This weekend was one of my Canadian favourites. Thanks to the extra ‘Family Day’ the long weekend was the perfect opportunity to try out some Canadian winter sports. Mount Washington is about a 3 hour drive from Port Hardy and with the weather a little unpredictable through the mountains, we planned to leave bright and early to get to Mount Washington by lunchtime. As we started the ascent towards the Mount Washington Alpine Resort I felt a bit like I was…
So, tonight is the start of what is known as Family Day weekend in British Columbia which means an extra day off from work and an excuse to huddle up in a cabin in the mountains. Tomorrow, bright and early, I shall be heading to Mount Washington with friends for a weekend of snowy fun, evening drinks, log fires, and board games in great company. I have heard there are lots of outdoor activities that I have never tried before…
For those of us who didn’t grow up in North America, the words ‘spring break’ don’t really mean very much. In the UK, universities have a reading week in February preceding exams while the school holidays in March are centred around Easter so binge-eating chocolate takes priority over binge-drinking on the beach. In Canada however March-break is synonymous with escape-Winter or all-inclusive sun, sea, and sand. As I am living in Canada, taking a vacation in March is definitely something I…
Between gross winter weather and the post-holiday-return-to-work blues I have not been getting out and about much so don’t have a great deal to write home about. Instead, over the past few weeks I have been focusing on slowly (and I do mean slowly) getting rid of stuff. Somehow in recent years I have accummulated so much in the way of material possessions that the idea of moving abroad is massively overwhelming. With thoughts of relocating in just a few months…
While I love to travel to foreign countries and immerse myself in different languages and cultures, I also enjoy being a tourist in my own country. This trip back to the UK was a whistle-stop tour as we spent the majority of time celebrating Christmas and New Year with family as well as stocking up on some English essentials and hitting the high street sales. We were certainly kept busy but we still found time to get out and about…
Every now and again I find myself noticing small things that seem to hint at my subsequent moves around the world. Of course the connections are easy to spot in hindsight and are almost certainly mere coincidence but one such link between my hometown in the UK and my current home in Canada is quite interesting. Since I am feeling nostalgic for all things British at the moment I decided to do a bit of further research into this link…
After a very busy two weeks over Christmas and New Year with family in England we arrived back on Vancouver Island late last night so it’s back to blogging action. Tomorrow is also my first day back at work so naturally a holiday cold has hit with full force today. Suddenly two weeks off doesn’t feel like anywhere near enough time! I thoroughly enjoyed being back in my home country for the holidays where I made the most of the…
Located on Cormorant Island, Alert Bay is accessible by car ferry from Port McNeill and is well worth a visit for anyone staying on the North of Vancouver Island. Alert Bay inhabitants are probably the friendliest people I have met and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to travel there for work many times over the past year. The first time I visited Alert Bay was in early January 2014. We set off with intentions of visiting the…
As Christmas is fast approaching I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about shopping in Port Hardy. Although it’s a small town there is still quite a bit of choice when it comes to places to spend your money and one of the best things about living in a small community is that there are lots of products that are made right here on the North Island. 1) Drift & The West Coast Community Craft Shop – Located upstairs…
A picture speaks a thousand words and these beautiful photos from my most recent trip this summer show why I will always love Paris. Paris is such a photogenic city, even on a grey day. Unfortunately, despite the heat most of my days spent there this summer were cloudy but Paris is a timeless city whatever the weather so what better way to capture it than in classic black and white? I hope you enjoy the images and that they…