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A Brunch Affair to Remember
What is your favorite restaurant?
I love to eat out so to name one favourite restaurant is impossible because Iām always excited to try somewhere new. I have also been frustrated at the out of control tipping culture, so Iāve been eating out a lot less so I often go to the same places where I know the prices which brings me to the shameful affair Iāve been having.
Approximately 2015 or 2016 a wonderful new breakfast place opened where live and I love brunch. I don’t want to wake up early for breakfast but if you wait till lunch then you will snack on the wrong thing and be too hungry so brunch is perfect. The place was Sunset Grill, they had the most beautiful fluffy pancakes I had ever eaten and I was in love.
For about 5-6 years I ate at Sunset Grill (the same location) whenever I could and when I travelled anywhere with a Sunset Grill I would go eat there. I loved this place so much and I told everyone I knew about it. I went there on dates (of course different locations) I didn’t want an awkward encounter. My ex even started taking his mum there when we had broken up.
During the summer months I would head there alone with my iPad or client files to work on the patio. At this point I knew the owner and his wife and during the pandemic my greatest “moment” was when one of the servers said there was no room and the owner said something like “for you we can find something”. I honestly felt like I had made it. I was guaranteed a seat a my favourite restaurant and did I mention that they give lollipops when you pay your bill and put fresh strawberries on your mimosa.
But like all relationships the problems slowly started. Some called it inflation some call it smaller portions and some called it a $7 mimosa that went to $13. Now if you live in a big city I can see how that may not be a big deal but a $13 drink in my town better have 4 types of liquor. As with all relationships you become a little complacent and you hear others talk of a new brunch place in town. You see the “new place” but would never go there because it’s a little further than yours and who know what their pancakes, prices or portions are like. They probably have too much baking powder and they do not even have a patio. Why would you opt for a lesser experience? You put it out of your mind and continue as you always have.
One day you ask yourself “well what would it hurt for me to try it?” and before you know it you are hooked. You are now driving past your old favourite restaurant simply because they put whipped cream on their pancakes not to mention you don’t even need maple syrup on these pancakes. Their pancakes are just as fluffy and the guilt that consumes does not seem to be enough to stop you driving past your old spot. Now you take friends and family members to the new spot thinking how could this happen, how could I be so disloyal.
Ah well my mouth is filled with too much whipped cream to care and as the brunch conversations continues your friend asks if you have heard about the new brunch place by the beach? You quickly respond “No I would never go anywhere else, I love brunch here” but your mind starts to wonder and alas the cycle starts all over again so I really can’t say I have a favourite restaurant.
Car Rental Admin Fees for Tickets
What is the last thing you learned?
Iām actually very upset about this. I recently rented the car and driving in the UK while living in Canada is quite an experience. I wonāt get into the smart motorway which I think is the stupidest idea ever but those in the UK can tell me if they agree that this is a good idea. For those that donāt know what that is or those that live in Canada a smart motorway is where they have different speeds on the motorway depending on traffic and you have to keep adjusting your speed.
In Canada, if youāre on the motorway or highway you just have one set speed. You know what the speed is unless there is construction or you could follow the flow of traffic if thereās āsomethingā happening on the highway. In the UK theyāve decided itās a great idea to just change the speed intermittently so that it can slow down traffic in one part and speed up traffic on another part so that I donāt know what exactly is being accomplished but I hate it, and I think itās dangerous.
So the last thing I learned is that when you have a rental car they let you know that you will pay for your tickets, which I think is fair enough if you get a ticket you should pay for that ticket what I didnāt know was they charge or try to charge you a 68 pound administrative fee. That fee does not include the actual ticket, which if you paid within 14 days you only pay 35 pounds.
Now this is infuriating me because itās not enough that they just charge the admin fee once they charge it per ticket so right now I have received the three administrative fees of 68 pound not including the ticket thatās either 30 pound or 70 pound depending on when you pay it. What infuriates me is this wasnāt explained to me and I think that this is something that should be explained to people in the same way the re-fuelling fee is explained upfront.
Iām a little bit ashamed because as an administrator I shouldāve read it properly and I should know better but this just seems like another sneaky fee and it seems like everywhere you go. I know it should be buyer beware but it feels like you really canāt get a break as a consumer, at every turn someone is trying to rip you off. There are lots of little sneaky fees creeping up everywhere and Iām getting really really sick of it and for one Iām going to be fighting the sneaky fees.
Whoās with me?!?
Consistency in Video Creation andd Editing
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
I have no issues recording content but much like in writing I hate editing me so 40,000 pictures and videos later I still havenāt created my ādocumentaryā or āreal vlogā or finished posting from TThoughts in the Morning segment
Favourite Beverages
What is your favorite drink?
I have a great love of āa bevyā as my sister would say and as a self acclaimed ādrinks masterā here are my favourite drinks by category
- Tea – Khoisan Bourbon Vanilla Rooibos Tea – I came into the tea game late but this is the best tea ever and it get extra points because itās decaf, comes from my Southern Africa aka home and it has many good properties
- Coffee – Starbucks Blond Roast – Iāve been having a caffeine intolerance lately because I pretty much stopped drinking coffee during the pandemic (yes remember that awful event) but I love the VIA blond roast. Itās high in caffeine and the right coffee taste for me
- Wine – I think my favourite is ice wine. None in particular but I just love sweet wine and I think itās the pinnacle of sweet wine. Iāll give a s/o to the baco noir by Henry of Pelham incase people argue ice wine isnāt āreallyā wine
- Milk – Why is this on the list? Well we the lactose intolerance girlies will tell you that we like milk but our stomachs are stubborn. My favourite milk is Neilsonās 0% lactose free milk. I like it because it doesnāt change the taste of the drink like some of the other milk alternative beverages
- Pop – This preference depends on location. In Canada itās Canada Dry! I love it and put it in any and everything. I personally feel it should replace maple syrup as the āCanadian foodā. If in Zimbabwe itās cherry plum.
- Liquor – I think itās tequila, Patron to be specific. I have been playing around with gin but I donāt think itās made its way into being a āfavouriteā but time will tell
- Water – Iām not much of a water drinker. Yes I know I should drink 7/8 glasses but who has the time to go to the bathroom that many times after? However I figured with the allegations that you need water to live š I should pick one. I used to be confused about why drink water when you can drink juice or tea and if you have to drink water why addd bubbles but I will admit I have grown to like the sparkling water from Loblaws. Granted I sometimes add stuff to it but itās not bad.
- Squash/Cordial – Mazoe cream soda is my favourite if itās available but if not I donāt hate Robinsons berry squash. Both are not easy to source in Canada but we find our ways. Itās one of the things I add to sparkling water but to get some unique drink recipes sign up to my newsletter. š
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