Photos by Santa

Looks like St. Nick is checking out what life is like on the other side of the camera and turned a session of photos with Santa into photos by Santa.

Small car 2

Another day, another spot, another car but same outcome. This SUV is not as big as the minivan of the other day. Nonetheless both spot are clearly marked for small car. May be these drivers have a literacy problem. This driver seems to have a visual problem also, clearly onto the parking space on the right.

Beard Papa's

From the photo you can pretty well guessed that Beard Papa's is in the food business. From what I was told it is very popular in Japan. Early this month they opened an outlet in Richmond. There were reports of lineups snaking around the corner.


To give you an idea of its popularity, they even placed a ceiling on the quantity a customer may purchase. I've seen people buying the maximum and it sure slowed things down.


Now this is not for anybody who is fighting the battle of the bulge. Eating a couple of these is almost as bad as chowing down a Big Mac but much less filling. It represents almost a quarter of my required daily calories. Certainly not something I would see on my regular menu.


This is what it looks like. If you said, "Hey, this is cream puff!" then you are correct. Except it is bigger than your run-of-the-mill cream puffs and baked not fried.

I happened to be in Richmond today and saw not much of a lineup. However, still have to wait 15 minutes which gave me plenty of time to take these photos. The last one was taken at home just before taking my first bite.

Is it worth it? Will I buy it again?

The answers are: no and maybe. My reaction after the first bite was is this all there is to it? Perhaps I was expecting too much because of the hype. In any case the vanilla is too subtle; could be stronger.

by the entrance

Pacific Centre has its Christmas tree in the solarium by the Georgia Street entrance.

Reindeer

In this section of the mall where they have water fountains we fond Red plastic reindeer with lights.

Overhead

The colour scheme at Oakridge Mall is predominately red. I know the traditional Christmas colour is red and green. But the green is conspicuous by its absent. Wonder if management isn't making an all out effort to meet the custom of the growing Chinese population in the area?

Photo with Santa

Another shopping mall, another photos with Santa setup.

This the view from the rear

Small car

Global warming is not going to get better until owners of minivans, such as this one, start to realize a minivan despite the word mini is not a small car.

Geranium

Another sign of global warming? This geranium grows in a pot by our front door. This photo was taken yesterday, November 21. Still has three blossoms when even the leaves should not only wilted and yellow but fallen.

Winter scene

The display is much wider. Too bad the camera doesn't have a wide angle. Earlier in the year this store doubled its size by taking over the adjacent store. Have noticed that its display has become more seasonal in nature.

Poinsettia

Today we continue with our Christmas theme. This is the first poinsettia I've seen this season. By next month they'll be all over. Years ago each year Eaton's would've hundreds by the downtown store's main entrance. On Christmas Eve the entire lot was donated to charity to be given to families.

Aquarium

Initially it was the vivid colours which had drawn my attention. Mine first thought was "what a great idea to have an aquarium in the fish section". Upon closer examination I realized it wasn't an aquarium but a thin screen with a jpg display.

No, we don't buy our seafood from here. Who knows what else is fake in this place.

By the fountain

Christmas decoration over the water fountain and sitting area.

Hanging lights

Lights by the Sears entrance on the third floor

Photo with Santa

In this shopping mall the setting for the traditional photo with Santa is ready to go. My thinking is it'll open for business this weekend since parents will want to mail enclose the photos with the annual Christmas cards.

Before & after

This is the before when the workers busy getting the "Photo with Santa" setup ready.


This is the after, a day later.

Slow down

It is heartening to see Work Safe BC and the people responsible for the Canada Line project to remind drivers along Cambie to slow down during construction. However we, the motorists, know or have enough common sense to avoid the area entirely. As a matter of fact enough people had avoided the construction zone that many businesses are closing their doors after struggling for the last two years.

Lookout tower

A tower overlooking the lake against a dark cloudy sky which the morning sun struggled to break through.

Early start

This discarded paper cup with Christmas scenes shows that the giant Canadian donut chain, Tim Horton's, is one of the many companies who are pushing their customers to get into the Christmas spirit since the day after Halloween.

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army

Toy store

A shop specializes in over-sized stuffed toys

Let it snow

Was at the mall the day and guess what I saw? Christmas decorations! Not a whole lot yet but enough to suggest 2007 is coming to an end very soon. At least in Canada, we had our Thanksgiving already. Our American cousins won't be celebrating theirs till the end of this month. Yes, they are having a collision of festivals. These days it is not easy to be an American.

What is this?

What is this, you wonder? A tape dispenser. Very unique! Saw it at a friend's place. She said her children gave it to her.

Fall in the garden

A walk along the path in the Sun Yat-sen Garden on a Fall day

Weeping willow

Reflection of a weeping willow in Sun Yat-sen Garden

Reflections

Another section of the Sun Yat-sen Garden

Sun Yat-sen Garden

Fall in the Sun Yat-sen Chinese Garden

Carpet of leaves

On a sidewalk near the Lynne Valley Bridge in North Vancouver

Autumn in the park

A touch of gold and red amongst the green in Deer Lake Park

Autumn colours

Autumn by the water