The builder's contract arrived by email about an hour ago. I shall sign it forthwith, and write the somewhat gag-inducing cheque for the deposit. Then they will book the work.

Cold weather and what it means in everyday life is top of mind for most Canadians at least four months of the year -- so important that, instead of "Have a nice day", some people say "Keep warm!"

The gas bill came in yesterday at twice what I paid in December. It ain't the weather; January was weirdly mild. I don't track fuel prices; natural gas isn't something I can shop around for, and it's not exactly discretionary spending in the dead of an Ontario winter. Lowering the temperature in the house, currently set at 20 degrees Celsius, would just result in protracted misery and numb fingers. So I embrace the suck, as the soldiers say, and thank my lucky stars for woollen socks and a decent pension.