Devil's candy

"There comes a time when you swim or sink"
                                         ... so I decided to jump out of my drink. 

I promised not to drink a drop of alcohol in January. Have a traditional "tipaton tammikuu" as we call it in Finland (dropless January). It was way easier than I thought, so now I'm planning on not having a sip in February. Do the "huikaton helmikuu" (sipless February).

More tea for me on Friday and Saturdays in other words. I'm living out the little grandma in me and I enjoy this cosy little lady. She is kinda calm and relaxed company with a funny little sweet tooth. I sometimes let her have her way and serve her some crème brûlée or sugar pie. She helps me loose weight and save money, so I think she deserves a little treat every now and then.

The weather is not getting any warmer and snow just keeps on falling, even in -20 °c, something I used to think was impossible but unfortunately isn't in this country. 

I therefore have decided to treat myself to something else as well, the occasional bus or metro ride. In January I used the STM (société de transport de Montreal), services 5 times, that means I still walked 35 times my 2.3 km to or from work. No heavy abuse in other words. 
When I go to the gym, I get off at Berri-UQAM metro station and I get greeted by this nice little lady. Mother Émilie Gamelin also known as the  "Providence of the poor" or "Prisoners' Angel". 

She was a mother of three children that didn't survive infancy and at the age of 27 she lost her husband. She became a devoted nun and servant of the poor. She was the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1843. She converted a house into a hospice called the "Asile de la Providence", taking care of orphan girls and elderly women. She as well established a school, un employment offices and a hospital to fight against cholera. In 1951 she died of cholera and at this point her "Asile de la Providence" was taking care of nearly a thousand women and children. A remarkable lady in other words and I'm happy to be reminded of her greatness every time I pass by this metro stop. 
February seems to continue in the footprints of January, giving us cold, snowy winter winds, to freeze our bones off. It is thankfully a short month. If it continues in March...well then I might treat myself to the occasional pleasure of the devil's candy, a good shot of brandy.