Hey all my dubbin Aussie buddies. I made it! Chatting with you (if there was anyone in the chatroom) from downtown Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan, Canada).
Its a balmy -11 degrees outside, but quite nice inside. It was around 32 hours of travel to get here, but we made it here finally.
VWs seem to be pretty thin on the ground here - So far I've seen 1 orange bay window kombi, 2 silver new beetles and 1 blue new beetle. Pretty lame count for having been here for 2 days 馃檨
I miss my car! I haven't adjusted to the LHD business yet - keep thinking no-one is driving hehehe. Tomorrow will be my first day 'working' on base, so that will be interesting. I'll try to get online tomorrow night with an update.
Will be in the chat room for a little while so feel free to stop in and say hi!! I'm feelingvery undubbed over here!!
*waves from Canada*
Jay
kombi_kid 路
hey
i noticed the chat room was quiet didnt even know you where going!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hope you enjoiy
cheers
rhys
Grey 57 路
don't forget to "wear the fox hat"馃榾馃榾
KruizinKombi 路
Was great to see you in the chatroom Jay 馃榾
Looking forward to seeing you back here in Feb. I'n the meantime, I'm gonna keep dubbin without ya! :P
Jay_1965vw 路
Here I am again.
Weather was unseasonably warm today - made it up to 5 degrees, and tomorrow is forecast to be 4. The locals keep telling us that its a heat wave 馃檪 (btw I'm not kidding!)
We had a hoar frost yesterday, and it lasted all day. Apparently thats really unusual, and they normally defrost in the morning when the sun comes up. The trees were all very pretty, I am hoping to have a photo up soon.
The day on base today was ok. Mostly orientation stuff, and I nearly fell asleep in a meeting... oops. I think I'm still jetlagged, and I only got 2 -3 hours sleep last night. Will be going to bed very soon.
The guys went curling tonight. If you don't know what it is... watch the movie 'Men with Brooms' with Leslie Nielson. Or imagine something like lawn bowls on ice... Just use your imagination ok? :P
alright.. enough for now, will attach the photo as soon as I can.
*waves*
Dubless in Canada
aka Jay
vdub2c 路
Jay_1965vw wrote:VWs seem to be pretty thin on the ground here
so does this mean they have flying VW's in canada? check the air...
:alien
jenz58 路
Hey Jay!!馃檪
So good to hear news from you.;I think there would be a few of us wondering how you were etc.
Well at least the temperatures are a bit higher than the minus degrees Richard experienced earlier, or is what you've reported what they soar to in the day time馃榾
The LHD thing is very weird. When I was in the US and got straight behind a wheel I had no problems, it was when I was a pedestrian and waiting at lights. So strange seeing all those cars without drivers!!!:alien
Curling is a weird sport. I watched a bit of it on Roy and H.J 's Winter Olympics coverage. Mind you they don't help you understand what's going on. They do go crazy with those brooms:o
Go to the gallery they are a bunch of party animals:party
Jay I hope you finds some dubbers over there fast:o
[Edited on 7-1-2003 by jenz58]
Jay_1965vw 路
hehehehe yes Jen, thanks for the song - we just had a good giggle over it here 馃榾
The temps I have been quoting are the days max, yes. It doesn't seem to change much from night to day though. Today was warm!! It actually made it to 10 degrees!!!
Haven't seen any polar bears :P Haven't seen much wildlife at all. We saw a deer out in a paddock yesterday though.
We spent 3/4 hour scraping ice off the front step, it was getting very slippery. I needed someone to hold my hand so I didn't fall down every time I went in the front door. The neighbour took pity on us yesterday and gave us some salt... we got a fair bit of the ice off with it, but ran out and had to resort to scraping it off.
I've managed to get a cold somehow, so I now have a runny nose 馃檨
We are going out for tea now so I will sign out now. Might be back later on.
*waves*
Jay
Dubless in Canada
jenz58 路
Looks like you need to get a big bag of salt? Hmmm, when do you have to scrap the ice off the step, morning? Well that would be a good late for work excuse.
I had a Canadian friend for Calgary, and they had polar bear problems. The bears used to come into town and raid the garbage bins :o
Guess with the combination of jetlag and extreme climate change a runny nose is expected馃檨 Hope it stops running soon馃檪
Looking forward to more news from chilled out Canada:bounce
Jay_1965vw 路
Yeah we do need to get a big thing of salt. The ice has started forming again already.
We hadn't tried to get rid of it since we got here - the better excuse for being late would be 'my car was covered in ice' 馃槈
Well my cold has escalated now. Woke up this morning feeling really bad, so I'm home alone today (this is why I'm writing at your breakfast time, not during the afternoon). Stoopid runny nose, sneezes and cough. Slept in till midday!
I think the polar bears in Calgary would probably be out in the summer, not during winter... don't they hibernate? Calgary is a bit more North than where we are I think.
No more news I don't think - Nuffin has happened cos I've been sleeping since my last message 馃槈
*waves*
More later (and that photo of the hoar frost still! I haven't forgotten)
Jay
Dubless in Canada
jenz58 路
Poor Jay馃檨 That cold sounds bad.
A hot lemon drink with honey is good or lemon tea. Well I find it helps a cold anyway馃檪 Any lemons about up there?
At least you're catching up on sleep.
Got an email from my son Simon last night. London has had 3 days of snow, so he thinks that's kinda cool going to work in the snow. Would imagine it would turn to slush pretty quick though, but still馃檪
You take care now here!!:sandrine
p.s. I'd come into the chat room cos I can see you're still online but I should be getting ready for work
[Edited on 8-1-2003 by jenz58]
Jay_1965vw 路
Hot lemon and honey does sound good - No lemons here though. Might have to buy some of the 'ReaLemon' stuff I saw in the Sooper Dooper Dooper store the other day (not really called that, but its like a supermarket just everthing comes in Massive size packets). Everything here is artificial. The ReaLemon stuff is Lemon juice in a lemon shaped plastic container.
I wanted to have Hot chocolate - like Cadbury drinking chocolate... but its only possible to buy hot chocolate mix that you add water too. SO it already has the milk content added. Its VERY sweet. Thinking of buying a packet of cocoa instead so I can make hot cocoa and add my own sugar to taste. Overdosing on Sugar would be very easy here - I'm not surprised that so many North Americans are diabetic.
Will excuse you for not coming into the chat room - you don't have the 'car was iced over' excuse *giggles*
Walking home from the coffee shop was nice last night in the snow. Theres enough snow to stay around for ages, even though it warm yesterday. Only thing is its getting pretty dirty now. All the stuff on the roads is turning brown and yukky. We need to see some fresh stuff so I can make my 'Snow Beetle' 馃榾
*waves*
Jay
vw54 路
Hey Jay go shovel some SNOW...
nice to hear from you.
jenz58 路
Can relate to the sugar in everything bit. Spent a couple of months over in the US (Canadians would hate me for the comparison here), the same. Even the bread was sweet. Went to 'the' bagelry in NYC, Ess-A-Bagel, even sweet there and I couldn't finish it. Nearly the whole time I was over there I was craving meat pies (without sugar) Hardly eat pies but for some reason they are what I craved?
Walking home in the snow sounds good馃檪
Hope you get to make that white snow beetle馃槑
amazer 路
MMMMM lemons. The subject of many a man's fantasy. Maybe you just arent hanging around in the right bars Jay! Please send pics >馃檪
amazer 路
oops. tried to use a yahoo smiley.
Jay_1965vw 路
Bahh, shaddup Chris LOL
Today was COLD. It was -30 (including wind chill). BLOODY COLD. We had to walk to the mess for lunch, and by the time we got there... didn't want to go back outside to get back to our office!! ARGH!! Tomorrow is supposed to be colder I think too 馃檨
Hey Dave - we don't have a snow shovel!!! The snow is sort of melted now, still piles of it around, but not on the footpaths or anything.
Finally remembered I was going to attach the pic of the hoar frost, so here it is!
*waves from Canada*
Jay
PS Still no Vee Dubs today
amazer 路
when I said send pics I meant pics of the girls ya sily!
vw54 路
Nice TREE Jay
NO Chris n I wanted Pics from the Topless Bars in Canada.
Jay_1965vw 路
I haven't been to any topless bars, sorry.
I DID go to the ice hockey last night though - its awesome!! I am going again to another game tonight 馃榾
There are lots of fights - like helmets off - gloves off - fisticuffs sort of fights. Quite weird to watch... they are allowed to fight according to the rules. All the players are between 16 and 20, so its like... testosterone central LOL.
Went to the nearest big town today to buy a coat, I now have a full length wool coat with fur edged hood 馃榾 I look like a Russian wearing it LOL.
馃檪 Thats all from your correspondent in Moose Jaw 馃槈
*waves*
Jay
Jay_1965vw 路
Heres the photo 馃檪
KruizinKombi 路
Seems a lot like our Friday afternoon sport sessions, only colder! 馃槈
We play a lot of hockey, soccer and touch football. Fortunately the fights don't happen too often, but when they do, look out! :o
jenz58 路
Jay the coat sounds very Dr Zhivargo
The hockey match does sound awesome馃檪
I hear they do play pretty rough out there on the ice:o
amazer 路
LOL. Is it a rule that you have to take your gloves n helmet off for a fight or just accepted etiquette?
OK so you dont go to the bars. What about girls at hockey? Any skanky members of the crowd? Skimpy popcorn selling girls? Cheerleaders? AAAAAAAnything mate. I'm desperate. Been away from uni for 2 months = no perves.
Jay_1965vw 路
According to the locals, 'REAL men' take their helmets off (we have commented that smart ones would leave it on 馃槈).
I went to another game last night - not nearly as violent. The game on Friday night was against their 'hated' rivals, and they had 4 new team members. So... they were not working well together, plus emotions were running high!
Last night the team had adjusted, and were playing well together. The team they played was an American team who they don't play very often, and so they weren't nearly so aggressive towards them. Moose Jaw Warriors won 8 - 4 against the Tri City whoevers. Very high scores for ice hockey, usually the scores range between 1 and 5... Last time Richard was here he saw a game that finished witha score of 10 - Nil!!! That was the last time Moose Jaw played the Regina Pats before Friday night.
OK, thats your ice hockey update for the day 馃檪
Can't help you with the girls Chris, you don't see much skin here at all LOL. Remember its -21 today 馃槈 Can't even tell what shape girls are cos of how many layers of clothes they have on.
*waves to the Aussies*
Jay
jenz58 路
OK Jay give us the Moose Jaw Warriors cheer!!!馃榾
Hope that new coat is keeping you warm馃檪 That is a very low temperature:o
Jay_1965vw 路
Heheheheh
WARRIORS! WARRIORS! WARRIORS!
*grin*
Last night we were temporarily sitting in front of an airhorn... the first time the Warriors scored I could feel my eardrums vibrating!!!! Covered my ears pretty quickly!!!!
The new coat is great Jen, when I am all wrapped up to go outside, all you can see is a strip across my eyes. The scarf goes all the way across my nose and mouth; hood comes down to just above my eyes! I am going to try to get a photo for you all of me in the snow. It hasn't snowed since we've been here, but its still all over the ground.
Have taken to wearing my contact lenses all the time instead of glasses - if I have my scarf over my nose and glasses on they fog up and I can't see anything... Its certainly a different world here.
Jay
The_Bronze. 路
I didn't even know you were planning to go. Sounds like a really different place alright. Sal and I would like to visit / stay for a while in a place like you have described so far. It would be a spinout compared to what we are used to.
Now I'm married I can get used to not seeing any more skin. 5 Years at Uni I'm all perved out. If I went to a topless bar now it would be for a fireplace and a quiet drink I think.
I've never seen snow. Neither Sally and I have. I got within 250 meters of it at Ball Spur on the side of mount Cook in New Zealand with my then my girlfriend at the time decided she was scared of heights and froze. Thats was about as close as i got, I spent the rest of that afternoon talking her down. Humph!
We are about 5 hours from the snow here so hopefully with a better car and some $$$'s in the slush fund we can go have our Honeymoon down at the snow this year.
Keep us posted on your trip. Take care and look forward to some more pics mate.
[Edited on 13-1-2003 by The_Bronze.]
jenz58 路
There must have massive cloak rooms over there. Trying to imagine all the layers people must peel off when they arrive into a heated building.
Had that prob in Europe. So hot when you get inside somewhere
Love the cheer馃檪
Jay_1965vw 路
It does get pretty tedious putting on and taking off layers all the time. Cloak rooms we have not seen much of so far, just one in the mess where we have lunch. Some of the restaurants have coat hooks near each table though 馃檪
It snowed last night - only about 5 cm, but enough to cover the ground fairly effectively. Covers up all the dirty snow from last time lol.
The car was covered this morning when it was time to go to work, we have a photo but its still in the camera.
More later 馃檪
Jay
Dubless in Canada
amazer 路
Check out THESE scarfs. (scarves? whatever)
Flying VW 路
I dont like the green one much.:puke
Jay_1965vw 路
Our car on Monday morning...
Flying VW 路
Hi Jay.
Hey you need to put a Bull Bar on the 4x4.
You never know you might meet a Moose. 馃榾
The_Bronze. 路
Hope things are going well for you over there mate.
It might reassure you that it has been 40 here today and expected to be hotter tomorrow. Had a storm this arvo so hopefully it wont be so humid in the morning.
amazer 路
Not to mention out of control bushfires are everywhere!
Its an SUV not 4x4. 馃槈 She's already a redneck wearing foxes around her head so might as well go for the "moose"bar.
penguin 路
Jay
you a blue suiter or an AVN person? just with aircraft and Messes you sound like you are military? I'm at Richmond now, ground based though.
Penguin (hence the nickname, flightless bird ):P
Jay_1965vw 路
Hey everyone, things became very mental at the base on Friday, and we have been working flat out since. Thats why I haven't been online 馃槈
Penguin - We are contracting to the military, its a RCAF base. NATO Flight Training Centre. Basically means we are surrounded by student pilots 馃槈
Chris and Andrew - Its not fox, its rabbit, and we don't need a bull bar, we need a snow plough!!! 馃榾
Not much been happening here apart from work (more than 12 hour days Sat, Sun and today).
Barely remember what the sun looks like 馃槈 lol.
Actually when we have been out during the day (walking to the mess), its VERY bright. The sky is usually bright blue - if you look out the window and ignore the snow (hehehe) it looks like a summer day. *shrugs* bizarre weather.
Still haven't seen many vws, think the only update to the vw count is one late model Jetta (how do you pronounce that anyway?)
OK, lots to catch up on, catch you in the chat room (I mean the flip side)...
Jay
Your corresponent from Moose Jaw
68AutoBug 路
Hello Moose Jaw... 馃榾馃榾 sorry, Jay, The reason You don't See VWs over there in the winter is probably the same as in Northern USA & Europe.... they put them away for the winter as the salt they put on the roads (not on their fish & chips) eats everything metal it touches... I suppose I would do the same..... although there MUST be a way of combating the salt corrosion.... like dipping the bottom half of the car in Fish Oil .... Well enjoy the Brrrrr nice weather, it was 42.5 C here in Scone today.... 40.5 yesterday & 38C most other days.... I don't know if You have heard of the 400 homes {from memory] being burnt out in the ACT along with 4 people and Many animals & Mt Stromlo Observatory... All gone.... I was listening to a US country music station Yesterday on the computer & they mentioned the fires in Australia & the dozens of Homes burnt & 1 person dead.... A Dozen must be MORE than 12 in the US..馃榾馃榾 Enjoy the Holiday!!馃榾
A change is the same as a Holiday... "old aussie saying"馃榾
jenz58 路
Mmmmm, Jay how do you clear the ice off the windscreen? :o
Blue skies and snow sounds very pretty. Does it feel warm then.
Remember being in shorts in New Mexico - beautiful sunny day and surrounded by snow everywhere:alien
Jay_1965vw 路
Jen - no it definetely DOESN'T feel warm when its a blue sky!!! It is blue most days when its still -20 degrees. Looks nice from inside, but once you get out there - ARGGGHHH!!!
One of the reasons that 15 Wing Moose Jaw is where it is, is because of the clear skies, clouds are not good for flying!
(the other reason is that no-one lives out there, and theres lots of open air space 馃槈)Have heard about the fires in Canberra, people on base keep mentioning them "Are those fires anywhere near where you live?". Fortunately not though. It sounds terrible.
*waves from the cold to the hot*
Jay
Jay_1965vw 路
The car this afternoon.
Jay_1965vw 路
argh
amazer 路
The contrast between the picture and your avatar (even if it is fake) is pretty funny.
Does it get dark real early cos you are so far north? How many hours of sunlight are you getting?
Jay_1965vw 路
Sunrise is at around 8:50, Sunset is at around 6. Not too bad 馃檪
The contrast between the photo and Wolf is pretty cool.
*waves*
Jay
Jay_1965vw 路
Finally got a chance to make my snow beetle a couple of days before I left Canada. Its so cold there that the snow doesn't really stick together... like trying to make a sand castle with dry sand.
Had to wait for some (sort of) warm weather, before I could attempt it.
Here's me (wearing R's ski clothes) crawling around in the snow.
Jay_1965vw 路
Ta da!
Here's the finished product.
In this pic it looks like it doesn't have a rear guard, but its the contrast in the photo.. it was there I swear! (or was it just too cold to finish...?!)
Has anyone else done any VW sculpting in snow, sand or... ?
amazer 路
.
jenz58 路
LOL
Brilliant馃槑
Hey maybe at a VW event near the beach, have a VW inspired sand castle making comp:party Well it's a thought 馃榾