I kid you not. 3 years. I hear people sing the praises of Canada's health system and to a point its true. Everyone has health coverage (at least in Ontario which is all I can speak to). But as soon as you need to see a specialist its near impossible. Had an MRI scan which took 6 weeks.
Doctor suggested going to see a specialist as she thinks I will need an operation. Rang up as I had not heard anything for 2 months and I am still on a crutch, limping around as if I have a stone stuck...

Enroute as I type. Arriving in Toronto at 6 tonight. Will be their second time in Canada - their fiirst visit was June 2 years ago. Back then I wasn't living with Jody and I most certainly didn't have a 6 month old daughter. I also didn't have a ceiling in my kitchen but thats another story.

Will be the first time they will have seen Cailey Eve. I know my mum cannot wait and I am sure my Dad is equally excited. Lots of wee trips planned for the 2 and a bit weeks they are here....

Sadly experienced the pain of near complete torn ligaments in my ankle last week while playing soccer. Physio told me I would have been better breaking my leg or ankle as it would heal in 12 weeks. With the ligament damage I've experienced, it's going to take 12 months to get 80% strength back into what I damaged.

Gutted. No football for a year and on crutches in the summer. Not to mention the pain.

Seems the updating of my blog has fallen by the wayside. Current goings on... where to begin!

Became a Dad Feb 26th to our beautiful daughter Cailey Eve who has already taken up most of our hearts (and our time!). We have been truly blessed with a healthy, very happy and alert daughter.

If anyone can tell me how to post pictures, much appreciated!

Company i work for is merging with one of our competitors. A merging of equals to quote the spin machine....

-30. Whats all that about? I wonder who decided this area of the world would be a great place to set up a town called Toronto. Clearly it was summer at the time. How people live further north is way beyond me.

I realised I have not posted anything for about 6 or 7 months. Very slack of me! Girlfriend is still pregnant less than 5 weeks to go before our first baby arrives on Feb 15th. On second scan at 19 weeks, we were told it was a girl so lets hope nothing has changed cause we have so many pink girls clothes its unreal!

Been busy converting one bathroom into a nursery, uncovering wooden floors under a carpet and generally figuring out what fatherhood is going to be all about. Really...

Came home from Las Vegas after a friends stag party late Sunday night. My girlfriend met me at Toronto airport and after dropping all my friends home, told me she had a bad weekend. After asking what was up, she told me she missed her period, had taken a pregnancy test which tested positive.

So.. bearing in mind I had 10 hours sleep in 4 days in Vegas, I was not in the best shape. But my initial gut reaction was of butterflies and excitement. We get back home, she takes another...

Be interested to hear your experience teaching English as foreign language. Jody and I are planning to do TEFL course and head away for a year at some point next year - destination unknown but at this stage most likely to be SE Asia. Before we do course, want to pick up as much info on how people found course as well as how teaching went - the good, bad and ugly!!

I was forwarded an email from someone which has a link that allows you to find out who has either blocked or deleted you from their MSN. Out of curiousity, I ran it and was very surprised by a few people who appeared on the list. Most of those who appeared on the list are people I have met along the way and chatted to a couple of times before losing touch. The remainder though.. very interesting...

In space of 6 hours. Miami to Toronto - temperature was 50 degree difference. No wonder I have a head cold.

South Beach. What an interesting part of the world!

I go through various periods of being (somewhat) homesick for Ireland. I think mostly its nostolgia based rather than any real yearning to move home. Internet sites like youtube is a great outlet to remind myself of the Ireland I grew up in which as time ticks by becomes more and more distant both in time as the general culture which is far removed from the Ireland I grew up in.

Besides checking out old Irish programs, I've been digging out some great Irish bands from the 80's that...

Found a lump near naval a few weeks ago. Wasn't particularly worried about it as it wasn't sore or tender. Girlfriend persuaded me to go to Doctors to get it checked out. Doctor in turn sent me for some ultra sounds which was quite interesting. I had right kidney removed as a kid so there is a big empty space on ride side. Left kidney is larger than normal to compensate which was reassuring to see.

Anyways, had to wait a few days for results which turned out to be a hernia which...

It keeps coming. I keep clearing. It keeps coming back. I've got a mound of it 8 feet tall in my front garden.

On a warmer note, I am going to Miami in 2 weeks for a few days with work. I bet it rains!

With long weekend coming up, me and girlfriend are driving to Boston to say with my youngest sister who is finishing her post-doc at MIT. Surfing trip to Cape Cod is planned although if its too cold I suspect I'll watch from the shore

Good friend here in Toronto is getting married back in Liverpool in early Sept and we have just finalised stag party for him which will be in Vegas mid June. Going to be carnage. Back to Liverpool for the wedding which I'll also tie in a trip home...

Is what I should have told my housemate. Instead I have given her till end of Feb to move out. I'm too nice. It also means I have to put up with her and her silent ways for 5 or so more weeks.

Word of warning.. if you ever come across a camera on your kitchen counter that is not yours, assume it is not safe to glance through the photos.

I've seen my housemate in a way (and positions..) I really didn't want to see her in.

Word of advice.. if you do...