New surroundings bring new challenges and new discoveries. So what is the best way to go about that? Some people will dive in head first and will run or drive around and within days they know everything about everything.

Until you ask them a specific question, that is. Usually that is where the knowledge ends. I am trying to do as a cat does in a new home. The first thing to do is walk around and fall asleep in the best place of the house. After that, exploration goes in a spiral outwards from the sleeping spot.

Cooped up for the sake of a possible infection. Once arrived in Nova Scotia, it was time for a period of self-isolation.  Our apartment is big enough to avoid cabin fever, so at least that risk was avoided. It was empty for the whole 14 days, echoes and reverb in every room.

The chair I had designated as my interim office chair had decided to break mere hours before being packed in the car before departure. As a result, I had to work with my computer on a folding picnic table, sitting on a plastic cooler that was not appreciating my weight.

The trip was fairly short and uneventful. The only one not enjoying it -at-all- was Mia. Not used to car trips, short or long, she retreated into her own space. We started off on a Sunday morning. Warnings of bad bad weather were out.

We had no choice but to move ahead of the storm system. When we left, Winnipeg was still sunny, devoid of snow and ice and I intended to keep it that way for all of the trip.

It has been a blast. Plenty of ups and a few downs. All in all, Manitoba is a great province to live in. Yet, as newcomers, we wanted to see more, feel more and do more. After twelve years of living in Winnipeg, the time has come to see different horizons.

As constant readers on this blog will know, my origins are from The Netherlands, with (ayy matey!) pirate origins in the far past, somewhere.