A Night Out and an Eventful Day

So last night we went out to see the band Signal Hill. It was a late one! The Lower Deck where they were playing was packed to the gills. Robert and I met two lovely ladies visiting from Alberta, Brenda and Linda, they weren't aware there was entertainment until I told them and they stayed for the band and I am pretty sure they loved them as much as I did! It was a great night, the atmosphere was excellent, so noisy though, I was left with a ringing in my ears afterwards.

Taken amongst the Historic Properties on the waterfront
around 8pm last night


Signal Hill and a bunch of heads...Not the best picture I know!

Today we headed back to the Ford Dealership to let them know that we want the car. We should finalise the purchase tomorrow. Whilst we were there last time we asked if there was any chance of a job for me taking photos of the cars in the lot and Corey our extremely helpful and kind salesman, said he would have a word with the boss. Today I met with the boss Dan and I start there next Monday doing a few hours a week, not sure how many yet, maybe two or three days possibly. I have no clue what they will pay me, I think it's a 'play it by ear' thing, but one thing's for sure, they all seem really nice in there and the dealership is literally a stones throw from our place.

We spent the rest of the day getting our health cards and trying to find a doctor to register with. No luck as yet on the doctor front. We did however manage to get a vet for Hamish.

Finally we did our first big shop and got some food in. We actually had a healthy meal for the first time in days!

Cable TV...Oh Yes!

I'm back blogging, that can only mean one thing...The Cable Guy came today and how happy am I?!! I have movies and channels coming out the ying yang, not to mention broadband and finally a land line phone to call our own.

It's been a busy couple of days, mostly filled with shopping and more shopping. We added a couple of lamps, a TV stand a printer and some plants to our inventory.

This morning I dug out a border at the front of the house, and added the plants for a splash of colour, prior to my landscaping efforts there was just a patch of weeds, so it's definitely an improvement. As mentioned before in my previous post, the back yard will take more time and more cash, so it will have to wait for the time being. Robert has been busy assembling some rather cheap and dodgy drawers we bought from Walmart and everything else we have bought in kit form!

We also found car we like. It was actually the first one we looked at and is in a garage just down the road from us. It's a silver Ford Focus (2 door hatch back, 2 litre, 2005 model, low mileage). It is in our price bracket (cheapish) and we are hoping to do a deal on it on Monday, which means we won't have to extend the time on the hire car. I personally like it as it is smaller compared to some of the other larger cars which seem to be the norm around here.

Tomorrow night we are off out to see a local band called Signal Hill who we saw last year with friends, looking forward to a few hours off organising stuff!

Big thank you to Eunice and Lisa for your cards, it was our first official mail!!

Hamish has Arrived!!!

An eventful day all round today. We were up with the lark and off shopping again! Canadian Tire was a revelation...Here's me thinking they sold only tires! We bought loads of goodies, including, a microwave, iron, shower curtain, hangers, glasses, crockery and so the list goes on! After our second trip (yes we filled up the car twice over), we then headed for Best Buy and the most important purchases of the day...Two TVs, we bought a 32 inch Panasonic for the living room and a 22 inch Samsung for the bedroom. (Just in case any of you reading are not aware, I am a complete telly addict, sad but true).

After the giant spend up we headed straight for the airport to pick up our boy Hamish. The waiting time was minimal, just a bit of faffing around with the paperwork and then there he was talking away in his travel box. We got him back to the motel and let him out, his neck seemed to double in length as he completed what seemed like 25 laps of the room, investigating every nook and cranny. Then happy and tired he fell asleep. Since then he has been keeping an eye on us to make sure we don't stray too far from him. It is simply fantastic to have him back!

We have an early start tomorrow as we move into the rental house, and have to wait for the electricity company to come round between 8 am and 4 pm. We will have no Internet now until the cable guy has been on Saturday, so this will be my last post until then.

...And relax, flying really takes it out of you!

Just not enough hours in the Day!

Just a quick update today, as time is getting on and I need to get some sleep if I am to start all over again tomorrow at the crack of dawn!

Rob and I signed our rental lease today and got the keys to our place. It is as I expected, pretty grim on the outside but actually really nice on the inside, it comes complete with new cooker, new washer, new dryer, new fridge freezer, all freshly painted on 3 levels with freshly sanded and varnished hardwood floors throughout. The only thing I would say is somewhat impractical is the bathroom and the tiny size of it. The back yard, will have to be a special project, in dire need of anything.

The lease signing took forever to get done and held us up on our schedule for shopping, however we did manage to buy a brand new and extremely expensive bed and bedding, which are now safely in the house. We also managed to buy a toaster and kettle plus a couple of cheap chairs to tide us over till our stuff arrives. We have a whole load of shopping to do in the morning...TV's are on the list! Plus we have to pick our boy Hamish up from the airport!

Arrival!!

After only a few hours sleep at my brother's house last night, we were up at 3 am and on our way to Heathrow by 4 am! I would be lying if I said I haven't found these last few days testing and emotional to say the least!

Once at Heathrow, with 3 trolleys fully loaded Clive, myself and Rob slowly wheeled our way to check-in...And you will never guess who we passed on route....Only Sir Bob Geldof!

I have a terrible habit of shrieking and pointing when I see someone famous, but mercifully I managed to control myself until he had passed, he saw me out the corner of his eye and slightly smiled, perhaps my wide-eyed, slightly manic expression amused him somewhat! It was an interesting start to the day especially as Rob and Clive didn't even notice him until I pointed him out.

Sir Bob looked very smart in a lovely grey suit, a far cry from his rag tag Boomtown days, I would even go so far as to say he looked quite handsome!

But enough of Bob, after check-in we had a bit of breakfast with my brother before bidding him farewell and then we were on our away. We arrived on time at around 12.30 pm. Since then we haven't stopped, we sorted out our National Insurance numbers, picked up our cheque books and sorted out our mobile phones. We are in a motel for a few days before moving into our rental, we should sign the lease tomorrow all being well.

Touch Down...Welcome to Nova Scotia!

Hamish on his Way!

So the Pet Air People showed up today to collect my boy! There were tears, nerves and a whole lot of apprehension, but luckily Hamish took it all in his stride :o). He will be spending a few days as what sounds like a country club for cats, then he'll packed up and put on the plane on May 27th. He has shown no signs of being stressed or phased by his home comforts being removed around him, and he sauntered into his crate this morning as if to say, 'right I'm off, see ya!' He has his papers and passport with him and there is no quarantine or waiting time the other end. I cannot wait to get him back!

This will be my last post from the UK I suspect. So Canada, here we come!!

Hamish relaxing in the shade yesterday, whilst chaos reigns supreme all around!

Final Farewells

After two long days of shifting the last of our rubbish out of the house, making good and painting for the new tenants, we are nearly there. Big thanks to my brother Clive and my best friend Sarah for pitching in like real troopers and helping out with the clean up, we couldn't have done it without you!

Last night my friend Paula popped over to say goodbye, I will miss her as I will all my friends and family. Rob's brother popped round today to say goodbye and pick up some long forgotten tools from our shed.

This evening an indian meal celebrated our departure and was the final official farewell for my family and my aforementioned best friend Sarah, her hubby Riggs and my Godson Josh (Sarah's son). It was a fun evening, with Sarah dragging out the old photos from nearly 20 years ago...Shocking yes, funny yes. Thank you so much for the pressies, a great reminder of the UK.

We are truly sad to leave and yet at the same time we are excited to be heading off into the unknown and a new adventure. Thank you for your support and your friendship always.

Left side (front to back): Dad, me, Sarah, Riggs

Right Side (front to back): Marjorie, Rob, Clive, Joshua

Day 2....And there goes our stuff!

Another early start as we waited for our removal boys to arrive and continue where they left off yesterday. With most of the hard work done, they had the rest of the stuff packed in the removal van by lunchtime, then bang on time the container arrived and backed up to the removal van for the transfer, a very smooth and speedy transition then took place and off went our life in the back of a container...Just hope it turns up the other end!!

The scene outside our house today!

Thanks to our neighbours moving their cars we didn't even block the traffic, which in itself was a miracle


The boys were thrilled to have the photo taken...NOT!


And there it goes, our life in boxes!

Removal Day - Day 1

Even though Rob and I thought we had de-cluttered our lives and thrown out literally a ton of rubbish over the last few months, apparently we didn't throw out enough!

The team of removal men descended on us like the SAS this morning, and they started wrapping and packing with military precision and gusto, the likes of which I have never seen. they drunk tea by the bucket load and never stopped from the time they arrived to the time they left, wrapping pretty much everything that wasn't nailed down or clung on to!

Thankfully Hamish our cat was left in one room to sleep through the whole experience otherwise I suspect he would have been bubble wrapped and boxed by 3 pm.

They headed on leaving just a few of the larger items to pack tomorrow plus the contents of our shed, which seemed to fill them with dread!

If the village thought today was bad as the traffic squeezed past the large removal van parked outside, they are in for a shock tomorrow when an even larger container arrives. It should be interesting to say the least!

The Joy of Packing!

Yes, I am being ironic! I am on day two now of packing cases. Anyone who knows me (especially Robert) will tell you I am a terrible packer. I am definitely 'an everything but the kitchen sink' kind of a gal! So trying to seperate what goes and what follows is just a living hell! Luckily I did a dummy run a few weeks back which has slightly eased the situation, but it didn't factor in the female 'change of mind' syndrome! With the shipping company bods only a day or so away from wrapping up everything in sight, a slight sense of panic has crept in, but motivation is still low. No doubt it will all come together!

Another Fond Farewell

My dear friend Lorraine and her husband Mike came down from Surrey for the weekend to say goodbye to us. Lorraine and I have known each other pretty much all our lives, we attended all the same schools and have never lost touch through the years. The four of us had a wonderful weekend, we took at trip out to Stourhead Gardens and enjoyed dinner out in the evening and last night they joined us for dinner at our place before they headed off home again today. Thanks for coming, we had a lovely time and always enjoy your company. Looking forward to a visit from you on the other side of the pond! Now can someone please tell me why my eyes completely disappear in photos...I think I have actually morphed into a hamster!

The Hamster & Lorraine

Rob, Me, Lorraine & Mike

Leaving Day

So today was my final day at Thales and although those closest to me may have thought I was pretty unaffected as I left, I did have a good sob in the car park. The finality of saying goodbye to everyone and everything really kicked in today.

Yesterday a few of us went to the pub at lunchtime, everyone had a few laughs at Tom's speech about me and some of my craziness. I was kindly presented with some wonderful gifts the main one being a pocket Canon camera for my handbag, so I can hopefully keep you all amused with my observations of daily life.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed, I know I will have fun with it!!

Tom (my long suffering work spouse) also put his creative talents into action to produce this wonderful image for me, which celebrates my stupidity and sense of adventure. I still cannot get over the hippo ballerina and seeing my head on Columbo's body :o) For those of you who have yet to meet me, there are some stories to tell behind this. Click image to view large.

New Beginnings = Sad Endings…Part 2

...And yes, it's the same pub again, :o)

Tonight was spent with a just few of my favourite work buddies! A cracking evening and a fun way to say farewell. I will absolutely miss you all, you have made me laugh alot...And you have laughed at me alot! I will remember our lunchtimes with fondness and will definitely miss the banter! You have 2 more days of me yet, so be nice or I will upload the outtakes! Tom, thank you for putting up with me as your work spouse for a solid 8 years, lesser men would have crumbled!

From left to right front: Ian, Ali AKA Gromit, me, Ali AKA Pricey, Andy

From left to right back: Phil,Tom, Rob (my Hubby), Malc

New Beginnings = Sad Endings…Part 1

So last night I met up with my gal pals for the last time before heading off.
For many years we worked together (in my previous job) and since those days we have all moved on into different careers or parenthood, but in all those years we kept in touch and tried to meet up once a month for dinner and a good catch up. Last night was no exception! Although tinged with sadness at the end, it was a lovely evening. An unexpected gift of a beautiful charm bracelet with a clover leaf charm on it, was so touching and thoughtful…Thank you!! This is farewell and not goodbye, I look forward to at least some of you paying me a visit…Now go and download Skype!!!!

From left to right: Pam, Steph, Me, Sally, Kim, Sarah & Sylvie