What do you mean there's no squash?

....how can a country survive without diluting juice? In Canada there is no Ribena, no Robinson's and worst of all no Vimto!!! Instead the supermarkets stock aisle after aisle of fresh and frozen juice!! It's just not as refreshing as good old Robinsons!!

Despite this recent refreshment trauma, life in Vancouver has improved ten fold! A lot has changed since my last rather dreary blog - we've moved into a lush apartment in the heart of the west end with a seaview and swimming pool; the sun has been shining most days and even more noteworthy I've finally got a job!! Hurray!! With a bit more money to add to the pot we have finally started to relax and enjoy ourselves!

I've managed to secure a maternity cover contract as a Marketing Specialist at a leading graphic printing firm. I began the role this week and it's already proving to be fab experience as it's a really meaty position with a lot of graphic design input. plus profit sharing bonuses which ain't half bad ;)

Now spring is well and truly underway and the ice hockey playoff's have started the city has gone through a complete transformation. It has so much more character! The flowers are in bloom, the beaches are packed and the city is finally bussling! It's great to see everyone come out of hiding and I now understand why everyone continued to say we'll love the city in summer! Despite our reservations last month I can now say that I do love the city (with just a few 'buts'). ...( But it's still fairly quiet by normal city standards ...but it's still not quite as exciting as some cities I've been to). I do love it on a sunny day though when everyone hangs out on the sea wall or Granville island. It's hard not to smile when you're sounded by beaches. We've even found some cool bars and have become regulars in a few nearby haunts.

My aim for this week was to make at least one friend in the city! Hmmm I'm not quite there: everyone at work is lovely (not sure I can say friends not just acquaintances yet), everyone at volleyball is lovely (once again not sure they class as friends yet)... I even went along to gay
volleyball to try and make some more friends but I was the only girl in the entire room so I was worried it wasn't open to women. The boys
welcomed me with open arms and I had a great time but again it's too soon to class those guys as friends either!! So I'll try and wear
someone down this week till they give me their number ;). We do both have social interactions every day though as canadians are sooo
friendly! If you're in the lift with someone - they talk to you, at the bus stop - they talk to you, doing laundry - they talk to you. Anywhere and
everywhere - they talk to you! The guy next door even told us to knock on his door if we're ever bored so it really must be the easiest place
in the world to socialise. If you spoke to someone on the bus at home they'd probably think you were deranged and move away from you!! Here they're even polite when the crack heads talk to them!

So we'll certainly make the most of all the city has to offer this year. Even as I write this blog there is a live concert taking place right outside
our apartment and the Vancouver annual 'sun run' is passing by! So here's to not having any more dull moments!! Now I just need someone to bring me a suitcase full of double concentrated Robinsons orange squash!!