Canada eh?

Hi everyone from Toronto - or as the locals say Torono...Hard to believe I am finally here but the rumours are true!

I arrived in on Tuesday afternoon and made my way to my hostel, which is in a great spot just a few minutes walk from everything really. I met up with James on Tuesday night and we went to a pub or two for some beers and a good catch up. I started picking James' brain about the Canada experience immediately and haven't really stopped since (poor boy) but he will be free of me in a couple of days to continue his adventures on the west coast so I have to make the most of it!

I slept VERY well on Tuesday night and then met up with James again on Wednesday morning to check out the hockey hall of fame and do some phone shopping. I now have a nice little cellphone for prospective employers to ring me on - now I just need to find some prospective emplyers!!! Last night we went to watch the Toronto BlueJays play at the Rogers Center which I really enjoyed - they even managed to win and I proudly waved my big foam finger so I think I may have found a team to support (at least until the Canadian football season starts!).

Today was officially admin day when I had to start facing reality and do some boring stuff - I managed to get a social insurance number (like a tax number) sorted after a few hours effort and a very long walk - I would like to say that the long walk was on purpose but basically I am just a bit crap at directions! Starting to learn my way around town but haven't quite got there yet!

Tonight I have just been walking along the waterfront and am now back at the hostel for an early one. Tomorrow I have the exciting prospects of opening a bank account and trying to find a job and so I will need to be full of energy I imagine!

I am liking Toronto so far - seems like quite a safe and lively place and I am looking forward to getting a job so I can look into finding a little place of my own to live in. I must admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything I have to do to get settled here and have been slightly prone to freak outs in the last few days but am hoping to feel better after the weekend!

Hope you are all well and will write more (maybe even with some photos?!?!) soon!
Cheers,
Clare (eh)

Thanks for the loan of the family Z!

Hi everyone - hope you are all well. I am currently in Heathrow waiting to head off on the mountie hunt so before I leave I thought I would fill you in on what I have been up to for the last few days.

Amy and I had a lovely day on Friday going around Hyde Park and catchign up on what is going on at home and the places we have seen and what we liked etc etc. Made us feel very worldly and like we have actually travelled a bit!

Friday night Em, Phil and I headed off to Soho to a swiss restaurant for some fondue - in order to get the full experience we had to have cheese fondue first and then chocolate for dessert but consequently we all rolled back to the tube and fell asleep promptly upon arriving home!

Saturday morning I got up early and headed to the tram/train/train to get to Wokingham to stay with Zoe's folks. It was really fantastic catching up with them again and I even got to meet Z's big brother which was very cool. They took me down to Brighton to see the pier and George IV pavillion and then yesterday we went to Windsor castle which was really awesome - it looked like a 'proper' castle with turrets and a moat and I got to see where Charles and Camilla got married and had their blessing, as well as where the queen mum is buried as well as loads of other royals. I even got to see Sir Edmund Hilary's standard (and you all know how I love Ed!).

Anyway - London and Engaland both been fab and excited/nervous/tired/broke/excited about heading off to Canada finally. Will write to tell you of mountie hunting progress as soon as!

Missing everyone loads!
C x