Big Descisions !!

Since my last post a lot has happened and not all good!!
The money situation in NB, was not good with only Nick able to work, and he was not getting the mileage needed for a decent living. After a few weeks thinking, talking, debating, we decided to go to Alberta, and Nick started ro look for a position. We included  Jess in the decision as although she is only a child, it was a big move and change for her again.
After much research Nick decided that Westcan was the best opportunity for him, and us as a family so put in an application. He passed all of the requirements needed by them, including taking the GED test, and got his work permit on 30 November, for us to drive over, and him to start work on 9 December.  Due to him being on a permit in Alberta as a truck driver, this meant i could also have an open work permit.
Our friend Dave also got a position in Alberta, as he was not eligible for residency in NB due to his age, so he was making the journey with us. Just under 3000 miles in all.

We set off on 1 December with our Chevy Blazer and Uhaul truck. The decision was made to cross the border at Houlton in Maine and drive most of the way through the USA, reasons being more services, better roads, and of course cheaper fuel and hotels.

We were only an hour and a half  into the journey when things went badly wrong!! it was snowing and the road was quite slushy with blowing snow. Our car, being an automatic was going up a slight incline so dropped a gear. This caused the back wheels to step out, forcing the trailer to fishtail and start to push us over towards the left side of the road. Due to the trailer and weight it was difficult to straighten, and by the time Nick did, we had ran out of road basically. The trailer forced us off into the ditch and the front drivers side corner hit a rock. This caused us to flip and roll, tearing the trailer from the car. The trailer then hit the back of us, stopping the roll and spun us round.
It was horrific and terrifying. Within seconds, people where everywhere, helping us out of the car, taking us to the safety of theirs, and if we could see these people again, could not thank them enough!!.  I had a lot of pain in my chest, Jess was crying, asking if it was a dream, and was saying her neck hurt, Dave hurt his leg, and Nick was saying his shoulder hurt. Jess and i was taken to hospital in an ambulance together as she would  not leave my side, and Nick was taken in another. Dave did not need hospital treatment so was brought to us by the Deputy Sheriff.
I had a CT scan as they were worried about internal bleeding. I had heavy bruising across my abdomen and just under my chest from the seat belt. Jess had a burn on her neck from the seat belt but was released after further checks, and Nick after an x-ray was found to have a broken scapula. he was released after being put into a sling, i was kept overnight for observation. Dave had a sore chest and a seat bet burn on his neck.

The next day i was discharged and was taken to the motel where Nick, Jess and Dave were staying in Maine.  Here we had to get in touch with the insurance and begin to sort out the mess.

The insurance was very helpful, but could not provide a hire car for the rest of the journey as the hire companies would not allow their cars to cross from the USA into Canada.  We had to then try and sort out what we could salvage, and how we was going to get it and us to Edmonton.

I contacted Uhaul and have to say the were AMAZING!!!!  Lisa in the Bangor office and Tim from the same location, come highly recommended. I also recommend that if you do hire you take out the optional insurance cover, it is well worth it.  When i spoke to Lisa i told her we did not want another trailer, as to be honest it terrified myself and Jess the thoughts of us being attached to one again. I cant speak for the boys but i'm sure they felt the same.

Lisa arranged that we could have a truck instead for the same price we had paid, which was great, but posed two problems. Firstly it only had two seats, and secondly how was we going to get our belonging from the trailer and car to the truck as Nick had a broken shoulder blade, and Dave was quite bruised and couldn't lift things himself.  This is where Tim came into the picture. Lisa spoke to him and he took his own Uhaul truck to our trailer, loaded all our stuff in it from the trailer and our car, then took it to the truck we were going to be using, and re-boxed and loaded it all again, single handed!!!  He then came to collect Dave so we didn't have the expense of more cab fares, and Dave took him back.  We could not have hoped or prayed for a more helpful kind of guy.

We made the decision that Nick would fly to Edmonton with Jess as he had the worst injury, plus i really didn't fancy being in a strange city trying to find my way round. At least Nick had been there before.
Dave and i continued the journey to Edmonton in the Uhaul truck. We left Thursday morning of December 5th and arrived lunch time Sunday of December 8th. Not bad going as poor Dave did all the driving as i was too scared too, and have to admit not the best passenger. He put up with a lot from me getting scared.

The house was lovely, small but comfortable, and the people at the letting agency were also very understanding and helpful. The struggle then was unloading the truck, but we needn't have worried!! The next door neighbours, two ladies, saw us, and in conversation we told them about the accident. From then on that was it, truck unloaded within half an hour. They did near enough all of it. I must admit we felt pretty useless though!!!

We spent the next couple of weeks settling in, Dave getting into his new job, and getting ready for Christmas. We picked up a few things we needed, but had to be careful what we spent as didn't know when we would get any more money coming in.
Nick got in touch with Westcan who were also very understanding, and said his job was safe, just get in touch when fit for work and they would take it from there.

Our Insurance dealt with everything more or less, hospital and ambulance bills etc.  We had full cover which was a blessing, so the car loss as well as some things in it were covered, all medical expenses, and injuries and the Uhaul insurance covered broken goods in the trailer.
Dave purchased a car when we got to Edmonton and the insurance company agreed to transfer the policy over from New Brunswick to Alberta, which was also helpful as we didn't have to go through proving NCB and paying deposits etc.

Christmas came and went, quiet but OK, and was helped along with some home comforts which Nick's dad and my son Scott had shipped over for us. They arrived Christmas Eve. Dave was away for Christmas but made it back for New Year which was again quiet but nice.

Jess went to visit her new school, Overlanders, on 6 Jan, and started on the 7th.  She really likes it and comes home each day with a big smile and full of energy talking about her day and what she has done. Lets just hope it stays that way, and lets hope we don't have to uproot the poor thing again to go home.

Just after the New Year Nick saw a doctor who said he was clear to work, but the company had to send him for a physical.  This was too demanding on Nick's shoulder as the physio pulled his arm behind his back (like when arrested), which put him in agony. She stopped the rest of the physical saying he needed an x-ray before she would go further.  He was under the impression is was a weight test for lifting which he could have done, but was advised he needed to get through this first, and could not commence work until he did.  We are now in a catch 22 situation. He can go for the xray, if its clear he will then have to have the same physio treatment again which he knows he can't handle, which would then put him back to square one.  We talked at lengths about what we were going to do, as funds are getting low now, and to be honest Nick was so downhearted about the whole thing, and thought it may be best to cut our losses and go home.  However we didn't want to leave Dave. Again after discussions with each other, Nick's dad and Dave, we decided to take it day by day and week by week.  I have applied for numerous jobs so hopefully something will come of one of them.  In the meantime Nick will rest his shoulder for a couple of weeks and then go for the x-ray and take it from there, funds permitting.
This is where we are up to at the moment, and i will update as and when things happen. Hopefully will get everything sorted and continue in Edmonton.