I’m not sure if anyone reads this blog anymore, and if anyone does please leave a comment so I know you are there.  I haven’t been posting anything for a while as things have been a little busy but as of next week I am off work for the holidays.  I hope to be posting a bit more then and more often.

It would really help me develop this blog if you would let me know what kind of content you would like to see here.  Please keep in mind my areas of interest (gaming, food, tech, or a personal-type blog of whatever pops into my head).

I have been to other farmer’s markets on Pender Island and Ladner, to name a few and both are excellent.  I had high expectations based on the other two for the White Rock market, and it really didn’t disappoint.

The weather was great that morning so as expected the crowds were a decent size.  It was great to see so many people supporting local farmers, artists, musicians, and the like.  What really surprised me at first was the size of the market.  It was much larger than I was expecting.  As we walked by the stalls we were hit with the usual smells of popcorn, fresh vegetables of every kind, and the perfumed scents of the various handmade soaps and lotions.  The market is very kid and pet friendly. 

We bought a few fruits and vegetables but found that we had to watch the prices as we could do a bit better at local roadside fruit/veggie stands.  I think the lure of the market is more the atmosphere and experience than going for “deals”.  It is a great way to spend a morning and you are also supporting local farmers, artists and other small businesses.

The White Rock Farmer’s Market has a decent web site, though a bit dated, at www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca this lists not only the times and dates of the market but you can also see the schedule of entertainment that will be playing on a given day.  You can also follow them on Twitter @wrfms.

I recently received a gift of spam flavoured macadamia nuts.  As odd as it may sound, they were really good.  It reminded me of Spam Musubi that I had while in Hawaii almost two years ago.  For those who don’t know what Spam Musubi is, its sushi rice formed into a small rectangle with a slice of Spam on top held together with a piece of nori (seaweed).  I found them in almost all the conviniece stores and supermarkets, displayed just like hot dogs at a 7-11.

While I rarely eat it here at home, I have on occasion BBQ’d it and it was really nice.  A little crunchy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside.  Worth a try for all you Spam people out there.  Not that there are people made of Spam, because that would be weird, don’t BBQ Spam people.

I will say though that one person that seems to have it right is our real estate agent.  We bought our house with her (on another person’s recommendation) and have recommended her to other people.  Her office is just down the street from our house and every year we get a visit from her with a pointsettia at Christmas.  When our son was born she dropped by a very nice children’s book (which he still loves to have us read to him almost every night).  My parents just recently bought their house using her and to our surprise in the mail was $250 gift certificate!  If you are looking for someone in the South Surrey White Rock area please let me know and I would be only too happy to pass on her details.

On the flip side when I tried to inform my cable company that I found a better deal with another carrier and I was considering changing, they basically told me to “go ahead” with the new carrier.  There was no attempt on thier part to even try to keep me as a customer, or find out what the new company was offering.

A simillar issue we had with a certain mobile phone company, when we questioned some billing issues, were told “its your problem, not ours”.  How does a company expect to keep customers with service like that?  Sometimes its worth it to eat a few dollars to make your loyal customers happy instead of getting them into a contract and treating them like dirt until its contract renewal time.

Well enough of my old codger ranting and raving.

Have a great day everyone!