On my arrival in Vancouver, I found my way to Stanley Park and made myself at home there. I was on a pretty tight budget for a while, and so things like the half-full packet of naan breads I found in the library one day, lifted my mood intensely. But after a while I got pretty bored, my only company was the raccoons, and then one day they knocked my bike over, so after that I didn’t even talk to them.
.
Solace and refuge came from Denise and Brent, who are wonderful people and good friends of my parents. They generously took me in on March 2nd and I have been staying with them since. On my birthday they gave me a book called ‘Stanley park’, which is the story of the permanent residents in Stanley Park.
.
To celebrate my birthday I decided to go for a nice long bike ride, which admittedly shows a limited imagination. Still, it was a glorious day, topped off with a swim in the sea and being taken out for a meal by Denise and Brent. I also managed to arrange a job in a bike shop I passed in the afternoon.
.
Work in the bike shop began the following day, I was to construct the bikes ready to go on display. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of it but two weeks later they ‘hired someone full time’ and I was surplus to requirements. So for any Canadian tax inspectors, the shop was… actually no, they kept my email address incase they need me again.
.
So, I have been settling in to life on the North Shore, I have a home, a family, a membership to the local library, a membership to the local leisure centre, and used to have a job. Not bad. With my unexpected amount of time I have been starting my proper training for the ironman. Sometimes it’s fun.
.
I noticed Tom hasn’t written a blog recently so I will fill you in on some details from Seattle. Tom is still in Seattle. He has trimmed his beard back pretty heavily and cut his hair. He was promoted from veg chopper to sues chef briefly and then promoted again to stripper. He is still cleaning toilets for keep at the hostel.
.
Tom has had his back waxed (it was a highly entertaining experience for me and I have photos that will be on here soon) but Tom said the experience was phenominally painful and has declined to have his chest waxed. But the target was hit and so as compenstation for this failure to please we will go ahead with other challenges in its place. I hope this is OK with viewers (although I suspect many are very disappointed).
.
I have no witty stories to tell, which is pretty sad. Must try harder.