It’s 6:42 AM. I’ve finally settled with my laptop and my fresh Keurig coffee to enjoy the inspiration of little Bass Lake. I hear the roar of a large truck, with distinct beeping of a vehicle backing up.

They pick up garbage mad-early in cottage country.

Well, I can’t complain. Look at the view.

This is our last day in this little piece of Muskoka paradise. We booked it at the last minute, so it wasn’t cheap, but it was nice for a change of scenery. We had picture perfect weather, it averaged about 27 deg C the entire time we were up here. It wasn’t too busy on the lake, but it is small. So we experienced a bit of water traffic on the weekend. A couple of mini booze cruises (although by the looks of it, more seniors on the boat so not boisterous), some sea-doos, some boats pulling cuties on tubes, and of course, boys with their toys, there was the speedboat whipping back and forth, the man at the wheel trying to impress his female companion. Likely bored up here, my daughter commented.

The woodpeckers pecked and robins sang. We had a couple of daily visitors

But other than that, it was a very quiet few days.

This is the first non pet-friendly cottage we have rented in 12 years. The space next to me, this time on a wicker love seat, still seems empty. Grief still comes at me in small spurts. I’m glad we have so many photos – of the over 10,000 I have on my iCloud I bet a couple thousand include Cody, usually as the star.

I was supposed to write the entire time I’ve been up here. I did do some editing, and some drafting for my memoir. But mostly I’ve been reading, helping my writers’ group with their pieces, and reading a couple of good books…

First up, “A Change of Habit” by Sister Monica Clare. She’s a Tik Tok rockstar

Next up, “Mix Tape” by Jane Sanderson.

I was scrolling through entertainment news, I saw it was being made into a mini series starring Jim Burgess and Teresa Palmer. Jim Burgess is such an amazing actor, he hasn’t really hit it huge as the projects he’s in never quite make it huge. But he’s so good in everything I’ve seen him in.

It’s the type of book that is right up my alley – romance, first loves, shared memories, music – there’s even a playlist on Spotify capturing some of the great music written about in the book. Music as a message. The messages contain mostly 80’s and some more recent songs. How could I not love a book that mentions Bowie, the Cure, Aztec Camera, Nick Drake, Frank Ocean, Artic Monkeys, oh it goes on… It reminded me a tiny bit of the book “One Day“, which was also made into not one, but two screen versions. The first, with Anne Hathaway, and yes, Jim Burgess, I was not a big fan of. I really preferred the book. The Netflix version of One Day – I loved and watched with my daughter

Unfortunately the mini series is only available in the UK at the moment. I devoured the book though. Most of my experiences with books made to movies, have been disappointing so it was imperative that I read it first. The book was so good.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jim Sturgess (@officialjimsturgess)

Book reviews for both are upcoming!

Speaking of nostalgia, it was the weekend of the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. I can’t remember what I was doing that Saturday, I was 19 so likely not glued to the tube, hopefully enjoying the summer that I turned pretty (yes, I have shared some of my exploits, tame version, with my 20 year old daughter who is older than I was when Live Aid happened). So this past Saturday, while my daughter and hubs watched Dexter on Netflix, I watched several parts of the re-broadcast while cooking…the line up, kept going. At Wembley, then in the US. Absolutely incredible …

That’s Midge Ure! Dancing with tears in my eyes. We saw him in concert last year at the El Mocambo where I was so close I could almost touch him.. but then had to move because it got bloody hot in there and I thought I was going to pass out. OMG. His voice is still magic, though his hair is gone – he sports a great bald look these days.

Tony Hadley, Spandau Ballet. So cute! What a voice. Also still touring. I saw that he still has that long leather coat that seemed the look all the cool singers were wearing back then. And Paul Young alone and then with Alison Moyet. Wow, what a performer.

The Cars, Madonna, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, Simple Minds, U2 when they were phenomenal, George, Wham, Elton John, INXS, of course Queen… mindblowing. What a time for music.

What else have I been up to here? I’ve been eating all the things … all dressed chips, coated in guacamole, tacos, chicken alfredo made with real cream, sausages, hotdogs, pancakes, pork souvlaki. I don’t usually eat breakfast. I’ve been drinking coffee, watered down pink rose, watered down pinot grigio, non alcoholic mojitos, a Caesar and beer (it’s Canada and it’s cottage country.) I know, so bad, so bloated.

But I have my ipad so at least got a couple of Les Mills On Demand Body Combat workouts in.

I need to get back on that workout wagon. Summer shouldn’t make me so lazy. If only I were 19 again and it could all melt away with one workout.

Wishful thinking..

(this was on the very first mixed tape my husband made for me and sent by post mail back in 1986 – very romantic 🙂