We have not seen the bears since the end of August. A couple of weeks ago, we saw the first signs going up in our neigbourhood, “WARNING – Bear sighting in this area” and the second week of May we saw George again. He already visited us one night, when Rudi forgot to put the garbage in the garage, the next morning we could pick up our garbage, which was nicely spread out all over our yard. We have given him a lecture, forgetting the garbage can result in the bear getting killed. Last year, 5 bears were killed on the North Shore, sadly 3 of them were Mother bear and her 2 cubs which we’d seen when we just arrived at our rental place. She attacked one of the neighbours and could not be chased away anymore. Our landlady  had kilos of organic vegetables and fruit in her shed, which obviously attracted the bears. When they are not afraid of people anymore or in some way become a threat they have to exterminate them. On average over a thousand bears are killed every year in BC.

We are making sure that our garbage is always behind the garage door and is only put out 10 minutes before pickup, I think everybody in our street does the same, still George comes for his strolls through our street, mostly in the evenings or at night, but sometimes during the day. We are used to it now and it is such a magnificant animal, he does disappear when you make noise. We are living in his territory, you cannot blame him for roaming our streets and certainly not kill him. Nobody in our street ever calls the RCMP or the conservation manager (as far as I know), simply because you do not want him to be killed. 

Video from youtube – Three bears in North Vancouver

School has been a big success for both kids, to the point that telling them we have to leave next year would be exceptionally difficult. Kes loves his teacher and school, learns about how animals live, the time, the calendar, the seasons, the weather, and doing presentations, all whilst learning to read and write (not bad at 6 years old). Rudi also likes his teacher and classmates a lot, does lots of games at school, and has broken out of his wimpy shell to become a strapping 12 year old in the full flows of puberty (not sure Canada had anything to do with that), and now heads for high school in the fall (autumn for you lot looking in!) and will do woodwork, metalwork, theatre, lots of sports, and hopefully some maths, English and French…..

2008 October 31 saw our first Halloween –Vancouver is known as the second Hollywood (lots of film studios and film locations) some people here make a real film set of their front garden, including special effects to make it even scarier for the kids.
Big fun for the kids as we, as well, decorated the house outside with severed heads, fog, monster skeletons in cages, fake blood, etc etc. Trick or treat with a bunch of friends produced about 6 months supply of teeth rotting candy, and the fireworks (only time of the year they are allowed here) nearly took out the power lines (which is probably why….). As
Power lines – with plenty of bad weather to report in Canada on the news every day, there is regular info on power lines going down in storms or heavy snow. So we asked why they are not underground as the recent tendency has been in Europe? No real reply other than it is expensive – we figured less expensive than all the repairs every year. North American logic……bit like their cars.

Kes Birthday

We had managed to organise one for Rudi within 6 weeks of arriving, and Kes had an abundance of buddies for his in November, an early evening session at Go Bananas, a local play area. Big success, and papa ate most of the Shrek cake!!

The Pineapple Express

Weather is a big topic in Vancouver and BC in general. They do get lots of it. We figured our first summer was quite nice, but the locals felt it was very poor. No pleasing everyone.
It sure does rain a lot, although again, we were prepared for worse and it didn’t seem too bad, although some weeks were pretty damp, others were bright and fresh.
Towards the end of November the frosts came along with some bright days. But it got colder and colder, and then on December 1 we awoke to see snow all over the roads. Fun and games for the kids, but continuous snow made driving hazardous. Throughout BC it was worse as cold temperatures and snow hammered away as Canada wide the winter onslaught gathered pace.
We had been informed about the Pineapple Express, a warm damp weather belt that hurtled in from Hawaii bringing warm winds and plenty of rain. On the evening of December 2, the snow turned to rain as the Express motored in, dumping some 10-15 centimetres in one day. With melting snow and driving rain, rivers ratcheted up to maximum or overflowed. The fall was the equivalent to one month precipitations in one day – bearing in mind a BC month of rain is already very substantial relative to elsewhere. The forecast was to return to cooler temperatures within a day or two, but the experience is already there.
On 29 January we awoke and got out of bed, only to go back again. 20 centimetres of snow had rendered roads impassable. All schools were closed and the normally mild Vancouver area had been hit by severe winter weather and sub zero temperatures. However, we were better off than -29C in Edmonton and other cities across Canada.
There were some great walks out the back in the snow, with no fear of the hibernating bears, and the battle of Limerick Place between two snow-castles met with an unsurprising end.
In Vancouver the mild climate sets it apart from the other snowbound 5000 kilometrs long, especially since the east had record snowfalls, most since 1939. However, Alberta had a mild one for once.

Home for Christmas

Being away for so long, we felt it prudent to go and see the families at Christmas. A very expensive trip was somewhat dulled by just about everyone being sick at some stage, plus a plethora of nasty 6 hour delays. Coupled with the fact that we missed masses of snow in Vancouver and some excellent skiing, meant these activities were to be taken up when we got back. Probably the last trip away for Christmas – logistical problems, especially with presents, fatigue, and lack of activities for the kids, means the next (and hopefully a lot more) will be in BC.

Kes learns to Ski on Grouse Mountain

Grouse is one of the 3 local ski mountains, 15 min drive away from our house, park the car, going up in the cable car and start skiing. It is an incredible experience (at least for me, Tonnetje) to ski on Grouse and seeing Vancouver Downtown, the sea and Vancouver Island from there. Grouse is open till 10 in the evening and sometimes when it has just snowed and the trees have a blanket of snow on them and the lights are on, it looks like something out of a fairytale.
Kes’ first steps on skis were in Les Gets at Christmas 2006. On 13 January we used our season passes to take him up to Grouse Mountain and get him skiing again. After a frustrating hour he began to make his way down the beginner’s slope and be able to use the lift on his own. After a few evenings after school, we persuaded him to go on the long green run “The Cut” – this took over an hour with a very crying Keswick.
However, next time up he was prepared to do it again and made his way down comfortably. The next time he made it very easily so we tried the blue run. Despite early nerves, these soon disappeared, and he really flew down the piste so fast that we could bearly keep up with him!! Bumps and all, Kes was on his way. Afterwards we realised he had not fallen over once that day. By the end of the season Kes could get down all the blue runs, leaving the blacks for next year.
Rudi really got into skiing again, and could ski all the black runs (some pretty daunting) on Grouse Mountain. Tonnetje persuaded me to buy the lift passes again for next winter, although I hope that with the boys progress we can spend more time going to Whistler and the numerous resorts in the BC interior; more expensive, but some serious skiing to be had. For the record, the snow depth was 3.5 metres on Grouse in January, and finished at almost 6 metres deep in April! And that at 1.000 metres altitude and with plenty of rain at times. Take a look at the views!

Skating

The national sport is skating, ice hockey is the national obsession, splattered across TV screens in every pub and restaurant, so when the Vancouver Canucks failed to make the NHL playoffs, it was a regional disaster. Masses of Canadian players play for North American teams, but Montreal carry the flag for those over the 49th parallel.
Both boys had to learn to skate, first on grouse Mountain in the open air, then with some lessons. Both have made good progress, to be continued, and Rudi can move pretty well now over the ice.

Working and Business

Tonnetje picked up a job working for Maxx Images, a stock image company in North Van. Small company, actually very small, actually just Tonnetje and the owner! Nice atmosphere and flexible, but too quiet for someone who is used to working at companies like Esso, IBM, Logica, Phillips, Shell, etc on big projects. This will end in June as she looks for something more suitable. Easy to change jobs in Canada, but also conditions well adrift of Europe, and three weeks holiday is considered very good, and 40 hours per week a minimum. Sadly, salaries are also well behind living costs, especially in Vancouver and North Vancouver, a classic example of where a country is rushing ahead of itself in trying to keep up. It could take several years for the situation to right itself.
Meanwhile, I get more and more frustrated in getting a business off the ground. Real estate booming prices have meant it is very hard to find cheap land for a recreation project as everyone speculates on future zoning. Hence I try to find other possibilities, but planning restrictions and technical hazards make this job even harder. I did make a huge (for me anyway) offer for an existing park in shabby condition, but he wanted 30% more. With another 30% needed in investments I shall have to be patient, hoping for some reality to creep into the market, as bankrupting the family is not an option.
However, since our acceptance into BC depended on me investing in a business here, and one year later there is nothing happening, we have many reasons to be concerned.

Sport in North Vancouver

As in other parts of BC, there is tremendous commitment to sport. The recreation commission has numerous centres and most sports and activities are catered for at a low cost. I play badminton Mondays and pay $5.40 (3.5 euros) for 2 hours playing. Tonnetje plays Mondays and Thursdays. Kes goes swimming and there are numerous levels, skating as mentioned has a huge programme with a rink very close by, plus tennis courts are free (outside), photography, theatre, squash, circus classes, and the list is endless. Kes has started Theater classes now. There is a total commitment and obsession with sport, and a lack of overweight kids, not to mention parents. And this despite a plethora of restaurants and shops selling some incredibly fattening (but often delicious….) foodstuffs and snacks. Snow-sports are a pastime as kids go after school for a ski or snowboard, or a sledge up on Seymour. Snowshoeing is the winter version of hiking, and on Sundays the parkings are packed as people head to the mountains for their winter snow fix. As usual, some things are a bit behind Europe, but enjoyment and getting out there illustrate some of the best features of Canadian lifestyle.

Entertainment

Being a major North American city, Vancouver gets its share of big bands – Rolling Stones, Meat Loaf, Police, REM, Joe Jackson, Lionel Ritchie…… sadly we missed many by arriving when we did, but we still managed to see Amanda Marshall (we used to play her music a lot at the bars in our hotels) on 17 January, and the “Boss” Bruce Springsteen in the ice Hockey arena GM Place on 31 March. More to come, hopefully.
We also head to Mosquito Creek bar and grill in North Vancouver, which has Karaoke nights on Thursday (crowd a bit young,) and now Tuesdays, and live bands on weekends. These are very good and on Saturday the band is older and the clientele, say 35-65, but they all dance like mad until 2AM to sounds of Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bryan Adams, Bruce, and many others. Great atmosphere, no hassles, 40cls beer at $6 (inc tax and tip), cocktails for $7-9, good food if required, no entry cost. How good does this sound?

Spring Break

Like everyone else, although BC is great, winter takes its toll, and the temptation with two weeks vacation to get away is very high. No Spain, France, Italy, Greece or Turkey, over in BC it is California, Florida, Arizona, Mexico, Costa Rica and Hawaii. We went for LA and some parks for the kids, Universal Studios and LegoLand. Blue skies, warm (18-22C but 26C the week before and after!), and ideal for visiting the area. We flew out of Seattle as flights were around $200 per person cheaper, but this did involve a two and half hour drive, and worse still, getting past the US customs who are often rude and unhelpful. Since 9/11 their security is more than an airport, with fingerprint controls, photo shots, etc even with 2 children. It took us 2 hours to get thru, some people even longer and missing flights as a result.
But worth the hassle, California is great and so varied, we shall no doubt return when we can.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Visitors – Sally

Sally (Tony’s sister), our third visitor from Europe. The first ones, Mick and Pat came in July when we just moved into our new house, which was still a complete mess, but nevertheless they had a nice time, so we think. My mother (Tonnetjes) came in September for a couple of weeks and Sally was here a couple of weeks ago for 5 days. Very short trip, but nice to have her over. We tried to fit in as much as possible, but there is a limit what you can do and see in 5 days. Kids liked it a lot and i think Sally enjoyed it as well. One of our trips was to the Sunshine Coast, where I had taken my mother as well. Nice 40 min Ferry trip and the Sun Shine coast is a very nice, tranquile place. Sally is coming back in August, she booked a 2 week tour with her girlfriends, unfortunately she is not staying in Vancouver. We probably meet up somewhere with her. First 2 weeks in July friends from France are visiting us, John and Odette with their children Sam and Dianne, we probably go with them to Vancouver Island and might take the Ferry through the inside passage up north.  

Ferry to the Sun Shine Coast

Cost of Living

I could go on for ever making contrasts, but overall I would say that life is very similar to Europe. Supermarkets are slightly cheaper, alcohol is dearer because of taxes, cars are cheaper, gasoline is much cheaper, but cars are less efficient so no real cost savings. Insurance is more expensive, but not that much. Eating out is cheaper, and pub drinks are surprisingly about the same, some being cheaper especially cocktails, but not wine. Electricity, gas etc seems about the same, whilst property taxes even out in a similar amount. I think there are as many contrasts living in different countries in Europe. We like eating out, so there are advantages here.

Social Life

Gradually we are starting to build up a social life and meeting more and more people. Being away from your family and friends is difficult and we have been moving around quite a bit in the last years. Every time it is hard to start all over again in a new place. Most canadians are friendly, easy going people and have a positive approach to life, which helps, when you start from scratch again. Most people we meet at the moment are from playing badminton and we are making it a regular habit now to go for a drink in the pub after playing. We get along fine with our neighbours and a couple of parents we got to know via Kes and Rudi’s friends. I met up with some Dutch families, last month, who live in the area and we got along very well, we will try and get together now once a month. In fact tonight we meet up in the pub with a couple of them.

Conclusion

As with a typical school report, does well, can do better, and hopefully business and work will pick up for the second year. Current projects include finishing off the house we bought, looking at buying a boat (which sort), Tonnetje going on a motorcycle course leading to us getting a bike, catching the ferry up the inside passage in Northern BC, touring Vancouver Island (only 500 kilometers long…..), and checking out the Rockies again. We also bought a better photo camera as we want to be ready when the bears come back, some “Warning Bear Sighting in this Area” signs have been spotted already. But beside the bears there are so many other nice photos to take here. Yesterday we bought a trampoline, lots of kids have one in their backyard here. Still, plenty to see and do……………………to be continued……..!

Harrison Lake

The very pleasant May did produce a bank holiday weekend when hardy Canadians resisted very poor weather to play mini golf and take in other activities. We realised over the summer the importance of the long weekends, usually with a public holiday Monday, where Canadians all take to something and everywhere is rapidly booked up.
Unfortunately, June was disappointing, especially since they had a beautiful and roasting June last year, and especially so on weekends until the end of the month. Then suddenly we were caught in a three week heat-wave with record temperatures, even recording 39°C inland 1 hour from Vancouver, before the air conditioning system, otherwise known as the Pacific North West, cooled it all down for a wet week after mid July. Thereafter weather was generally good, although never a long period of warm weather again, but enough to swim in lakes and even the sea – read on.

As the schools broke up, so Rudi was off for his sailing camp for two weeks. This involved me driving him 15 minutes every morning to the sailing school at Deep Cove, along the majestic Dollarton highway. Rudi really enjoyed the camp and is adamant he is now a sailor.

Rudi’s sailing camp in Deep Cove

Kes meanwhile went into a soccer camp, also in heavy heat, but also very much enjoyed it, although he didn’t seem to understand too many of the rules.

Kes summercamp soccer team

Since we had a lot of work to do on the new house, we spent most of the time in the North Vancouver area, but did take some opportunities to show off the two and three second tents in some park campgrounds. We didn’t stay more than one overnight in case the animals figured we had abandoned them.
These trips took us to the Cultus Lake region where I was sniffing round the possibility of acquiring a campground, and it was always good fun, building each time a nice camp fire, swimming in the lake, and a lousy Chinese take-away.

One of the reasons for staying local was the trail down to Lynn Creek directly from the back of our house. A great trail leading to the creek where we could meander from rock to rock and Buzz would love it.

Lynn Creek

This began to be curtailed in August as bear sightings increased dramatically to almost one per day in our street by mid August, and since their path to the street coincided with our trail to the creek, so we needed to self regulate! On one particular day, a picnic with the family and Cameron (a friend of Rudi) and a very pleasant afternoon ended with Buzz going mad as we walked back in the woods – we saw a black mass against the tree, that then turned round to reveal George the Bear’s large head. The barking stopped as we rushed the children to our gate (some 100 metres away still via a steep path), but fortunately Buzz came running back. Rick, our neighbour, had seen it all as he was above the incident in his garden, and the bear had charged Buzz who fortunately got away this time. Bearly!

This bear was scared of by Buzz barking, hiding behind the flowers, in our neighbours garden.

In March, we had bought lift passes for Grouse Mountain which overlooks Vancouver. These were valid for the summer and all winter skiing, skating, and sledging, the whole family paying 670 CAN$ (approx £300/450€). Several trips have been taken already, including a long one in July where we again saw the excellent lumberjack show, the bird show, and hiked up to the top to take some spectacular photos.

On top of Grouse, you can see Vancouver and far beyond.

It is also not uncommon to see deer or elk on Grouse Mountain, see picture below.

With plenty of fine weather in August we hired a boat one day to tour the India Arm, an estuary beyond Deep Cove with some magnificent scenery, waterfalls, and islands to jump off onto, and trails for those with time.

Indian Arm, beautiful spot, hard to imagine this is the sea!

Buying a boat here could become a necessity, especially as we have yet to explore the Howe Sound, the ocean around West Vancouver that is enclosed by a wide variety of islands great and small, and features very calm seas. One evening we took in Whytecliff park which is a very scenic inlet and rocks leading to a small island (if you don’t want to swim). The sea is warm here and sea lions are regularly spotted – we were lucky enough to get close to mummy and baby versions before leaving them to rest.

Walking to the island over the rocks to watch the seals.

As the long summer holiday period drew to a close, we kept up the pace, fixing up the house by putting a new floor in the kid’s play room (replacing a disgusting carpet), but also going on the Grouse Grind with Rudi and Cameron. The Grind is a hike through the woods from the car park to the top cable car station at Grouse Mountain. This somewhat arduous trek took just over 1 ¼ hours and left me feeling like my T shirt which was soaking wet and stinking, and in need of a change. Rudi was fine, no asthma problems, Cameron found it a breeze. I am getting old.

Then on a baking hot 29 August we went off to discover Twassassen, a town close to the USA border with an immense beach and shallow, sandy, and very warm waters tucked into a lagoon with views across to the mountains and downtown Vancouver. Wonderful place, great discovery. Good play area too, the kids had a great time.

Just adding this picture, taken today, Sunday September 2. This morning i opened The curtains in Kes’s room, when i saw Henry walking in the Garden, eating the black berries. Picture is blurry, as we took it through the window. As some people in our street cut their fruit trees down (the Bears came almost everyday to pick the fruit) i guess they now have to settle for some berries.

I practised regularly on internet, but the real road sense test involved some 50 questions. I for some reason believed that there were only 35, and was convinced that I had failed. I started OK, but then the mistakes came, and began to mount. I had used up my 7 and had not counted the total number of questions, and figured I had failed miserably. As it happens, I had used up my 10 mistakes possible with 3 or 4 questions to go. Finally it ended, and my score of 40/50 came on the screen – I had passed, but as the Duke of Wellington had said, “it was a damn close run thing”.
Fast forward 3 weeks to 10 July, and on a baking summer’s day, I prepared for my test. I had taken a lesson a few days before, and it proved invaluable, as a girl of 24, born 8 years after I had passed my first car test, went thru all my weak points and showed me a number of key areas to improve on, namely left turns.
However, in the days leading up to the test I became more and more nervous, and more and more aware that my driving was not up to scratch. I didn’t see pedestrians, got myself into a pickle on junctions, and could not for the life of me find the 30 kph zones near schools and play areas.
The day arrived, and a young Matt took me off for the test. He was cool and in control, gave me a hard time for gong slow, but was fairly predictable, and helped by hot weather which kept the traffic low and pedestrians off the streets, I began to feel confident. In the end I almost goofed, by rolling over STOP signs, but he let me off, and for the rest I felt good. Good enough to race home, very much relieved not to have to wait a week without a licence!

Tonnetje has her driving test the 1st of August, we keep you posted!

The storming of the Bastille.

At 08H40 on July the 14th, we heard a loud bang. My fear was someone stealing the newly acquired buggies. However, it seemed a strange noise. Tonnetje arose to take a look and the dog burst out of the door onto the deck and barked furiously. Tonnetje rushed in and grabbed the camera. “What is it?”, I remarked, “A bear has got the old pizza boxes” she replied. And sure enough, there was George the bear in the neighbours garden, whilst two empty pizza boxes lay on the ground next to the garbage bin lying prostrate outside our shed. Gazing from the safety of our deck, we observed George, who made eye contact with us, but otherwise seemed unmoved. Tonnetje clapped her hands once, and he (or she, couldn’t really check) just carried on appraising the situation, although on a second clap and shouting “Go” he did loiter off. Strangely, no one wanted to wander down to the river that morning……..

I (Tonnetje) now realise we cannot leave our rubbish bin outside and the bin has to be put outside on the street 30 minutes before pick up (07h00 in the morning). We were warned by the neighbours, but I thought it can’t be that bad, well it is!

Here some pictures I took from “George”

However, moving over to the other side of North Vancouver is tinged with sadness. The area is nice and has more nearby than where we are renting, and has more rapid access to the highway.

 
Lynn Creek (runs at the back of our house)

But Rudi has had a wonderful time at school, has made lots of friends, and moving means he shall have to change school. He is sad, his teachers are sad, even his principal is sad!! However, it is crazy to stay, as he will also make friends closer to home, and I do not want to have to drive 30 minutes each day to and from school. Rudi can also walk home thru Hastings Creek, a mini-rain forest walk back to the house. That he can grin and bear……
Apart from school trips to a roller coaster park, and sailing round Horseshoe bay, he has been in the local newspaper, and thoroughly enjoyed school. He will now go to Ross Road, and whilst there is no reason to believe that he won’t enjoy life there, it is a bit more scruffy and less welcoming on first impressions. See this forthcoming autumn’s blog for an update.

Lynn Canyon Suspension bidge (a stone throw away from our house)

Kes, on the other hand, will feel it less. He took part in a show with his class last week, but has not yet really made too many friends, and at the next house has lots of kids his age in the street. Having said that, he has made a girlfriend, Kailey, next door that he’ll miss.

The house moving is still a nightmare, whether in Toulouse, London, Alps, or wherever. And despite Tonnetje’s vaunted efforts to buy a ‘finished’ house, so ours requires masses of work done. Not just the roof, outside paint job, drainage in the garden, new fences, but inside we have decided to put down and all new wooden floor (quite cheap here), and having decided to sell our old bed, have had to buy three new ones and a dining table. As these are lifetime purchases, so we like to take our time, and that we don’t have.
Tonnetje is frantically getting quotes in for painting the entire house inside, and we have not even begun to talk about the new kitchen appliances (no drastic need, but it will come!)

I have purchased a nice new Kona mountain bike – Kona are world renowned and originate from Vancouver area. Interestingly enough, the World Champion rides Kona and rides for Les Gets. But then, maybe, I am not so amazing…………….

And the business goes on. Poor weather has ruined the June results, so we have to hope for good weather in July and August. There are plenty of problems there, but bit by bit they reduce, and hopefully by the end of the year, it will be all going well.

A typical school day:
From 09:00 to 09:05 there is some music to start the day, then there is French or math and every Friday there is ‘arts’. Arts, is a time when you have to make posters for the school. After that there is recess. From 10:40 there could be maths, English and history. Sometimes we get music, for music you have to compose some music; before I arrived they learnt how to play guitar and other instruments. We also get P.E (physical Education), at P.E you have gym in the ‘assembly hall’ which is big, or you can do some sports outside. Then from 12:00 to 13:00 it is lunchtime (eat and play), after that there is period of 30 minutes to read a book from the library. Every day the music plays in every classroom for 10 minutes to exercise, the children and teachers jump around in the class, very funny. A bit more work and it is finished at 15:00 but we normally finish 15 minutes earlier and can play outside till 15.00.

Rosie, ‘The Tarantula’ is from the principle, the spider lives in a cage in the library. As a punishment, the spider will crawl up your arm and everybody seems to behave well.

Playland

Tuesday the 15th, the teacher told me they were going to playland on Thursday the 17th. The excuse was that we had to go there to study the effects of roller coasters. A parent took me to playland and I went with a group of 3 (including me) + parent, we went on most of the rides. It was fun studying the effects of ‘g’ force.

Friday fun day
On Friday the 25th there was fun day. During fun day you find a friend or a parent to go with, then you go to all the classes, every class has a different activity, like pillow fight and tug of war. You could buy ice cream, popcorn, drinks etc… you could also go home by 13.00 o’clock

My brother Kes, making bubbles at Fun Day

Papa and Kes eating icecreams

News paper article
During my second week at school 2 people came one was a photographer and another person, an actor. The other person made us do a game; there are 3 bases, the actor read a sentence about health and food, one base was for people who think it is good another base is for people who think it is bad and in the middle a base for people who don’t know. Then we did some other things. They put a photo in the North Shore News Paper of me sitting in the classroom.

Today we had the whole day a First Aid lesson, with all the Grade 6 kids. A lot of fun and interesting at the same time.

Difference in languages.
Here are some examples of Canadian and English words:
Toilette – washroom
Bonnet – hood
Boot – trunk
Rubbish bin – garbage can
In Canadian French the words are different as well, it seems they use the old French, like chaussures are called souliers.

Sailing:
I’m going sailing with school to learn how to sail near the end of the year.

It is very easy here to make friends at school; most of them normally live close to the school, which is useful if you are bored. I already have one good friend and we see each other almost every day after school, we walk the dogs together and play. I can go skiing after school in the winter since it’s finished at 03:00 PM.

Rudi

Everyone talks about bears in your back garden in North Vancouver, but being so close to the city and in residential areas, we figured this was just a case of North Americans exaggerating.
Having just got back from walking Buzz, we entrered our cul-de-sac and a little black furry thing scurried across the street about 40 metres in front of us. This was closely followed by two rather larger versions moving slower, followed by a shout “get out of here!!’ of the neighbour.
Maybe the locals were right, sadly we didn’t have a camera.

Later that day we went to see the house that we had bought and had a good chat with the seller. It seems we were lucky to get it ahead of lots of other interested parties. However, their biggest problem was with the bears. They keep breaking the fence down and running off with the garbage can. Is it really a good idea to live next to the woods? Actually, make that a forest.

Later in the day, Rudi came home from school and Ton persuaded him to take Buzz for a walk with her. They walked out the door and Buzz exploded into barking. Rudi rushed back in, his face all white. The bears were outside our front door! The landlady ran after them as they were eating her apple stock and had bashed up the garage, but she also held off when mama bear charged her. We got some great pics of baby bears in the tree, mama bear scoffing apples, but no Goldilocks and no broken chair.

From our backyard, you walk into the woods

No real euphoria from me as I felt we had bid too much. In addition, we now had lots of work to do. By the time Geoff came round some 20 minutes later I had grown more appreciative of the situation, and concluded that we would get a very nice house for 830K-850K$ (£390K/553K€). not cheap, but in North Vancouver this is currently a good deal. We saw houses for more than this that we didn’t like at all, also much smaller. And compared to Pibrac the price per m² was not much difference, and compared to UK it is a bargain!

Today I wanted to register the children into school and apply for a SIN number (social security number), but Tony had taken our visas to the bank, so I will try again tomorrow. I have not decided on the school yet, a difficult decision, as we do not know where we will buy a house. Yesterday we have seen half a dozen houses with the realtor. There were a couple of really nice ones, but wrong location or just not practical. One was a real tree house, which Rudi loved! We have also seen some horrors. Wednesday we will visit a house, in a very nice location, right next to Lynn Canyon, a big forest with lots of walking trails. It is reasonably priced for the area and we already fear what it would be like inside.

Ton 

After 7 full days in Vancouver I have to say that it was an eventful week. Every day is packed out with things to do, some fun, some interesting, some painful, and some dramatic. Life has changed radically, although will probably settle into some sedate rhythm eventually.

On Friday it was off to hire a car, as usual, being a cheapskate, I went for the cheapest one. Fortunately, they didn’t have any small cars so we ended up with a PT Cruiser of Chrysler. Nice car, from the outside, but once driving, it is a typical gutless automatic that you find here. Still, it will do and we are mobile.
We found a nice trail to walk Buzz. Got some serious shopping in. days are long and we go to bed exhausted.

On Monday I went off to Harrison Hot Springs to discuss the building permits with the administrator at the town hall, followed by a long talk with my partner Gary.

Tuesday was a fun day. Tonnetje was asking when we were going to get a small car to run around in. What she didn’t know was that I had organised the purchase of a Mini Cooper. I just told her that I would take the kids downtown to see some play areas and shops, thus she could have the afternoon off. After sorting out all the paperwork etc, we then met up with her at a shopping centre; I got Rudi to take a photo as I handed her the keys. She was gobstruck!! Very funny moment.

On Wednesday we had our first setback. Following the family euphoria of the arrival of the Mini Cooper, we let zeg the cat out for the first time. He came back, but then went out on his own at night and didn’t come back. Tonnetje was in tears as she saw the end of the cat as he must have got lost. This was not helped by torrential rain, but after touring the districts, we concluded that he cannot have gone far. Tonnetje went out late at night and eventually heard some meowing. Despite my slumber I came out as well and we both began to localise the cat high in a tree. Zeg tried to come down and then got stuck. After some waving of a big stick at the branch, then down came Zeg and inside for lots of eating and drinking. Tonnetje has now locked the cat flap until we get our own house, hopefully soon.

On Saturday we had our first family visit to Harrison Hot Springs and our park Tugboat Junction. I was interviewing staff and going over the development of the park. The staff are all very young, 15-16 years old, but generally very enthusiastic.

Tony