Friday, April 29, 2011

Celebrating the Royal Wedding?

With all our various connections to the 'Mother Countries' (England, Scotland & Ireland), here in the Bay of Fundy region, there is certainly lots of interest in the impending nuptials of Prince William and Kate.

For example, during a trip to Saint John, New Brunswick today I got this 'royal treat' at the Homeport Historic Inn. It's a sampling of said Prince's favourite biscuit cake in honour of their wedding.

Here's the authentic recipe if you'd like to whip up the groom's choice dessert in time for the wedding tomorrow:

Will's Chocolate Biscuit Cake Recipe
11 oz packet McVitie's Rich Tea biscuit
6 oz Golden Syrup
14 oz Cadburys Bourneville dark chocolate
3 oz butter
5 oz raisins soaked in 4 Tbsp Caribbean rum

Put biscuits in back & smash til they are a mix of crumbs and postage stamp-size pieces. Stir in melted chocolate, butter & raisins. Scrape into lined cake pan. Refriderate until set. Cut into squares. Cuts best if you let it sit out of the fridge for an hour. No baking required!

According to this article in The Telegraph, London
, 'twill apparently be served at the wedding as an alternative to traditional wedding cake!

If you live in either of the Fundy provinces and need Bourneville chocolate or McVitie's imported from the UK, try Pete's Frootique at the Saint John, NB, market or at the Bedford Mall in Halifax, NS. Enjoy!

Monday, April 18, 2011

World's oldest reptile fossil returns home!

Big excitement this weekend at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nova Scotia: one of its earliest fossil discoveries is returning home for a 6 month visit London. It's the world's oldest reptile fossil which was discovered at Joggins in 1859 and it's the most important fossil ever discovered there.

The fossilized remains of Hylonomus lyelli, the earliest occurrence of reptilian life ever discovered and is only found at Joggins. The 312-million-year-old Hylonomus lyelli fossil was actually declared as Nova Scotia's Provincial Fossil.

It is on loan to the Joggins Fossil Centre from the Museum of Natural History, London, England and will be on display at the Joggins Fossil Centre from April 23 until Oct. 31.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Cliffs of Moher meet Bay of Fundy!

With just over 7 months left in the global New7Wonders of Nature campaign I decided to pop over to meet one of our 'competitors' in this friendly campaign. A quick trip 'across the pond' landed me in Ireland for a few days' visit to the stunning Cliffs of Moher!

The Cliffs of Moher lie on the opposite side of Bay of Fundy on the mighty Atlantic ocean and form a 200 metre tall buttress along the North Clare coastline on the west coast of Ireland.

Stretching for over 8 kilometres they are home to a wide variety of seabirds and marine wildlife as well as spectacular geological features and formations. Much like the Bay of Fundy, people have been visiting the Cliffs of Moher for hundreds of years to marvel at nature’s work.

I'm pictured here on a windy day in front of the Cliffs of Moher with Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience 'officially' exchanging apparel from each of our attractions.

So consider also voting for the lovely Cliffs of Moher when you go online to choose your favourite New7Wonders of Nature.