That was Christmas!

Well that was Christmas. All that build up and it's over. Perhaps now the radio stations will get back to normal and stop playing bloody Christmas tunes.

I hope you all enjoyed you day. Christmas Eve started full on here for me. I worked in the morning till noon, well I say worked, but not much work was happening. We ordered Chinese which was nice and we all got given gift vouchers which was unexpected.

After work, Rebecca came back to my place as she wanted me to take some photos of her to give to her mum and dad for Christmas. I don't normally take portraits, but I thought I would give it a go and I was pretty pleased with the results. Helped largely by the fact she has a very pretty and photogenic face.

At 5.30 pm Rob and I were due round Caroline and Ted's for a pot luck nibbles evening. Caroline was a customer who came into for some copying, we got chatting, she is from Montreal and has recently moved here. She came back the next day and invited Rob and I round for dinner one night as she doesn't know many people here and said she enjoyed chatting with me. To be honest I really wasn't sure if we would get on as I think we are very different types of people. Anyway, Rob and I really enjoyed the evening with them. They had another couple of friends round, called Gerald and Suzanne and the conversation was lively and interesting.

Christmas morning I was so tired I didn't even wake up until 12.30 pm. We headed over to Deb's place at around 1.15pm. Spent the day with Deb, Kevin, Liam and Doreen (Doreen is Debs mum), Lovely house, gorgeous food and great company. We ended up watching a film so we didn't get back until around 11 pm.

Today I have a ton of stuff to do, all of which involve chores of one sort or another. This evening we have been invited round next door for nibbles and drink. and then I hope to get over to Nancy's on Monday.

I don't think I have ever been this busy at Christmas before!!

In other news I did sell the licences to those images and I got paid this week for them. They also phoned me and want to buy more in due course as well as maybe use my design skills, the owner is coming to Halifax for a trade show in February so I will meet up with him then. So this is very good news.

Also I am pleased to tell you that Rob passed his theory Gas exam. This is of course the first of many he has to do, but it's a good start. Rob received a small cheque from Metro Burners as a Christmas gift as well as some vouchers. From Uhaul he got a turkey, which we have yet to cook!

For my amusement please find another video below, this time featuring Dad and Marjorie.

Two of my favourite shots of Rebecca

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Ho Ho Ho!!!

I just found this hilarious site where you can make videos and put in the faces of friends and family...Sorry Pam, Kim, Sylvie and Sarah, but I just couldn't resist! Enjoy! (Loading time is long so be patient!) The funny thing is Kim actually dances like this! To replay refresh the page.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Tis the Season!

Another full on week has come and gone and there's plenty to talk about.

Firstly it snowed this week, not that much, maybe about 4 cm. I must say as much as I don't like getting about in it, it did look pretty. (the image featured at the top here was taken just outside of where I work on Friday). It has been sunny ever since, so most of it has melted away now. I am sure that we will get some more though. The temperatures are still pretty mild compared to the UK, at some points this week out temperature here was warmer than Florida...Go figure?! I have been told though that January is always worse, the wind chill is pretty bad, so that's to look forward to...NOT!

Exciting news this week, a company from Quebec contacted me via my Red Bubble website, they want to licence some of my images (yes that means they are going to pay me). They are a small company that make postcards, place mats and framables. They are most interested in my Alberta and Maritimes images. So fingers crossed I may make a few dollars!

On the social side of things I have been so busy this week. It was the camera club party on Wednesday, which was fun - food, quiz, prices and presents. Friday night was my work do. Rob was going to come but as he had an exam on Saturday he decided to give it a miss. We all went straight from work to the Victory Arms (which is a bar in a swanky hotel on Spring Garden Road). We had some free drinks and some patters of food, the drinks went straight to my head (as well as a few others). It was great fun.

Finally last night Rob and I went round to the neighbours...Who I now know the names of (Jeanette and Rachel) :o) It was lovely evening, a very nice group of people and as one of the hosts is a chef, the food was amazing! On the way round to theirs one of the deer was out in front on the house, so I fed it a carrot! I know I keep mentioning those deer, but seriously it is the coolest thing to come out of your house and an see them there, they are just so adorable.

As far as TV goes, I haven't watched much this week what with going out so much. I did catch up with the Sing-Off again though, and unfortunately one of my favourites 'On the Rocks' got booted. Very unfair in my opinion. Street Corner Symphony are still in for the final next week, but I am not sure they will win...They should, but who knows how the public will vote.

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!!!

Some of my abandoned series taken last weekend

Very overgrown, there was a porcupine in a tree here!

Looks like kids have has some fun knocking out the glass!

Hmmm, this was the rowdy end of the table on Friday night!

They may be out, but I don't think we've heard the last of these guys!
This is the video that made them a massive viral hit before going on
the Sing Off.

GaGa never sounded so good!

Straight in today, no messing or pre-amable (now that's a first!)
I am going to start off with TV, I have a new talent show to get excited about over here and unlike the X Factor, these folks have real talent. The programme is called 'The Sing-Off' (yes I know the title does lack imagination). Putting that aside, it's a talent show with a difference, all these groups do everything acapella, no music, just their voices. Incredible to watch. The other great thing about this show is they eliminate 2 groups every show, that makes it a pretty short series. The judges make the decision and I am guessing that the public may have the deciding vote when it comes down to the final. I have embedded my two favourite groups from the show here, so take a look and see what you think (poor sound quality so crank up the volume). The USA version of The Apprentice finished this week, what a great series it's been, and finally Mr Trump picked a woman...'Bout time too if you ask me. Brandy was a worthy winner! I have also been enjoying week long dramatic Corrie, they really pulled out all the stops for the 50th anniversary didn't they?...Just cannot believe they pretty much demolished half the street and blew all their story lines for Christmas.





Outside of TV land, this week has been pretty much full on. The deer have been around the front of the house almost daily. I came home from work on Wednesday to find one outside the front door, I ended up feeding it apples!

I Finally got the Christmas tree out and decorated it after spending a good while agonizing on where I was going to put the damn thing.

Thursday night after work I went to the open evening of our other branch in Dartmouth (they have just moved to a new swanky location) and I got to meet some of the many people I talk to on the phone every day.

Friday night, Rob and I went to the UHaul Christmas party/dinner thing, it was nice to put some names to faces at last. It was a pretty brief, but lively dinner with everyone sloping off pretty early or moving on to another bar. I had to get back and get some zzz's as I was up with the lark today out shooting with some of the photo club. We met at 8 am this morning and headed north-ish, to capture some abandoned houses. Weather wise it was beautifully sunny and no wind, just a little chilly; there was a dusting of snow on the ground and some of the water and smaller lakes have now started to freeze. Back home here in Dartmouth we had a sprinkling of snow yesterday but it soon melted away at the temperature was up to around 5 degrees today and we had a little rain in between.

Big thank you to everyone that has set cards and some of you who have sent gifts...Which I said you shouldn't do!!!! They are under the tree and un-opened you will be pleased to know.


A touch of winter just outside of Antigonish


Our resident deer paying a visit


UHaul girls left: Aleisha, right: Jen

Social Butterflies

I cannot believe that Sunday has rolled round again so quickly! I have been reading about the big freeze in the UK and how unsurprised I was to hear of the chaos it has caused on the roads and at the airports. Honestly after the weather we had last year you would think the powers that be would plan ahead a little better...But no! On the flip side of things over here the weather has been extremely mild, sunny most of the week, with very little wind and a balmy 8 degrees. Now don't for a second think I am getting complacent about this, let's not forget I have a pair of ice traction slip-ons, and I fully expect to have to use them at some point, although when right now, is not clear!

I would like to send belated to birthday wishes to my dear friend Paula, and my Godson Joshua this week. I hope you both enjoyed your days! I would also like to say how much I enjoyed 'I'm a Celeb' and despite me wanting Shaun to win, I was very pleased that Stacey won. I reckon this series has to have been one of the best ever, largely due to Dom, Jenny, Shaun and Stacey. Oh and just for those of you who are still wondering, I have not been watching the X Factor, I washed my hands of it after the last series, I just hope it gets dropped soon and we can finally see less of Simon Cowell!!!! (Sorry Kim, I know you like him!)

A couple of interesting things happened this week. I finally got to meet one of my long time flickr friends Ken. Ken and I have corresponded via flickr for 2 and half years, and as luck would have it, his work brought him to Halifax for a couple of days this week. Even more lucky was the fact that his wife Joyce was also in town attending a training course, as their time here overlapped Rob and I were able to meet up with both of them for dinner on Tuesday night. We decided to take them to The Economy Shoe Shop...Which to their surprise wasn't a shoe shop, but a restaurant and bar. We enjoyed great food and excellent conversation. Thank you Ken for the meal! I cannot wait for a return visit, hopefully when the evenings are lighter and we can go out and take some photos!

Our Friend Deb from the Camera Club has invited Rob and I round for Christmas at her place, and in the absence of any family here to share the day with it's a lovely invitation that we are very much looking forward to taking her up on.

Also yesterday a card was hand delivered inviting us to a drinks and nibbles evening at number 372...the card said we met you on Halloween with Gord and Christine (our next door neighbours), well....I had to rack my brains as lord knows I talked with and met so many people that evening with all the comings and goings. Anyway it turns out 372 is next door but one. I couldn't quite read the names on the card, which was a complete bummer, as I had to ring with an RSVP, so I had to wing it on the phone, and use no names...She must have thought me a little strange, but the up shot is we shall be attending.

December is turning out to be a very social month, next weekend is the UHaul Christmas party, the following week, is the camera club do, and then we have the neighbours soiree, I think that my work will be having one as well, but they are a little late in the organising.

Good times with Ken and Joyce (shame about Rob's jumper!)

And now for some more scenic randomness...

Stepping back in time at Memory Lane

That beautiful boathouse on Waverly Road

A foggy fishing day at Terence Bay

Hockey & Chinese

Another week has shot past, and the weather, thankfully has been pretty kind to us here, cold yes, but sunny in part too and no snow....Well there was some actually but it was half an hour away from where we are, so that was okay! I think in actual fact the UK has it colder with more snow than we do right now, but I am sure that will all change!

Not too much to report this week, the company I work for has been bought out and there is a bit of a re-shuffle going on at the top, our manager is now not our manager anymore and the chap that used to be manager in the branch, is now manager again. In the long term I have no idea how this take over will affect things, I guess only time will tell, but we are now a cog in a slightly bigger machine than we were before.

I know that most of you have now received your Christmas cards from me! I was early, but the girl in the post office told me such horror stories about the length of time the post took at this time of year I felt I should post everything as soon as possible. If you haven't had a card from me yet, it's either lost in the post, or I have sent it to someone else to give to you!

Apart from work we have done nothing this week apart from going out last night. We headed out with Tom and Marg to watch the Dalhousie Tigers play again. OMG, what a great game it was too, very fast paced and exciting, They were up against one of the top teams UNB and personally I thought there was no way they were going to win, but they played so well defensively. UNB dominated the game in terms of attempts on goal, but the wall of defence put up by Dal really was formidable and as much as UNB tried they could get past it, meanwhile the UNB goalie had very little action, which meant that when Dal did get the puck down UNB end, they caught him off guard, and scored. The final tally was Dal 6 UNB 3. Dal Tigers are now officially my faves!

After the hockey we headed out for a Chinese...I have been itching for Chinese food for the last couple of weeks and The Great Wall restaurant, did not disappoint, it was a great night and we will definitely be going back there again!

On the UK side of things I am glued to I'm a Celeb and enjoying every minute of it. Shaun to win! Gillian Mackeith, needs a good kick up the backside though.

Marg, Tom and Rob, at the game

And now some random shots...

Matching Reds, taken at Blue a couple of weeks ago

Falling Down, a lovely old barn taken near Maitland in the Summer

Giving off Sparks

Well hello again, It's Sunday so it must be time for an update. I don't have to much news to report, but I guess the big story is the change in weather. Yesterday it snowed! But in all fairness it was an anti-climax, just a few flurries where we are and nothing settled, but the temperature really dropped down, I think it was -7 last night and it's been about -3 all day today, of course the wind chill makes it feel a whole lot colder. Even though it was cold, today was beautifully sunny again, not a cloud in the sky. I got to wear my new coat which my dad bought for me when he was over visiting. Thanks dad!!

I have a couple of observations this week, firstly I had no idea how the temperature would affect my clothing and the amount of static generated, in the last week I have noticed I am practically giving off sparks when I remove my cardigan. I literally have to wrestle it off my body. I have checked with a few people and apparently this is really common. I have a few tips to try out to reduce it and I plan to get some anti-static spray. Secondly my skin is really suffering, I am starting to flake across my nose and cheeks, so I definitely need to invest in some thick old cold cream to keep me from drying out altogether. Rob bought me a pair of ice traction slip on's yesterday in preparation for the weather ahead and to hopefully prevent me from falling on my arse!

This weekend was the Sackville Photography Club Fall Show in Sackville Library, Rob and I went along today to check it out, they did a good job and most members that submitted got 2 or three prints up and 5 images per member in the slide show on display. Rob and I finally got to meet up with another of my flickr contacts, Shaun. He and his wife Suzanne are from New Minas, and up until now we haven't managed to meet up, so it was great to see both of them, Nancy, Darrel and Dave were also in attendance today and of course we headed for Tim Horton's after the show.

The Fall Show at Sackville Library

Freedom 55, one of two images I had on display this weekend...

...Autumn on the Parkway was the other one

Gearing up for Winter!

Bank Holiday Thursday!

So another week has come and gone. I cannot believe we are coming up to 6 months already. It seems so weird thinking back and how much we have accomplished in the last few months. I mean who would have thought I would have passed that damn driving test and be commuting to work in a city?! My advise to anyone thinking of doing this kind of thing is just to keep going, the minute you pause to catch your breath you start to think all those thoughts like 'am I doing the right thing?' And that can seriously distract you from achieving your goals and moving forward, no matter how hard the journey may be sometimes.

Thursday was a bank holiday. Over here they celebrate Remembrance Day here on the 11th and regardless of whether it's a Thursday or not it's a day off...Quite odd having a Bank Holiday on anything other than a Monday or a Friday as you slip into weekend mind set and it's very hard to get up for work on Friday!

Nancy, Rob and I spent the day out around the Peggy's Cove Loop, The weather was beautifully blue but pretty windy along the coast. We discovered a new spot called Paddy's Head Road. Such a pretty place, a community of 9 houses on a Island, that is attached to the mainland by a small causeway and a bridge. We were hanging around there for ages, when one of the residents (Peggy) came to collect her post. We got chatting and found out that her husband (Brian) is a semi famous artist with a studio in Toronto and she kindly invited us in to her beautiful home and the studio to view the work...Amazing paintings, mostly musically inspired, with jazz musicians being the focus of many. Great house with an ocean view from pretty much every window. Needless to say this place is now on my wish list of places to live.

After leaving there we ambled along to Peggy's, stopping on the way at every blade of grass for photos, finally at Peggy's we had something to eat in the restaurant and watched the sunset.

Rob was working Saturday, so I caught up on some chores. The weather was unbelievably mild yesterday, sunny again with a high of 13 and no wind. It was very summery. Today was colder, sunny once more but around 7 degrees. We headed out to a hiking path near Peggy's (which is what I wanted to find on Thursday, but we ran out of time). The little trail takes you along to a gorgeous view of a group of islands, one of which is called Indian Island, rugged and very beautiful!

Solitude at Peggy's

The view looking out towards Indian Island


Hackett's Cove, one of the many stops on Thursday


Autumn Boat House on Waverley Road

Go Tigers!

An early update this week, Saturday instead of Sunday...That'll be because it has been rubbish weather! Yesterday we had gale force winds again, and today although the wind has stopped it has been raining all day, it's all due to a weather system coming up from New England. The good news is even though it's raining it is very mild. This afternoon I went to investigate a few shopping places I had not yet been to. One in particular is the Mic Mac Mall which is very near to us. From the outside it doesn't look as if there is much there, but once inside it was brimming with good stuff! Excellent food hall too!

Friday night we had a last minute invite to attend a hockey game, something that Rob and I have wanted to do for a while. Darrel picked us up and we went to Dalhousie University to watch The Dalhousie Tigers play St Thomas Tommies (from New Brunswick). It was fast paced and exciting, The Tommies took the lead and entering the last period they were 4 -2 up. But it all changed, and Dalhousie caught up and evened the score just a minute before end of play, they went on to clinch the win just one minute before the end of extra time. Hats off to them as I didn't think they would come back from being 2 down let alone win it.

Not much else to report this week. We had our winter tires put on the car in prep for all the snow I am sure we will get. Hamish had a five minute venture outside on his lead, quite exciting for him. I was surprised he wanted to even go out, but he showed a bit of interest, I had to drag him back in though as two other cats were wandering round...Typical as I haven't seen a single cat in ages (not since Darrel) and then all of a sudden I take mine out and two come along, one black one ginger. Both ran off before I could make friends with them....damn it!

UHaul are having a Christmas party some time at the end of November or early December, so Rob and I are going to that, sounds like fun, it consists of a meal first then Pool at Dooleys, my kind of night. Dooleys is a chain of pool halls around here, just in case you were wondering :o)

The clocks go back here tonight, so that's to look forward to...NOT...Getting up in the dark is standard now, but coming home in the dark, hmmm, not nice! Roll on Spring I say!

I think there's a puck in there somewhere!

I think this look says 'Come and have a go at goal if you

think your hard enough!'

Getting ready for when the Ref drops that puck,

that's about the same time I take 160 pictures out of focus!

Fancy Dress

As I was away from work last week I missed their annual dress up. Not everyone participates but those who do like to get a group shot, so here are a few of my work colleagues all dressed up, although I am not rightly sure what some of these outfits have to do with Halloween, none the less it made me laugh. Especially Shaun and his Mexican Hat.

From Left to Right: Shaun, Arthur, Rebecca, Marcel, Loan, Ursula & Wayne

Happy Halloween

The trick or treaters have long gone now, they started coming by at 5 pm and then came thick and fast until about 7.30 pm, we just about had enough candy, which means that Chris next door was spot on, there must have been around 150 kids, all dressed up and some looking quite cute!

Rob and I dressed up a little, me with just a witches hat, but as you can see, I made Rob buy a scream mask, coupled with an old black dust cloth he managed to scare a few of the kiddies...lol

It was so funny watching some of their faces, mesmerised by him has they got their candy and then stepped away all the while fixated on him. One said "Why has he got his mouth open so far?" As quickly as the excitement came, it went! Good fun all round. I have never seen so many people on the estate, usually you are lucky if you spot one person walking about.

Now we may not have gone to town on decorating the outside of our place like some of the neighbours, but we received a lot of compliments on our pumpkin, which was (IMO) the best looking pumpkin around!

Our beautifully spooky Pumpkin!

And here's a creepy old place I spotted the other day whilst out

with dad and Marjorie

England Calling

I'm back! It feels ages since I have done an update. Well as you know we have had my dad and Marjorie visiting for the past week. I was so happy to see them, it was a real novelty having visitors. I think they were expecting a slightly more relaxing week than they got, Rob and I kept them busy.

They brought over a bunch of swag for me, Hairspray, Marmite, Cigarettes amongst other things which was much appreciated. We kicked off the week with a trip on the Harbour Hopper around Halifax, the hopper is one of the bus/boat things that does land and water. My god it was freezing that day, it just about finished us off we were so cold by the time we got off.

On Saturday we took them on a trip to Windsor to the pumpkin farm, since Rob and I were there last time they had changed their displays, I don't think this place will ever lose it's magic for me. We bought a load more jam and marmalade, then headed for Kentville to see the pumpkin people and took a drive through beautiful Wolfville. Saturday evening we headed down to Wharf Wraps for fish and chips and to meet up with some of our friends. They got to meet Darrel, Nancy and Wayne and Tom and Marg. It was a lovely meal and a fun evening. Just wish it could have gone on longer.

Sunday was the only decent weather day of the visit. The sun finally shone and there was only one place to head on a sunny day...Of course, South Shore and all my favourite places, Blue, Rocks, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Chester Prospect and Peggy's Cove. The scenery was as always beautiful and the Autumn colours were out in full force, enhanced by the sunshine the foliage looked amazing.

It all gets a bit hazy after Sunday, we showed them around pretty much every part of Halifax and Dartmouth, including every house I want to live in! We took a trip up to Walton Lighthouse, but again the weather wasn't up to much so sightseeing was a bit lack lustre.

On Tuesday we took a trip in the morning to Sackville as I had a prior engagement at the Credit Union. Remember that calendar contest I won...I had to go and have my photo taken with the calendar and being presented the cheque...So that nice...if not a little embarrassing! It was actually a different shot than the one I previously published that made the cover.

On Wednesday night we had our neighbours round for drinks, Gord and dad hit it off instantly, and definitely found some common ground on politics! Chris and Marjorie also hit it off and share a love of small dogs!

I am also happy to report that the deer put in a couple of appearances on the estate for our visitors, they came by a couple of times, 3 young ones came wandering across the front of our house...They are just so cute.

Before they left on Thursday we went down to the harbour front again so dad could try his first BeaverTail. (Bit of market research actually). BeaverTails are like crispy fritters, with a variety of toppings on them, like cinnamon and apple, or maple cream etc. They were a big hit, so who knows you may see them on a donut van near you in the near future! Then all too soon it was time for them to leave. We said goodbye to them at round 6.30 pm Thursday evening at the airport and I can honestly say I hated it. I knew it would be hard seeing them go! Looking forward to seeing them back again soon. And the rest of you reading this!

Just want to say big thanks to Lisa and Eunice for your phone calls and Eunice I am so sorry I didn't get to speak to you, I thought dad was going to hand the phone back to me when you had finished chatting, but alas this was not the case.

So life returned to normal on Friday, The house seems quiet and empty. I had the day off so headed for the car lot. Not much going on there, so headed home to do some housework. Big weekend this weekend, Halloween fever has set in big time. Our neighbours and others on the estate have 'full on', extreme displays outside their homes, including, figures and crime scene tape. We have a door banner and a little skeleton thing outside the door. We carved out our huge pumpkin. Chris said we should expect about 160 kids to come calling....YES 160!!! They come early though and it's all over by 9 pm. Will keep you posted on this!

Beautiful Lunenburg


Arcadia University, Wolfville


Autumn Colours at Stonehurst Cove


Martins River


Pumpkin People, Kentville


Left: Me being presented with cheque at the Cedit Union
Right: Dad and Marjorie at the Pumpkin Farm

Rain Stopped Play!

Wow, that's another week done and dusted. It certainly went by fast. Work was good, still learning loads, my brain aches most days from the amount of information going in. I make dumb ass mistakes which make me giggle at my stupidity! I just hope it all sinks in sooner rather than later. Vickie and I have had some fun this week, just chatting and getting to know more about the people there. She has a little draw every Friday (just cause it's Friday) and sells tickets to everyone in the place, I bought one and guess what...I won £40!

On the subject of money (not our favourite subject right now), a light came on on the dash this weekend. We didn't know why or what it was, so took it to Fairely Stevens, and got them to do the diagnostic thing on it. Turns out it's some cylinder that sits on top of the fuel tank that controls the flow of air and fuel that needs replacing. They have to get the part from the USA (no clue why as I thought Fords were pretty damn common) anyway including labour the bill is going to be nearly $700...That's $700 we really don't have right now!

Leaving that crappy news behind, we haven't really done much this weekend. The weather had been quite nice all week, sunny, with frosty mornings, but Friday, we had gusting winds of around 70km per hour and rain like you wouldn't believe. A ten minute drive took nearly 40 minutes to get home on Friday evening. Saturday the wind dropped but it has been pretty much grey and miserable since then, but we did manage to get out yesterday afternoon as the sun briefly made an appearance, the fall colours seem to have appeared almost overnight and the local parks and lakes look so pretty.

This week will be a short week for me as I am only working Mon-Thursday (half day) as dad and Marjorie arrive around tea time. I am so looking forward to showing them around and fingers crossed we get some better weather for their arrival.

So with my visitors I am not sure when my next update will be but whenever it I do get round to it, it will be full of news no doubt!

Oh and can I just say on an unrelated issue, I am loving this years Strictly! Last year was so dissapointing it's great to see a decent cast this time around! Scott, Matt and Pamela would have to be my faves so far!


Charles Lake

Shubie Park


Mic Mac Lake

Thanksgiving...And more Pumpkins

Wow, what a busy week it's been. Wednesday I made the most of my last free day before starting my new job. I Spent the afternoon at the lake, it was a beautiful day and a lovely sunset! I started my new job on Thursday, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. My mentor and the lady I will be working most closely with is Vickie who just great, we hit it off straight away. I went head first into training and learned that I have loads to learn :o) I took a ton of notes and the day past so quickly. The role is pretty varied and involves taking work orders over the phone and the counter, arranging pick ups and deliveries, cash sales, general admin and a whole load of other stuff that I can't remember yet. The hardest part will be getting to know all the sizes, prices and services for each job. But I have to say I really enjoyed the first two days.

Saturday Rob was working and I headed into the city via bus, to go see Jonathan, Marcel and Arthur (I also work with Marcel) and the other WWII re-enactors at the Citadel. Now for those of you who haven't visited Halifax, it's pretty much all up hill from the waterfront to the Citadel, I am proud to say I made it up there...just! There was much puffing and panting, but I got there. I met the lads there and took a few photos had a chat and found out more about the events they do etc. I trundled back down the hill and got the bus home around 4.30 pm.

Rob and I headed out with our friends Tom and Marg at about 8 pm. They had not seen the band Signal Hill before and the Lower Deck was as usual packed. The band were great as always, they did quite a few songs I had not heard them do before. Tom and Marg really enjoyed seeing them and loved the music. We left there around 1 am and I think we finally got to bed around 2.30 am.

Today we were up and out again, we went to see the Pumpkin Paddling Regatta, there were so many people there, the wind was biting and I think the temperature with wind chill was around 5 degrees. I don't think my hands have ever felt so cold. The event was funny and I had to admire all who entered, they have to be crazy! There was only partial sinking and one lady fell out of hers. There were three heats, 2 man pumpkins, motorized pumpkins and solo paddlers.

After we had finished there we headed to Kentville, a little like the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival, Kentville hosts the Pumpkin People. As you enter the town there are all manner of pumpkin people along the roadside. I thought they were genius! All in all a very pumpkin day!

Tomorrow is a bank holiday as this weekend is Thanksgiving. As yet I have no plans accept to catch up on sleep. Rob is working! Which is quite unbelievable really, I mean who the heck is going to rent a UHaul van on Thanksgiving Monday? Plus he has never had to work any of the other bank holidays.

Rob had his results back for his exam this week and unfortunately he didn't pass. He didn't really expect to as I mentioned before as he had no 'on the job' experience. The paperwork did say though that he would be an asset to any company. He only failed on a couple of things and they recommended 3 months work experience.

The deer are starting to come round a little more now, got home the other day to see a baby one wandering around in front of the house, it trotted over to one of our neighbours front borders and started chewing one of the plants, which made me smile.

I have taken far too many photos this week, so instead of plopping them all in one after another I have made a widget instead, just click on the thumbnails to view larger and use the side arrows to move onto others.

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Job Front Update

Thought I would post a quick update on the job situation. Yesterday I met with the manager of The Printing House. I can tell you right off the bat that I wasn't keen.

There were many reasons for feeling this way and it's way too long winded to go into here, but I could absolutely tell that her way and her style of management is not something that I want to be a part of, at interviews they say first impressions count, well that works both ways and she didn't make a good impression on me. I am pretty much sure that any of you reading this, had you been there you would get why I am saying this.

And so this morning I headed off to Wade, I guess a part of me was expecting the same thing as yesterday, but not so, I was welcomed, and had a chat with Arthur and some of the others before having my interview upstairs with Hamet and Craig, it was upbeat, friendly and frank. I have no experience in some of the aspects of the job, but hope to learn, they liked the fact that I had loads of experience in different fields and can cross over into other areas of the operation.

I was offered the job and start there on Thursday. My hours are 8 am to 5 pm Mon-Fri, so that means a bit more money coming in. Exciting and nerve racking, but good.

Once again I have no clue if this will work out, if I will like it once I start, but it has given me a boost of confidence knowing that I can go out and get another job.

Scarecrows and Stuff

So from a quiet week last week to an eventful week this week.
First off, big news, I left Pete's on Tuesday. I really didn't like working there and it wasn't the job I was led to believe it was in the first place, it was very physically demanding and the environment, although okay wasn't really my cup of tea. Great news on the inventory front...I'm not there doing it today :o)

Since Tuesday I have been job hunting again, applied for loads, and oddly in a twist of fate, my friend Arthur said his place is looking for someone. I think I may have mentioned he works for a print firm (called Wade Atlantic). The job, as far as I know would be mainly front desk stuff, with the possibility of design work. At the same time I had a call back from another print place called The Printing House, very similar role and some design work. I have a meeting at both places on Monday and Tuesday. At this stage I am leaning towards Wade, simply because I know Arthur already. Rob, myself and him went out on Friday night for drinks and had such a good time. He is very pragmatic about the job and says, see if I like it and do it until I get something better. So I know if I get it, leaving and moving on from there wouldn't be a problem as far as our friendship goes.

The weather was breezy on Friday night, but it was like a warm tropical breeze, loads of people were out in the city and drinking outside on decks as it was so mild. It felt quite strange considering it is October. Saturday was breezy again, a little on the grey side but again, mild.

Today was just beautiful weather-wise, blue skies and sunny all day. Rob and I went to the Scarecrow Festival in Mahone Bay, there were all manner of scarecrows, a classic car show and a market. The place was packed. We then popped round to see our friend Phyllis at the B&B and sat chatting with her for a while in her beautiful garden before heading home.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to my friend Sarah this week!! Have a great one!

Alice in Wonderland...By far my favourite display!


And a bit more of Alice, with the cat in the back!


Definitely posing!


Slightly more traditional?


Carved pumpkins sold off for charity


Rednecks :o)


Oh...and some right royal scarecrows!