I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. ~ George S. Patton (died 21 December 1945)
Christmas is coming,
Rob is getting fat,
We're going skiing,
Then Vegas is where it's AT!
We're all booked in. We'll be skiing in Panorama over in BC for 3 days till the 25th. It will be nice to have a white Christmas up in the mountains. This will also be a foray into British Columbia. I'm told BC really stands for Bring Cash. Albertans find the rest of Canada expensive because of the Tax. Here's how tax works here: when you see something for sale in the shops, say at $10, it will ring up at the till as $10.60. That's because some years ago Canadians voted to have their GST and PST (Government Sales Tax and Provincial Sales Tax) made explicit. It can be a pain in the bum remembering that the price you see is not actually the price you pay, but you soon get used to it. Anyway, here in Alberta the Provincial government makes so much money from oil and mining operations they don't charge PST, but everywhere else does, so once we're in BC a $10 item costs $11.30 (6% GST + 7% PST) on top.
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For all that stuff will be 7% more expensive I am really looking forward to skiing some new slopes now that I feel I have found my feet on the snow. The snow In BC is reputed to be bigger and fluffier, making it nicer to fall in and slower to ski on, both good things in my book.
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Once we're back from Skiing we'll have a few days at home and skiing local hills before heading off to Las Vegas, Nevada on the 1st. We're staying at the Luxor, a giant 2500 room hotel built like a huge glass pyramid. It is truly a word famous hotel icon and somewhere I've seen in films like Oceans 11 and various Bond films, so it's going to be a treat to stay there. We hope to explore the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam while we're there, as well as strike it rich. I'm putting it all on red! (All $10!!)
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Finally, it was nice to say 'Happy Christmas' to my TA this morning. We all had waffles and chocolate milk while they all told me how much better waffle day was with their regular teacher who they insist on as addressing as just 'Vandelaak' (said with no breaks). We get along well, but they do miss you Alison.
4 comments:
Yay for booking the holiday! Jack (on a mate's account...)
Say hi to my TA
Enjoy your holidays
Glad to hear your news,it all sounds very exciting, how will you adjust to the ordinary life when you get back to leeds?, maybe you wont come back to Leeds, I don't think I would. Lovely to speak to you on boxing day, we'd had a lovely day with Sarah walking in the Malvern hills and found a TOP pub which is a must return to (frequently).Had a good bike ride yesterday 27th with Sherpa 40 miles 20 of which were home into a head wind.Met Chris Reader in the Longhorn he sends his best wishes to you.Today is blowing a gale with the obligatory driving rain,so glad we fitted it in yesterday.Am back at work today mainly to cover the possibility of youths in the court lock up, ita a bit like the Marie Celeste here so will probably get away early and go and practice using my new fairway woods in readyness for the start of the golf society season which commences in February.Lots of love to you both Papa x x x
Hey Rob,
Just a quick note to let Carmen know that she was right and you were so very wrong...
The exhibit we visited at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto showed that a skunk sure doesn't look like a raccoon!
Cheers from our last day in Canada - and thanks again for the room!
Cam
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