Canada 2012

[westcoastnortherner]

So I noticed that there is a thread for America 2012, and I thought it would be nice to have a Canadian one too. So we can chat or if anyone has any questions I'm sure someone will be able to help...

I moved to Victoria, BC three years ago I have two DC'S and I am a SAHM.

We need to win lotto 649. Let's have an mn Canada syndicate then we can charter our own plane and fleet of limos to take us back for a holiday periodically.

Thanks for offer of CRA help. We've had an interesting patch where we discovered no-one had been making CPP and EI payments... Fortunately before I took over lol, but it was something of a shock that no sooner had I finished my first payroll run than I was discussing non compliance going back a year and a half. I think I've sorted that side of the house, but I have literally no clue how GST works, and even if we have to pay it, so that's my next biggie. All clues welcome! Happy to give you some more info via pm if you think you might have any idea!!

Nooka, that would be a lovely Christmas present!

Dh has two interviews next week for jobs he has been shortlisted for. I honestly thought they weren't going to come to fruition after the last one, so fingers crossed.

Wishing your dh good luck!

Lotsa luck to MadMan!!

Thanks guys. ages yet, though. Thurs for one and we think tues for the other but tbc, deffo next week. Weirdly, he appears to be theonly short listed candidate for one of them...

Sounds hopeful then [crosses fingers]

Anyone else envying their children a five day weekend? My children are certainly happy! I feel that the idea of both compulsory a union and legislating back to work undemocratic and well, just wrong. Plus it seems incredibly unclear just what the bargaining position of either side really is. Is it pay, or is it conditions?

Huh? What's going on?!

Teachers in BC are on strike from Mon-Wednesday.

Ah. I haven't had the 'pleasure' of a teacher's strike since my kids have started school, have no idea how it works!

madwoman, I never really dealt with GST! We were a non-profit nursery school so the only thing I ever did was claim the GST that we had paid. I do this for myself also since self-employed, it is just one form to fill out where you tell them how much GST you paid in the course of running the business (so mine is always for stuff like supplies and a fraction of the GST on utility bills) and then you claim it back! No idea what you do if you are charging GST on your goods/services and then have to submit it to the government. Ontario switched over to an HST system last year so I am at a loss this year as to what I am supposed to do about claiming back sales tax. Or maybe I can no longer claim it back. Hmmm, annoying that I don't know that.

Well Mum's gone now, she flew Air transat and said their premium economy luggage allowance is now 40kg! I should have made her pack more british stuff :)

I once got my Dad to bring over several bottles of Robinsons in a fishing rod tube one year, mum just rolled her eyes lol.

How's everyone's week? Are you all on spring break yet?

We've another two weeks to go here. Had a lovely warm and sunny weekend and then snow again today! I've really had enough of winter already, I want to get out and prune my fruit trees and see what's survived the winter.

We flew AirTransat back for the UK in the summer. It was a bit cramped and the customer service was fairly iffy. Flew Air Berlin on the way out and really enjoyed it (although they did lose one of our bags for a couple of days). I hope your mum has a good flight :)

Thanks Nooka she got back ok, although she said the flight back was not as good as the way out, food was inedible (more so than usual).

We started spring break this week, 2 weeks off from the school run!

Its been snowing this morning!

It snowed here today, I'm beginning to wonder if spring will ever come :(

It's snowing crazily here again today, but we seem to be on 'mega-dump/thaw' every couple of days. Ya gotta love spring.

Two days until spring break - I am irrationally excited. No rowing with small children about missing the bus, no dance, no brownies, no cubs, no swimming, no climbing, no fuss.

On the other hand, dd2 is off sick today after throwing up this morning, and tomorrow is the long awaited and still not got the projects finished yet science fair. tonight could be gruelling. Dd1's project has the potential to be brilliant, if she can just pull the presentation together. Ds's is, um, effectively a re-run of last year because he is a lazy toad.

But, but, MadMan has a job offer which he is accepting today. 50% pay rise, and a much more relaxed environment. It's right up his alley, and he was effectively head hunted as they have seen him in action, and know his background prior to the disaster job. We were laughing over the agreement though - he gets every other Friday off in the summer months, and his birthday too. it'll mean travel for probably a week every other month, but I think that will be good for him as well.

Sooooo, my only ponder still pending, is whether to go back for mil's birthday. Still haven't decided. Checked the flights again last night and they are still roughly the same. Dh has the week off booked anyway... Decisions, decisions...
Ponder, ponder.

I'm almost oddly jealous of your snow, I'd like to do a little more skiing. DS1 took his first lessons this year and it's been so fun skiing with him.

We are almost summer like here in Montreal! Have 23C, it's crazy. Wore bare legs and a summer dress yesterday, summer top and light cardi today. No more coats and boots! Supposed to get cold again next week.

Big student protest on today in the city, they're protesting against fee rises, I think it's only 1500/year, any excuse for a bit of rioting eh? I hope they're more peaceful than the ones last week.

Congratulations MadMan!

Bare legs?

My legs are the same colour as the snow, currently... We've had about three inches already and it's still coming down heavily. Last year we had a foot overnight for the royal wedding. so, I suspect it's nowhere near over yet... Five more weeks!!!

Enjoy spring x

Hiya MadMan that is terrific news about the job-delighted for you! Would the new Virgin flights to UK b a cheaper option 4 u?
I only have one more day of Spring Break. The children are JUST starting to bicker with each other, so I know they r looking foreward to seeing their buddies at school!

I'd celebrate your dh's new job (fantastic :)) with the trip as your dh has the time available. It sounds as if all the stars have lined up for it.

Oo, hadn't looked at virgin... Not sure they fly from our neck of the woods, but will have a look.

Not all good today - dh got rear -ended in town in his wee commuter car so now we have car insurance to muddle through so glad job is sorted though. Phew!

booked flights. had to go air canada as it was by far and away cheapest

Oh I am so glad that you decided to go...your family will be delighted! Be sure and walk around M&S, Next and of course Greggs (Bakery) for a Pasty and come back and tell us all about it !

madwomanintheattic have fun in the UK!

Had already got m&s, of course. Bloody long way to go for new bras though.

Have a great trip and I hope you have lovely weather. Spring is probably the only thing I really miss about the UK. Here we tend to go almost directly from winter to summer (well there is snow, then sad brownness, more snow, more browness, hope of spring, more snow, final thaw and then it starts getting quite hot). I like the getting hot bit, but I do miss the snowdrops and daffodils phase!

It is almost my Mum's birthday and I am trying to stay up til midnight so that I can phone her up. How do you guys manage with phoning on important days with the time difference? I thought I had the hours worked out and then clocks in both countries were Springing forward...I'm easily confused . If I phone after 12, then I won't wake her up too early. She will probably still Skype us in the morning, just when I am trying to shove the little ones into the car to get to school on time! When her day at work has finished, I have to be careful to make a 2 min phone call, either just before half past or on the hour, so that I do not interrupt the Holy Trilogy that is Emmerdale, Corrie and Eastenders- ha ha!