The plumber was back again this morning, this time to clear the slow-running drains of both the sink and tub in the en-suite bathroom. Both were severely clogged with long, black hair — obviously not mine — and the bathtub drain also contained dental floss, of all things. Yet more evidence that the previous incumbents were slobs.

Marc Durocher, my current favourite carpenter, pinged me yesterday to ask if I am ready to get started on updating the barely adequate kitchen. I can hardly wait.

In other news, it’s been very damnably cold for nearly a week, but the next warm spell is due to start tomorrow or the day after. This is the rock’n’roll winter for which Ottawa is justly famous — or notorious, take your pick.