Fall is with us and seemingly pretty early this year. We arrived just over a year ago and we remember it being warmer and the leaves less colourful 12 months ago. The view from my window at work is pretty awesome as we look out over a ravine full of trees towards Toronto Airport. The word on the street is that we're in for another mild winter, although that doesn't mean no snow as snow mostly falls when the temp is 0 to -5 anyway. We wont be too disappointed if the temp doesn't hit -30 as long as the ponds freeze and it snows a lot. Public skating, which closes over the summer, has re-started so we'll dust off the skates soon and try to re-find our skills.
This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween is at the end of the month, the kids are planning their costumes and pumpkin carving tools are on sale at all the stores. It's a pity that we don't do Halloween back home, everyone really gets into the spirit over here and has a great time, we'll make sure we get some good photos of peoples houses, front yards and cars this year. I know the kids would love to bring the tradition back home with them but it's hard to do unless everyone in your neighbourhood gets into the spirit, maybe they can do a reverse Halloween and hand out the candy rather than collect it (did I say candy?). Oh and Jazz was on crossing duty at the school this week, a task only given to Grade 5 kids, our chick on guard below.
Back on the winter sporting front we've been thinking about putting the kids into skiing lessons in the new year and just need to work at the total cost before we plunge in. We might be running out of time to decide as the classes fill up pretty quickly. There's a Friday evening class that goes for eight weeks and includes a lift ticket for the evening, the whole hill is fully lit so you can ski under lights every night. Then Jo and I can buy a weekday lift pass for the season and we can all ski together after the lesson (of course Jo and I will need some lessons too, we don't ski :-)). Cost is the main factor of course, as the lessons etc don't include equipment hire, but whatever the cost it's heaps cheaper than skiing in Australia so most likely we'll get with the program.
We have been sweating over getting our Canadian work and study permits renewed. When we originally applied in Australia we were granted 2 year permits but on arrival Canadian immigration, for reasons best known to themselves, only gave us 12 months so we've had to re-apply. The normal waiting period is 30 days but currently they are 60 days behind. With our existing permits expired in August we had been advised not to leave the country as there was no guarantee that we'd be allowed back in... a major hurdle for our up-coming holiday into the US for Boston, Maine and all points north-east. Luckily we received the new permits in the mail yesterday so we're good to go and plan to leave around 5am this Saturday and head south over the border on a 9 hour drive to Boston.
I watched the AFL Grand Final last Sunday and enjoyed every minute of it. It was great to hear the crowd roar and see the new Northern Stand, the G looks awesome. I can't wait to get back home and go to a game, hopefully the Bombers will get their act together next year. NHL Hockey is starting this weekend after a low key pre-season and the NFL is in full swing. Sadly I'm not watching as much football as I'd like but I am playing a fair bit of golf so I have to think about spending more time with Jo to compensate.
Has it really been just over a year? Time flys...
Andy, out.
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