Another week of walking and trying to keep busy, with a lovely long weekend of peace and quiet. Though, one tinged with a great deal of sadness on Monday, what with the passing of Pope Francis. My mother in law is catholic and my partner lapsed. Québec was once a big catholic stronghold though, these days, less so. Still, everyone has been paying their respects. Lots of lowered flags.

Friday saw the opening of early voting so other than hitting the mall to buy up our monthly supplies, we thought to go vote early but, didn’t count on the fact that 2 million others were going to do the same thing. There were hundreds queuing to vote at our polling station, which was within our own building complex (so no need to go far, or, out in awful weather). And once there, we decided a 30 minute wait wasn’t so bad … except, that 30 minutes morphed into almost an hour before we got in the teeny tiny room where there were only two stations processing people.

Each staffed by two ancient ladies who moved slower than glacial decay. It. Was. Torturous. Two tables, two ladies per table, two ballot boxes, two private booths. And several hundred people. I can’t say the whole things was very well organised or well thought out. It wasn’t.

Still, we did our civic duty and voted.

Steps walked this week:

• Tuesday — 7200 steps / 5.15 km
• Wednesday — 6100 steps / 4.35 km
• Thursday — 5800 steps / 3.95 km
• Friday — 10,100 steps / 7.35 km
• Saturday — 5700 steps / 4.2 km
• Sunday — 4200 steps / 3.1 km
• Monday — 6100 steps / 4.35 km

For a grand total of: 45,200 steps / 32.45 km

And, as a parting gift, a golden iris.