We've started work finally - and here's some photos

Several hours of orientation for our new jobs this morning, followed by slap up lunch in Happy Valley day lodge, followed by introduction to the ticket sales office. All of us quite tired now! We went for a walk yesterday, and took some photos as it was quite sunny. Today it has snowed - yes!!!
As always, click on a pic to make it larger.

And... pose!

This run is the closest to our house - on the right.

View up the hill

Don't ski into the road!

Works on beaches and in snow

This took a few attempts...

Signs that we might be a bit bored

1.) We're a bit poorly. I've got a cough, and Adam has a headache.
2.) I'm putting the knitted socks on hold until the knitting guru arrives next week (yay!), so my 'other' knitted products have increased in number. Two headbands produced yesterday! (I almost have enough different hats for every day of the week...)
3.) Participation in "scientific" experiments... determining the expansion of solid gelatinous objects when suspended in liquid. Gummy bears expand when left in water - who knew?!

Basketweave on top, moss/seed stitch on bottom

Giant gummy bear in water, next to regular-sized gummy bear

The snow can't come soon enough!

We're not doing much except waiting for snow

Well, we've done some sledging, Adam's done a few practice runs on his snowboard (and is doing very well with it) and we've sampled the bits of the village that are open. And then we've returned to our flat because it's cold, or gone to the pub! Adam has today gone to walmart to stock up on food supplies.
We really are just waiting for snow to fall. We still have not heard when the training for our jobs will begin, but it should be this week, as the resort is due to open on the 3rd December. More snow = earlier opening date = earlier start of work for us. It has been snowing all day today, and will hopefully continue.
As this is a ski in/ski out village, there are ski runs that go through the village, and there are chairlifts and a gondola that cross over and through the village. As there has been quite a lot of snow, these runs have enough snow so that you can have a go on them. However, they have not been 'groomed' by piste bashers, so you do tend to sink in the powder snow. (About a foot and a half deep.) The groomers have started to drive up and down these runs, so they have started to get slightly more compacted, but there are still bits of shrub and grasses poking through. And rocks! These are the runs that Adam has been using. (I've refused to use my new skis on this lumpy surface - I'll just sink!) The only problem with this is that none of the lifts are yet running, so as soon as you've got to the bottom of a run, you face a rather bleak and difficult walk back up! And it is hard work because we're at 1300m. (2600m at the top, if I remember correctly.)
So, short adventures out and about at the moment, until the lifts start running! It's not so bad, really!

Our new home (for 5 months)

We have a home! yey. We moved into our new home yesterday and it's great! We are living with another couple and things started well with a roast dinner by yours truly (Adam) I'm still waiting for Daisy to get her act together so i can go out on my new sledge :) I may even take my snowboard out for a play later. Big white is due to open on the 3rd December and we can't wait. Anyway, here are some pics-

We live on the ground floor

The road outside

Big white village

Snowshoe Sam's bar (190 paces from house)

The snow has begun here in Big White!

Well, we had giant leaves in the last post, and we have now fast forwarded into winter, with a few cm of snow here in Big White today! We travelled up to Kelowna on the greyhound on Wednesday, and Adam went for an interview on Thursday morning (and got the job in Ticket Sales), then we got a lift up to the resort arriving at lunchtime. We walked around, looked at a house (saw an amazing sunset from big windows), and visited the local, but went back to the hostel because we were shattered by 7pm! Today we've looked at a few more houses and walked. A lot.
In other news, knitting is going well. The green hat is a bit long but is finished, but I've now started some orange socks. It took 4 goes to cast on properly and join them together, but they seem to be ok now! Adam managed to take a big tumble when he went mountain biking - lots of scrapes and a few bruises - not comfortable for a 7 hour bus journey!
Right - pictures!

It took a very long time to roll this yarn into a ball.

See the fingers at the bottom left? It took 7 hours to travel from one to the other on Wednesday.

Snow! And a lost sailor.

There is going to be much more snow than this soon. But this is fine for now!

Me in snow by gondola. Wearing the hat I knitted!

Things are bigger here

Seriously large leaf!

I now have a warm head and other things

Right, a photo catchup today. We've been quite busy this week, both at work, and moving back up to N. Vancouver before we depart for Big White on Wednesday. Last night, we had a big group of people squeeze into a very small booth in a Kitsilano pub (specifically, the Down Under section of the Kings Arms/Head/other body part pub) for Adam's leaving do from the shop. Good fun.
Photos! as ever, click on them to get bigger view.

Handiwork of our old housemates

Add 'binding fitter' to Adam's list of talents

This is how it should be done

Hat number 2 - on the needles...

Simon is in the way, so I can't take a photo of the giant leaf... to be continued!

Hat number 1!

One more week in Vancouver

Well, the countdown is on. We leave for Kelowna on Wednesday (yikes!) bidding farewell to Vancouver. The snow has started to fall at Big White, and the maximum temperature there today was 0! We're going to be doing some repacking this weekend, so I'll try and put some pics of new equipment then. And also a picture of a leaf. Not just any leaf, a massive leaf. You'll see.