There was a real winter bite in the air yesterday, seemed more suited to mid-January than the first week of March, when the season prepares to meld gradually into spring. As good a day as any to make the pleasant drive downtown, taking the Eastern Parkway, at a leisurely speed.

The previous days of milder weather and rain events served to begin the process of melting the ice on the Ottawa River. By next week all the ice fishing huts will have to be removed for safety's sake, else they'll sink into the river. For some peculiar reason, there are always those who respond tardily when cautioned of impending ice melt.

As usual Parliament Hill was buzzing with people strolling about the grounds. Busy lines of tourists led by a guide streamed into the National Gallery, its giant spider sculpture "Maman", as usual eliciting gasps of delight, the marble 'eggs' suspended beneath the spider's form not yet hatched.

On our way to the stained glass supply shop, which brought us on this journey, even though we'd been there a mere two weeks earlier. Another set of windows on the go. Designed, and the pieces numbered and cut out, and ready to go. Required: some additional bright rainbow colours for the exotic landscape that will result.

A large, modern, colourful bus with Chinese characters writ large, alongside a banner reading "Taipan Tours", disgorges more sightseers, this time in front of the War Museum at LeBreton Flats. It's a busy area, popular with international tourists, so familiar to us, obviously of interest to those for whom this all appears different and appealing.