"Did I tell you the one about the guy at the fancy dress shop....?"

Back home (yes, I now call Montreal home!) after an exhilirating, relaxing, exciting and calm week dans Mont Tremblant.

I arrived on Saturday, to the beauty of Tremblant. It is almost a make-believe village, everything too perfect to be real. No litter on the streets, no beggars (thank God! Take note, Montreal) and everything in a pretty, wooden, vanilla style. Kate and I were not in the mood for anything strenuous, so steaks and films were our choice (not forgetting Cheetos and ice cream). We knew we had a tiring Holiday week ahead of us- for me, skiing and enjoyment; for Kate, work and tabards!

My first taste on the piste was my lesson on the 'Magic Carpet' on Sunday. I aced the class, only falling down once! I was going to have to get used to being on my arse these few days. In the afternoon Kate and I braved the torrential rain and sleet and hit the big ones! More time was spent on the ground and, without salopettes, my jeans took a battering.

Shivering and freezing, avec our Moccacino Grande's, we were surprised by the Appleby family. I had to admit I was a bit apprehensive about meeting them all at once, in an unfamiliar setting, and invading Christmas at the same time- but I needn't have worried.

The abrupt introduction didn't give me a chance to worry about my first impressions, but they were all so friendly, that I was comfortable straight away. We made our way back to the 'Log Cabin', where we set the fire going and set about demolishing the food that Dad Ian had bought and cooked. Over the next few days I would mange on some fine meals, including curry, Christmas roast chicken, pasta and beef casserole-yummy!

Dinner came complete with Ian trying out his menagerie of pathetic jokes, much to the distaste of his children. Personally, I think it takes guts to try such rubbish comedy, and it was so rubbish I think it worked! It reminds me of the pathetic jokes I come out with myself.

The Log Cabin was gorgeous. I experienced my first bath in months, where Mister Bubble "made getting clean almost as much fun as getting dirty". In this instance- where getting dirty meant five days of skiing down beautiful, icy, powder snow- it was a tall order, but Mister Bubble did the trick, soothing my aching thighs with bubble-gummy goodness.

Christmas came and went with a whisper, but it was overcome by the fact that I was just having too much fun on the slopes! After a couple of days I even tried out a blue run (one step up from bottom) and to begin with it was terrifying, but gradually the confidence grew. I never managed to go a day without a fall though, so it means I HAVE to get back up to the slopes soon (what a chore!)

Back in Montreal now though, minus many many dollars, but very happy with the way Christmas with the Applebys went off! Next week will be more of the same avec my inherited family, with possibly ice skating down at the Old Port, and tonight, more IMAX joy with Kate. Bring on 2008!

Play hard, work hard(ish)

If there is one reason why someone should come to Canada, then having a naked Angelina Jolie coming out of the cinema screen at you is it.

Okay, so it was a computer generated screen and I was wearing ridiculous sunglasses akin to Jarvis Cocker, but the IMAX on Rue Sainte Catherine is well worth the money! Allie, some Frenchies and I all went down yesterday to watch Beowulf, where I proudly declared the plethora of British actors in the production. It was cheap day and a ticket, massive popcorn and a coke came to the princely sum of $8 (about £4). The bonus of the film being in 3D (my first experience outside of the basic introduction at DisneyLand Paris in about 1993) just made the evening all the better for me.

Outside of that, the job searches go on, and I look to have landed an upgrade of the telemarketing job I already have. It's almost the same thing, yet I will be gettin paid $2 an hour more, plus a commission at the end of the month. It's all extra for the America savings!

It just means I now have even less enthusiasm for my current job. The insurance sales are going down and, let me tell you, it really bothers me (note sarcasm). I want money, but not boredom! Is that too much to ask?....Yes? Okay, I'll shut up then

In other news, forty centimetres of snow fell the other day, and there is now LOADS of snow. But I found out that the snow "Isn't sticky enough to roll into a snowman" (Seguin, A 2007), so I have to be content with watching it and not playing with it.

The Christmas Postman

Anyone remember that book with all the letters in it, I think it was just either called 'The Jolly Postman' or there was a 'Christmas Postman' edition. Anyway, he used to travel to all the fairytale characters' friends and give them letters from different ones (i.e. the three pigs sent a letter to the big bad wolf etc.)

OK, the point I'm making is not just the fact that I still think about children's books and want them for Christmas even though I am supposed to be a fully grown adult (yeah, right), but also the fact that I have been awaiting my own jolly postman for the past three days- and not to much avail!

No, not Santa, but the jolly UPS man swang by yesterday with an extremely valuable package containing my laptop (but more importantly, MARMITE!!). Not once, but twice I missed him, eventually wasting a whole day today sitting in my new Montreal Canadiens t-shirt and pyjama bottoms.

But I got my package! The annoying thing was that I also missed another package- again from Blighty, but how? I was sitting attentively listening for the doorbell to ring ALL day, how could I possibly now have to wait for another package! Well I pick it up tomorrow, another job for me to do!

Ah it's stressful living in a new country I tell you. My ridiculously boring telemarketing job takes up my evenings, soon to be full-time (help!), but I just have to think about what brilliant things I have coming up and it spurs me on!

Kate has been a great help in all of this. Firstly, she is putting herself through hell, taking what sounds like a BSc in Cleaning Studies up in Mont Tremblant- just so I can crash the Appleby Christmas bash up in the slopes. It also saves me a bucket on hostel costs, thanks Nanny (I'm making that name stick you know!)!

Next, she has me excited about our plans en Etats-Unis in March! On further investigation, it turns out that bus tickets can be obtained for peanuts in Canada (actual peanuts are not legal tender, by the way), and so our round trip of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington is more than affordable!

Pre-Christmas Christmas day was had on Sunday. That was when I received my new t-shirt, pyjamas and a killer tie to go with my killer shirt, shoes and interview technique. The Christmas/Hannukah tree is fantastic, adorned with garden lights, fake lilys, and tiny shiny disco balls-what could be any better? Not to mention the rainbow coloured balcony lights which lead me home on the freezing (five minute) trek from the metro every evening!

My job interview on Monday went alright I think. It was for a Content Writer, and seeing as I kind of did a degree in that sort of thing you would hope I am alright at it! Acqeous Cleaning Machinery does sound exhilirating I do have to admit, and the experience could do me well for later on! Plus it means more bucks for my travels, so, fingers crossed for me people!

The SWAP lot are making contact on the internet (need I mention Facebook at this juncture?), which means I have someone to hit the bars with this weekend. Still not many Canadians in my circles yet!

Now I have my laptop I can get back to learning French. The 'Time to Reflect' jingle does absolutely do my head in, but nevertheless I must stop procrastinating and start making some headway into the language of the locals.

Now less than two weeks until the real jolly postman stops by! Which means 13 more chocolates from my GIANT advent calendar (thanks Kate!) to scoff! See you soon Santa!!!

New city, new home

The travels have ended for the time being. I have set up roots in a cheap and cheerful flat not far from downtown Montreal, on what must be the longest road in the city- St. Denis.

My room is sparse at the moment, but that will soon change. This is the strangest feeling so far, that I am now 'living' in Montreal. The holiday is over, the working hours will increase, and the parties and restaurants will do the opposite.

Today is December 1st, the OFFICIAL start of the Christmas season (take note, retailers), and my giant advent calendar (thanks Kate!) has been violated for the first time! Plans for Christmas are still a bit awry, dependent on work, friends, money- you know, the usual concerns. Even if I end up in Montreal, it will still be a good experience avec la nege et la froid!

I have discovered a new level of cold here in Canada. My feet and I had a falling out earlier today as I opted for trainers, neglecting the snow. Then it was my ears' turn as they virtually froze off due to the bite of the wind!

First impressions of the new abode? It's cosy, reminiscent of my student house. There are two students living here, and the atmosphere is one of study, not party. That will do my bank balance nicely for the time being, and now I can do shopping it is going to be much cheaper in theory.

Talking of food........au revoir!

La premiere semaine en Canada

Landing down in Toronto to begin my year of cultural maturity was a bit of an anticlimax, to be honest.

The excitement was replaced by disbelief, and I could have almost just have been going on a holiday. Ten days on and that feeling is still there. I have been so busy with partying and meeting new people that I have hardly had a time to stop and actually consider where I am and what I am doing! Every now and then I stop and fathom the enormity of my situation.

Toronto was somewhat of a let-down. As Samer, Laura, Caroline, Mathew, Dan and I (the BUNACers!) landed, we were filled with anticipation of snow, the freeze...and fun!

"To the bar!" we cried! Actually, that cry only came from half of us. With the jet-lag stirring and the alcohol weaving its magic, it was a challenge staying awake, but we made it through!

Explorations of Toronto took place over the next few days. There was the CN tower, and the Rogers Centre- but what else? That's where a little blonde Northern lass called Kate comes in.

An enjoyable night at the Comedy Club was the Thursday where she first made an appearance. She had been staying in the same room as Caroline and Laura, and duly being stalked by a strange Australian bloke named Steve (girls, keep your eyes peeled for this one!). On the Friday night Mat, Caroline, Kate and I all went for a drink (or ten, plus extortionately priced bottles of wine), and conversation turned to Montreal. Kate was based there and had only been visiting Toronto for a few days.

Nevertheless, she sold the place sufficiently to me and I ended up on the 11.30 bus with her the next morning! Eight hours of trees, and retails parks, and trees, and retails parks later, we finally arrived in Montreal.

This place in the North East-ish of Quebec is amazing. The buildings in Vieux-Montreal (where the hostels I have stayed in are) possess a quintessential Parisian charm about them, while downtown still incorporates all the facilities needed for the party capital of Canada (bars, bars and more bars!).

Most of my time in the first week has been spent with t' lass from Leeds (Kate), and we have crammed plenty in! Ice skating, eating, drinking, walking (PLENTY of walking!). We had been looking for a lovely romantic carriage ride, but someone doesn't want it to happen (first other travellers, then the weather, then no carriages!). Something for the future maybe!

Live music here is a cut above. In the first week I have seen Irish folk, acoustic, Soul Jazz (with turntables and scratching!), listened to French reggae- the experiences go on. The town is so classy, the people well dressed, the clubs swanky (you have to buy a BOTTLE of vodka to be able to sit down!). But I love it here. Vive la Canada!

Counting in Hours

So there it was, tucked into the corner of my bedroom. My whole life in a metre of rucksack. I didn't realise there was so little to pack!Surely I have forgotten something?

Now all I must do is wait, kill time, watch paint dry. This is always the worst part, the pre-boredom before the boredom of travelling, and then the excitement of arriving! The winter coat is bought, the gloves are packed, the money is earnt, now the adventure begins!

After a week of carnage, first in Kingston with Mike, Simon and Maxine Carr (sorry, Steve Simmons, newly Christened Dipstick!) and then in Birmingham with the uni birds, my bro and the Skeggy six, the lull before the storm has began. I could sit and work out the minutes until I arrive, but that would surely just be sad, so instead I am taking up my time with tedium!

My last English meal (an Indian, so typically Blighty) will be tonight at 7.30pm, with the family and I will cherish every bite!

The next entry into this so far sketchy blog will be written from an internet cafe surrounded by snow and Canadians, and hopefully will be a cheery one! Au Revoir England!

Guten Tag from Berlin!

A word of warning- Don't have a leaving do from work when you will be flying to Germany at 3am the next morning. I can only learn from my mistakes.

After a hazy first few minutes as my mother slapped me round the face and showered me with cold water in an initially unsuccessful bid to get me out from my bed, I eventually found my way to the car and then onto the plane. When the hangover began to kick in I retired to the bathroom- my holiday had begun.

In fairness, because I had slept pretty much all the wa from London Luton to the German capital, I ended up being not too short of sleep. Our taxi driver picked us up at Schonefeld, and then told crappy jokes and pointless anacdotes for the half hour into the centre.

The first day was spent waking up. A coffee was in dire need for us, and then on to the Checkpoint Charlie museum. A pokey museum in an old whouse adjacent to the notorious crossing from East to West. It was interesting, although I still felt there was better to come from this town.

A kip was in order for the afternoon, to save strength for the Berliner Kindl and sauerkraut at a Movenpick along the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's premier street.

On Friday, we saw some of the bigger sights. The Brandenburger Tor was even more impressive in real life than it was on telly, the Reichstag held the imposing nature of an efficient ex-dictatorship, and the Holocaust Memorial was harrowing and interesting at the same time. Much thought was given to the meanings in it creation.

German food was brilliant in the evening in the old Nikolaiviertel area of Berlin, just off from the Spree. Meatballs, bratworst, goulash, venison, we tried it all! The ambience in the old Bavarian pub was a joy, also.

Halfway through now. Saturday was probably the most hectic but also the most enjoyable of the holiday. Up early for the Judische Museum, I was enthralled by the exhibits, and the architecture of the whole place is something that has to be seen. Some guy had designed it to be edgy and unforgiving, and the whole place wreaked of rememberence. After several hours strolling the museum, I was accosted by a strange woman demanding I get out. It turned out to be my mum, and we were then rushing to get back to the apartment to get on with the rest of the day.

A stroll with Sue to Alexanderplatz was followed by a mad rush to get to the Olympiastadion for the football (tickets I had given up hope of receiving). Onto the S-Bahn and changing to the U-Bahn, I hardly had any idea where I was going until I got there. The old place looked like it had been built in gladitorial times, and the atmosphere- even in a half full stadium- was the same. Viv and John joined me later, foolishly having followed the U-Bahn all the way, adding 20 minutes onto their journey. Hertha won 2-0, but sadly I didn't make the action in time to see any of the goals!

Another rush back to the apartment to get ready for the meal. The Dumpiches of Berlin came together with the Dumpiches of Geddington, and the grappa und weisse flowed! So did the food and it seemed that I had become a disposal bin for my sister as I polished off half her meal.
We went on to the town and experience salsa Berlin-style! Viv asked for some techno and The Hoff but her requests fell on deaf ears. Two gay Turks tried to talk jive with me and I was having none of it!(No, I don't care if you have 'got it on down' in Manchester, OK?)- The oldies (Viv and John) couldn't last the pace and I wasn't staying out by myself (makes a change) so we headed back.

Sunday was spent getting as much in as possible. I searched for another chiliworst (the one I had eaten at the football had been magical) to no avail, so made do with a Heisse Schokolade (Hot Chocolate) in a cafe in Potsdammer Platz. How in turned into a chocolate and milkshake sundae between me ordering it and receiving it is beyond me!