Mid Year Review

Hello!

So, we have been back just over half of a year and what can I say? It's gone by extremely quickly! We both have jobs on permanent contracts and we actually enjoy what we are doing. Craig's hours seem to suit is man-of-leisure needs (fishing, tennis, gardening for his friends), whilst I am working in the area that I studied. One major reason for moving this way was so that I could do exactly that; what is the point of studying for a degree when there are not such opportunities in industry where you live? Sensory science is definitely a developing area of science, but Alberta must first develop its food industry to allow for such positions in research and development. I am still leading panels of people who taste either chocolate, gum, or candy day in and day out and tell us what aromas, flavour, textures, and mouthfeels they perceive in the products. I have seen a variety of different products from around the world because the office that I work in is the global research centre for Cadbury. And again, it's great that I am working for such a large, well known and respected company... something that I thought was only a dream a year ago.

We have decided to start to look for a house. Exciting! Also reason #3 as to why we are back in the UK (prices in Brum are better now than in E-town; Reason #1= family/friends; Reason #2= work). We are in no means in a rush to do so, as there is speculation that the housing market is going to crash again, which is eventually good for us. But, we also don't want to find ourselves stuck in a place that we won't be able to sell on in a few years time.

Location, garden, kitchen, 2 good sized bedrooms + one small, 2 loos, nothing rendered, nothing terraced (town housing), nothing council (council owned houses often come with a different sort of people, much like trailer trash), and price are our requests. hmmm... compromise... We have seen 18 houses already and I am seeing another 8 or so today. We started our search in a town called Redditch which is comparable to Spruce Grove- just outside of a major city, has it's own amenities, yet is close enough to go into the big city for work/ specialist needs. Down side- further than we are living now, thus makes my day 1 hour longer. This week we are searching within Birmingham. Our main goal right now is to decide which area we would like to live in... again no rush, and who knows what will happen in 6 months time with the state of the economy.

The next two weeks of house hunting will be postponed due to holidays... yay!! We are going to Dorset which is on the Jurassic coast- bring on the fossil hunting! So anyone who has any fossil hunting tips, please let me know ASAP! The weather the past two weeks has been quite rainy, so I am really praying for a week of sunshine as my compromise for this upcoming week is that I will be sleeping in a tent with no toilet facilities... back to basics where I will be bathing in the sea :S So sorry for no pictures this month, but I will promise many for next!

lots of love! K