Before you read what I write. Read who I am.

Originally from Alberta and in the last number of years having been living in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are now living in Woolwich, London where we inhabit a wonderful little 2 floor flat in the Royal Arsenal. The family has grown over the years from being just my wife and I to the family of four we are now. My work has brought us to London for the next two years where for the first time in ages we will live in the same house for more than a birthday. The experience is written below from then till now. With a view of the Thames from our windows and boat ride to work the new life begins.

10 Feb 2011

The chapel



Much coolness.

Taken from http://www.petapixel.com/2011/02/03/beautiful-chapel-in-poland-captured-in-an-hdr-time-lapse-video/

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London,United Kingdom

9 Feb 2011

Nachos Nachos Nachos! DIM SUM

London is devoid of Nachos... seriously devoid. At least Nachos that aren't made with Doritos and liquid cheese. They usually have no onions, jalapenos or meat on them and sometimes are even made with Cool Ranch chips!

So - Kate found Nachos packages at the Cooperative. Apparently they are good enough to return to the scene and get more to snack on tonight :)

Looking forward to that. I also had my first Dim Sum in London today which was pretty good. The pork shumai was the better part of it all but the shredded duck was quite tasty tasty too. Royal China restaraunt on the west end of Canary Wharf by the boat dock. ;)

7 Feb 2011

Weekend with spit

This past weekend we ventured out to the Spitalfields Market. First Seb and I went out as I needed a haircut and my Turkish barbers are close to the market in Shoreditch. However with a 2 hour wait on the menu when we arrived I decided to just go see if Spitalfields was open and get a hotdog. It wasn't. But we came back! The very next day. For the Sunday Market and hotdogs. Yum.

I've been looking up things to do in London and have found one that I am quite interested in.. . It's a back of pub theatre currently showing 3 operas and a play. One of the operas is the Barber of Seville and it's been reset in to more modern times, I'm interested to see it but haven't asked around yet to see if anyone else is. On top of that I'm organising a paintball group game for the comrades at work in which I am sure to get my ass blown off. Yup. Opera breeds the need for violent gun battles.

I think the next few things on the docket are a ruins visit to one of the many heritage castle sites outside of London or perhaps a trip outside the country for Kate and I.

Can anyone spell Amsterdam? I can!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London,United Kingdom

1 Feb 2011

Another day, another ride.

So the other day I went to a kickoff meeting at my corporate headquarters. It was mostly sales team people and marketing. The tone of the whole meeting was 'You suck, sell more'. While I would expect this from a sales lead organization but the tone of the whole thing was almost abusive. I'm told that the person doing the talk is normally like that and everyone just sorta accepts it and moves on. Not an environment I could put up with let me tell ya.

After I embarrassed a good portion of the team with a question no one was able to answer effectively in front of the management team I decided to give my opinions on the forecasting of the company vs my views on consumer desire to the European manager. He did ask what I thought of the whole thing... I've always been really good at sliding right in to a company and not standing out. :)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London,United Kingdom

31 Jan 2011

Just doing a test

Really I just wanted to test this application for my iPad so I could see how e features worked with the blog.

Here's the KD I was talking about :)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London,United Kingdom

30 Jan 2011

Not as planned

Well it was a hard day today.

We took a boat in to Waterloo to meet Gordon and then to head over to the Tate Modern. Unfortunately some things went south. Seb did not get near enough sleep last night and was in a crabtastic mood all morning, it came to a head when we took away his DS at the restaraunt and he slapped Kate in the face. Our day was cut short right then and there and Seb and I took a boat home. Kate, Rigby and Gordon went on with lunch and then to the Tate.

Seb and I talked a little about what had gone down but I was still pretty angry about the whole thing. I've really been resentful towards his time on the DS and feeling like it has been taking him away from the things that actually matter. I believe I texted Kate with 'throw the damn thing in the river' after we left. Now it's time to change the rules again. To adjust what is acceptable to us to match how the day is being affectted.

He has been given permission to stay up late (as late as he wants) recently but after a few messes of brown sugar or syrup in the morning that has been compromised in to 'stay up until we go to bed'. We'll see what comes of the talks around Nintendo play.

In the meantime he and I had a good afternoon and I'm much calmer now.

29 Jan 2011

Sweet sugar meat

So today we had a visit from Kate's father Gordon here. He is over for a conference and has some time to sound with the family. Nice. He also brought a bag full of KD with him as we can not find anywhere here that sells the stuff and have had some monster cravings for the stuff. It's sad (in someones eyes) that we requested fake dehydrated cheese and noodles to be brought across the ocean rather than something. .... .. Else. I don't know what else you'd have brought across other than chocolates or may oh.. Oh we should have totally gotten some robaxacet.

Well anyway KD is pretty awesome. I know what I'M having for breakfast tomorrow.

9 Jan 2011

2011 - The year of the Rabbit

This post has absolutely nothing to do with Rabbits.


It's the new year and we are still in London obviously, living life as usual and working out the year ahead. Making changes to ourselves and our behaviours while trying to be true to who we are and what we believe in, which generally raises the question of 'what do we believe in'.

Part one for us is to return to vegetarianism. While two members of our family hate this idea with the same passion they hate sprouts and turnips, we're going to plunge (back) in. Living in London has certain advantages when it comes to veggies... The local markets like the one here in Woolwich's Bereford Square are great for picking up anything you need in bulk at a cheap price. Bowl of bananas? £1 Bowl of Oranges? £1 Bowl of Carrots? £1 get the idea here? and since Able and Cole also do home delivery on the cheap we can get both the market and store qualities.

Part two comes along with part one. Getting the family more active. It's handy there's a gym in our devlopment and that there's just so much walking to be done in London. Getting things going though is harder than getting them available. I've been trying myself for months and my biggest obstacle is sleep.... or my love of sleep to be specific. Trying to get up in the morning and head to the gym is a lot harder here than it was in Vancouver. I don't know why... it just is.

Other things.... My work trucks along as usual, Kate is getting the hang of London and the people of London. She's been moving around, riding the trains, taking the kids to Greenwich to play with friends and seeing her own friends. The kids are settling in to this as well - the shock of the move over, some familiar faces showing up regularily... it's been good. Sebastian counted to 100 the other day and Rigby has been making some great steps in life other than the tantrum she is throwing on the floor right next to me over a sleeve being stuck.... Now her PJ's are 'stupid' and she's gone to go pee. Ahh life.

12 Nov 2010

Days on Days

Well other than being sick for the last handfull of days and the weather turning quite Londony it's been good. Now tomorrow is supposed to be reasonable and Kate and I are finally getting an out day together. Jason and Tara are going to watch the kids while we go check out the Greenwich and Shoreditch markets and then I'm taking her to my most favorite pub in London - The White Hart Waterloo. I love that little pub.

Sunday may involve a trip to the Science Museum for 2 to 4 of us and that will be most excellent.

For those of you wondering how the settling in is going, I would say quite well in fact. The kids seem to be fairly oblivious to the change or are taking it all in quite nicely. Kate loves the area, loves the culture and moreover loves the limitless accents and languages around. I'm still enjoying feeling at home with my family around and also continuing to find some joy in all the little things around.

On another topic...

If you've never seen the work in the Idiotic Land by the ball point pen of SHOHEI... go check it out... just not at work or around your kids....

1 Nov 2010

Firsts and Firsts

For some reason I am excited that my first payments to Council Tax and Utilities have gone through. It gives me a sense of happiness to know that we've set in by paying them.

24 Oct 2010

Also. Happy Birthday Dear Blog

It's now been five years that I've had this blog going. Just realized that.


Happy Birthday dear Banablog.... happy birthday to you.

How do I put in one of those stupid smileys with the party hat and the paper noisemaker?

Immediate Invasion

Well since the last update the family VISAs were approved near instantly and they have been rambling around Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Nova Scotia seeing friends and family and otherwise suffering the dance of displacment. Now they are just about here in England and I will be picking them up at the airport on Wednesday morning (this being Sunday). I cannot wait to have them in country and around the house and city.

Kate has let me know she will basically be hitting the couch with a book and a pot of coffee while I am out with the kids for the first five days in country. Something which I am sure will be a blast for all of us.

Today is Rigby's birthday and in keeping with our technological gifting pattern she recieved a new iPod touch for her 3rd. She loves owning her own now and Sebastian is immensley jealous over this. He on the other hand will be getting a PsP for Xmas so it'll be short lived. While sad that I am missing her birthday I can handle with knowing that after 60days I will be seeing them again right away.

The house has come together nicely and feeling like a place that I live in, once Kate arrives with our boxes of goods and we unpack it should become our family home again. That'll be nice.

2 Oct 2010

Life in the Barracks

Well it's been about 3 weeks now since I moved in solo to our new place in London. The Woolwich area is not without it's charms and scary dark corners but on the whole I am liking this area immensely. I've done a little exploring and noticed that there is enough stuff here to keep the kids on their toes for months on end, including the puppy stream that goes by our windows. It seems that the only dogs that live near here are puppies.

The Royal Arsenal area is setup to be both modern and historical, there is 'Firepower' the Royal Artillery Museum about a block from our flat and the Greenwich Historical Society is next door. All around the development there are cannons and big gun placements that are left overs from the time when this area was exlusively under the Royal Artillery.

There is a nice pub in the grounds call the Dial Arch (www.dialarch.co.uk) and a set of cafes spread about. Also the usual stuff like a gym but extended with a Spa and wellness centre where you can go from aromatherapy to hot rocks and massage. I like the area and I think once the family comes over (probably November) this will be a place we may not want to leave to quickly....




 
 There is also the flat which has made this place what it is, a nice quiet building with great charm. I've met our western neighbours and they have a 5 year old boy - to which I am sure Sebastian will become attached. The Thames Clipper river service to my work has it's dock on the river right outside our windows. It's about a 30 minute ride in by boat but it's unbelieveably relaxing comparing to the DLR and Tube combination. 

Today is IKEA trip #1 day for the house. Time to get some of the other things we're missing in the place that fell outside of 'full furnished'. Our friends Jason and Tara are also submitting their paperwork for their flat, which is about a block away. Nice.

30 Aug 2010

London ROTC (Part 2)

I have now a contract with my name on it that says "Hey You! Ya You! Come work here why don't cha?" and I say "Yes"

So with that we are now faced with the tasks of packing up the home in Canada (which Kate has been on like Donkey Kong) and me to find us a place with English Character but a new kitchen and bathroom here in London that is located near everything we need and friends.

Yeah. That should all be stupid easy.

Now I am about to go home to Vancouver for 4 days to help Kate pack up some leftovers and move a whole lot of stuff over to Vancouver Island to my parents house. Where it will stay for a few years while we are over in England and we try not to collect anything of Value that we want to move back with us.

I'm excited, are you excited? It feels a little itchy in here.

16 Aug 2010

London and the revenge of the contract

Well here we are. Trip #3 to London and the final move is materializing this week. There should be concrete decisions with my name on them in days and the word is they will be the good kind.

I've only been here just under a week now and with 2 more to go there is a lot to be done to get ready. Finding a house, arranging storage at home getting a neighbourhood picked out here to live in and all that. Not to mention VISAS for the family and all the rest.

I did get out on Saturday a little bit, as I have been trying to limit some of my sightseeing so that we can do it as a family. I went to Westminster Abbey and have to say I was disappointed to have to pay £15 to get in but was completely fine with the result. The need for the price is apparent as the shear volume of people going through it causes need for continual upkeep and diligence. Photos we not allowed but being a tourist I did take some `covert`shots so I would have something to show for the trip.

Here they are.
Of course nothing compares to seeing the real thing; walking amongst the tombs of Kings, Queens, Hero's, and Poets and realizing the combined history in the Church is a little overwhelming. There is a real beauty to death and the workmanship and detail put in to the statues, monuments and tombs is astounding. Nothing I have ever seen is like these. The stone seems to have life, the robes almost look like they are flowing on the angels and one scene of death come from the tomb below to take the soul of man seemed like a frozen moment so real it could have continued right then and there.

Very much worth the trip and the admission paid.

9 Aug 2010

Off again

Packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour five p.m.

Were I to be high as a kite the flight may go a lot better, however I will not be and it'll just be another sleepless 9hours of zombie TV watching. All in all this isn't a complaint, it's three weeks away from home and another blast of work in the UK. There may be an offer of employment settled or there may not be by the time I am heading home at the end of August, it remains to be seen.

While either outcome is good, the thought of moving the whole family to London right now makes me wanna have a stroke. There is so much to do prior to the trip, so much to rid ourselves of, so much to put in storage and even more to do in the UK to arrive and settle. Money is getting low at home and my worry has been on the incline for sometime now.

Still I welcome a move and welcome the opportunity for my family to experience London living.

I took the train to the airport today and have to admit the journey was simple and really quick, I went from east Burnaby to YVR in about 1 hour. Now however I have time to kill.... which I am doing with one of the single worst beers I have ever had in my life. At Milestones, the Palamino Pale Ale. This truly is bad beer.

At least there's bowling on the TV.

4 Aug 2010

Updates

We have now moved in to our basement; no longer do we dwell above with the day walkers. The change was swift and unexpected but when we found out the the tenants in the basement were leaving we snatched up the chance to save $500 on the same amount of space. There have been some challenges to deal with like the fact that there is only 1 bedroom. However I think we have made great use of the space in creating little areas that suit our needs.

With this space we have I think that our layout worked quite well. We made a few changes to our living conditions such as having a bookcase wall as a partition for our bedroom while the kids took the actual bedroom over. The addition of the closet under the stairs made a perfect toy room for the kids and they enjoy it a lot. Kate had to do some serious work to clean the sucker out though as it was not only a little moldy but had some serious funk.

On top of all of this the new neighbours moved in to our space upstairs. I say our only because as they were about to move in all the work that we wanted done ( baseboards, painting of the kitchen, repairing the wood around the rear door, light fixture changes, etc ) got done. SO it was a little heartbreaking to leave the space after that seeing it so perfect.

They have a daughter who is the same age and the same personality as Sebastian and a boy who is a little younger than Rigby. They have also just had a baby girl now 8 days old, so a full house but someone for Sebastian to play with daily (even if they do fight and occasionally hate each other).

This has been a fairly positive move for us, getting us in to a new headspace about living and also giving us the benefit of a live in play partner for the kids. Now if only I could shake that basement feeling of bugs being around all the time I'd be golden.

10 Jul 2010

Trip 2

Tomorrow I'm leaving for London on the second trip. I've been for three weeks and back for two....

The previous trip was great, there was lots to see having not been in London since 1990, and lots to learn as I was working on all sorts of new stuff. Here are some of the sights!
So after coming home from London we went off to Vancouver Island to visit with my parents and that was a blast. The kids and I spent a week there going to the beach, park, mini golf, the working farm (including cheeseworks and winery) and then back home.

Had a nice birthday party with friends when I came home and now (the day after my real birthday) I am feeling the sting of leaving again.

2 Jun 2010

It's come

Since the last post there has been a lot more uncertainty. We have sat and waited, learned that we would not get the London contract as it was explained and promoted and furthermore would be granted (maybe) a smaller 3 month contract.

Now that I've also gone through a round of 4 interviews with another company we have recieved the word of the 3 month travelling contract and I will be leaving this Sunday to London. It will be a 2 weeks there 2 here sorta deal and will mean stress on all of us. The end hope here is that our worth will be proven as we evolve Acer in the next 3 months and they will extend our contracts until the end of the 2012 Games. Then we will move over and live in the UK under the terms of our original contract offers.

I'm excited and aprehensive. I hate flying with teeth grinding passion and am not looking at 6x 10 hour flights as a good thine per se. I'm looking forward to scoping out London and seeing if we could be comfortable there, meeting the folks I worked with on 2010 again in London and all the new people.

Kate and the kids will be looking at camps and daycare and lots of visits with friends over the summer while I am going to be looking at spreadsheets and training materials. Woo. Not all bad by any means for me as I will get time in the UK and also the omg fun of coming home to my family 3 times over.