Will update Blog tonight or very soon ;)

Well how long has it been, a month now since I wrote in the blog?

I will write some more tonight for sure. In the mean time check out the recently updated FlickR photos and YouTube short silent crappy videos.

Also, went to the kiwi film "Eagle vs Shark" last night - very funny in a different sort of way. I think it comes out in NZ in August sometime. And on YouTube you can watch the new tv series on HBO from the NZ Flight of the Conchords.

A building is about to be developed next door...

A building is about to be developed across the road from our place, which may obstruct our view of the evening sunsets and the forests of Gatineau Park. A reason for building it is (the greed of) 'progress' (It maybe (well is) hypercritical of me saying this while living in an apartment block - but we - Miriam & myself - use our bikes and walk more than using the car;)

At the same time the human population is increasing (exponentially) and we are using larger ecological footprints (we are using 130% of nature's yearly output).

UN Human Development Report (1998): By the end of the 20th century, the world's 3 richest individuals (all of whom were American) had a combined wealth greater than that of the poorest 48 counties. In 1998, the UN calculated that US$40 billion, spent carefully, could provide clean water, sanitation, and other basic needs for the poorest on earth.

There needs to be 'Food for thought' literally, and then we may learn a thing or two from the developing countries: Sustainability - A Lesson from Tanzania

Marmite, Banjo, Ferrari, Peeing Turtle and Aristotle

I have word that we may be getting a jar of marmite (a kiwi is bringing it over) - saaaweeeeeet!! We both miss our marmite - me more than Miriam.

Since I last wrote a bunch of stuff has happened or is about to happen. For a start the Senators lost the final series - a bit of a whitewash in the end (4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks), but that one win was celebrated big time, as I mentioned in the previous post (see pics - guy on the banjo, and young 'n' old celebrated Sens win). So the city is back to 'norm', although all the summer events are on, including the Italian Festival (see pics of Ferrari's) West Fest, Hip Hop 360, International Jazz Fest, Rib Fest, Franco Fest, Blues Fest, Fringe Fest, and of course the big Canada Day celebrations on July 1 (150th anniversary of Ottawa) when apparently everyone is out on the streets and in the bars!

We are one week off finishing up our weekly Adventure Sport nights - which included white water kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, and next weeks 'scrambling' (whatever that is - I think it's running up steep hills;). We both enjoyed last weeks mountain biking in Gatineau Park (Miriam enjoyed it so much that she wants to take it up as a professional sport) even though it was raining bucket loads with thunder and lightning and the mosquito's were biting. We need to get used to the mosquito's here - they are big and will bite through your pants - I have had a few bites in places that you wouldn't expect them to bite (places that you wouldn't itch in public) - nasty little buggers! We have met a few people from the course in which we will stay in touch with and have even joined the summer league of 'all-sorts-of-sports' - which includes ultimate and dodge ball - all social stuff, not (too) serious - ie meet for a pint (vino) after the matches.

We have done a few more trips around the place. Went up the North end of Gatineau Park (the park that starts 10mins from our place) and went canoeing in the Lake there. Last weekend we went to one of Canada's biggest Parks - Algonquin Park - 3hr from Ottawa (highway 60 - Ontario). Algonquin Park is massive. It has an area of over 7800 sqkm, in which you can canoe over 1600km (that is the length of NZ!) through all the channels, lakes and rivers (in which you have to portage some of the way). The only road that goes through it (which is at the Southern end of the park) is Highway 60 - the rest you have to travel by shanks', canoe, bike or skis. The park is set up for camping and canoeing - where the map shows canoeing areas (like roads on a map), and signs are in each inlet so that you don't get lost. The park hosts many wildlife like cougars (b.t.w. a cougar was spotted in Gatineau last week - the 3rd siting in 25 years); wolves (you can go out with groups at certain times of the year at night (around October) and howl - the wolves howl back); moose (See pics); raccoons (nasty little things - have no fear of humans - will take your food from you) bears (apparently the bear and cubs I spotted in Gatineau was quite rare for the Southern end - I told the visitors center about it, and they wanted to know exactly where I saw it -for their records); deer; otters; turtles (see pic - poor little thing, he was about to cross the road - we got out of the car and directed him back off the road, in the process he got a such a fright that he 'pissed (his pants) on the ground'); groundhogs; chip monks; etc. We only went to the park for the day, but will get back there and canoe into a camp spot - will also need to get the right gears like 15m of rope to tie up our food above the forest floor, so that the bears don't get at it - it's going to be a lot different to the NZ back country - what with bears, wolves, cougars and raccoons!

Our tennis is going well. Once a week with the Aussie/American coach who likes to talk like Borat. We have met a few people there - off to bbq on Friday night somewhere out West, Miriam might make it after her dinner with big bosses - I'm not invited - work talk;)

Speaking of work, I'm still waiting on my social insurance number so that I can work. Anyways, it looks like I will be starting soon at the same outfit I worked for in Wellington - on a contract, as the person in the position I will take over, has gone on indefinite sickleave. I have also got other interviews lined up with a recruitment agency - but they take a cut of ya salary, so will stick with the first choice. Also, still waiting on my acceptance to the P.G. Policy diploma in Sustainable Development - very big on this side at the moment - did you know that Canada was ranked the 28th worst (out of the 30 OECD countries) for sustainable development strategies (SDS) - hard to believe really when you don't live here - but it is noticeable when here (although Ottawa, being the Capital, has some good SDS for the city itself). New Zealand was the 25th worst (we are not as green as we think - the small population makes it seem OK) - guess who topped it (ie the worst) - Yep, USA. The leading countries for SDS's were in Europe - like Denmark, Sweden etc. A good site to visit - and reports to read is the website of the David Suzuki Foundation, here in Canada.

Have read a few interesting books of late. The first - 'Connected - 24 hours in the Global Economy' by Daniel Altman - it look at the world economy on a particular day (June 15th) - good book. But an even better book, and a complete contrast to the first is - 'An illustrated short history of progress' by Ronald Wright (#1 Bestseller here in Canada) - it tries to answer the 3 questions Where do we come from, what are we and where are we going? It is a must read - is quite scary where we might be heading - The book A Short History of Progress, written by Ronald Wright and published in 2004, grew out of the 2004 Massey Lectures. It describes in particular how four historical civilisations – those of Easter Island, Sumer, the Maya and Rome – self-destructed due to a lack of foresight and to wrong choices. Wright argues "each time history repeats itself, the price goes up".

Here are a few thoughts/questions for you (a bit of a David Brent moment) from the book and various other dudes like Aristotle (also Tragedy of the Commons - a good read):

Economic Growth (so called progress) - when is enough enough? 'The myth of progress has sometimes served us well - those of us at the best tables, anyway - and may continue to do so...[But] Progress has an internal logic that can lead beyond reason to catastrophe. A seductive trail of success may end in a trap.'

Specialists - People who know more and more about less and less, until they know all about nothing. Specialisation brings short term rewards but can lead, in the long run, to an evolutionary dead end. When the prey of the sabre-toothed cat died out, so did the cat. Our Specialisation is the brain.

Two-thirds of us have lived during the last one thousandth of the human career, and about a fifth of sixth of all are living now.

Extremely complex societies can evolve in the absence of much technological change, an idea that is very counterintuitive to us because our lives are so affected by rapid and powerful innovations.

The reform that is needed is not anti-capitalist, anti-American, or even deep environmentalist; it is simply the transition from short-term to long-term thinking.

The world has grown too small to forgive us for any big mistakes.

"That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it".

Phew!

Saw the All blacks v Canada reply last week - was on an American sports channel. They play this weekend? South Africa?

OK will end blog entry there. Much to do.

Qubec trip, Ottawa Marathon, Senators, Samba, canoe capsize etc....

Ok it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote - lazy bugger, well no both Miriam and myself have been busy. So I write this post listening to Ladysmith Black Mambazo & the Arctic Monkeys - weird combo but it works for me. I'm also writing while looking out the window (from 15th floor) where there is a mass gathering of people wearing red t-shirts (thousands), what the..? Will go and have a look later.

Speaking of mass gatherings, Laurier Ave (where we live), seems to always be the place where the Ottawa people congregate for events. Over a week ago, the Ottawa Senators ice hockey team (well 'hockey' team - 'hockey' is ice hockey, field hockey is the other & apparently 'girls' play it) made it into the Stanley Cup finals against the Anaheim Ducks from USA (out West). Anyway it is a big deal for Ottawa as it is the first time in many years that they have been in the finals and hockey (Stanley Cup) is a big deal over here - so much so that they have changed the 'Elgin Street' (a popular place to go out) name to the 'Red Mile' for the finals period (7 game series) - Red is of course the team colours and the chants are "go Sens go" - it gets annoying after a while. The 'Red Mile' is just off Laurier Ave and the festival plaza is where they had a mass gathering of over 7000 fans before the playoffs started (see photos) - the word around was Ottawa was the best team and this was their year. They are 2 - 0 down in the finals. But the fans are 'oat and a boat' enjoying it - so much so it is hard to get in anywhere, so they have big screens outside all over the city, including Laurier.

Another gathering on Laurier was the start of the Ottawa (Canada) Marathon last weekend. Over 40,000 people gathered to compete in the 2km, 5km, 10km, half and full marathon races. Some of the runners can be seen on our 'silent crappy videos' on YouTube. The winner of the marathon finished in 2hrs 10 minutes - unreal. We are thinking of competing next year - well we thought that at the time while watching all the runners - a year is long way off eh.

Yet another gathering 10 minutes off Laurier was the annual 'Glebe garage sale'. The Glebe is an area in Ottawa central where there are a few restaurants, wealthy homes, student flats etc. Thousands turned out on a 32 C day - we ended up getting a free bread maker - good buy eh, all we had to hand over was our hand, and only that was a shake!

Well we have now seen almost all the types of wild life with four legs that Ontario has to offer. We bike a little bit in the great (36,000hec) Gatineau park, 10 minute drive from our place. I saw the bear and cubs, we both have seen raccoons, deer, groundhogs (both roadkill and alive), beavers, porcupines, squirrels, etc on our bike rides. Gatineau Park is full of lakes, forests and bike/walking trails. With the humidity lately there have been some amazing electrical storms that come over from Gatineau towards Ottawa. I was out driving last week and had to stop as the rain/hail was so intense I couldn't see a damn thing. Last nights electrical storm went on for hours, heaps of forks etc - tried to take a photo/film but was always too late or too quick in taking the shot - but I did take a lot of photos and films of the night - darkness.

Two weekends back, over the long Victoria weekend, we took the car for its first roady through Quebec and up some of the East side of the 'mighty' St Lawrence River past Quebec City. We drove 1600 km over the 3 days and got way out into the wops and small farm villages (each with their own steeple church - the governance of all small villages back in the day) and where the English language was not spoken. We went to Saint Francois, Saint Paul, Sain Joseph, Les Eboulements, Saint Hilarion, Saint Irenee, La Malbaie, Clemont, Massif ski-field, St Annes Canyon, Saint Fidele, Port au Persil, Hautes Gorge, Saint Simeon, Baie Saint Catherine, Saint Agnes and back through the Old Quebec City.

The trip was amazing - the people, scenery, St Lawrence river, the old Quebec city, St Annes's Canyon, Hautes Gorge etc. At Saint Catherine, along the St Lawrence, many whales come in from the Atlantic Ocean. Almost every species of whale arrives at certain times of the year, including the big Blue Whale in July-August. At Hautes Gorge, they take conservation to a new level. You can only take your car to a certain point, from then on you must walk or catch one of two buses into the area close to the rivers within the gorge. The visitors centre is self sufficient - running on solar power, the ranger vehicles run on bio fuel etc. And the gorge is spectacular, with some of the highest cliffs in Canada - behind of course the Rockies etc out West. St Annes's canyon was amazing too - huge falls and heaps of power behind the rapids - we were lucky the day was sunny, as the mist formed rainbows (see photos). There were also falls closer to Quebec city - but our camera batteries were flat so no pics (no pics of Quebec City either - next time). These falls were amazing as well. In the winter 90% of it freezes and people skate etc under the falls (that aren't falling). Also this area was the point where the English set up camp to come up with a plan to attack the French in Quebec City back in the 1700s. The French had their own fort in what is now Old Quebec - a walled part of Quebec city. The English travelled up the St Lawrence to attack the French - The Seven Years War began in 1756. Back to the trip. We were based in St Annes, a little village about 1 hour up the St Lawrence from Quebec City. It was the opening weekend of the backpackers (it closes during winter - too much snow), so there were only a few guests. Awesome view of the town and St Lawrence, as the backpackers was situated up a hill. I practised my French, by saying I don't speak French in French - Je ne parle pas français. I will learn it before we leave!

The old Quebec City. A beautiful part of the city that seems to be in a time warp - ie it is set in the 18th century. More European than Europe, even more French than France. Narrow cobblestone streets with tall old buildings - arts, crafts, cafes, restaurants, touristy stuff, fashion, antique stores. Quebec City is amazing, defiantly a place to go back to - especially in the winter. Sorry words can't describe it properly - you have to go there.

Our adventure sports nights are good - meeting a few people and learning new sports and Canadian pastimes - like how to canoe in a rapid - from our point of view not very well. Canoes are new to us, we did well in the calm waters, even did well going upstream - up the rapids. But our last down rapid run of the night was a bit of a disaster - my fault, as I was steering (not steering). We went into the rapid side ways, capsized and floated down stream, bruising our butts on rocks along the way. Bugger eh. We will be professional canoeists before we leave Canada. The other sports are cool too, sea kayaking next week in the river - that's more like it!

Samba (more percussion, Batucada stuff than dance) nights are good to. A big group that practise once a week and play at various gigs - including the FIFA under 19 World Cup match between Brazil and USA, and various Senator gigs - we need to practise a bit more to get into the gig thing. Djembe drumming hasn't taken off yet - One course is half way through, so too late to join. I put a message on CraigsList (like TradeMe back home - can put classified ads online etc) to 'anyone out who wants to start up a drumming circle'. Have had two responses so far - not enough to make up a circle as such - unless we play really close together. Early days will wait and see. Tennis lessons Thursday nights with an ex-pro - no we are not paying shitloads for the lessons, it's cheap community organised lessons. We both were bumped up from beginner to the intermediate group on the first night. I must be doing something right, as I've improved enough to get in the advanced group;)

Workwise. Miriam is enjoying her work but wishes she had a window. I have applied for a few jobs but am still waiting on Social Insurance # so i can work. Many of the jobs require you to be bilingual (French/English) which is a bit of a bugger. I may get work at a certain place so I've been told, as the person in 'my' position is quite ill. Hey, I'm not wishing.... I hope she gets better - seriously! I have applied to do a post grad 1 year diploma at Ottawa Uni in 'Sustainable Development'. Very now.

The car is in good company in the garage (see photo).

Long blog entry, sorry. Listening to Bob Dylan now - will see him live in a month at the Blues Fest - never seen him before.

Still have a lot of pics to add to FlickR - takes too long - but will get them up eventually.

Mercury Energy gives $10,000 to the family of the woman who died when the power was cut from her home and her breathing apparatus because of an unpaid power bill - what a load of bollocks!

We have car

May 18th eh - Jeez time goes quick, seems like yesterday I was in back in Wellington.

We have finally purchased the car! Nice black subaru GT AWD - good for the winters, and one that will surely last the 3 years - unlike some (I mean all) previous cars we have owned. We will make good use of it this weekend, as we're off to Quebec City, and then for a drive around the area, East along the Lawrence river.

Saw my first wild bear (and her two cubs) today in Gatineau Park. I went for a bike through the park, up towards one of the ski fields in the hills - it was a nice ride. Anyways when I was back at the car, I decided to take it up the same road for a few kms, and as I was driving (no one else around) a mother bear and her cubs were about to cross the road in front of me. They waited until I passed and leisurely walked across the road - although mamma bear was giving me the evil eye.

The Ottawa Senators are 1 game away from getting into the finals of the NHL - Stanley Cup. It is the furthest they have been in a while - so it is hockey fever at the moment in Ottawa. Also the NBL is in the final stages.

Off to get rego plates for the car.

Ottawa - the last 4 weeks

Date is as you see it!

Well because I haven't had much time to write I have let the ol' blog slip a bit;0. I will now attempt to write about the last 4 weeks in one sitting (a condensed version of what happened) while listening to Little Bushmen playing live in the RNZ recording studio - 3 tracks mixed into 1, 43 minutes long - good stuff though, you should have a listen (streaming audio) .

OK so we arrived in Ottawa - the weather was cold & on the second day we awoke to see, according to CTV, 15-20cm of snow on the ground - luckily we stayed near Arundel Mills in the States - bought heaps of cheap winter gears on sale. Then 2 days later the temperature was 24 C! How crazy is that eh! Even the locals thought it was strange - G.W. Luckily we stayed near Arundel Mills in the States - bought heaps of cheap summer gears on sale.


The hotel we stayed in was nice - on the 19th floor, but it didn't get much sun and I kinda got sick of the good service - actually just got sick of being called sir etc - not my kind of thing, I can serve myself & clean up after myself thank you! It was good for a while though;)

In the first week we had to organise a few things like setting up bank accounts, other official things, and looking through apartments in which we would live for 3 years. The first place we looked at was so (too) nice and was very central, near the canal, byward markets, elgin street etc - so we took it, furnished and all. I was thinking sweet, we can move in soon (so I could get out of the hotel and unpack my suitcase - which had had my stuff in since leaving Wellington - a month earlier) but the snooty in-house manager said we couldn't move in until May 1, 3 weeks later. The previous tenant had the place until then, even though he had already moved out - interestingly his name was Maurice Strong (do a Google on him, or just click his name for a wiki).


During this early settling in stage we a small deposit down on a car at a Subaru dealer in Hull, Quebec - 2003 Subaru Legacy GT - very nice indeed, good for some roadies! However the finance person there had just started working at the car yard (which we found out after we put some money down) and it has been a nightmare, as she had no idea how to handle the finance for two kiwis who had only been in the country for a week - it didn't help that she didn't speak English either. So after almost 4 weeks and hundreds of documents, phone calls, and sorry's, and other things, we have a meeting with her tomorrow to sign the deal and drive the bloody car away!


We had a rental car for the first 2 weeks there and made good use of it. Went up to Mont Tremblant for a weekend - the final weekend of the season. Pretty cool place (quite touristy in a way), cool multi-coloured village with heaps of bars etc. We ended up having a big night, as a few guys from Ottawa shouted us a few drinks, then some more, & a few more;) On the way back the next day we stopped in at Omega park where I almost had my head taken off by a giant elk - I thought they were vegetarians, maybe I have a head the shape of a carrot, as we were feeding them carrots from the car. The park also had bison, wolves, bears, beavers, goats with bigarse horns, moose, coyotes and Bambi.

So during the week while Miriam was at work, I was doing admin stuff - cable, phone, Internet, visas, working permit for me (still waiting on social number so i can work), Ontario licenses, etc. I also did the touristy things - byward markets, museums when it was cold, hiring bikes - great city for bikes (more about it below) - and joining some clubs - batucada, djembe drumming, adventure sports, tennis (all evening classes) - was going to take French, but course was canceled because of lack of numbers (June is the next intake).

Yeah a lot of cities around the world (that are flat & have some space left I guess) could learn from Ottawa in terms of public transport and bike ways. The bus service is amazing - where there are roads only for buses - it kinda works like other city subways, except above ground and on roads. On the bus website you type where you are, then your destination - and it comes up with the quickest route, even how long it will take to walk from your door to the bus stop etc. The bike ways are even better - they work like roads - stay on one side and there is even a speed limit. Heaps of people use them - biking, inline, walking etc.


We went for a weekend to Montreal - very cool place. Had a great Saturday night out - although a few of the places you needed to be on 'the list' to get in. Heaps of cool bars and restaurants - will definitely go back soon - maybe this weekend as it is a long weekend.

Went to the Canadian Civilisation Museum last Sunday - cool place. Also went to the IMAX theater there and watched deep blue - unreal, surreal! The IMAX screen there is a giant dome that covers the whole theatre - it's a bit like being in a giant marquee and the whole ceiling is the movie screen. We will have to get the 10 pass for future viewings.

Tulip festival (worlds biggest apparently) is on at the mo. - oh yeah, the weather is warmer now, so flowers can grow, it was even 29C for a couple of days last week - so alot of flowers around!

Things coming up:

• Blues festival, just got our tickets (passports to all gigs) - acts include white stripes, bob dylan, kanye west, manu chau etc - should be good.
• City Chase - like 'the amazing race' but on a local level - we are both thinking of doing it.
• Long weekend - will take new car on a road trip.
• Work for me!

So that is a wrap - missed a few a lot out, but sh** happens. All up-to-date now. stay tuned.

David Bain is out eh!

The drive to Ottawa....

This was over Easter weekend April 07

We were picked up from the hotel by Miriam's boss and started the 12 hour drive (spanned over 2 days) to Ottawa [12 hours in the car with Miriam's boss - more than a good chance to get on the right side;)], stopping in Ithaca for the night. The first day consisted of freeways, American flags, small '(Hicks)...villes', American flags, bare trees, American flags, and a little bit of snow. But then we arrived in Ithaca.

We all liked Ithaca because of its small town, big University feel to it. There were heaps of cool little cafes, restaurants (including the MooseHead restaurant) , bars and the young population gave the place a cool vibe. Ithaca was the first place in America where we had a nice meal! While in Ithaca we visited Cornell University . It is situated on a hill looking over the Ithaca township - the buildings reminded me of Cambridge.

After a nights sleep, we were on the road again - so cold that our bottles of water in the car froze over night. The days journey consisted of freeways, American flags, snow (and lots of it), American flags, bare trees, a view of Lake Ontario, and a border crossing.

We crossed the border at Ogdensburg, a small village on the shores of Lake Ontario. It was the quietest border crossing I have ever been through by car. There were about 2-3 vehicles crossing at the same time as us. After 5-10mins we were through. Canada! The first thing I noticed was a Canadian flag outside a house along the shores of Lake Ontario. The second thing I noticed was metrics - our speed limit was now 100km/h. The car had a switch to change the speedo dials to km/h instead of miles/h.

After about an hour or so we arrived in the place we would call home for 3 years - Ottawa !