Toronto Trip

I left for Toronto last Saturday, after spending best part of the day waiting for the trailer. It was a horrendous first 2 days as I traveled across SK and MB. Visibility was not good and at times I couldn't see further than the end of the bonnet. Once the first 1000 miles was out of the way, it was plain sailing the rest of the way, if you consider compact ice driving plain sailing.

The trip was 4400 miles in total. A good earner. I wouldn't mind doing 3 or 4 of these a month. Above are some of the pictures, I took.... (Future posts will become more detailed, once Sarah lets me buy a notebook and I can write in the truck)

Frost or Snow???

I took these pictures yesterday; which are from the view from the back of the house.. Its hard to believe that it hasn't snowed for a while and this comes from a serious frost..

Grandparents on the Skype....

All the kids got to speak with their Nanna's and Grandad's today, when they got back from school. Its was good for them all to catch up and get to see each other. Here's what we saw..

Crabs and lobster....

Sarah picking me some sprouts, for our Sunday dinner. It will be a smelly house later on..

I was pretty impressed with all the fresh stuff in the supermarket, but I didn't realise it also had live crabs and lobsters. Quite expensive, but maybe Sarah will treat me one day..

Ice skating on the frozen house plot..

Under the thumb!!

I don't think so. Under the arse maybe....

Truck is at the doctors...

Rang in today to see when I could get back to work and was told that my truck is at freightliner having a new rear end structure to the engine. (something to do with the oil leak I have) Its a two day job so with a bit of luck I will be back on the road Thursday.

I got to take the kids to school this morning as a result, which was good, as I don't do it very often. Days off when the kids are at school, are not ideal, but it does give Sarah and I a day without the kids. ( I wonder what we'll get up to?????)

Yesterday we went to town and bought a web cam for the new computer. It took a bit of time to set it up, but I think its ready to go now. Think being the operative word, as everyone we know to test it on were 7 hours ahead of us and fast asleep. Hopefully today we can test it out..

Above is a picture taken from the said web cam. In time I might get a bit more exotic and do a dance for you all.. ( As you can see I am sat on the floor typing this, so any table donations would be greatly appreciated.)

Emma's first bike ride

Lauren's ramp in the woods

More pics

The Adventure has begun...

I'm back...

The laptop we had broke and it has taken six months of saving (and a bit of Christmas money), to afford a new computer. Unfortunately for me it is a desk top and stays at home, but at least we are connected with friends and family again..

Here are a few pictures over the last months that show what we've been doing...

Road Test Passed...........

I didn't sleep at all last night worrying whether or not I would pass. I was going over things in my head time and time again, until I got to a point I was sick and tired of all the information swirling around in there.

Really in the grand scale of things it doesn't matter if you pass first time, as the next day you can just take it again.

Be that as it may, I have passed and I am over the moon. Unfortunately for me I have not been here ten days yet, so I am not allowed to flip my licence. I suppose that is just something I have to deal with; it is Albertan law.

I'm going to enjoy the weekend, as over here it is Bank Holiday Monday, and I can't do anything until Tuesday. The driver relations guy at H+R, has told me I should be out either that day or Wednesday. So its feet up time, relax and enjoy......

House Hunting

Here are some of the pictures of a house I went to look at the other day.

These pictures were taken for the benefit of the wife, who saw the outside last year, but not the finished product inside.

Question is, will the bank lend us the money???????

Busy Day.....

Today was a busy day. Got up a 0500 and arranged the transfer of the money from England, as I have now set up the bank account. That has been sent and should take 2-4 days to land here. Made an application for a mortgage and should get and answer by the end of the week. However in Canada you have to show 3 months of wages first, so we may have to wait. Had my first driving lesson with a non syncromesh gearbox, and only the revs to change gears plus the fact it was 53 ft long was an experience. I was very pleased with my performance.

After that I did my theory test and passed with 98%. Should have committed it to memory in the first place and not relied on common sense and I would have passed first time. You live and learn. Got picked up by the realtor next and taken to nobleford to look at houses. Only 2 I liked though. I am going to send the pics to Sarah later. The one I liked best was up for rent as well. So I might look at a rent2buy if they won't lend the money to me. Fixed rate on mortgage 5 years at 4.5% and around 3.25% on a variable.

Mandy is picking me up tomorrow and we are going car hunting. (Mandy for those who don't know is my mates wife)

Everything is spinning along quite nicely and I am relatively pleased.

Classroom tuition is a good standard. Everything is passed in the classroom and all I have left to do is the orientation, which is done after my road test. In cab tuition is not the best. Instructor is an experienced driver and is able to teach the gears well. I struggle however with all the grey arrears in the instruction he gives; its not cut and dry. He's not like a driving instructor in England is what I am trying to say, But hey this is Canada maaaan.

He recons the norm is around 15 to 20 hours of tuition, but I'm hoping I won't need that much.

I'll keep you posted.....

Hans Day....

Today Hans, who is the guy who takes you everywhere, took us everywhere..

We started at the drugs test place. (Pee in the bottle.) Then we went for our social security numbers so we are able to pay taxes. After that it was to H+R to do our Alberta Health Care. Then we had our Medicals, sight test was good but my blood pressure was a bit high. (Doctor advised I watch this) From there we went to the bank. Had a good chat about accounts and the like, applied for a mortgage and a credit card, deposited some money.

Then I went to the theory test place to have another go, but there were 3 waiting and only and hour till closing, so I would have to come back tomorrow.

Got back to the hotel and spoke to the Realtor (Estate Agent). She is showing me some houses tomorrow, after I have had my driving lesson.

There is a lasagne in the microwave for my tea and I am enjoying myself................

Theory Test

Managed to change my licence for an Albertan one this morning and thought as I was there I would have a go at my theory test. I got the first 20 questions right and thought I was plain sailing until I got hit with the ones I didn't know..

6 of them in a row and it was all over. Good thing is by the next time I do it, I will have sat the air brake test, so hopefully I will pass it next time.

Well here's for hoping anyway.......

Landed...

The journey seemed to be never ending, but I got here finally at 2200 local time, exactly 24 hours after I got up. I had 2 first class seats to myself on the plane, so I got to sprawl out. Definitely money well spent.

Sailed through immigration when I landed, which was all pretty straight forward and met the guy picking me up. He brought me to the hotel and after unpacking I was in bed for 2300. I woke up at 3, 4, 5 and 6 o'clock. Couldn't sleep at all. Too many things swirling around in my head.

The shuttle from the hotel took everyone on my course to the training school at 0715 and we were learning for 0800. It was very informative and was a lot to take in, but I passed both courses and am now back at the hotel. (I don't think that its possible to fail, but I was very impressed with my 97%.)

Have been told that tomorrow is a day off. So I am going to try and change my licence on my own and if I succeed, I will have a crack at the theory test tomorrow.

Fingers crossed.....