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Well the forum’s been quiet so I thought I’d share with you BM’s experiences on her recent trip to British Columbia (I really like the name of that place)
Bm’s BA friend came up trumps again! I love that lady! When I flew from Manchester to Heathrow I knew I would be able to use the business class lounge and I was just about to partake of all things free when my friend phoned me. ‘How would madam like to fly First Class to Vancouver today?’

How would I? Well I would love to, as I’ve never ever flown First Class before. My friend arranged to meet me outside the business class lounge near the life size horse with a lampshade on it’s head. There are two of them, both life sized horses and both with lampshades on their heads. Maybe they would look better under the influence of crack or chardonnay.
We proceeded to the Concord Lounge where we caught up, over a couple of glasses of bucks fizz (the real I am, not M&S version at £4.99 a bottle) No sooner had we eyeballed anybody worth eyeballing than my flight was called. I showed my boarding card and was invited to unpack and my servant would come back to me. Never before have I been asked to unpack on a flight and I proceeded to shove my case into the overhead locker. I looked around and realised I was one of six. I knew this was going to be a flight to remember!

Unfortunately I don’t remember a lot after BA plied me with champagne, except that when my 6 course lunch was delivered I was given a table with a white linen table cloth. I hasten to add that I was reduced to ground level on my return flight in economy when my dinner was thrown at me on a tray accompanied by a warm bottle of Chardonnay.
I was woken as we approached the Rockies. What an awesome sight! BM learnt a new word on her Canadian adventure! It was AWESOME! And awesome is a word applied to the Rockies, absolutely breathtaking! Snow over the mountains and blue lakes, what a lovely sight!
Immigration into Canada was a bit of a trial. I hate queues. I was grilled as to where I was staying and for how long but was soon through.
I met my friend and we were soon on our way to the ferry to Victoria. BC. The ferry ride was picturesque; I believe the word is AWESOME. I looked at the houses with envy. We ate a buffet evening meal, or was it lunch, on the ferry. It was my first experience of how big the meals were, when I observed a lady on the next table attempt the world record for shoving the most fried onion rings into her mouth at one attempt.

We arrived at the Sheraton Hotel we had booked in Victoria. Shabby Shic is an under statement. We were mega disappointed! The corner suite we were promised proved to be a room over looking the car park!
BM has contacts and I asked one where he/she would recommend and we were directed to the Westin, Bear Mountain, were we made out way without delay. This hotel turned out to be special and I can highly recommend it to anyone venturing to BC. Our room was lovely! Immaculately clean with everything you would need. Breakfast was taken in the restaurant over looking the golf course and the last cup of coffee taken on to the terrace in the fresh air. Those memories are special! Blue skies and a cool breeze and lovely conversasions Victoria proved to be very entertaining.

We decided to have Tea at the Empress Hotel. It was very posh and reminded me of doing tea at the Ritz in London. We made our way to our table. It was wonderful till I espied the Starbucks cup on the next table! WHAT? Oh Please! I couldn’t believe someone had taken a coffee cup in there! I looked around!! All the women were wearing trainers! Except for me.
This was a sign of things to come, as I realised that no woman dressed up in BC. Evenings out were me dressing up a little to be faced with women in trainers or flip flops. The order of the day was dress down, big style.
Victoria is a fantastic place. I loved it! I could definitely live there, without a shadow of doubt. It was clean, relaxed and the only down side was a demo against the Israeli occupation of Gaza. We had a good laugh at that!
We had lunch at a Scottish pub when we had a few spots of rain. That Time moved quickly and it was soon time for BM to make her way home. I was reluctant to make my way to security at Vancouver Airport and left it to the last minute. I tried my sob story of being pushed for time on the fat faced Chinese individual at Fast Track but he wouldn’t wear it and I had to queue. Oh the shame. When I got through security I was being paged by BA, they provided a buggy to transport me to gate 45/ If that fat faced lover hadn’t been a jobs worth I would have had loads of time.
I was consigned to Economy on the return to Heathrow and was sat next to a retard with an Irish/Canadian accent wearing a black suit at least 4 sizes too big for him and wearing a white baseball cap. He talked to himself throughout the flight. Retard!,
BM’s Canadian experience was positive. I loved that place! I could live there, no problem. A clean city that looked as if it a booming economy, filled with lovely people. I just wish everyone would dress up a bit!

So BM had an AWESOME experience then, on the whole, despite the intrusion of a cup of Starbuck's coffee?

zonker wrote:So BM had an AWESOME experience then, on the whole, despite the intrusion of a cup of Starbuck's coffee?

Yes Zonker, it was AWESOME! I would definately like to visit Canada again. It is an absolutely lovely country, I was very impressed. I've been to Toronto before but Vancouver is much much nicer.

Prince William is on his way over today. I think he's read my post on DF and thought he'd give it the once over. I wonder if he will take Kate to the Empress for afternoon tea?

Bethsmum wrote:

zonker wrote:So BM had an AWESOME experience then, on the whole, despite the intrusion of a cup of Starbuck's coffee?

Yes Zonker, it was AWESOME! I would definately like to visit Canada again. It is an absolutely lovely country, I was very impressed. I've been to Toronto before but Vancouver is much much nicer.

Prince William is on his way over today. I think he's read my post on DF and thought he'd give it the once over. I wonder if he will take Kate to the Empress for afternoon tea?

If the Prince has any romance in him BM (which I am sure he has), he would take his princess to the Empress Hotel for that quaint British ritual of afternoon tea!

If the Prince has any romance in him BM (which I am sure he has), he would take his princess to the Empress Hotel for that quaint British ritual of afternoon tea!

It sounds to me as if you have done just that Zonker!

We had cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and cream washed down with cups of Empress blend tea. It was followed by the dainiest little hand made cakes which we got to take home in a little box as we were unable to eat them all. All for the pricely sum of $58 each.

The only thing that reminded me that we weren't in England was the waitress saying 'You're welcome' each time I thanked her for pouring me another cup of tea. It was like chalk on a blackboard.