A Belated Christmas Dinner

Yesterday, Sunday, we had a workshop booked at the crap, sorry, scrap booking shop in Ironwood. This was a new technique for us using a fine micro glitter. Once applied the glitter looks and feels like velvet. The workshop area was small and just 5 of us filled the small space. The technique was actually much easier to master than we thought it would be. The results looked quite professional and impressive.

On completing our cards and purchasing more supplies. ( Well....... that's what workshops 'make ' you do!) we crossed to Danny's a small unimposing Chinese restaurant for a tasty light lunch of soup and a just a couple of dishes.

The sun had burnt off the depressing fog in East Richmond and through the buildings the mountains across in North Vancouver were visible and bathed in sunshine. Driving back home to the west side of Richmond we became shrouded in the fog once more.

Later, in the early evening we drove to English Bay in Vancouver to Ralph's apartment. The journey took us in and out of the fog. Any time we neared the water the fog was thick. The illuminated glass wall of the Richmond Oval, by the Fraser River was just a dim erie glow through the wall of fog.

Parking in Vancouver is generally a bit of a nightmare but we struck lucky and found a spot near Ralph's apartment block. As it overlooks English Bay the murky fog was back in evidence, although during the evening it cleared and we could see the lights right across the Bay.

We were to dine with Ralph just before Christmas but the snow storm that day prevented us from driving and we all had to cancel. Tonight we made it despite the fog. In Vancouver some of the snows still in evident in the smaller side streets. It's been lying around for over five weeks now refusing to melt.
Ralph buzzed us through the buildings main doors and we travelled up the 17 floors to his compact apartment where he had dinner under control. I cannot imagine how he can put on such an impressive spread from his minuscule kitchenette.
We had appetizers of Italian cheeses Prawns, dips, olives and caper berries. These were tasty little berries that looked like embryo figs. This was followed by a tasty mushroom risotto, followed by roasted short ribs in a sweet tomato sauce and steamed vegetables, follower by a spinach and strawberry salad. Wwwwow...... and finally panetone sprinkled with limoncello and raspberry and white chocolate ice cream .

We all had a lovely evening . Thanks Ralph. That was a really impressive feast you laid on for us and it was fully appreciated by all.