frames of reference

Maui sunset

Jax at sunset

The first warm-weather vacation destination Jax and I have visited together - and my first time to Hawai’i (I know, it's a logic test - prize to the first who figures out how that works). January 1 sunset off Kihei was spectacular. Unsurprisingly, we were not the only ones who pulled off the road (on our way back from shopping for some essentials). J was as happy as a ... happy person.

Kihei at sunset

Homegrown Gems

So, it's Turtledove Day—a.k.a., The Second Day of Christmas, or First, depending on how you count it in your part of the world—and for no other reason than that it gets me active on Vox before Jax, I tell the story of a discovery and I pose a question:

Today, as Jackie is finishing reading my gift from her parents, she calls to me for drink and 'something salty'. I oblige with the ... er ... obligatory G&T to slake her thirst and dash next door to the corner store to address the more brackish need. I discover a local gem: kettle chips (crisps to our UK friends) made sort-of-locally, in Maple Ridge, BC, called 'Hardbite Chips'. They turn out to be a perfect delight.

They also remind me of another discovery a colleague and I made on the way up-Island to what turned out to be a disappointing Robin Mark concert in Duncan. We stopped on the way at a family-run gas station/convenience store/laundrymat to use the 'facilities', and I felt obliged (being Canadian) to buy something in exchange for, well, leaving something. On the shelves I discover a truly locally-made candied popcorn—made, apparently, from a 150-year-old recipe. It was the best kettle corn I've ever tasted, and I ploughed through half the bag before we got to the disappointing concert. (I think it's called 'Maple Leaf Kettle Corn', made in Shawnigan Lake. The only online reference I can find for these people is a report from the Vancouver Island Health Authority from their last routine inspection. Gratifyingly, they passed the inspection.)

All of which confirms a recent tendency of Jax's and mine: we prefer to pay a slight premium for locally-made, non-mass-produced foods and goods over their cheaper alternatives. I'm surprised at how many superior products we find locally, and by buying them, we support smaller local business operators and reward them for out-doing The Man.

Now for the challenge: what local product or service do you prefer over the Big Name Brand alternative?

Go ahead, laugh

Yes, I admit, we live in a smug place. It’s subtle, but it’s inevitable that the constant gorgeous weather lulls Victorians into complacency. Then the ‘arctic outflow’ hits and a mere 5 cm of snow paralyzes the populace. A mere coverlet to cool a hobbit’s toes, as Tolkien would have put it.

Deep Midwinter

Foodies unite!

Jax and I have turned a corner of sorts - perhaps it's that after two years of both of us working like mad and having to resort to pre-fab food, we've reached our limit. As our friends across two continents will know, we love good food. We love cooking it, and we love feeding it to guests. And now, with three new cookbooks from two of our fav UK cooks in the house, it's time to make a change.

Tonight it was Jamie Oliver's recipe for salmon tikka with cucumber yoghurt on naan bread. Astounding. And ready in 20 minutes! You can watch him make it in, like 10 minutes, on his 'Ministry of Food' website.

And you can also watch - and hear - him make an amazing lamb curry right here. Prepare to be amazed. Buon appetito!

Jamie Oliver - Lamb Curry Song (sung by Jamie)

Unbe-freakin-lievable

Okay, so after you get over the shock of seeing a new post here after more than a year's absence, get a load of this amazing piece of documentary journalism. Paul Merton, beloved by J and me as ascerbic co-panelist on Britain's Whose line is it anyway?, seeks out and interviews one Mr. Woo during his series Paul Merton in China. Mr. Woo belongs to "The Schmo-heads" - as President and Chief Architect.

Paul Merton in China Mr Woo Robots

Heavenly Weekend

Starting Line

This weekend was a good example of why I’m happy to be where I am. First off, one of the premier sailing events in North America, Swiftsure, took place over Saturday and Sunday (not counting all the festivities beforehand, which I didn’t take in). One of the best things about moving back to Island is that I now know several sailors, so in my 40s I’m finally going to get a chance to do some serious sailing.

After watching the start of the race on Saturday, Jax and I headed to the Heron Rock Bistro and indulged in some of their ab fab eggs benny. I’ll leave Jack to talk about what she had, but I have officially fallen in love with their Bacon and Blue Cheese Benny: I think it was quite simply the best brunch I’ve ever had. And that’s saying something.

Sunday evening I followed through on the bacon and blue cheese theme (!!??) when I went out with some of the university students we know through the church. A bunch of us went to the Irish Times Pub, on the assumption (correct, as it turns out) that there would be some hot music in the offing. I got all teary over my Guinness and—get this—Irish Poutine (so called). Those of you who are familiar with our various cultures north of the 49th parallel will know about the ‘real’ poutine. This was better: thick chunks of salty Irish bacon and crumbled Roquefort cheese over perfectly-cooked fries (chips), all covered in lovely chicken gravy (probably out of a can). The music was very good—just the right mix of recognisable tunes bent ever so lightly to the West Coast. Don’t ask me what I mean by that.

Majestic tranquility

Then, on Monday, with Jax finished her huge design project and at the end of six weeks of estrangement, we had a ‘normal’ BBQ supper and then a drive out to Cattle Point at the end of an amazing sunny day. After my obligatory nap while Jax reviewed her plant ID cards, I stalked a blue heron and we generally watched the ‘golden hour’ progress over calm seas. Astounding weekend all told.

Come visit soon!

Two fishers

and if you liked the advert

Those who have seen Jax's posting on the Sony Bravia 'Colour Like No Other' advert may also wish to be stunned by the behind-the-scenes story. We love it, not least because the whole thing was set in Glasgow, not that far from our old stomping grounds.

Sony Bravia Paint Commercial : Behind The Scenes

John and Andrew: '1700 detonators' was the statistic that stuck in my mind... ;)

I asked for it

So I had the senior high youth and their leaders over for eine kleine kaffeehaus on Friday while Jax was basking in the snow-rays on Lake Cowichan. The casual topic of conversation as we drank our mocha lattés (or double brevés for me) and snacked on those amazing mini-rice cracker + nut snacks, was ‘Pop culture’. Yep, intentionally vague. I was interested in what’s cool with the under-20 set here in balmy (ha!) Victoria, and what makes things cool, or not.

In the course of events, someone started google-ing all the leaders (good thing we’d all passed our criminal record checks!), and that led to funny videos people had seen, which led inexorably to YouTube, and this (thanks to Kim):

Ninja T-shirt folding!

It works - we tried it, and now I have a new party trick. And Jax is making me fold all the t-shirts from now on.

Vox Hunt: Needs Attention

Show us something in need of attention.
Submitted by little♫miao.

Joseph

Joseph deciding to keep Jax company while she works.

Welcome, 2007

Hiebert blogocentre

Ok, so I’ve gone and anthropomorphized a chronological entity. So sue me.

What’s up for the new year, I wonder? And why is it that we can fixate on a date, and assume (hope? determine?) that ‘things will be different this year’?

I’m not trying to be cynical. No, really. Because what’s really fascinating is how we do manage (sometimes) to make things different. Sometimes more successfully than those moments during the year when we say to ourselves, ‘Now I’m turning over a new leaf!’

I wonder if it has something to do with the dramatically reduced levels of bremsstrahlung radiation caused when the muon spin reverses direction in the brains of billions of determined leaf-turners-over all over the world, all at one time. Changing one’s fate is more likely to be successful in the absence of bremsstrahlung radiation. Makes sense when you think about it.