Summer Sunshine!

The weather here over the last couple of weeks has been awesome and as we are still both a couple of leisure, we've been making the most of our south facing back yard. 

(this thermometer is in the shade and this picture was taken at 10:30am!)

 Sophie enjoying a little refreshment in the heat. 

 (I must add that this picture was taken about 3 minutes after we sat down and 

she didn't last long before she had to change into something cooler)

The warm weather has made us positive that when we eventually come to buy, we want AC in the house and room for a pool! (not that we're complaining!)

Goodman-Baines Out For Lunch!

With Nigel's work permit application sent off, we now have to await Service Canadas response (which should be within 3 weeks). In order to make the most of the amazing weather that we've had over the last week, we felt there was no better way than to head into the mountains.

We had found an amazing spot in Kananaskis Country last year so after a quick stop at Walmart for a few supplies we made the 40 minute drive from our house to an area called Forget-me-not Pond. It is more of a little lake in a small wooded area, surrounded by mountains, with the Elbow River running alongside.   

Nigel's finger is where Forget-me-not Pond is in Kananaskis Country.

After a short walk from the car, we found ourselves in a beautiful little wooded area surrounding the large pond.  We walked around to the other side of the lake and found a wonderful little spot to set down our blanket. 

After a few hours on reading, sunbathing and dipping our toes in the freezing glacier water filled pond we decided it was time for some food.  We moved back to the other side of the lake where there were fire pits and BBQ grills that we could use.  

Our Dinner, a couple of burgers, a salmon steak, and some vegetable and potatoes....Yum, Yum!

Now how is this for a view while we ate our dinner!

Well after a wonderful meal we let Domino have one last cool down in the river and then packed up and loaded up the car ready for the 40 minute drive back home.  As you can see in the picture below, Domino had a great time, but was one tired dog at the end of the day, and once in the car slept all the way home!                  

Drying off after her last cooling dip of the day! 

We have had severe storm warnings for this evening, although at gone 10pm we've yet to see any  sign of rain, let alone a storm.  But i shall leave you all with a little visual reminder of why Nige should always use sunscreen when wearing sandals!!!

        

                                       

It doesn't rain but it pours!

The title for this latest blog posting has a bit of a double meaning.  Despite both of us getting rather sunburnt last weekend, in true Alberta style, the weather changed dramatically and since then we have had torrential rain and a number of thunderstorms.  Whilst we were glad of a some rain, to water in our patched lawn seed we put down the other week, we felt like we were back in the UK.  One of our candle holders on the deck had nearly 5 inches of rain water in it!  Yet again the weather has changed and today it has been rather muggy and warm, with it set to stay nice over the weekend.

The other meaning for the post title is more bad news on the work permit/visa front.  After waiting some time to hear back from the Private nursing job I applied for, they requested my references last week and I anxiously waited a phone call.  I thought that they might have started the process to get me a work permit, so that if for some reason they couldn't, they were then able to offer the position to another candidate that didn't require one.  I recieved an e-mail this afternoon to say that they had offered the position to someone else. Both Nige and I thought it was strange that they had taken so long to get back to me and were wondering if they had spoked to Service Canada about likelihood of them getting me a permit, and had decided that it was too much hassle.  This seemed even more likely after the phone call I had later about 2 hours later.  My manager in the OR where I used to work, contacted me the other week and advised me to apply for some upcoming maternity leave positions.  She was then going to approach the HR department and request a work permit for me.  I applied for the 5 jobs that were listed and was feeling pretty confident that with my manager on my side, Alberta Health work be willing to apply for one for me.  However, after speaking to my manager and the lady at HR that deals with work permit applications, this was not to be the case.  It transpires that Service Canada (the department which, amongst other things, decides which occupations Canada wants to bring from other countries) have made the decision that no more temporary work permits are required for nurses in Canada.  As a result they are refusing all Registered Nurse work permit applications.

This gives us one of two options.......keep every possible body part crossed that the immigration lawyer working for Nigel's boss is successful and that Nige will a work permit (thus allowing me to get an open work permit) or pack up and head back to the UK and wait for our Permanent Residency to come through.  So we've gone from some hope to one hope....Nige, the pressure is on for your boss!!!

An Afternoon at Spruce Meadows

Spruce Meadows is an equestrian facility in Calgary, built by the Southern Family and opened in 1976. The show jumping complex comprises of over 360 acres and is about 5 minutes drive from where we live.  Dispite this though we hadn't yet had the chance to visit and were really excited.

This weekend Spruce Meadows played host to to the National, the first event of the summer series.  The event showcases some of the best show jumping athletes and horses from throughout the Americas. The 'National' features the Spruce Meadows Canadian Show Jumping Championship with almost $1,000,000 in prize money. 

We we lucky enough to be invited by our Neighbours to spend the afternoon, taking in the sights, watching the entertainment and browsing the exhibits.  They had been given free tickets, and knowing that Nige and I are feeling somewhat caged at the moment, (what with not working and trying to spend as little money as possible), they wanted to make the most of the amazing weather and give us an excuse to leave the house.

Although we had driven past many times, but it really doesn't give you a true picture of just how vast the show grounds are.  There are a number of arenas and in one of them we were treated to the RCMP Musical Ride display.  

 Before the main show jumping event began, spectators were given the opportunity to walk around the course and see all the jump, an opportunity not to be missed!   

We weren't able to stay the entire afternoon as we had to be home for an important 'Skype' appointment, but after a few hours in the sun we were both rather pink (even though we had sun cream on) so we were glad to get out on the deck and under the shade of our parasol.  As if our day couldn't get any better, for dinner I cooked a beef roast dinner, complete with yorkshire puddings.  Now just to ensure that we incorporated a bit of Canadian culture to our roast, we have perfected the technique of cooking roast potatoes outside on the BBQ! 

A Weekend at the Lake

Last weekend Sophie, Domino and I were invited to spend the holiday weekend with our neighbours at their parents lake house on Pigeon Lake, about 2 1/2 hours north of the city,

Map!

After the news about our PR we were both looking forward to a few days of R&R to take our minds off things.  The 7 of us (4 people and 3 dogs) headed up in a two car convoy to meet up with our neighbours parents and sister (and a cat) at the house.   

Unfortunately we are still without a proper camera, so all photos are taken with Nigels trusty iPhone.  The house was lovely and the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the lake were spectacular.  After some good food, some board games, a few games of poker (which Nige won, giving us some spends for a Tims on the way home!) and a few classic movies we headed back to reality after a very relaxing break 

Visa Update (don't get excited!)

Just wanted you to know whats been happening this end over the last couple of days, when we had a letter from the immigration office regarding our visa application. Basically our Permanent Residency application was denied because the visa office did not have enough supporting documentation to prove that I was a registered nurse. (the reasoning behind our skilled worker PR application).

After contacting the immigration office and going over every bit of paperwork/information we'd got from them, we worked out that we had missed a link from our e-mail from the visa office.  This had contained an extensive list of additional paperwork required for our application, so as this didn't get sent off they were missing all evidence of my work experience and qualifications.

Now, instead of giving us notice that this documentation was missing, so we could send it in, they just refuse our application and send us a letter informing us of the fact. Once this is done, the decision is final and there is nothing we can do.

This means that if we still wanted to become Permanent Residents, then we would have to re-apply, starting from the beginning (and this time make sure we include all the documentation required!). We couldn't believe it and to make us feel even worse, if we'd have sent all the documentation, then that letter we'd have received instead would have been our medical requests, meaning that about 2 months later we'd have been permanent residents!!!

As most of you know Nige and I only entered Canada with a 12 month BUNAC 'working holiday' visas, so neither of us have been able to work since we returned from the UK. We had anticipated a bit of time whilst we waited for our PR, but with us having to reapply this is going to be at least 12 months.  As a result we have had to re-think our plans for the future.

After a couple of stiff drinks, some soul searching and a few tears the situation forced us to make a really tough decision (one that we were not really expecting to make for another 12 months) We  then contacted our parents to tell them the bad news.  

After coming home and seeing everyone, it made us realize how much we had missed all our friends and family, but it also made us realize that other than them, there was very little else.  The main difference was our quality of life, which is far better in Canada. This quality of life would ensure we could make frequent trips to the UK each year to see the people we missed and also give those who came to visit us a fantastic holiday and an opportunity to see the Canadian Rockies.  Then we had to decide what we want to do regards to living here permanently and whether it was really worth all the waiting, stress and hassle that would inevitably occur, were we to re-apply.  We both came to the agreement that we didn't see ourselves going home in the next five years, so have decided that we want to do whatever possible to stay.

We only have enough money saved to stay not working for 4 months, before having to think about coming home so have spent the last two days applying for any job we can find, in the hope that they would offer us a work permit, allowing us to stay. We have even looked into the posibility of one of us going for a few months work in the UK while the other stays here with Domino.

As we've mentioned in previous posts I am unable to get a work permit through the Alberta Health (where i was working) as they are not giving out international work permits. But Nigels boss has got an immigration lawyer on the case to apply for one for him so we're feeling hopeful with that!

I have had a telephone interview today for a private nursing job, so we'll see what happens there, plus since people here have been finding out our situation, we've made a lot of contacts through people we know so resumes have been sent to a few big companies here!!!

We also know that the province to the east of Alberta are still employing international nurses so that could be another option as I could commute weekly to the other province and Nige could stay here and return to his job.

In Canada we have a legal union as common-law husband and wife, this means that if one of us get a work permit (which will be job specific) then the other is them eligible to apply for an open work permit (non job specific), so we only need one of us to get one through a job offer.

However, if neither of us can get a work permit in the next couple of months then we may have to look at coming back to the UK while we wait for our PR to come through, which could take up to 12 months. With the huge cost of returning home to the UK, storing all our belongings and shipping back Domino, returning back to the UK is really a last resort since we have made the decision to stay here for the next few years.

We have already printed off, and completed another application and are planning on posting it this week, so the countdown begins again.

A bit of Comedy for the Homesickness!

Knowing that when we come back from the UK we will initially not be working, there will be little to distract us from having just left all our friends and family.  So one night, whilst having a browse on the internet we found out that two of of favorite comedians are coming to Calgary.  Eddie Izzard and Danny Bhoy were however, both playing in Calgary on the same night.  So we made the decision to see Danny Bhoy at the University last Friday and then travel the three hours to Edmonton to see Eddie Izzard the following Monday.  We had a great evening both days and It was just what we needed to cheer us both up!  We have put a couple of links below for a snippet of the two comedy routines.

Eddie Izzard, Stripped 

Danny Bhoy