Alberta got hit with a massive blizzard a few days ago. We've never seen this much snow in a very long time. Cars, semi trucks, and even fire trucks were stuck in the deep drifts! Schools were cancelled. Highways were shut down and / or had a tow ban in effect. (Apparently, that literally meant that no one was allowed to tow a vehicle / trailer or essentially rescue a stranded car out of a ditch on the highway because it was too dangerous.) Nasty. Well, I can say that it's a welcomed 17 more sleeps until summer. I'm gladly looking forward of getting out of this week's -30'C windchill weather. Brrr. The only up side of this week is that we bought my first set of winter tires. While I don't necessary think that I'm invincible, I sure feel more grounded and stickier because of them. Again, if it's choice between more days speeding around on winter tires or diving in the Great Barrier Reef in +38'C, take your guess what I would choose!

Let's sum up what we have accomplished since the last post.

Australian High Commission had requested fingerprints from us, citing that we were going to be there more than 12 months. To be exact, in our case, 12 months and 9 days. But, I surmise that someone in the department was in a funk because, days later, a few more exchangees received their request for fingerprints as well and they weren't going for more than 12 months. It drives me nuts that we paid $70 for a criminal check then another $150 for fingerprints. Arhgh!

Looks like we are in the 'System' / 'on the Grid' since getting our fingerprints through the RCMP. Guess my future prospects as a criminal or fugitive is limited now that I can be traced and tracked.

Confirmations of our visa were emailed to us. Digital entry visas now. No longer are they giving out sticker visas to glue into our passports. I'm sad. I liked having proof that I was somewhere during a specific time.

Also, the dreams of owning a land cruiser for our outback adventures have been dashed. We bought a 1998 4 door sedan. The prices for a used car in Australia are ridiculous so we settled on this little car. To insure this car, we had to find an insurance company online, which proved difficult. Mainly, it was because we didn't have a Australian bank account, credit card, or address. With John's ability to research effectively, we scored with Progressive Insurance, the Australian version. Do you know Flo from their commercials? Well, it's Kitty with bad teeth in Australia. LOL.

To get the car registered when we arrive in Melbourne, we need to have a 100 points to prove our identity. Again, if we didn't have an Australian bank account, credit card or address, it would be difficult to reach 100 points. (A passport is worth 70 points. An international driver's license is worth 20 points.) Luckily, after much searching, we found a bank who advertises their openness to help immigrants ... or people like us on temporary work visas. John opened an account in Sydney with a branch two blocks away from our hotel. We'll pop over there and apply for a credit card within days of landing.

This is all very strange to me since I never opened a bank account or bought a car on my first exchange in London, UK. I was 'off the grid', you can say. LOL. But, now, we are on some Australian gov't list. (Yeah, yeah, you can argue with me that I was always known in that country just because I had a visa but just go with the joke.)

Plane tickets are booked. Boxes are nearly packed. Luggage is awaiting a trial run of what we are going to bring. (Hope it all fits!) Get togethers with friends and family are wrapping up. To think in 17 sleeps, our life is changing.

I'm ready for a hot summer Xmas Day!