Friday Wrap #35 – Coffee and crowds

I am not a fan of large social events. Mixers and gatherings are one of the things I try to eschew the most. Since the pandemic, this has only been heightened – but this avoidance need existed long before global health emergencies. For work assignments I try to trade off going to these events, preferring to cover almost anything else. It’s not the people – the people are great. Just these events are not for me.

It seems I average having to go to one of these events per year. Last year’s was different. I presented a pitch before a group of nearly 200 women on behalf of the soccer organization I am involved with. Seeking money for a group to do something got me out of my shell… I spent the next week in as much solitude as I could find.

This year, I was not so lucky. It’s still a good cause, business awards. I am observing as usual, which is why I was on the clock for it. Still, I feel awkward. I prescribe to the old journalism adage of take only photos and notes – and coffee – from events. I was the only person in the room not eating breakfast, and I brought my own coffee this time.

My coffee, from my leaking coffee mug. Last Christmas, my kids got me a great Yeti Cup. This summer, I lost it. Or I think I did. Maybe someone else lost it as it was always being borrowed. I am not opening that can of worms. I lost the cup. I’ve had to switch back my old Bubba cup. I liked that cup when I first got it, but the seal leaks if you don’t have the lid tightened down super tight. Having your morning coffee leak out the side of the lid and spill on your Hawaiian shirt is not a good look. And I don’t like to waste coffee.

I switched coffee recently. Illy – a medium roast Italian coffee. A cup of this feels like the coffee is giving you a big warm hug. So good.

It’s not cheap, but what is anymore? Mortgages are expensive, buying a house more so. Houses that 5 years ago listed for $250,000 are now $500,000 – that $500,000 house still looks like a $250,000 house though. Even dumps are going for $3-400,000. Add in new windows, roof, kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring and you’re back at that $500,000. The dream of home ownership in Canada is quickly becoming a nightmare for most.

I have little sympathy for people complaining about their high mortgages though, especially the interest rate hikes. Sensible people live within their means and get five year fixed rate mortages. Gambling with your term and rate is a bet you’ll always lose.

Groceries are worse. It’s odd though that the Prime Minister has forcefully hauled the execs from the top grocery chains in to say “Lower the prices or else.” And even more odd is the top execs are saying “oh okay, we will.” Odd, until you realize it isn’t odd – it’s theatre.

Grocery chains in Canada have for the last few years locked their prices in after Thanksgiving until the New Year. Last year, there were news stories about this because Loblaws said “no more price increases until the new year” but then were slagged for this same reason. Chains freeze prices on most groceries due to the season.

So it’s theatre of the political nature from Justin Trudeau and the execs of Loblaws, etc. Nothing new. There’s theatre all around us.

Pierre Polievre flogged the $120 turkey this past week as what Canadians face at the grocery store because of Trudeau. Cue the buzzer. That turkey, which was posted on BlogTO, known for such insightful news like “Here are the top 10 Victorian era looking towns in Ontario” and “Toronto has a new spot for Korean food.” The turkey in question is sold at Longos which is a high end food retailer. It comes pre-cooked by Longos’ staff and with the fixings. Most Canadians buy frozen turkeys, Butterballs, not have the grocery store cook it for you. This is no different than a few years ago with $8 cauliflower. Shop around, which MOST Canadians did, and the stores with $8 cauliflower were higher-end stores, No Frills and Food Basics had these for $4.

It makes me wonder where people like Polievre and Trudeau get their information from. Probably just Blog TO. Maybe they need to read a real newspaper or pick up a flyer. Turkeys this week are $27-60 depending on the size. Still expensive, but not that bad compared to Polievre’s unrealistic exemplar.

Minimum wage went up in Ontario by $1.05. Great for low wage income earners. Not so great for anyone else whose pay is not indexed. In many industries, the gap between minimum wage and a liveable wage is growing, not shrinking. It is cyclical: increase minimum wage, employers increase prices to customers, customers pay more, and to be able to pay more – employees need a wage increase. Business is cyclical. Wages are cyclical. Real estate is cyclical. And I always seem to find myself on the wrong side of the cycles. But at least I have good Italian coffee to drown my sorrows and prep me for another day.

Three things…