I thought I best update the blog as it's been a few days but the truth is I haven't been feeling up to it recently. I've not been on my laptop too much as the screen brightness has been hurting my eyes!

After the Jay-Z concert on Friday we just chilled out in the morning on Saturday and took a brief ride out mid-morning. Lou went to work in the evening and I was invited out to watch the Canucks at a bar downtown which was really good. It was the closest thing (Canadian equivalent) to watching the footy with your mates in a pub - banter, beer and laughter! I had a good time and made me way back home just before Lou was arriving back. On Sunday I woke up feeling a bit under-the-weather but nothing too bad and we decided to go out for a drive so I could get some more road time. Just as I was getting increasingly confident behind the wheel a cyclist almost ran straight across me (he was going on a red light when he shouldn't be) and then a big SUV nearly cut me up forcing me to hit the brakes. It's all experience though and I have to get used to it - this kind of thing is common here. I wasn't so sure when we arrived but I'm now positive that overall the driving skills of the general public are definitely not as good here as they are in the UK. Lou insists my driving is really good though and once I get used to the many idiots I should be ok. Lou's driving is going from strength to strength, I think passing her test has given her a real boost and being able to go anywhere anytime has brought her skills on leaps and bounds. When we first started out we were both the same - safe but a little over cautious and occasionally confused. Now Lou has managed to brush all that away and although I'm biased I'd say she's better than most other drivers here.

On Monday I woke up feeling really ill. I think the cold which had been brewing last week (and that I thought I'd fought off) came back with vengeance. I didn't really do anything of interest at all except mope around the apartment (at least I tidied it all I guess) feeling sorry for myself! Yesterday (Tuesday) was more or less the same and today I still feel crappy but not as bad as the two days previous. I'm getting 'cabin-fever' from being in doors so much so yesterday I went out for 20 minutes just for some fresh air, I didn't exert myself in the slightest but I returned dripping with sweat (and it was cold outside)! Because of being ill I have also had to reschedule something really important too, which I'm disappointed about but I'll let you know more of that next week. Anyway I'm going to stop moaning now as I know it's not entertaining! Hopefully I will feel better soon, I'm fully stocked up with medication and all the essential things to help me fight it off (see the photo!).

I'm hoping Lou doesn't catch this bad cold, she seems to have a good immune system so hopefully she won't. This week Lou has been taking exams for work which seemed to go well yesterday and she has a further two today (Wednesday). If she successfully passes (and she feels confident she will) her wages will be increased and a lot of her current restrictions will be lifted so that will be really good. Although she's a registered nurse now in Canada she's been working on an interim permit until these exams are passed. This is unrelated to her overall work permit which is still valid until next summer and can be renewed.

We have also been sent the permanent residency forms this week for us to fill out, the whole thing is huge and like a book. They require an unbelievable amount of info but I guess it's got to be done, there's no immediate rush but we'd like to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. The first step is getting me approved as a "sponsor" because we are going the common-law partner route. There should be no problem once she proves she's in a legitmate relationship with a Canadian Citizen, maybe I should drop them a link to this blog as part of the proof!