Werk werk

Haven't done much in the last few days apart from work and trying to sleep.

Discovered the easiest way to figure out how much to tip by multiplying the GST on the bill by 5.

Although I do have a nice new and warm jacket. And boy do I need it! One of my black coats which I thought would be the warmest is not - the wind goes straight through! So it just gave me an excuse to go shopping. There are heaps of sales on at the moment and you have to spend to save!

Sleeping is a bit of a mission at the moment. For the first time Tim and I managed to sleep through the night - so we managed about 6 hours. Although it took a while to get to sleep cause the wind was making the building creak.

This morning (Thursday 12th) was a cool -11 deg C and we are aiming for a high of -5! I am going to have to watch out for those things that look like puddles, but aren't.

First day at work

Well - today is the day when Tim has to get up for work.



Not me though - which is just as well.



Tim went to bed a lot earlier than me - but we both woke up around the same time at 1.30am. After trying to get back to sleep Tim started reading. I am not sure what time we eventually got back to sleep through.



I slept in till midday, and woke up to find it snowing! It was a light dusting that went for hours. Little flakes floating down to the ground. Its amazing to watch (and boring after a while).



I went hunting for a supermarket based on some vague directions from someone in the hotel to get some food, and more importantly hot chocolate! So I layered up and ventured out into the falling snow.



When I got back I opened up the sliding door to let some fresh air in. It had stopped snowing by this time. And it was nice and crisp.



Canada isnt a country that Vodafone automatically roams to, so our phones dont work. I am hoping that I can set it up remotely (cause you are supposed to do it before you leave), otherwise I am up for $CA25 for a sim card so that Tim can contact me if he needs to. Otherwise he has to leave a message on the voicemail at our room.

Reccy

On Sunday we ventured outside into the cold, and went for a long walk. We ventured through parilament grounds and saw some pretty old buildings. We also saw the frozen river. Most of it was frozen, but you could see where it was starting to thaw. But in places the ice was real thick! It was a bit strange seeing the odd person walking on water... and people had thrown bikes and stuff of the bridge. At one point it looked like a snow plow thingee had started making a track on the ice. Talking to someone who has been here for a few months - they said that until Thursday last week people were using the frozen river as an ice staking rink, and some people would skate to work!

No snow just yet though... but one thing to watch out for is puddles that look like puddles, but are actually ice! I almost had a whoopsy while I was carrying the camera. but even if it looks like wet ground it could be a thin layer of ice!

Went out for tea with a bunch of Aussies. There were about six of us I think. Talk included tipping protocol - cause no one knew when or what to tip - was quite funny...

Canada at last

After taking different flights to Auckland, and then managing to get seats next to each other on the Auckland to Vancouver flight our connecting flight to Ottoawa was delayed while they had to get someones bags off. So we had to wait an hour before we left.

They kept calling for the person thinking they might have been on the plane... to no avail.'

Tim's flight to Auckland was delayed by 15 mins, so I only arrive 15 mins after him. Then it was almost a mad walk to the international. Man, it was muggy!

Then it was 13 hours or so from Auckland to Vancouver. 13 hours of movies, and some sleep. Plane food wasnt too bad either. We were tired when we arrive in Vancouver, so much that I almost left my wallet in the terminal if is wasnt for Tim.

Arriving in Ottawa we took a taxi to le Suites... the taxi was covered in a thin layer of ice. Being in a car that drives on the right side of the road felt weird.

Finally got to our rooms around 2am Ottawa time. It took us a while to get to sleep we were so over tired. I am not a good long haul traveller...

After almost 12 hours of sleep (apart from one interruption) we are back on track.