Fall Sets In

Snow in Whistler

Thu Oct 13th

It may be wet and cold at sea level, but it's cold and snowy in Whistler. So we will put up with wet walks and a soggy dog, knowing that every cm of rain here is likely to be 10cm of snow upstairs!  It may not stay if we get some warm days, but we live in hope!

It also means the mountains opposite us, which saw the stubborn patch of snow on the tallest mountain disappear last week, are now covered in snow.

We have had some spectacular sunrises but are facing the wrong way for sunsets.  It also means we missed the Aurora Borealis light show north of Vancouver in Monday.   Nick and Lizzie, who'd just got back from Thanksgiving in Ontario, also missed it.  The view would have been fabulous from their rooftop deck.

This morning the cloud cover was too heavy for a decent sunrise, but even the grey murk had its attraction.

The last two mornings by comparison were stunning.

The first from our lane (Smith Rd) looking across towards Vancouver, the second from Hopkins Landing.

Since getting back from Vancouver Island, we had to dive in to house sale stuff, following up some bits and pieces picked up in our buyer's survey report and also working on the sale of the Audi.

All the more difficult dealing with from 7400 km away and 8 hours' time difference!

We are also trying to finalize arrangements to ship our first container over from the UK and are awaiting advice from the UK shipping agents.  Our status in Canada, determines how the goods are treated when they arrive.  It looks as though we will have to pay import duty but are waiting on advice on value and duty before pressing the 'ship' button.  It also presumes they can find a shipping container and space on a ship.  

Lorry driver shortages, lack of shipping containers and supply chain problems are just as much an issue here as in the EU and UK.   We'd like to get the first container out here before Christmas, but are not optimistic.

The long-weekend was busy at the ferry terminal as families escaped to the Coast for Thanksgiving weekend.  Monday afternoon and evening the overflow parking was full, as were all the lanes inside the terminal.  

With Thanksgiving behind us, locals are turning to Halloween at the end of the month.  Local smallholdings are advertising pumpkins of different varieties and sizes, and the house decorations have started!  This is one Fred saw on yesterday afternoon's walk.

It will be interesting to see what Christmas brings to the local gardens and houses!

Having started setting up a small workshop I went out to check wood prices yesterday for a small furniture project - Ikea for an extra bed in case our shipment does not arrive, or make one.  

I thought UK timber prices were high, but ordinary pine is coming out before local tax at over £50 per ft3 and Douglas Fir somewhere nearer £95 per ft3.  On this occasion IKEA gets the job.   I was paying less for Oak in the UK, which is £192 ft3 for 1" planed timber at the local lumber yard.  I may have to take up matchstick modelling!

While on the subject of UK and Ca prices, we've started following the Forex rates on a regular basis, which have been yoyo'ing around since we arrived.  We arrived when the Canadian dollar was $1.72 to the pound.  It peaked at $1.75 and is now down to $1.69.  On our first trips to see Nick it was nearer $2.

Jack is oblivious to all this!

In the UK we often enjoyed the Open Studio art event that took place each year.  We discover a similar event is taking place here Oct 22-24 - along the length of the Coast.  Sunshine Coast Art Crawl will feature 250 artists in 164 venues.   Looks like a good weekend, the only disappointment is the lack of woodworkers!