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....