going well

The house is coming together nicely, we have all of our furniture now and only a couple of hiccups which will be sorted out tomorrow. The furniture store sent the wrong table and chairs and the doors on the TV cabinet do not close properly, we rang the guys at the store and was assured it would be rectified asap. the new stuff will be delivered on Tuesday and the old stuff removed at the same time, the salesman will even come and put it all together for you - you wouldn't get that in the UK !!

Lee's driving is going well and he should take his test this week but there may be a little delay with it being the Canada Day bank holiday.... no bother we aren't paying rent just anyhow as our landlord gave us some time free of charge :-)

We signed up for our cable and Internet so once that is all up and running I will post some pictures of the house etc

Our next thing on the to do list is to find a cheap run around car for lee to get to and from work and for me if I am not going with him on a trip. I have now driven for the first time over here :-) I drove all the way back to Lethbridge from Fort McLeod about 50 Kilometers.

House Rented !!

When we left Chris & Tina's on Monday evening we drove around looking at more houses and saw one just around the corner, called the landlord to see if we could view it the following day, he said if you re near by I can be there in 5 minutes!! Result !!

We waited for Dallas to arrive and headed inside, totally loved it!! Negotiated a great price on the rent with some utilities included too. DAY ONE was a fantastic day!!




The following morning I headed to the mall whilst Lee went for diver training and found stuff for the house. Once Lee was back we headed to the south side to look at furniture and add me to the Canadian bank account this was a simple process and only took around 10 minutes, I was issued with my debit card there and then and set up my own pin right there in the branch, very different experience to the UK. The other difference is you get charged for everything !! We needed a cheque book as our landlord has requested the rent be paid by this method it cost around $40 for 100 cheques there are so may different designs which you can upgrade to if you choose - "I'll take the cheapest please"

When we were at Tina & Chris' yesterday we also met Jo whose hubby also works for H&R. She very kindly invited us all for a roast dinner and volunteered her hubby who was arriving home that night to cook it !!So come 4:30 we headed for Jo & Faron's for a fabulous Roast beef dinner. Faron you are a genius it was amazing. Lee has to cook next time should be interesting!! (hope everyone likes beans on toast or take away!!)

After dinner we met Dallas to pay the first months rent and damage deposit and pick up the keys to our new home, we also got the rest of this month free :-)

Who ordered the rain ?

Woke on my first morning in Lethbridge to rain :-( and not just any rain it was banging it down !!!! Lethbridge has recently had some of the worst rain ever and been subject to some flooding. The Old Man River is sooooo high the roads around it are still closed as a precaution. The rain did stop around 11am and the sun was out for the rest of the day.

Once Lee was back from his driver training we went to the mall to get me a Canadian cell number. For the next couple of hours we drove around West Lethbridge looking at rentals that I had seen on-line. We also called into see Chris and Tina Lunnon who are also working for H&R Transport, I came bringing goodies (bisto and oxo cubes) that are so expensive in comparison to the UK. We were invited to stay for tea and all shared some fabulous BBQ food made by Chris (thanks Chris)It was great to be made to feel so welcome on my first day here.

Yorkies are now in Canada

Arrived safely in Calgary yesterday at 15:05 Canadian time. Flight was good but long with no in-flight entertainment as the whole TV/movie system had broke !!! Bad Times
Had a lovely lady sat next to me though and we managed to keep ourselves entertained.

When the flight landed I headed over to customs with the card that you are given on the plane, I told the customs guy that it was my intention to apply for an open work permit. He stamped my card and sent me over to the immigration offices. The lady that helped me there was the same officer that had issued Lee with his Temporary Work Permit 10 days earlier and she remembered him so she was fully up to date with the scheme that is running in Alberta for Truckers wives/spouses. I had with me a copy of Lee's passport, our common law declaration (this was notarized in the UK), a copy of Lee's work permit and contract of work with H&R, my police check and a copy of Lee's. Things could not have gone smoother I was issued with my work permit and was sent to the cashier to pay my $150. After collecting my bags I headed out to meet Lee.

Lee collected me from Calgary and we headed straight to A W's for a burger (who says romance isn't dead eh?) I was a little emotional on the drive up to Lethbridge, it had been a stressful few days with the build up to the move and also seeing Lee again was great. It was lovely and sunny for our drive back to Lethbridge which cheered me up no end.






We drove around the west side to check out and potential rentals as this is the first thing on the to do list. Will keep you all posted

Last day in UK

Well most of our goodbyes have been said just my Mum and Dad, the pooch and Mick left in the morning. We have had some fantastic nights out with friends before we leave and have shed many a tear..... didn't think it would be so hard.





Have spent my last day running last minute errands, and of course doing the bloody packing, chuffing bane of my life!!
Must have packed, weighed suitcases and unpacked/re packed suitcases and boxes like a million times today. Have thus sent Lee on a mission to get radox bubble bath ready for tomorrow to rest my aching back.

My wonderful lift to the airport (Michael) will be collecting me at 8:45. I'm very nervous about travelling all that way on my own, I'm quite a nervous flier to start with so will be filling my boots with kalms tonight. On a positive I cant wait to see Lee tomorrow :-)

Whilst I have been partying Lee has been having his driver training and has now mastered the dreaded gear box !!!

Day 3

Today lee started his driver training, he was collected from the lodge and taken to where the training is completed. He did just two hours on his first day and this was just round the yard whilst he hot used to the gears!!
3 more hours tomorrow

I'm off out tonight for tea with my special work friends (Lisa, Nigel, Amanda, Gwen, Rachel, Kate, Karen & Dave)
will be so sad to say goodbye to them all :-(

Day Two in Canada

Hans picked Lee up this morning from the lodge and took him to sort out his SN,driving licence, and also his medical and drugs and alcohol test. He was even taken for a Chinese buffet lunch in between :-) In the afternoon he opened a bank account with Canadian Trust which we can turn into a joint account when I arrive.

Whilst Lee has been starting the ball rolling over there I have been tying up loose ends here and finishing work and packing the rest of our stuff into boxes to be sent over once were settled.

Day one in Canada

Lee was collected from the lodge yesterday morning and went to complete his Air brake test.
He spent the day learning everything he would need with an instructor and then completed a multiple choice test at the end of the day.
He was really pleased when he found out that he had passed.

He has Sunday off, so he will spend the day exploring the town a little more. As we don't have a car yet he will have to do this on foot. He's going to see if he can get some more rental details for the area we want, I have looked online but want to view them in the flesh before we decide.

Girls night out - round 1

After taking lee to the airport yesterday morning i needed a night that would cheer me up and what better way to do it than with old friends :-)
We don't get together very often these days but it was just like old times we had a lovely meal (except for Mand- who found plastic in her Italian pasta ewwww) and lots of drinks and reminiscing about tghe good old days

Time to go

There have been a mixture of emotions over the last few days, we are of course very excited to be starting our new adventure but we are also a little sad about leaving behind such good friends and family. I have been doing so well in controlling the tears but have lost it over the last two days

Last night was quite difficult for Lee, he said goodbye to our closest friends ready for his flight today, I have that to come next week :'-(





Mick Naz took us to the airport this morning so Lee could ctch his lunchtime flight. Right now he is halfway there.... inhindsight I wish that we had travelled together, would have made it easier for both of us

Documents have arrived

Got back from Meadowhall today and the courier had been with Lee's LMO and all the documents he needs to gain his work permit when he arrives in Canada next Friday.

I will need to have photo copies of all of his documents and ID so that when I follow him on June 20Th I can obtain an open work permit when I arrive

the goodbyes begin

We had the first of many goodbye evenings this week. We met up with our old friends Tony & Wendy, we decided to keep it low key and went out for a lovely meal together.
It was really weird saying goodbye to them at the end of the evening, will have to really make an effort to keep in touch with people back home, it would be a shame for friendships to drift apart when we move

I'm now organising a farewell night with the girls, now this night could get messy ;-)
I will already be emotional as Lee flies to Canada on the same day and I'm crap at goodbyes even if it is only for 10 days & these are my girls and although we might not always see each other all of the time but would always be there if one of us needed anything. It will be great to see everyone, I'm sure there will be tears at the end of the night but it will be a fantastic night all the same

nearly time

Lee has received an e-mail today with his flight details, he flies from Manchester on June 11Th, we've just rung up and upgraded him also for the extra baggage allowance, he was lucky and got the last seat in premium !! yey !!

Lee has also been and picked up our boxes to pack and send over the rest of our clothes and bits and pieces that wont be in the luggage that we take on our initial flight. Will be very strange packing up our stuff for the last time, but cant wait to get there now.