Were all going to the Zoo tomorro...er...last weekend

So Wayne had disappeared on a stag do to Oktoberfest in Munich and I was left wondering what to do what to so with myself ...so i did the logical thing, invited my mum to stay and had a girly weekend.

On Friday we looked at all the furniture we wouldn't buy in Ikea...then on Saturday we decided to go to Tycross zoo. We didn't get to see the show leopards but we did see lots of monkeys, elephants penguins and a baby orangutan and a litter of baby meerkats.

We then went to find hobbycraft in Coventry, we failed and ended up at a garden center in the middle of the country.

On Sunday we cooked a roast and spent the afternoon playing cards ans scrabble... I lost lots

We then went and picked a very tired and hungover Wayne ... who brought some yummy looking chocolate back from Germany

The Travellers Return

Well we came back from are travels missing the earthquake on Vancouver (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14862800). We didn't feel a thing at the airport and we were looking around shops after having cheesecake for lunch.

We stopped for lunch at Wayne parents and caught up on all the local gossip. then made are way back home. After working are way through the mountain of mail (mainly junk). We found cards from DHL (US) which we think our are Canadian bank cards. These are most likely on their way back to Canada.

Then I noticed a dead wasp on the stairs and then another, and another and another and a lot more around the house. So out of the house I pottered and found a wheelie bin for recycling (it wasn't there when we left for Canada). And a lot of wasp near the roof happily making there way in and out.

Wayne checked out the loft and couldn't see anything, so we decided to call in the experts. A quick glance and he knew where the nest was. To confirm he went to the office and tapped on the ceiling. - he looked out of the window and saw the wasps leaving. the nest was in the flat roof. 15 minutes later and the problem was sorted and I have stopped stirring at the light fittings. (wasps will come into the house through low voltage light fittings)

Right now the drama is done, I might start unpacking.

More strange things from Canada

Well we have, a busy few days, over the weekend we went to Vancouver Island to visit friends and relatives. All of which are well and are wished us luck in starting a life in Canada.

Monday was a bank holiday - Labour day, where they celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. (something they should do in the U.K.) Sensibly the bank holidays are more spread out here and there is every month except February, March and June.

We went to grouse mountain, where we where entertained by bears and a lumberjack show. Lumberjacks where once so bored that they made a competition out of who can make the other person fall off a log first (it is more entertaining then it sounds).

Today it was back to job hunting and then we went to the Metropolis at Metrotown (a huge mall probably the same size as meadowhall). I went looking for shoes and Wayne just went wondering for an hour.

Anyhow I have found a few more things that in are different in Canada that may take some getting used to.

1. I am a size 3 in children's shoes (same as the UK) but a size 5 in the adult shoes

2. You can get baked beans, but they taste different to UK baked beans

3. The Junction to get onto the highway can be before the junction to get off the highway.

4. You can get Bacon on Cheesecake (bacon, dark chocolate and maple syrup)



It wasn't unpleasant, but was a bit too sweet for my liking.

Other than that, it has been quiet strange walking round the shops looking at winter clothes, when it is 28 degrees centigrade outside. However, I suppose that could happen in the UK...

A few days in.

Well we have been here 5 days and the place now looks like a home...

We have a bed and a nice new mattress.

We have a table and a sofa (Borrowed with thanks). Plates, pots, pans etc etc.

We have noticed a few things that will take some getting used to

1. the 10 cent coins are smaller than the 5 cent coins

2. the screw drivers are square ended

3. you can't get alcohol in the supermarket

4. herbs coming in big tubs/packets not small 10g tubs.

5. Malls are huge and NOT overcrowded

6. you can always get a parking space.