Weekend Away..........

We left for the country cottage on Friday and arrived at about 1600. It was good run down and we avoided all the traffic.

Once we had chosen bedrooms and unloaded all the stuff, Sarah started cooking our dinner and we started playing with the balls on the grass out the back of the house.

Steven brought his rugby ball; its the first time I have played anything since my operation and the old knee stood up well.

Saturday morning saw us all take a walk down by the canal. We watched a narrow boat go through the lock and a dog swimming. (Jo thought it was brilliant. The dog that is. I don't think she gets out a lot.) Brian and Sylvia went to the pub on the way home and the rest of us went home to get ready for lunch.

In the afternoon we played rounders. Everybody enjoyed it!!

The evening meal was a meat feast, or as Brian likes to call it, an indoor barbecue. It was that big we didn't manage to finish it and brought a load of it home for a curry on Sunday night.

On Sunday, seeming as though it was Mother's Day, Paul and I cooked a big breakfast. You might of thought it would be a disaster, but we took the bull by the horns, and made a success of it. (Even if I do say so myself).

In the afternoon we had Foosball competition (which Paul won). We all had fun and after it we packed up and went home.

It was a great weekend and all thanks must go to Brian and Sylvia for making it happen. It should be the last time we all get to do something like this together and I'm glad it was a success.

Jake's 8th

We had all the cousins around on Sunday to celebrate his birthday. Sarah did some party food and we all played games. Pass the parcel, musical statues and musical bumps were the order of the day. Then we played pop idol and listened to all the kids sing. Above are all the pictures and below a video of Millie singing.

Worried!!!!!!!

Should we be........

The big question I am asking myself now is have we missed the boat. I hope not!

I read a statement on the web the other day which was laying reference to LMO's. Now with this being the reason we have sat in England for the past 7 months, it understandable why it caught my eye. It was saying this.

At present with the economy we are facing in Canada, the Canadian government is reluctant to issue a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) for an individual that are outside of Canada for the position of long-haul truck driver. We as a company are entertaining some additions to our driving force but a being asked by Service Canada to take unemployed or underemployed qualified Canadians first, qualified Permanent Residents second and thirdly those qualified foreign workers in Canada on a work permit that find themselves unemployed at this time. As we move towards May I may have a better idea of our needs and likelihood that a LMO might be granted, please stay in touch, Thank you.

This was the response from a company who had received an application for a job, from a UK based driver. This is the only piece of paper work that we are missing and without we cannot obtain a work permit when we land.

I sit anxious now waiting for a response from my prospective employer.

Toffee's weekend

Emma brought home Toffee the bear from school and her remit was to look after her and keep a diary of what they got up to. We played ring-a-roses and paper aeroplanes on Friday night and went to the park on Sunday. Good weekend had by all.

Bull Hauler!!!

freight you say? We'd rather take a bullet,
Cuz if it ain't full of holes we just won't pull it.
Those fat-belly freight haulers like those big long hauls
They have to do that cuz they have no balls
They bitch and they moan & say our rigs smell
Well if you ask me they can all go to hell
They say were crazy and drive way too fast
Just shut your damn pie holes and let me pass
And oh by the way... pucker up buttercup & kiss my cowboy ass !
Hearts of gold & nerves of steel
In one hand a hotshot and the other a wheel
We take our critters cross mountain, desert & plain, all with great skill & poise
Guess thats why they call us the last of the cowboys
We don't hang out in truckstops or get caught sleepin, this we can't abide
It all stems from a little thing called pride
We don't ask for glory or lots of money in the bank
Just cows that need a ride and fuel in our tank
The ladies do love us, we have great appeal
For when we're around you're sure to hear em squel
About all this we don't brag or holler
We're all just damn proud to be called " Bullhauler"

School Photo!

What a fantastic picture!! All of them smiling at the right time!!

Recovery!!!!!

15 days at home is at an end today, as tomorrow I am returning to work. I have seen the doctor and he has given me the all clear to return, as long as it is light duties. I was sure that the time off, would be a nice break from work. Its strange that I have missed it and am looking forward to going back. My ideal that I would make quite a good dole scrounger, has been blown out the water. Sat at home, day in day out, is really not for me and I am looking forward to seeing what the big wide world looks like again.

Above is the picture of the house that we liked the look of while we were in Canada, and the vision is whats keeps me focused as my knee gives me pain and the wait starts to get me down. The operation I have had is an Anterial Cruciate Ligament full reconstruction and the recovery time is longer than they first imagined, as the doctor wasn't expecting the damage to be so severe. He is however very pleased with his work, and told me that it should prove to be a knee that will be as good as new. Lets hope he is right!!!!!!!!

Nobleford in the Snow

Harry has sent some pictures of his house in Nobleford. I think the idea might be to make me jealous, but the thought of -30 isn't the most appealing in the world!! It looks quite bleak and Mr Darcy looks freezing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lauren's Nativity

This was my second Nativity in 2 days; I'm being spoilt. Lauren played an Angel just like Emma. This was a joint play, of years 1 and 2. All the year 1's played Angels and acted as the chorus. It was very funny and well acted by all the children. Its hard to believe the eldest child was only seven.

Camp Christmas!

This was Sarah's first appearance as Mr Claus. Somebody suggested that this year he had been a bit camp. (You can tell why by the picture!) Sarah's little friend Chloe new who she was, despite the put on deep voice; so I think she might need some acting lessons for next year.

Emma's Nativity

Today it was Emma's first Nativity play. Its the first time I have been able to attend one of these plays and I enjoyed it a lot. They all did ever so well and it was a pleasure to watch. As you can see Emma played an Angel and she sounded like one too.

Twelve Days In The "TIN BOX"

I met Jono late on the Thursday night. He dropped down out of the lorry, with a Cheshire cat grin, spread all over his face. Three months ago I had the same face, but this time it was him going on holiday and me having to work for the best part of two weeks. Ah well knuckle down and get on with it I told myself.

The highlight of the first week was the strike by the Dover dockers. These people, normally on the French side, really do my head in. They have no consideration for any of us drivers who are just trying to get a job done. You manage to keep all your cards looking good and hey presto the dockers have downed tools again and everything comes to a standstill. Now its going to be a month of dodging french coppers, waiting for the tacho to overwrite, because the produce always has to be there regardless of hours. It should be just a point of parking up when the times up, but the boss never agrees.

After having 24 hours off in Ramsgate, the brain dead mission began. "Tom please meet Kevin and take 1 box of flowers to Rotterdam" he said. Now far be it for me to criticise the boss, but a 44 ton truck and 1 BOX of flowers. I can't fathom it. It must be paying a fortune! (but I don't think so.) It had to be there for 8 o'clock in the morning and I arrived 2 o'clock. Can Tom sleep for 9 hours? (I don't think so) Five hours later I'm up and walking the two miles to the delivery with the flowers on my shoulder. An hour later I'm back at the lorry and the Van Dongen jobsworth is on my case for parking in the wrong spot and now I HAVE to move the truck. I told him politely to go away!

Then for the purpose of the police Jono drove to Anterpen, because there is a deadline to be at the Banana place. Has the boss planed well? Has he bo***cks! If the police caught me, would he back me? I don't think so! Is he grateful? I don't think so! All this done for one box of flowers! If he learnt to count, it would be a start. When I got down to to Paris, I went straight around to the delivery point, and was told to come back on Sunday. They can't even tell me when the delivery day is. Just a bit of information would have saved me an hour of waiting and the argument with the French man, when I told him my gaffers would of let me know if it was Sunday and that he should just get on with it. The joys of Logifrance!

The weekend run went nice, apart from the added Worcester and Cheltenham, which meant we had to change over down there. This meant Jono getting up at 2 o'clock and me fighting with the traffic to get home, but who cares I've got four days off which I'm really looking forward to.

Halloween 2008

My sexy wife! She looks like grot-bag off of Emu. I don't have a lot to say about this party, for the simple reason I was not there. I have been informed it was a big success. I hate it when I miss things. I suppose it comes with the job.

Everybody came back absolutely frozen and with wet feet, as they spent the entire night outside. I think Kahn was too house proud to let people inside! (I suppose we can forgive her though as she has just got the house how she wants it.)

All the kids went trick or treating and came back with an abundance of sweets, which they still haven't finished, four days later.

Hopefully the next time we have a party like this one, it will be in Canada.

Fingers Crossed!!!!!!!!!!