How to get to work by bus in -38°C

1. Get up half an hour early as it takes that time to put on all the extra clothes.
2. On your lower half wear tights, ski pants, 2 pairs of socks, boots.
3. On your top half wear thermal vest, t shirt, jumper, fleece, coat, scarf, hat.
4. On your hands wear gloves within gloves.
5. Don't wear your contact lenses as they tend freeze to your eyes. Glasses also freeze up but this is of slightly less concern.
6. Don't wear mascara or you will look like a panda by the time you arrive.
7. Take a travel mug full of hot tea with you.
8. Time your exit from the house so that you won't have to wait for the bus for more than 2 minutes.
9. On arrival at work, remember to clear the frozen snot-cicle from under your nose before you talk to people.
10. Answer politely the many dozen enquiries by smug Canadians about how you like the weather, eh?
11. Console yourself with the fact that when you come to make the return journey, the temperature may have risen to -35°C.

Groovy

Ok the fake personality stood up to scrutiny, now they want to talk technical. And they want to do it this week or next, they don't hold back these guys.

Anyhoo wish me luck.

Proper interview today

Today's my first proper job interview for a big company in downtown Edmonton. This one's to see if my personality fits into their team.........mwah ha ha ha! Which of course it will :)

If I get past that one then it's technical time and we'll see how it goes. Looks like a good job though so groovy groovy.

P.S. -37 today Pete Kelly might have to wear an extra blue shirt. And I did end up going out yesterday to clear snow in many layers of clothing.

I ain't goin out in no -30

Well I just moved downstairs with the plan of clearing some of the vast amounts of snow that's fallen in the last few days. About a foot deep out there to clear at the moment. But a glance at the thermometer thingie near the door changed my mind for me,

We were out there yesterday in -22 but it's starting to get a tad chilly now.

Two more interviews under the belt

Just agency ones but I'm being put forward for a nice job in Edmonton so fingers crossed. I've also spent loads of time re-doing my CV, it's not enough to say that you should be able to do something over here. They want proof that you invented the wheel, electricity and rain, preferably videoed, before they even give you an interview.

But I have to say that I'm happy with mine now, just the right sight with self-obsessed meglomaniac I feel.

Interviews

Next week I've got interviews with two agencies for sys admin jobs, fingers crossed.

Once more unto the breach.....

Well it's been done I've applied for a new job, the world will never be the same again. Jacqui and I came to an agreement that I can spend my first paycheck on a BIG tv, as long as I get a job, neither of us are particularily happy with the deal. This probably means it's a good one :)

New Years Party + Crazy Germans

I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it. In our new social world we were invited, along with Ian and lorna, to our neighbour's parents' (who are german) New Years bash. It was being held in their basement, kind of remodelled into a German bierkeller. We were slightly nervous about the whole thing but it was a really friendly atmosphere, although far too much bad europop was blaring out of the speakers, when they weren't playing oompah 'music'. But when in Germany.......

We got there at 8pm after having a meal of stew and dumplings, created by me for ballast. We got our first drinks and with my beer I recieved my first schnapps, a sign of things to come.


Us with Tony, the man with a huge choo choo. (Apparently he has a large trainset, seen in the background)

Then the dancing began, it seems that the older german men liked dancing with the younger women (odd that) so Jacqui and Lorna were in demand. Ok with me and Ian as we used them as a dance shield to hold up our English reserve.

When I received some kind of brandy with my second beer I suspected that I may have some regrets the next morning, time for a plan. In the meantime there were all kinds of dances going on and I took the opportunity of dancing with Jacqui during a suitably slow song - I wasn't going anywhere near the faster ones, there were people there who could actually dance.


Jacqui confused by the Greek dance

There was one dance when even Ian and I had to join in a group dance, arms round shoulders stomp stomp stomp kick, nice and simple, even when the pace picked up.


Guys Greek Dance

When I got my next beer, another schnapps was forthcoming which I kept as a kind of spirit shield, to ward off other spirits - I know how pathetic I am when truly hungover. And then it was midnight and the champagne arrived and the hugging and kissing started, all very pleasant.

And then more dancing and some really nice food was put out and the time of the lucky pigs was upon us! Apparently it's a German tradition that guests to a New Year party will each recieve a bag with a marzipan pig in it and one of the men and one of the women will recieve a bigger or 'lucky' pig, it's all luck. And these two will be seen as lucky for the next year.

And Jacqui shall henceforth be known as the Lucky Pig for the next year, it made my day :) Then the male and female lucky pigs dance aand everyone keeps touching them for the rest of the party. Good times for everyone, except maybe Jacqui who was sober in the company of lecherous older German guys.


Lucky Pigs dancing.

Soon the party was ending, around 2am, and we wandered off into the early morning frost. A really good party and we all enjoyed it.


Our friends Ian and Lorna (Lorna may be a tad drunk here).