If you are wondering why this blog looks so different, I tried to change something on the template and ended up losing my great looking Canadian Maple background. I tried and am not able to restore it, so am now using this new theme.
Moral of the story – A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I am in Cambridge at my daughter’s all this week and it has snowed all day, every day. It sure looks pretty when you are inside looking out, but it also sure is cold here.
There are many car accidents in this weather, even more in Toronto. People drive too fast and don’t take into account that the roads are slippery.
I am not fond of driving in this weather. Many times I have tried to stop at a stop sign and ended up sliding into the curb. It doesn’t hurt my car, but sure scares me. So now I drive way too slow, which is also a driving hazard.
This is the only time of the year that I do not mind taking the bus – although standing outside to wait for it is not fun.
Some friends of ours from China have started looking for a house to buy. What bothers them most is the fact that they will have a mortgage. But I assured them that if people waited until they could save enough to completely pay for a home, they would probably be dead first.
Houses in Toronto are fairly expensive. In our neighbourhood, they range from $100,000 for a condo apartment to over $700,000 for the more expensive single houses. We don’t live downtown and housing there costs much more for much less land.
A mortgage is about 10% – more if you can afford it- of the price of the house. Then the remaining amount, plus interest to the bank, is paid every month. A bank is where most people borrow the money for their home. There are usually minimum income requirements as well.
There are many different types of homes that can be purchased. Condo apartments, townhouses, semi-detached, and detached houses. Apartments are buildings with many different units, townhouses are a number of houses attached in a row, and semis are two houses joined together.
Owning a house is a big investment, so make sure the property is in a good neighbourhood and in reasonably good condition. Unless, of course, you enjoy doing renovation work.
One thing about living here in Canada is that the sunshine can be deceiving. Like today, the sun is brightly shining and the snow looks so white and inviting. But trust me, it is freezing cold out today!
It’s better to take along a hat, gloves and scarf just in case you need it. If you also wear warm boots and layer your clothes, you will be nice and snug.
By layering your clothes, I mean wear one set of clothes, then a sweater, then a coat. That is supposed to keep you warmer than just wearing a really heavy coat.
I mentioned the need for warm gloves and hats; you will also need a scarf on really cold days – both to keep your neck warm and to hold over your face if the wind is really cold.
Of course you need a warm coat – down filled is good, and some warm boots. I like high boots since the snow here can get so deep that it gets inside short boots. The stores carry a lot of nice looking leather boots with no lining – those are good for looks but not for wearing outside for any amount of time. You need a boot with fur lining and a non-slip sole.
Dress properly and you will enjoy playing in the snow. If I am warm enough, I love to be outside, especially when the snow is falling. It is so calm and quiet and pretty (until the smog turns the snow black).
I don’t like the bitter cold, but I do like snow – unless I’m stuck on the highway in it.
