Key, Camera, Cheese, and Snacks

(Click here for a post about my return to Canada.)

Key
When I lived in Bolivia I loved the medieval Spanish style of architecture - narrow, cobblestone streets lined with high outer walls of two-story homes with interior courtyards. Large, locked gates led into each courtyard with a smaller door cut into the gates. One afternoon I saw a woman open her handbag and pull out a key-ring with a collection of small, modern keys and one huge, old skeleton key to open her "front door". I was intrigued by the mix of old and new, a common combination in South America. I later stopped by a tiny antiques shop to purchase an old key as a remembrance of my time in Bolivia.

In a previous post, I mentioned that one of the items I wanted to buy as a remembrance of my time in England is a quirky door-knocker. I've yet to see anything close to what I want, so I recently reconsidered that idea and decided to buy an old key instead. I've been fascinated by doors and anything attached to them for quite some time and this obsession reached a new level during my time in England. Since I already have an old key from my first life-changing, long-term stay abroad, another key seems a fitting remembrance of this trip.


Camera
Rachel was my driver today to run some errands around town. First stop was the police station to turn in a digital camera I found in the middle of a busy road while walking to church last weekend (the pictures are mostly just drunk people at bars, none of them local, according to my friends here). I asked the officer at the front desk if I could turn in the camera and leave my contact information in case nobody claims it. He told me that anything containing digital data is destroyed in thirty days if it hasn't been claimed by the original owner. What followed was an awkward conversation as I was frustrated by this discovery and tried to be honest about turning in the camera, but the officer was continually evasive. He finally winked at me and said emphatically one last time, "I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you." I stared at him, stuttered a little, and finally understood his intent. I simply said, "Okay, I'm leaving now," and he just grinned at me.

A friend who heard I found a camera mentioned that hers recently stopped working. She ordered a new one online because she's going on an African safari this week and she wants a small camera to keep in her bag when it isn't convenient to carry around her big DSLR. I wasn't willing to give her the camera as I felt the right thing was to turn it in to the police. After the police officer told me to keep it, I walked out and immediately called Robyn to ask her if she wanted it. Turns out the camera she ordered was out of stock and would be delayed so she can easily cancel the order. She has had other major expenses hit her recently so the timing of being able to save this expense is amazing.

Cheese
Here's something I found at the grocery store that I think is quite amusing:

Canadian Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese

Made with unpasteurized milk to give a deep rounded, extra mature flavour.

According to Health Canada, milk must be pasteurized in order to be sold in Canada. So, how do they figure unpasteurized cheese to be Canadian?

Snacks
Before I left Canada, my friend, Lindsay, told me to make sure I check out the crazy chip flavours because foreign countries often have unique combinations. I've chatted with friends here about their bizarre flavours and they think it's hilarious that I consider flavours involving meat and chutney to be strange. At the end of our afternoon together, Rachel and I stopped by a grocery store to pick up a few items and I got side-tracked in the crisp aisle.

For several months I've been planning to return home with a selection of bizarre flavours so my family and friends can give them a try - maybe do a "quirky crisp party" or something. For those of you who won't be able to attend that epic event (whenever it may or may not be held), here are pictures and descriptions to trigger your gag reflex or make your mouth water. I'll type out some of the entertaining packaging text.

*NOTE: If any of these are sold in Canada, please let me know so I can leave them behind. Keep your fingers crossed that I manage to find a way to bring the rest home without crushing them to powder.

The Real Mcoys: Accept No Immitation
Ridge Cut, Flame Grilled Steak
McCoy's can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Have you got the balance right today?

Nik Naks
Nice 'N' Spicy
Knobbly, Freaky Sticks of Corn
NOW no artificial colours, flavours or MSG
Same great taste!

Frazzles
Crispy Bacon Flavour Corn Snacks

New (crossed out) Old!
Bigger Like They Used to Be!*
Massive Hunks of Roast Beef Flavour Baked Corn Snack
Mega Monster Munch

Monsters are here forever.
This snack is best before 24-10-09

Roast Beef: Where have you been?
"Where haven't I been you mean! As far as monsters go, they say I'm more famous than Nessie! Let me tell you, it's great to be back on pack."

Don't forget to check out Flamin' Hot and Pickled Onion!
Suitable for monsters and vegetarians.

*as in 1977

I have two comments about the snack above:
1. This is Emma's favourite.
2. I think it's odd that a snack with "massive hunks of roast beef flavour" is suitable for vegetarians.

Walkers Worcester Sauce Flavour Potato Crisps
Ingredients: Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Worcester Sauce Seasoning
Worcester Sauce Seasoning contains: wheat breadcrumbs, salt, flavouring, sugar, barley malt vinegar, mustard oil, citric acid, dried onion, dried garlic, fructose, coriander, cardamom, ground black pepper, ginger, clove, chili, rosemary, allspice, sage.

The crisps above are the most natural I've seen.

Walkers: Prawn Cocktail Flavour Potato Crisps
It's very rare that our spuds don't make perfect crisps, but if it ever happens then they're on us! If you don't think these crisps are top taters, tell us why, where you bought them, and send them back to us (with the bag).

Golden Wonder: Transform-A-Snack
Transform into a Space Hero
Spicy Flavour Corn Snacks - Baked Not Fried
Shapes May Vary
Intergalactic Guarantee: These Transform-A-Snacks should taste out of this world.