News in the house

I've written a lot about where I've travelled so far I thought it might be time for a word on where I've settled. For the past month I've been sharing a house with a homeowner in Calgary. Chris is an electrician, a vegetarian and basically a good guy. He's travelled to Australia previously and has also worked with Aussie tradies, so not entirely unfamiliar with our funny ways and straightforward attitude. He thinks I am funny for announcing to him from various parts of the house whenever it starts snowing outside the windows (as if it was a brand new discovery) but doesn't try to dampen my enthusiasm for it.

Speaking of which, after all the snow melts we've had recently, it snowed last night and we had a good 5 cms today. So I walked to work yet again with hiking boots on with my suit under my down coat, and wore sunglasses to stop my mascara from freezing/melting again. It reminds me of the old song, "I wear my sunglasses at night"... more than just a fashion statement. I inhaled a snowflake today. It was a direct shot to the sinuses and wasn't glamourous.

Upon reporting for work, my new boss gave me a cheery hello and laughingly told me that when she saw the snow she knew I was the only person who would be excited. Everyone who spent the weekend digging out their sandals and BBQing in the plus 10 degree weather on the weekend is grumbling that the snow keeps bouncing back and at this rate spring gardens haven't a hope of being planted. My downstairs neighbours have spat the dummy and are going to Mexico soon on holiday, hoping winter will be over by the time they get back.

Anyway, back on the home front, apart from being pretty reasonable on rent, Chris has been kind enough to let me use his computer in his study to check my emails and keep my blog updated with my adventures over the past month.

Tonight I got home to find that he had unearthed an old laptop for me to use while I shop for my own 2ndhand. My recent experiences of travelling about Canada using internet cafes at $5 to $6 per hour had convinced me that it is worth the inconvenience and the extra vigilence on security to carry a laptop with me whilst travelling, with my own photo software, especially when everywhere I've stayed has had free wireless broadband access.

So, here I am in my cosy little room, within walking distance of work, with, for the first time, unrestricted time and privacy to write you all. I hope to take some time over the next week or two to update you on my adventures from LA and my birthday, they do deserve some detail.

I will be emailing the boffins amongst you- Tim x 2 Tegan, Chris x 2, Scott and Sue, Giles etc about the laptops I am looking at to purchase for your opinions over the next few weeks. If you are able to give me advice I'd be grateful. I am sure I haven't progressed that far from toddlers who insert toast into VCR players when it comes to technology. Thanks in advance for your help.