Christmas is a favourite time of the year for me. Lots of food, drink, parties, family and out door lights and Christmas trees. I love decorating our home with lights in front and in back too. In our area there are some spectacularly decorated homes so a drive around on a dry dark night is a must. Some communities really go all out. Last night the little town of Ladysmith lit up the Main Street with 175,000 lights. Upwards of 20,000 people were expected to be there to see the switch go on. We’ve seen their lights which are quite spectacular. It’s worth a drive to see them.

I have always loved Christmas trees, even the ones we had as kids that were so sparse we loaded each branch with that silver tinsel to make the tree look fuller. Tree stands used to be terrible and I recall once a guy in our home got so frustrated trying to get the stand working he finally nailed it to the floor right through the carpet.

We have friends who flock their tree every year and they usually celebrate the flocking with a party. He puts the tree on the patio, mixes up the white flocking and sprays it on the tree with a vacuum cleaner. Makes a mess but the tree does look snowy.

Until recently we always had a real tree which we usually purchased from the cubs and scouts. Noble pine is our favourite. One year a little cub would not let us take the tree until he ‘twirled it’ for us so we could see all sides.

Ok, I admit that we have capitulated and now have a fake tree. No. Let’s call it a replica tree. A Martha Stewart no less, with a simple but attractive stand that works. But it looks like a real tree! Not like the ones on display at Canadian Tire today. A pink tree! Powder Blue maybe? Gold? Who would have a tree in their home that looked like these..

Call me old fashioned but a Christmas Tree ( not a Holiday Tree) should look like a tree.

Only 6 more days until our lights go up. Then the place looks festive! ”Tis the Season”.

Just saying.

Wednesday night we were expecting to meet friends, one couple, at SAM’S SUSHI in FRENCH CREEK. Much to our surprise, when we arrived there were 3 couples surprising us to celebrate this old guys birthday. What a delightful surprise!

Sam’s as usual did not disappoint. Keep in mind that we have probably enjoyed Sam’s at least 100 times since moving here over 5 years ago. My favourite girl had her regular, Mixed Tempura (Prawns and Vegetables) which is consistently delicious. I chose Salmon & Tuna Sashimi and a Red Eye Roll which is wonderful and I washed it down with a large Kirin Beer. I ordered a large because it was my birthday.

Our friends ordered a variety of dishes including Gyoza, Scallop Sushi, Osaka Roll, Sashimi & Tempura. The plates were empty when we finished so One might assume it was all delicious.

We have never been disappointed at Sam’s. Whether it’s a simple noodle bowl or an exotic sashimi, it’s all good. The service is really friendly. Servers Chrissy, Chigusa, and Emma are wonderful. They treat us like old friends. Sam, who grew up in Japan and apprenticed there, is always behind the Sushi Bar creating his excellent dishes. He has a great smile, and just beams when he sees customers coming through the front door.

Sam’s is pretty simple. Not fancy. But spotless. With really good food. Sam’s does a big take out business too.

If you have not been to Sam’s Sushi and you like Sushi, you need to go. Our nephew, from Vancouver, hits Sam’s every time he and his gorgeous Japanese wife come to the island. She is from Yokohama and really knows Sushi and she thinks Sam’s is the best.

Sam’s is open for lunch (try a Bento Box) and dinner Monday to Friday. Sam wants to have a life so he closes on weekends. Good decision! Not many restaurant owners do that.

Finally, the one other reason to like Sam’s is that it is only a 900 metre drive from home. I know, we should walk!

Just Saying….

Last night old friends from the BC Interior arrived for an overnight visit and insisted that they take us out for dinner. So we decided to try the Beach House Cafe on the waterfront in Qualicum Beach.

This restaurant changed hands earlier this year and has been open under its reincarnation since August. The interior has had a very nice face lift and is quite inviting. It’s not big but in the summer it offers the addition of a lovely Oceanside patio.

The menu looked tempting, not extensive but good. We all opted for their special sheet which for $25 each offered the 3 course Grand Opening dinner. Soup or Salad, choice of 5 entrees and desert. The Tomato Soup was very tasty and quite spicy, which I like.  Two of us chose the Lamb Shank, one the Seafood Fettucini, and one Steak.

The Lamb was excellent, accompanied by  some select roasted vegetables and it was nicely presented.  The Fettucini was served with a generous selection of seafood and was pronounced  delicious.  Mr. Beefsteak was a little disappointed as the steak was sirloin and not his favourite cut.  We all chose the Creme Caramel for desert and it was both refreshing and delicious.

Unfortunately  for the owners, the place was not busy, so for us that meant quick and attentive service.  Ken, the waiter looked after us well and the owner, Simona, came by the table for a visit.  She is a very charming lady, originally from Romania, some 25 years ago and her husband is the chef.  We were treated to a complimentary after dinner drink, Port for the gentlemen, Dubbonet for the ladies.  Simona wanted us to know that they are really keen to make the Beach House a local favourite and a real part of Qualicum Beach and not rely on the summer tourism.  She has a wonderful attitude and we really enjoyed chatting with her.

The Beach House Cafe is open for lunch and dinner and they just started breakfast too. We enjoyed our evening and will go back soon to try their lunch offerings.

If you are in the area, this place is definitely worth a visit!

Just saying…

Last night I spent a totally enjoyable 3 hours watching the HISTORY OF THE EAGLES. No, not the bird, the band. It is a well done documentary following the band from the beginning in 1971. I love The EAGLES music although I must confess I really didn’t know much about them until about 15 years ago. Good thing they got together again in 1994 or I may have missed them completely. It seems that during the 70’s and 80’s I was too busy working, raising a family and listening to talk radio, to notice what was happening in the music world.

Many reading this already know the story of the Eagles, but some may not. The band was formed by Don Henley and Glen Frey in 1971. Two other guys, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon joined at the outset. Leadon was replaced eventually by Joe Walsh and Meisner by Timothy B Schmit.  Henley & Frey wrote most of the music and the history documents how some of the songs came about. Some of the best were written in the early 1970’s and have endured all these years.

The band stayed together for almost 20 years but the stress of drugs, booze, parties and travel ripped them apart in 1980. They all went on to have success as single acts until the band got together again in 1994 and stayed together for another 22 years.

They recorded, toured and continued to perform their great music. They made a fortune too. Henley is reportedly worth $200 million, Frey $90 million, Walsh $65 million. Were the Eagles a commercial success?  Apparently. One album, The Greatest Hits sold 42 million copies world wide.

In January 2016 Glen Frey passed away at age 67 and his death pretty much was the final chapter in the amazing Eagles story. Don Henley has said that it’s unlikely that the band will ever perform again. Not many bands survive for nearly 50 years but these guys did.  Great music!

What genre are the EAGLES.  Country, Rock?  I say the were unique and their genre was simply, THE EAGLES!

If you have not seen this history, I highly recommend it to you.

The History of The Eagles is on Netflix and can be purchased on DVD too.

Just saying…

To begin, let me say that I love BBQ.  Not grilling like we do on our patios but real Southern Low and Slow smoked BBQ. Brisket, pulled pork, chicken,  ribs and beans. Now, I have never been to any of the famous joints like FRANKLINS in Austin, Texas   where customers start lining up 2 hours before it opens, or CHOO CHOO BBQ in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our son Jackson and his business partners treated their largest clients to a Franklin BBQ picnic while at a conference in Austin this Spring.  They ordered several briskets, two turkeys, ribs and all the sides and served it outside in a local park. They pronounced that it was OUSTANDING!

Even though I’ve been to many southern cities and even drove across the south once, I have, for some unknown reason have missed these fabulous joints.

So, I was thrilled when Park Heffelfinger and George Sui Opened  MEMPHIS BLUES BBQ on West Broadway in Vancouver in 1999. Their beef brisket was outstanding, the ribs superb. I loved the place. They now have places in Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna and Edmonton.

But since moving to the island we have not been near Memphis Blues. We have thought about SMOKIN GEORGES BBQ in Nanaimo for about 3 years. Today was the day to give this place a try.

SMOKIN’ GEORGES looks and smells like a BBQ JOINT with painted concrete floors, several tables and a couple of booths too. Very industrial in atmosphere and a really friendly staff. My best pal of 49 years opted for a pulled Chicken Sandwich while I had to try the Brisket. We ordered at the counter, took a beer and a Pinot Grigio to a booth and checked out the ambiance while waiting for the food to arrive. It was quick. Both items were good, but not great. I think MEMPHIS BLUES is better.  The Brisket in a bun was $9.50 and if you wanted beans, slaw, or corn bread that was extra.

They feature Phillips Craft Beer from Victoria and Sumac Ridge wine.  Both  were good.

Its worth a try if you want a fast lunch in Nanaimo but would I become a regular? probably not.  I think I’d order the BBQ Pulled Pork at Cactus Club  first.

Just saying…

Seven days and eight hours and the lead boats are already south of DAKAR on the African West Coast.  The leader is the Englishman Alex Thomson driving the HUGO BOSS.  He has covered over 2000 nautical miles and sailed 429 nm in the past 24 hours. That’s an average speed of over 18 knots.

The second placed boat is 31 miles behind while the 28th boat is now over 1000 miles behind the leader.  Yesterday some of the boats were running at 19 knots.

If you want to follow the race more closely, try the Vendee Globe App on your iPad or iPhone.  Or follow the race on Facebook or on the net at http://www.vendeeglobe.org.

Only 21,800 miles to go.  Wait until they turn left at Capetown and head across the wild Southern Ocean.  60 foot boats, full crew of one.  That’s it. Just the skipper.  Alone!  Not for me.  Just saying…

Last night we joined some friends for dinner at the QUALICUM BEACH INN.  it was our second time for dinner here.  The hotel was totally renovated a couple of years ago and the result is very nice space. A bonus in the summer would be dining outside to enjoy the water view, But in November inside is the only option.

The dining room was very busy last night, capacity I would say.  As a result we found it very noisy.  No quiet tables here .

The menu is broad and there is always a Specials Sheet. My favourite girl opted for a scallop appetizer and a spicy Chicken Entree.  I chose Moules Frittes, Saltspring Island  mussels and Kenebeck fries.  The fries were outstanding but the mussels were small and not hot enough.  Because the place was so busy I suspect the mussels languished in the kitchen for too long before they made their way to the table.  Very good though and served with a spicy aioli.  We shared a chocolaty Creme Brûlée which was OK.  I prefer a transitional Brûlée.  Two of our friends enjoyed Ribs and the other entrees included a seafood pasta dish.

Service was good and our waiter was very charming and knew his stuff.  The wine list is extensive and we chose an Arborlea Pinot Grigio from Duncan. It was delicious but at $35 was the cheapest white available.

The Qualicum Beach Inn is a nice place to dine but for the money I would choose BISTRO  694 in Qualicum Beach every time.

Just saying….

Never did we expect that in our retirement we would enjoy pub food as much as we do. But, in fact, Pub lunches are our first choice mid day dining. Most have really tasty food at reasonable prices. Fortunately, Vancouver Island is home to a host of really good pubs.  On this blog we will,  over time, comment on some of our favourites.

Often, if we are heading home after a Nanaimo trip, we will stop in Lantzville and have a bite in the Lantzville Village Pub. Amazingly, this pub first opened nearly 100 years ago in 1925.  It is a quaint old building and quite inviting inside. The staff are welcoming and best of all the food is consistently good. We like their Fish & Chips and we share a two piece plate often. Nicely done, not too much batter, good fries and tartar sauce. Also recommended are the Fish Tacos. Three soft tacos with spicy deep fried cod. Excellent. Other menu items include a wide range of sandwiches, soups, salads and pastas. You can even order Seafood Crepes.

The pub has daily specials so be sure and check the chalkboard.  Recently I was there with two old pals and we chose the special, a delicious Beef Dip.

If you haven’t been to the Lantzville Village Pub you need to try it. And, by the way, it has a nice ocean view over the Strait of Georgia.

http://www.lantzvillepub.ca

After slogging through France Canadian troops were sent towards Belgium where they fought their way up the Shelde into Antwerp and Holland. We visited the Bergen-op Zoom Cemetery about 40 kilometres from Antwerp. Over 1200 graves are here, mostly Canadians. If you have not seem any of these cemeteries and you are in Norther Europe or Italy, take time to go to one.  It’s an amazing experience.  LEST WE FORGET.

On June 6 1944 thousands of American, British, Canadian and other Commonwealth troops landed on the beaches of Normandy beginning a battle to defeat Nazi Germany. The fighting continued through France, Belgium, Holland and eventually into Germany. The death toll was enormous on both sides. Here are some of the cemeteries where many of those valiant soldiers are buried.

The Americans landed on Utah and Omaha Beaches and the cliffs go Pointe Du Hoc.  The casualties were very high and many of those who perished are laid to rest at the Normandy American Cemetery above Omaha Beach. 9,387 American boys are buried here. It was the first overseas Cemetery we visited and is was an overwhelming experience to see the rows of white crosses.

A few Kilometers east is Juno Beach where the Canadians landed on June 6. Our troops fought their way off the beaches and into Normandy. They were in the Battle for Caen, Falaise and we visited two Beautiful Canadian Cemeteries in the area.

The Canadian War Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer in Normandy is the resting place for 2,049 brave Canadian soldiers who landed at Juno Beach in June 1944. Most of these boys were between 18 -26 years old. We visited in 1998 and 2005.

On the road from Caen to Faliase in Normandy is the Brettevile-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. 2,782 Canadian boys are buried here. They fought in the Battle of Caen, and the Battle of the Falise Pocket in 1944. We visited this beautiful place in 2005 on the way to Saint-Lambert-sur-Dive near the famous ‘Coridor of Death’.