Saturday, July 31, 2004
Today I have been driving a big assed American gas guzzling cruiser. We wanted to go to Whistler-Blackcomb but the bus service was overpriced and inconvenient. I also had a voucher for an free upgrade at Alamo cars so I got the aforementioned luxury cruiser for the price of an economy car (under 40 quid). Driving on the wrong side was ok although making my first left turn worried me a bit. It was cool though and driving the sea to sky highway up to Whistler was very scenic. Whistler itself is the site of the 2010 winter olympics and it's easy to see why. It is the biggest ski resort I have ever seen and it has some fairly decent roads going up there. There's a heck of a lot of facilities up there as well.
Right now they have set up a few of the beginners and intermediate runs as downhill mountain bike trails. They've also built some manmade berms, jumps and gaps into them too. Everyone I saw was riding 2000 quid mtb bikes (except they're only about 1500 here). Saw a bit of good air, one kid go over his handlebars and one kid come down to the base with a front wheel that looked like a banana. I can't wait until I have enough money to buy a bike and body armour and attack that myself. It might have to wait until next year so Walsh, get saving for your airfare and get those wrists and shoulder probably rehab'ed! There were some quite reasonable rental packages so maybe I'll scrape in a couple of goes this year but I definitely need to wait until I have medical insurance.
Last night I went to a "meet in vancouver(.org)" do. It was quite difficult meeting 35 people you've never met before but I talked to a few German girls, an Austrian, a Lebanese guy, an Indian guy and a few Canadians. I'm going to a party on Wednesday and a few of them will be there to talk to again.
Tomorrow is the last day of the "holiday". On Sunday I'm moving about 15 blocks west to stay with a family and my Mum is off home. This is when the reality of the situation will kick in for me. The Mom of the family I'm staying with is enthusiastic to say the least. I've talked to her a couple of times on the phone now and she is full of energy. Hopefully they'll help me out a bit and I'll have a job before I have to leave their place, thus meaning that I can afford to live somewhere decent. If not I'll seriously have to consider living in a hostel unless I can find some cheap shared accommodation.
Well lets increase the comments people. I want this thing to be interactive!
Right now they have set up a few of the beginners and intermediate runs as downhill mountain bike trails. They've also built some manmade berms, jumps and gaps into them too. Everyone I saw was riding 2000 quid mtb bikes (except they're only about 1500 here). Saw a bit of good air, one kid go over his handlebars and one kid come down to the base with a front wheel that looked like a banana. I can't wait until I have enough money to buy a bike and body armour and attack that myself. It might have to wait until next year so Walsh, get saving for your airfare and get those wrists and shoulder probably rehab'ed! There were some quite reasonable rental packages so maybe I'll scrape in a couple of goes this year but I definitely need to wait until I have medical insurance.
Last night I went to a "meet in vancouver(.org)" do. It was quite difficult meeting 35 people you've never met before but I talked to a few German girls, an Austrian, a Lebanese guy, an Indian guy and a few Canadians. I'm going to a party on Wednesday and a few of them will be there to talk to again.
Tomorrow is the last day of the "holiday". On Sunday I'm moving about 15 blocks west to stay with a family and my Mum is off home. This is when the reality of the situation will kick in for me. The Mom of the family I'm staying with is enthusiastic to say the least. I've talked to her a couple of times on the phone now and she is full of energy. Hopefully they'll help me out a bit and I'll have a job before I have to leave their place, thus meaning that I can afford to live somewhere decent. If not I'll seriously have to consider living in a hostel unless I can find some cheap shared accommodation.
Well lets increase the comments people. I want this thing to be interactive!
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Well I'm just back from my Ipsos interview. It's never easy to tell how you did in an interview when they don't really push you. Most of the questions asked were fairly standard - strengths, weaknesses, achievements, dealing with conflicts etc...but we didn't get into the meaty stuff about Internet panels or market research. I didn't make any mistakes and managed to have a bit of banter with the lady. She wasn't sure if there would be a further interview or if they would just offer the job so I'm not sure if it's over yet. Hopefully I'll know by the end of next week. I hope it's cooler next time I have an interview as it's not pleasant wearing a suit in 90 degree heat.
Last night I met my friend Fraser and his girlfriend as they were passing through Vancouver as they end their holiday touring British Columbia and Alberta. We had a few beers and then went and watched part of a fireworks contest. The contest is some kind of festival of light and the entrant last night was China. On Saturday I believe Sweden are up and then someone else the following wednesday. Anyhow, it was the most amazing firework display I have ever seen. It was far better than the millennium fireworks in London. I think China might win.
Going out to meet about 35 people I don't know tonight. There's a webgroup called "meetin vancouver" and I'm going to their monthly meal out. I know 2 people that are going and I've only met them once before. Anyway at least there will be alcohol to get the juices flowing.
Final thought - I'm just trying Diet Coke with Lime. All I can say is "what Lime". Can't taste any.
Last night I met my friend Fraser and his girlfriend as they were passing through Vancouver as they end their holiday touring British Columbia and Alberta. We had a few beers and then went and watched part of a fireworks contest. The contest is some kind of festival of light and the entrant last night was China. On Saturday I believe Sweden are up and then someone else the following wednesday. Anyhow, it was the most amazing firework display I have ever seen. It was far better than the millennium fireworks in London. I think China might win.
Going out to meet about 35 people I don't know tonight. There's a webgroup called "meetin vancouver" and I'm going to their monthly meal out. I know 2 people that are going and I've only met them once before. Anyway at least there will be alcohol to get the juices flowing.
Final thought - I'm just trying Diet Coke with Lime. All I can say is "what Lime". Can't taste any.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Went to Stanley Park on Monday. It took us over 3 hours to walk around the edge of it (about 9km). It's an incredible park though as it is huge and is basically right next to Vancouver city centre on a peninsula looking out into the ocean. I believe it is bigger than Central Park in New York. It's also where they filmed most of the X-Files and some other tv shows.
Yesterday we didn't do much interesting. Walked around the city centre for a few hours and looked at computers as my mum is thinking about getting one as they're about 10% cheaper.
Today there's not too much on the agenda. I'm gonna do a bit of work for my interview tomorrow and I might go to the beach for a bit. The problem is I hate sand and sunbathing so I'm not sure what I'll do there.
Hasta Luego...
Yesterday we didn't do much interesting. Walked around the city centre for a few hours and looked at computers as my mum is thinking about getting one as they're about 10% cheaper.
Today there's not too much on the agenda. I'm gonna do a bit of work for my interview tomorrow and I might go to the beach for a bit. The problem is I hate sand and sunbathing so I'm not sure what I'll do there.
Hasta Luego...
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Newsflash 2 - I've got a second interview, and contrary to what I said in the first newsflash it's with Ipsos not NOP. I must go to the right place for my interview!
Monday, July 26, 2004
Well meeting people off the Internet isn't as scary as you would imagine. Yesterday I met a girl from a Vancouver message board that I've been in touch with on email for a couple of months now. I say a girl, she's actually 41, but I guess she's young at heart as she has travelled and likes to get involved with social groups etc... Anyway, I met her and a couple of her friends. It was nice to meet a few people and hopefully get to know more friends of theirs. I'm going to some social event on Thursday where hopefully I'll meet some proper blokes who are into sport and drinking...and cars..and belching.
Not done too much today. Finally had eggs benedict for brunch. It's a dish I've been meaning to try for a couple of years but have always been more tempted by the full english or the burger. For those of you that don't know, eggs benedict comprises a poached egg on top of a muffin (sometimes with ham too) covered in hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce is a creamy tangy sauce a bit like watered down mayo with ketchup in it or thousand island dressing. Well my verdict is that it's a good brunch dish and I'll have it again but a full English or Canadian brekky probably still takes precedence. I'm really getting into the Iced Tea phenomenon though. No one drinks it in the UK or probably in most of Europe but over here it's a very popular beverage. I think I've had a couple a day for the last 4 days.
Went to see Farenheit 911 this evening. It's a pretty touching documentary even though it's incredibily one sided and somewhat childish. The style of the film is also done in Moore's original amateurish way. I don't mean bad but he certainly doesn't over produce his films. Anyway, in the main I'm on his side on this one. I'm not against war as a concept and I'm not sad that Saddam was deposed but America is seriously warped and some of the politics that has gone on sickens me.
That's all 'cos this chair is killing my back...
Not done too much today. Finally had eggs benedict for brunch. It's a dish I've been meaning to try for a couple of years but have always been more tempted by the full english or the burger. For those of you that don't know, eggs benedict comprises a poached egg on top of a muffin (sometimes with ham too) covered in hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce is a creamy tangy sauce a bit like watered down mayo with ketchup in it or thousand island dressing. Well my verdict is that it's a good brunch dish and I'll have it again but a full English or Canadian brekky probably still takes precedence. I'm really getting into the Iced Tea phenomenon though. No one drinks it in the UK or probably in most of Europe but over here it's a very popular beverage. I think I've had a couple a day for the last 4 days.
Went to see Farenheit 911 this evening. It's a pretty touching documentary even though it's incredibily one sided and somewhat childish. The style of the film is also done in Moore's original amateurish way. I don't mean bad but he certainly doesn't over produce his films. Anyway, in the main I'm on his side on this one. I'm not against war as a concept and I'm not sad that Saddam was deposed but America is seriously warped and some of the politics that has gone on sickens me.
That's all 'cos this chair is killing my back...
