Our Day Out!

After a mad few days trying to get things organized we decided to head out to the Rockies and head to Lake Louise and Banff for a day out before Domino arrives on Tuesday.

When we came in September we made the same trip so we were interested to see how much of a difference the seasons made to the environment.  Obviously we knew that when we came previously it had been unseasonably warm weather and that due to the height the Rockies were still going to be capped with snow, but we were not ready for the hint of winter we got when we arrived at Lake Louise. 

This was our Toyota Matrix hire car.  It was a very small car by Canadian standards with a 1.8l engine, but other than the fact it didn't have cruise control (a real advantage when driving along the highways!) it was fantastic.  

 

We also purchased a National Park annual park pass.  It cost us around £70 but gives us (up to a car full of 7 people I think) entry into all the Parks so really good value for money when visitors arrive.    

This picture doesn't really do it justice and those of you who have seen the Rockies on the horizon will agree that at times it looks unreal, like a piece of scenery on a set!

We have found that no matter how many times you see these sorts of views you never tire of them.  We have spoken to people who have lived here all their life and they tell us that after a long day at work or an early start on a Monday morning, when driving along and this view comes over the horizon its like a huge 'pick me up', and just puts a smile on your face.

We decided that we would go to Banff for dinner so instead decided to head straight to Lake Louise.  When we arrived in the car park there were the remainders of large piles of snow where space had been cleared over the winter, and when we arrived at the edge of the lake we were supprised to see it was mostly still frozen!

(click on picture to read sign)

When we had come in September we couldn't persuade my mum to walk round to the end of the lake, but as it was just the two of us this time we decided that we were going to walk to the back end of the lake.  We didn't however, expect to find that in places there was about 3/4 foot of snow on the paths!!!

We had to take a picture of this as it was really strange looking.  Obviously people had tried to break the ice by throwing large rocks into the lake and aroung the edge the surface of it had started to thaw.  But only the top had thawed and under about 2inches of running water was still solid ice, thus the stones looked as though they were floating in the water.

This was one of the frozen waterfalls around the lake, but we couldn't get much closer as the snow was just too deep for us to tackle in our trainers!!!

Just to prove the depth of the snow I am sitting on the back of a bench with my feet rea=sting on snow under which is the seat! 

Nige didn't know I was recording this as he prepared to pose for a picture! (watch the stumble in the beginning as the snow is so deep!)                                                                                                                                        

After an ice cream to reward our efforts, we decided to head to Johnston Caynon, somewhere that we hadn't been before.

We were really pleased to see lots of dogs enjoying the sights with their owners so we are planning to bring domino here for the day as soon as she settled.  These are only the lower falls, so when we return with Domino, we'll take the walk up to the Upper Falls and get some fresh pictures.

It may be childish, but this sign, spotted on the way to Lake Louise, really made us chuckle so we decided to fill you in on the joke!!!

Our first couple of days in Calgary!

We're here!!

Its currently 11.30pm and Nige is playing darts in the other room so i thought i would add a quick post to let you know how our first full day has gone.  Well we arrived yesterday 40 minutes early, and cleared customs, immigration, baggage claim and were outside within 15 minutes!!! We couldn't believe it when we had prepared ourselves for a potential 6 hours of interviews, checking of baggage and documentation etc that some of the expats had gone through.  All they asked us was what foods did we have (I had declared the Galaxy Minstrels that I had brought for Eamonn, our Realtor/relocator) which were fine, and whether we were planning on applying for permanent residency, to which we replied yes, so she informed us to keep hold of our goods to follow list, which they would not need to see now but when we go round the flag pole (cross the border and then re-enter Canada) to activate our PR visas we will need to show them then, but just inform them that the goods have been in since today.  Then she told us to go into the immigration office where we were ushered straight to a counter and this is how the conversation went...

Canadian Immigration Officer-"So you're here to (looks at my letter form Canadian High commission granting us a visa) work and (now looks at Nigels letter) work, ok thats fine".

and that was it!!! she proceeded to print off our work permits, staple them to our passports and welcomed us to Canada!

Hayden and Deedee, the people we were staying with, picked us up from the airport and we loaded up our bags and headed back to theirs.  They have kindly offered to put us up in a bedroom in their basement and it was so nice to have a warm welcome from friends and a cosy bed to sleep in after such a mad two weeks and an 8 1/2 hour flight.  We got to bed about 10.30pm, knowing that things were just beginning and that now we have to start up everything we finished in the UK, like a home and cars, then jobs!!!  

We had a fairly good nights sleep, although me more than Nige I think who struggled to get back to sleep after waking at around 5am.  We had arranged to be picked up by our realtor Eammon whom we had met through the expats site after he moved to Okotoks, just south of the city 18 months ago, in order for him to help us start all the formalities we needed to get done in order to get a life started in Canada.  Firstly he took us to the Alberta employment office which doubles as Calgary's equivalent of a dole office so we could register for our SIN (social insurance numbers) like the UK National insurance numbers which we need to be able to work.  That was a case of showing our work permits which were stapled into our passports at the airport and to give a few details i.e full name, mothers maiden name and contact details in Calgary.  So after 15 mins we walked out with a printout of our numbers and we will receive our cards in about 10-14 days.  

Then we went to get some quotes for a hire car for the week and the cheapest we found was a ford focus size car for $239 with an extra $19 per day for the insurance which was with HERTZ so we're going to go back tomorrow to organize that.  

Then we went to look at some properties which we had shortlisted on the internet, and arranged viewings via e-mail a couple of days ago in the UK.  The first we saw was the style of house we wanted, only a couple of years old and was 2400sqft but it was clear that it had not been looked after by the previous tenants as it had holes in the dry wall where they had forced doors open and the window blinds were all bent.  Nige said that it was ok but I wasn't convinced, plus it was on a fairly busy junction by Calgary standards and although it was large, it didn't feel it, as it wasn't really open plan.  Anyway i wasn't keen and with another house to look at we held judgment before we had something to compare it too, as when we came in September we had only looked at houses for sale.  So Eammon then drove us round lots of other communities to have a nose, then around the shopping areas where he explained where we would go to buy certain things like electricals, furniture and bedding etc.  

He then treated us to lunch and then drove us down to his house in Okotoks.  We had seen many pictures via his blog of the house and things but they hadn't done it justice.  It was amazing and we were kinda hoping that he would let us live there but he wasn't having any of it!!  While we were there we checked our e-mails and had had a message from a house that we liked that had been rented but they had not yet received the deposit so we arranged to visit that later that evening and then made our way to our 2nd viewing.  This was 100% better than the previous house and had quite a few upgrades like an internal speaker system throughout the house.  The only draw back was that there was no fence or turf in either the front or back yard but Eammon spoke to the owner and we all think that if we made a big enough thing of it then he would pay for that to be done before we moved in.  Anyway the final house was our favorite and ticked nearly all of the boxes plus it had city and mountain views from the master bedroom so we were really impressed.  We still have 3 to see tomorrow (two with fully developed basements, and one of those is in the community we really liked, Evergreen) so we're hoping things will be as positive tomorrow. 

Leaving the UK!

For our last night in the UK, we were spending the night at the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow airport as we'd been advised that saying the final goodbyes the day before would make the travelling experience easier to bear.  We went out for a meal in Muswell Hill with Sophie's mum, dad and sister to say our farewells to them before being dropped off at the hotel by Sophie's parents!  Some more tears were shed here, but we don't think it will be too long before they come out to see us in Calgary! (Well, we hope so anyway).

We enjoyed a couple of drinks in the hotel bar before attempting to get some sleep before our flight out the following day, what with all the emotions running wild etc, we didn't expect this to be easy!  The bed, however, certainly helped in this department and it was so comfortable that we slept well 'til 8:30 in the morning.

We'd already checked in online at the hotel for our flights, so had a leisurely morning getting all the luggage sorted and then checked out from the hotel about 1pm.  We then got the luggage on trolleys and wheeled them through the connecting tunnel from the hotel to T5 at Heathrow.  We double checked the weight of all our luggage and had 3 cases weighing in at 31.5kg, 1 at 24.5kg, 1 set of golf clubs, 1 bag of Ice Hockey gear (plus a few extras) and hand luggage consisting of 1 case weighing 16kg, 1 laptop bag plus 2 other bags!!!  We knew this was going to cost us £25/bag for every one over 23kg's and excepted the £100 bill heading our way.  However, when we checked it in, the check-in assisstant's first comment was "emigrating to Australia?", followed by "they were well packed" and "oversized luggage goes over there", but no "that will be £100 please".  We said nothing obviously and can only imagine that because we were emigrating, they overlooked the charges, so a big thank you to BA, because I dread to think what this amount of luggage might have cost with other airlines!!

We picked up a bit of duty free (as if we didn't have enough luggage already!) and enjoyed a drink at the bar before boarding the plane to leave for our new life in Calgary! 

Our First Goodbyes

We knew this was going to be a difficult day, as it was the last day for us in our own home in North Wales, surrounded by my family and most of our good friends from the neighbourhood!  After a superb meal the night before, followed by another excellent 'going-away' house party at James and Emma's, we got to bed about 4am, so woke with yet another hang-over at about 8:30am!  Still plenty to do sorting out the packing and taking the final few bits to the Skip, before Sunday dinner at my Mum's which was just what we needed, so thanks Mum!

Sorted the last few bits out, loading the car, passing on the house keys to Sue and Carl who will be managing our property for us and putting the last few boxes into our neighbours lofts.  Thanks guys!!

Then it was time to leave!  At approx' 9pm, my Mum, Steve, Grandad and most of our neighbours were out to wave us off and say they're farewells to us.  We were touched that they all wanted to see us off, but also a little concerned in case they just wanted to make sure we were definitely going!!  Everyone wished us good luck and told us how they would miss us, but hopefully they'll be able to visit us soon.  Things got a little bit emotional and even I had a tear in my eye, which is saying something!  We set off down the street, fully loaded with Domino and all the luggage with a mad blasting of the horn waving frantically out the windows as we went!!

We will be spending the next few days with Sophie's Mum in Somerset, before we fly out on Thursday!

Leaving Party, Saturday 2nd May!

Well that was the quickest few hours we have had in a long time, especially as there was very little alcohol involved (well for us there wasn't).  It was so strange having all our friends and family in one room, yet having an element of sadness that we won't see some of them for a long time.  I had spent a while some time ago cutting out various sized maple leaves ready for the party and when placed in the middle of the white tablecloths, they were very effective.  I had also made lots of different sized Canadian flags which were stuck around the room between the red and white balloons.  I had spent a couple of days making and decorating our cake and had also made my own dress and Niges' tie (as if I didn't have enough to do!).

The evening was fantastic and Nigel's stepdad Steve impressed us all with his performance, singing and playing guitar whilst some of our neighbours had all chipped in to pay for a DJ as our leaving present and it made for a great party atmosphere.   My manager at work had given me the idea to have a Welsh flag at the party for everyone to sign, which we did and it will be displayed on the wall in our new house.  

There was much drinking and dancing which continued 'til about 1am when Nige and I got home in our taxi with four of our friends to find a few more of our neighbours waiting to continue the party, so it was all into Tracy and Steves' house (not sure if they regretted it or not) where the party continued 'til 6am, when a very drunken Nige and I stumbled across the road back home. However, only 1 1/2 hours later I was wide awake and hoovering downstairs (waking Nige in the process), before meeting up with close friends Stacy and Jamie and their son Regan (our godson), and spending the day with them in Llangollen.

I just hope that everyone had as good a time as Nige and I did at the party and we now realise more that ever, what an amazing group of friends we'll both be leaving behind, who, without their support, this move would have been even harder.

The shippers arrived!!!

Well after weeks of planning and telephone conversations the shippers arrived today to pack up all our belongings ready for transport to Canada.   I must say that I was expecting to feel sad that all our worldly goods were being packed away into boxes, but initially I was more concerned with making sure I didn't forget anything.  

The two guys that came were fantastic and put us both at ease.  I did however, ply them with tea and doughnuts in the hope that it would mean our things would be well looked after! (not that I think it would have made a difference).  But it took them only 3 1/2 hours to get everything loaded into the truck and we watched it drive down the road.  Our household furniture now consists of two sofas, a table and four chairs, a couple of coffee tables and s/king size bed base with a double sofa bed mattress on it.  We are now using a lovely set of blue picnic dining plates and cutlery, with only 5 mugs in the entire house.  Its almost like camping but I am sure the novelty will wear off very quickly.  I have arranged for the BHF to come and collect the last of our furniture next week and then the last of our goods that are not being packed will be given away to neighbours.

So with the party this weekend we are looking forward to catching up with our friends and family but not the inevitable goodbyes that will follow.   

A Quick Update.

As you can see it has been a good few weeks since our last post, that is due to the huge amount of progress that has been made and the fact that we have been working non-stop to fit all the pieces together.  

Firstly we've done two of three car boot sales (the third being this sunday) making £170 and £90 adding much needed funds to the move.  We have booked the shipping company and they are coming on the 30th April to take away all our belongings, aswell as the BHF who are taking our last few bits of furniture. 

 

Eventually we had the e-mail we've been waiting for from BUNAC to say they have our visas and a request for our flight and insurance details so they can send our visas to us!!!  Our flight is booked for 5:25pm, Thursday 14th May, arriving in Calgary at 19:50pm local time!.  Domino will be following us a couple of days later.  We have had the very kind offer to stay with Hayden and Deedee when we first arrive until we find a rental property and cars etc, giving us a base in which to get everything sorted, for which we are very grateful! 

With our leaving party on the 2nd things are becoming very real and with almost all of our furniture in the house sold, it feels very empty.   We have both finished work and are spending the majority of our days on the phone ringing various companies trying to complete our countdown list.  

Nige has sold both his bikes and I have a buyer for FeeBee (my VW Beetle)  so my mum is coming up this weekend to lend us a car til we go.  Our wall calender is filling up quickly with meals out and drinks with friends in order for us to get the chance to say goodbye to everyone before we leave. 

We're nearly there!!