Jam2MapleSyrup: Too much junk in yer trunk!

Last night it was soooo hot and humid we had to give in and put the air conditioning on. We had a small storm and some heavy rain but not for long. We also watched a Cabbie Abroad, who was in Nunavut, a northern part of Canada. We are NOT moving there!!!!!

Today we went off on a mission to the doctors (not our doctors, that would be too easy) to get medicals done for the final part of our Permanent Residency Application. We had to drive to Scarborough (pronounced Scarbowrow) to a panel doctor. Huffle had made the appointment for 10:30 some time ago but yesterday someone from this office rang to say our appointment was 9:30. Huffle told them we could make 10am and they said that was fine. We got there at 9:40 (Moo came too in case we needed her). We sat and filled in forms for each of us and then signed some other forms and then waited for half an hour watching large bottoms enter and interestingly clothed ladies, though Huffle wondered if they were ladies!). Huffle then paid $600 (Huffle's company will be reimbursing us for all fees paid today thank goodness) and we were all (Moo excepted) called through to a small examining room.

We met the doctor who took our photographs and handed us each a sample bottle to wee in. Back to the examining room with our muti shades of piddle and several alphabet games later (not with the doctor but because we were bored) we all got weighed and measured and had an eyesight test (well we read a chart). Our piddles were tested okay and Huffle and I had our blood pressure taken. Now Huffle has a history of high blood pressure readings due to the fact that he panics before he has one (in the genes) but his reading today was perfect and he was very pleased. I have a history of normal blood pressure readings, however mine was higher today. It was taken again later and was still higher but within the boundaries.

Lots more waiting, boys getting bored and restless, we were finally seen by the doctor (the nurse did all the other procedures) who put me in another room to examine my boobs and check my chest and breathing. The boys were checked too and all was fine. This examination was in no way to replace any examinations by our family doctor (but one hopes if they found anything they would tell our doctors). After more lengthy waiting and more alphabet games and playing on phones and DS, we were finally sent away with forms to get x-rays and bloods done (just Huffle and I, though the doctor did tell me that parents threatened their kids with the blood tests just to keep them behaving - great!). Luckily, under 11's don't have to have x-rays. We had to drive 2 minutes away to another building where we got bloods taken. This was for Syphyllis and HIV. (Huffle said "wouldn't we know if we had either of those?" But I guess they don't know who we are or what we do). We had to pay $15 each for this. Now Huffle has a history of fainting or feeling ill at blood test (in the genes). In he went while Moo, me and the boys waited outside. Then we heard a bang and feared the worst but Huffle came out, smiling and said he had never had blood taken so quickly and easily and he was fine. Me next, fine. Then we had to go next door to another building for our x-rays. These cost $80 for us both and had to be paid in cash. The man was very nice and very quick. I had to strip off again and remove my necklace. The results of x-rays and bloods will be sent to the panel doctor. All done and it took three hours. Huffle was supposed to be back at work this afternoon but we persuaded him to take us to dinner first. The boys had behaved impeccably and Moo was fed-up of sitting around. It is outrageous to think that we had to pay $140 each for the boys to read an eye chart and be weighed and measured and have a urine sample. Crazy country. What do you have to do to live in England? I would love to know (so would Moo!).

Looking for a place to eat we found a 'Fat Bastard Burgers' (which Smallest read whilst at the lights) and 'Bollocks' pub. These were in the same Strip Mall! We ended up in a firkin pub called The Bear.

This is the result of our test today. Moo has now been accepted into the country, unfortunately we have to go for another test to get her out!

We came home and Huffle did his work and Moo, I and the boys went to the pool. The boys swam and Moo and I tried to get the mower going. It went and stopped. I filled it with petrol and it wouldn't start. I emptied the oil and it worked and then stopped. I bought more oil from the garage and filled it. It wouldn't start. We left it for a while and I played Chess with Smallest and Cluedo (it is called Clue here - I wonder why?) with Small and Moo.

Huffle got the mower working and whisked around at top speed cutting the grass. Then Moo took over and it slowed down like an old retired donkey (the mower not Moo). We stopped and looked at it and Huffle noticed the belt had come off so we prodded and poked and put it on. The mower worked but was still slow and jumpy. huffle noticed the tyre was flat and so Huffle and Moo pumped it up by hand while I read the boys writing for the day and handed out their chores. The mower went but was still very slow so we drove it to the front drive and plugged in the pump to the car and pumped up all the tyres. It went better but struggled up the hills so Huffle ran behind me pushing the bloody thing every time it slowed down. We put it away and will deal it with tomorrow maybe (or perhaps we will call Grandad and get some advice).

Huffle and I went shopping (Huffle said it was most unstressful) while Moo gave the boys some tea and then they played on IPads as they were desperate, which is why they did their chores. Small wrote in his journal that the doctors today was the most boring thing he has ever done! - fair enough.

When the boys went to bed Huffle and Smallest were talking about why the Permanent Residency was being done. Smallest was asking lots of questions about why we had come here, whether Huffle had any friends at work, how many friends did he have when he was in England and whether he preferred England or Canada. Huffle asked him the same last question and he said he preferred England but Canada was catching up.

Tomorrow is a day off for everyone as it is Canada Day.