Category Archives: Finding Home

Living in a crazy mess

Posted in After treatment, Bumpboobs, Chemotherapy, Finding Home, Life, Treatment by

At the very end of Edible Woman there is a scene where she bakes a cake. Her entire apartment is catastrophic with mess, mould and disarray. Instead of cleaning the place, she buys new ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, etc), a new baking tray, new cake moulds, new measuring cups – new everything, and she bakes her lady cake. And somehow in that mess, once the cake is iced and ready, somehow she finds a little freedom from the madness.

This is how I feel in my apartment. For the past three days I’ve had one slipper missing, so have been walking around the flat with double layer socks on my right foot, and a moccasin slipper on my left. There is a constant pile of dishes across the counter, and the mite protection sheet of my bed (which last week I washed) has been sitting on the sofa waiting for me to strip the mattress – in the meanwhile it’s attracted my handbag, backpack, toque, apron, headphones, sweater, jeans, trackpants, running shoes, jacket, blanket, scarf and shall. The floor needs a good vacuum. The bedroom needs to be tidied . . .  the bathroom is okay, so at least there is that.

Anyhow, it’s a little crazy here. Zsolt in the meanwhile is at his computer totally absorbed into this thesis (because if he wasn’t, I’d never get away with leaving my things everywhere). I’m counting down the hours to his submission because: 1) It’s an incredible achievement and I’m bursting with pride over my brilliant man and 2) I miss having the dishes washed every morning.

Honestly, between Zsolt and I – he is the better housekeeper. Lately we’ve been taking turns. During chemo he did the tidying. During thesis I’d do the tidying . . . but now we’re both managing projects (radiotherapy recover and thesis polishing) at the same time.

Here is a good question: how do people with children manage? I really, really admire all the mothers and fathers who somehow produce a liveable household for their family. I cannot understand how you do it, which makes your results all the more impressive.

So – waiting for that moment of clarity now. Maybe it’ll come in the form of moving boxes, charity shop donations, and the inevitable vacating of this property. Who knows? Hopefully, eventually, I’ll at least find my other slipper.

Awesome visa to Canada

Posted in After treatment, Bumpboobs, Canada, Finding Home, Life by

Good Saturday to you. Outside my apartment the bed sheets are drying – or were drying, because it’s broken out with rain – and the day is (otherwise) going well. On the kitchen table are several piles of books, the beginning of our moving purge, and on Zsolt’s desk beside his papers and text books and calculator and pen is . . . HIS TOTALLY AWESOME VISA INTO CANADA!

WOOOHOOO! It arrived in the mail today, and it’s GIANT. This larger than A4 visa and has his name, country of birth, photo, visa class, and says something along the lines of, ‘don’t write on this paper until you are with immigration inside Canada.’

She is a tease, this immigration system. While we’ve jumped the hoops and filled the paperwork, there is still a stipulation stating that this visa is not a guarantee they’ll let Zsolt into Canada. Bah. I’m not worried because clearly Zsolt is perfect for Canada, and has a truly valid case. Confidence in your situation is a really good thing – it gives a determination that even if things take time or are questioned, they will work out. I know Zsolt will get into Canada a-okay. That is that.

And apart from this I’m taking today for a little housekeeping – yes, the rain sheets count, sorting,  chillaxing (relaxing), and of course, blogging.

In celebration of this writing, and because I was told that it’s the thing to do, I’ve made a website/online CV. It’s www.CatherineBrunelle.com , feel free to check her out if you have the time.

So – as previously said: Good Saturday to you. (If I ever create a business it’s going to have a four day work week: Four days on. Three days off. Screw precedent.) Hope you enjoy this wonderful weekend!

PS – Oneeeeee Treatment LEFTTTTT Ohhhohohohdfohsfoasdhsdljf! [Too excited to write properly] OOhkjsdf Yeahhlkjad YWwOoohoooo! YES! YESSSSIIRRRREEBOOBBBIES!

PPS- Seems the rain has now turned into hail. Hmmm. Maybe I should have grabbed the sheets earlier. . .  oh well!

Immigration to Canada: Step one

Posted in Bumpboobs, Canada, Finding Home, Life by

Ok! Moving away from breast cancer topics onto more interesting things. That is, moving away from England.

The UK has been incredible, and I wouldn’t say that we’ll never return. It’s a definite possibility. Look at the pros: England’s primary language is, duh, English. It’s a ‘bridge’ between Europe and North America. The people here are awesome. Planes, trains and automobiles make this place easily connected to anywhere. And we’ve built a home here once, we could do it again.

Cons: My apartment is driving  me crazy with allergies – not in itself a reason to leave the entire country, but I’m an aggravated women. Also, it’s not Canada and it’s not Hungary. Neither side of the family has plans to immigrate to this giant Island (I miss having tea with my mom, meeting with friends, listening to Dad’s fishing stories) and during the next three years, as a minimum, being situated close to family is a priority.

The plan is to officially move later this summer. We’ll be doing some travelling beforehand, but our deadline for a Canadian touchdown is September 15th, when Zsolt’s ‘welcome to Canada’ window expires.

Here is the checklist as it develops:

First – get permanent residence.

Second – investigate moving companies.

Third . . . not sure, will update later.

We’re on steps First and Second. This week Zsolt received an email stating that his application has been approved (WOHO!) and we need to submit a bit more paperwork, plus passports. So, I can’t check off this step until the permit has been collected, but we’re getting there. The entire application process took about five months total – however, that doesn’t include all the time compiling the application, medical checks, background checks etc. Man, that was a long process, and mixed with chemotherapy too. But we managed. On average they say the application takes around six to nine months. I’d like to think Zsolt’s application was so well organized that it zoomed through the system. However, that’s only speculation because the inner workings of consulates are a mystery.

Sometimes I wonder whether it was crazy to uproot and go back to Canada. . . but going home for Christmas was incredible, and Dr Canada was quite impressive too. Plus, maybe a little North American flavour would be good to chew on, at least for now. Assuming Zsolt can land a job and I can pick up more writing, things could look good. Besides, there is that canoe and the lake and the image of paddling in the water on a gorgeous fall day. What’s more wonderfully Canadian than the great outdoors?

Looking ahead helps me focus on the present. First step, finish the permit process. Last step, go for a swim in the lake.

Side tip for visa applications: Collect evidence. From the moment you form a serious long-distance relationship you should start collecting proof – some examples: plane tickets, email exchanges, receipts with both names, joint bank account statements. The more official the better. Many places won’t accept a relationship is genuine unless you’ve lived together for two years, and can prove it through paperwork. *

*I’m no expert or professional regarding immigration. These tips are based on personal experience and several visa applications gone well. That’s all. If you need actual help, seek a professional.