25 cents to see the world!



Recently I have received several emails to let me know that Scotia Plaza has been put up for sale for a cool one billion dollars.  The reason for me receiving the emails is that I was part of the project management team that built this project.  It is the Bank of Nova Scotia’s Head Office and is a 69 storey office tower.  I started my career with PCL Constructors on that project, and was the longest serving member of our team as I was there just over 4 years.

I am pointing this out on my blog as it has reminded me of a very special day on the project.  In the fall of 1985 after several months of demolition and excavation we were about to pour the first load of concrete on the project.  This was for the footing of the elevator that takes the CEO of the bank from his secure parking spot onwards into the building for his days’ work. 

Duncan McGregor was the Senior Superintendent on the project at the time.  Duncan was a Scotsman teaming with what seemed like an infinite amount of wisdom to a young man just starting his career.  After all he had been the Project Superintendent on Commerce Court just across the street that stands at 57 storeys.  It was hard to believe that we were going to surpass that as it sure looked a long way up, especially from a footing pour 85 feet deep in the ground.  Duncan generally seemed jovial most of the time, but on this occasion he said that we had to absolutely stop what we were doing as there was something we had forgotten.  With such a serious tone, we were unsure what we had forgotten.  Was the rebar wrong?  Was the footing at the wrong elevation?  NO, it seems that we had missed the most important step for the first pour of the project.  Apparently it was customary in Scotland to place a coin in the first pour and it will bring the person good luck.  Duncan decided that as I was the youngest person there, that I should be, selected to make a wish and place my coin under the first footing.

My wish all those years ago was to have a career that would let me SEE THE WORLD.  I must admit that I was quite skeptical of Duncan’s proclamation of good luck from this gesture, and I really thought I had lost my coin.

So here I sit in Herzogenaurach Germany remembering this storey and realizing that I have traveled some of the world just like my wish I made on that day in 1985.

I pass this storey along so we all realize that we have the opportunity to help some young person in their life to make their wish and it really can come true.

I send a special thanks to Duncan wherever he is today!

I don’t think you should pass this onto the bank as when they realize that they have my 25 cents on deposit and the value that I have received from it, they will be sure to find a way to charge me a user fee for the safe keeping of my coin J

 

Winter Travel Innsbruck and Moscow

We have been fortunate to get a bit of travel in as we had a few days in Innsbruck, Austria, and Tim to Moscow Russia on a business trip.  Jayne is In London, England visiting family and we will update that trip in our next posting.

Innsbruck is a beautiful city that is sandwiched in a river valley with the Austrian Alps overlooking the city on either side.  We had beautiful weather and we were able to enjoy the old city charms from balcony’s clad with choirs singing and trumpeters playing to wine cellars with samplings for 2 dollars a glass. 

Cheers and Happy New Year!





Moscow was not a place that a child from the cold war era would ever expect to spend some time, never mind Red Square or the Kremlin.  The greater metro area has a population of about 15 million and as many cars.  The weather was cool with constant light snow that turns to brown slush from the cars instantly.  The city is quite north so daylight arrives at 11 am and leaves at 4pm, so with the combination of snow and little light it was a week long visit in the dark.  Sergey our man in Moscow, says that the KGB still likes to keep it that way so that we westerners are always a little fearful of Russians J

The city is booming and shopping is a national pass time. The Moscovites are living off of an oil rich economy and still not trusting government tend to spend all their money in case it becomes worthless or communism returns.  There is no manufacturing and the recent demonstrations have made Russians nervous about the future. This has caused nearly a 80 billion dollar outflow over the past few months.  It is difficult for Russians to invest in their economy until they are sure that they will get to reap the rewards.  They are living a fairly good standard of living, as we found that virtually every conceivable item from the west was for sale in vast quantities, and with a flat 13 percent income tax rate, this has allowed for hyper consumerism.

From a business perspective this is good for adidas Group and we plan to build over 200 stores in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It's an organization of 11 former Soviet Union republics, including Russia.

2012 Lada

The Lada we remember!

Red Square

Standing on the markers where the tanks are lined up for propoganda

This is the 0 mile marker where all distances in Russia are measured from Moscow

The Kremlin - Putin says to say hello!

Micky D's facing the Kremlin so governent workers can enjoy American food for lunch.  Who would have thought it ????

There are about a half dozen churches within the walls of the Kremlin dating from the late 1400's

Soldiers still patrol the Kremlin

Most Moscow shopping centers hold a free public skating rink and the stores rival anything in North America

This grocery store was so big it required over 70 check outs.  I don't think the shelve are bare anymore.

May your travels always be safe, and we will update once Jayne returns from England!

The Great Christmas Crepe’ Er

 

The Challenge!

After several days attending various Christmas Markets, is there any food we have not tried yet?  The search was on.  It turns out that we had noticed that Crepes are available at every market but thinking this was more of a French treat, we had unwittingly passed by these on several occasions.

We decided that our last food sample of the Christmas Market for 2011 would take place at the Bamberg Market.  The next big decision was to decide which topping would be ideal.  It turns out that the German tradition is to have it with chocolate Nutella and Cherries.

Add the Batter





Flip



Some Nutella Please!

Lots of Cherries Please!





Flip, Flip, Flip, Done!

The last bite from the 2011 Christmas Market

We are now done the Christmas Market's and have had the last bite of all of the delicacies'.  It is now back to weight watching and spending some time in the adidas Gym so we can prepare ourselves for the spring bier garten season.  Must lose 10 lbs so we can gain it back with yet another round of food, beer, wine and fun.  We are off to Innsbruck for a few days, so maybe we can lose a pound or two their?  Maybe not?

We wish you the best of the season and hope that your Christmas brought as much joy to you and your loved ones, as this one has to us.

Love, Jayne and Tim