Lots going on!

I haven't updated my blog for a few days, so apologies to any followers who might have become a bit frustrated.

We have lots going on at the moment so it's hard to know where to begin!

Some of you already know that I was invited to a job interview yesterday. It was a pretty surreal experience and one which, if the outcome is unsuccessful, I am more than happy to repeat!
I have never ever laughed so much during a job interview and it felt extremely positive. So. We'll see. It's a job teaching English at the local college/university, by the way.

So, as a result of this interview we have now found a new nanny for Indiana. She's a very nice lady, all the children she looks after are aged between 18 to 24 months so the same age as Indiana, more or less.
Indiana had a trial morning today and it went really really well. She apparently played beautifully with the other children, never once gave a thought to her parents (good sign!) and when I went to pick her up she was pleased to see me but she also seemed thrilled to have spent time with other toddlers. I felt so happy for her that I was almost tearful. It's what she needs and has so desperately been seeking over the last few weeks.

One of the mums who sends her child to this nanny has horses, so Carole (the nanny) is going to make sure that we meet up - perhaps that will be a possibility to create a riding buddy friendship!

I have also been busy baking. Since baking the turkey and the blueberry pies, I've now started experimenting with cookies!

Chocolate chip and walnut:

My reliable guinea-pig/official taster:

I'm going to bake some white chocolate chip and cranberry ones next!

On one of our exploratory trips of the area, we visited a village called Kingsey Falls. It has a small waterfall - if you can call it that. Anyway, here's a father-daughter photo:

That's all for now, and to all those who continue to visit my blog regularly: thanks for reading!

Happy New Year

2010 proved to be an interesting year which took several strange and unexpected turns.  However, it ended well since it saw our dream of moving to North America come true   


So what will 2011 bring? Who knows. 

So, to all of you who follow my blog, we wish you a Happy New Year filled with happiness, love, health and lots of good things! 

Bye for now  

Afternoon stroll

We went for a walk in one of Victoriaville's numerous parts today. There are different walks marked out and we did part of one which is 2.7km long. I say part of only, because the signpost at the start of the track indicated that snow shoes were necessary, so we wouldn't have been able to go everywhere with just our boots.

We took the sled:

Indiana kept stopping to sample the snow:

Some skiers:

Help! I can't get up!!!

Frozen river:

Digging for something:

Not sure who was meant to be exercising who:

Some skaters:

Looking pensive:

Walking home:

Quebec City

Today we went to Quebec City. I wanted to go there before Christmas but we didn't make it for one reason or another, but the Christmas decorations were still up and the festive cheer was still in the air.
I think that today I must have been the coldest I've ever been.... We were all really wrapped up but at one point I had to give my T Shirt to Indiana (long story) and was therefore only wearing a thin jumper under my coat...

Some photos for you:

Christmas decorations in one of the numerous shopping malls:

Walking in the snow with Daddy:

City art:

The Saint Laurent river, frozen:

Rooftop view:

Champlin, born in Brouage, Saintonge - just down the road from Saintes and founder of Quebec:

Meet Mozart:

A hotel:

The next three photos give you an idea of the incredible afternoon light:

And finally a visit to Starbucks to thaw out with a hot chocolate:

I had a creamy hot chocolate and an oatmeal and cranberry cookie..... Yum!

Boxing Day

Today we were invited to have lunch with Marthe.

We arrived and were greeted by a festively decorated table:

The guests:

First course: bean and ham soup:

Followed by a Quebecois dish called Six Pâtes or Cipaille:

This traditional dish, originates from the region of Gaspésie and is either thought to take it's name from the English Sea-pie (basically a sort of fish pie) or from Six-pies. This latter consisted of six layers of pastry between which was a mixture of game including rabbit, duck, hare, partridge and moose or venison.

This particular pie had only one layer of pastry and contained pork, chicken and beef. It was very, very tasty! 

Indiana then had a few presents to open.

What's in this bag??!

Super! Lots of new books - reading time with Daddy:

Being cute!

Starting to feel a bit tired after the days' excitement:

Finally taking a much needed nap:

The neighbours switched on their garden lights:

And Indiana finished the evening with a little bit of dancing to Cuban music:

Hope you all had a lovely Boxing Day!! 

First Canadian Christmas - 2010

Christmas started on December 24th when we woke up after a lie-in (at 7:30 am!) and Jérémie didn't have to go to work. YAY!!!
We decided to go out for breakfast to La Fromagerie. It's not just a cheese place although it does have an impressive delicatessen counter. I had a chocolatine - essentially a pain au chocolat filled with warm Nutella and with honey roasted almonds on top.
Indiana had scrambled egg with bacon, sausage, cooked ham, tomato and toast!
Here's the link, if you're interested: http://www.fromagerievictoria.com/

Then Jérémie and I went our seperate ways to do our shopping. Indiana got to meet Santa Claus. She was a little afraid of him but even so, he wasn't offended and still gave her a Santa shaped sweetie and a stuffed penguin toy!

In the afternoon Daddy and Indiana stayed at home whilst I went out to get a few last bits and bobs - a couple of hours on my own - bliss!

Indiana eventually went to bed in the evening and we stayed up, hoping to get a glimpse of Santa. We were tracking his progress round the world thanks to Norad: http://www.noradsanta.org/ and saw that he was due in Canada between 10 and 11pm.

Unfortunately we managed to MISS him, even though he left lots of presents:

and by the morning, a few more had magically appeared:

Indiana awoke on Christmas morning and wasn't allowed out of her room until she'd had a nappy change!

Then it was BIG surprises!

Santa left a lovely stocking:

And there was even one for Jérémie and I:

Indiana opening her stocking:

Watching her Zigby DVD that Santa bought (http://www.zigbyandfriends.com/zigby/zigbysWorld.html):

Her "big" present from Santa:

who also brought her a PINK pushchair!!

Anyone want a finger ? After all there's only half a kilo in this box.....

My beautifully wrapped gift from Jérémie:

I didn't want to open it!

We had an apéritif - Indiana enjoyed her sausage rolls whilst watching the Disney Christmas Parade, live from California and Florida:

Christmas lunch:

Unfortunately the gravy turned out to be revolting, for some reason, and the roast parsnips were burnt to a crisp (although the potatoes weren't) but apart from that it was very tasty!

The Queen Cracker:

We videoed Indiana opening her presents so there is a lot to put onto Youtube. Once we've done that, we'll send out the links to you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!