Kicking off

Hi all,

The first "week" (as I started on Tuesday) at work was about starting up that gray mass, which I'm supposed to posses, after a great holiday. John, my supervisor, gave me a small tour along all my new and very friendly department colleagues, before it was time for serious business. The first week I spend my time on making myself familiar with the cylinder testing program in which I'll be participating. That includes studying the applied methods and off course their FEM modeling techniques, which means as much as "representing the test cylinder as accurate and efficient as possible in a computer model." A normal workday starts with getting out of bed around 6.30, having a small breakfast and coffee and getting ready to jump on my bicycle around 7.00. The ride over to DRDC is roughly 11 km and takes around 30 minutes to cycle. The ride is challenging, as cars are not that used to cyclists around here, thereby there is quite a height difference. Climbing the Portland Hill on the way to work is though but doable; the descent after the climb is really steep, making keeping up with cars rather easy, as they do around 60 km/h there ;). After a steep climb over the highway, carefully avoiding all the traffic via the side walks, it's further downhill almost to work, just a few "bumps" left to climb. After checking in at DRDC, I'm visiting them everyday, I park my bike on the premises and head for a refreshing morning shower. Actual work starts around, most times before, eight o'clock. During the midday break I usually go for a small walk around the harbor or just around a couple of blocks. The day ends normally around 16.30, depending on how much energy I still have left. As I've to save a bit for the drive home, which is mostly uphill and includes climbing the Portland Hill. After a quick shower it's time for diner, for which I regularly take a lot of time, as it's rather relaxing. Most of the evenings I spend on the deck, sitting outside, sometimes writing you this blog.
The deck bring me to the point of telling you all about the fantastic guest family I'm living with, together with Kyle the other tenant in the house. The family consist of Sarah, Stephen and their two cats Molly and Gratsky, the male cat which is currently observing me while I'm thrusting this text to the paper. From the first day on Sarah and Stephen really made me feel home at their place. I'm allowed to use their fully equipped kitchen, bathrooms, deck, bbq and their computer, from which I'm typing now. Last Sunday the three of us went for a hike on Cape Blomidon, a nice 12,5 km round trip with numerous look offs and a couple of waterfalls. The night before the hike we had a splendid bonfire with their friends, Kyle and off course my sweet Cole Harbour friend Kathryn :). I only found myself in bed around 3 o'clock, while the alarm was set for 8 the next morning...but you probably will remember what I always say: "Sleeping is a choice, which you shouldn't make to often ;)".
Yesterday was Labour Day, a bank holiday throughout Canada. I used this opportunity to do some exploring on McNabs Island. This little island is situated in the mouth of the Halifax harbor and provides besides old fortifications, lovely trails and a wonderful view over the harbor and downtown Halifax. On of the beaches is called "Hangmans Beach", named after the British way of telling sailors to behave in the city. The biggest criminals were hanged on this beach, leaving the bodies on the rope for passing sailors to see. That's what the British will probably call a greet in style ;) To avoid a bit of cycling uphill again I took the long route home, via a part of the Trans Canada Trail, a more then 3000 km long trail across Canada...doesn't that sounds as a challenge :)!
For all waiting for the photo's, please be patience, as they will come on the internet. Probably I'm allowed to bring the laptop, on which I'm working at DRDC, over to my room. That will give me the opportunity to sort out the nicest pictures with the story, what will rather be a big job. I already filled my 2 gig memory card and am well on the way to fill up the new 4 gig card...I blame this nice digital era for that one ;) Well, you'll hear from me soon!

Bye bye,
Erik

Pictures @:
http://picasaweb.google.com/E.A.J.Vroegrijk/UploadWeek45?authkey=Gv1sRgCMr4qv2_zdL_1AE#