Stink bugs shelter in homes for winter

Stink bugs are a common pest in London homes this winter. Many London homes, including ours, have a real infestation. Somehow the little bugs are working their way through the exterior walls and finding their way inside. In our case, the bugs are appearing in our kitchen, ugh, and our hallways.

Curious as to why, I googled the problem. I learned the reason I don't recall these pests from my youth is that these little critters are new to London. Called brown marmorated stink bugs, this invasive species is native to Asia. First discovered in the northeastern United States in the early 2000s, now, almost two decades later, they are in southwestern Ontario.

Apparently, they do no damage to one's home. They are only seeking a warm place to hang out until warm weather returns. They don't lay eggs or raise young indoors. Their presence is simply an an annoyance -- unless, one is not careful when grabbing one with a small bundle of bathroom tissue in order to flush it away. Crush the bug and you'll be sorry. Apparently these bugs are appropriately named.

Christmas shopper numbers down

 

The mall, one of London's oldest and largest, was not in the least bit busy the other night. No Christmas shopping crowds in sight. But lots of sign and symbols of the Covid-19 virus responsible for the shopping freeze that has seized so much of the world.

The vaccines cannot come too soon.

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Comfort food was the topic of the month

 

I understand that comfort food was the topic to be covered on the first of December. Oops! Uh, better late than never?

Both my wife and I must watch our weight. But we both love pasta. We've found that the usual serving amount of 85g of pasta, dry weight prior to boiling, is too much. We have settled on 55g as the perfect amount and this allows the other ingredients to shine.

This lobster pasta is a bit pricey but I call it a restaurant substitution dinner. To the lobster I like to add a vegetable for colour, texture and flavour. This time, as you can see, I added big pieces of asparagus and chunks of mushroom. To give this a bit of a sauce, about 60g of soft goat cheese has been stirred into the mix and all has been topped with some grated Parmesan immediately before serving.

For medical reasons, I am only allowed the occasional small glass of wine. For a dinner like this I usually allow myself a small glass of white wine.

Some things don't change. Virus on no virus.

Holding a door is technically wrong but we do it!

I've noticed that holding the door for others is so ingrained in most of us that this is one habit that has persevered despite the virus. Enter the store and start down an aisle and if someone enters the aisle from the other end the approaching customer may well stop and retreat. A lot of folk try always to keep a safe distance from others, strangers especially. 

Line up at the check out and everyone is standing on a big, brightly coloured sticker. Each sticker is six plus feet away from the next closest sticker. I say six plus because in Canada many of the stickers are a full two metres apart and two metres translates into almost six feet seven inches in Imperial measure.

Holding a door breaks the distance rule. Oh well, I think it's worth it. Hey, the doors are often outside, it is only a moments long violation and we are wearing masks. 😊

Six feet apart is? Better than six feet under?

At one time London, Ontario, had quite the number of book stores. Many had been around for decades. I believe today the city is down to one chain, Indigo, with two locations. But it is a good chain, well-run and a fine place to shop for Christmas gifts.

When the young lady approached, yes Indigo has staff, what a concept, and asked if she could help I was all "yes you can!" You can help me get not a book but a picture—a picture that conveys the mood of the city today. And the young lady with her message-bearing shirt was perfect. (I cropped the shirt when taking the picture. I'm left to wonder how the message ends.)

Masks and social distancing are rules of the day and it seems that everyone is following these rules. One hears of some resistance but I have to say that I have not encountered any as of late. Some folk grumble but as long as they grumble in a muffled manner from behind a mask, I'm O.K. with their complaining.

Possibly one of the last warm fall days

Sunday was a wonderfully warm fall day in London and our street and any place where one could walk was packed with people, many wearing masks. Days like this are becoming less and less frequent as December approaches.