I drove to Osoyoos last Tuesday as I wanted to watch the US presidential election results with mom. We were both nervously hoping for a Harris win, though she knew full well that Carol, my American acquaintance had explained this to me when Hillary lost. She said, “you have to remember, as much as Americans hate black people, they hate women more.” Hence, I wasn’t shocked by the Trump win.

We placated ourselves with spaghettini and a wild shrimp and salmon sauce, made from reducing a litre of whipping cream until the right consistency. No flour or cornstarch needed with this method, just heat and time are required. I’d sauteed the fish with garlic and onions, removed these from the pan, then poured in the whip. At the end I added a dash of white wine. The dinner helped a lot, as did the marshmallow squares for dessert.

Or was it the extra guava nectar, club soda and vodka cocktail that helped ease the pain? I woke around midnight looking for headache relief, and realized I’d forgotten to pack this vital medicine. I don’t like to go anywhere without Advil and Gravol. I had to make my way through the scary long hallway of mom’s house to the kitchen to find meds. I think when mom’s dead that house is going to be extra spooky.

I’m currently editing chapter six of my memoir of the fruitcake business, so I’m going to be rash and say I believe I’m going to complete this project within the next few months. The hard part will be once all ten chapters have been edited individually the whole book needs an edit. Thank God for Judith. I wouldn’t be able to continue without her feedback chapter by chapter. It’s like having a life coach.

I was shocked to see I’ve made $69 from my book, Okay I’ll Bite. One day I decided to look at my bank account, and went what’s that from Amazon, and realized it was royalties from book sales. As we all know, this was never going to be Fifty Shades of Grey, and that’s fine. It’s my first effort, so I’m cutting myself some slack.

Calvin kindly changed the tires on my car, and alleges he’s going to strengthen the chicken fencing, so at this very moment I have a lovely pot roast in the oven for him as a reward. It’s a divine-looking cross rib from Lakeview Market, and ringed with onions, carrots and potatoes, all drenched in gravy. It’ll be a hit. Calvin and Nick have similar appetites, so I know how many pounds of food it takes to fill them.

Yesterday Marie and I had an uneventful walk along the beautiful Mission Creek Greenway, and then today I had a harrowing walk on a different section with Sharon. As we walked, she said she felt dizzy, and then all of a sudden, she lost her balance and fell straight backwards, hurting her lower back. Needless to say, the rest of the walk was dead slow.

Since Elsa’s still in Mexico I haven’t been thrifting, and it’s just as well given the volume of stuff. I have so many beautiful old Pyrex bowls in different shades of blue, two yellow, one red, and then dozens of ramekins in various colours. Just awful as who wants all of this down the road? Certainly not my children who have explained that to me quite firmly.

I’ve decided to look at the bright side of the American election, as what else is there to do? And you know I’m prone to Schadenfreude so the next four years might be okay.