tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83960114333484375362009-05-02T22:25:46.584-04:00This is a blog about our journey to Canada as immigrants and we hope that it will be of help to those that are one their way to making Canada a new home. It may also make some interesting reading...Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-46411586489936767362009-05-01T15:23:00.005-04:002009-05-02T22:25:46.592-04:00

Two weeks down in the IPL and the excitement is just so riveting. The tournament is still wide open and finally the indomitable Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils have been beaten. There is no undefeated side in the tournament now and the third week promises to bring in some new surprises and changes to the TOP 4.Unless Delhi and Deccan play horribly and they each repeat a performance from last

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-49877458933223485522009-04-24T14:29:00.004-04:002009-04-24T15:06:00.181-04:00

The IPL is exactly one week old and the excitement has been fascinating. After some upsets on Day 1 with the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals losing, the tournament is shaping out to be another roaring success, save for the rain interruptions. Sometimes I think if more countries played cricket, we would have lesser famines and droughts in the worldThe first week has provided some really

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-32395059356246115592009-04-17T14:45:00.004-04:002009-04-24T14:29:27.184-04:00

I've been waiting for this second season ever since the last one got over. Cliched as that sounds, however, it is true. If you know me well, you know that I am a glutton for cricket of any kind (my wife will reaffirm that). If you don't know me, this is another thing that you learn about me from reading my blog.The Indian Premier League is a dream that I've always had and I am ecstatic about it

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-63920869258941219332009-04-15T12:56:00.001-04:002009-04-17T13:05:46.907-04:00

It is getting close to the deadline to file taxes here in Canada. This time around I am a lot more eductaed in this regard. I know what I'm doing and I am actually employed as a Tax Associate.I find doing taxes extremely thrilling and it is a great feeling to see huge smiles on people's faces when they hear that they are getting refunds. Not the same, when they owe money!There are tons of credits

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-1048076619955987662009-04-09T12:36:00.000-04:002009-04-17T12:55:11.932-04:00

There is a lot of anticipation about the second edition of the hugely successful Indian Premier League. Brain-child of the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Lalit Modi, the IPL is a concept that has truly revoluntionized the manner in which cricket is watched, followed and broadcasted.Mr Modi has been in for a lot of criticism about his methods, however, I salute this

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-40798064500753065922009-03-07T19:32:00.003-05:002009-03-07T19:50:40.930-05:00

Winter is finally on its way out! (or is it) We don't know that, however, that is what spring is about isn't it? A season of optimism and new life! Soon it will be beautiful, green and full of colour. A time for outdoor activity that will usher in summer and all the cheer.The winter has been a tough one, yet again! We were better prepared this time and it seems to have gone away quite quickly. I

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-6397026117471594932008-07-07T20:13:00.004-04:002008-07-07T20:52:51.044-04:00

It's been a year! As cliched as it may sound, it has passed like a breeze. Only a year ago on this day, we set foot on Canadian soil, apprehensive, unsure and scared about what the country and the future had in store for us. It has been a fairy tale and everything has fitted in like a jigsaw puzzle.We are blessed with good wishes from friends and family and we have been a great support system for

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-82795456283627549242008-05-31T11:38:00.000-04:002008-06-09T11:50:17.023-04:00

I have written a lot about the weather in my blog and I guess I will continue to write more about the fascinating change of seasons that we have expereienced. To my wife and I, Spring is the most beautiful of all seasons. The spring colours are vibrant and so pleasing to the eyes than the fall ones.The greenery all around us is much appreciated along with the beautiful blooms. Spring time is also

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-55504192135305276792008-05-22T11:22:00.002-04:002008-06-09T11:37:21.432-04:00

Traditionally, Spring is expected to last from March 22 to June 21. In the spring, it is still chilly and the temperatures are expected to hover around in the range of about 5 - 15 degrees. This year has been different, following the extremely severe winter and April felt more like late June according to experts and May was like April.I'm born in May and all my birthdays have been hot, hot and

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-63740176348425735642008-04-15T11:05:00.001-04:002008-06-09T11:21:58.751-04:00

In Canada we pay a lot in taxes - direct and indirect taxes. Although late last year the PST (Provinical Sales Tax) was reduced from 7 to 6%, we still pay lot in income taxes. April, is the month for all to file tax returns and in most scenarios if you pay your taxes regularly, you do qualify for a refund.As with most things in this country, the processes and dealings with the government offices

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-14295476062760622732008-03-29T21:37:00.000-04:002008-03-30T08:53:39.497-04:00

Most of my blog over the last couple of months or maybe three has been about the weather. The changes and the ways to deal with it. The reason for the change has been purely due to our own neglect and the abuse of the environment and our natural resources. In 2007, the people of Sydney, Australia took it in their own hands and made a difference by powering down for an hour between 8 - 9 pm. This

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-87884642548396839172008-03-20T08:28:00.002-04:002008-03-30T08:37:33.306-04:00

At 1:48 this morning, we officially switched seasons and Spring is here. However, the weather is cold, cold and colder. With temperatures in -11 to -15 range and the added wind chill factor it is as low as -20, it feels like anything but Spring. It is still bloody cold and the weathermen say that we may have six weeks of winter left.Climate change is what is to be blamed for this and Torontonians

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-76513981646112508342008-03-12T08:05:00.000-04:002008-03-30T08:28:19.177-04:00

I've been writing several pieces about the cold, cold winter and now to help us feel a little better, the clocks changed this Sunday, March 9, 2008. We spring forward by an hour though officially Spring is two weeks away. What this also means is that we lose an hour of sleep and we now see more sunlight. In the next couple of weeks we should see at least 12 hours of sunlight, when the sun does

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-26696728698492492372008-03-08T19:37:00.000-05:002008-03-29T19:48:23.895-04:00

Today we experienced the worst snow storm of our first winter in Canada. The snow started late Friday evening and the dumping continued for almost 24 hours. This after we had a snow day on the Wednesday of the week. Close to 30 cms of snow was recorded in Toronto and that brings us close to the record that was set almost 70 years ago.The record is 208 cms and we are currently at 189 for the year

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-20151598697239914512008-02-18T17:31:00.002-05:002008-02-18T17:39:12.880-05:00

One of the Thank You gifts that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty chose to give his faithful voters was a holiday in the middle of the winter for them to spend with their families. Aptly called Family Day, this holiday which is expected to be the third Monday in February will give all a huge respite from the harsh winter and allow them to spend it at home with loved ones.While there have been mixed

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-30199643808613585252008-02-16T17:20:00.000-05:002008-02-18T17:31:06.522-05:00

There has been so much talk about climate change and how the colder countries have been getting warmer over the years. We were told before we arrived that the weather in Canada was a lot warmer than what it used to be and that they had several mild winters in the past few years. However, we had prepared ourselves for the worst and chose to come here in the summer and see the weather change

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-61026389206754566312008-01-06T16:21:00.000-05:002008-02-18T16:32:56.485-05:00

If you own, rent or share an apartment in Canada, you have got to be handy! In a country where labour is extremely expensive, a lot of stuff has got to be done without professional help. While you can get most of your stuff done through a professional, doing stuff yourself saves you a lot of money and gives you a great sense of accomplishment.Places like the Home Depot, Lowes, Rona, Home Hardware

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-18074445181349817482008-01-05T16:46:00.001-05:002008-02-18T17:19:58.449-05:00

Being in the Customer Service industry for almost all the 11 years of my working life, overlooking minor service failures has been okay with me. However, when you get cheated by leading service providers for the promises that they make is unpardonable in my books.I have been trained in Customer Services by some really great brands and some key lessons they taught me that1. It cost seven times

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-81458913323942076942007-12-25T22:15:00.000-05:002008-02-18T16:21:07.635-05:00

It was our first White Christmas, though there was no snow on Christmas Day. The snow collected over the previous weeks made it an extremely beautiful time of the year. The snow on the ground, the streets lit with brilliance, Christmas trees around the neighbourhood and the satisfaction of achieving some of the goals we had set ourselves made it an extremely pleasurable Christmas.A big family

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-11744608308555755292007-12-14T15:57:00.000-05:002008-02-18T16:13:09.417-05:00

Closing date is one of the greatest days in your home search journey even if it is not your first home. After months of searching you finally get the keys to your dream home and the excitement of it all can make you overlook some finer details that could leave you fretting and fuming on the day.Normally a day before closing is when you will visit your lawyer to sign all the papers and ensure that

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-10426067842111587012007-12-11T14:35:00.002-05:002008-02-18T16:45:41.568-05:00

After failing the first attempt at my G2, I got it right the second time. In extremely testing circumstances with freezing rain converting to heavy snow, I managed to pass my test and get the license that allows me to drive under any condition and at any time except with a restriction on blood alcohol content.It was great feeling for me as I was extremely nervous and committed several mistakes in

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-64200556974668958922007-12-10T15:40:00.000-05:002008-02-18T15:57:00.204-05:00

Before we came here, we did a lot of research on the housing choices available here and the locations to live in. However, coming from a country like an India, you cannot really make a true judgement on which area live in. The distances like I keep mentioning in several pieces in my blog are huge in Canada. To get around you definitely need transportation of your own, so the location you choose

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-18839348239214870742007-11-22T12:08:00.000-05:002007-12-02T12:53:44.515-05:00

When we were preparing to come to Canada, a lot of people thought we were mad to come here and deal with the harsh winter. We were aware that the winter was going to be tough and that is why we chose to enter the country in summer and get ourselves totally acclimatised to the changing weather. In the end it turned out to be a great idea as when Toronto was hit with its first snow storm for 2007,

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-34955314762140040752007-11-15T11:47:00.000-05:002007-12-02T12:48:43.008-05:00

When you plan to move to Canada another major cost that you need to factor in, is for the 'what if' something goes wrong. For this reason it is important that you cover all your important belongings with adequate insurance. There is a school of thought that argues against getting adequate cover, however, if you want peace of mind then adequate insurance cover is a must.Given the nature of

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396011433348437536.post-58376115430575810282007-11-09T09:45:00.000-05:002007-11-26T08:22:46.267-05:00

If you choose to bite the bullet and buy a home, it is extremely important that you budget a home inspection in all your expenses. Contrary to advice that you will get from people around a good home inspection will save you a lot of money and heartache.A good home inspector takes into account all aspects of your house to ensure that your dream home is safe and free from any immediate danger. The

Allan DSilvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225979201783440632noreply@blogger.com0