At last.....

The little brown envelope finally arrived a week last Saturday with request for our passports so the embassy can issue our PR visa's!! The last hurdle is finally nearing the end. I will certainly be jumping for joy when we have these back. The letter from them has stated a maximum turn around of six weeks.
We still haven't had any luck selling the house, but this won't stop us from making the big move.
I need to make a list of all the things I need to do in final preparation. I am continuously thinking about what we need to do and along with work I feel like my head could explode, I don't think I can take much more info right now and every day things are starting to get forgotten like birthday's for example, sorry Oliver, the card is in the post... Hope you had a good birthday.

I mentioned before that I want to get fit again and wanted to at least do something at 3 times a week, well I failed. I didn't do anything for two weeks so I need to try again, so last Thursday I went for a 4 mile run which was a hard slog but I did it, then I tried again on Sunday morning, a little easier going in the morning but still hard. I will try and get out again tomorrow, but as I am a fair weather runner it will all depend on the rain!

Anyway, I have decided to share with you one of my daily recipes. For over a year now I have been baking my own bread. Not in a bread maker but by hand, well nearly I do use my Kenwood chef for the kneading which helps a little!!

All you need for the perfect loaf:-
250g Granary Bread Flour
250g White bread flour
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp fast action yeast
2 tsp Sugar
300ml tepid water

Put all the ingredients above into a large mixing bowl in the order shown above and knead for approx 10 minutes.
Leave to prove in a warm place for 2 hrs, until doubled in size
Knock back and either shape and place on a baking tray or use a loaf tin.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees C, and leave to rise for another 30 minutes.
Bake for 30 minutes, remove and leave to cool on a wire rack!


Once you've tasted real bread and see how easy it is to make you'll never look back.... Enjoy :)

A Great long weekend....

Although it was a wet weekend until today that is, I have still enjoyed having some time off from work!

The car had to go to the garage for it's M.O.T so we couldn't go out anywhere on Friday, but as we are trying to sell the house I spent the day tidying up! Behind the sofa area was in much need of sorting out as all the papers magazines etc. seem to get put there 'out of sight', a dustbin bag full of rubbish later it was done. The boys are good at entertaining themselves and went out to play in their den area just down the road, this kept them occupied for most of the day.
Then to finish the day off and as it is Easter I baked some chocolate chip cupcakes which went down a treat!!


I got to see my dad on Saturday as he was back from Spain for a quick visit, I haven't seen him since I went over last October, it was great to see him, if only for a few hours. And of course he had Easter eggs for the boys, which soon brightened up there day.

It was lunch at mum's on Sunday, roast pork and turkey with all the trimmings followed by plum tart..... very nice!! It is always good when someone cooks for you, I always enjoy it more.

My last day at home for the long weekend was spent gardening. First a trip to the local garden centre for some 'flowering' plants then we had some cutting back of trees and bushes, which Craig did most of so I had to do the trip to the rubbish tip! The garden is nice and bright now and ready for next weekends 'Open House'.... Wish me luck we need to sell fast!!

I was planning on doing some scrap pages over the weekend as I have loads of pictures that I want to use and I haven't done any for a while, but nothing seemed to be working for me, no inspiration!
It's back to work tomorrow, so back to usual routine except for the boys who don't go back to school till next Monday!! ..... Enjoy while you can boys, you don't get this much holiday in Canada!!

How Time flies.....

Well, it has been a while since my last post and I told Ruth that I would update later so here I am.

As my blog was originally a place where I could tell my story of our plans for immigration I thought I would start now with a quick update of our progress so far......

Back in November 2006 we applied for immigration to Canada . We received our AOR February 2007. The estimated time before they were going to process the application was 36 months..... well much to our surprise we heard from the embassy with a 90 day letter in November 2008 (a year early) for an update of our information. After much hair pulling and lots of paperwork later we sent this off February 2009. Thinking we would now have to wait at least another 6 months or so for an update we were called for our medicals just one month later. This was great, things were finally starting to move.
Meds done and now just waiting for the final lap..... Passport requests for the visa's, I hope that this comes through as quick :)

Spring is finally here, and after winter along with an office job is not doing me any favours on the waistline.
My body does not know what has hit it this week... Fitness has begun starting Tuesday last week with one of my favourite fitness DVDs, I have tried lots of others but this one always seems to do the trick. I ached for a few days after and was still recovering when I decided that a quick 2 mile run was in order, this was Thursday, what was I doing, my legs felt like led and the route I run was uphill most of the way. If I hadn't punished myself enough I ran the same again on Friday... Saturday was a much needed rest day but as the boys were staying at my mums for the weekend and the weather being nice on Sunday.... you guessed it out again but this time for a bike Ride to Foxton Locks this was just over 13 miles and my legs felt like jelly! We did stop on the way home at the pub for a quick drink (sparkling mineral water!) Then home. Not a bad start... I just need to keep it going now and get myself moving again, my aim will be at least twice a week but would like to say 4!

No pictures to post as I haven't taken any for a while and not done any scrapbooking either.
I will try not to leave it so long next time between my posts.... I will aim for once a week for now!!