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Photos

A pictorial potpourri

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Today I have to return to the UK after what seems an all too short stay in Victoria. I have been snapping away with the Fuji x10 throughout my visit, and this post consequently comprises a miscellanea of images.

These were taken around our dear friends’ farm:

Food shopping around Saanichton is very different to the UK. The local supermarket is called Thifty’s – and looks completely unlike any Waitrose or Sainsbury’s I have ever seen:

…and this is the very wonderful Orr’s in Brentwood Bay – fabulous meat and delicacies such as black pudding, and a cornucopia of delights from home for the British expat. The model of the paddle steamer Waverley in the window betrays its origins north of the border (the Scottish border, that is!)

I really liked the way the waitress in the Prairie Inn in Saanichton carried her change:

I love Sidney by the Sea. I think you can see why:

…and finally, something of a surprise:

Kickass Canada Girl discovered that the Maple Leafs (Rugby Canada’s development squad) were playing the Ontario Blues (national champions) in an exhibition match at the new Bear Mountain Stadium. Being big rugby fans we thought we would go along. We went early in case it was sold out (it wasn’t… come on, Victoria rugby fans!) and found ourselves the first ones there. We got into conversation with what appeared to be the head honcho, and found – to our surprise – that he had been to school in England, and had subsequently taught – and coached rugby – at the school that I worked at prior to my current school. We had overlapped briefly but not met. We also found that he has a residence in London a stone’s throw from where I work now. Small world!

As the conversation wound up I asked his name. How embarrassed was I to find I had been talking to Canadian Rugby legend, Garreth Rees?! Doh! He is now in charge of Rugby Canada and their splendid new Centre of Excellence at Langford.  Great things are anticipated for what is clearly a growing sport in Canada.

A little relaxation

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Living in the south of England gives one a particular perspective on the matter of snow – in that we only get any once every few years, it is only ever an inch or so deep at most and it usually disappears as quickly as it comes.

Seeing snow on the Coquihalla was a different matter entirely. The fact that both ends of the journey to Kamloops were spring-like and sunny, but the high pass had six foot drifts and there was a clear snow line on the mountain tops, was unlike anything I had seen before. We were very grateful that our dear friends had lent us their Toyota Surf for the journey. It certainly reinforced my feeling that owning a 4×4 is a pretty good idea in the west of Canada.

On the way back to Victoria – and because we had not seen each other for a month – Kickass Canada Girl and I treated ourselves to a night at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort. I had not heard of the Harrison Hot Springs and the Girl had never been there. We had a stunning view of the lake from our room, a splendid dinner and several opportunities to wallow in the outdoor hot spring pools. It was a wonderful way to wind down after the stresses of too much travelling and we thoroughly recommend it.

I wanted to take some photos of the view from our room but the battery on the x10 ran out of charge having been worked hard at the Aunt’s 80th birthday party the night before. As I was travelling light I had left the spare battery – and the charger – in Saanichton. Not wanting to miss the light on the lake and mountains I took a couple of snaps with the Galaxy Note instead. To my slight annoyance – in the circumstances – they turned out rather well!

Spring awakening

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Last Sunday was mild and sunny in Berkshire, with hints that spring is at last on its way. I took the Fuij x10 out to try to capture some images of the re-awakening.

Driving the x10 after years with a point and shoot felt a bit like stepping into a performance car having only previously driven a compact… most of the time I wasn’t in full control of what was going on! I did manage to get a few snaps:

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