Acting local - like ay - working on a man bun

Heading north to the land of the Canucks

Have no idea when that changed, but #AirCanada wanted us there FOUR hours ahead of flight time for check-in. Needed @AuntyGail in the new #Outlander at 5 30 am for our personal shuttle service. This was a "lockup-lockdown" for a few months so did take us a little longer to get out the door and loaded in the pitch dark.

Thanks for the lift - and look at the size of that "loot bag" heading to Canada

The pre-boarding stuff (including Canadian Customs requirements) are all done in advance now, which makes for easy transit. We were through with only a slight delay- @Mac had to completely unpack his carry-on at Security because of his machine and headsets (no idea why) and I managed to set off the alarm for two spots on the scan (neither of them my knee) and suspicious residue was detected on my hands, so I had to do the explosives residue test (maybe the #RockYaPain ointment.)

The staff called Zone 3 at 9 am and we were first in line and commented that we didn't even need a wedding dress to get this priority treatment. The last time we headed this way was in 2018 for the wedding and we definitely had THE DRESS and loads of "decorative" stuff. Only got Ikea wardrobe inserts (they don't sell them in Canada), chicken twisties, Milo, cherry ripe, Caramelo Kolalas and kangaroos, herb and garlic salt and Bundy Rum this time (all packed in @Anth's retired boogie board bag - and "yes" we have heard frequently about what happens to boogie boards! ) 

Leader of the queue!

Plenty of room in cattle class

Settled quickly into our seats and were a little excited because @Mac thought he was going to have two seats! Unfortunately ... 👎 .... the second last passenger to board was the lady in our row. Bugger.

Captain announced 13 hours and 10 mins - which was a 40-minute bonus at the other end! Fingers crossed. 

And, as usual, arrived to the plane "snooze ready" after a busy few social weeks since our return from Africa. Add to that, the need to make the house "burglar ready" (lots of cleaning - including doing windows and screens so that burglars have clear view of police if they arrive to interrupt their exploits.) I never quite understand that need to clean - but think we all do it.

Assigned myself a little in air project to pass the hours - my crochet brown bear cuddly was in sharp contrast to @Mac's choice of "Cocaine Bear" - but we did have the Canadian #Canuck theme going. 

A little bear for someone special

All on all a great trip - the Captain somehow got us there a full hour ahead of schedule - and we were in cattle class luxury because we both jagged NON leaners in front of us - heaps of room. Food and drinks were great (celebrated halfway with a Bailey's over ice) and intermittently had access to Wi-Fi for some texting.

Usual inflight indulgences

Meanwhile, in Canada ... things were heating up as preparations were made for our arrival:

• Got a passenger seat for the E-Bike (not really sure of my excitement for this one)
• Organised the sunshine (33 when we arrive - that is warm)
• Replaced the lock on the storage room (I hope that's not the "naughty" corner or worse @Ian's secret plans for the in laws!)
• Car ready for right hand side of the road driving lessons 

Canada preparations

Slipped through customs, retrieved our bags which were the LAST out of the carousel, got ourselves a SIM card (worst experience) and enjoyed an entertaining, front row bus ride with Cliff, the ex-miliary pilot (he had some stories to tell AMD shouted @Mac a cup of coffee!)

After 24 hours of travel (and 5 years since our last visit), there was @MindyMoo looking like a real local ready to take us "home."

Couldn't resist a photo of the "mirror" that was the wedding dress try on venue - it's still there!

To say we were tired was an understatement - we really only stayed awake enough to interrupt @Ian at work and eat lunch. @Mindy took control of the unpacking and we awoke to empty cases stored and our gear miraculously upstairs and sorted. 

Spent the afternoon just chilling on the patio (trying to "chill", it is really hot!), meeting the neighbours (we need a lifeline for when @Mindy and @Ian take off to Europe and we are the "responsible adults"), enjoying drinks of choice and marvelling that we are actually here - this notion of an extended stay was a "retirement" trip that has been rescheduled a few times because of covid. Trying to learn to live like a local (need to avoid trying to walk through the new screen door when it's closed - ouch, that hurt and lucky it could be fixed; have to master the stairs for the climb to the second floor and take a leaf our of @Shirley's book and do the steady step over the tub for a shower - mind you the magnetic detachable shower head could be a winner 😉) ... I'm sure we'll be #canucked in no time.

It's 9 pm here, and the light has just faded. We've done tours and dinner under clear blue skies accompanied by sunshine (apparently there was a meteor shower last night and the northern lights danced on the horizon last week) and, to be honest we have no plans for tomorrow other than to "wake-up!"