Wild winter weather

Not only does a Montreal winter involve lots of snow, below zero temperatures and freezing rain it also brings strong winds.  Last night was an excellent example of that.  Winds were 60km/h with gusts up to 90km/h!!

There was a lot of crashing and banging but with the double glazed windows we didn't hear this fall...

Luckily it fell into the garden rather than the other direction onto the power line to the house.  Now that would have been a hassle!

It was minus 12 with a windchill of minus 22 when we were taking photos so poor Little Miss D's nose was as pink as her coat!

The trees out the front are the home to many little squirrels so I'm hoping none of them were hurt as it fell.  When we went to investigate we didn't see any but we did see lots of tiny footprints.  We have many squirrels who live around our house.  If you ask Little Miss D she'll tell you squirrels are her favourite thing about Canada.  They are very funny to watch - they move very fast and often play chasey with each other.  When they move from tree to tree it's almost like they are flying.  They spread out and glide.  This little fellow looks pretty cold to me - I'm not very good on the habits of Canadian wildlife but I had always thought squirrels hibernated.  Maybe they should consider doing it...

Squirrel on back fence seen from kitchen window

Despite the cold and wind, we have had a fair amount of sunlight which is really nice.  Last week it warmed right up to plus 2 degrees so with a bit of sunlight the snow began to melt.  The snow started to melt off the roof but before it was all gone the sun went and it became cold again and icicles formed!  Crazy!

You often see icicles on the front bumpers of cars which I think looks like snot dripping!

view from my bedroom window

xx

It's still cold...

Yes it's still cold and apparently it's cold by Montreal standards!  Our new motto is "rug up and carry on!" 

Moving to a new country means discovery of all types.  Discovering our new home, a new language, a new environment, some personal discovery and discovering the local supermarket and all the new products.  Some are the same just packaged differently....

The relocation agent had put this bag in our fridge when we arrived and we had no idea what it was...

Open it up and there are four bags of milk inside!!

Bags of milk are tricky to handle so the Canadians have designed a special jug just for these bags of milk.

So weird!  I have since discovered that you can buy cartons of milk but I think this is so funny that we'll keep buying them.  Our local supermarket also stocks TimTams!!  

I've also discovered that you shouldn't drop your car keys in the snow at night after there has been 10cm of snow fall...  This was almost a major disaster but fortunately with the help of a torch and a broom Fanta Pants found them.

xx

Brrr, it's cold!

I know, another weather report but the cold here is really cold!  Today was -18 and the windchill was -27! We're still trying to set the house up and so had a long list of things to buy so braved the cold to go shopping.  Even with all our warm jackets and boots it was still very cold outside.  The car was so covered in snow and ice that one of the sliding doors on the minivan wouldn't open!!!  Despite all this coldness there were people everywhere - running, walking, shopping etc.  The only thing I didn't see was kids playing or babies in prams.  I've read that you shouldn't really play out when it's less than -25...

When all the snow falls the roads and driveways get covered but the Canadians are very prepared.  An army of snow blowing tractors appears and clears it all away.  The main roads and footpaths are cleared by the council and many people employ someone to clear their driveways.  So everyone knows which contractor needs to clear which driveway, there are big coloured markers at the beginning of the driveway.  It seems that when it's snowing the tractors just drive around blowing snow making driving easier!  If you're wondering what these guys do when it's not snowing, they mow the lawns!

Even though it was super cold today the sun was out all day and this is the sun rising over the lake melting the ice on the window.

View from our bedroom window

Everyone knows that Action Boy has always been a very early riser but we've had a week of sleep-ins.  I don't know if it's the late sunrises, lack of kookaburras, separate bedrooms for the kids or just massive tiredness but we're enjoying sleeping in while it lasts.

xx

Online...

So we're finally online!  Yippee!  The telecommunications guy braved the snow this afternoon to install the internet and the cable TV.

We've been in Canada for a week now and it sure has been a busy (exhausting) few days.  There is so much to tell you about but I'm so tired so here are a few pics to start with...

The kids playing in snow for the first time last Saturday.  We'd practiced making snow angels in the sand at the beach.

Since we've been here people have been telling us how mild the weather has been but it looks like the "real" winter weather has started.  We had 15cm of snow yesterday and it looks like there should be another 10cm overnight.  The weather has hovered around -5 which has been ok.  Thank goodness for our coats and boots!  The suit we'd bought Baby A wasn't thick enough so now he wears this when we go out with mittens and a beanie underneath!

He doesn't really enjoy wearing this and can't really move his arms but it's necessary!  It's not much fun for a baby who has just mastered putting things in his mouth!  In the pram he has a fleecy blanket sleeping bag as well.  The lady at BabiesRUs said it's fine to go for a walk with babies up to -10!  I've seen people do it too!  People don't stay indoors just because it doesn't stop snowing and it's super cold.  They walk their babies and dogs and go running!

I tried to take a few photos today of the snow falling but it's not easy.  The camera doesn't want to focus on all white!  Not only did we get a lot of snow we also experience freezing rain.  It's just like rain drops that froze on the way down.

View from kitchen window

View from lounge window

All those little white spots are little snow flakes.  It really is turning into a winter wonderland.  Sounds very romantic doesn't it?  I'll talk more about trying to go out into this winter wonderland later...

xx

We're here!!!

So we're finally here! We are still getting set up so dont have internet at home so I'm sitting at the local Maccas using their free wifi. Unfortunately it won't alert me upload any photos!!! So the plane to LA finally took off and we got to LA to find our next flight was delayed.... Anyways the a380 is lots of fun to fly, especially in business class. We all had fun playing with our beds and watching lots of movies and Action Boy had so much fun playing a robot game he had to take photos of it!! The Air Canada flight was not nearly as flash but it got us there in the end. Overall and despite the delays the trip was OK - it was very tiring but the kids managed quite well (except in the Maple Leaf Lounge when Little Miss D was being so wacky the lady at the desk asked if she was drunk or just really tired!!). Poor Baby A had the hardest time and seems to forgotten that he sleeps all night long! His cicadian rythm is way out of whack. Fingers crossed he figures it out tonight. The new house is great, warm and spacious! Everyone seems happy with their new rooms (except Baby A). There is plenty of snow on the ground and it keeps falling. The kids have had fun playing in it and Action Boy learnt an important lesson about putting your face directly in the snow - it hurts and even burns! I don't think he'll be doing that again. Action Boy will start school on Wednesday which he is really looking forward to and Nick will probably go into work on Thursday so our new life will be starting. Lots more to write about - some crazy stuff here eg, out of control waiting times to see a family doctor, abundant water, extended shopping hours. Will be back soon with photos. Tomorrow we're off to get social security and Medicare cards and if it's like the queues at immigration and the medical clinic I think we'll be in for a LONG day. It appears Canadians enjoy queuing. They must be used to it because they come prepared for it with food and entertainment. More on that later!?!? xx

Take two...

Well we're not in Montreal yet or even LA.  We're still in Melbourne.  Thanks to a fuel pump problem our flight was cancelled but not before we got a trial run on board the A380. 

Being onboard was fine - the plane is amazing so we just pushed the chairs back into beds, watched TV and waited for the food to arrive.  Unfortunately collecting the 10 pieces of checked baggage and trying to get them across the road to the airport hotel wasn't so much fun.  Luckily the kids have been troopers and Qantas quite helpful with food, accommodation etc and it's all behind us now!

Here we go again....

xx

And we're off...

Moving to the other side of the world requires you to undertake some major logistical challenges and the last challenge was actually getting the five of us to Montreal.  And here is most of what we are taking with us - in the checked baggage there are five suitcases, three carseats, a pram and a portacot.  On board we have four roll along mini cases, two backpacks and a baby bjorn!  Unloading it all to go through security checks is interesting...  We must look a real sight walking along - Action Boy pulling a case, me with baby A in the baby bijorn as well as wearing backpack and pulling a case and Fanta Pants wearing a backpack and pulling two cases with Little Miss D sitting on top of one because she can't walk any more.



So we've made it to Melbourne and are enjoying the Qantas Club lounge and it's free wifi.  Even though no one got much sleep the flight went well and the kids were little champs.  We were all very disappointed when we got on to find out we were on an ancient plane without individual TV screens.  Luckily for us the movie on the big screen was "Puss in Boots" which was a hit with everybody.  Fortunately we know we're on the A380 next so we're assured of all the bells and whistles!!!  Fingers crossed everyone will sleep in those big beds...

xx