C6 - Wednesday, December 21, 1983 - North Shore News BAD THINGS don’t happen to travel writers — more than half of the time. Continuing from last column — start with the two of us over the rem- nants of a breakfast. I’d sooner not explain again, deciding where we’d buy up the rest of our Christmas presents. Our waitress — neat lady — confided that she’d never shop in Bellingham for anything. She drives an hour south to the new mall — Alderwood, just south of Everett. We gave this a lot of consideration but a phonecall home convinc- ed us that we’d better return by dinnertime. The rain was dismal, back- ed up by a sharp wind. Next stop, Bellingham Mall. From the Holiday Inn — Fred Meyer’s complex on Lakeway, resume !-5 south, and take the next exit — Samish Way. You might as well not bother — it’s a poor excuse for a mall. The ladies’ dress shops are overpriced, there’s a couple of small shops ‘‘Wicker’’, selling just that and decorating gizmos, a big Pay-And-Save Drugs, an overpriced shoe store and a Deli. We left, stall looking at a long Christmas list. Next stop, downtown Bellingham. If ever the Grinch stole Christmas, he must have started in downtown Bell- ingham. There’s nothing much at the best of times but at Christmas you’d sooner be in Lower Moosehorn. The decorations are flat, the San- ta Claus shop is closed — lack of interest? — and one sorry musician Is trying to get the chords to O Come All Ye Faithful more or less mght. What’s worse — the prices. For the last two years we've done our Christmas shopping in Arizona and Reno. Splen- didly. I doubt you could do anything splendidly in downtown Bellingham short of shooting yourself. One of our kids wanted a pale yellow angora sweater — plain style, long sleeves. Price in Van- couver — about $50. The Bon Marche wanted $60 for the same sweater, but they didn’t have yellow. Or grey. Or light pink. Or pale blue. They didn’t have long sleeves, either. Another kid wanted leather gloves — | priced a nice pair in Woodward’s for $20. The Bon wanted $30 American (plus tax, plus du- ty, plus tax again). We sear- ched for pale pink leg warmers — every shop had grey, beige and plaid. There was a sort of futility about the whole exercise. | remembered the waitress at the hote! who told us she was driving to Everett to do all her shopping. It isn’t hard to understand. travel- wise by Barbara McCreadie He picked out a couple of shirts and a sweater and ] bought him a ‘‘big surprise.’’ The only surprise is that he can’t wear any of them until Christmas. He might also get to wrap them up and put them under the tree. Short of divulging our en- ure Christmas list to the wrong, people, [’ll sum up by telling you that we got some decent buys in small electrical appliances. | wasn't too upset about perfumes — until | had to pay the tax and duty. We found the Jay Jacobs ‘‘dis- count’’ store and didn’t find anything close to a discount but found a tew things that the main store was out-of- stock with. To make a dreadful trip a little more so — we visited Cost-Cutter Foods (on Meri- dian St.) on the way home. My favorite brand of low- cost toilet tissue had gone u to 79¢ (from 49¢€) a (Sur-roll package. Bought it anyway because it beats $1.49 here, Got bulk shelled almonds fot $2 a pound, pitted glives ‘for 69¢ a tin. Turkeys were up to 77¢ a pqund (from a low of 57¢). Bread was two loaves for 88¢. Cheese (medium cheddar) was $2 a pound, eggs had gone up to 93¢ a dozen (X-Large). I got a keg of Heinz ketchup for 98¢ and a big bottle of Nalley’s Real Mayonnaise for the same. Oil (Crisco) worked out to be more than here so | left it alone. Margarine was 44¢ a pound (Blue Bonnet) but | could only buy two packages (imit). All prices American dollars. I'm suill not sure how | got to pay $42 duty on the whole thing. Did I save any money? Auxiliary experience invaluable FROM PAGE C1 which includes wearing the cheery pink smocks and not wearing too much jewelry or make-up, and an awareness of how to approach both the staff and patients. Aiming to please is a volunteer’s most important working rule. Since 1980 men have also been Auxiliary members, and there are now five male volunteers. But Harvey would hke to see more men participate. ‘‘Men can provide a little extra for the male patients, especially the elderly ones Talking sports of whatever, there's bound to be more rap port "" The Candy stripers, volunteers 1410 18 years old, have no mate Many of the medical careers, members girls plan Harvey says like today's even though they're much maligned she said, “DO really tcenagpers, adding thal young peo ple really brighten the lives of WAIKIKI An onty WAIKIKI $499 4 Days 7 Nights Aor & Ptcotees LAS VEGAS $289 5 Days 4 Night) An A Protest RENO $199 S Days 4 Nights An & Hote TORONTO $249 MAPLE LEAF TRAVEL 736- 3555 Boe Agent 1873 patients in the long-term care Evergreen House and in the pediatrics ward where the Candy-stripers work. Harvey believes that ex- perience gained through Aux ihary work 1s invaluable for teenagers no matter what career they end up choosing “They learn discipline, responsibility and a vaniety of other skills which they'll always need in life,’’ Harvey says. The next volunteer orenta- tion session for both groups is scheduled tor January, and anyone interested should call 988-3131, local 724 or 725 ‘“‘No one who wants to LENS & SHUTTER GUARANTEED LOW PRICES* GREAT PICTURES PENTAX SHARPSHOOTER So automate you Can Concentrate on the proture gg Not the camera @ Auto focus @ Auto ft xeposure @ Auto last @ (dust Cover Optional Winder exted 159°° 1615 LONSDALE AVE. 986-3471 help is ever turned away,”’ Harvey said. V2 1 10 GRAND PRIZE WINNER Not likely. Did we have a nice trp? Right up there with cleaning the oven. The only hght spot of the whole thing came when we got back. ‘‘How did everything go?"’ asked Brian. ‘*Fine,’' replied the kids. 1 guess he must have look- ed disappointed. After ail, nothing else had gone right. “It's okay, Dad. We just When itt rains, it pours didn’t want to tell you. The sewer backed up, I totalled my car and the cat lost a race with a hydro bus. Grannie’s in the hospital, my sister has been thrown out of school and someone hit Mom’s car in the driveway. Anything else you'd like to know?”’ That trip to Bellingham didn’t seem so bad, after all. SALE YEAR OLD WINNER (tsa Klepuk YEAR OLL) WININE Fa Debbie Johris YEAR OLL) WINNER Mike Plaster YEAR OLD WINNER Michael Hrabar YEAR COLD) WINNE FA Lesley Simunn Yt ARR COLE) WINNE #2 Simon Murtpotry YEAC COLL) WINNE #4 tall Westwell YEAR OLO WINNER Chis Kennedy ye AH OOL DD WINWNE Fa Hrok Garange yb A OL o> WINWNE #4 Vrerese latices foom@oratulations to allo who entered Ot or jot> well Jone! SLEIGHLOAD OF GIFTS WINNER Prakash Pillai of Gibsons, B.C. Cocotte tba TONS 1 her ALL Chat OWHAIII@RS Sau lane 935 MARINE DRIVE, N. VAN Pocket Fluorescent Lantern “The Museum Piece” Reg. £199 LE *15" 844 Park Royal North, West Van. Kenny Eadie $