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!