Homemade Rolls….

Don’t know why we haven’t done this before, but we used the bread machine to get the dough ready and then whacked these bad boys in the oven….

Tuna salad on some, cheese on the others. Not a bad attempt for a first go, if I do say so myself.

Look What We Found!….

Paid a short visit to the liquor store, or “offie” as our UK brethren will understand, when we came across a familiar sight….

A beer from London!

We used to live just down the road from the Fullers Brewery, Chiswick, when we were in Richmond Upon Thames.

Many a summer evening was spent as the sun went down, on Richmond Green, with a pint of something or other from the Fullers pub on the green, as we sat on the grass and watched the cricket. Happy days!

Should I say more? Not really. I’m off to sample it and jog some other old memories, whilst the pizza cooks.

Pip, pip!

An Early “Oops” for Jan 1st 2011….

Our Fight Against Global Climate Change
Temperatures are increasing, glaciers are melting fast, and sea levels are rising. The entire planet is affected by global warming, and polar bears in Antarctica aren’t the only ones facing changes.
http://tinyurl.com/35mar84

…. er…. slight problem…. I think polar bears only live in the “Arctic”.

If they’ve been concerned about the lack of polar bears in the “Antarctic”, I think I can see why the numbers are down a bit….

Lightbulbs….

Genius….

B.C. switches off incandescent bulbs in 2011
Read Full Article @ http://bit.ly/eu5juq

A new green initiative taking effect Saturday in British Columbia will mean residents of the province will soon say goodbye to some incandescent light bulbs.

But the shift is being made despite longstanding concerns about the environmental hazards posed by the alternative — the compact fluorescent light.

Somehow, I missed this one coming through here in B.C. I know it was done in the UK, but I thought, for the time being, we were some way off…. I was wrong.

For reasons why this is madness, watch the following video, and don’t worry about the balaclava. He’s just shy….

For dem dat couldn’t manage da video, here are da main points….. we is gonna go from da lightbulbs that we can safely dispose of and dat pose no immediate health threat, to ones that contain mercury and could pose health issues, such as brain and kidney damage in us peeps, along with increased environmental damage such as 5mg of the stuff, the amount contained in each one of da bulbz should it not be got shot of safely, polluting 6000 gallons of water a time, you know, dat stuff wot you get out of dee tap, innit.

Eco-bulbs ‘a health hazard for babies and pregnant women due to mercury inside’
Read Full Article @ http://bit.ly/etfSzh

Energy-saving light bulbs were at the centre of a fresh health scare last night after researchers claimed they can release potentially harmful amounts of mercury if broken.

Levels of toxic vapour around smashed eco-bulbs were up to 20 times higher than the safe guideline limit for an indoor area, the study said.

It added that broken bulbs posed a potential health risk to pregnant women, babies and small children.

It might be wise to make sure you know what risk you’re taking with these things, wouldn’t you say?

In 2010 it was transmitting water meters that will allow them to “cut you off” if you use to much along with the bins that can squeal on you if you put the wrong bit of rubbish in the wrong bin, even if you didn’t and it was some passer by, only for, in 2011, lightbulbs that could put me into a migraine at best, brain damaged at worst. Marvellous.

Nothing like starting off the new year, with the blood pressure low, eh…..

UPDATE….. Should be good for a while, I’ve stocked up on the little blighters. No mercury for Chateau Boom, not yet anyway…… after which we’ll be on candles…..

Tags: Mercury, Mercury Lightbulbs, Green, Environment

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011…

For no reason I can think of, I’ve wandered far astray.
And that is how I got to where I find myself today.
Calvin and Hobbes

So, there goes another decade then….

We’ve lived in London, Eastbourne, Hastings and now Canada in this particular one, got 2 cats, experienced broken arms, fingers and slashed ankles. Been a day trader, tutor, web designer, musician and bread maker, made our own wine, beer, learnt to bake our own bread, baked beans and chewy bars.

In the last year though, one stand out memory was of course, the kids first major gig, Muse in Vancouver. The following drive back through the mountains at 2 in the morning to get back in time for the first footie tournament of the season was a bit of a "high point" too….

We managed to get the mutha in lore out into the wilderness too, albeit for a few days!

Speaking of footie, imminent in 2011 is out first trip across the border, into the US. The team "management" have decided to forgo the usual sojourn to Kamloops and head to Coure d’Alaine, which I have been reliably informed is a fantastic place to visit. So we’re looking forward to that in May.

Much more camping is planned. We hope to get a grip on the "BC Campground 3 Month in Advance Booking Shenanigans" and get prepared with some good slots in plenty of time this year.

With any luck, at some point in this coming year, the Missus will also be granted her Canadian Citizenship, meaning we can then come and go, should that be our want, without having to deal with any more wonderful Canadian Bureaucracy! As she says, "she’s done her time"….

Back in August, we passed the 5 years in Canada point. That means it’s been over 5 years since we were on England’s shores, over 5 years since we saw some of our friends, over 5 years since the missus and us, saw her grandmother and mine and over 5 years since I last saw my middle brother.

That’s too long for all of those things.

2011 will and has to be, our make or break year for living in Canada. It was supposed to be 2010, but we got sidetracked, as usual and, as the curtains were coming down, the chairs put away, something happened and I ended up coaching Sam’s footie team…. but with the kids getting bigger we need more living space, at the very least and therefore a bit more cash coming in to cover it. So it’s going to be interesting to see what the next year or so brings us.

The clock is ticking and not in our favour….

In the meantime, have a Happy New Year, one and all and remember, the immortal words of Kurt Vonnegut, “We’re on earth to fart around. Don’t let anybody tell you any different."