Tim Hortons is (I think) the largest coffee chain in Canada; owned by former hockey player Tim Horton. I'm pretty sure you could have worked out his name, and it's probably a good guess that any Canadian was formerly a hockey player.
They do a very nice vanilla coffee, by the way, as well as an excellent selection of doughnuts. Or should that be donuts?
They've just introduced a new size of cup, which they're calling the extra large. Unfortunately, they already had an extra large (I believe the new cup is 4 ounces larger than the existing one.) So they've renamed the entire range of sizes, moving everything down one size, and renamed the existing Small to Extra Small.
I was in there getting a coffee earlier, and the poor staff have to check with every customer that they're aware of the new sizes, and that their order is in fact what they think they're ordering. I was feeling frustrated on their behalf - I think there's only so many times you can say "Do you mean the new Large, or the old Large?" without cracking. For me, I don't care too much about the size, and just nodded when she asked if I was sure I knew what I was ordering.
I did point out that they could have saved an awful lot of people an awful lot of confusion if they'd just given the new size an entirely new name, though.
(And for those of you who are paying attention, the chain is indeed called Tim Hortons. Since it's a nationwide chain, they also need to operate in Quebec. And since using an apostrophe to denote the possessive is English, they decided to drop it nationally. I guess that pedants are less litigious than the francophones)
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Crazy weather
Statistically, the third week of January is the coldest of the Canadian winter. So for most of last week, the temperature was floating around -20 or so, before we took wind chill into account. It was, let's say, a little nippy out.
This week, it's been considerably warmer. Well, relatively - Monday we had actual rain, and since then it's been about -5 or so, so it's positively tropical. It's gotten to the point where quite a lot of the show has melted, so I can walk along the pavement without worrying about going head over heels; and I'm sure I saw one place where I could see actual grass through the ice and snow.
In related news, I got back this evening to discover a snow shovel and a bag of deicer on the front step. My downstairs neighbour slipped on the ice on Monday, and I think this is my landlord's subtle solution to the problem. The roof is south facing, so it gets sunlight for quite a lot of the day, so the snow there melts quite quickly - indeed, there were some spectacular icicles until a couple of days recently. Unfortunately, where the water is dripping off is right onto the stairs that go into the downstairs apartment. The side of the staircase that's furthest from the house is one solid sheet of ice, and half of each step is covered in ice. It's not easy going up and down them. So I think I'll have a busy couple of hours tomorrow clearing some snow.
Well, assuming it's not warm enough over night that it all melts away, anyway.
Well, assuming it's not warm enough over night that it all melts away, anyway.
Monday, 16 January 2012
After the interview
It seemed to go quite well.
They're not especially well set up for people from outside the Canadian system, but unlike rental agents, they are quite prepared to make allowances. I explained that no, they couldn't see my high school graduation certificate, because we don't have them (though given how long it's been since I finished school, that could well have changed by now.) And I'll be interested what the credit check shows up - the background check won't be an issue, I suspect.
In case you're wondering, I think the credit check is because it's working for a credit card company, and they don't want to employ people with dodgy backgrounds. I was also informed that I wouldn't be allowed to have my mobile phone with me at the desk, in case I start smuggling out data, even photographs of the screen.
There was a typing test (I managed 57 words per minute, with three errors), and an aptitude test. "You've got twelve minutes - you won't get to the end, but answer as many as you can." I managed to finish it - I was frantically working out the last question when the bell went - and got 86%, which my examiner said was the highest score she'd seen. So I'm feeling a little smug about that, even if I don't eventually get the job.
They're not especially well set up for people from outside the Canadian system, but unlike rental agents, they are quite prepared to make allowances. I explained that no, they couldn't see my high school graduation certificate, because we don't have them (though given how long it's been since I finished school, that could well have changed by now.) And I'll be interested what the credit check shows up - the background check won't be an issue, I suspect.
In case you're wondering, I think the credit check is because it's working for a credit card company, and they don't want to employ people with dodgy backgrounds. I was also informed that I wouldn't be allowed to have my mobile phone with me at the desk, in case I start smuggling out data, even photographs of the screen.
There was a typing test (I managed 57 words per minute, with three errors), and an aptitude test. "You've got twelve minutes - you won't get to the end, but answer as many as you can." I managed to finish it - I was frantically working out the last question when the bell went - and got 86%, which my examiner said was the highest score she'd seen. So I'm feeling a little smug about that, even if I don't eventually get the job.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
A trip to the supermarket
I needed to pop out to the supermarket for a couple of bits. It was -20 outside when I set out, which I think it makes it the coldest day yet. Though it had warmed up to a balmy -18 by the time I got back.
On the one hand, I no longer need to worry that my frozen goods are going to defrost on the way home. On the other, it's been replaced by wondering if the fresh stuff will freeze solid instead... I was very amused when I realised that the freezer compartment is actually warmer than outside.
One advantage is that the nice cup of coffee I bought on the way home cooled down nicely to a drinkable temperature.
On the one hand, I no longer need to worry that my frozen goods are going to defrost on the way home. On the other, it's been replaced by wondering if the fresh stuff will freeze solid instead... I was very amused when I realised that the freezer compartment is actually warmer than outside.
One advantage is that the nice cup of coffee I bought on the way home cooled down nicely to a drinkable temperature.
Friday, 13 January 2012
A job interview
I've heard back from one of the companies I'd applied to. Indeed, it was long enough back that I'd applied to them that I'd actually written off hearing back from them.
I had a phonecall and a brief screening interview. It's going to be an interesting process for the both of us, I think - they want me to bring along a copy of my high school diploma, for one thing. I suggested that I bring along my university diploma, but no, their system insists on knowing that I graduated high school. I wish now I'd pointed out that my education qualifications were apparently good enough for me to be able to get into the country, but perhaps I should leave that until I know if they're going to offer me the job or not.
This one is working in a call center - ironically, for the same company I was working for before, just a little higher up the food chain. There are a few things that make it a little unattractive - it's shift work, as they need people there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and shifts start between 7am and midnight. I don't mind that, I don't think, though I'm told that the shifts are on rotation, so quite what it's going to do to my sleep patterns, I hate to think. Additionally, it's based over on the other side of the city, and while I can get there on public transport, it does mean that I'll be getting up at 5am for a 7am start, and spending an hour and a half on the bus on either side of a shift does appeal much. I guess there's always a car, but, well - you have read the preceding post about the snow, right?
The interview is on Monday, at 2pm, so I'll have a better idea after that what I'm going to do.
I had a phonecall and a brief screening interview. It's going to be an interesting process for the both of us, I think - they want me to bring along a copy of my high school diploma, for one thing. I suggested that I bring along my university diploma, but no, their system insists on knowing that I graduated high school. I wish now I'd pointed out that my education qualifications were apparently good enough for me to be able to get into the country, but perhaps I should leave that until I know if they're going to offer me the job or not.
This one is working in a call center - ironically, for the same company I was working for before, just a little higher up the food chain. There are a few things that make it a little unattractive - it's shift work, as they need people there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and shifts start between 7am and midnight. I don't mind that, I don't think, though I'm told that the shifts are on rotation, so quite what it's going to do to my sleep patterns, I hate to think. Additionally, it's based over on the other side of the city, and while I can get there on public transport, it does mean that I'll be getting up at 5am for a 7am start, and spending an hour and a half on the bus on either side of a shift does appeal much. I guess there's always a car, but, well - you have read the preceding post about the snow, right?
The interview is on Monday, at 2pm, so I'll have a better idea after that what I'm going to do.
It's snowing!
And has been, pretty much constantly, since I got up this morning - that's about five hours straight now.
I think this is the first time since I got here that it's actually snowed properly. The snow we've had before now has mainly arrived overnight, so this is the first chance I've had to actually see a snowstorm. And it's a corker. We've had a couple of inches already - the drive was plowed last night, and you'd never know it now - and the forecast is for a couple more inches over the afternoon.
The forecast over the next couple of days is quite odd - the weekend is expected to be bitterly cold, with highs of around -18, and then it's going to warm up again at the start of next week, with the temperature due to hit 5 above freezing by midweek. I'll have to find where I packed my shorts....
I think this is the first time since I got here that it's actually snowed properly. The snow we've had before now has mainly arrived overnight, so this is the first chance I've had to actually see a snowstorm. And it's a corker. We've had a couple of inches already - the drive was plowed last night, and you'd never know it now - and the forecast is for a couple more inches over the afternoon.
The forecast over the next couple of days is quite odd - the weekend is expected to be bitterly cold, with highs of around -18, and then it's going to warm up again at the start of next week, with the temperature due to hit 5 above freezing by midweek. I'll have to find where I packed my shorts....
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