NS update!!!

We got our house on August 27 and our stuff arrived last Thursday. In the meantime, we were camping out at the house. Now that we have stuff and boxes everywhere, I may have decided that I like the house empty. We have already managed to paint a few rooms and Heather and her dad built a major playstructure in the backyard. We had our first, small tropical storm (Hannah) this past weekend and all fared well, although we don’t have our hurricane supply in yet!!

We have already been enjoying many advantages of being here - heading to the cottage for just a couple of nights; bedtime stories with grandparents; surprise visits from Grandpa and Iris; and lots of games of tag with the uncles in the backyard. We are getting to know our neighborhood. We are very centrally located in a part of Halifax that is like a cross between Ottawa’s Centretown and Sandy Hill. We are near Quinpool Road, which has some aesthically challenging sections but is also re-inventing itself a la Richmond Road, with restaurants, cafes, an alternative bookstore, organic grocery store etc..We have also been pleased to figure out that there are two new play structures in parks within 5 minutes of us. We have also been exploring the lakes that are close to us in the city and can get to one really great swimming lake in 4 minutes in non-rush "hour" time (and 11 minutes in traffic - which only lasts about 20 minutes anyway)!


Jason has started Primary in a French Immersion program. We are very pleased with his school which seems to have very good school spirit. Primary is very different than JK/SK in Ontario. He is at school for a full school day, although that includes a long lunch hour not covered by the school board. So we also have him enrolled in a childcare program for pre and post school coverage and lunch. It is run by the North End YMCA and called Active Kids - they go swimming and do all kinds of sports. It will run him into the ground!! He seems to like school but the days are long with little down time for our introspective boy! He will also start Beavers!!

We haven’t quite settled with Keira’s daycare so I will spare you the gruesome childcare details. Aside from that uncertainty she is doing very well - she is really enjoying being closer to grandparents, and is excited to start a new music class and swimming lessons for the first time.

I have started work with the NS government. I have decided that working for the province might be a little like NS itself - an open minded, innovative, "green" environment that is supported by some old fashioned systems, e.g. everyone fills out timesheets each week (!). Being in downtown Halifax is great and since the provinces requires employees to take a 30 minute break at lunch (!), I am enjoying popping out into the sunshine. I have also been enjoying walking to work in 20 minutes, over Halifax’s Commons and around Citadel Hill.

Heather will start work next week and so is holding down the fort at home this week. She and her dad really seemed to have enjoyed doing projects together, even last Saturday when they worked for many hours in the rain.

Don't hesitate to give us a call, drop us a line or come and visit!!!