Week 14

Me again!

So I’ve now been back from the industrial work for a week and it’s been HEAVEN. I don’t think I truly realised how isolating it was and how much I missed daily human interaction.

I’ve now started work as an ACP across some of the warehouses in Calgary. I had my first shift at Walmart last Friday, it was good to be clinical again. I only saw a few minor injuries (pulled muscles, rolled ankles etc) but it was nice to be working again AND not being stuck in an ambulance for 12 hours was DREAMY. I don’t want to say people came to see me just to hear the accent, but some of their reasoning for coming to the clinic was interesting….

I’ve got a start date for my ambulance job which is October 30th, I’ll be third manning for my first four shifts up in a town called Rocky Mountain House. I’m still unsure what to expect as everything seems to be a bit backwards here, but it’s all an experience! I wonder what the patients will think of my accent and how many times I’ll be mistaken for an Australia?!

Canadians have a Thanksgiving as well and on a different date to the US?! I’m sure most of you were aware but I wasn’t. We had a belated ‘friendsgiving’ party at the weekend, my housemates invited friends and this meant cooking a turkey for 20 people. Meaghan and I spent all morning getting Larry (the turkey) prepped and ready for the big event. It was fun and everyone brought a dish of some kind, I was of course in charge of the Yorkshire puddings (authentic and homemade by an English girl no doubt). The evening was a success and I must say I did enjoy my first ever Canadian Thanksgiving.

Those of you who know me well will know I love F45. It’s a functional gym class lasting 45 minutes (name gives it away) and the class changes each day. The one I now attend in Marda Loop had its 5 year anniversary on Saturday and this meant prizes and freebies!!! (Also it’s ranked #1 best F45 in Canada, how bloody lucky am I). I now own a T-shirt, hat and bag all with the logo, a bit cringe but I like them (I really wanted the socks but they didn’t have them). If you haven’t tried F45 you absolutely should, it’s a nice mix of cardio and weights, it’s almost like group PT and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I’m currently trying to convince my housemates to come with me, I’m yet to have any luck.

I drove up to Edmonton for a neonatal resuscitation course last week. I’m not sure if the car gods just hate me but my engine light AND tyre pressure light both came on 25km into my 280km drive. I stopped and got air (strong independent woman) and have left the engine light for another time. The course was kinda fun although I had jokes made at my expense for being a paramedic, it’s not quite as respected here as much as I’d thought. But hey ho, that’s life.

Other than that, I’ve been out on a few hikes and this is EXACTLY the reason I moved here. To get outdoors and enjoy nature, push myself and find new hobbies. It’s getting colder but I’m looking forward to what winter will bring. I've also started going to punk rock bingo every Tuesday on 17th Ave with a couple of girls I met at the dome back in August! Prizes range from a crockpot for one, to a bowling ball. It's almost like my regular quiz nights back in Putney. I'm yet to win a thing.

My next update will be once I've finished my first block of shifts, I'll chat to you then!

👋🏼