Our Canniversary :D

"do what you like and like what you do"

We left the Uk in Feb '08 not really knowing what we were letting ourselves in for. We had visited Nova Scotia 3 times on vacation/holiday but this
time we had sold our house, and were landing at Halifax airport with an LMO.

Rod is working for Clarke Road Transport, Halifax in the flatbed division, and would still recommend them as an employer to anybody looking for truck
driving work.
It hasn't been always been a bed of roses, but overall we are glad we are here.
We also used an Immigration Consultant which I know a lot of people feel they do not need, I fully agree you may not always need to use them but after 3 visits and getting totally frustrated with the whole process we made the decision to let somebody else take some of the stress. Make your own decision we feel we wasted 3 years trying to do it on our own!!

So here goes a brief summary of the last year...

we landed at Halifax airport with Rods offer of employment and LMO. The custom officer directed us to immigration where it took approx. 30 minutes to complete the paperwork and receive his 2 year Temp. Work Permit (TWP), I was issued with a 2 year visitor permit.

We were met by our immigration consultant and arranged to met the next day, so she could introduce us to Vaughan at Clarke Road and arrange Nova Scotia ID cards and medicare insurance.

Unfortunately or as Rod thought fortunately, the driver coach was with another new starter so wouldn't be able to take Rod on a trip for 2 weeks. We used these 2 weeks to go snowboarding, Rod took his driving test and do some more snowboarding
After a 10 day trip with his coach, Rod was given the thumbs up and was ready to roll. Some drivers do another trip with a mentor, but that is dependent on your experience and confidence. Rod was also paid a training wage for the time he was with the coach.

We eventually headed out on our 1st trip to Virginia at the end of March, and haven't looked back since.

Usually drivers work for approx. 10 days and then take 3 or 4 days off, its just a matter of letting your dispatcher know when you are ready for your next job, but remember whilst the wheels aren't turning you're not earning!! the best guide line is driving 2500 miles a week. It sounds a lot but once you're on the open roads you'll eat the miles for breakfast lol.
We've driven from Nova Scotia to Alberta, and through most of the States in America.

Personally we love it, BUT I travel with Rod, so if he gets delayed it doesn't really matter we just claim layovers Our kids have stayed behind in the UK, their choice not ours , we may feel differently if I was at home waiting for him? and we haven't bought property here yet but we are looking now, cos this is where we want to be.
Also we may feel differently in another years time but so what, its been an experience and we've loved it, so bring on the next adventure please....


How did we celebrate, well we spent the day skiing/snowboarding and had a brill day :)

We love and miss our families and friends a lot :( but we are so glad we took this opportunity.
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