Xmas 2008!!!

Well we have now celebrated what will hopefully be our second from last xmas in old blighty! It's been one hell of a memorable one though. This was the first xmas we have ever spent on our own in our own home so I had planned to create a few traditions of our own to take with us to Canada. The plan was for the girls to make mince pies, spiced apple pies and pecan pie on xmas eve; xmas day would see sweet potato and marshmallows, as well as apricot stuffing to go alongside the turkey; breakfast on xmas morning would be french toast....homemade of course...and bacon. Now in order to achieve all this it's imperative that there is a fully functioning fridge or in my case American fridge freezer which has resided in my kitchen these past 7 years. Well on Xmas Eve it only bloody well DIED!!!!!!! The day was spent in panic fleeing to Argos to purchase a very expensive mini fridge and pulling out all the cool bags I possess......and bizarrely I possess 4!!! Said fridge's contents were emptied into all of the aforementioned....thank gawd the freezer part still worked!!!
After ridiculously high stress levels the pies etc were made and tasted fab. The day was spent eating popcorn and choccies whilst watching Mama Mia (twice!!!!) and reading Julie Walters biography (I swear she's writing about my childhood......minus the bed-wetting and wanting to be an actress!).......so I'm now sat amongst the Boxing Day fallout of dead crackers, warm cheesecake and cool bags whilst hubby puts the turkey/ham back in the garage where its way colder!!

On the immigration front there is fantastic news for those who applied post Feb 2008 and are now beginning to receive 90 day letters. However as someone who has sat in a queue for a year and a half and still has another 6-8 month wait for said letter it does rankle a tad.......it has smatterings of queue jumping which is unfair to say the least......not the applicants fault but the Canadian government obviously didn't think this one through very well!!!!! Too late for us to apply using this route even though we are on the list as it will be no quicker....luckily we can't land till 2010 but not so lucky for others who would give anything to but must just wait and watch others jump in front!!

On the Masters front I have now passed yet another course....yeah!!!!! I was convinced I'd fail the research paper but I didn't. I'm now half way through the disability course....got a 6000 word research paper due in at the end of January and then I start the final course in February. I won't complete the Masters till October and the results won't be through till December so I probably won't be able to count it in on my 90 day letter. However after this present course I can claim a post grad certificate or diploma which might be accepted by CHC.

The List!!!

Well the 'list' is finally out! Although our application isn't directly affected by it I was desperate to know if my job was on it as this would mean a better chance of finding work once landed! Well it's on...hurray!!!! In fact I fall into two job categories....College and Vocational Instructor and University Professor......so that's even better. Obviously hubbies job (GP) is on too though that was never even in question!! So I'm a bit more relaxed but of course they could regularly update the list and the jobs may disappear!

Now throwing myself into work in order to have some time off over xmas! The shopping is done, online shop for groceries is booked and the decorations are up!!

Can't believe that once we enter 2009 we'll be telling people that 'we're actually emigrating next year'!!!! Friends are already planning a welcome party for when we land lol!! Once the documents are asked for we'll need to contact a realtor and start checking out Barrie, the housing there and the schools...also need to sort out Toronto University for the eldest daughter to start 2010!

Wow it's all go!!