.

They call it the Farmer's Market but in truth, most vendors are not farmers. Everything you could ever buy in Mexico you can find at that market. Tuesday is market day so Wendy and Ken walked over to have breakfast and to replenish our fruit, vegetables and bread. They had fun. And they brought home everything we needed. The Market is huge and crowded so I stayed home. In addition to all the vendors, a band keeps everyone entertained. They also sell cooked food. The first thing Wendy and Ken did was to find the food sellers. They watched while the lady first made the tortilla by pressing the round ball of dough with with a wooden press. Next she cooked it on the hot grill. Finally she filled it with anything they asked for. They were delicious, they said. There were two vendors selling bread. One had a line while they other one had no line. They purchased quickly. The same for the vegetables. The same thing happened. One vendor had a line while the other had no one waiting. They never were able to tell the difference. The fish seller had a long line so they bought no fish. But we enjoyed piella for dinner which Wass delicious. The name is the same as the one in Liverpool but there is no similarity between the two. Both are enjoyable, but different. The Farmer's Market is a huge success here in Nuevo Vallarta.

January 13, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Thunder From Above.

The furniture in the condo is heavy. And there are no felt pads on the legs of the chairs, so when a chair is moved across the floor you hear a terrible noise. Ken was always admonishing me to pick up the chairs. Even in the same room the sound is nasty. But when people move chairs above you it sounds like thunder. Heavy thunder. The place here is quiet. No one was beside us , above us or below so silence reigned supreme, until Saturday night. The noise continued for well over an hour. We three laughed and said that someone had moved in and they were moving furniture. The loud noises continued on Sunday morning. More furniture being moved we decided. Our problem was where on earth would she move the furniture? We three laughed and decided that we might never know. This afternoon I was in the hot tub. Two people got in and we started chatting. One of the things she said was that ever since they arrived on Saturday they had been either moving furniture or shopping. I laughed gleefully and told them where they lived, which was directly above us. They were duly sorry they said. My question to them was where do they move the furniture in the room. And why? Evidently she always moves the furniture. She does not like a square for the living room so she moves the couches on the corners . It makes no sense to me but to each his own. All we knew was that the thunder was coming from above. But now it has stopped. They will be here for 5 weeks which means I will be here when they leave. I hope they leave the furniture in the same place as they left it. We do not need more thunder from above.

January 12, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Socks.

I wear light weight wool socks to keep me warm in Nova Scotia. By August, I shed my wool socks. I am not sure whether I just get used to the temperature or that the temperature is warmer. When I left for the season, I took two pair of my socks with me, the two black pair. They were the pair I took with me to Ontario to keep me warm. They did the job. I also wore them when I went out, wearing my black sandals which Gill said is uncool. In addition, Irene gave me a soft pair of light weight fleece socks, which were dark gray. The three pair worked well during my visit. I have always found it difficult to convince myself about what clothes are needed for a trip. When I am in a cold area, convincing me that I do not need warm clothes when I am going to a hot climate is difficult. This time when organizing my clothes for Mexico I set out my socks to take with me. I had to give myself a lecture that I did not need wool socks in Mexico. So I left the three pair of socks for Wendy to ship to me when I get home. I was correct. I have never needed wool socks in Mexico and I did not need them this year. But it was a close call. I also received new socks for Christmas. Norm and Diane gave me bright colored socks with stripes with both socks being different. I will enjoy those socks. And Irene gave me a pair of socks that say "Too little time. Too many books". I will enjoy those socks too. When I get home to Mississippi and Wendy sends me my box, I intend to leave my three pair of warm socks in the house. But next time I travel to Ontario, I will take those three pair of warm socks. They did the job this time and will do it again. I love those socks.

January 11, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico.. Roast Pork.

Our dinners are always good, all prepared by Ken B. They are simple and succulent. But some nights they are extra special. Last evening was one of those nights. When we went to the Mega to shop for our groceries, I fell in love with the butcher so even though Ken was buying meat for dinners, I ended up buying a bunch of meat, which is now in the freezer. One of my purchases was a roast pork, a boneless pork loin, six pounds in weight. This was too big for three so Ken cut it into two pieces, keeping one and a half pounds for us. Last evening he cooked it for us. It was beyond delicious. First he marinated the meat for two hours. Then he cut up onions and carrots and placed them around the roast in a kind of basket of tin foil to keep in the juices. We ate our sunset food on the balcony enjoying the warm air and the setting sun. Ken realized that the vegetables were ready so we ate them as our first course which were tasty. Then we ate the meat all by itself. We all ate two pieces each. The meat was so tender and juicy that no one said a word. We just ate all that meat which was delicious. While we ate dinner on the balcony, a cruise ship left the harbor and we watched the lights head north. We three were pleased to be sitting on the balcony enjoying our delicious dinner rather than dining on the cruise ship. Our dinner on the ship would certainly not be better than our roast pork, cooked by Ken.

January 10, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Our Days.

Our days are very pleasant, here in Mexico. Wendy starts our day by making coffee. Bit by bit, we congregate on the balcony counting the fishing boats, talking and enjoying our first cup of coffee. Next up Wendy prepares my breakfast of toast and cheese and fruit. And she brings her own breakfast too. Ken fixes his own. And we stay on the balcony talking or reading. Soon Ken leaves to find a prime palapa on the beach while Wendy and I finish up the coffee. Finally, Wendy joins Ken on the beach at their palapa. Most mornings they take a walk on the beach. The rest of the time they read. I stay in the condo each morning. Mostly I read or respond to e mails but this morning I did a load of laundry. Around 1:00 Wendy comes up to prepare lunch. She gives me my plate, then takes a sandwich down to the both of them which they eat on the beach. They usually go into the ocean, unless the water is too rough. About 5:30, they come to the pool to swim and take a hot tub. Around 6:30 they both come up to the condo to watch the sunset. I always put my feet up for an hour after lunch. Then I walk before ending up sitting by the pool talking to Rosa. Ken and Wendy join me by the pool because Rosa leaves at 5:00 to prepare dinner. We eat sunset food while watching the sunset. Next Ken prepares dinner, which we eat around 7 or 7:30, often on the balcony. In the evenings we read. So far we have not turned on the TV. Wendy cleans up the kitchen and eventually, one by one, we drift off to bed. Our days are pleasant and enjoyable and we are happy to be here in the warm air. Wendy and Ken are looking after me very well. I am fortunate indeed.

January 9, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. La Isla.

This year, flower pots were installed on the walls. The pots are big cans filled with soil with a small green plant sticking out. Ten years ago, the place opened selling tacos for $1. each. The lady owner made the tacos, with her son for helper when he was not in school. Every year she improved the place even though the restaurant sits beside the road. Fist came a plastic tarp for shade. The next year a toilet. Then using wood from pallets, she erected a screen on both sides. Now she serves three meals a day. The bathrooms even have doors. We walked along for lunch today. In the past, her food has been excellent and inexpensive. Local workmen come for lunch so you know it is a good place. The same lady still owns the place. I was delighted to see her and she was happy to see me too. When we were there the place was busy which was good. We were there for ages. First we nibbled on chips and fresh salsa. Next we enjoyed guacamole and chips. Tortilla soup was next. Wendy ate tacos for her main meal, while Ken had shrimp fajitas and I enchiladas. They were all delicious. But the multi course meal took us a long time. I brought a box back with me. I was so pleased to see the little restaurant continue to thrive. I have watched her improve her place year by year. She even gives cooking classes. We enjoyed our lunch although we ate too much. Today was our first excursion of the season. It was a success.

January 8, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Condo.

This condo is pleasant. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean. I only own 10 weeks of this place which is just fine for me. When the place was being developed, Ken and I looked at one to buy outright but Ken decided he did not want to be responsible for yet another dishwasher, so we said no. Instead, we bought a fractional ownership of 10 weeks. Ken was happy. For us it was a turnkey operation. It was furnished with everything we needed. And we keep a locker down the hall with shoes and clothes. The place is pretty good sized: three bedrooms and three bathrooms and a large balcony on the front and the side. We overlook the Pacific Ocean, which we enjoy every evening at sunset. The place is comfortable but not fancy. With our annual fee, money is kept to replace furnishings. We as owners are asked to vote. Last year the living room couch and love seat were replaced, The 8 dining room chairs were recovered to match the furniture. This year I discovered new furniture on the balcony, which was a definite upgrade. The table and chairs are wicker. The chairs have seat cushions and the table is oblong with a plexiglass top. In addition, three new lounge chairs were installed, also with cushions on the seat and back. The old blue lounger's chairs were uncomfortable and impossible to get out of easily. And they left the old table and chairs. We could have a party. Not too long ago I was asked to vote. Should we spend money to replace the pictures or the chandelier? Or perhaps replace the lamps? I voted no. I could not recall the lighting at all, nor the pictures. No reason to spend money just to replace the old. I am happy with the place. And no one who visits me ever complains. Now I am happy with upgraded outdoor furniture. I expect to enjoy this condo until the end of February. Then I will forget about it until I return in 2021. Pretty nice system.

January 7, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Dinner by the Pool.

This was a first for us. Ken reserved a barbecue for 7:00 this evening. His intention was to cook steak. And we all decided to eat a salad and eat under the palapa beside the pool. The evening was perfect, warm but not windy. The facility we were using is well equipped with a sink, fridge, grill for vegetables and another for the meat. We three drank our red wine and enjoyed ourselves. It was a perfect evening to dine by the pool. Ken went down to start the barbecue and prepare the meat. When Wendy and I arrived with the plates and salad we could see Ken sitting beside the table wearing his apron. I was reassured to see our very own chef, wearing an apron and getting ready to cook our meat. Ken is our cook, for which I am grateful. Our first dinner together in the condo we ate a salad and veal cutlets, which were also delicious. Both nights Wendy made the salad. Now I hope Ken does not get weary with well doing because I certainly enjoy his cooking. We three enjoyed sitting in the palapa outside by the pool. But getting there in the pitch black was difficult for me. By holding on tightly to Wendy's arm, I made it. The worst part was going outside the main building. All I could see was black. Eventually the lights got numerous so it got easier. I could not have made it without Wendy. It was a good reminder that I can not go out by myself at night. Out first evening by the pool may also be our last. Tonight we enjoyed ourselves, at least after I arrived. Good food, beautiful setting and good company makes for a memorable meal.

January 6, 2020. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Mega.

I always forget that Mega is such a great store until we return the next year. The store is huge. In addition to groceries, they sell clothes, furniture and appliances. But we only stay in the grocery department. Ken, Wendy and I took our first excursion this morning. When we arrived by taxi, we all three took a cart each and started filling our carts. Our plan was to meet at a small coffee shop. My task was to get to the dairy and meat departments so I filled my cart with butter, cheese, yoghurt, and meat. I fell in love with the butcher so although Ken was buying meat for dinner, I had the butcher cut up filets. He did so well I had him cut up pork chops. And while I watched he removed the meat from a chicken. It took him 3 minutes to debone that chicken. One section of the Mega sells prepared food. Local people take containers and containers of the food. Unfortunately, I can never tell what is in the big bins but Ken figures out what is in each. And he brings things home. For lunch we ate cooked, seasoned vegetables along with our chicken. New containers are awaiting us in our fridge. So our home here is stocked with everything we need to eat well. Wendy and Ken met up during the shopping so figured out duplicates, which were none. Fortunately we have a freezer because I bought too much meat. But other than meat, butter is the only duplicate, even though we did not shop together. After a taxi home and a full cart of food up the elevator to condo, we are set here at Playa Royale. Now for breakfast we can drink our coffee out of big mugs, purchased today by Wendy. We have all the comforts of home, but without the snow and ice. Pretty nice.

January 5, 2020. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Lunch on the Beach.

We made it. The best part of the day was eating lunch on the beach. After changing our clothes, we three went directly to the restaurant in front of Playa Royale. We toasted each other with a margarita. And we enjoyed every sip while we enjoyed the warm air and sparkling waster. Our day was long. The plane was late leaving by 90 minutes. But we made it. Clearing immigration and customs was a breeze, especially with me being pushed in a wheelchair. Ken and Wendy brought my belongings from the locker, and while they walked to the grocery store I put things away. When I ran out off gas Wendy finished the task. Now we are able to function. Everything except my clothes have been put in their proper place. Tomorrow we will shop at the Mega grocery store. But tonight we will all get to bed early. The most important task today was to get here. Tomorrow after a good night's sleep we will feel like celebrating. At the moment, we just feel weary. But we are happy to be here in Mexico.

January 4, 2020. Ancaster, Ontario. Moving On.

The view from the living room is beautiful. The trees and bushes are covered with fresh snow. It is the perfect amount of snow: just enough to make the scene magical but not enough to cause any stress. Today is my last day in Ancaster. My visit was everything I could ever wanted. Wendy suggested my visit when she was visiting in Mexico. The flight she took from Hamilton to Puerto Vallarta was cheaper than flying from Jackson to PV so she suggested I come for the Buckley Birthday celebration and stay for Christmas which I did. Now she and Ken will fly with me to PV on a direct flight from Hamilton. We start early, 7:00, so we must be at the airport at 5:00. This evening, Ken and Wendy will have dinner with us at Dave and Irene's home. I will stay overnight for a short night at Wendy's before taking the taxi tomorrow . Before the day is done, I will take Norm and Diane along with Dave and Irene out for lunch. I have learned the pleasure of dining with small groups. My sojourn is almost over. My clothes worked well. And I never did need boots. I have enjoyed myself here with friends and relatives. And I am appreciative being looked after by Irene. But now I am moving on to Mexico and 80 degrees. So here I go.

January 3, 2020. Ancaster, Ontario. Lunch.

I will miss having lunch at the Callavo Nero. Since Christmas, I have had lunch there six rimes. I have memorized the menu. The place is small but elegant. The food and service are excellent, so they did everything I wanted the restaurant to do. My system was simple. My friends met me at Dave and Irene's home. After a short chat, the three of us drove to the restaurant where we ate and talked. My plans worked perfectly. Randy and Gaby came for lunch with me today. They live in Markham, north of Toronto. Their daughter Jessica joined us too. She is in her second year at the Agricultural University in Guelph so she drove over to join us. Randy is the son of Ray, Ken's first cousin. I had not seen them since our 55th anniversary celebration at the ranch so I was pleased to see them. Their other daughter, Rachel, had other plans so could not join us. We had a good old time. I always enjoy talking with University students with their energy and enthusiasm. Jessica is in her second year of Veterinary School while Rachel is studying to be a landscape designer. Tomorrow, Dave, Irene and I will have lunch with Norm and Diane, which will be the last of my luncheon dates. I have had fun catching up with friends and family. In fact, I have had such an enjoyable visit that I am leaving my clothes in the. bottom drawer of the guest room, with the hope that I might get invited again. I am already thinking that Dave will turn 90 in two years. And Dave and Irene will celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in four years. I am planning ahead. These lunches at the restaurant have been a hit. I have enjoyed every one.

January 2, 2020. Ancaster, Ontario. Old Friends.

Marg and Bill are old friends in every sense of the way. We knew each other when we were very young and we have been friends throughout the years. Now we are old in age. Very few friends knew my parents and knew me when I was a girl. All the friends I have been having lunch with me grew up in Salvation Army family. We have the same backgrounds. I enjoy getting together with these old friends. Marg and Bill are just a bit older than me but we have all known each other for most of our lives. When you move around as Ken and I did it is wonderful that we have all kept in touch. I was born in Toronto in 1937. Bill also lived in Toronto. When he was very young, he contracted polio. The doctors told his mother that he would never walk. The muscles in one leg did not develop. Both of our Mothers were Salvation Army officers. Bill's Mother worked every day to keep his muscles working. And my Mother called her every day to cheer her on. Bill has always walked with a limp but he went on to lead an active life. Marg took her nurses raining at Grace Hospital in Toronto when my Aunt Margaret was the superintendent. My aunt always spoke highly of Marg . And my Mother lead a choir of the nurses. So Bill and I and Marg are connected in many directions. They drove from the northern part of Toronto to have lunch with me. We had a grand time. They chatted with Dave and Irene before we drove to the restaurant. We talked about the present and the future. We already knew everything about our past. We all three agreed that we have had a wonderful life. And now we are enjoying ourselves. Bill still goes into work every day at 6:00. Marg looks after their house and cooks the meals. They play bridge several times a week. They both looked great and I appreciated their drive to have lunch with me. I loved every minute of my time with them. I love my new friends but I cherish my old friends too.

January 1, 2020. Ancaster, Ontario. The New Year.

We started out the new year on a good note. At one o'clock today I ate lunch with Dave and Irene along with Katey, Brock and Wendy. Ken, Wendy's friend was still ill. I hosted the party although Wendy found the restaurant and made the reservation. Ken and I always wanted to start the new year with family or best friends and today I did just that. We had a great time. Wendy had a hard time finding a restaurant that was open. Milestones is a new restaurant. Dave and Irene had eaten there twice before although Wendy had never eaten there. Fortunately, the food was good. Our table was in a corner of the restaurant where we were private. It almost seemed that we were in a private part of the place. For us, it was perfect. Brock and Katey now live in Indiana so soon will be driving home. We were able to talk to them all by themselves, which was the plan. Katey is Wendy's daughter. We discussed their plans for the year. They both work at Purdue University. This Spring, they hope to buy a house. After our meal and sharing a dessert, we sat chatting for a long time. Wendy, Ken and I fly to Mexico on Sunday, while Katey and Brock drive back to Purdue on Friday, so no telling when we will be together again. But we all toasted our success for 2020. Just being together, enjoying ourselves gives us all a springboard for the next year. We all agreed that we survived and thrived in 2019, and we hope to do the same in 2020. We certainly got a head start for the year by being together today. We all agreed that our time together was easy and fun. Perfect forecast for the new year.