I happened to be in the kids section at the library with Rev on Saturday and came across a copy of this. Looking back on my life I see that this is the game that made me acutely aware of how much I loved computers and what they could do. It may even have fostered my interest in geography and international travel and cultural exchange…

You will see from the cover that it is a game for ages 9-12… Well… I wasn’t exactly 12 when I first saw it… I was babysitting kids who had it but I could never wait for the call to come and sit so that I could play and maybe… finally… catch Carmen.

I never did; time and space moved on and games got more complicated and unbelievable (Myst… Riven… Exile… and now Revelation! My latest game loves…) but Carmen was my first.

So, I grabbed the disc and slotted it into the Dell, all anticipation… and hit install…

All looked to be progressing normally until I opened up the programme ready for a trip down memory lane…

Busted.

I need and older slower computer.

!

Happily Flick has just the right, old, slow machine and now were are happily following Carmen San Diego round the world.

It’s still fun… I wonder if I’ll actually get her this time!!

Well, who would have thought such a popular fruit in NZ is positively unheard of elsewhere! So… this is a feijoa and it’s yummy… Can’t describe the taste – totally unique…

This is a kumara of the Kiwi persuasion. Looks red rather than purple doesn’t it! Amazing what 6 years away from home does to the memory…

Marshmallow Easter Eggs… If you want to try them you can buy them from here Not Fair Trade… nor cheap… but delicious!!!

How could I ignore this image? … Tim Tams, are similar (but NOT the same) as Penguin biscuits… Often imitated, the Tim Tams have become an Australian staple and joy of joys are now available with a chilli chocolate creme centre… [hums… “heaven… I’m in heaven…”] also available for purchase here

Mint Slices available here but there’s no way I’d pay nearly five bucks for them… even if I was desperate!!!

Iced Vovos available here too. Totally yummy….

That’s enough time wasted… Rev is here playing Play Station and I really need to take him out and exercise him or his mother will pitch a fit… This is our last time hanging out… will tell you why tomorrow!!

Red asked me the other day were there any places I hadn’t lived? There are a lot, but I got to thinking that I am a member of the “fellowship of the fortunate”. Of the 7 countries represented by the flags on the left I have lived in 4 and visited 1. I didn’t go to Canada though I had opportunity; for the sheer terror of not being allowed back in to the US because I had outstayed my visitors permit… Neither have I been to Kuwait.

The other reason my thoughts have been of an international flavour is having had the opportunity to participate in the Great International Secret Blog Exchange (GISBE) which I mentioned this morning. It was a great exercise to send a care package to someone overseas of all the things you would miss if you no longer lived where you live now! Actually, because Vivi and Tracey are expatriates I think the genesis of the exchange was to give expatriates an opportunity to exchange from home and receive some of their favourite treats. Or, of course, an opportunity for other people who want to receive something from other cultures…

Anyway! The point is that I was thinking about missing things, local foods that you don’t get anywhere else and because I’ve lived in these other places I am surprised to realise that there is quite a list!

You want to hear it, right?

Good. I’ve limited to the top 5 (in no particular order)… for the sake of saving time!

From NZ…

1. Cadbury Chocolate Marshmallow Easter Eggs… with the orange yolk. Nothing says Easter like these babies!
2. Mr Hubbards Feijoa Cereal, and all his other cereals too.
3. Now that you mention it: feijoas. I never seem to be at home when they are in season… Disappointing
4. Cookie Time Cookies… the little ones that come in a bucket at Christmastime… nothing says Christmas like them…
5. Kumara – not that stuff they serve up here … the Purple Ones with yellow middles…. Yeah

From the UK

1. Potato Cakes
2. Bassets Licorice Allsorts
3. Walkers Oat Cakes
4. Fortnum and Mason’s Ginger Cookies
5. Coconut Boost Bars (which I believe are now, sadly obsolete)

From the US

1. Milk Duds
2. Cheese in a Can (I actually doubt I could eat it now… gross… but memorable)
3. Dill Pickles
4. Tuna Salad
5. Subs – good ones… not the microwaved Subways we have here.

If I left Australia I would miss

1. Tim Tams
2. Mint Slices (and all the other slices)
3. Cherry Ripes
4. Gelatissimo Ice Cream
5. Max Brenners Hot Chocolate (and all his other chocolates and Belgian Waffles)

So, there you have it… everything that’s good from where I’ve lived. But should you have imagined this was a cunning ploy to alert my secret blog exchanger all the things I could possibly want… she has already sent it.

I was just thinking out loud.

Well.. for the first time in Singular’s history my biggest referrer is someone other than the wibsite.

So…

Hello to all who have come visiting from Superegglplant! It’s very nice to see you here.

[for regular readers Singular Scene appears at Super Eggplant because of my recent participation in the Great International Secret Blog Exchange]