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rosiedoesThings aren't so bad as I tell myself, sometimes.
And someone has found my Canadian ancestors in the 1911 census. Taylor Township is near Black River-Matheson, in Cochrane District of Ontario. It's remarkably cool. I emailed someone in the Mayor's office to see if they had any idea if the township was still known as Taylor, or what has happened to it.
It's very cool. When I get something solid I'll show my nan - it was her mum who was the first child in our family born there. She still has photos of the log cabin with them standing outside. It's really sweet.
I'd love to go there and get in touch with my heritage. Maybe I will. The only thing, is that it's in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive. I'd need someone who could drive to come with me. Maybe, if I find some people we're related to, Jem and Nan will come with me. Jem's a courier, so he's used to travelling long distances.
In other news, I've been saying my brother, Cris, looks like Jake Gyllenhaal for ages. He told me today that everyone else says it, too.
No one usually sees that sort of thing when I say it - so I'm feeling a bit smug at the moment.
Back to dreaded work, in the morning. There's a tube strike, so I'll have to go the other way and make sure I'm on the platform by 8.10am. I don't usually leave the house until after then! Not best pleased.
I've also been talking to Mary about taking on the design for The Camera Obscura. She protests that she's not a good enough webdesigner, but she's better than I am. Jane is too busy to finish it herself. We want something up in time for the release of Within, because there's sure to be a bunch of new fans appearing around then - it'd be nice to have something they can actually draw some information from, instead of the IMDb profile - because there's simply no detail.
Fingers crossed, anyway.
And someone has found my Canadian ancestors in the 1911 census. Taylor Township is near Black River-Matheson, in Cochrane District of Ontario. It's remarkably cool. I emailed someone in the Mayor's office to see if they had any idea if the township was still known as Taylor, or what has happened to it.
It's very cool. When I get something solid I'll show my nan - it was her mum who was the first child in our family born there. She still has photos of the log cabin with them standing outside. It's really sweet.
I'd love to go there and get in touch with my heritage. Maybe I will. The only thing, is that it's in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive. I'd need someone who could drive to come with me. Maybe, if I find some people we're related to, Jem and Nan will come with me. Jem's a courier, so he's used to travelling long distances.
In other news, I've been saying my brother, Cris, looks like Jake Gyllenhaal for ages. He told me today that everyone else says it, too.
No one usually sees that sort of thing when I say it - so I'm feeling a bit smug at the moment.
Back to dreaded work, in the morning. There's a tube strike, so I'll have to go the other way and make sure I'm on the platform by 8.10am. I don't usually leave the house until after then! Not best pleased.
I've also been talking to Mary about taking on the design for The Camera Obscura. She protests that she's not a good enough webdesigner, but she's better than I am. Jane is too busy to finish it herself. We want something up in time for the release of Within, because there's sure to be a bunch of new fans appearing around then - it'd be nice to have something they can actually draw some information from, instead of the IMDb profile - because there's simply no detail.
Fingers crossed, anyway.
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on 2006-01-12 10:12 pm (UTC)It'll sound odd, but I've never been to Vancouver before. I've just heard (and seen) how wonderful it is, and I'm a bit of an adventurous sort, so I've a tendency to Just Decide to do stuff. With so many friends saying how much they'd like to live there, as well, I can't see it being unpleasant!
I can always come home if I change my mind.
I work for St. John Ambulance at the moment, so I might be able to persuade St. John Canada to give me a temporary placement in one of their Vancouver centres - if I'm lucky.
What are you doing out there?
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on 2006-01-12 10:16 pm (UTC)I absolutely fell in love with the place in 2 weeks. Its got everything you could possibly need or want or both :)
I've got a degree in Sport Tourism and Vancouver were awarded the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, so I'm hoping to put the degree to some use and work on the committee for that. At the moment I'm hopelessly unorganised but it'll change once that visa shows up.
Perhaps I should join the St. Johns Ambulance? :)
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on 2006-01-12 10:25 pm (UTC)Sounds like you've got it made, with a qualification like that. I've no idea if being involved with St. John will help you, but it might be worth taking a basic first aid course - it looks good on your CV. You can do day-long ones for about £70 (although not in Kent - it's the most expensive county outside of London. If you're on the Dartford side, going into Essex is much cheaper). I just did an Appointed Persons course myself.
Personally, I'm a total Stargate geek, and that's filmed in Canada, so I have a bit of a fan factor in it. But mainly, I'm just tired of London and think it seems wonderful.
Even though it's meant to be a bit crap after hours, I'm quite keen on Gastown. Looks like somewhere I'd fit in - although everyone's telling me Commercial Drive.
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on 2006-01-12 10:32 pm (UTC)Sadly, I'm right down in Dover so almost as far away from London as you can get this way. Definitely will look into courses and such though. My mum was involved heavily with Health & Safety at her workplace so might see if she can sneak me onto a meeting or such.
Gastown and Yaletown are the places I'm looking to get near. Perhaps if I find a place decent enough, I can find one with an extra room for when you get yourself over the ocean :) As far as I know Commercial Drive isn't that far from there.
I need to find a map with the names of the small areas, as everytime I hear a new name it makes the whole thing seem even more daunting. I know its a big city but once you know whats in relation to other things, its all easier I'm sure - does that even make sense?!
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on 2006-01-12 10:44 pm (UTC)Sounds like we might end up relative neighbours, if I'm lucky enough to get that visa. It'll be nice to know someone who is already there and understands the whole emigration thing!
My friend Amber, who is from Saskachewan, has a brother living in Vancouver - maybe she can ask him if there's a local map or website you can look at to get to know the areas.
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on 2006-01-12 10:50 pm (UTC)A map would really be ace. Knowing any kind of contact over there before going would be fantastic. I'm currently going through the memories feature on the Vancouver community and found a fantastic roomshare - sadly two months too early!
When do you intend on getting there?
Perhaps you could take the BUNAC route first, to see if emigrating is your best option?
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on 2006-01-12 11:08 pm (UTC)I'd come tomorrow if I could, but I'm going to need to work at it, a bit.
I think I'll have to go the roomshare route when I first get there, as well. I live in a houseshare of five at the moment (and I've got a complex about empty houses) so it won't be a step back or anything.
Klo really wants to share, but nothing's set in stone. I guess living with someone who knows the city would be a help, as well.
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on 2006-01-12 11:13 pm (UTC)http://vancouver.craigslist.org/
the website above is the best thing I've found for people like ourselves. lists all the events, as well as the houses and rooms for rent etc.
if i can't get anyone to come with, then i'll show up at loads of groups or something - make some new friends! :D
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on 2006-01-12 11:32 pm (UTC)Apparently, if you don't have a job when you go, they expect you to have at least $9000 back-up, don't they? That's quite a lot of money!
Thanks for that link - I'll definitely check it out.
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on 2006-01-12 11:34 pm (UTC)the amount you need to take is probably different with emigration and a simple years work visa. with BUNAC you just need £550ish - so around $1100.
not too bad really. :) but obviously the more you have, the less you need to panic-rent when arriving :D
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on 2006-01-12 11:37 pm (UTC)Someone did tell me (psychic - I'm into the weird shit, me) that they thought I'd be out there in August. Who knows? Save £200 per month and that's quite plausible.
Still need to go through the application and stuff, though, obviously.
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on 2006-01-12 11:39 pm (UTC)Crash at the new pad (that I don't yet have!!)
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on 2006-01-15 03:26 pm (UTC)I'll certainly try to get out there for a visit, this year. I'm all twitchy and keep looking up holidays on Expedia.
Bad, bad habit!