dbd33

I fear that I've offended people by apparently overstating my impression of the importance of one of the deprivations they suffer after choosing to live in Canada. Let me make my position absolutely clear; I like a flake in me cone, flakes in cones are not offered in Canada so, when I'm in Europe, I generally eat one. The presence or absence of flakes in cones has not influenced my decisions on emigration, on holiday destinations, or on any other matter.

Nonetheless, Canada would be a better country for having proper chocolate. There's already great ice cream, from America, so given the chocolate, 99s would inevitable follow.

Novocastrian

You have to admit though that, the chocolate variety aside, there are more flakes in Vancouver than anywhere else in the world.

dbd33

You think? That's not an impression I got. Per capita I'm sure there are more herbally acupunctured yoghurt knitters in spandex here than there. I expected more left over hippydom but I suppose that's more Vancouver Island.

Novocastrian

Well I don't hang out in Guelph, so I'll give you that.

Another thing about Vancouver which has been tangentially mentioned but not addressed head on, is the feeling of total isolation while there, largely as a result of the surrounding mountains and the ocean. There's no way to get out of the place except going to America, which for me is a very unattractive proposition.

I don't suppose Kiwilass minds that being from where she's from.

Danny B

Can you even buy Cadbury's flakes in Canada full stop? I don't mean going to a British store and paying $5 for one, but can you buy them in petrol stations etc?
Next time I'm at Safeway I'll check.

lmartin999

I don't particularly like either. Just watching a repeat of 'Escape to the Country' featuring East Devon. Lovely. Bet you can get a great 99 there

dbd33

No, they're not generally available and I haven't seen one even in a speciality British chocolate shop for a long time. I pass such a shop most days, I'll ask if the supply has died.

dbd33

I haven't given it any thought but surely one can drive over the mountains to Alberta, not that that's better than America, but it is another choice. Also, didn't Chinese slaves build a railroad to Vancouver? I suppose there are trains running on it still. I don't know how one would get to the station from the west end, there being no subway, but if that problem could be surmounted, one might take a train to, say, Montreal.

Novocastrian

This is all true. But it's not the feeling you have when you're trapped there. It's oppressive frankly, IMHO.

Oink

Really, there's an airport seven miles up the road where you can fly non stop, within reason, almost anywhere. It takes a little longer going right than left, but basically once on the plane and you're knocking back the G&Ts who cares?

Edit, I think you might mean driving around other bits of Canada but as I can't really see the point, it doesn't mean nothing to me.

ExKiwilass

For me, Vancouver feels like a booming metropolis well connected to the rest of the world. I mean, it's actually on a continent for starters. AND the northern hemisphere AND less than 24 hours flying to Europe or Asia. It's a triple threat when you're from NZ.

Novocastrian

How the f*** do you think I got there?

Novocastrian

I hosted and introduced a big deal guest lecturer yesterday who was born in Aukland but has spent the last 22 years at Laval in Quebec City.

I told the audience that they were about to hear from that rarest of birds, an English-French bilingual Kiwi. I got a muffled titter.

Oink

Well given your recent ramblings, I thought you might have forgot.

Novocastrian

Have I ever told you about my nan?