Our final session began on November 22nd and ended on January 10th. Seven weeks is a long time and yet, it flew by. Glen did work -- Skyping with his lab once a week and working on papers and grant reviews. He also flew to Edmonton to attend a two day meeting. I concentrated on baking, Christmas cards, knitting a pillow, and finishing up a baby blanket for my niece's new son. I also edited a children's book I wrote about 20 years ago so I could give it to Elijah for Christmas. My hopes to spin and weave never materialized but we did get in some golf both at the driving range and at The Ridge. The rest of the time was spent socializing with family and friends.The first week, we settled in with me mostly organizing last minute Christmas gifts. We did walk down to Don Mees for dim sum and popped into MEC so I could buy some waterproof pants for golf (I had not packed mine). We also hit the Cuban Cigar store on the way home and bought Glen an early Christmas present of his favourite, Cohibas. We also hit the driving range and bought the condo a new TV (Xmas gift) that would allow us to watch Netflix--we are addicted to commercial-free TV series (Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, and Once Upon a Time).
Over the course of the weeks in Victoria, we went to Christies, had several visits from our dishwasher repair man, Arthur, and saw two movies, one being MockingJay, Part 1. We also visited Finest at Sea for seafood for Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and my birthday (lobsters). We also had two of Glen's watches repaired at Barclay's on Oak Bay, a small jeweller who also specializes in repairing the city's grandfather clocks.
Glen also did several radio interviews on ebola and the flu but it was hockey player, Sidney Crosby's mumps that garnered a TV spot. He was asked to do the interview at the BC Legislature so that gave us the excuse to explore the grounds of this venerable Victoria icon. What an amazing building! You can see my pictures on Diane's Travel Photos.
The rest of our sojourn in Victoria, I'll divide among those with whom we shared our time.
Diane and Tony
We had a great visit with these long-time friends over the course of several lunches. Our first (end of November) was at The Beagle Pub on Cook St. Glen and I had their excellent Shepherd's pie. Unfortunately, it was a very cold day and parking meters didn't work. Tony got a ticket which put a damper on what had been a great meal.
Diane suggested we go to the University of Victoria's University Club for their Christmas lunch. She arranged it and all we had to do was show up and enjoy an incredible buffet of seafood, Chinese, and Italian cuisine as well as roast pork and lamb. Dessert was Christmas pudding which I had with rum sauce, a treat I haven't had since I was small. Afterwards, we had coffee at D&T's house and saw all the improvements they've made since our last visit.
Between Christmas and New Years, while Meg and Mike visited, we decided to go to Blue's Bayou but it was booked with a function so we ended up at the Flying Otter. M&M had been there before and highly recommended it. We drank Hoyne Pilsner, ate crab cakes and Glen had their mushroom pizza while I had the spicy prawn wrap. Everything was delicious. The view of the harbour was great and we even saw a float plane land (in the summer it is bustling with plane travel). Tony proudly showed us his new Blackberry phone, a Christmas present.
Our final luncheon together was at Penny Farthing, a pub we hadn't visited since February (see West Coast Winter Break). Being a Wednesday with everyone back at school/work, you'd think it would have been empty but no. Most of Oak Bay's retirees were there. One group was celebrating a 70th birthday. I ordered their 2 for 1 fish and chips while Glen had chicken pot pie. He fancied cauliflower beignets so we all shared these tasty treats. We were walking so I figured we'd walk off the extra calories of so much fried food. We drank Driftwood New Growth Pale Ale.
Janny and Robbert
We began December meeting these golfing friends for lunch at Bill Mattick's Restaurant in the Cordova Bay Golf Clubhouse. I ordered the California seafood wrap which was huge and Glen enjoyed crab cakes and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Hummingbirds darted among the bushes outside the window as we enjoyed catching up with this amazing couple. Despite having a heart attack and stroke in the spring, Robbert has bounced back to his old self. They told us all about their trip to see their first great-grandchild in Edmonton. Two weeks later, after we golfed the Ridge, we bumped into them in the clubhouse and had another chat.
Janet and Iain
We met this couple years ago at an AMSMIC meeting. Iain has since 'retired' from academic life and they've settled in Victoria. They arrived after a whirlwind visit with their families scattered across the US and wanted to meet us for lunch. Knowing Iain's love of oysters, we suggested Pescatores. We had a great time and the oysters were fantastic. I also enjoyed their mussels and clams in white wine while Glen had fish and chips (I think). Afterwards we had coffee in their nearby apartment and enjoyed their amazing view.
Iain is a wonderful golfer (he's a Scot after all) and Janet is returning to the game so we planned an outing at the Ridge just before Christmas. We had a marvellous time then went back to their condo for lunch which Iain had cooked -- a cassoulet (he's become a gourmet cook in retirement). I provided dessert (my Christmas baking). On January 8th, we did the same thing except we hosted lunch -- a chicken cacciatore.
Cynthia, Ray, and Carolyn
These are our wonderful floor-neighbours. Cynthia and Ray pop into the condo and check it out when we're away which gives us peace of mind. We also love when they drop in for a chat. It's something of a tradition that if we are in town for Christmas, we join them for drinks before dinner (BYOB). Usually Glen is barbecuing a goose so he can keep tabs on that while we enjoy their company. This year, Sue, their daughter from Vancouver and her husband, Tom joined us. We had lots of fun before Carolyn kicked us out so she could serve up the turkey. Four days later, Tom had a heart attack and never came out of a coma. His death was a shock.
Yvon, Murray, and Rebecca
Glen and Murray have been friends for decades but Yvon and I connected only a couple of years ago (Winter Holiday?). Since they live in Comox, we try to meet them halfway up the island (each driving an hour and a half). Their favourite place is The Crow and Gate and it's quickly becoming ours, too. We first stopped outside of Duncan to find a letterbox hidden in the Cowichan Estuary. It was very foggy and a magical moment happened when an eagle took off close to us then vanished into the mists. I also saw my first Steller's Jay. The estuary is formed by the Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers creating a floodplain/marsh area that attracts bird life and was an important food source for First Nations people. White man changed the place, destroying 50% of the estuary's integrity. In 1987, the government moved to create an area that would accommodate agricultural, industrial and environmental interests. We witnessed the deterioration of an old railway and the natural aging of fenceposts so progress is being made.
Our lunch at "The Gate" was delicious. Glen shared the crab cake pub plate with me then tucked into his favourite steak and kidney pie (with real kidneys). I had the smoked salmon plate and the potato salad was amazing as was the homemade tartar sauce. It was good to catch up on Rebecca's news as she is at the University of Alberta studying law.
Monica
One afternoon, we got a call from Monica as she rode the shuttle bus in from the airport. Could we pick her up at Christie's and take her to her B&B. Of course, we could. Turns out because a two hour flight delay, she hadn't had lunch so we stopped at Mocha House, a local coffee shop success story. Her father was in the hospital across the street very sick with scabies and she was there to help her step-mother cope with scouring their apartment. We dropped her off at the Oak Bay Guesthouse, a quaint Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Oak Bay. Originally built in 1912, it's been an inn/b&b since 1922. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and exuded warmth and charm (a crackling fire helped). Monica showed me her well-appointed room and said the breakfasts were substantial. She also showed us the house where she grew up before we left her at her father's condo.
Meg and Mike
I left the best socializing for last. Meg and Mike spent 10 days with us and we had a wonderful time enjoying Victoria through their eyes. Sometimes we were together but often they headed out to do their own thing and we'd learn about it afterwards.
We did go to Salt Spring Island together on a very wet day. The last time we did this trip with them was in 2008 (before I began writing this blog) so they wanted to see everything. We got the early ferry and then headed up the island to the sheep farm where we all fell in love with a newborn black lamb. The sheep had just been fed so they all ignored us. We bought our usual lamb sausage there but added lamb shanks and blackberry jam to the order.
Next were the goats. Meg loves Salt Spring Island goat cheese so we headed to the place where it is made. There we witnessed goats battling over their lunch and Meg learned how one goat can dominate another. We went nuts inside the shop buying a variety of soft and hard cheese and jars of the jams that complimented them. Our favourite was Raspberry and Habanero.
We took a new way back to Ganges (much shorter) to the Harbour House hotel for lunch. It's always quiet there and the food is good. Meg and Mike treated us and I enjoyed a crab and shrimp salad. The restaurant serves only organic foods mostly grown on their own farm or from island suppliers. Meg wanted mussels but they had none (although we could see them growing in the harbour) so she settled for a chowder brimming with seafood. Afterwards we did a walk around town before heading to the ferry dock where we enjoyed coffee at the Rock Salt Restaurant.
M&M had seen the new Hobbit movie (The Battle of the Five Armies) in Edmonton while visiting his family for Christmas but wanted to see it again. The theatre offering the best seating/timing was in Langford (west-end Victoria) where Mike often comes to train people for Intact Insurance. We had a lunch of hot dogs as we watched the film. It was a good thing to do on a rainy day.
On New Year's Day, M&M treated us to breakfast at one of their favourite local restaurants, The Shine. They had been several times over the week but this was the first time we enjoyed it (according to Iain and Janet, they serve the best Scottish breakfast outside of Scotland). They have two locations serving Victorians, the original store on Fort Street (opened in 2004) and a new one downtown. Famous for their Eggs Benedict, I had to try one but didn't feel like two eggs. Bonus, they do a one-egg version! Meg's favourite is the Polish with the eggs sitting on perogies whereas I had the Garden City one which was delicious. Glen chose a traditional American breakfast--no black pudding for him! The potato scones are fantastic and we were lucky Mike was willing to share his.
To celebrate my birthday (two days early), we headed out for dinner at the Butchart Gardens, first doing a tour of the Christmas lights (see photo). Thanks heavens the rain didn't materialize and it wasn't too chilly. I had a great time taking photos and building an appetite for our wonderful meal. Over the holiday season, the highlight is The Twelve Days of Christmas lights. You must wind your way through the gardens to see them all. We did this ten years ago and it was worth doing again. The warmth of the restaurant, though, was welcomed. As we settled into our chairs, Glen spotted an apple dessert he wanted. Turns out it was made to order so it baked while we ate the rest of our meal. I started with french onion soup, Mike, mushroom bisque, Glen, caesar salad and Meg, scallops. Glen and I then had chicken thighs with red cabbage and goat cheese while Meg had beef tenderloin and Mike, fish. We all drank High Trail Honey Ale from the Vancouver Island Brewery. Meg and Mike then shared a chocolate sampler while Glen and I had the apple tarte tatin with homemade ice cream. We all waddled back to the car. If you wish to eat at the restaurant, you must purchase tickets to enter the gardens. This means a meal there is not cheap. However, you can use the entry fee toward an annual pass which pays for itself after your next visit. Hence, locals can enjoy the gardens/restaurant whatever the season.
M&M also ate at some of their own favourite places, including Don Mees, Penny Farthing, Irish Times, and the Tartan Toque. They walked to Willows Beach as well as all over downtown so the week seemed to fly by. Unfortunately, due to weather issues in Calgary, they didn't leave the island on time so wiled away three hours in the airport pub, Spinnakers on the Fly.
Perhaps because we didn't want to leave the green that is the island in winter, I didn't check our flight itinerary until our final day. I was shocked to learn we flew out at 2pm instead of 7pm. This meant truncating our final activities. We did get in a round of golf but then I went into panic packing and cleaning mode. The one downside of holidaying in your own place is that no one else can clean your bedding or leave your rooms tidy. However, we got it all done by 11am then headed to the airport to have lunch at Spinnakers on the Fly. The next day we were shovelling snow in Calgary wishing we'd stayed on the island.
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