Meatless Friday Dinner @ Scotts Landing Fish and Chips (Surrey)

As I have mentioned on this post, I am abstaining from eating meat on all Fridays of lent.

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March 8, 2019. After Nathan's vaccination, we went to Central City in Surrey to just wait for Daddy Ford there. Past 3pm pa lang kasi at dahil ilang araw kaming hindi lumabas ni Nathan, syempre kailangang gumala muna. Dad fetched us after his work and we did some errands. Pagdating ng dinner time, nag-aya na ako sa Scotts Landing Fish and Chips kasi nga ayaw kong kumain ng karne at wala naman akong maisip na ibang kainin. Sa totoo lang, ayaw kong kumain ng fries kaso nga ano ba ang pwedeng makain na labas na walang meat?

I've always wanted to eat sa Scotts. We used to live in Guildford at palagi namin yang nadadaanan. Katabi rin yan ng Church's Chicken kaya palagi kong natatanaw. I yelp'ed it at maganda naman ang review kaya sabi ko kay Ford subukan namin.

Sa totoo lang, ayaw ni hubby ng fish and chips that time. Ako na lang daw at doon siya kakain sa malapit na Filipino restaurant that sells Ilocano food. Pero closed na yung restaurant na yun so naki-join na lang din siya sa akin.

Expectedly, the place was small pero maganda at malinis naman sa loob. I wasn't able to many pictures of the interior kasi nahiya ako sa owner/cook.

May isang group of diners lang inside when we came at 6:50pm.

Here's their menu:

Picture grabbed from Scott Landing's website

We ordered the cheapest fish pollock hahaha! It's an ordinary day at parang di na kami sanay kumain sa labas ng mahal kapag walang okasyon. The past months, puro fastfood lang kami kasi yun ang mura (kaya naman kami nag-gain ng weight waaah!). Kailangan din kasing magtipid kasi ang daming gastos tapos syempre mahal ang mortgage (plus strata fees at real property tax) ng bahay.

Medyo matagal kaming nag-antay ng order namin kasi pagkabayad ko saka pa lang niluto yung fish. Medyo nakakainip na nga pero ayos lang din kasi masarap ang bagong-luto syempre.

And finally! Two orders of 2-pc pollock with homecut fries and homemade tartar sauce for $24.99 (or Php1,000.00). Wala pang drinks yan ha. Hindi na ako nagbigay ng tip kasi wala namang 'service' eh. Kinuha ko lang sa counter yung food nang maluto na. Saka yung owner na rin mismo ang nagluto.

Our Verdict --- MASARAP nga! At malaki rin ang fish. Naisip nga namin na sana nag-share na lang kami o kaya sana bumili kami ng 2-pc tapos nagdagdag na lang kami ng fish tutal eh konti lang naman ang kakainin kong fries. Oh well, we know na next time.

Mas mahal ang cod at halibut kaya mas masarap for sure. Pero naisip ko, will I shell out $9.40 (tax included) or roughly Php375.00 for one piece of fish? Hindi siguro. Haha, ang kuripot ko na talaga. Ang mahal kasi talagang kumain sa labas dito kaya nagkaka-guilt feelings ako. Tapos as a nanay, panay din ang kuwenta at convert ko.

Useless party give-aways

Ang tagal tagal ko ng gustong mag-rant about this haha! Pero siyempre hindi ko naman magawa talaga in person kasi nakakahiya. But since no one I know reads this blog (I hide this away from family and friends lol), dito ko na lang gagawin.

You see, we attended a party last month. We enjoyed the food and the hosts were very nice. Before we went home, the mom of the kids-celebrants handed us these fridge magnets.

One confused Caucasian guest asked her: "What's this?" The mom replied: "It's a ref magnet." At napa-"Ohh" na lang yung guest.

Napailing din talaga ako the moment na inabot sa akin ang mga ito. Sa basurahan kasi talaga ang bagsak ng mga ito. Oo na, mean na kung mean.

Eh kasi naman, why would I put pictures of other kids on our fridge? Pwede pa siguro kung pamangking-buo ko sila. Thrice ko pa nga lang nakikita ang mga batang iyan eh, at hindi rin kami ganun ka-close ng parents. These type of souvenirs should be given to immediate family lang, yung tipong grandparents at uncles and aunts lang.

By the way, these souvenirs were made in Pinas pala. Wala naman nga kasing gumagawa ng ganyan dito. Seriously, party hosts should stop giving out this nonsense. Pwede namang chocolates and candies na lang ang ipamigay in lootbags. Basta wala yung nagsusumigaw na picture o name ng anak ninyo (this applies to other souvenir items like pillows, mugs, frames, etc.).

We attended a wedding nga rin pala last August and these were the give-aways.

Ok yung nasa left (pastries ang laman) pero napailing talaga ako sa nasa kanan. My first reaction when it was given to me: "Seriously? May nagbibigay pa pala ng ganito ngayon kaloka!" At syempre galing din sa Pinas yan.

I hope those who throw parties are mindful enough think of souvenirs na hindi jologs. Hindi yung may maibigay lang, kasi sayang din ang pera at effort nila if these things end up in trash.

Booster Shots

We moved here in British Columbia when Nathan was almost two so all his infant vaccines were done in Edmonton. We were told then that the next vaccination is when Nathan turns four.

We had to google kung paano nga ba ang immunization system dito sa BC. That's the thing about living here in Canada, iba-iba ang health system ng bawat province. Medyo mangangapa ka talaga kapag lumipat ka.

There is a central number per area here in BC that you can call to book an appointment. Sobrang tagal nga lang mag-antay ng sasagot so better choose their "call back" option. After a few hours, tatawag din sila.

I first called in January and asked for an appointment kaso they don't have a record yet of Nathan's immunization history in their system so I have to email it first and wait for two weeks. I emailed it and after a few weeks (I sort of delayed the call because it was super cold in February, ang hirap mag-bus going to the clinic), I called the hotline again and got an appointment for March 8, 2019. I chose their Langley clinic kasi one-ride away lang from our house.

Days before the appointment day, I was explaining to Nathan what will happen. Sabi ko sasaksakan siya and it will hurt a bit. He loves to play doctor-doctoran so he know what "shots" are. Very calm lang siya, parang wala lang. Mas kinakabahan pa nga ako, parang ako ang iva-vaccinate. I was actually very anxious because when he was still a baby, palaging kasama si Ford kapag binabakunahan siya. Si Ford ang tagahawak dahil nga nagpa-panic ako. Naisip ko, hala paano kapag nagwala si Nathan sa clinic?

We arrived 45 minutes before the appointment time. May mga narinig kaming batang nagsisigawan at nag-iiyakan kaya na-praning na naman ako. Pero eto siya, haping-happy pa. Relaxed na relaxed at panay pa-picture pa.

Na-accommodate din kami agad kahit maaga pa. The nurse was very nice as usual, pero si Nathan talagang very brave. Though shy, he was listening to her. Sinabi rin niya na" "I am not scared."

True enough, ang galing niya. I held him bago siya tusukan and instructed him to look away and close his eyes. Pero ang bagets talagang tiningnan pa ang pagtusok sa kanya. Wala akong nakitang fear sa kanya. Ako pa nga ang medyo kinabahan. Two shots and it was done. The nurse was so impressed, siya daw ang "best kid" niya that day.

The nurse made him choose a sticker. Eto ang pinili niya.

As a reward, binilhan ko siya ng paborito niyang mocha frappucino. And he asked me to tell his dad how good he was in the clinic.

By the way, the nurse asked me for Nathan's immunization record book para masulatan niya. Since Nathan was born in Alberta, iba ito sa "Child Health Passport" ng BC na mas maganda haha.

I am happy because we're done with Nathan's booster shots. These shots nga pala are for kids 4 to 6 years of age. Katulad sa Pinas, may measles outbreak din kasi dito sa BC, may confirmed 18 cases na raw as of today. Yep, outbreak na yan dito (unlike sa Pinas na libo-libo) at nagpa-panic na ang mga tao. May case/s yata na galing Vietnam yung nagkasakit kaya natatakot ako sa airport sa totoo lang. Magfa-fly pa naman kami twice soon. At least ngayon medyo kampante na ang loob ko.

Three diamond paintings finished

I spent the last week of February finishing these three diamond paintings (hence the lack of blog posts lol).

I remember getting very bored last August 2018 so I searched for some kits in Amazon.ca. Tapos I asked the hubby to buy them for me haha, tutal kako malapit na ang birthday ko. We paid $42.95 (or around Php1,700) these three. Medyo mahal kaso wala namang ibang mabilhan dito eh. Saka gusto ko talagang gumawa para maipa-frame at maisabit sa bagong bahay.

Very limited ang choices sa Amazon. Kaunting-kaunti lang ang ang mga fully beaded na designs kaya ito lang ang napili ko. At halos pare-parehas sila ng color scheme - pink, purple, light blue.

I started doing this kit in September 11, 2018. I normally finish a design this small (12x16in) in 2-3 days pero this February ko nga lang natapos. Tinamad kasi ako (plus andami naming pinagdaanang problema ng last quarter of 2018) kasi hindi ako nagandahan. Malabo kasi siya sa actual, hindi ganun ka-detalyado (malinaw lang tingnan sa picture). Nanghinayang lang ako kaya ko tinapos. I'll just give it to my mother haha.

Right after finishing the first one, tinapos ko na rin agad itong dalawa. Talagang kinarir ko, to the point na wala na akong ginawa sa bahay haha. Buti di ako napagalitan ng asawa ko.

Nice sila, in fairness.

Sayang hindi ma-capture ng picture ang kinang nila. 

I'll be bring these home para ipa-frame. Ang mahal kasing magpa-frame dito. Sa Pinas around Php400 (or $10) lang aabutin ang isa.

I am planning to finish a lot of diamond paintings in the Philippines. Yung malalaki sana kasi trip na trip yang gastusan ng nanay ko (iiwan ko rin naman sa kanya), kaso naman wala pa akong mahanap na ok na supplier. Actually, the best bumili sa Heavenly Stitchin' Moment sa SM North (yung original na bilihan ng crossstitch supplies) kasi sobrang gaganda at sososyal ng designs nila pero naman, sobrang pricey din. Nasa Php2,000-4,000 ang designs na gusto ko, hindi pa ganun kalalaki yun ha. Di kaya ng budget ko waaah. Sana talaga dumami pa ang suppliers para bumaba rin ang presyo.

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PS. Syempre dahil nakita ng little boy ko na gumagawa (uli) ako, he insisted to try. And I was impressed, ang dali niyang natuto. Great job, anak!

Nathan @ 4 years old

Ash Wednesday 2019

Whew, where did the first two months of 2019 go? I can't believe it's already March and it's Ash Wednesday, the start of lent.

Honestly, I want to be a more "active" Catholic kaya gusto ko sanang magsimba at magpalagay ng abo bukas kaso may pasok si Ford kaya hindi kami makakaalis ng bahay ni Tantan. There's a church nearby (2 minute-drive pero mahaba-habang lakarin) kaso it will be very cold tomorrow. Uulan yata at magi-snow, mahirap lalo na at may kasamang bata.

Credits: https://encounterchurchofpalmyra.org/event/ash-wednesday-service-2/

So naisip ko na magparticipate na lang "personally." Narealize ko na never kong inobserve ang abstinence from eating meat during Ash Wednesday and all fridays of lent (I am not a good Catholic, I know) kaya sisimulan ko na talaga ngayon. Yung fasting, medyo ginagawa ko naman na talaga normally kasi I only eat one full (rice) meal a day tapos small portions na lang throughout the day. Ayon sa Catholic law, dapat daw one full meal plus two smaller meals (that together don't add up to a full meal) so I will try to abide by that. Except nga lang kapag nag-low sugar ako (which happened to me yesterday) syempre.

Sana mapangatawanan ko ito. Madali lang ito for most people pero carnivore kasi talaga ako at meat ang pinakamadaling lutuin/bilihin/kainin dito sa Canada eh.

I am glad that I will be celebrating the Holy Week again in the Philippines (three consecutive years na). This might be the last for the meantime kasi mag-school na si Nathan come September at hindi na kami makakauwi ng Pinas around this time. I am excited. Kahit mainit, susubukin kong gawing meaningful at memorable ang 2019 lenten season experience namin.

Fridge Magnet Display

We've been living here in our new townhouse for 3 1/2 months already and still, para pa rin kaming bagong-lipat. Hindi pa rin talaga namin naayos ang mga gamit, many of our stuff are still in boxes na nasa garahe.

If you will ask why, sige ang primary reason na siguro talaga ay katamaran. Nakakatamad talagang maghalukay haha! Kung tutuusin, we are ok na with all the things that we are using now kaya parang nate-take for granted na namin yung ibang gamit. Tsk, saka parang nire-remind lang ako ng mga yun sa engagement ko to excessive counsumerism. Ewan ko ba. Oh well, crammer naman ako. I have one month pa para mag-ayos kami ng bahay bago kami umuwi ni Nathan sa Pinas so I'll make sure na gagalaw na ako in the coming days. Ayaw ko namang abutan pa ang mga ito pagbalik namin sa August noh.

Anyway, since hindi ko pa maipakita sa inyo ang bahay namin, unti-unting parts/areas na lang muna. Let's start with our fridge magnet display. Haha, sa Pinas we call it "ref magnets" pero dito kasi they use the word fridge. I remember when we were in a shop in Squamish, I asked the salesperson for a ref magnet tapos hindi niya gets kung ano yun. Since then, sabi ko fridge magnet na nga ang magamit na term.

So eto na nga ang display boards ko ng fridge magnets. As I have mentioned in this post, nag-start na uli akong mag-collect ng travel souvenirs, including magnets.

I still have more magnets, di ko pa lang naa-unearth hihi.

Noon pa lang naga-apartment kami, sinabihan ko na ang asawa ko na gawan niya ako ng something similar to this (in white frame). Nakita ko kasi na may ganyan din sa house ng in-laws ko sa Califonia na ginawa daw ni father-in-law. So syempre oo lang ang sagot ng dyowa ko. Ayun, nitong nakalipat na kami eh narealize ko na aabutin siguro ng siyam-siyam bago ako magkaroon nito kung siya ang aasahan ko. Aside sa kulang sa time (syempre marami pa kaming dapat unahing gawin at ayusin dito sa bahay), eh hindi naman talaga crafty ang asawa ko. He's good with the usual manly fixings and repairs pero sa may mga kailangan ng creativity, medyo sabit siya lol.

Credits: www.leesheatac.com

Buti na lang I found this white magnetic memo board noong naglalakad-lakad kami sa Ikea. Naisip ko agad na pwede na ito for our fridge magnets.

We bought two muna for $22.39 (tax included) each. Shaiks, almost Php1,000.00 na pala haha. Maliit siya sa totoo lang at parang konti lang ang malalagay. Naisip ko na magdadagdag na lang ako ng boards habang papadami ang collection ko.

White as usual ang theme ng house namin kaya perfect siya.

This is a temporary location, I guess (patay, yari ako kay hubby!). Kapag nagdagdag ako ng boards, malamang ililipat ko sila. We have limited wall spaces so baka sa may bandang stair na lang.

We actually have a bigger refrigerator now that can accommodate lots of magnets kaso ayaw ko naman ngang maglagay doon. Some magnets are fragile (especially yung mga ceramic type) at tiyak magkakandahulog kung palaging nagagalaw. Tapos ang hirap pang linisan ng ref kapag maraming nakalagay. At ang kalat pang tingnan.

O siya, I hope to be able to show you more parts of our house soon. Please stay tuned. =)