Hello everyone!

This is my first post since landing 13th September 2006. I guess I've been naughty, but I'm back and you'll love me for it!

My final month was hell after finishing work and having a really bad back. I had to move back to my folks in Bedford, sell my kit, attend a course in Kendel, travel to say goodbye to my sister in Gloucestershire, visit an ex-girlfriend in Cornwall, before returning home to have my stuff shipped, travel to Leicester and Nottingham for leaving bashes, before returning to my folks and saying my final farewells.

Make of that what you will!

I was in agony as I arrived in Canada but landing was a pleasure, took all of 10 minutes. The ******r was getting my kit from customs. You go to the warehouse to get it (2 weeks later), you're given forms to get stamped at customs (20km round trip) and then you see your boxes beaten up and opened by customs.

My friend came out a year before me and came with his computer and hi-fi. His boxes were dropped and damaged so he tried to claim on his insurance - where he found out it was only valid if it was packed by the shipping company. Why would a shipping company allow you to pack your own boxes and take out their insurance if it was invalidated from the get-go?

Never take your valuables if you are packing them yourselves. I sold all of mine so it was not a problem and nothing was stolen or broken anyway. I'd name and shame the company but the lesson is here for all to see.

My back has stopped me doing a lot of things (snowboarding) but I'm on the mend, back in the gym, working as a Ski Technician @ NYSC (come say hello)and getting ready to begin training as a tree climber for the spring.

Renting a flat with my friend has been a nightmare here in Toronto but we are making some headway. Sorry I didn't have a 4 bed palace to sell before I came over, am on a budget so I know what it is like to have nothing and work your way up.

I'll save the rest for my next email. Questions are welcome from all, so fire away!

Glad to be here, finally!

Cheers

Wayne

Customs went through your container? Ouch! Not a nice welcome to Canada. Hope things improve from here

Good to see youre still alive Wayne! Good Luck with the transition to canadian life

Not a good beginning - it can only get better!

We were told by our shipping company that
a) we would not be insured if we packed our stuff ourselves, and
b) our stuff would be covered by the insurance if the whole ship went down.

We decided against insurance.....everything arrived safely and was not even glanced at by the customs people!

Congrats!

Congrats Wayne

My folks are in Bedford too, unfortunately I went to school there.

Me too!

Brickhill Middle, before they turned it into a housing estate and then Mark Rutherford Upper because Pilgrim was being closed down. Two of the best schools in the town that were not private.

Still I got my education, qualified for university and ended up here in Canada so I can't complain.


Wayne

Blimey, I spent all of a term of 6th form at Pilgrim, before going to Sharnbrook. My Parents still live in Pavenham.

I'm a Dame Alice girl, My brother went to Robert Bruce.
We lived in Bromham

Have you sill got the uniform?

I seem to remember you girls were always always too good for us Rutherford boys! Still when I recall the scum that went to my school from the estates around Woodside. The pupils from Brickhill gave the academic reputation at Rutherford a kick in the right direction, I don't mind saying!

Rutherford has a steel fence all the way around it, I'm not sure whether it is to keep the truants in or the arsonists out?

Wayne

Only the tie.........


We werent allowed to talk to boys when we were in school uniform. Not even family!
I hated that school, I still get shivers when i think about it. Mind you i went there many many years ago and i gather its a changed place now.

It's such a small world! I'm new to this but have been reading most of the threads trying to get as much info as I can!

I'm also a Dame Alice girl, I left in '94 and also hated the place!! My brother went to Bedford Modern, and I also live in Bromham!! My parents have lived her for 24 years, I moved out briefly to Brickhill with hubby but moved back her 4 years ago.

Sorry for the random reply there!

Manda

good grief! i will pm you to see if we know each other!