The Potato OdysseyI almost broke my neck while visitng this exhibition at Hay's Galleria the other morning. The poor Peruvian woman almost had me in her arms instead of those little plastic potatos. The cleaners had just come by with that strange machine that half sweeps and half mops the floor and I slipped on a trail of the water - which may have been soapy!?

It was quite funny and luckily I didn't fall - as I did scrape my knee on an escalator earlier on in the week - I think I am turning into my clumsy Aunt Grace. Luckily only the statues witnessed my slip as it was early in the morning. When I looked around I could only see that cleaner in the distance creating a trail of water for other poor workers around the area to slip on. Well onto the exhibit, I wasn't sure what to expect - who knew there were so many varieites of spuds?! Well there are, and the exhibit put on by the Peruvian Embassy displays all of them, I think.

From Time Out mag: This travelling photo exhibition celebrates the humble spud's place as the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat. Organised by the Peruvian Embassy for the International Year of the Potato, the display explores the potato's domestication and importance in food cultures worldwide.

If you are in the area it would be interesting to look at just to see all the different types of potatoes but I wouldn't really go out of my way to see it.

Tip: don't go early in the morning with heels on!

Pumpkin pound per pound
The difference: Canada vs UK

With three days left until Halloween these are my observations.

UK

• I have had no Halloween invites nor have I heard of a fabulous Halloween party that I should attend in full costume - I am going to a gig Wed night with work and doubt any of the musicians will be in costume

• I have not seen any pumpkins in any doorways or any type of Halloween decoration -unless you count the lone, orange pumpkin candle I have on our lounge table

• If you do want to buy a pumpkin, they are probably only sold for the expat American community, you will pay through the nose - at £1 a kg, thoughts of having pumpkins strewn along the stairs and on the porch may be quashed as it could end up costing you a pretty penny. The BBC reports that due to such a terrible summer pumpkins are in shorter supply as they are not ready yet so some people will have green-y orange pumpkins.

• Am positive that we will not get one trick or treater - we haven't even bought a bowl of candy!

I think Halloween is not so big in the UK because a) it is considered an 'American' thing and b) the Brits are always throwing 'fancy dress' (costume) parties - they happen a lot and it is great fun to get the chance to dress up in silly, flamboyant, outrageous or sexy outfits all year long -not just on Halloween.
CANADA

• I have heard of several parties and lots of talk of what people are going to wear and where they are going to get their costume from

• When I left T.O. in October there were already several houses with elaborate scary decorations, inflatable ghosts and goblins and bats hanging from trees

• Trick or treaters will be out everywhere and am sure friends and family will give out bags of candy and see a vast array of cute kids costumes

• Several friends have been to pumpkin patches to pick their own pumpkins and am sure the prices for pumpkins in Canada are not outrageously expensive - can anyone tell me how much they paid?

Am going to check the Time Out to see if there are any Halloween parties - fingers crossed some American contact lets me know of a great house party to slink away to after work on Wed! Must remember to bring some ad hoc costume ideas to work...