So I'm going to upset all the football fans out there and say, Hockey players are so much more hardcore than football players!!! The game is awesome and the players are real men! None of this getting tapped on the leg and falling like a pro and rolling around on the floor for hours. These guys fall, get back up and carry on chasing the puck! How it should be!

Anyway rant over. I went to see the Nanaimo Clippers vs. Surrey Eagles last Friday. Unfortunately the Clippers lost, but it was still a good game. It consists of 3 periods with a 15 minute break in between each one, in this time they keep us entertained by having competitions and having a huge truck drive out on the ice and through free stuff at us! I didn't get anything, but then I didn't really try. The fans are equally as bad as football fans, as in they scream at the ref and give the other team hell, especially when one of them is sat in the penalty box, which is the area we were sat in. Fully grown men were yelling, insulting and banging on the glass to a guy who will be no older than 23. The other team were winning so all the player did was point at the score, it made me laugh, that's one way to put them down and make them madder!

It was a good evening and it def won't be the last hockey game I go to. Even if I still don't have a clue of half the rules. Oh and there was a huge fight, which resulted in one of the Eagles being sent off, which apparently never happens because fighting is 'allowed'. Unfortunately I couldn't really see what was happening because it was up the other end. It was still very exciting though!!

Saturday was a family day, we had pie and mash with Darren, Ange, Kids, Uncle Sam and Ray and Val. So it was a full house for a while. Ending in Neveah screaming her head off as usual! She sure does push her parents patience! In the evening Shawn came and picked me up and we went back to his as he was having a paaaaarrrtttyyyy! It got really rather messy. If you have seen my pictures then you will have seen my Wizard Stick. Which involves having a can off beer, finishing that, getting a new one and taping it to the top of the one you've just finished. Gradually the stick gets longer and eventually you can use it to lean on! Mine somehow got crushed along the way so I had to bring in re-enforcements and it ended up with splints up the side holding it up. It was an intense operation! I kept up with Shawn until we fell off the pallets (he dragged me, I had no choice in the matter) and I decided I'd had enough and my Wizard Stick was quite tall enough! Other antics involved burning the picnic table (it was Shawn's, not a public one!), which looked very impressive with the flames coming through the slates! These Canadians sure know how to make a good fire. My accent was generally abused all night and I had a lesson in how to say 'Hamburgers'. To be honest this is the word I have probably said most since I landed in the country a month ago! For some reason they all find it hilarious the way I say it... Accents are always a winner in getting a giggle.

So, Sunday I recovered all day after not getting in until 3am and then waking up at 8.30. Grrrr.

Monday I went shopping and started buying for Christmas. Then in the evening, Michelle came and picked me up and we went back to hers for dinner with 2 other English people! There was Jo, Michelle's colleague and her daughter Shannon who is 20. They emigrated here 3 years ago. It was nice to hear some homeland accents! We all got on great and I am going out with Shannon and Jo tonight to Qualicom Beach Midnight Madness. Which involves the start of Christmas Festivities! They give out hot apple cider, turn on the Christmas lights and have a parade. I'm excited!

Last night I went to Kelly and Garth's with Shawn for homemade hamburgers and a night of Rockband. It was awesome, Rockband is so good! I even sang without any drink in my body and got 99%, so I think I'll go for X Factor next year. Hehe!

Well change is on the horizon as I move up to Cumberland on Sunday. Work starts Tuesday, eeek!! Until then I am spending the day with Ang and the kids tomorrow, then me Ray and Val are babysitting the kids Saturday night. So the next time I write on here I will officially be earning some money and hopefully the snow will be on the mountain!!

Until then chickpeas xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx