Ottawa Update

Ottawa. Capital of Canada and so much cooler than Canberra - in both the literal and slang terms. I arrived to just one degree in the positive. Since then it's ranged from as low as -7deg first thing in the morning to as high as 12deg, yet still I struggle. The cold in itself is tolerable, its the wind that's the killer - dropping the temperature by about another 5deg, tearing through any single layer and numbing any skin that's not covered. The days are clear and sunny, but the lakes are already freezing around the edges, and the groundhogs have gone to ground for the winter. There have been a few snow flurries, but nothing heavy to stick around, but I know its coming!

Think I prefer the Black & White.

I like Ottawa - it is a big country town. It doesn't take long before you're out into the countryside. I have to admit, I've not braved the public transport yet, despite it being proclaimed the best around. In fact I've not braved much. I am slowly building up a relationship with the stray cats up on Parliament Hill. There's about seven of them, all cute 'n' stuff. And surprisingly they don't seem to bother the squirrels, which I can't quite work out.

Slightly bummed about working though - being a government town most of the work requires that you be bilingual, and have a security clearance, neither of which I have. Subsequently I have been fairly quiet. I keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue....

I know most of you have seen squirrels, but I still find them so entertaining. Its the way they move, just like they got into Seattle's entire supply of coffee. This little fella was pretty curious about my sausage roll, in fact there were about 20 or so who were - it was like when MJ and his date were being surrounded by the zombies in Thriller - they were all around, and closing in to seal our doom... So I thought I'd take advantage of his model-like pose. The squirrels here are bigger then the ones in Vancouver and London, and they're virtually black, but just as cute!

The last 2 weekends Coops and I have been over to Gatineau Park, in the Quebec, just the other side of the Ottawa River to wander around. There are barely any leaves left on the trees, they carpet the forest floors now, and make you want to run and leap in them. I was inspired when Coops spotted a notice that there had been a Cougar sighting in the Park in Spring - and I know there are deer in them thar hills, so I'm optimistic!