Of the seven deadly sins, gluttony is the one that nearly did me in. On Sunday late afternoon I was ravenous with hunger and had made myself a lovely chicken curry. As I was sitting down, I was already starting to shovel food in with my left hand, but somehow my right hand, which was holding a knife, decided to poke me very hard in the eye.

I had to eat my way through the pain, then down a couple of cocktails as well, and managed to sleep okay. Monday first thing I phoned the optometrist, and the first opening was today (Wednesday) at 9:00. I kept looking at my eye and since no blood was pouring out, and my vision seemed okay, I figured there’s no point in going to emergency.

When the doctor had a look she said, “Oh wow, you really did a number on your eye!” She said I’d managed to take a gouge out of it, and prescribed antibiotic ointment. Of course her first question had been to ask how it had occurred, and when I told her she chuckled and said food really does shape how we behave, especially when hungry.

I was in Osoyoos for two nights last weekend as Gerry’s son David and his wife Hang (she’s Vietnamese) came to visit from Virginia. I made fudge with melted chocolate, peanut butter and fruit-flavoured mini marshmallows. As predicted everyone ate it with glee and said it was magnificent. It sounds odd but tastes so evilly good. Luke said to Hang “You should get the recipe” and she replied that was the last thing she’d ever want to know how to make.

The other week I looked at my living room and decided I hated the rattan couch and chairs and began hunting around online. As I wanted to know what the new couch would look like, I re-arranged the furniture, as per the suggestions of my pal Alison, whose taste can be trusted. I liked it a lot, but still felt piqued by the couch.

Then a few days later my friend Patricia came for lunch. She was the director of a museum and is an expert in textiles. I asked her what to do, and she declared the rattan as perfect, but said the white couch needed a fabric on it. As a classic thrift store shopper I got out a pile of tablecloths I’ve made over the years from beautiful designer fabrics. She draped them and chose one and voila, I now love the living room!

I saved a couple of thousand dollars in that venture so that was another wonderful bonus of keeping everything, just switching it around. I needed four blue pillows and was able to shop in my own home for those. I tell ya, there are a lot of benefits to hoarding thrift store items.

And as a homeowner I need to save wherever possible, given I just had a guy come and put disinfectant on the moss on my roof and clean out the gutters. He’ll return to wash the windows, and will pressure wash some hideous areas that I’ve looked at for years. As I said to him, “German relatives are coming!” I want this house all shiny and nice for them. He’s of Belgian descent so could totally relate.

Now I just have to try to keep sharp objects out of my eyes as I begin the long slog out in the yard. God knows I have enough opportunities to injure myself out there.