Happy New Year

Gung Hai fat Choi.

or

'Congratulation on your good Fortunes' the literal translation.

or

Happy New Year, as it's come to symbolise.


Oh, and there's numerous spellings of the phonetic translation.


Its now the year of the Ox.

This is my last post from Vancouver for 2008/9. I've had a great time as usual. Despite the snow. Quite a different but just as enjoyable Christmas and New Year. More restful this trip which is what I needed. Too much eating as usual though. Shame Dave had to go home early though. Thanks Nancy, Nancylee and John you've been great hosts as usual. I hope to see Nancy in England later this year or early next year!
I'm exhausted from struggling to pack every thing in the suitcases. Nancylee arrived thankfully with two vacuum bags and helped squeeze it all in and weigh them. A pox on the BA for reducing the weight limit! I knew I shouldn't have bought that extra yarn yesterday!!!

See you back in Blighty on Ramblings from the Fens

Another New Years Eve.

Sunday 25th. Chinese New Years Eve.
It's another bright clear sunny cold day as we drive into Vancouver towards Kitslano today. We stop in Kits. and have a coffee and timbits (a box of ten mini Tim Hortons doughnuts, Mmmm so morish!) in Tim Hortons before hitting 'Urban Yarns' for the last time this trip. My resolve not to add to my already large stash of yarn soon dissolves among all these delicious textures and colours. Soon I have another pile of wool with projects in mind.

Carrying onto Vancouver in the afternoon we are amazed by the number of people our walking along the beach in Kitslano and along English Bay. It's almost as crowded as a summers day. I think they all must have got cabin fever over the last few weeks with the snow and fog! The temperatures still hovering at freezing though, but the sun really makes you feel better.
We're off to the Fish House restaurant in Stanley park for 'Afternoon Tea'. Quite a few Tea houses, hotels and restaurants keep this old English custom going here in British Columbia. They serve dainty crust less sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and dainty cakes on a three tier cake stand along with a your choice of tea. I doubt if there are many places in England that still serve High Tea or Afternoon Tea Just a few maybe. I can remember having tea like this when I was small and out with my grandparents on an outing to the 'seaside'. As a small boy Dave would have tea at the Ritz in London when he was out with his Mum.

The Fish House restaurant is by the tennis courts in Stanley Park and we are amazed to see the courts are pack with tennis players wrapped up warmly against the cold.

This evening we have a big family banquet to attend in the Empire Restaurant in Richmond. This is a Chinese tradition on New Years Eve. New Year's all steeped in cultural traditions and superstitions too many to list here. Strangely they are observed more by the younger generation than their elders. We are sitting with the 'Kids' tonight. Although all the kids are all grown in their 20's and 30's. They all speak in English and there is more banter and laughter on our table than their parents table! The meal, course after course, runs over it's allotted time and people waiting for the second sitting all wait in the door. The waiters struggle to get food out to the crowed tables. Eventually throughly 'stuffed ' we squeeze through the waiting people out into the cold night. I say my goodbyes to the family as I fly home tomorrow.

Another Birthday to Celebrate

Nancy's birthday dawned a beautiful sunny day with a sparkly hoar frost. Sadly the sun didn't last all day as predicted but hazed over with light high cloud. Nancylee has a one day class to teach at the Simon Fraser University Downtown campus. The main university is out in Burnaby, quite a drive so Downtown in the old Sears high rise department store works well for her.

We had nothing planned but a relaxing day. I did a little sorting out of all the craft materials we had accumulated and packed what I needed to take home. Margaret popped in briefly on her way to work with birthday presents for Nancy and two traditional Chinese New Years cakes, one sweet and one savoury.

Promptly at 4.45pm John collected us. We had organised a Birthday dinner at the Baccus Restaurant in the Wedgwood Hotel opposite the Courts in Downtown Vancouver. The hotel is described as a Boutique hotel and Spa. The foyer had wooden floors with large expensive rugs, mahogany panelled and slub silk covered walls. The furniture, assorted chairs and sofas are all antique and to complete the grandeur genteel look is an antique grandfather clock.

The Baccus Restaurant.

We are dinning early as this is the 'Dine Out Vancouver' experience, a two week period where some of the top hotels and restaurants around the city offer their dinning at a set reduced price to allow people to sample their cuisine.' Many of the restaurants were fully booked and a 5.30 slot was the only one we could get. John navigated through the downtown traffic to the hotel door where a Bell Hop smartly whipped around to open the car doors for us and valet parked the car. Nancylee had already arrived from her teaching and presented Nancy with a bouquet of flowers. Ralph arrived an foot, the walk from his apartment in English Bay across the city took just half an hour. Our coats were taken, deposited in the cloakroom and we were shown to our table.

The salmon dish and below, Alberta roasted short rib.

The 3 course menu with recommended wines was limited on the 'Dine Out' experience, but with some very good choices. I chose a Comfit of duck leg on abed of fingered potatoes and vegetables. We all enjoyed the delicious meals with wine . The ambiance was subdued and very pleasant we could hear the music from the piano lounge playing. Good food, good company pleasant surroundings, attentive service what more could you want. I could get use to this. I wonder if our lottery tickets for $44 million have come up. I don't expect so ! Oh well back to reality in Blighty next week! So savour the moment Monica.

Back home in Richmond we discovered the Florist had made a late delivery for Nancy and had left it with her neighbour. This was a present of a lovely packed full fruit basket from Ralph and should have been delivered earlier in the day.

As we had demolished the Baileys last night we cracked open one of Nancy's bottles of sherry and opened the selection of handmade chocolates from Chocoalt to finish the evening .

Flowers from Nancylee and John .

Friday

A frosty, misty start to the day soon cleared to blue skies and sunshine. What a difference the sun makes! The mountains are visable once more and look so close when they're bathed in sunlight. We have the best of both worlds here. Flat lands in Richmond reminisent of home on the edge of the Fens of East Anglia. Water close by, ocean and rivers, all Brits seem to love the sea. Must be because we're an island race. The mountains close enough to give dramatic sceanery. Fantastic shopping and as for eating out I could never list all the choices. Pajo's fish and chips in Steveston rivals any British chippy.
We had a quick trip into Richmond this morning to Penningtons so I could spend my Christmas gift certificate. Then back to Stevenston for a quick snack at the popular Dipomat bakery. They make the most scrumptious cakes including a multilayered confection called the Diplomat Cake.
Next port of call, the Raintree Wellness Spa. Nancylee and I had gift certificates. Hers from Christmas and mine from by birthday in December. Hers was for a massage and mine for a manicure. When we made the appointments I purchased a relaxing massage for Nancy, as a birthday gift from Dave and myself. I thought she might need it for putting up with me for two months!!!

I've never had the time or money to pamper myself this way in the past but I must admit I could get use to It!. This spa is oasis of calmness. The décor and the staff just put you at your ease from the moment you step through he door.

Nancylee has an opticians appointment next and Nancy has been bullied and coehersed into an appointment as well. She's never had one for over 10 years and has been resisting going despite squinting at print. We've found her a really trendy red pair that really suits her. Will she wear them? errr..who knows! I'm not going to be here to bully her!

Pasta and Tinsle

Thursday was a busy day!

I spent the morning on the computer trying to get my brain in gear writing this blog. For some reason yesterday it was hard work.

Nancylee and John collected us at lunch time for a drive out to Burnaby to Antons Pasta Bar. This unpretentious restaurant is a popular eating spot for lovers of authentic northern Italian food. It's so popular that at the evening dinner times there is a line up along the street waiting for a table. As we arrived late for lunch the rush of diners had eaten so we were able to be seated at once. By reputation the dishes are large so we only ordered two dishes to share between the four of us. With a starter salad and garlic bead to share it proved to be ample food for us.

Our appetites suitably sated we drove the short distance to Bosa Foods an Italian warehouse style market opened in 2006. It's the least likly looking super market store I have ever seen. Here imported Italian foods, staples, delicacies, fresh products and luxuries are displayed in abundance. Nancylee and John stack their shopping cart with goodies while Nancy and I just wander about. Johns ancestry is half Italian courtesy of his father, Ralph. Shopping over we headed home.

After a post lunch snooze and a little telly we headed off once more but not to Richmond's Silver City. (the cinema) but back into Vancouvers East side to Tinsle Town a comfortable 12 screen cinema complex in a failed shopping mall. The cavernous complex with its empty shops is solely supported by the cinema and Mcdonalds. A few of the shops are being used as art gallery's.

The film we wanted to see was only showing here. 'Slumdog Millionaire' was not bought up by all cinema chains as it was not expected to be a great success. it's a modest budget British film produced by Danny Boyle. Since its release the cinemas have been packed. Its a story of poverty, greed, corruption and love and shows the under life and slums of India in graphic detail. The Juvenile leads of the film were literally plucked from the slums. How refreshing, much better than their parents spending the money. They were not paid but given a better life by putting them through school. The adult leads were Dev Patel a Londoner, Anil Kapoor and Feida Pinto. The story is of a young Chai Wallah (tea boy) who goes on India's version of 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' hoping his lost love will see and find him. He beats all odds and wins only to be accused of cheating. The story unfold telling how he came to know all the answers. It's fast moving, sad, gritty and funny enough to balance the action. The film has already won a Golden Globe and is up for 10 Oscar nominations. A great film I recommend you see it.
It was 10pm by the time we left the cinema and we all realised we were eaten. It was a long time since lunch at Antons so we headed back to Richmond to Nancylee and Johns favourite late night eatery, a Small Chinese restaurant called Alleluia.

Weather update.......temperature hovering around zero Mist and fog swirling in and out. Snow disappeared from Richmond except for small dirty piles. Still a surprising amount of snow lying in Vancouver especially on the Est side and across in Burnaby. Oh and 40 to 60% chance of more snow on aturday and Sunday.

Wednesday on Friday Night

Wednesday

This afternoon we're in the Yaletown district of Vancouver. I love these flags that decorate every lamp post in Vancouver and Richmond. They're changed frequently through the year and usually depict something unique about the district or season.

Yaletown is an old 1920's warehouse and manufacturing area of Vancouver with solid well proportioned brick buildings. The area was mainly a textile and garment making district. Now completely renovated it's now a trendy urban community. With business offices , residential and the largest number of restaurants per block than any other area of the city.

All the restaurants and shops are definitely up market. Many restaurants have small private rooms for celebrities to eat in private. Vancouver is a thriving area for shooting major movies.
We park and stop for a coffee at a cafe that roast, grinds and brews their coffee that come from Fair Trade sources. John has a business meeting nearby so after coffee we walk about the district taking in the atmosphere. There's a few small art galleries that we browses and a chocolate shop called Chocoatl. that I couldn't resist buying a selection. They are the most expensive chocolates I've ever bought but then that wouldn't be difficult as I rarely buy chocolates. It was a whim. I just thought they would make a nice end to Nancy's upcoming birthday.

After Johns meeting we had a little time to spare before Nancylee's C.B.C appointment so we descended on Moxies bar and Grill for a drink and appetizer. No time for a full meal. The speciality drink tonight was Bellini's so Nancy and I order one each. They were a bit of a disappointment. Definitely not as good as Browns! John ordered a whiskey sour. He likes the sound of the ingredients but has only had one before. Some time ago!

It was sourer than he had expected!!!

Nancy left ahead of us heading for the C.B.C studios (Canadian broadcasting Company) she was co-hosting tonight's recording for their CBC Studio One Book Club The host is Sheryl Macay and the co-host changes for each author that is interviewed.

Tonight's author is Kate Jacobs a Canadian (from Hope BC) who now lives in LA. her first book is a Best Seller and has sold over a million. Its called 'The Friday Night Knitting Club'. I'm now reading Nancylee's copy and it's already hooked me. Her second book, 'Knit Two' picks up the characters five years later . She also has a third published book called 'Comfort Food'.

The studio is a dark cavenous room in the bowels of the building and is so cold. The producer had the overhead lights switched on to try and warm the place up.

The audience at these events have to write in to apply for the 120 tickets available but we are ushered in without tickets. Tonights audience are mostly women with a token three men. John being one. The recording lasted an hour and a half and ended with a draw with the prizes donated by the Book Warehouse. Nancylee was drawing the tickets and after making a comment on how funny it would be if she drew out her own ticket. Next ticket she picked was her Moms!!!

Leaving the Studio building, chilled to the bone, we were thankful Nancy had managed to park almost out side the Studios. Heater blasting we headed back to Richmond for a late supper at Browns Social House.

Chasing the Sun

We decided to run from the persistent fog today and chase the sun. The grey fugs been stuck over Vancouver and Richmond now for over a week. There's no wind or breeze to shift it. Occasionally the sun manages to burn some of it off. It's even interfered with filming that was going on in Steveston.

So were going up Cypress Mountain today. We need the SUN!. Over in West Vancouver over the Lions Gate Bridge spanning the Burrard Inlet , the fogs still present but as we go higher it get less until we emerge in brilliant sunlight.

Going, going

Gone!

The snow gets thicker as we climb higher. The roads are fully cleared though. Better than some of the side roads down in Vancouver!

We stopped half way up Cypress mountain at a scenic view point. There were many other people that had stopped to marvel at the views. Or maybe the non views! The whole of the lower mainland was shrouded by the fog. It looked like a land completely covered by snow. Not even the tops of the skyscrapers of Downtown Vancouver could be seen. The scene was quite awesome and beautiful. Would the ice age have looked like this I wonder. The sun shone down on the fog and it was surprisingly warm. Down under the fog the ships in the Georgia Straights and English bay warned each other of their presence with their fog horns and the sound echoed eerily up the mountain side.

Mount Baker can just be seen above the fog over the Boarder in the States
We sit a while and soak up some of the warm sun.

This area is known as the Cypress Bowl.

There's skiing and snowboarding slopes up the mountain.The ski slopes are not too busy today despite the car park being fairly full. Its a week day and its also the inauguration of Barack Obama today. Many people are watching it on TV's.

The ski lodge on the mountain is a completely new one but not quite finished yet. It's much larger than the old one. The restaurant and the large cafe next door are up and running. The food was great. We all chose a different salad. Mine was a goats cheese and spinach salad, mmmm......tasty. The yam fries were also really so tasty much better than potatoes chips. Oh and the restaurants called the 'Crazy Raven'. When you see the ravens running about outside you realise why.

The new ski lodge is large and functional with no design pretensions. Quite unlike the lodge up Grouse Mountain.

By the mid afternoon the fog in the lower mainland had lifted very slightly so the skyscrapers of Downtown could just be seen. Only just though.

We stopped in at the Park Royal Village in West Vancouver for tea in the Urban Tea Merchant. A very up market tea shop. The scones were just so good Mine was ginger and orange flavour. The tiny covered pot contained a portion of a tea flavour jelly (or Jam) and the other pot had clotted cream. Together with a pot of earl Grey tea just delicious! There was an America Whole Food store Nancylee want to shop in. It was about as big as our Tesco store in Hampton! All the organic and whole food items you could think of.

Of course as the evening closed in the fog descended once more. The drive home took for ever as the traffic was awful. Probably because of people trying to find alternative routes home as the Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser further up the river has been so damaged by a fire and has had to be closed.

Listening to the television this evening I wonder how many people skived from work today to watch the Obaramania .