Thursday, March 7, 2013

What is it like to live in Canada?

Sorry about the emergency post, guys. At least we know it works! Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

I know you've probably asked yourself this many times. Winter is still very much present in most parts of Canada, so if you are a regular reader of this blog you've probably figured out that in the frozen North we have found it an excellent way to keep warm. But what else goes on in Canada, besides spanking?



Our most popular coffee and doughnut shop is Tim Horton's - commonly referred to as "Timmie's". The drive-through (or in this case, ride-through) is usually lined up for blocks.




There are a few things we are ashamed of and would do over if we could. But then, nobody's perfect.





 It's chilly up here, so we get the formalities over quickly.





 Canadians are introverts, quite inhibited, and reluctant to make a public display of their emotions.





We are also unfailingly polite, and apologize even when it isn't our fault.





 We are soft-spoken and not inclined to use bad language.




Have you seen the price of a gallon of the stuff lately?





 Our lush forests and woodlands are full of amazing wildlife.





Hockey is our second national pastime. (The crease is an area of ice directly in front of the net, identified by a red border and blue interior.)


And there you have it.

From Hermione's Heart

27 comments:

abby said...

LOL...love the pictorale, very cute.
hugs abby

Our Bottoms Burn said...

We have traveled all of the provinces, except, PEI, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Even in Quebec we have always been treated well, better than in the US. We plan to be back in BC this summer. A fine country. Not too sure about those french fry trucks that offer gravy on the fries.

PK said...

This sounds like a truly wonderful country. I can easily forgive you all about the White House and all - but Justin? Really!

Hugs,
PK

Anonymous said...

Hermione,

Terrific set of photos and captions.

I share a cabin with a wonderful Canadian couple during our spanking weekend.

Canada is a beautiful country with two of my favorite cities to visit: Montreal and Vancouver.

Hug,
joey

Hermione said...

Abby - Thank you. They'reall tongue in cheek, of course:)

Bogey - What's wrong with gravy on your fries? Do you prefer mayo? Vinegar is rarely offered south of the border but it's a staple here, although I prefer ketchup on mine.

PK - Yeah, sorry about that.

Joey - Both lovely cities, although I have only visited one of them on numerous occasions.

Hugs,
Hermione

smuccatelli said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I love the introverted rioter! Made me burst out laughing.

I love the winter and introverted people (although I'm not one). I wish I lived there.

smuccatelli said...

I like mustard on my french fries, mmm hmmm...

"some call it a sling blade. I call it a Kaiser blade."

sixofthebest said...

Hermione, it must be wonderful to ride on horseback for a take-out meal. Is there such a McDonald's 'happy meal' to go. You apologise for a few things about Canada. 'Butt', and I do mean 'YOUR BUTT', is a most exquisite sight, when it's blushing spanked red.

Susie said...

Love it...and there is much truth behind the silly pics.

Hermione said...

Mick and Lynda - It's pretty much the way we are.

Smuccatelli - I haven't heard of that. On hot dogs, yes.

Six - I suspect the mounted police visit doughnut shops that way often.

Susie - Yes, there's a grain of truth in each one.

Hugs,
Hermione

Bas said...

Riding a horse in Canada's wild nature has been a very bad experience for me. Why didn't they tell me this 4 legged apparatus (without decent break) could bring me to Timmie's.
That would have softened up the experience.

So you are quilty of this Bieber phenomenon. Could you please tell me what it is? Somehow I think it is a singer, but as far as I know I have never heard a song from him.
Still regularly, in our papers there's mention of a relationship that somebody has or doesn't have anymore with this Bieber.
I don't understand.

Don't apologise about the Americans. They are doing most of the job themselves.

The Crease? Isn't that where the goal keeper is Lord and Master?

Anonymous said...

wonderful post... had me smiling... and unbeknownst to either of us, fits perfectly with my post about Canadian toques today
bottoms up
Red

ronnie said...

The rioter made me laugh.

Gravy on chips, no, really, yuck.

Canada is on my bucket. Maybe one day I'll get there.

Love,
Ronnie
xx

georgek said...

Hermione,

Love your post, especially the picture of the bus! I get to Canada couple of times a year and have always been treated great.

Have a blessed day!
George

Hermione said...

Bas - I don't listen to that kind of music, so I can't explain the Bieber phenomenon, but he's very popular with pre-teen girls.

Red - Great minds think alike, eh?

Ronnie - Really, no gravy? I didn't realize it was a Canadian preference.

I hope you do get here one day.

George - I'm glad you found Northern hospitality to your liking.

Hugs,
Hermione

Penelope said...

Glad you're okay, Hermione! But you deserve a spanking for worrying us all. *serious frowny face*

Funny pics! I love Canadia and would love to visit some day. I had a Canuck housemate one year at uni - she was a hoot and just really charming. She had me pronounce words at her every so often... couldn't believe that not everyone said things in a Canadian way. The lack of ice hockey on TV was also a thing of disbelief to her.

Canadians like gravy on chips? You learn something every day. They like it here (the north of England) too, not so much in the south. My very-northern partner bemoans that fact every time we venture to more civilised climes.

Kaelah said...

Good to see that you are okay, Hermione! :-)

Christina said...

This was very funny! So very true too!

Anonymous said...

Hi Hermione: I can still get to this, but not the emergency post... MAybe it smile was momentarily been affected by too much canadian content smiling
bottoms up
Red

Terpsichore said...

I always wondered... :-)

Felicia Nemo said...

Gravy is great on fries but you are forgetting the all important squeaky cheese curds...so tasty...

I have apologized for Justin Bieber before when I was over in England...it only seems right after all since we couldn't even escape him there!

The Protester was hilarious though. Must have been at the G8 summit.

But I can't bring myself to apologize for burning down the White House. They stole our country's scepter after all! Seems only fair.

Stay safe!
Felicia

Bea said...

I love gravy and cheese on fries too. Poutine. I line up at Timmie's to buy decaf. How sad is that?
Bea

Aimless Rambling said...

I love it. You are great neighbors.

Roz said...

I enjoyed this post Hermione, thanks for sharing these fun and uniquely Canadian facts.

Loved Timmies, of course, hadn't heard of it. The Canadian Mounties always fascinates me LoL

I agree, Canada should be ashamed of Justin - oh yeah "Baby"! LoL

Hugs,
Roz

Hermione said...

Penelope - I'm fine. It was just a technical glitch.

It's amazing how the same words sound so different depending on where you are from.

Kaelah - Yes, sorry for the scare:(

Christina - There is a grain of truth in each one.

Red - Perhaps the Mounties censored my post as being too unpatriotic:)

Terps - And now you know!

Felicia - I love fries and gravy, and squeaky fresh curd, but have never had them all together. The thought of that fat content makes me queasy.

Bea - I usually buy tea (steeped!) at Timmie's, although I buy their ground coffee at the grocery for use at home.

Sunny - We do our best.

Roz - I have a friend who married a Mountie. Their wedding pics were stunning!

Hugs,
Hermione

Mitch said...

Have been to Edmonton and Banff to visit XXXX each summer for the past 3 years. What a incredible country/wilderness. We had hi tea at Lake Louise in the afternoon, while spending the morning hiking in Banff.

I intend to visit again this Oct (after the summer season).

Next summer we will probably meet in Vancouver (she's western Canadian).

And the cabin we had in Canmore allowed for tons of spanking (after season, our closet neighbors were three units down).