Home from Canada

[fenchurch]

It was an incredibly pleasant and easy trip! We're finally getting to know our way around Vancouver, a bit, which is really helping... especially knowing to go over to the Aldergrove border crossing. Very short wait time both going up and coming back.

I wanted to update before heading to bed, even though I'm incredibly bleary-eyed... the whole trip was fun, though. From reading cousinjean's "The Butterfly Effect" aloud to rackham on the way up, to our trip to the Vancouver Ikea (they have different stuff from the Ikea in Seattle!), to ending up buying our copy of the Canadian edition of the Harry Potter book at a Wal-Mart (of all places), to the House Filk at shaddyr's place (thanks so much for inviting us! We had a great time, even if I did find it incredibly freaky to be singing in front of strangers again for the first time in ages), to the stop at the grocery store (to pick up some good chocolate, some golden syrup, and some All-Dressed crisps), and finally the drive home (while I read aloud the first three chapters of Half-Blood Prince). It makes for a full day, but I love these occasional trips up to Vancouver.

And now it's a race against time... will I finish the new Harry Potter book before I get accidentally spoiled! As it is, I'm very grateful to all my friends on LJ who have been good about putting in text cuts!

Comments

[canadia-bit.livejournal.com]

our trip to the Vancouver Ikea

Did you go to the "Vancouver" Ikea in Richmond or the "Vancouver" Ikea in Coquitlam? Because they're both very different.

to pick up some good chocolate, some golden syrup, and some All-Dressed crisps

Let me guess: Cadbury's chocolate? Golden Syrup is the best - you don't have this in the States? And you still don't have All-Dressed chips? Odd.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Oooo... I had no clue there were TWO Ikeas in Vancouver! We went to the one in Coquitlam. How's the other one compare?

Let me guess: Cadbury's chocolate?

Yep. I also usually pick up a bag of those small, snack-sized Kit-Kats (because American Kit-Kats absolutely suck).

Golden Syrup is the best - you don't have this in the States?

Nope. Not unless you can find some at a specialty shop. I'll buy it over at the British Pantry, but it's not cheap. Hmmm... I wonder if they sell it at the Indian Grocery just down the road. I've been in there a lot, but I've never actually looked for it, in particular.

And you still don't have All-Dressed chips? Odd.

Sadly, no. Salt and Vinegar chips have finally caught on in a widespread way... you can find them anywhere, now. And Dill Pickle chips are starting to make in-roads (my mom loves those, and we'd always stock up when we'd visit BC when I was a kid), but there's still no sign of All-Dressed.

There are a few other things on our list of stuff to grab... in particular, rackham really likes those oatmeal & peanut butter cookies (Pirates, I think they're called).

At least this time we had the excuse of going to visit shaddyr to tell the border people... Usually when we do these day trips, we tell them "Oh, we're just heading up for the day to do some grocery shopping" and wind up getting grilled about what, EXACTLY, we're planning to buy. Followed by "You're going to buy potato chips and chocolate?" Pause with puzzled frown. "Why?" Hee!

Golden Syrup

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Actually, I did see Golden Syrup on my last trip to Cost Plus World Market--so you might want to check there.

Re: Golden Syrup

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Oooo! Thanks! I don't know why I hadn't thought to check there.

[shaddyr]

We went to the one in Coquitlam. How's the other one compare?

I think the one you went to is better, myself. But then again, I don't like driving out to Richmmond at all if I don't have to.

Cadbury's. Yum. It's funny - when my brother comes up from Alabama, he always buys a huge whack of chocolate bars to take back with him, too.

And Golden Syrup? Duuuude! If only I had known. I don't *like* Golden Syrup and I have 2 unopened bottles of it. I would have happily given them to you.

I did not realize about the flavoured chips. What did they have in the states, just plain? Having grown up with lots of different flavours, that just seems strange. I don't care for the all dressed myself - always was partial to sour cream & onion flavour.

I'm so glad that the two of your stopped by - it was wonderful to see you again (and to see rackham when he was actually awake! *hee*) You will have to let me know if you decide to have a house filk. And be sure to invite vixyish and tell her to bring the rest of Escape Key along with her. It would be way lots of fun.

Or maybe I will just have to host another one very soon. I hope you guys can make it next time - I love your filk party trick!

[tomte.livejournal.com]

We've got other flavors--just not the same ones you do. Salt and Vinegar wasn't popular here until a few years ago--the most common ones are sour cream and onion, barbecue, and a handful of others. All Dressed are tasty at least in part because they're slightly exotic.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Cadbury's. Yum. It's funny - when my brother comes up from Alabama, he always buys a huge whack of chocolate bars to take back with him, too

It's just all the yummy chocolate bars that we don't have here, and the ones we do have being available there with better chocolate *cough*Kit-Kats*cough*

And Golden Syrup? Duuuude! If only I had known. I don't *like* Golden Syrup and I have 2 unopened bottles of it. I would have happily given them to you.

Ah, well... I should have mentioned it before we left! I'm still not sure how much use I'll get out of the stuff. I've got some Australian recipes that call for it, and apparently it can be used in place of corn syrup in other recipes (I can't stand the taste of corn syrup, so I'm looking for alternatives).

I did not realize about the flavoured chips. What did they have in the states, just plain?

We have flavored chips, in fact there's quite a wide variety... just no All-Dressed. And we also don't tend to get some of the funkier flavors that seem popular in every other English speaking country (like Crispy Bacon or Honey Ham or Steak & Onions).

Or maybe I will just have to host another one very soon. I hope you guys can make it next time

Definitely! It's been entirely too long since I've gone filking with full-fledged filkers! When we were still living in Utah, I was the big filk expert who threw all the parties, knew all the music, etc. with a few people who knew a bit and one or two who would occasionally show up to play instruments. So it was wonderful to be around people who were so incredibly talented!

I love your filk party trick

Heh! It's a pity David Letterman doesn't do Stupid Filker Tricks, or it would be perfect. I was unbelievably nervous about that... so afraid I'd flub, or that people would just think it was stupid. :-p