Teeenagers, who'd have 'em

Clever, clever Kidpad.

Daughter will go to work at the icehotel at Jukkasjärvi near the city of kiruna, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden.

The city of kiruna has 24,000 people and bases its economic viability on mining and tourism amongst other things

The hotel has 35 permenant staff and 200 winter only staff which is when the icehotel mainly operates.

What an adventure! The Sammi, reindeer, a town with a huge oversupply of men, temps as low as minus 25C, land of the midnight sun.

She needs to find accommodation.

Dadpad--

She's about as far from home, geographically speaking, as she can get and accumulating the sort of resume that will look very colorful on the back of a book jacket.

Congratulations.

No more boy. He went to Israel but then came back, then she moved up north and so on and so forth.

Its minus 21 C, where she is.

Shes been a little panicky over the last week or so getting established with accommodation. Have had to send money several times. Train fare up for job interview trainfare to actually move. Money for hostel accomadation, Money for rent in advance. Money for living expenses.

When does it ever end.

Sms: I HAVE NO MONEY. Need $100 to secure appartment. MUST HAVE TOMORROW.

Electronic banking is really a godsend.

She starts work at the
ICE HOTEL on monday, doing coach transfers from the airport in Kiruna.

Now, shes nobody's fool but seriously, driving a minivan... in snow... and ice... is not something she is experienced at. Very little driving experience at all really.

Ah well such is life.

SMS: The apartment has fridge, wash machine etc but no mattress. Will share with Manuel.

Reply: mattress or apartment?

Dadpad--

I'm guessing that the way to the ice palace is over plowed, salted macadam. Those who have a hundred words for snow are those with useful equipment for winter.

She's going to have a White Christmas. How many generations is it since a member of your family had a White Christmas?

Actually not so long as you would think Noddy. It is unusual but sometimes, (once in 10 or 20 years) here in the mountains, if we get foul weather at christmas it can snow on the mountain but it usually doesn't sit on the ground for more than an hour or so. My great Aunt (now deceased) lived for many years in England so she would have seen a few.

I'm sure the roads are maintained, its just that when you are experienced with that environment, things that I would not consider are commonsense to those that are. We have no real idea about snow, ice and motor vehicals.
dont get me wrong I'm not panicky just....sensibly concerned.

Young drivers make mistakes.

SMS: Flying Doctors (Aussie TV show from 10 years ago) is on TV.
recieved 2.00 am. Thanks for that girlpad!

Interestingly, the entry in the Sweish wikipedia for winter road service is rather short - with a photo from Germany ...

email today.

spent 4 hours putting inner shoes into boots for guests.

Drove a car today too. Didnt tell the girl inthe paaenger seat That I had never driven in Sweden before.


Things I wish I had known.
Cleaning an ice hotel involves putting fresh snow in.

She gets to do all the "adventure" things so she can reccomend them to guests.

Dogsledding will be one up on Dad.

Dadpad--

There's nothing like a little contented envy for a successful parent.

Email:

We are not being paid when they said we would be, which means I will not have enough money to pick up the keys for the Apartment.

Please can I get some more money to pay the first months rent in advance. $500.00 should do it. I feel really bad about asking and if its too much I could probably work something else out with the hotel or the real estate agent.

They are going to do space tourism from here in a couple of years. Yes really. Space rockets and moon walks and ...stuff.

Please can I have the money by the weekend.

{Parental sigh}

Entertaining reading though!

Your turn will come missy.

Not sure whether its $500.00 worth of value though. (of course it is.)

Virgin Galactic will operate the space tourism, ready in 2012. Unless they blow 'em selves up in new mexico before then.

Dadpad--

She can't afford to sleep in the Ice Palace--at least without being a 24/7 working girl.

Care package now departing.



Has all essential Australian food groups.

1. 3 packages salt 'n vinegar chips
2. 2 tubes vegimite
3. 500 gram yellow box honey
4. 500 gram stringybark honey
5. 1 pack timtams.
6. Local newspaper cuttings.
7. Knitted wooly hat with pompom and earflaps. (which looks dorky but who cares)
8. 2x Caramello koalas.

cost to post $65.00.

Sonpad is 16. as its nearing the end of our school year stuff is starting to come home.

The other day he came home with this little side table.

what a beaut job he's done. Its only pine but well finished and I cant fault the joints. The dovetails in the draw are near perfect.

I'm right proud.

Hey, that's pretty good, dadpad!

Do you think Sonpad could have a future in wood craft?

Whoa, that's gorgeous! Nice job, sonpad!

Nice dove-tailing.

I've got a perfect spot in my living room for that table