"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!