2026 started off like December ended, set in routines, accepting of the compromises I make in my otherwise abundant life in Mérida. I had no idea that I was staring at an ending and that by mid February most of my mal de vivre would be resolved by a bombshell that would change everything almost overnight…

But first, I made a triumphant return to bowling.

Tacos after, but of course. This order is always so pretty!

Obligatory cat pics.

Alma claimed this ledge behind the sofa, and it’s her favourite spot in the house now (ledge so the sofa back can come down flat to make a bed).

I found the furniture I needed to finish my downstairs, upgrades for cheap particle board equivalents. The first was “this I can’t believe it exists and I found it” huge solid wood shoe cabinet.

I may have a chancla problem.

This is the cheap one I replaced.

The seller of this cabinet was really hard to deal with. I have a guy with a trailer and muscles that I trust, so I finally called him and said, “Can you please deal with this woman and get this cabinet for me?” A few messages later, he said he was on his way to the seller and asked me to transfer him the cost of the purchase so he could withdraw cash as she would not accept our usual transaction of he shows up with a trailer, I promptly transfer money to the seller. Once on site, he messaged to say the item was in perfect condition and I should feel good about the purchase, so I told him to close the deal. You need a guy like him in your contacts!

The second purchase was even more miraculous. This was my old TV stand.

I really wanted a mid century modern cabinet for the new TV stand, to fit with the dresser in the dining room since it’s the only piece on the ground floor that isn’t dark reddish brown (which, by the way, is not really to my taste, but it’s what’s available here).

The TV stand search had been ongoing for years. I knew that if I searched long enough, The Algorithm would catch on and Meta would push the perfect piece to the top of my feed. Did it ever. This piece finally showed up as a first result on Facebook Marketplace. The listing had search terms I’d been looking for, but the ad was so old that the result was buried dozens of pages deep. I decided to enquire about it even though surely it had sold. Not only was it still available, the sellers were my literally backyard neighbours, and they had it at my house in under 20 minutes. 😲

I had a VERY CHILLY beach day in January. My friend from northern Mexico got in the water. 🥶

I don’t known what I was expecting from a non-alcoholic piñada but this giant piña coladaesque slushy thing was not it. So good, and the perfect beach drink!

I switched out my freezer in January, going from a bottomless pit of a despair (chest model) to a tower of organization (vertical model).

Of culinary note, in January I learned how to make short crust pastry to cover some bangers in gravy. It was a success and so good!

It was so flakey. I reheated it in the airfryer.