10. I really like my job--I knew I would, but it's nice to say this out loud once in a while.
9. I think this country is on par or better than Canada: 249 Euro a month childcare benefits! I have yet to figure out how to get money back from our Social Insurance benefits, though...When M. was sick there a few weeks back we racked up some serious bills...hope we'll get those Euros back sooner or later...perhaps I can double submit and what CA doesn't cover BE will...?
8. There are great people in our neighbourhood: we ate Thai food and drank until midnight with new friends Kiana and Brian Saturday night until midnight--games night next week planned already--"Cranium", anyone? Not to mention our wonderfully generous immediate neigbour who is Matthew's newest confidant, mutual music lover and my car-pool buddy--it is a really good destressor to have a colleague to hash over the day with for half an hour each way.
7. My colleagues are really fun, down-to-earth people who are easy to work with, excited to learn just like me and enthusiastic about the same things I'm keen on. The skills they bring to the team are complementary to mine, so I really feel like I'm a valuable asset to the grade level and the kids, provided that communication continues to flow freely, which when I'm the team leader next year, it will!
6. I just bought a new sewing machine...my first and only machine was bought for me by my parents when I was thirteen, and it still works like a charm, but it's in Toronto. I went to the Creative festival today and spent more than a week's wages on this one--Bernina (great brand) and now I'm all fired up to make the boys pajamas, mend the dozen or more things that are hanging around in shreds and to get back to quilting--I'm so excited!
5. We're about to have our Easter and spring break combined...the boys get off on Friday, but I get Thursday afternoon off as well...we're in touch with friends in Edinburgh and and Hamburg, so we're going to spend our two week-plus vacation in both locales...it wasn't very long ago that I would have never thought that we'd be just "hopping" over to the mother lands for a long weekend!! I'm taking orders for scotch and thistle pickin' should you want to let me know your requests... Matthew is keen to see our German friends' new house, as it is one of these eco-neutral homes that are a builder's dream for the technology and design. Sevie (our German hostess and long time friend of the Zadow clan) is pregnant, so it will be fun to see her before their big life-change...they'll be wonderful parents, I hope we'll see their newborn in the fall...perhaps during one of the many school holidays in this country--another BONUS.
4. We're looking for apartments starting for August...Since the boys are having a great time in their school, and we're really enjoying this neigbourhood, we're trying to stay in this commune...which shouldn't be hard, from what I understand. Places are inexpensive, though the one's we've been viewing haven't been ideal (*yet) since they're either available too early, they're in the process of being renovated, they're too small (I think we're looking for something 95 m square plus) or they're too chopped up. Plus we'll be down to one contract salary next year and Matthew's contracts so we need to stay under about 800 Euro per month--not impossible...just challenging to get all our criteria and within our timelines.
3. We went swimming in our backyard pool today. I was gone for most of the day but when I arrived home, the kitchen floor was riddled with puddles and there were wet bathing suits and towels everywhere. I got into the pool after dinner and the water was FINE! I think this is the second time I've been in to the pool, or perhaps the third, since I'm a "wus" when it comes to cold water...but I stuck a finger in this and the tub would have been only slightly warmer. Here's a video of Malcolm making it across the pool with his front crawl. I Hope you can play it.
2. Our kids are growing so fast and so are all the youngsters we know...Evangeline the newborn is now a week old, Roxy just turned four, Chadwick starts middle school next fall, Duncan is playing guitar, Malcolm's an ace with a bow and arrow and just got his first pocket knife, and Henry's no longer our little peanut, but a laughing, a growing, no, strettccchiiiiinnnng little guy with a personality and a loving family who misses him very much. Speaking of your and our children, here is a picture of Duncan and his new pet ladybug (wearing a new haircut and a much larger big-brother hat--sorry that he looks like a poster-child for Chemotherapy!)
1. We've confirmed our plans to stay at least another year. Our house in Toronto will be rented to another Doctor's family (this one from Switzerland) with 2 young girls two and three years old and a contract at the University of Toronto Hospital Complex. This family is definitely looking forward to seeing the Toronto Weather that they've been hearing about, since they are missing the snow, even from the foothills of the alps...I doubt they'll get what Toronto received this year, but they're hoping! We on the other hand actually missed a bit of the white stuff, but will miss the tomatoes and runner beans after a hot summer even more...We're looking forward to coming home to Endean Avenue and environs early July for at least six weeks, so please roll out the welcome mat for us, we can't wait to see you as well!
We are looking forward to seeing y'all in July. We will get the BBQ ready. Yes Roxanna just had her 4th birthday party at "Danforth Bowl" - all the bowling, crappy pizza and watered down juice a child could endure. The Winter has finally started to subside - you missed a byooty - I broke 2 shovels when it was wet and heavy. Now comes the thaw and wait to see how many of my tulip bulbs were actually consumed by the squirrel pop. The snowbanks were quite substantial for Toronto - I think we were within 30 odd cm of the all time snow record for the GTA. The Robertson's have enjoyed the Winter here very much as they have gone tobogganing, skating, walking and skiing thus far. They are real troopers and know more about "What's on in the T dot" than we do (for shame). Jane is working on a very large Belgian backed BBC production entitled "Big & Small" - a $9M budget for this ultra high end puppet show for children. I share your sentiments Mags - Love going to work these days - a big expansion is happening as we speak as we are building 5 new Hi-Def edit suites connected to my Video x-fer room. It will get very busy, very soon as Lenz Entertainment is producing 6 shows at present with 3 more in the wings...Maddy just enjoyed March break now it's back to the grind. Enjoy Spring! CJB
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