Potter's wheel!!!!

We started learning the wheel last night! My first throwing experience! It was a bit messy!!! xxxx

We went Skiing! (Well, I Skied, Mark Boarded!)

Yesterday we went for it and headed out of the city, and up to Grouse Mountain for skiing / snowboarding! It took us an hour to get from our apartment to the mountain, and what a change...i still can't get over it - from downtown city, to winter wonderland!!!! We both had lessons, Mark had a private one, and me a drop-in group one. All in all we spent about 2 hours on the snow - real snow - our first time!!!!! I think we will be back again once a week!!!! It was ace!!! xxxxx

Guess what the most common dog in Vancouver is....

...The LabraDoodle! It is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle!!! hehehehe Sort of a giant Poodle, with an amazingly friendly temprament! Only in Canada!!! hehehehe xxx

First Half Marathon...I won!!!

Hehehe, on Sunday we volunteered to help out with the Vancouver First Half Marathon.....13.5 miles around the city! When we awoke at 5am on sunday morning i think both of us were wondering exactly why we had volunteered for this....and i got the blame as it had been my idea...!!!! Mark was working at the start line, setting up and lining the road, I was helping at the finish (just around the corner), with water set up. To start with things seemed a bit poorly organised....but soon everything started taking shape....and what we had both been doubting turned into a great morning!!! We were able to watch the start of the race, and......i decided it was such a beautiful day that i should get in the spirit of things and run myself.......and look......i won!!!! hehehehee - fastest time - 50 minutes!!! hehehehhe Boy did i need that water! I was glad i had my handbag with my all the way round too!!!!! hehehehe Mark ended up setting up the PA for the whole event, and enabling the Canadian National Anthem to be sung! So he really found his niche! It was nice to hear the Anthem too - it was the first time we had!!! All in all an enjoyable morning, well worthwhile, we would do it again! xxxx p.s. and the free Capers food was lovely!!! (Capers are a gorgeous organic food store!) p.p.s. It was FREEZING!!!

More of the city!!!!

The weather the last week has been amazing.....very cold, and crisp, but soooo sunny! We walked some more and discovered Point Grey, and Wreck Beach.....complete with naked people!!!! (It is the local nudist beach....even in February!!!!) Enjoy xxx

English!

It has been very strange for me, being British, English, in Canada.....everyone loves my accent, and I didn't even think I had one! Not only that, the girls I work with spend hours every day trying to speak like me, and making me teach them english words.....for example... 'To fancy'.....I happened to make a comment about how I fancied going out, and they did not know what I meant! We then had a whole lesson on when you can, and when you can't use 'to fancy'.....it seems you can 'fancy' doing something, or you can 'fancy' food, or of course you can 'fancy' someone......but when Patti said she 'fancied' my gloves... it really didn't work!!!! ;-) Also, 'Brollie' (umbrella), 'Telephone' (phone), 'Rubbish' (garbage).....it happens all the time....it is so interesting to have to think about how you speak and what words you can communicate with to be properly understood! I have also taught them about 'magic e'.....to put an 'e' on the end of a word to make the vowel in the centre sound as its name, rather than phonetically...for example....'Mat' becomes 'Mate', or 'Sit' becomes 'Site' when you add the magic e! I have surprised myself by how much english grammer I remember! But of course...there are always exceptions!!!!! hehehe xxx

Discovering the city!

We are still discovering and exploring Vancouver, and the best way is on foot! Today we walked around English Bay...and reflected on the last time we were here....with no idea we would be back and living here for a few months! Amazing! We also cheated a bit and took the ferry some of the way!!! hehehehe xxx

Mmmmmmm Chocolate!

I spent last night learning how to make chocolate truffle and chocolate box chocolates! mmmmmmmm, yummy! Some unusual flavours - cinnamon, peppermint and Chai, but still chocolate!! Not sure if it was good for me or not, but I certainly enjoyed the tasting! (As did Mark and Ben!!!)

My walk to work....what a view!

Thank You for the Music!

wow, what a week we have had...Coldplay Friday, Willy Mason & KT Tunstall Saturday and Jeff Tweedy (from Wilco) on Tuesday! All 3 amazing concerts..all very different!!! We were at the back of the BC Stadium for Coldplay...so Mark dressed up as Chris Martin especially! It was still a great concert though, and I remained standing the whole way through (despite everyone around me being sat down!!!) and we sung along in style! And even Chris Martin forgets the words sometimes!!!! ;-) For Willy Mason and KT Tunstall we were at Richards on Richards (which is almost next door to our apartment!), and we were at the front! See pics of us with Willy and KT!!!!! Jeff Tweedy was a whole different experience...at the Commodore Ballroom....dreamy acoustic tunes, made to make you think...and supporting him was the drummer from Wilco, and just the drummer from wilco!!!...an hour set of amazing drum compositions...I loved it! Where would we be without our music!

Burns Night!!!!

We come to Canada, and end up celebrating Burns Night with more frivolity than ever at home!!!! Last wednesday was Robbie Burns night, and Canada being quite proud of its huge Scottish heritage, it meant a big celebration! We were invited to see Adrian's band...this is my friend Rachel's uncle, who came over to the UK to play with Skin The Fish at a family party in September, so I was intregued to hear him on his home turf! Aaron, Sara and Lisa (Rachel's family) were there too, and we had a fab night, eating Haggis and drinking Whisky....well, Mark ended up drinking the whisky as we didn't like it...he didn't like it either, but didn't see the point in tipping out a drink!!!! There were Scottish dancers, a piper and everyone, absolutely everyone, was in tartan...be it a kilt, or socks, or a scarf...everyone was in tartan! The band were ace, playing a mix of old celtic tunes and East Coast music.....as everyone travelled to Canada originally landing on the East coast..and moving over land to Vancouver! I'm sure Mark was the most Scottish person there, but that did not matter....everyone was celebrating in style! Half way through the evening the Haggis was paraded around the room, followed by a rather drunk barman and a dog (wearing tartan of course!), and when it was finally brought to rest, we all drank a toast to the Haggis! We did however, realise we need to learn more about home....there was a Scottish quiz, and we could not answer quite a few of the questions!!!!...including: What does 'Glasgow' mean? What are the 3 main ingrediants of Haggis? and...How old would Robbie Burns have been this year? So....answers on a postcard please! I'm sure there are a few Scottish people reading our blog....!!!! It was a fantastic night, we laughed and danced heartily, and enjoyed the sounds of East Coast tunes, not to mention Haggis, Neeps and Taties! Roll on Burns Night next year!!! (In true horror of horrors though, i forgot to take my camera...so you'll just have to use your imaginations!!!) xxx

Snow....in the mountains...especially for Steve!

It may be raining in the city, but there is always a winter wonderland up in the mountains!....and we went skating!!!! hehehehe xxx

Wow - It's February!

Hello there! Wow, i can't believe it is february already, january has passed so fast! What a month, we are now sorted here with an apartment....in trendy downtown yaletown! Very posh! heheheh - you can see on the pictures we have kind of spread ourselves out alreay! Ben our flatmate is great too, and because he works in the restaurant industry we keep eating in some very nice places!!! I have a job too - working in a baby store..Crocodile Baby Store...check it out at http://www.crocodilebaby.com I am enjoying it a lot, we sell all sorts of baby products from strollers (pushchairs) to shoes, cribs to toys...anything! And it is not just like normal retail, you really build up a relatinship with the customers, they spend hours deciding which is the right product for them and their child, and we are there to educate them. I basically spend all day talking to people! hehehe. I am learning a lot too! Made my first big sale last week - $2400+. I was very proud. Everyone helped me! The store is quite multicultural, The owner, Christina, is from Brazil, as is Christian and Patti- two of the girls, and Jackson, the guy who is in charge of the stockroom. Then there is the manager, Gordana, who is from Croatia, as is Anita. Gerry, Christina's husband is Canadian, and then there is me...from the UK! It is great to learn about other cultures...and even a bit of portuguese (especially for Filipa & Mike!!!) oh, and guess who came into our store last week....none other than Alanis Morrisette!!!! Her brother and his partner are having a baby, and they have an account with us! It was quite a shock to see her in the store! She looked good! (Aparently Lucy Lou was in last month too!) We are very exclusive!!! Having somewhere to live and a job provides a bit of routine and stability, and is a nice interim to our travels. We have also been joining different courses...i am loving my pottery and belly dancing, and Mark is now doing a course in bar tending and management...i am looking forward to tasting teh results!!! We are also doing a group singing class, which is a strange experience, we are both used to singing in front of people, but in a class it is different...i think we will learn a lot! These are a great way to meet people too...there are a surprising number of people like us...moving through, new here, that we instantly have something in common with! xxx