Red tape, Canadian Style (Part one).

First thing on the agenda today (after cofee and breakfast) was getting my Social Insurance Number and get the MSP medical process started for 3 months time.

As it was a gorgeous sunny, warm (read hot) morning, I rode over to the serviceCanada building in East 10th and explained why I was there. I was given a small slip of paper to write my parents names and my address on and asked to take a seat and expect about an hour's wait as it was lunchtime! So, I headed to the bike shop and dropped the Kona off for new brake pads before walking back. I was soon called and had a chat with a very nice lady who was originally from Liverpool and all was done. She even gave me a form and envelope for the MSP application despite the fact that it's a provincal thing and not federal which is what they are. She even said that if I left it on her desk she would see that it got posted!

What service, eh?

Tomorrow the vehicle licencing department will be on my list!

Leaving on a Jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again.

So yesterday I left England for Canada via BA87. It was almost as if the country were pushing me away. First, the car that was taking my luggage blew out a tyre on the way up to the airport. First time I've seen a car tyre split from the sidewall! Scary. Once we got to check-in BA made me pay excess on 3 of my 5 bags despite the fact that the other 2 were way under weight. It appears that despite the company line that it's about weight, it's clearly not otherwise I would have been charged for just the weight that I was over averaging the 5 bags surely?

Since I was travelling with 3 bikes in boxes we then had to trot over to outsize luggage and get them checked in. The guy there grabbed the spring loaded handle on the end and twisted it, breaking it clean off! His reaction was to laugh rather than apologise. Luckily, Mum said "where do we claim for that?" His response was at cutomer service on the left. I went over and was told that it should have been at the far end of the terminal. So, we legged it over to customer "services" only to be told "Oh no, you have to do it online"! Thanks, BA.
It didn't get better as my seat on the full flight was the only one that wouldn't recline from upright. So I spent 9 hours 40 upright with the German woman in the seat in front with it full reclined and just short of sitting in my lap!

Things got better once I landed in Canada, with a number of Welcome to Canada greetings along the way as I got processed and grabbed all the bags with the aid of a cople of porters. Linda was waiting outside in arrivals for me and a quick call to Khai saw him arrive in 5 minutes flat! We loaded a two wagons and lugged it all into Linda's apartment. I think we were all amazed at how much it looks once it's in one area together. Scary, but hey a guy has to travel with his bikes, right?

After unpacking a few things and taking a shower we headed out to Bin5555 in Kerrisdale for a lush Chinese meal with crispy fish and salty, peppered beef amongst other things.

Finally, back in bed at 2200 local or 0600 GMT. That was one long day.

Farewalls begin.

Last weekend was the first of the farewell meals etc that I am having. It's not really in my nature to have a big all singing, all dancing do. I would rather sit around a table and have a good old chinwag and walk down memory lane with good friends and reminisce about shared memories.

Saturday started the ball rolling with a meal in Bournemouth with my old school friends.

Glenn, Alan, Ray and Stroudie (coming all the way from Brum area) came along for a taste of the Orient at The Mandarin, after the usual negotiations. It was great to recant the old war stories of friends past and present. A suitable toast was raised to Paul, which lead to lots of laughter and stories of his exploits!

The football pitch is a lesser place without him, albeit safer!

The following morning was an earlier than hoped for as 5 of us set off for the last group ride and we did a very hilly country road ride from Graham's at Verwood over the ridges to 6penny Handley culminating with a fast descent down Pig Hill with Shaun winning with a creditable 47.8 mph!

As you can see Graham, Shaun, Garrett and Bryce were nicely positioned before I set the self timer. If only it had been 12 seconds instead of 10!

The afternoon was spent with a Synergie BBQ held at Scott & Di's. A great time was had and with entertainment at various people's expense throughout the afternoon. The main loser being Thor Hushovd at the hands of Cav on the Champs Elysees! You didn't expect the last day of the Tour to go unwatched did you? Doh!

Thanks S&D for the venue, and all your hard work with the great food coming out of Scott's kitchen. Also, a big thank you for all the hard work and friendship you have given me and the others in Team Synergie over the years. Not forgetting the awesome moonpig card!

This weekend I head to South West London to Bon Voyage to the last few of my good friends.

Birthday Showers, paperwork and Red Tape.

Well, I'm heading into the last full month before I ship out to points West. Since it's my birthday today, I have the week off work and have it planned to be a week split between getting jobs for the move done, a little time spent on the beach catching rays (according to the forecast), some training and catching up on my OU reading and assignment writing. Well, it is a week so that all doable, isn't it?

After being awoken at 0540 by the boiler (furnace for Canadian readers) heating the water I rolled over, put the earplugs in and folded the duvet cover over a number of times to block out the humming from said pump. I gave up an hour later and crawled out of bed to collect my 2 birthday cards and sit down to breakfast watching the rain fall!

Well, that cuts one of my planned activities from the schedule for the day. Now I have to start with opening a banking account that I can leave here to service any requirements I may have back in the UK after August 17th. I looked into sending the funds from the sale of my flat (apartment) over to my TD account but the interest rates in Canada are even lower than those here in the UK, so that's not going to happen any time soon.

I also have to send off at the start of August for a 3 month private medical insurance policy since BC is one of the 3 provinces in Canada that you can't join MSP on landing. It makes sense to me since you could have people on long vacation claiming but I don't understand why it's only 3 provinces and not standard for the country. Talking of unfathomable practises, can anyone explain this to me?

When I land I can use my UK driving licence for 3 months max before I have to sit a written and practical drivers' test for BC. Again, a number of other provinces will exchange like for like, which is a little strange given that we drive on different sides of the road and there are things like four way stops to understand (even though in my experience most Canadians don't understand them either). But, if I were from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Japan or South Korea I could just hand it over and get a BC licence in exchange! What an eclectic mix of countries and some strange omissions. For instance, I understand the three European countries that are mentioned but why not France, Italy, Holland etc? Other than their national reputations as mad drivers I don't get that. Sencondly, I know that Vancouver has a larger contingent of immgrants from Asia but why Japan and not UK drivers, after all they drive on the left too? As for South Korea I don't know what side they drive on but you have to admit, it's a strange mix.

Ah well, I will have to make sure I pass first time, as I understand that if I don't I have my licence taken away and get a provisional requiring me to have a licenced driver in the car when I drive until I pass!

Right, I'm off to enjoy/ be productive for the remainder of my birthday.