COLD WATER

Like my friend Laura, I took a walk around my property with my camera. I don't have the pretty blossoms that she has but took a pic of maple leaves that looks like her photo. Although I was late doing laundry, I still had plenty of time for clothes to dry on the line. Now (around 7 PM) it's clouding over and we might get rain.

The local library's Mega Book Sale is on. I dropped by for a half hour of browsing and found an illustrated volume about Ottawa. I may return to pick up some paperbacks — sold by weight — for reading on a cold winter's night.

Last night I discovered that I wasn't getting any hot water in the kitchen. I boiled some to add to the cold water in the dishpan; no problem. Today there is still no hot water. I tried to get some in all the water taps including the washer — nothing but cold. I'll wait until Monday to call for water tank help.

I had to wash with boiled water added to cold in the bathroom sink. I hate not being able to take a warm shower — I feel as though I'm living in a third world country. Life in real third world poverty is much, much worse than a temporary lack of hot water, of course. I've just finished reading a very disturbing book about life in India. The White Tiger by Ravind Adiga follows the fictional story of one young man who tries to escape the poverty of the "dark" interior region. The lack of everything we take for granted in Canada — electricity, education, opportunities for upward mobility — plus overwhelming corruption and the burden of the caste system, makes it almost impossible for him to achieve a better life.

Curiouser and curiouser! The hot water tank started working again Sunday evening.