Seeing the new year in

Perhaps I've not noticed them before but this year there are some shows on Canadian TV tonight to see out the old/see in the new. Sort of.

Of course, the time zones don't make it easy for anything live, with midnight being reached six times across the nation.

It seems so odd compared to the UK with its midnight only once.

Impending doom

After a warmish few days of around zero degrees, we're back to -15 to -25. I had a few inches of gentle snow to clear yesterday, much of which blew back later.

We might have a 'biggie' this weekend

Quick kill trap

The mouse trap worked a treat. But there were signs there may be another, so I set it again last night and it worked again.

They seem well designed; the mouse can only go front on and it has to uncover the bait. There seems very little chance of only getting partly caught.

The lost weekend

Today is one of those strange days. Four live footie games on TV as if it's actually a weekend. Why?

Well, Boxing Day fell on a weekend so that means the UK has Monday "off" to make up for it. In Canada it just seems to disappear. I'm sure there are some who don't lose it, but it's not a 'holiday' in the way it is in the UK.

A moose in the hoose

We appear to have a mouse. Hopefully not for long; I bought a couple of traps and some Mouse Treats. That's a bizarre name for a product designed to kill the bugger.

Of course, SD wants to catch it and release it. I remind her of when Lisa Simpson released a fish into the sea only to see it swimming happily before being eaten by a bigger fish.

Apparently it's okay if once released it gets picked up by an owl or something, squeezed by sharp claws, terrified as it's lifted high up in the air shortly before being ripped apart for a meal.

Dull day

From the Moncton newspaper:

Across all of the Prairies, B.C., the far north, the Maritimes, Quebec, eastern Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, it will be a weather-free day.

Sounds like it might be uneventful.

Love Actually

We always watch this on xmas eve. Fantastic movie; so many funny and touching moments in it.

Nearly didn't see it though. The DVD part of the VCR/DVD decided to pack up. We had to use the spare.

I now need to get a replacement spare. Luckily they are cheap.

xmas papers

There was a time when there were no papers for at least xmas day and Boxing day so I used to buy an extra one or two. Xmas papers were always pretty good; very like the big weekend ones but with added quiz/review of the year, short stories, jokey articles etc.

In the UK there was only a xmas day break in recent times but I still bought more than one of the xmas eve papers.

What wouldn't I give for a Christmas Guardian to tide me over the next couple of days.

New TV Show

Here's an idea for a new TV show.

A sequel to Rich Bride Poor Bride where we see what happens with couples arranging their weddings and how much they want to spend on what.

A Bride wanted to spend about $1200 on candy apples; just one of many things that was putting them well over budget. So the groom was redecorating their bathroom to save some money and she wanted to pay someone so she didn't have to help.

She put a hammer through the wall. Twice.

He still married her and it set me thinking. A sequel a year down the road, say, could show clips of the original show with viewers being invited to speculate if they are still together, up on manslaughter charges etc.

That would be fun.

All done

Everything 'needed' for xmas has now been bought (not necessarily paid for yet)...except, maybe, some dry roasted peanuts to go with the whisky/7Up.

Doc has told me to increase my insulin doses for xmas. So now I can eat and drink too much like everyone else;)

The Great Escape

Not the movie so often on TV at Xmas but the snowfall that we didn't get.

Down below, on the east coast of the US, some places apparently had as much as 70 cm. It did catch a bit of Nova Scotia but missed us.

Just got a bottle of my favourite (available) wine for xmas dinner. It was on offer too so that was a nice surprise.

Quite mild now

The minus 30s have gone and we're now having a mild -3 with a feels like -10...except there doesn't seem to be any wind bringing that wind chill.

I'll find out shortly when I nip up the road to one of the local shops.

wrong man sacked

Shocking display from Liverpool to add to the others this season. Unfortunately, one of the guys I wanted to see in charge has been appointed to replace the coach sacked at another club, while Liverpool is not making the necessary change. The other club has been doing well in comparison but they still wanted a replacement coach and they made their move for 'my man' while he was still available.

They'll have compensation to agree for the sacking and that will be it. Whereas when Liverpool's owners finally admit their mistakes, they'll have compensation to pay for the departing coach plus a likely payment to compensate another club for prising their coach away.

As much as I like Manchester United, Liverpool is my first love as far as top football goes. I want that back but it's a long way off and getting further away.

Newspapers and the net

It's great to have newspapers online but I still prefer being able to sit in an easy chair and have a leisurely read of a paper with coffee.

The trouble with Canada is it's too bloody big. This province is about the same size as England but with a population smaller than half a dozen English cities.

Each city here has it's own daily paper but they are like the local evening papers in the UK.; essential for local news and information but extremely unsatisfying as a read.

A National paper doesn't really work. The National Post is rubbish. The Globe and Mail isn't bad but it's hard to relate to much in it. I remember a paper was launched for Europe, called The European, a few years ago. It just didn't work.

If you're in a big city then it's probably different. I always enjoyed The Montreal Gazette when I was there. That was like a 'proper' Daily paper.

Brrrrrrr

No, not the phone but the temperature.

It was minus 31c when I saw SS off to school. Again, I should say I'm quite impressed with the weather forecasting here. They may get it slightly wrong sometimes when we get less or more snow than suggested, for example, but we do (generally) get the weather they say.

Yesterday they said the afternoon would see a temperature drop from around zero to -20, followed by -30 overnight with it getting back to a more normal bloody cold on Friday.

So we did the things we had to do early yesterday morning in plenty of time for the afternoon and I've not been out since, nor do I have to until tomorrow.

The driveway looks like a skating rink.

The financial doo doo

A possible strike by BA staff might play havoc with travel plans. People hoping to travel are understandably angry.

On the Expats forum, someone who is due to fly with a different airline, so doesn't have anger as an excuse, accuses the staff of being greedy (not that the dispute is about more money) and says "we are all in the financial doo doo."

The writer lives in the UK. For up to 6 months of the year they go to live in Florida in their second home. They fly at, possibly, the most expensive time of the year to do this. If they have to work for a living, work committments don't appear to be such that leaving the country for 6 months creates a problem.

This is financial doo doo? Can I have some please?

RCMP

Ever since I've been in Moncton I've been impressed with policing. There are those who think the RCMP too costly with 'ordinary' police forces being cheaper.

It may be that they have easier access to resources (what with it being a national organisation) than other police do, but something certainly works for them.

There's a report out today that places the RCMP here as number one in all of Canada for clear up rates of crimes.

The Radio Times

On the subject of xmas TV, one of the enjoyable parts of xmas was buying the two week issue of The Radio Times and seeing what was on, including whatever 'season' of movies was to be on BBC2; Those movies were generally my highlight.

As far as I know there is no comparable magazine here at any time of the year, let alone xmas. The last time I saw a TV Guide it was totally inadequate.

Mind you, the xmas schedules (aside from CBC) don't appear to be hugely different anyway.

Xmas TV

Took a quick look at the Xmas TV line-up for the UK. Before I came here, I used to stay at my mum's for a few nights over Christmas. There was always something worth watching on xmas eve and xmas night...sitcom specials, couple of good movies etc.

In more recent times the movies were less of a 'must' as I'd probably seen them on the movie channels previously. But there was plenty available.

I can't say the same for what I saw listed this time. BBC seems to have a sequence of comedy shows. It's unlikely that we'd both like them.

what was that?

Well it's already a few degrees colder than yesterday with another biting wind. Some damned funny noises around the house and outside the window. So nice not to have to go out.

Can it get any colder? Yes

Opened the door to reach for the mailbox earlier. The wind chill turned 6 below into -16. Hard to believe it can get colder when you feel that. But it will.

I shall take a walk for a few provisions later. Maybe the wind will have dropped. Either way, it'll save me going out tomorrow and I do like Saturdays 'off'.

less than they said

We were warned to expect a biggish snowfall that was going to involve strong winds so it would drift and become deeper and then it was supposed to rain so it would become heavy and then freeze as well.

Heavy snow is horrible. So I had a guy lined up for a clearance but he never got back to me to confirm.

Shortly after midnight it had stopped snowing, there was a few inches out there and it had just begun to rain. So I went out to clear what had fallen.

It paid off this morning. Only another couple of inches had fallen. It was wet and thick but okay because it wasn't 10 inches of heavy solid stuff.

Of course, the plow had passed twice and left a ridge, but I wouldn't have been able to have done the snow and the ridge.

I'm patting myself on the back for foresight but there was only about half what was predicted.

wondering about wonders

The life of the 7 year old autistic Nova Scotian boy and that of his family will have been made difficult enough with his condition and being unable speak.

He wandered off at the weekend without a hat, jacket and gloves and it was cold.

A snowstorm came and then it became even colder. He was stuck out there for two days.

He was eventually found, alive, huddled up against the sub zero temperatures and taken to hospital with severe hypothermia.

There was no happy ending. He died.

The "Lord" supposedly moves in mysterious ways. I'm struggling to think what wonders were being performed by this series of events.

frozen door

Had to crack open the front door the last two mornings as ice had formed somewhere and it was stuck. Needed a jerk of a pull. I did it last night thinking it would be okay this morning but it still froze.

I remember a couple of years ago sending SS out the back and around the front to push it as I couldn't budge it from inside.

I had to do it in England once or twice too, but then I gave a kick to the foot of the door.

We are not amused

The posts on our deck have a ball on the top rather than other shapes. The snow settles on them, looking like a head covering, a face and something around the neck and shoulders.

Just like many pictures of Queen Victoria. It is amusing actually.

more than they said

Woke this morning to more snow than they predicted and it was still snowing. Damn plow had already been...then returned after we cleared the drive. I was able to get to it before it became to compacted.

* * *

Bloody teenagers. Well...some. Okay, one of them.

SS got up and helped with the snow without a word of complaint and then did a bit more for me while I went shopping.

SD was complaining about not having time to eat anything before leaving for work. Normally she gets up an hour before leaving but when on call, like today, she has to phone half an hour before what would be her leaving time if needed at work.

So today, by the time she found out she had to go and then dressing she had 15 minutes to play with. Now, me, in that time I could have cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt...any number of things but she can't organise herself like that so I suggested a cereal bar. "That's no good, I'll be hungry at work" she says stroppily.

"Okay, don't have anything then and obviously you won't be hungry" says I sarcastically. I said if she doesn't have time to eat she could get up earlier. "I can't do that as I can't phone earlier to see if I'm needed."

So I point out that if that's the way she wants to do it, don't complain; the solution is in her hands. "You could get up earlier, eat something and then make the call. It's not rocket science."

By now she's in a real huff. The thing is it's not like she has to get up early in the morning and then find out she's not needed. Most of her 'on call' days are for a 1.00pm start. Occasionally it will be for 11.00am, hardly the crack of dawn. What's the big deal with getting up at 9.00 instead of 9.30 once in a while???

Then she's complaining about a small tear at the edge of her coat pocket as she puts her hand in, stretching the pocket, putting extra strain on the tear. I suggested she refrained from putting her hand in the pocket to prevent it tearing further. Can't do that, she keeps her gloves there. So don't keep them there, says I. More eye rolling, huffing etc.

five inches

Having our first proper snow of the winter this evening. Five or so inches expected overnight. Haven't even put the shovels away from last winter.

Not rocket science

Usual snobbery on the Guardian football blogs today. A guy writes about the chances of the African teams at the World Cup next year and focuses on the more well known Africans and he's criticised for lack of depth in the article.

Why are the players well known? Because they play for well known teams. Why are the teams well known? Because they are successful and regularly appear in the finals of what is reckoned to be the highest level of club football in the world - The European Champions League.

It's where the money is and it's where the world's top players gravitate to, be they Europeans, South Americans, North Americans, African, Asian etc.

Because the world's top players are involved, many of the club teams are considered to be better than many of the International teams because their player selection is not restricted to players of one nationality.

So what's the big deal in concentrating on players 'proven' at the top level when assessing the chances of national teams?

It goes in the garage or under the bed

I can't believe these 'fitness' things are still being advertised. You know those pieces of equipment that get people into the sort of shape they always had anyway, if the ads are anything to go by.

Doesn't everyone know they end up stored in the garage, basement or under the bed before the third instalment has been paid?

But then I suppose the advertisers have done their job and brought the money in.

The Draw

FIFA has announced its seedings for the world cup draw Friday. In their crazed desire for excessive geographical representation the draw is in great danger of being completely unbalanced.

There could be two or three 'groups of death' while also having one or two groups painfully easy. Somebody will get a very easy 2nd round match. It will probably be Germany again.

The draw is live on CBC. Can't wait.

Infusion Two

Second infusion today, two weeks on. My wife was feeling sick as the stuff was going in last time. I expect the same to happen again but she's going to drink less water this time and see if that helps. Must remember to take the paper this time as well as a book.

* * *

No water, just juice and no nausea; no need for gravol this time.

While there I actually read some more of a book I started pre-summer 2008!!

Canadian football

I keep reading of The Grey Cup. I say reading but I really mean seeing headlines as I have no interest in Grid Iron 'football' and this seems to be the superbowl for Canada.

But every time I see Grey like that I can't help but think of a competition for older people...like the veteran's (the non former military kind) tennis tournaments they have.

I have visions of someone greying at the temples, holding a trophy aloft.

Blustery

SD has her works xmas party tonight and it's not even December yet. Mind you, Santa arrived in Moncton with last evening's parade.

It's a blustery day but still no real sign of winter yet.

My arm aches a little after the jab but not that much. The difference between H1N1 and regular flu jabs is quite marked though. Light headedness and an odd feeling (as well as the ache) compared to absolutely nothing with the two regular ones I've had.

Finally

Got my H1N1 jab this morning. Unlike the high ranking officials, it was very well organised. My SD wanted me to hold her hand as she hates needles.

Unlike other jabs I've had, this one had me feeling a little light headed and I've been feeling a little queasy since then.

I have heard there's been more attention to H1N1 news paid by the public here compared to the UK. But then more have died here than the UK and Canada is half the population...so a death rate of more than double might explain it. Plus North Americans seem almost obsessed with health matters anyway.

really pissed off now

The health department here has been unbelievably incompetent regarding the H1N1 vaccinations. Having cocked up at the beginning when high risk people were denied the priority vaccinations deemed essential for the chronic conditions while thousands of others of low risk were vaccinated, they finally managed to hold three clinics this week for people whose health was likely to limit their travelling ability due to mobility issues or with conditions that meant they couldn't drive.

Where did they hold them? That's right, out of town. Not one was on a direct bus route and one needed a transfer using a bus that runs every hour. So unhealthy people without their own transport were faced with lengthy waits at bus stops followed by three or four hours in a queue.

Or $40 to $60 for a taxi and a long wait.

Then, this morning, the radio announces that "Now that the priority groups have been taken care of....."

Yeah, right.

Skyline

I found a nice strip of a picture to fit the page without it taking over.

I found a website the other day that had Canada's top ten skylines. Amazingly, Moncton's was there; at number 10.

End of the world

The other morning I woke and went to the bathroom. Looking out the window, imagine my surprise when I saw a mushroom cloud over the hospital.

It was not the end of the world though, otherwise how could I be typing this missive?

It was smoke from their chimney. Within seconds it reverted to the normal appearance but it was most definitely of mushroom shape when I first clapped eyes on it.

A free week no more

So much for a holiday from medical appointments. My wife needs a renewal prescription and we want to see about a change in another prescription. So we have an appointment tomorrow.

We never have a problem getting an appointment. Some people have to wait so long that they use a walk-in clinic instead.

* * *

November has been quite a mild month. I remember it was like this in our first year here and then we didn't have that much snow over the winter. All of the snowfalls except one were easy to clear. So I'm hoping for the same this time.

On the other hand there's still a week left for it to not be so mild.

Back to bed

It's -5 right now, with a 'feels like' of -10. And it felt like it when I saw the kids off to work and school. If I could have done it without opening the door I would have.

I'm going to go back under the covers for a bit.

* * *

Debate on the expats forum about whether parents who are poor enough to use food banks but smoke are harming the health of their children; either by second hand smoke or poor diet or both.

Those that think the parents are selfish are being told they are judgemental and being holier than thou, by people who say they are not going to judge others.

Which rather sounds holier than thou doesn't it?

Recurring dream

Had a variation on my recurring dream where I need to pee but there's nowhere to go or the toilet is out of order.

In this one I went into the cubicle but there was no lock for the door. It was too far to hold an arm or foot against the door. I went into the other cubicle and that was the same. There were plenty of people outside the cubicles.

Typical. Finally a working toilet but I still couldn't use it.

jumping to the wrong conclusion

The local paper recently carried a report about a cenotaph cross being vandalised in Fredericton and there was outrage; especially as it was just prior to Remembrance Day. It's now been revealed that it likely fell on its own with no evidence of any vandalism at all.

The same paper just printed a story about how some evil person left a caged dog in the woods to starve to death following a report that someone found a cage with some skeletal remains in it.

It transpired that a naturalist had found the outgoing tide left a stranded porpoise that died and that the local museum was interested in skull or skeleton once insects had stripped it down. The cage protected it from scavengers or predators in the meantime.

Just a couple of examples of how the worst was assumed when there were actually innocent explanations.

A break

Must have had a dozen or more medical appointments of various types these past three weeks. Nothing lined up at all next week.

It's going to seem like a holiday.

Cashier attention deficit disorder

Store cashiers are so fond of not listening..."I don't need bags for the bottles" while they merrily put the bottles into bags etc, but today was a new low.

As we were leaving with our purchases I asked if this one could call us a taxi . She appeared to acknowledge cheerily in the infirmative and then stood there as we made to leave.

I waited and she looked puzzled. I asked again; clearly she had some automated response to the original question. I had to ask twice before she understood.

Then she said she'd take us to another desk where there was a phone book and she walked to it. I said we knew the number as we followed and I gave it. I must have repeated the last part - two thousand (2000) about five times before my wife said two-o-o-o and she understood and finished dialing.

Then she passed the phone to me. How puzzling.

Chilly and Chili

I thought it was the coldest since last winter this morning when I was up the first time. It was still cold when I was back under the covers listening to the radio. Couldn't understand why the weather site was showing a warm 6 degrees the second time. But I just checked and it was minus 10 overnight and minus 6 when I was up at 7.00. That explains that.

Nice bowl of chili and a lump of crusty bread beckons for lunch.

Doctor Who In Trouble

From The Guardian: Doctor Who spiked his pregnant lover's drinks, jailed for six years.

Who will save us from the Daleks now?

* * *

Just bought a pot of broken Oh Henry bars, very like Picnics. Reminded me of all those boxes of broken Crunchies my dad used to bring home when he worked at Frys.

Hope

Big day tomorrow. The first course in what we hope will be an effective treatment for my wife; a three hour infusion of a fantastically expensive drug.

I'm curious as to how it will go. Will she feel it going in? Will she feel funny? How quickly might it take effect; on the first infusion or subsequent ones?

Just so long as it reduces a lot of pain and discomfort and gives her some mobility back. It would be good if it gave her life back too but let's not think too far ahead.

Dark day

Unbelievably dark day today. I opened the curtains and it made practically no difference. Very steamy out when I went to the shop for provisions.

What a twit. I wrote myself a note reminding me that Doctor Who was on BBC at 3.00 pm (my time) this afternoon (via a reliable stream) and I completely forgot. Never mind, though, my wife will download it soon enough.

What Saturdays are for

At 8.30 this morning I had my bacon sarnies and coffee and settled down to watch England v Portugal in a European Championship under 21s qualifier on TV.

Right now it's half time in the England v Argentina rugby union tour game which I have on the computer.

Looking forward to a friendly match at 1.00 between a near second eleven for England against a full strength Brazil and hoping to get another stream for the 4-Nations Cup Rugby League Final between underdogs England and, favourites, Australia.

After that I can choose between Ireland-France or Portugal-Bosnia in the World Cup play off games as both are on TV.

Back to the rugger and, hopefully an improved performance.

* * *

Marginally better second half. Overall, two wins two losses; neither defeat unexpected.

Strange

Really don't know what the weather's doing. Outside, the temperatures have been the lowest for several days yet we didn't need the heating on. Last night was another cold one out, yet I was too warm in bed.

Warmest day for a few days today but I put the heating on early because it was the coldest inside since last winter.

Guns

Every now and then talk of the Gun registry surfaces. People say it doesn't work and cite the ease with which crooks go to the USA to get guns.

But doesn't that make it good that it's not convenient for them to get the guns in Canada to use for crime? Personally I find it quite reassuring that the villains have to take the risks associated with crossing the border for guns; doesn't that increase the chances of getting caught even before a worse crime is committed?

Why do so many non villains want so many guns anyway? A guy on the radio phone in today has eight. Why???

untitled

How can things get so bad that a top sportsman throws himself in front of a train?

Of course, the occupation and being a success is irrelevant but......


I suppose what I'm trying to say is what hope is there for others without the advantages he appears to have had, including moral support that was there.

Hospital praises again

This tickled me. It's from the Brit Expats site and, once again, shows that some don't appear to live in the real world.

For $300 000 - $400 000 you can have a very nice house in Brossard or La Prairie; nothing fancy, but nice and comfortable with a back yard, swimming pool, hot tub etc....

That's right, nothing fancy. All perfectly normal having a house with its own swimming pool and hot tub. I wonder what the etc refers to.

* * *

I see a lot of advice in the paper and on the TV about coughing and sneezing into your sleeve rather than onto your hand.

It makes sense. If you can't get a tissue or hankie first. But what happens if you end up with a messy deposit? Yuk.

* * *

Once again our hospital excels. We had an 8.15 am appointment and then we had to attend a 'walk-in' X-Ray. We were in the hospital one hour total, including the compulsory 15 minute wait after a test.

The only downside was we expected to be longer and then go onto another appointment, but we were far too early and came home for an hour.

The Fall

No, not autumn.

Another anniversary today. The 'fall' of the Berlin Wall. It didn't actually come down on this date but today was when restrictions were lifted and crowds of people climbed onto and over.

20 years ago.

Carelessness

SS left the tap running at the kitchen sink. Flooding would be an exaggeration but water went over the worktops, in the utensils drawers and on the floor.

After it was cleared up, he made some lunch and left the ring on.

If he'd done it the other way around at least any fire might get extinguished.

* * *

Oh...by the way...The Oasis of the Seas made it safely under the bridge.

Both codes

Today's footie games on TV are not excessively appealing to me. Looks like an easy win for Arsenal and I only like to watch them normally if they may slip up. I make an exception for European games.

Luckily there are two International rugby matches worth watching one Union and one League. It's just a case of whether I can get the necessary streams. I'm confident about getting the Union game, less so the League game, although I do have a source for half an hour's worth, so I should be okay for the last 30 minutes.

* * *

Couldn't get a thing for the Union game. Nothing worked.

But I did get to see the end of the RL which we won, surprisingly.

Beyond belief

I've made an effort on this blog to not duplicate or rehash what I say on other forums. But sometimes it's just not possible. Sometimes things have to be said until someone takes note and does something. Not that anyone's reading the blog of course.

Because H1N1 is more likely to hit people with underlying health conditions and more likely to cause them complications, New Brunswick - as with other provinces - included them in a 'priority group' for early vaccinations.

When the clinic was announced for all the people in the priority group, nothing was done about spreading the load or ensuring that priority people would get their shots.

Not surprisingly the clinic was swamped by many non priority people who got their shots either by lying (which many have since admitted) or as a result of the policy not to turn anybody away; a not unreasonable policy for where someone was necessarily attending with the person at risk, but not good where people simply turned up because they felt like it.

Many couldn't wait three hours minimum in line outside in sub zero temeratures and, since then, priorities changed and no longer include the sick and disabled. Masses of clinics have been cancelled, while other places have organised things better.

The new priority group includes some healthy people but excludes those at greater risk of complications. They were supposed to be accounted for in other ways.

Don't know what's happened but finally they have announced vaccination clinics for those not in the new priority group. Is it for those displaced from the original priority group; those at most risk from complications?

Nope.

It's for everyone. That means the clinics willl be even more swamped than the one last week because, now, it won't just be those prepared to lie and take advantage, it'll be everyone.

And who will be the ones less able to stand in line for hours? Either outside when it's likely even colder or inside in a confined space huddled with hundreds (thousands?) of other people in conditions ripe for passing things on?

It really is beyond belief

One of the great news headlines

Man turns up alive at own funeral

The deceased was wrongly identified in Brazil. Apparently they hold funerals the next day which just happened to be a special day when people go to cemeteries to honour the dead. So he goes along, having been out with friends overnight rather than dying in a car crash, and discovers his funeral.

Here's one from today's local paper.

Man charged for eating donair in the nude

I take it there's no crime if it was a curry?

The darkness comes

So the clocks went back an hour here at the weekend.

Yesterday it was completely dark at 5.40pm but last week at the same time - 6.40pm if you see what I mean - I was out on my bike, not needing lights and no street lights on.

This always seems to happen. You expect it to get darker a little earlier gradually as winter gets closer but putting the clocks back an hour seems to make it darker two hours earlier within a couple of days.

Wow

Our hospital is truly amazing. It is so well run.

We had to go for a TB test today - appontment at 10.00 - before going on for a doctor's appointment somewhere else for 12.15. In between time we hoped to be able to fit in a blood test, rather than come back for it later.

Did the TB test on the 6th floor. Did the blood test on the ground floor. Too early to go on to the doctor's office so came back home. Got in by 10.30.

And 15 minutes of that was having to wait after the TB test before being able to leave!!

Missing teen

A girl has been missing for several weeks now. The RCMP has been criticized for a slow reaction; some even suggesting it's because she was "only" First Nation.

I'm not so sure. From time to time there are 'crimes' reported and the RCMP appear guarded, even reticent in their comments and releases of information. One begins to see a pattern that things may not be what they seem.

I do wonder if this is another one; they even seemed very confident of a happy outcome at one point as if they believed she'd gone off with a boyfriend or something.

That's not to say things have changed since but time is dragging on now and that's a concern.

We'll see.

Warm and windy

Very windy all day yesterday and I don't recall seeing any weather warning about it, when we've had warnings for more mild days.

Stepped out onto the deck last night and it was actually a warm wind. According to the weather site it got warmer into the evening and reached 19 degrees. It's been hovering around zero and under for the last week or so.

Two very brief power cuts last night messed up setting the clocks back an hour.

* * *

The H1N1 vaccination problems continue. Priority groups have been revised. Those previously considered to be at risk are less at risk now [sarcasm] hooray [/sarcasm] and the official sources of information show cancelled vaccination clinics with no explanations and no means of making enquiries.

Autumn Saturday

We 'catch up' with being 4 hours behind the UK again tonight, but for today the footie kick offs are running an hour later later than usual. So it's after 3.00 on a Saturday afternoon and I'm watching football. Just like old times.

It's a typical autumn day; windy and leaves everywhere. Lovely.

* * *

Interesting story in the paper today. The World's largest cruise ship sets sail; The 16 deck Oasis of the Seas. It has telescopic smokestacks and when lowered the ship still rises nearly 212 feet out of the water. To leave the Baltic Sea it needs to pass under a bridge with 213 feet clearance.

Apparently it's going to speed up so it sinks deeper into the water. I'm sure they know what they are doing but it seems a tad risky to me. I wouldn't want to be on the boat or the bridge when it happens.

Government incompetence part 27

The health department announced the first of the H1N1 vaccination clinics for people with chronic health conditions (priority need) would take place Thursday.

With so many confirmed, and yet to be notified, appointments lined up we thought it would be good to get it out of the way.

We got to the clinic late afternoon (it was scheduled to be open until 8.00 pm) to find that they had cancelled it and a notice advised of an alternative. Unfortunately this meant more expense in getting there (the other side of the city) but I decided it was better than spending and not getting it done.

When the taxi driver eventually found where we had to be the expense was already more than it would have been had they not cancelled and we'd yet to get home.

But it was packed. We saw about 200 yards of a queue outside the entrance and we still couldn't see the back of it. There was no way we could have stood in line, out in the cold (zero degrees) - especially with my wife in a wheelchair. The paper today says it was a three hour wait, most of it outside.

They've handled it really badly so far. There's been a bit of information about these clinics but no arrangement to stagger those arriving. I wouldn't expect appointments, but there are other ways. Nothing's been said about showing a priority need, nothing about good times to go....absolutely zilch. And they wonder why the phone enquiry line is busy.

I called later and the recorded message said they couldn't answer enquiries and to call back another time. Pathetic.

back for a lie in.

Had a disturbed night last night. I was settled in bed and all snuggled up ready for sleep and the bloody phone rang.

SD had a minor falling out with a friend and her stay over was cut short. Got up to await her return.

By the time I was back in bed I'd become cold and it took a while to get warm again. Only had a few hours before it was time to get SS up for school, so I went back to bed after he left. That was nice.

Dear Anon of London

Wondering if you saw additional comments below?

Warm Mouse

Since last winter I have suffered with a cold hand while using my mouse. It's only autumn now and my hand has gone cold already. It's icy to the touch, especially in between my fingers. Quite uncomfortable.

I've been making jokes about how someone should invent a heated mouse, while making do with cupping my hand around a cup of coffee.

Now I discover there are heated mice. There are also heated mouse mats and 'electric' blankets for the mouse. It's not that much more than a normal one but I wonder if it's enough to have just the mouse. The advertising guff says something along the lines of "can keep hand warm when used in conjunction with other (their) products."

It sort of suggests one needs the mouse and something else. The 'blanket' seems to be a pouch and the idea appears to be to have the mouse mat and mouse inside the pouch and then your hand goes there too. It seems somewhat extreme and it doubles the cost.

I think I'll try the mouse on its own and if it's not enough, some sort of home made pouch might do the trick.

Has anyone out there tried one?

* * *

Just heard the sad news that former Gloucestershire cricketer and umpire David Shepherd has died. I shall never forget when he had to make another run or two due to an overthrow and he was doubled up trying to get his breath back. Never the fittest player.

Idiots

I often wonder about people who go to known danger spots in the world and then end up in danger. Sometimes I wonder if I've been unreasonable for thinking them idiotic.

Now there's a couple who appear to have had their boat seized and been kidnapped while sailing in Somali waters. It's well known about Somali Pirates and they still went. They are retired and they just sail around the world so it's not like some who do volunteer work in dangerous places.

I wondered if I was being unreasonable; perhaps there was no other route for what they wanted. But there is. A major shipping company has made detours and other sailing types have said they shouldn't have been there. Idiots.

Bouncers

There have been a few incidents here over the last few weeks at clubs and pubs involving Bouncers and accusations they have been going too far when ejecting folk.

I remember a phase of something similar back in Bristol a couple of decades or more ago. It led to some law changes as I recall. Not sure if it's just Moncton or NB but apparently bar owners are responsible for Bouncers' behaviour. Other parts of Canada have wised up and have appropriate legislation.

As with other things, NB will probably catch up. On the plus side, it does tend to show that this kind of misbehaviour hasn't been the issue it's been elsewhere.

Dear Anonymous of London

I never lived in London, just Bristol. I went lots of times of course.
Moncton is a small town but for its size there's a lot here; plenty of cinemas, couple of theatres, wine fair, concert venues, varied restaurants etc. It has everything needed and more.

The big advantage of the place is that housing is very cheap. It means you can have a decent standard of living on a modest income. That's a clue as to my main reasons for choosing NB and then Moncton and my reasons don't even come close to why other people made their decisions.

It's worth looking at the expats forum if you haven't already been there. We seem to be in a minority of one so our outlook and expectations may be quite different to yours.

Winter is long - but that's virtually everywhere in Canada - and there's loads of snow. But it's brilliantly dealt with. Everything keeps moving. Roads are plowed promptly and excess snow is even removed and dumped out of town.

You really should check out the expats site and the other forum I mentioned.

mixed weather

I woke at 6.00 am to the sound of a huge downpour but by 10.00 am it was gloriously sunny.

It reminded me of the football commentary yesterday where it chucked it down in the first half but the sun was out for the second and the commentator said "only in England."

I'm sure it happens everywhere. I know I've been on holiday in the South of France, Greece and Spain where there have been big downpours followed by time spent on the beach or at the pool. And such variation in a short time happens here too, with snow added to the mix.

Circus comes to town

A report in the paper today says that LSD might have some medical benefits. Apparently some people are taking psychedelic drugs for anxiety. Or perhaps they're just anxious to take LSD.

* * *

Clocks in the UK go back tonight but ours go back next week. So for a week we'll be three hours behind instead of four. Must remember this for kick off times. Needless to say the football on TV sites have got it wrong again.

* * *

Research into how distracted people are when using cell phones reveals that when walking down the street, only 25 % of people using a cell phone noticed a clown on a unicycle while the rate doubled for those not using cell phones.

I'd like to know why it wasn't nearer 100% for those less distracted. Could it be they were all on LSD and just thought it was 'normal' along with that pink elephant juggling?

Early to bed?

I used to enjoy watching BBC's question time and yesterday's, was as controversial as expected. I could actually have tuned in via computer but forgot.

The viewing figures interested me but not just because they were up by quite a bit. Using the actual figures quoted as watching and the share of total viewers at the time according to whether the show was on at 9.00pm or 10.00pm, I calculated that there were normally around 12 million people watching TV when it was on just after 10.00pm but around 22m watching at 9.00pm.

So that's getting on for half the TV audience @ 9.00pm switching off and presumably going to bed shortly after 10.00pm. Unless they're doing something else...like watching a DVD;)

I had thought the people of Moncton or NB in general went to bed early judging by the lack of residential lights one sees after 10.00pm compared to earlier. Maybe it's Brits too.

Or maybe 10m viewers just switch the telly off early on Thursday nights?

Benefit systems

I've just been reading another meaningless poverty definition in the Guardian. To be fuel poor apparently means 10% of household income is spent on fuel costs.

No account seems to be taken of housing costs and that's bizarre. Home owners with no mortgage could be paying 15% or 20% and be far better off than a household with rent or mortgage to pay but fuel costs of 9%. And it's the better off family described as fuel poor. Idiotic.

There's a fascinating blog going on there too about Universal Benefits v Means Testing. It's all very well to be "right on" and criticise means testing as being costly and intrusive but the alternative does seem to involve spending where it's not actually needed while not meeting the needs of others. Striking a balance is the right thing to do and the UK pretty much had that balance 40 years ago.

The stigma aspect of claiming is easy to address with use of the right terms and advertising. We have Pension Credit now; a nice fluffy name for what used to be called Supplementary Benefit. Now it sounds like a tax adjustment and nobody needs to feel like they go cap in hand anymore.

* * *

Looking forward to Fulham v Roma later.

Day of rest

Heating/AirCon system is playing up. It's not that it's not working, it just doesn't seem to want to turn off. When I turn off at the switch at night, sometimes the fan still blows air around the house for a bit. Last night that 'bit' was actually all night. It's unheated air so it's not like we're having heat we don't need, but it's still irritating.

Two games of footie to watch today. Man Utd are in Russia and it kicks off early. Not sure if it's a floodlight thing or winter conditions. Chelsea later. I'm having a rest day.

If you slept with my mom the wedding's off

My wife's been channel hopping and stopped on trash TV again. What a subject. This guy's being accused of cutting a hole in his underpants for quick and easy access to his fiancée's mother!!

I remember the first time I caught a bit of Jerry Springer. It was hard to turn off as I sat there open mouthed.

Just how low can TV sink? I remember a show called Lie Detector (which they seem to use in this one too) but is there anything more tacky than Ejaculation Golf?

Somebody needs to do a comedy sketch with a posh BBC, 1950s voice announcing an evening's viewing with one dodgy show after another.

Busy day today

Really wanted to go back to bed for a couple of hours this morning. In fact I was just about to get back in when the 8.15 am phone call brought the sad news that one expects when the phone rings at that time. My wife's sister died.

Already had a busy day ahead. Doctor first, then hospital and, later, another apartment viewing with Madonna.

* * *

Madonna cancelled. Probably the paparazzi.

chilly again

Possible snow was forecast last night. I wasn't up to look until about 5.30 am but there's no sign that it did. Twice now. It's a bit less cold today; it only dipped to a couple below freezing overnight. Still not back into double digits though.

Have a viewing arranged for later with potential tenants.

Freak goal

Back to normal weekend footie but, unfortunately, I missed most of it due to a hospital appointment for my wife.

Liverpool lost when a shot was deflected off a beach ball that someone had punched onto the pitch. Sort of funny, but the rules of the game dictate it should not have stood. The kid responsible was a Liverpool fan. Bet he's having a miserable time of it.

Inconsistent

On the ex-pats forum there are threads from people who, for whatever reason, are moving back to the UK and occasionally they ask about or encounter problems regarding social security payments or medical treatment.

Providing the return is genuine - as opposed to a brief visit to take advantage of the National Health Service, as some do - whenever someone has a problem accessing health services there is 100% indignation from every other poster. Not one person ever doubts the returnee should be free to use the NHS when they get back.

But for some strange reason when it comes to accessing social security payments it's different. People start questioning why the returnees should expect it having been out of the country. Suddenly all these barbs are thrown at the returnees about deserting the UK, not paying taxes and expecting to scrounge taxpayers' money etc.

What's even more odd is that the costs involved in accessing the NHS will very likely exceed the benefits costs.

circumnavigating a problem

I knew a guy at work who spoke with big words rather than simple ones. The title was one of his favourites whereas the rest of us would get around something.

One of the columnists in The Guardian today wrote about the MP's expenses scandal. In the first couple of paragraphs there was a word I'd heard but never really knew its meaning, a word that I knew but the context was unfamiliar and a word I had never even seen before.

The familiar word with the unknown meaning turns out to have several widely used and immediately obvious alternatives, while the unknown word had a comical pronunciation. Its meaning, rather involved, was explained by use of example and I just could not see how it fit the way she used it.

At this point I gave up reading and that was a shame as it's a subject that interests me. But curiosity got the better of me and I just scanned through the rest. I think I'd get a headache if I read it properly.

I suppose you could argue this is one of the ways in which we learn, but I felt the way the column was written just excluded me.

mysterious semblance at the strand of nightmares

No sign of that snow so far. In fact it's a lovely sunny day, if a tad on the cool side.

More tacky tv. Something where they keep saying someone's name followed by "you are the father." They must be having paternity tests and disclosing the results in front of the TV audience. Good grief.

* * *

Mildly gutted. Argentina made it. Portugal made the play off too. Just a week ago it all looked so promising that they'd both fail. Maybe Portugal will get a tough draw.

First snow?

Down to zero overnight again with an expected "high" today of 6c.

Another Doc's appointment today for my wife and then we''ll make a stop at The Mall. I need jeans...these are cutting me in half. My fault entirely. I made the mistake of assuming that because the label said they were the same size and the same make as a pair I was wearing, in comfort, that they would be the same size. They weren't.

I bought them ages ago, not needing them at the time but sucked in by the ridiculous $12.

Snow is forecast for tonight. Just flurries mixed with rain (which sounds a bit like sleet) but snow nonetheless.

The Gravy Train

Today I'm feeling outraged.

Over the last few months many British MPs have been found to be, at worst, outright liars or, at best, shamelss leeches taking advantage of seemingly endless funds intended for a specific purpose.

In the UK Social Security system there are many safeguards that, for example, prevent someone claiming for someone else who is already involved in a claim. Yet there's nothing in the MPs expenses system that raises a red flag when an address already recorded as an MP's home suddenly becomes their "second" or additional home.

And where an MP names residence A as his main home with B as the second home and his wife - also an MP - names residence B as the main home and A as the second home, why is there nothing to say "just a minute, this address is already recorded for another member" so that questions may be asked?

It's as if they don't mind MPs fiddling.

As if that's not bad enough they can now escape sanction or even repayment because they might have been able to have claimed something else instead; all of which makes it sound like a perk to be taken advantage of as opposed to refunding expenses actually incurred in the course of their duties.

Someone prosecuted for receiving benefits while working on the side has never had the defence accepted that they might have been due a different benefit, so why does an MP get away with that?

It's sickening.

Thanksgiving Eve

Canadian Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. Perhaps I should give thanks for the Card that gives a huge reduction in the meds costs that were robbing us of money while we are also being robbed of good health. I collected my syringes and strips yesterday. I'm guessing it's supposed to be a month's supply even though one lasts more than that and one less. I think I'll just use them to fit rather than make it even more complicated. At least they are now free.

Not being a holiday in the UK it's not something I've been used to, so I have previously used Thanksgiving Day here as a dry run; experimenting with different foods and preparation methods to help with the perfect Xmas dinner.

* * *

Fed up with the news/chat/current affairs radio station for Moncton failing to give me news/chat/current affairs when I want to have the radio on - it broadcasts American Sports and infomercials at those times instead - I looked at the CBC Radio schedules.

It appears that Radio One will give me what I want - something like BBC's Radio 4. So I retuned. Only to discover reception is incredibly poor. The moment I stop touching the radio or put it back on the bedside table, the sound disappears.

The National Radio station with a big centre in Moncton and I can't get reception on the radio?

Footie.

More shocking defensive errors by England defenders. Just hoping they are getting them out of the way when it doesn't matter, before the main event.

Shame Russia couldn't manage to beat Germany earlier.

Results seem to have gone Portugal's way too. Maybe Peru can pull of the shock against Argentina.

* * *

Almost...but not quite. Peru equalised right the end only to concede again just after. Trevor Francis was funny.

"It's not a criticism of Maradona, but the substitution....."
Presenter: "Why isn't it a criticism of Maradona?"
"Okay, it is a criticism of Maradona."

The maze

Because of the excessive cost of our prescription drugs we qualify for for a Program that is supposed to cover most of the cost. The Program in this province is the hardest one to qualify for but, once qualified, it appears good.

On day one when I went to get three refills, I discovered one of those wasn't covered. It was something via a patch so I just thought it was the method that was the issue and not the drug itself.

The second time I went, I needed a refill for my SS. That too wasn't covered. And it's not especially expensive. It's only about $10 more than something similar that would be covered. We can get the doctor to change to the other one but it was found less effective when he had it before.

So now I decide to look at the Province's website to see what else is excluded. There's another that my wife has that's excluded. So that's three not covered.

Interestingly all three are covered by neighbouring Provinces. So not only is it harder to qualify in New Brunswick, they still exclude treatment that the other, more enlightened, Provinces don't.

It is possible for exceptions to be made to the exclusions if the doctor can convince them, but knowing how tight the province is I wouldn't have much hope.

During a phone call they also told me my insulin wasn't covered. Not too bothered about that originally as it's only $25. But that makes four of our treatments not covered. Interestingly, their website says it is covered. Arses and elbows?

We still have a considerable saving overall but we still have a considerable bill. Moving to another province might still be the best option a bit further down the line.

I still don't know about syringes and test strips. They are supposed to be covered. But what does 'cover' mean, some arbitrary quantity they decide regardless of medical instruction?

I asked them to tell me exactly how that part works; do I get them at no cost or apply for a refund or do they authorise it as and when? All they told me was they'd send the authority to the Pharmacy. But what will that be based on?

Previously I had to supply a costing for syringes & swabs and test strips & lancets, so they have info as to how much they cost per 100 of each; the only way they are sold. My doctor's letter says I'm supposed to test four times daily but when they sent the document confirming we'd qualified for the scheme, they somehow missed that I was diabetic despite the doc's letter and his confirmation of 3 diabetic drugs. Astounding isn't it?

Anyway, 100 syringes & swabs lasts me a month and two-thirds, while 100 test strips and lancets last me 25 days. So a monthly issue is too often for injecting but not enough for testing.

I should find out what happens this afternoon but I'm not holding my breath.

Senior moments

It really is Thursday today.

All day on Tuesday I kept thinking it was actually Wednesday before remembering that it was, in fact, only Tuesday.

On Tuesday night I changed the bags in the small bins and emptied the bigger ones. I even got outside with the garbage bags to leave them on the path for collection. Collection is Wednesday night.

I brought them back in.

My wife has some pills that are taken once a week. On Thursdays. An hour after bringing the garbage bags back in, I asked her if she'd got her Thursday pills ready for the next day.

I usually do know what day it is. I blame the footie...or lack of it this week.

Hooray for the UK Civil Service

Canadian government offices could really learn something about how to run things.

An office in Montreal made a pig's ear of sending me the Quebec issued birth certificate that the marriage officials told me was necessary.

The immigration department made a series of errors for which they finally apologised but did not correct and I ended up paying two sets of fees and double medical costs as well as it taking three years instead of the usual six months.

There was a fiasco with the tax department that as soon as it was sorted out another arm of the same department (even in the same building) created a problem with the same matter that the same office had just resolved.

Now I'm caught up in another maze* with something that looked to have been resolved a few days ago.


* see entry Friday 9th Oct

The league takes a break

A dull week footie wise. It's International weekend coming up so the league takes a break. Having already qualified, England has a game with nothing at stake although the opposition still needs to win. The game is only on the net but PPV here in Canada - so much the same as usual for me.

Thanks to better quality streams and access to some UK TV channels on the net I have been able to watch England games live and then TV reruns if I needed to see it again.

The games are somewhat low key given we've already qualified, although Russia-Germany should be a cracker. Bizarrely that's on CBC. I doubt Portugal will slip up Saturday, but maybe next week.

I must remember to watch the under 21s on Friday. That one is on 'proper' TV here. Good ol' Setanta Sports Canada.

another wet one

Another rainy day. They said on the radio that including today we'll have had as much rain as the last 'tropical storm' deposited. Didn't seem that bad to be honest.

Good timing

My SS finished cutting the grass for me yesterday - he did the back - and half an hour later it rained.

Today I decided to go to the shop before lunch rather than after. Had some nice egg and bacon for lunch. By the time I finished it was chucking it down...and it still is.

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket while the luck is still with me.

* * *

From The Guardian
PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Toulouse lost 1-0 at home to FC Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday in game marked by an emotional tribute to their fan who died this week.

They only had one fan? What are they going to do now?

Rare lie-in

Nice to have a bit of a lie-in this morning. Nobody to get up for school or work and not even an early game of footie to be up for.

I still woke and put the radio on and listened to some rerun phone-ins but it was really restful.

I cut the grass at the front this afternoon. Absolutely exhausting. Grass was thick and a bit wet (surprisingly) and the ground is always lumpy and bumpy. It's tiring at the best of times to move the mower over it.

My SS can do the back. Hopefully it'll be the last this year.

Red leaves

Into October. The stores have their costumes and multi/mini choc bar boxes for Halloween. The houses will soon have their decorations outside...skulls, gravestones, pumpkins.

The leaves on the trees are turning nice shades of red and yellow. I love the reds.

The snow shovels are still inside the front door. I hadn't put them away from winter. I shall need them soon. Been thinking about geting a contractor for snow clearance as, until now, there was never any urgency to clear the stuff.

Nobody needed to get out to work. If the schools were closed I could stay in bed without geting the kids up and then we could clear the snow at our leisure during the day. But now that my SD is working, she'll have to get to work on days when the schools are closed.

On the other hand, her work pattern is such that she doesn't have to leave until 10.00 am and then only a couple of times a week. Now that I think about it that's not going to mean early snow clearing after all. At least hardly more than before, if at all.

Might just see how it goes.

Good news

Had some good news today. Finally it looks as if we might get some support for our meds and we may not go broke after all.

With all the jumping through hoops, jerking around, misinformation, contradiction etc I still won't believe it until I'm at the pharmacy paying a few bucks every week instead of a few hundred every week.

* * *

The Roman Polanski affair rolls on. The biggest blog ever on the Guardian I think. Twice as many pages as anything I've seen before. I saw reproduced testimony from the girl (as was) and it certainly paints a different picture to what we all imagine and, perhaps, explains why she wants it all ended.

Live Aid 1985

Back in the days of VHS only, I had loads of tapes with movies and other things on and many had a spare 10 to 35 minutes or so that couldn't be used for much.

When Live Aid came along I thought I could fill up the tapes with something worth having.

What a fantastic day that was. I spent the entire day at home, barely leaving the living room watching.

I was so impressed with what I had at the end of all these tapes I ended up making my own compilation.

I've been looking at youtube and they probably have every single thing I had. Now if only I can find a program (I had one once) to save the clips I can do it all over again.

Typical bloody Guardian part 2

Actually, this should be typical Bloody Guardian Readers. And, mostly, they have a point.

There's a piece of research that found children of working mums are more likely to be unhealthy - eating sweets, junk food, slouching in front the TV, more likely to be overweight etc

My response was well what did they expect? What a pointless piece of research; kids at home on their own or round a mate's house are obviously more likely to do that because nobody is watching.

The following blog is dominated, quite rightly, with comments about why just mums, what about dads and how women can't win; either lazy stay at homes or blamed for their kids ill health.

But somebody comes along and spoils it, blaming the childcare providers. Maybe I'm wrong but isn't chidcare the preserve of the few? Those that can either afford it or those with the good fortune to have access to employee or other subsidised schemes?

I could be wrong but the way the comment was written just made me think of some middle class twat who thinks the advantages they had/have are the norm for everyone else.

Quick in and out

Out early to the hospital for a blood test. Woke with a lower than usual blood/sugar reading so was a bit concerned at taking insulin, walking over and having to wait while levels drop further.

So I delayed meds until after I got back. Was seen very quickly; in and out in about 5 minutes. Walk back was really tiring. It's only 5 minutes...or at least it was last year.

Had a bacon sarnie on return and now - over three hours later - blood/sugar is well into double figures. Crazy

Been to my wife's appointment as well and now feel like flu coming on. It's not, of course, it's just one of those days where I feel sluggish.

Flu shots

I was dreaming this morning that my front door had warped so badly that it wasn't closing. As usual when I dream about the house, it's actually my old house in Totterdown. There's always something structurally different about it too. And on this occasion the door was the one I had replaced about 5 years before I left.

Anyway, I was trying to sort out a new one and getting someone to fit it but there seemed to be many obstacles. Then I woke, relieved that it wasn't something to sort out after all.

Five minutes later one of my tenants called to say the hot water tank was leaking. Luckily, I hope, it's rented so the tenant will call the company. Hopefully they'll sort it. I could really do without more problems - especially the kind that involve money.

* * *

Got to start thinking about flu jabs now. Quebec has identified a possibility that having the seasonal flu shot might make one more likely to get the H1N1 variety. The UK and USA hasn't found a link. Quebec, Ontario and a couple of other provinces have already changed or delayed their plans, intending to do H1N1 jabs first. NB is sticking with Seasonal first.

The theory appears to be that older people and others with underlying health conditions (like me) are more susceptible to seasonal flu than H1N1 that is more likely to hit younger, healthier people. So it would seem to make sense to have the seasonal and, maybe the H1N1 after.

But then wouldn't that have occured to Ontario and Quebec too? With their population densities it's even more important to get it right. So one would think they'd know what they were doing.

My other reason for doubt is the statement from the NB Health minister or whatever he was. "We're not going to decide based on what Quebec and Ontario does." It sounds like he (NB) is just being beligerent and deliberately going the opposite way for the sake of it. And that worries me too.

I have already discovered just how backward NB is compared to other provinces. Is this another example?

Seasonal change of underwear

Winter draws on.

We've had chilly evenings lately but yesterday was the first since last winter when it was cold during the day. Inside. I was actually shivering in the afternoon.

Today is much warmer but it was still nice sitting down to watch the footie with hands cupped around a mug of coffee. It is, after all, a winter game and a hot drink fits. Having said that, I always enjoyed a nice glass of ale watching the rugby natches in late winter in England.

I miss watching the rugger games on TV. If I worked out what I'd be willing to pay for all the live footie and rugby I'd like to see and then subtracted what I actually do pay I'd be left with more than enough for the PPV charges and still be quids in. Bucks in or dollars in doesn't have the same ring to it. Yet when it comes down to it, I still can't bring myself to fork out the $28 - although I did once. Weird that.

Or not so weird when you realise that you get 30 or more top flight Games involving English clubs every month for little more than half the cost of one PPV game. Then PPV seems expensive, especially when a decent stream for free is likely. Or paying maybe $10 for one. I've done that too.

Typical bloody Guardian

Today they have their top ten coffeehouses. Not cafes or coffee shops, mind you. And where are they? Mostly London, Brighton and Edinburgh. Of course. How very trendy.

Those few that aren't include a place where narrow boats are "bobbing nearby" and the gentrified "Victoria Quarter" Leeds. Since when did an English city have a quarter? It seems to be an upper class shopping centre and, of course, the coffee shop name goes hand in hand with the University.

I'm surprised they couldn't find one in Bath.

Naturally there couldn't be one in the likes of Newcastle, Bristol or Birmingham.

What does average mean, mean average?

From The Guardian today - A comprehensive analysis last year found that two-thirds of the population pulled in less than the national average of £24,907.

At last. It's about time something was available to show just how meaningless this term "average wage" really is. I remember from school how there were three averages. All parts added and divided by the number of parts - that was the 'mean' average which is what this one is. There was the 'median' average which was the halfway point between the lowest and highest - an equally meaningless way of looking at an average wage. Lastly, and the best one, was the 'mode' average; The most common one. In other words, in this context, what most people actually earn.

It's nice to see something official that shows most people earn less than an average figure grossly inflated by higher pay levels.

Someone very kindly posted this. I'm relying on their accuracy. The minimum wage is less than £12,000 a year if 80 people are on that it takes 1 million pound earner to be added to make the average wage over £24,000. For every 6 people on minimum wage it takes 1 person earning £100,000 to be added for the average to be over £24,000.

comfort food

Pissed off and frustrated today over prescription costs and all the obstacles put in our way. Doctor says the government will likely want to be satisfied that other drugs like "these ones" will have been tried for a couple of months before they step in and pay. Nothing wrong in that but if he'd told us that before, we could have started "these ones" two months ago and gone to the expensive one immediately and due to the weird way the province works, all the drugs would have been paid for.

So now we're faced with still paying for the next two months and that's nearly another two grand on top of everything else.

So to feel less pissed off we're having comfort food. Chinese for the womenfolk and KFC for me and him.

Death week

Just reading in the Guardian about an increase in deaths coinciding with the intake of new junior doctors. The report says it happens on the day they start. Apparently nurses call it death week. Hohoho.

An obvious thought. Why not stagger their starting days? Sports teams don't give debuts to three or four youngsters in one go do they? Not in an important game anyway.

B&E

Just found out my mum had another break-in at home. That's the third one now and there was also an attempt once. Her car's been nicked/broken into a few times too; once in the driveway.

I was with her when we discovered one of the break-ins. I was first in and wondered why the door to the video cabinet was open and I knew something looked different. It was the absence of the VCR in that cabinet.

The mess left by SOCO after they did their dusting for prints didn't help.

Lunacy

The kids have gone to work and school. All's quiet. The blogs look active but the computer is slow as the weekly scan is running. Time for breakfast and the paper until the scan's done.

* * *

In the local news today. Disabled guy on $600 a month income plus a disability supplement of $1000 paid annually. Monthly income goes up and he's now $1.76 higher than the 'cut-off' point and, naturally, he loses his grand. Looks like this is something peculiar to this province.

Reverse the situation. Imagine he's been on $601.76 a month and it drops to $600 and because of that loss of $21 a year they pay him an extra $1000.

Absolute stupidity. Where's the common sense?

* * *

Done some more research. It doesn't seem to be a "cut-off" at all. It seems that disabled recipients of Social Assistance qualify for an extra $1000 a year and his income is now above SA levels. Obviously the supplement should be built into SA calculations so existing income can be topped up to the usual level plus the $1000.

Huh

Some people.

I was reading about a guy looking for a "standard 4 bedroom home for around $400k" in Nova Scotia. Having heard that would hardly be standard and that not only were good homes much less, they'd have the lower running costs he was looking for, he got a bit defensive and said

"I wouldn't call this a mansion."It's five bedrooms, 3 and a half bathrooms, a grand staircase, a circular drive, landscaping, front terrace and rear deck.

Sounds like a mansion to me.

Wind ups

The Manchester derby today. In 20 minutes time, in fact. It seemsSir Alex has been winding up the other team for the last few days. It's an odd tactic if it makes them more determined, but then they ought to be well up for the game anyway and it shouldn't make a difference. We'll see.

* * *

What a cracking game that was. Couldn't really have scripted it better. Hope Chelsea-Spurs will be as good.

Common sense and compassion take a hike

It does indeed appear that it will be assumed our step daughter's wages are available for our medical costs. What a terrible thing for a government to do to a 19 year old stepping out into adulthood. "Sorry, you can't keep any of your wages; you have to pay for your parents' medications but you can leave home and keep your wages." Dispicable.

However, it might all be a little academic. A treatment is lined up that is amazingly expensive and once account is taken of that cost we will have the shortfall that we would have but for the NB government's inhuman policy. What's really odd is that they seem to have an all or nothing policy in that we'll qualify for these extra costs and the existing ones. They're effectivley saying we can afford the $10k a year at the moment but that if the costs rise, they'll pay the new costs and the original ones.

But I'm not holding my breath on this. I'll believe it when I see it.

* * *

This was something funny from a forum I frequent. The first post is from a new member who gives no indication of where in Canada he lives or will be living. The responder also has no location listed.
Thread Title - 5 a side football
New Member "Does anyone know where I can join a 5 a side football team to play mid week ? Cheers"
Senior Member "There is a good place just a few miles from me." New Member "Where abouts is that ? Do you know any teams ?"
Senior Member "They're on the other side of the park. Dave is the captain of one and I believe Steve runs the other one."
New member This message has been deleted by the moderator. Reason: Personal abuse will NOT be tolerated
Senior member This message has been deleted by a moderator. Reason: Personal abuse will NOT be tolerated
New member This message has been deleted by a moderator. Reason: Personal abuse will NOT be tolerated
A moderator "Perhaps it might be vaguely helpful if you told us whereabouts you live? At least narrow it down to a province, Canada's a pretty big place..............!!! And try not to respond like an aggressive 12 year old this time."
The first response by Senior member was funny...the second one was a true coffee-keyboard moment. Luckily I wasn't drinking.

Bike problem

I'm useless when it comes to DIY and mechanical/technical/fiddly stuff.

Since I started cycling again in 1994 I never mended punctures on the bike. Too fiddly and the next puncture may not be far away through having a weakened tube. Or I might not do it well. With the tubes only costing three or four quid I just put a new one on.

I could just about do it though...except I could never work out how to get the wheel past the brakes when removing it and I just used force. For my current bike you just have to squeeze two parts together and it slips apart. It's then easy to slip it back in.

Normally.

Yesterday I was showing the lad how it's done and bloody typical! The brake pad goes permanently against the wheel rim. I fiddle around but have no idea what to do. I unscrew something and the break pad moves. I screw it back but it's firmly against the wheel.

I try again. It seems to do the trick but the moment I apply the brake it remains pressed against the wheel. It's now loosened to the point that pedalling will allow me to ride and that applying the brake might not work too well, if at all. I'll see what happens. Luckily most of where I ride is flat, I'm rarely not pedalling and maybe the front brake is enough. A bike expert would fix it in about 30 seconds. I might need to get it to one. Or maybe one of my stepson's friends.

Moved goalposts

Really pissed off right now. Been trying to get some help with ludicrously high prescription costs since last year when we were faced with running out of rainy day money. Earlier this year we cancelled a move to one of the many other provinces that don't leave citizens to fend for themselves as we were led to believe we'd qualify here but then they told us we had too much money in the bank. It seemed sensible in the long run to wait it out and re-apply later and I'm now doing that.

Now it appears that they may still refuse us on the basis our 19 year old daughter's wage may be treated as being fully available towards our costs. This would mean we'd have to take at least 70% of her pay as 'housekeeping' just to break even. She'd be better off renting somewhere privately; she'd have more money left after her living expenses than she'd have staying in our home and that's just wrong.

I always knew the government of NB was outdated in this respect and took some account of this sort of thing but I never had the impression they would treat something like this as if it was our income. I thought they might say a particular percentage would be considered as available and that our drugs costs were so high that it wouldn't disqualify us. I'm trying to get clarification and hoping they are getting it wrong.

But I fear that moving away may be back on the agenda again.

Firsts

I have my first Canadian puncture. Not bad for 4 years use of my bike. It seems to be a slow puncture; the tire was fine Friday, then Saturday it was completely flat. I pumped it up and it was okay for a quick trip to the drugstore and back but then flat Monday. It was probably flat Sunday too but I didn't check. This will be a good opportunity to show my stepson how to change a tire. Then he can do it for me in future. ;) Funny how we call it having a flat tire when it's the tube that's flat.

Another 'first' this morning. Or, more accurately, a biggest. The biggest spider I've seen in Canada. It was still titchy compared to UK house spiders; only an inch across toe to toe. :)

Nobody is immune

I've always believed that celebs benefit from their wealth in ways other than just having lavish lifestyles. They usually look young for their age or in good shape physically - look how a near 80 year old Clint Eastwood can still chase the bad guy. ;)

They can afford the healthy lifestyle, the doctors, the plastic surgery, avoid the stresses etc. Possibly, with regular health checks of the sort that only the well off get they can even find something and have it treated successfully before it has become too serious. Celebs usually die of old age, AIDS or shot by a stalker.

But with the death of Patrick Swayze from cancer it shows nobody is completely immune.

DIY disasters

Canada's worst handyman on TV. Nice to see it's not just me who can botch things. I can't do caulking around the bath to save my life and these guys remind me of when I was nailing down the floorboards in the bathroom at my old home. Well I didn't know where the pipes were did I?

Hearing a mini Niagara Falls down in the kitchen alerted me!

I did a pretty good job on the laminate flooring though, once my brother had got me started.

* * *

Despite the recession and highest unemployment in decades, UK Directors still managed to have 10% rises in pay over the last year. According to The Guardian, many of their companies were imposing pay freezes on staff and starting huge redundancy programmes to slash costs. And these are people usually encouraging worker 'restraint' when it comes to pay negotiations. No pricing themselves out of a job for them it appears.

About turn

News that the UK gov is considering the wisdom of continuing with universal benefits - perhaps looking at Child Benefit, winter fuel payments and even tax credits for the already wealthy.

An argument for universal child benefit was that it was almost a guarantee that the child would actually benefit from the money; going as it aways did to the mother. With so many households where both parents work, that is no longer the advantage it was. Perhaps it's also lost some of its value to those families - £20 a week for the first child and just £13 a week thereafter.

I remember it was always considered not worth the admin costs of a means tested scheme.

In Canada it varies according to province but higher incomes do reduce the amount payable. But separate claims are not actually needed; the payments resulting from the processing of tax returns.

Of course, everyone has to do a tax return every year and that's a bit of a pain. But with child benefits worth at least $300 a month per child it's a big reward.

Back to the UK. I was very surprised when winter fuel payments became the norm a few years ago as, for quite some time, it had become accepted that many pensioners were actually quite well off. It seemed folly to make such payments to all pensioners following recognition that so many were doing fine, thank you very much.

To pay a few hundred quid each year to already wealthy people was a waste but there were thousands of people (residents of care homes, those living in others' households etc) who didn't even incur heating costs at all, let alone increased costs and they receive these funds.

Still, it was electorally popular. Presumably it would be unpopular now?

Anniversaries

Three anniversaries in a row. The obvious one yesterday and it was 5 years ago today that I came to Canada. That means Thursday was the fifth anniversary of packing work in.

Time has flown by. Surprising really since it was only ever work that made the time pass quickly. Well, I say only ever work but that's not quite accurate. Once upon a time the working week dragged and weekends raced by. In more recent years Monday to Friday sped up, while weekends slowed.a little.

Now it's just winter that passes slowly.

* * *

In the last week the Moncton newspaper has printed a black and white photo with a caption informing its readers who was wearing brown and who wore blue; printed another photo with a caption identifying two people who were not in the photo - nobody was in the photo at all - and printed a headline to say that young people consumed 25% of the cigarettes they smoked. They meant to say that illegal cigarettes made up 25% of cigarettes they smoked. I found myself wondering if they consumed 25% what did they do with the 75%?

Where were you?

I was in the pub with my friend Sue having lunch, We were 4 hours ahead. I got back to work and nobody knew anything had happened.


Throughout the whole afternoon nobody passed any information to us. We even had a TV on in the waiting area, but no messages found their way through. That was really strange because when the TV presenter Jill Dando was shot I was in the same office and someone had told us within minutes of it being announced.

The first I knew about the Towers was when I got home and put the TV on. Eight hours after it happened.

Half a tennis ball

Article on school supplies in the paper today. This was something that surprised me about Canada. In England you pretty much supplied only your own pens and pencils. There were compasses for tech drawing but you got your own set if you wanted something decent.

Here you have to get scissors, correcting fluid/tape, staplers, folders etc....even the paper the kids write on instead of having exercise books provided.

We even needed to supply tennis balls once. Not for playing tennis. They cut them in half and stick them on the chair legs to reduce the scraping sound of the legs on the floor. Apparently you can now buy them pre-cut.

At peace

It's terrible when the England football team fails to qualify for a tournament. It's a lovely feeling when we do qualify and it's even better to be back on track after a failure. I feel at peace. We made it with something to spare so people can be wrapped up in cotton wool and other things can be tried.

Nice to see Argentina still struggling. Well, Maradona rather than Argentina; I have nothing against them, just him. They've now lost 6 games and they will still qualify. It's so easy to make it to a world cup for South American teams if you're any good.

My wife has talent

This strip from the Guardian today reminded me of when a manager was leaving the office I used to work in. Nobody liked her; she was quite unpleasant.

I wanted to put somethig on her leaving card that was insulting but not obviously so. My wife suggested something along the lines of "Good luck in your new pastures."

Brilliant. She was a bit of a cow after all.

Autumn viewing

The new TV schedules start soon. The difference between summer and the rest of the time is atonishing with almost nothing to interest me in summer.

Between BBC, ITV and C4 there was always plenty to interest me in the UK and then came satellite TV which I eventually got via cable. What with the football and the movie channels, I found I watched very little 'traditional' TV, but I'm not sure that was just due to the availability of footie and movies; I think there was an element of TV just not being that good then.

I don't know. Maybe it was a bit of the old "it was better in my day" thing or maybe the TV companies lost their way a bit. By all accounts the fare served up seems to be back to old standards now.

It's probably good that I got out of the habit of watching TV programs before I moved here, so that there wasn't too much of a comedown for me. The CSIs, Criminal Minds, some Law & Orders etc are quite good but they're all cop shows. CBC (Canada's BBC) produces some excellent stuff but it's like they're only allowed to produce one good drama series every couple of years. Maybe it takes their whole drama budget; they really ought to be able to do more but maybe their hands are tied.

Anyway, summer seems to be full of so called Reality TV. Next Top Model, Hell's Kitchen (Chef contest), Idol, Dance.....

They are really talent shows, so why can't we just call them that?

Come Autumn anything new that's good seldom gets retained. You just get into something that's a bit more original than a run of the mill cop show and suddenly it disappears from the schedules because the American audience doesn't have the patience, concentration or understanding necessary and it's dropped.

Strangely, although the newspaper is full of previews and news of the new schedules, they don't cover anything else about TV. There's no review of "last night's TV", hardly any detail in the listings and when a show has been pulled you only discover it from internet searches done to find out what happened. It's all very strange.

We do get the Miss Marple mysteries and I enjoy those. Also the UK version of Law and Order. I probably wouldn't watch it in England or at least not avidly. But it has been on in the summer and it's been like an oasis for me.

Bank Holiday Monday

Last Monday was a Bank Holiday in England. Today is Labour Day in Canada.
From Wiki: Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The majority of countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, and it is popularly known as May Day and "International Workers' Day", while some celebrate on the first Monday of September.

It's always been a puzzle to me that a right wing country like the USA has Labor Day while the UK, with a far greater tradition of a labour union movement, has a Bank Holiday instead.

There's the USA where employers routinely sack employees for joining a union and where Ronald Reagan had air traffic control staff taken away in chains for going on strike and they're observing this 'union' day. Bizarre.

Ha bloody ha

It was a great pleasure to see the look on Maradona's face as Brazil were beating Argentina at home, late Saturday night.

Brite nurly

Out to the shops early today. The local (huge) Drugstore was having one of its one day sales. Many of the groceries and household things they sell are similar or cheaper to supermarket prices, but today there was a shedload of stuff for between a third and two-thirds of it's normal price.

They actually do it on a much smaller scale (but the same great deals) every month but for two days. When it's a big one and just one day, you need to be there fairly early or it's all gone. I was there an hour after opening and half of some of the stuff had sold already.

What's annoying is that on some things they limit how many you can have. I actually think that's fair. What's wrong is that they simply allow the customer to buy too many and the cashier puts it through as two transactions.

I probably feel more strongly about this as I can't do that as I'm limited to what I can carry by bike or even on foot, while the rest of the population loads up their cars.

There are a few elderly or disabled people who are restricted in what they can carry too. They struggle with their 'walker' and basket, hoping to get their fair share of cheap butter, eggs, cheese, salmon, cookies etc and then they can't because some thoughtless people have taken a lot more than their share. The old story I suppose.

* * *

International weekend today. England play a friendly with the main qualifier next week. But there are some attractive games I can watch on TV. Denmark-Portugal is one I can definitely watch. I'll be booing Portugal of course. Spain and Belgium I might see. It's on a channel I don't get but the free preview still seems to be on.

Might go and cheer on Macedonia against Scotland in a mo.

Oh....Argentina V Brazil later. Might be able to get that too.

Tea or coffee

I still come across this thing about Brits being tea drinkers. I rarely drink it, much preferring coffee. On my trips to Canada and America, most people I met were tea drinkers, while most people I knew in the UK were coffee drinkers.

My wife and step daughter (Canadian) both prefer tea.

* * *

Does anyone believe they have 'Clarence' looking out for them?
(It's a Wonderful Life reference there for anyone wondering who Clarence is )

When I first started work (1973) I used to pass this guy in a fairly grubby gabardine raincoat walking home and back at lunchtimes. He was always going in the opposite direction to me. Nothing unusual about that; he would have been on a different lunch break to me.

But then I changed offices and my new route took me in another direction and by car; getting a lift from my dad. I'd see the same man in the mornings going in the opposite direction. Again, nothing odd; he would have been walking to where we both previously worked.

Then my dad moved to a new workplace and I had to get the bus. The bus didn't go by the same route and I still had a 15 minute walk when I got off. Now I was passing him on that walk.

Now, he could have been walking to the same workplace as before. Except that it would have been a long walk and he'd be very late. But maybe he had moved home or was working somewhere else.

Then I moved to the other side of the city and my route to work was North to South instead of South to North. And guess what?

Some mornings I'd see this guy in the same grubby gabardine raincoat. I'd still be passing him so he'd still be going in the opposite direction. So, now, he couldn't possibly be going to the same workplace...although he could be travelling from the same place. But that would mean a completely different shift (and there were no shifts there) and a very very long walk.

After 18 months I moved back to my parents' home so I was now back on the first bus route I mentioned. And again, I'd pass him as previously.

Next, I changed workplaces again. I still got the same bus but I stayed on it longer and got off close to the office. That didn't really leave much room to see him.

But if I left work early for a dental appointment I'd see him then. Always going in the other direction. Always in that grubby raincoat.

Now I'll cut out the detail but suffice to say that once in a while I'd pass him no matter what home/office route, if I was coming home early or going in late and bizarrely one time when I'd gone in a completely different route because of a doctor's appointment. It left me getting a different bus at a different time of day in a totally different direction...and I still passed him.

Once I even saw him when I'd taken the morning off for a job interview and it was mid-morning when I passed him.

By now I had long since made comments to people about him being my Guardian Angel - or was I his?

I even saw him walking along a street near my last home. Unless visiting or living there there would be no reason for that route. He looked the worse for wear. He had the same grubby coat. This must have been 25 years after I first saw him.

I did see him again since and he looked better.

I've lived in Canada since 2004. And guess who I saw yesterday.........




Just kidding.