Sunday, April 23, 2006

BBQ time and other bits and pieces

We've been busy little bees lately! In a nutshell, here's what we had on last week's program:

  • I'm preparing for a photo shooting this coming week. Don't worry, I'm not the star, but a 6 year old girl is. She'll be playing a major role in our sales literature! Photographer: check. Locations: check. Props: check. Model: Check. Styling: check. Weather?? Pray for good weather on Wednesday friends, we're doing outdoor shots! I'm always on needles when I have to do "live shots". Any idea why??
  • I've been bombed with articles to read through for our website, had endless meetings (seems to be anyway).
  • Orange had a very rough (business) day last Thursday: Can't blog about it yet, but don't worry, we still have a job.
  • Because of this "rough day", we had to cancel our trip to Canada this summer. So we have to postpone until Decembr, or so.
  • On Friday evening, we had a bowling evening with a couple of work colleagues. Will post about this later this week (if I have the energy).
  • We bought lots of flowers and plants on Saturday and barbecued.
  • Today, we have been cleaning up the garden, moving plants around, mowed the lawn (all 12 square meters of it. HA!).
  • Got my first sunburn today (gardening). Just a slight one, don't worry. I have American Indian and Gypsie blood in me :-)
  • Will barbecue again this evening.
  • Orange's hayfever has been acting up like mad the past 2 days. Hmm. Too much gardening maybe??
  • I have been filling out forms about the last 22 years of my life. Why??
Here's the news! Very few of you know already, but we plan to move ("back" for me) to Canada! Yup. Earliest by the end of 2007. I didn't want to post anything until we were ready. We've informed our superiors a while ago, but it all seemed far away (it still does). I'm sure Expattraveler can comment on the necessary paperwork needed (Don't use up all the space, okay ET?). OrangeX has a binder full already. You won't believe what they want to know!

Anyway, we'll keep you updated on all of the upcoming (and past) events, but enough for now. We're hungry and it's BBQ time!

21 comments:

christina said...

Take me with youuuuuuu! Wow, what great news! I guess you'll be sponsoring X in Family Class? I've looked into it and know the procedure inside out and it's a TON of paperwork and so much time and bother. I wish I could get Mr. M to just get up and go, but he won't. Very German and totally NOT "risikofreudig", you know? think I'll have to chip away at him a little longer. :-)

Oh yeah, the catalogue with the WM stuff in it was from Otto - www.otto.de. If you put "Fussball" or "WM" into their search thing you'll come up with lots of stuff. www.quelle.de and www.neckermann.de also have fun items.

merlinprincesse said...

OMG!What a life you have! And where do you think you are going to moove? Canada is big.. LOL! :)

Unknown said...

Awwweee... I'm bummed for you guys for having to postpone and replan your vacation to Canada. I know we wouldn't be at all close, but still...

And yes the paper work. And me being on edge and wondering If I've done everytthing correctly and why I might have done it this way instead. I thihnk about this crap every day!!! It's a long haul!!!

But I'm glad you got to do some better stuff over the weekend and yes I'm finger's crossed for good weather!

P. said...

I think, sadly, that Canada rivals France bureaucracy-wise. They want to know everything except the colour of your underwear. It's commendable that you 2 are willing to jump through all those hoops just to come to Canada, good luck and I hope it all works out without any hiccups :) You have our sympathies since I'm in the middle of it with ET right now...

Hope the BBQ was yummy! :)

Anonymous said...

wow!! Any idea where you will be relocating?? What made you decide you would like to move back??

CanadianSwiss said...

Christina - Will you fit in a suitcase? Wouldn't want to take you over in the container ;-) And "Family class"?? What on earth is that? Oh and thanks for the WM gadget infos. I'll look it up.

MP/Xmichra- I think we will be relocating between Montreal and Ottawa.

ET- Of course I'd prefer to spend holidays in Canada during the summer, but December can be fun too.

Mr. Fab - It will definitely be joy (and fun) ;-)

Patrick - We've got most of the information and I still have to check what I need to really provide on information, being a canadian citizen already. All in all, I'm not too worried. BTW, love that picture of you with sombrero and beer. Olé!

christina said...

Oh yes, I'd fit into a suitcase just fine! :-)

The Spouse or Common-Law Partner Class is part of the Family Class. That's the one we'd use if we moved since you can also sponsor a spouse from outside Canada. Is Orange doing the Skilled Worker thing instead?

Ginnie Hart said...

WOW, CS. So much info packed into this post. No wonder you're "busy little bees." Since I have my own "rendezvous" on Wednesday (more on that Wednesday :) and would like nice weather here in Hannover, I'll say a prayer for both of us.

And Montreal is not all that far from Michigan, my home stomping grounds. So who knows, maybe I'll get to see you there, if not in Switzerland beforehand. So much excitement in the air for you with this news, I can tell.

Ms Mac said...

Wow! That's some news there! I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes smoothly for your big move in the future and at the same time be insanely jealous of your garden!

CanadianSwiss said...

Ginnie - We still have some time to go before we move, so either Switzerland or Canada ;-)

Ms. Mac - Hehe. Jealous of our 12m2?? Ok, you also live in Switzerland. Any bit of green is to be envious of. Took me over 20 years. Hope you get it quicker ;-) Thanks for the crossed fingers.

Unknown said...

Orange X - go for Berlin!
Geeze I'm having second thoughts, outside would have been faster for me! I thihnk I might have been done already!!!

CanadianSwiss said...

Christina - Yes, he is, and we're now wondering what would be better/easier. I still have to call the Canadian embassy to see if I need to fulfill any requirements (I have been away for over 20 years). Couldn't find anything in the documentation.

CanadianSwiss said...

Btw, when you mentioned the Family class, I wasn't thinking of the application form. Everytime I hear that expression, it reminds me of birth prep classes. Wierd? You bet, but I can't help it. :-)

christina said...

(I'm just going to write a little book here if you don't mind)

The spousal route might possibly be easier and faster, and you could apply from "outside" (Berlin? I don't know) but move while his application is in process. Even as an outside applicant, he'd be allowed to stay in Canada until his application went through and he got PR but he'd also be able to come and go freely between Canada and Europe. With the Skilled Worker, he'd have to stay in CH until everything was done. Just depends on what kind of a time line you're looking at.

Also for the spousal, he doesn't have to "prove" anything as far as education, job experience, language ability etc. He also wouldn't have to have proof of funds. You as the sponsor would just have to prove to CIC that your relationship is genuine and sign an agreement to look after him financially for three years after he gets PR. And as the sponsoring Canadian citizen you don't even have to have a job or any income to do that. It's pretty easy.

Have you checked the CIC site for information on returning Candadians? I don't think you have to do anything special as long as you have your passport etc in order.

Unknown said...

CS - I don't think you have to do anything special either. I'm sure you need a passport and maybe your birth cert which is in the form of a card...

Mark said...

Thanks for the great info Christina. Never considered to go at this way. I have so far prepared the full application package and are about ready to send it off. Your info has shown another possibility; we'll have to take a closer look at it over the weekend.

Expat, we'll sure check this week what CS definitely needs to go home...

Unknown said...

Well, aren't we full of surprises. No wonder you've been so busy. I'm a french canandian by proxy(ex was french canadian/sioux, so by injection...)This is wonderful news. Kisses!

Rob7534 said...

Good luck guys w/the immigration services. I hope everything goes swimmingly.

CanadianSwiss said...

Babs/Rob - Somehow I felt that I'd find at least one of you here today ;-) And Babs - Haha!... By injection! J'aime bien l'expression! We still have a bit of time to prepare.

Haddock said...

Wow! you have had a busy time! Glad you didn'get too burnt in the Garden. My tan from gardening this last week looks like I've just been to Greece for a holiday! :)

CanadianSwiss said...

Haddock - My shoulders are a bit dry, but other than that, nothing serious. I hope you also feel like a week of holiday!