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It seems that banks are
now allowing new immigrants to get credit cards.
If you read my early reports when I had just arrived in Canada this was
not available so that's good news as it allows you to build a credit
history which is very important.
On December 23rd we
registered -18º C with winds at 57km/h and wind gusts at 87km/h and got
around 2cm of snow. That's very cold for Chatham. When it
gets this cold it's time for a hot chocolate. I normally keep the house
at 70º F but have cranked that up to 74º F at this time. We did have a
second of down time on the electricity and it took some 10 minutes to
restore my internet connection but other than that am coping fine. I do
have enough food supplies in to take me through the Christmas holidays
so no need to go out in this very cold weather.
Got my visit to the eye
specialist and got my 6 weekly injection in my good eye and so far I've
not had any problems. Flu is taking its toll on the population and
that's down to people not getting their flu vaccine shot. Covid is still
an issue but most people are not wearing masks unless they are going to
a health clinic or similar establishment like the eye specialist or
vaccine clinic.
On the Covid front
seems that China is now having the most problems with many protests
about the wearing of masks and other Covid restrictions. I have noted
many YouTube channels are reporting health issues but hardly anyone
mentions whether they have had flu or Covid vaccines which I suspect is
the reason for their illnesses.
I have noticed that in
general 90% of Canadians took the Covid vaccines but far fewer have
taken the two booster shots and less than normal have taken the flu
vaccine this year which seems the reason for so many children ending up
in hospital.
Canada has done well on the inflation front at below 7% whereas
countries like the UK and Germany were showing over 10%. I just
wish that Canada had built the oil and gas pipelines to our coasts so
that we could have supplied Europe with oil and gas.
Just heard there was a
one hundred vehicle pileup at London, ON, today 23rd December, which is
just an hour up the road from here in Chatham.
When my cleaning lady
came on Boxing Day she told me that people at
Walmart and
the Canadian Superstore were locked in on Friday night due to the heavy
falls of snow which according to her were the worst she'd seen in her 64
years in Chatham. I confess I didn't know of this until she told
me as it didn't look that bad where I live. She told me they were
put up in the store overnight and didn't get to leave until after 1.00pm
on the Saturday. She also said she'd almost run out of food
herself and due to the weather she'd had to get a friend to take her out
to do a grocery run and all the shops were packed.
So she wasn't able to
have the normal family Christmas as the roads were so bad and she said
her daughter was in tears not being able to get to her for Christmas.
The first they'd ever missed and so looks like the weather was much
worse that I'd thought. This month I got a lot
of work done in my home. Lots of little jobs so now I'm pretty much up
to date. I got all my shopping in for Christmas so am good to go
until the New Year.
So what am I having for
my Christmas lunch this year? I will be having smoked salmon as a
starter then turkey with stuffing, and roast potatoes and then plum
pudding and brandy custard for dessert. I will be having a bottle
of Mathieu's Rose to wash it all down.
So wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year. Will report back in 2023 God willing. And just to note
we did have a White Christmas in Chatham this year.
The Rev. Nola Crewe completing a jigsaw with her daughter Morgana |
