Bye Bye Weekend but hello Haliaeetus Leucocephalus (Bald Eagle to you...)

Well that was the weekend - didn't it fly by.. Well we had a busy time of it. On Saturday morning, I spotted a nice Honda CR-V on the website of one of the VW dealers in Nova Scotia - Bridgewater to be exact. Phoned them up to be told that, yes, the car was still available but they closed at 2pm. All well and good, but Matthew and Emma had just gone outside to go sledding with their friends. To say they were reluctant to come with us is a bit of an understatement. However, one of our neighbours said they'd keep an eye on them and so off we went.
CR-V was okay, but felt a bit flimsy somehow. However, we then test drove a Ford Escape which was fabulous, but with a 3 litre V6 engine could prove expensive to run. Then it was the turn of a VW Golf. Absolutely loved it. Well screwed together, all the bells and whistles, drove beautifully and it was absolutley immaculate. So despite it being a manual (or standard as they say here) and only having 2 doors, we put a deposit down. Just need that written job offer and I'll be away! That is the very car in the picture.
Then it was a mad dash home to relieve whoever it was that had our children! They had Pizza at Mary-Beth's and then Jeanette was supervising their sledding. Needless to say by the time we got home they were ready to come in! However, as we'd been sat in the car for over 2 hours, we decided we should all go for a walk. So it was off to Oakfield Provincial Park for a walk in the woods and down to the lake. Matthew was less than impressed by the time we got back to the car! A quick trip to Walmart to buy some things for next weekend's camp (more of that in coming blogs...) and then home for a cosy evening by the fire.
Then today we decided to take a trip to Sheffield Mills in the Annapolis Valley to go Eagle Spotting. It's usually a great time of year to see Eagles and Sheffield Mills is in the centre of the largest wintering population of Bald Eagles in Eastern North America. This is because the area is home to over 90% of Nova Scotia's poultry production and the Eagles flock here in winter to take advantage of the easily accesible and nutritious food source. Local Farmers and naturalists have got together to set up feeding stations where the Eagles can be viewedat a close but safe range. Unfortunately, as we have had such a mild winter, there is a plentiful supply of food and they are less reliant on the feeding stations. We did see a few and managed to photograph one sat in a tree by the side of the road. It wasn't the digital camera though, so you'll have to wait until the film is developed!
It's a major draw for the area, with events laid on for visitors. We had a Pancake and Sausage breakfast in the Sheffield Mills Community Hall, where they also had an eagle exhibition upstairs. We'd set off at 8.30 (via Tim Hortons) to be up there mid-morning which is the best time to see the Eagles apparently.
And now it's Sunday evening. Matthew & Emma have been showered and fed and put to bed and it's time to see what drivel there is on the television. We did watch Dancing with the Stars on Friday night (US Strictly Come Dancing), but it was the results show and they dragged it out for an hour!! Adverts every five minutes. Believe me it was infinitely more annoying than Bruce Forsyth....The actual dance off is on Thursday evening. We'll have to get the recording sorted out so we can fast forward through the adverts!
Time for a beer...

More cars...

Well it's a few days since I posted, so I thought I'd better do a 'catch up'. Had a quiet few days really, making the most of the fact that I might have to go to work soon! However, been looking at a few more cars. Went to see a VW Golf this morning, but wasn't convinced by the Diesel/Auto combination. The car sounded rough to say the least. If I go for a Golf, I might have to get a Manual (or Standard as they call it here). Saw a very nice Rav4 at the Toyota dealership, but it was way too expensive (well more than I want to pay anyway). Went for a Test drive in a Toyota Corolla (to shut the salesman up more than anything), but was actually quite impressed. Unfortunately, it does have this 'old manny' stigma to it. However, it was solidly built, reliable and fuel efficient. I'm reluctant to buy new though - you lose so much after you drive it off the forecourt - a complete waste of money. They do have a pre-owned model coming in tomorrow or Monday, so we may go back for a look.
Last night I went to Toastmasters - an organisation that promotes confidence in public speaking. It's also good for learning to speak to people generally, it's good fun and educational. After the meeting we went for a drink downtown and I ended up chatting to someone about Mountain Biking. I'm really missing not cycling to work and itching to get back out on my bike in the spring. He said he'd introduce me to some of the trails around Halifax which sounds pretty good.

We went into the bank this morning to sort out a savings plan for Matthew & Emma. They do a great scheme here, where if you save for your childs post-secondary education, the government will make a contribution. This is basically 20% of the amount you save per year, up to an annual total of $400. So for a deposit of $2000, the government will give us an additional $400 and it's all invested in a Mutual Fund. What's more they will back date it and allow us to claim the 2005 amount as we were resident in that year (albeit only 3 weeks). Free money!

As far as the weather goes, it was -11 last night, but getting milder over the weekend again. We are due some heavier snow Tuesday and Wednesday which will be great for the children because the Cub leader said if there was enough snow, they'd cancel Cubs on Wednesday night and go Toboganning instead!! However, we're due to help out at the Cub Camp next weekend so we'd rather it wasn't too cold...or too wet! Really can't wait. Although this camp is quite close to home, it does lack certain amenities such as running water.

Still no confirmation of the Job Offer, but then it's early days and we know what HR departments are like! Fingers crossed I get something next week. I'll post again at the end of the weekend.

Feel free to leave your comments!

Graeme

Yes we have snow...

Well I say snow, it's only about 8cm deep, but it looks good! Got woken at 6.45 this morning by the snowplough on our drive. That will be another load of gravel on the lawn then....Gonna have to get a tarmac drive...
Despite the snow though, it's really mild. Hovering just above freezing and the snow is already melting off the house.
As you may be aware, it was election day in Canada yesterday. The conservatives got in by a small majority, which means we'll probably have another election in the not too distant future. A friend of ours was standing as our local Liberal candidate, but the current MP got re-elected by quite a margin, so nothing changes.
The Conservatives are very West Coast based, so it probably isn't a great result for the Maritimes. However, we'll see. As you know we aren't allowed to vote until we become Canadian Citizens. It gives us three years to get up to speed on the various parties.
We're still allowed to vote in the UK though. However we have to get our forms signed by a British Citizen and current Passport holder over here. We might sort that out...
Well Deborah is off for Coffee with the Newcomers group. A group of women who are new to the area and all get together to swap experiences. Helps new folks settle in - an excellent idea! It also helps with making contacts and networking which is how business gets done over here! It will help with Deborah's Purple Tree business. (I've put a link on the right....)
While she's swilling coffee, I'll be off looking at cars.....I love being off work!!
Graeme

The snow always falls on the gainfully employed...

Well it's a bit colder today - minus 7c whilst driving Deborah and the children to school. Must have warmed up since then tough as the snow has now started to fall. It's very light, and unless it gets heavier, I can't see it lasting long. The forecast is for 5-10cm but we'll see.
Anyway, got a call this morning from the ILS Director at IMP. He was asking for copies of the certificates for all the courses I'd claimed I'd attended on my resume (CV). Luckily I didn't lie and had most of them to hand. He also told me that he'd sent the 'instruction to hire' to HR with a start date of 1st Feb. So, Terms and Conditions aside, it would look like I have a job! Yee hah!
We probably need to look at a second car now. Had a quick look this lunchtime at some dodgy car dealers in Sackville. Seems a reasonable range, but don't know what I'm looking for. Quite fancy an SUV such as a Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav4. What I'd really like is a Ford Escape, but they are too pricey. Need something cheap (ish), reliable and economical. Probably end up with something Japanese as they are the only ones that don't insist on sticking a 3 litre V6 in everything. We'll see. As long as it's not boring or mundane(Toyota Corolla/Echo) or a woman's car (VW beetle/PT Cruiser) I don't really mind.
Deborah was helping out at the school this morning. It's fine arts week and local artists are coming in to teach art and more specifically, introduce the children to Canadian artists.
Anyway it looks like I only have a couple of weeks to finish all the little jobs around the house before I have to succumb to the grindstone that is employment.

New Sleds for Matthew & Emma's first White Christmas

The house after the first snowstorm

The Backyard after the first snow storm...

Our first 6 weeks...

Well it's 6pm on Saturday evening and just been reflecting on our first 6 weeks in Canada. Thought I might as well put 'pen to paper' as they say and start a blog....

For those of you who are not aware of goings on so far, I'll give you a quick review.

Arrived in Halifax on Wednesday 7 December 2005. Picked up our Hire Car and stayed the first night in The Inn on the Lake in Fall River. Didn't sleep much because of the time difference and the realisation that we'd finally made it! So we were first down to Breakfast, then packed the car and set off for the house as we had a 9am walk through to make sure everything was as expected. This took longer than anticipated as Deborah hadn't even seen the house, so it was her first viewing!

Anyway, that went fine, we met the Realtor (Annette Murphy) and also our new neighbours who are great. Then it was off to the Lawyers office to sign all the paperwork. Once that was done, it was over the road to the bank to collect a bankers draft for the downpayment on the house, back to the Lawyer who presented us with the keys to the house. It was ours! By this time a call had come in from Allied about our belongings. He said that if we got the paperwork down to the Customs Offices and over to his office by early afternoon, he could have our things delivered the following day. Mad dash across to Dartmouth to get the paperwork, then back downtown Halifax to the Customs Offices. They kindly faxed the papers over to Allied and that was all we could do except wait. In the meantime, we went along to Bayers Lake to look at Appliances and then it was along to Halifax Chrysler to buy a car.

We decided to stay the night in the house despite having no furniture, and borrowed sleeping bags, blow up mattresses etc from our new neighbours and our realtors. As we hadn't had a call back from Allied, we assumed delivery would not take place on Friday, but we'd be on the floor till the Monday. However, 9am Friday morning we were greeted by a huge Orange container reversing down the drive - it was here. By 1pm it was all in the house, all we had to do now was empty the boxes.

That afternoon, I went over to the Chrysler dealer to sign the paperwork for the car, and it was delivered that afternoon. Just as I was about to leave to the airport to return the hire car, Eastlink appeared to install our cable/telephone and internet and it had also started to snow....

Once eastlink had finished, I was back from the airport and we all set off for Bayers Lake again to actually buy the appliances. After a bit of a do with Credit cards, we bought all the major appliances from the shop floor as it meant they could be delivered the following Tuesday.

We then had a horrendous drive home in the first snowstorm of the season. Welcome to Canada!

Saturday 10th December

Matthew & Emma had a ball today. Spent most of the day outside sledding and generally mucking about in the snow! They get on really well with the kids nextdoor and opposite.

Monday12th December

Matthew and Emma start school - Grade 3 - Mrs Wilton. Seem to be enjoying it...We dropped them off today.

Wednesday 14th December

Matthew & Emma get the bus for the first time. All goes t plan - we have to leave the house at 7.55am to walk to the bus stop. They get the bus back at 2.30 which drops them off at around 2.40pm. They then walk home on their own.

Friday 16th December

Deborah's dad arrived via Newark. Late obviously...He loves the house - can't believe how big it is.

Friday 23rd December

Attended an Open House at Bill & Mar-Beth Fleming's house. They used to live next door. but have built a new house up the hill a bit - only a 5 minute walk....Mary-Beth is an OT! Bill is the local Liberal candidate for the election on the 23rd Jan - we can't vote as we aren't citizens...

Sunday 25th December

A white Christmas!! Made it a very special day as M&E had got sleds and spent the morning out on them!

Monday 26th December

Graeme's Birthday - obviously an important day! Oh and Deborah's dad left today as well to go to Australia.

Wednesday 28th December

Attended an Open House at our Realtors house - very nice and it was 'catered' by Chef Geoff. Excellent food. Met some nice people as well!

Friday 30th December

Our Open House/House Warming. Went very well, most of the neighbours came as well as a few Brits we'd met in the days since we arrived

New Year passed off a very subdued affair - we'll probably have to do something next year.

2nd January 2006

Matthew & Emma back to school

Friday 13th (unlucky for some...)

But not for me - I get a call from the ILS Director at IMP aerospace asking me to come in for an informal chat. Basically they are looking at putting together a team to provide Logistics Support Analysis for the CP-140 Aurora aircraft. After a successful chat, he invites me back for an informal interview on the 20th. In the meantime, he gives me a big training manual and a list of things I should brush up on prior to the interview.

Incidentally we now have NO snow - it's all long gone with no hint of it returning. All the lakes are still unfrozen and even Martock is putting down artificial snow on it's runs.

Tuesday 17th January

I took my driving test today and passed. Just, but a pass is a pass....$63 later and I have an Nova Scotia drivers license.

Wednesday 18th January

Deborah took her diving test and also passed. Another $63 and another Nova Scotia drivers license!

Friday 20th January

Interview day....scary....But it didn't go too badly. I did get a little confused at one point, but I didn't quite understand the question. The interviewer was from Chile if that makes any difference....However, at the end he congratulated me and invited me back for another interview with the Vice President (Engineering). I think that went well, but as it happens I was phoned later that day to be told I had passed and that it just needed approval by the other VP before a Job Offer was sent out. Sio hopefully I have a job. However, I won't count the chickens until the letter arrives! Regardless, we decided to go out and celebrate and took a family trip to East Side Mario's at Bayers Lake, followed by the monthly shop in Costco. We know how to live....

Saturday 21 January

A gorgeous day. Had a lie-in, did some tidying in the garden and garage, washed the car, generally chilled out. Kids played out most of the day. Started writing my blog....