Pastries and Rainbows

Normally I prefer spending my rainy weekends at home with a cup of chai, generalized laziness, and a book, but today was exciting because Numz and I would be hanging out for the first time in ages -- and we were going to introduce Boy to the world of indoor rock-climbing!

Argentina and I picked Numz up at home to head to Kerrisdale for the One of a Few warehouse sale. I have never purchased anything from that store, nor did I need to buy anything, but it was nice to go with her, browse the racks, and have Numz bring me items she wanted me to try on. The sale was in a carpet store and the changeroom was a windowed back room with stacks of carpets and no dividers. And at some points there were men who would be in the room looking at men's shoes or chatting with their girl friends. My favourite item there was one that wasn't for sale, a comfy yarned sitting ball.

Yarny ottomans at the warehouse sale.
I was more interested in these than the clothes.

I also liked the label for one of the things I tried on.

Clearly I had Boy on the brain. It's my favourite number too!

Neither of us was successful but both of us were hungry, so we headed to The Secret Garden in the hope that they'd have space for us. My expectations were low as it was a weekend and I remembered being turned away every time in the past -- reservations are required for peak days/times and they only take them for high tea! We were told there would be a one-hour wait, so instead of loitering I suggested going to Faubourg, where I had gone with Smeek and Bunny before I had left for Florence over a year ago.

We had a gluttonous lunch consisting of a ham and cheese quiche, a squid ink and cranberry bread, a brioche, and an almond croissant. Numz drank a large mocha and I had a large vanilla bourbon Mariage Frères tea latte.

Squid ink and cranberry bread. Surprisingly delicious!

When Numz and I saw the squid ink and cranberry bread, we had no idea what it was. Once I asked the cashier and he told us, I hesitated but Numz immediately said we'd take one. I'm glad she did!

Numz and my desserts

The tea latte and almond croissant were my favourites, and I knew that I had to make sure Giagi and Boy each had one along with a personalized treat each.

Numz and I then picked up Boy for our rock climbing adventure. It was nice to hang out together and bridge my two social worlds while introducing Boy to a new activity. After getting him checked in and into a harness, Numz and I gave him a crash course (Numz more so than I as I have never been good at explaining things!) and we watched our little bird fly. Or in this case climb. For his first climb he rainbowed (using any hand/footholds) and for his second and third climb he did the routes I did, a 5.8 and 5.10a. And he did them with a sore wrist and minimal (if any) breaks. Yay for Boy!

We finished around 5:00pm and I dropped Numz off on the Drive and then Boy and I stopped by Olympic Village for some errands. We got sidetracked at Terra Breads, where we each indulged on a baked good, and then we checked out the new London Drugs (which I might add has a great selection of nail polish colours).

I love having full Saturdays. They make the weekend feel more effective in break-having.

PS. My iPhone Scylla autocorrected "Kerrisdale" to "Jerusalem". How interesting.