The Joys of Visiting Southern Canada.....

I am approaching 1 year in the North. That said the first 6 months were in Goose Bay, while the past 6 months were in beautiful Iqaluit. My family and I are enjoying a couple of weeks vacation down in sunny southern Canada, I thought I would reflect on some of the things that I find fun, fascinating and strange.

First....the sun....it seems brighter down here, and certainly stays out a lot longer. When you have lived through the artic winter with the sun hiding most of the day, the sun shining brightly is one of the first things that stands out, and actually hurts your eyes just a little bit.

Secondly the malls. We have taken the opportunity to visit multiple malls, and big box stores....everything from Rideau Mall in Ottawa, to Stone d. Mall in Guelph. Combine that with Walmart in both Ottawa and Guelph, and numerous other big box stores....you would think that we were huge shoppers. Well aside from my daughter who has spent a bunch, really I find the malls crowded, and much too busy. The quicker I could get out, the better!

Hotel Rooms......well we are at the stage in life where we would rather pay more to enjoy the comforts that should come with hotel rooms. But we are still learning. We have stayed in hotels with 2 beds in one room....not cool. We have stayed in hotels with two rooms, one with a bed and two hide a beds...better but not great. The winner hotels like Embassy Suites in Ottawa and Staybridge Suites in Guelph. Two bedrooms, one with a king bed, and the second with two double beds, a living room, a kitchen, and two baths. That is the cats meow, and the way to travel with a family. Cambridge Suites in Halifax qualifys as well. That is true comfort with two teen/young adult childern.

Family....it is great to visit with family, to answer questions as to what is going on and how we survive.....really it is not that different. While we certainly have it a bit colder, Guelph has experianced more snowfall in the week we have been here then Iqaluit has experainced all winter thus far. There are trade offs.....I'll take the cold if I don't have to live with the rush rush rush, the many many people, and the cars and 8 lane highways.

We have basically a week left for this round of holidays.....looking forward to our move tommorow to Halifax......and Amys friends and concert.

Life is good!

I am the Weather.....

I am currently sitting at my hotel desk in Ottawa refelecting on the last week. It was a week that solidified my feelings about the opportunities with my company. Wintering Partnering Conference 2012 will be one that is seared in my memory. I only hope that I can deliver on my promises.

Let's start with the name.....it derives from the days when the post managers would come together in a central location and would trade goods for furs. Our company has kept the name alive with an annual conference where amongst meeting other managers from across the world, as well as chatting with folks from head office we also had the opportunity to meet with our vendors and commit to the purchase of wares.

The setting was beautiful. Most functions and meetings occurred at the Fort Gary Hotel one of the oldest hotels in Winnipeg built by the Grand Trunk Railway in the design of a Laurier hotel complete with ornate ceilings and copper roofs outside. I should not forget the statues and gargoils.

We had the opportunity to hear from internal business leaders as well as guest speakers such as David Graff who reminded me that I am the weather. Everything I do and say, every way I hold my head or cross my arms...everything is noticed by others, and everything effects others and sets the tone....I am the weather.....

Really though it was another eye opener.......that and one more.....hire people on rainy days.....thats right only on rainy days. If they are happy on rainy days perhaps they will be happy employees??? Don't get much rain in Iqaluit....but perhaps we could manufature it???

Anyway, enough....off to vacation.....for 2 weeks...then the storm starts!

Cheers

Shipping Things North.....

Well here I am 2 months into the new life, and loving it. It has come to the point where it is time to get the rest of our belongings shipped north. Well not everything, but at least some pictures for the walls, some military uniforms, and some decorations for Christmas. Of course the kids will be happy to receive their boxes from their old rooms too, that will put more normal and old memories back in place. It is now too late to ship anything by ship so the only option is to ship by air. Thankfully we have some great family support in Ontario who will take our belongings to the airport in Ottawa where it will be dropped off to be shipped by first air. $3.00 a kg is the going rate, which I suppose is not bad, but then again.....it is not cheap either.

Life is pretty good here, Heather has returned to work, and Amy continues to work, all at the store. Andrew is enjoying a few babysitting gigs and eager to join the workforce next year. I think he really likes Amy's pay checks the concept of getting hundreds of dollars every 2 weeks. The kids both have friends and things are settling in just in time for the winter.

All is well, more to follow!

Paper Driver Licences and Goose Down....

What does Goose Down and Paper drivers licenses have in common? Well both are new experiences for anyone coming to the North. Today I happily experienced both. First I went with my wife to get new drivers licenses. Mine expires at the end of the month from Nova Scotia so it was time! It was a pleasant surprise to head into the motor vehicle branch and be the only one there. Unlike down south where there can be hundreds sitting and waiting, and the process can be 2-4 hours, here it is a very quick process. Everything looks the same when you enter, just on a smaller scale. You still fill out paperwork, and hand over money, and get your picture taken....but then it changes....Your drivers license will arrive in 3-5 weeks, and here is your temporary drivers license....

Your temporary license is on a piece of for all intents and purposes receipt paper. The same paper that comes from the cashiers at the grocery store. It has all your information on it, and you treat it like a license. I was deadly serious when I asked the lady behind the counter if I really had to carry my license. Where I do not carry a wallet, I am not quite sure how I keep this receipt licence for 5 weeks......but here is hoping I have it all the way through!

The other first today was the purchase of my Canada Goose Parka. I went for a red resoloute parka........I can tell you already that it is warm......and big, and bulky. I know I will be happy when the weather gets colder.....and I certainly will have lots of time to use it so all is good! The parka is expensive, but you pay for quality, and I have to say it was less then 700.00 so actually not all that bad. I am ready for the winter, and for years to come.

Every day is a new experience and today was a chance to experience Goose Down and Valuable 5 week receipt paper.

Take care, more to follow!

Hard to work at 7:00am when you stay up until 2:00am the night before....

Ok, I am getting old. There was a time when I could easily stay up for 2 or three days without sleep and just power through. Even up to 2 years ago, I used to power through 2 days, 48 hours straight at the store when we were setting up displays and what not. Well that time has passed, I believe that I am now officially part of the old crowd....I knew that every year after celebrating yet another wedding anniversary that it was creeping up on me....15 years 16 years, 17 years...yeah Heather and I were part of a select few.....but now I realize that as the old saying goes.....I am not as young as I used to be.

I worked all day yesterday, when I went home we had plans to go to the bosses place and play poker......we got there at 8:00pm.........I think I yawned a few times around 10:00 when I would normally be asleep in my bed....by midnight I was slowing down...by 1 am I was getting a second wind, and by 2:00 am I was thinking I was not old at all......but then there is the next day.....

My alarm went off at 6:55 am...weird cause it normally goes off at 5:30. At 7:45 I pushed myself out of bed......worried that I had slipped being normally at work by 7:00 am........I knew I was in trouble when we had zero cashiers show up.......so needless to say, I was a cashier.....but not my normal happy self......I went home for lunch with Andrew, and fell asleep on the couch. Andrew took pitty on me and made me lunch.......by 1:00 I was headed back to work dragging a little too much....back on cash for a few hours.....then once we got through the slow time, by 4:50 I was just passing time looking at security footage. I gave in and headed home at 5:15...which is a first.....I guess I am worn out.

That is ok....great things come from challenges when we overcome them......to bed early tonight.........tommorow is Sunday so I can sleep in until 7 and head to work for 8:30........all is well that ends well.

Onwards and upwards......

A Wonderful Thanksgiving in Iqaluit

Thanksgiving was a wonderful blessing and a great time here in Iqaluit. It started with a great Sunday evening dinner. Just outside the door to my home is the door to what we refer to as the 8-plex. This building has 8 apartments, a mix of 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom units. It is the home of many of our fellow colleagues at the store. They have on holidays taken to the art of hosting a meal with everyone in the 8-plex as well as others in the hallway downstairs. Tables are lined up and chairs from everyones apartment and food is cooked in multiple apartments in multiple ovens. Everyone contributes something (we took the easy way out and put a turkey forward).....in the end a great meal with some great people. Full turkey, dressing and all the trimmings, great dessserts and above all great time with fellow people away from their "home" family and friends coming together to share and enjoy. We really enjoyed it!

Monday was a time for our family.......Heather cooked a great meal, and we took the time to sit around a table ourselves and enjoy each other....

Yes it snowed on both days!

My daughter the Sqaudron Warrant Officer......

OK first things first.....my daughter looks amazing in an air cadet uniform. She looks so grown up, and so ready to be a pilot.....wow! That is right...my daughter has left the ranks of the navy (cadets) and is now a fully uniformed member of the air cadet sqaudron. She has kept her equivlent rank (WO2 equivelent to a CPO2) so that is good. Getting the uniform and being able to trully be one of them.....is great! Heather continues to wear her naval uniform, although I think this may be hard for some of the locals....and me......well it is time to swallow the anchor. It appears that there is not a meaningful role for me here locally, and instead of hanging on...I think retirment is in order. It has been 26 years.....26 good years, but time to hang up the sword.

Work is going very well. I love the fact that I can actually make decisions, and impact change. Long days, and long hours, but there is so much to do. I have worked straight since arriving. I tell Heather that I take tuesday off......I get up and put jeans on....but I still go to work at 6:45 and get home late at night. maybe next week I will take a break.

Still loving the locale.....it is not too cold. Winter is here, not with all its fury, most days see flurries, and the mountains across Frobisher are very white with snow.

Purchase of Canada Goose jackets starts this week. All is well!