We have had some beautiful days which allowed us to splash in the pool (we have an above ground pool that we fill up at the beginning of June, it is about 4 foot deep) after mowing the lawn.

Yesterday it started raining, and we realised that we actually haven't had much rain over the last 3-4 weeks. So last night we went for a walk in the dark in the rain with our umbrellas, hundreds of fireflys were putting on a light show too which was a bonus.

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Julie has been watering her flowerbeds (and my veggie patch) for a while. The water comes from our well which is over 200 feet deep, and we have plenty of cold, clean, clear water (the Well has an electric pump which kicks in when the pressurised reservoir tank is low(this holds about 10 gallons). If you want to know more check out this link on Buying a House With a Well and Septic System in Canada. Our well is a Drilled well and we have a concrete septic tank.

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The Whelbourn household is busy preparing for a holiday in the UK (I wont give the exact dates just incase the burglar in New Brunswick is reading my blog ), but suffice to say there will be much packing and repacking because Transat Airlines are sticklers for the 20Kg limit. I am going to attempt an all time minimum civilian pack for a two week visit. My packing skills while serving in the Army were legendary. For a 6 week exercise I packed soap; razor; shaving brush; toothpaste and toothbruth; 5 sets of undies (because Jules insisted); 5 pair of socks; couple of tee shirts and perhaps an extra shirt; Jumper in case it got chilly and mess tins with KFS (which I still have).

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So my packing this holiday will be multi functional set of clothes where the addition of a slight accent colour or jacket will set off my jeans/shorts for that man about the seaside look. ( no I don't wear ankle socks with sandals). Infact I just might publish the David Whelbourn recommended packing list for two weeks in the UK.

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Kathryn and Gemma have both registered for UNB courses in September. Kathryn didnt make the Nursing draft this year(applied too late) and so she is taking some non-degree courses to improve her GPA and get her mind back into studying.

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Jules has been busy redecorating the hall and stairs which she completed yesterday (well I saw her putting a mirror back on the wall). She is a great painter and decorator. During her spare time she has been making some more dresses, handbags, scarves etc... and her sowing room is starting to look like a designer shop.  Just incase you think she is slacking, she also looks after the three of us, and tends her flowerbeds!

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Me? oh I have just been going to work and playing around on the computer OH yes I have planted a veggie patch (I think I mentioned digging in the garden a couple of entries ago). Well the Peas are doing great, the spring onions are coming through too, and I have to put in some netting so the peas have something to climb up.

Gemma has been practising her Macro photography so here are a couple of shots that might interest you.

To see more go to her art site

Well it has been awhile since my last entry and alot has happened.

I am working like someone in the UK , the last three weeks have been very busy. I have been revising for 3 exams, preparing 2 presentations and closing down one project while opening up another. All this and transferring between two business divisions within xwave! I haven't had time for personal emails, blog entries or even time to get a haircut

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I can always tell when I am working too hard because Jules asked me "So why did we come to Canada?".

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I drove to Quebec (the city), delivered a presentation at the national eHealth 2009 conference (and sat two healthcare consultant exams). The lawn has been growing even though I have mowed it (how inconsiderate).

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Back to the title and "Things you find in your Garden", well the Hummingbirds are back. They kept flying up to the window until we put one out (almost demanding attention). Other things you find in your garden include Fireflys, long nosed wood beetles, Garter Snakes (not poisonous and dont really bite if you handle them gently). See the photo below.

Gemma the fearless

One more thing was found in the garden this June. At last we have a bluebell come through!! Our first since we planted about 10 a couple of years ago.

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Another unusual sighting in the back garden was me digging! I was creating a vegatable plot. I have actually planted peas, spring onions, pickling onions, forget me nots(yes I know you cannot eat them) and Kathryn has planted some red onions (we like onions), beetroot and some lettuces. Depending on how well they grow you may get to see some photos. Although I am betting that some wildlife comes in and eats the lot before we get chance to try them. Our onion planting extravaganza leads us to be hopeful that we will get to eat something from our plot.

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We are all looking forward to our holiday in Whitby (in the UK) and hoping that there can be a general election at the same time so we can vote

Here in Canada they have a bank holiday long weekend held on the last Monday on or before May 24th. It is in honour of Queen Victoria, hence the name Victoria Day except in Quebec where it is called Patriots Day and used to celebrate the 1837 rebellions against the British rule.... The French and English seemed destined to love to rub each other up the wrong way. Perhaps we are too alike to get on. Like two brothers competing for attention. (we English know we are better of course LOLOL joking)

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This Victoria day weekend we have been preparing for summer. I love the changing seasons,  and the different preparations you have to do. We have finally prepare the snowblower by putting some fuel stablisor in the petrol, removing the spark plug spraying some WD40 into the cylinder and pulling the motor a couple of cranks to spread some oil around, packed all out ski's, snowshoes, into the Shed. Pulled out the lawn mower, cleaned the plug, air filter, and put the battery on charge.  Looking at the Pool and it's new location (sunnier and hopefully warmer). I also want to build a green pool heater to raise the water temperature and extend the season (hopefully). I will post the plans once I have the final designs. It will be based on this link

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Julie has been using her new favourite Mothers Day present, the Fiskar's Stand Up Weeder to pull out Dandelions.  Kathryn brought us 4 Lobsters  for Victoria Day dinner ($5.97 per lb total of $28). I think this Lobster dinner for Victoria Day is going to become a tradition!

Well back to work tomorrow, and it looks like I am coming in for a busy couple of weeks. I am wrapping up a Project with the Dept of Public Safety with the potential for an extension to help them set up their Project Management Office (my passion). I have also volunteered to be a board member for Project Management Institute of New Brunswick (depends on an Election) and this year I need to transition my Newcomer's club volunteer duties (El Presidente), we have been part of the executive committee in some form or other since 2006 and I have run out of ideas for the club. It needs some new  blood to pick it up and move it forward. Any Volunteers?

Before I launch into talking about Canada's national insect I have a quick update on the family situation here in New Brunswick.

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Kathryn is still in Canada. It is a longggg story so to cut it short this is basically what happened.

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The airline screwed up her ticket, so there was no sign of it when she tried to check in at Fredericton International Airport. After refusing to pay an additional $430 for a new ticket. We went off to Montana's for dinner, and she changed her mind about going back to the UK. So we are all still together (happiness abounds) Thats it!

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OK my love hate relationship with Mosquito's (I love to hate them). I put the mosquito trap out a week ago and it has already exceeded my quota for the month of May. But it is running 24 hours and I think we are winning . Mosquito activity is definitely lower in the back garden than in the front or on our Neighbours garden. But Blackfly are starting to come out and I can feel chemical warfare campaign coming on. Ve Vill Vin zer Var!!

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You know you are turning Canadian when you start to think that perhaps you should purchase a set of these from Canadian Tire.

Here in NB we have a little tree frog called the Northern Spring Peeper who signals the arrival of spring with a evening seranade of deafening sound as they all compete for a female peeper.

Well yesterday evening we went for a walk around the Beaver trail at Mactaquac Park (one of our favourite trails).   Crank up the volume and enjoy the sounds spring (Northern Spring Peepers and some Canada Geese).

Also here are some flower photos! They are already out of date we have some tulips out that you can see around the Lone Daffodil.

I think I have found the bluebells but there are no flowers just leaves?

Here are some of our new mug shots

He who thinks he is master	She who must be obeyed
The Midwich Cuckoos or the Twins of Evil I have yet to decide

Of the last couple of weeks we have seen alot of melting snow and we have some flowers (see photos below)!

Everything seems to be coming out in a rush. But we are still waiting for our first daffodil to open. I am sitting outside on the deck creating this blog entry. The day has been beautiful blue skies, 21c and absolutely gorgeous. I have the BBQ on and tonight is Chinese Pork, Rice and Zesty Zucchinni (Gorgettes to UK folk). After that we are hitting the newcomers pub night at the Garrison District Alehouse  Ah this is the life. (ps next week we have a Picaroons brewery (the local brewery) visit planned and no we are not alcoholic (honest)

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I have been busy at work and I am currently conducting Project Assessments in the Dept of Public Safety here in Fredericton. I think this will lead to a long term role in the department.  Which means I will be working in Fredericton and not having to travel away for the summer! 

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We are visiting the UK June/July and planning a trip to Whitby for some old fashioned seaside town fun. Everyone is really looking forward to the trip and thankfully (for us) the UK Pound is really suffering and instead of $2+ to the pound it is currently $1.75 to the pound. This will help our dollars go further.

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Kathryn is getting ready to fly back to the UK on Tuesday (28th) for her 6 month visit. I can tell she is a little apprehensive (I have no idea why..), which is only natural. But she is well prepared and we will be seeing her in June when we visit the UK (I am sure the visit is only so Julie can check out Kathryn's rooms).

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Julie is busy making some pretty impressive dresses, (see photo of one below) and now spring is here she is out in the garden raking out the dead grass and thinking about flowers. She is also looking at paint charts and planning the hall and stairs decorating expeditation.

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Well I have to go the pork is nearly ready.

Lots going on over the past three weeks (if you couldn't have guessed from the title).

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Kathryn is in her final preparations for moving back to the UK for 6 months and has started talking about training to be a Nurse (Dad rolls his eyes, I had told her 5 years ago she would make a great Nurse)

Gemma applied for a place at the University of New Brunswick and was accepted. I think she will be the first Whelbourn on our side of the family (the Nottingham branch) to go straight to university without some form of career in between.  She is working hard at MacDonalds earning money and spending it on trinkets such as a new laptop, iphone and paying her airline ticket for our visit to the UK in June/July. Yes, we are going back for a visit and while there we are spending a week in Whitby (hopefully sunny Whitby).

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Julie is busy making things, she has branched out in dressmaking to compliment her Wraps, Scarves and Purse products. I think by this time next year she will be ready for a shop! It will time nicely with the opening of the new Conference Centre (under construction at the moment). This will create a significant increase in visitors to Fredericton and hopefully more evening functions. If that doesn't happen there is always the internet and there is significant money in Fredericton (capital city and all that).

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Me, well I am busy at work with the Public Safety Department. They want me to assess their projects and build a Project Management Office (not physically) so they can manage their projects successfully. I have also heard that another department want me to help them in a similar venture. This is good. It keeps me in Fredericton  and it will enable me to enjoy more of the summer than commuting to Halifax or Toronto etc... (not that I mind travelling).

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We should finally be sending our citizenship applications off this weekend for a project manager my home projects sometimes seem to drag on. Oh yes and I have to try and fix the Central Vacuum system this weekend.

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AND it's raining (not snowing) so the snow is melting and we can see more green stuff (grass). Check out the city webcams. Yesterday while Julie and I were strolling around the lawn, I spotted  a Daffodil in bud! Julie found some crocuses peeking through the snow. I will post a photo of the first bloom we see.

FINALLY: Yesterday was our 27th Wedding Anniversary  it doesn't seem that long. Last night Julie and I celebrated by going for dinner at Misu's, which is a chinese restuarant on the Northside of Fredericton (on the other side of the river). Nice meal, after the meal we went to Tim Hortons for an after dinner coffee LOLOL how Canadian is that eh?

Well Spring is here as far as the date is concerned. The Canadians get very excited about spring and in Vancouver they hold a bloom census where people count the number of flowers in bloom!

Well here in the Whelbourn garden the count is ZERO, see the photo below taken this morning.

The grass is only visible because I used to snowblow a path to the bird table for Kathryn to keep the local bird population alive (and probably the local Hawks).

Here are a couple more photos for you to see why people here celebrate Spring.

Julie by the open door of my Escape. Points to note; the ice is finally off the drive and the snow banks are shrinking (honest).

Beautiful blue sky and the gentle waft of woodsmoke from the chimney.

We have alot of sunshine in Fredericton, it was one of the reasons we came here rather than Nova Scotia. This year I want to build a solar heater for the pool that I can also use to heat the Garage in the Autumn and Winter. I also want to build a cold-frame and start growing our own lettuce / salads greens etc. If I manage to achieve one of those I'll be happy.

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Other news, Kathryn is preparing to move back to the UK for 6 Months at the end of April. I have to admit she is the most organised I have ever seen her. This weekend she is taking a Bartending course so she can add another skillset for potential jobs when she arrives.

Gemma is applying for a Applied Arts degree with University of New Brunswick and The New Brunswick College of Art and Design. She is also aiming to pass her driving test before Kathryn leaves at the end of April. She will then assume her part ownership in their car (a white Chrysler Neon 2001  model). Gemma is convinced the Car is a money pit, but when Dad Taxi starts charging her $10 per trip (if the trip is just for her benefit) she will soon realise the car is a benefit.  sometimes love has to be tough.

One final thing I have to say is "Boy did it feel good to see England beat France in the Six Nations last week"

Since the beginning of March (which came in like a Lion) the temperatures have consistently been below normal (brrr where is that global warming).

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I distinctly remember the long range weather forecast saying this winter would be above normal temperatures??? Our neighbours have told us that this is the most snow they can ever remember, and the skiing has been the best in memory too. Oh Well who would want to be a Meteorologist anyway. The best thing about a forecast is you know it is going to be wrong, hopefully less wrong than normal.  Especially as the weather man said that 25% of the winters snow comes after March 1st  and next weekend is the start of spring. I noticed Julie reading her gardening books this week (wishful thinking methinks, we still have at least a couple feet of snow on the ground)

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We have gone through a round of layoffs at work (I have probably already mentioned this), well this week was senior manager roadshow week where they come round to talk to us and try to raise morale. The least said the better, I will make only one comment. I apply the "crashed on a deserted island test" to people who are trying to lead me.  The principle is simple, which one of the "leaders" on the stage would you follow if you were all on a desert island after a plane crash? Hmmm tough one, I decided none would have been any use and I would probably walk off alone and ask if they wanted to come along (potential protein source ).

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The girls are all well, with no major colds to report (despite the best efforts of the weather). Kathryn is getting excited about her coming back to the UK for 6 months and keeps waving a wad of cash in front of me (20 pound notes). I dont think she has ever seen that much money in cash .

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We are applying for citizenship this month too. Being able to say we have Dual citizenship sounds so 'James Bond' and worldly. One of our goals in emigrating was to provide more opportunities for Kathryn and Gemma. Dual Citzenship will enable the girls to live and work in North America and EU without any visa's. I guess we can claim to have achieved that goal.

Today is March 1st and Gemma can now drink legally and stay in Dooley's pool bar after 7:30pm. She is blossoming into a fine young woman, and this old Dad is proud of both his daughters for their intelligence, maturity and well balanced view on the world.

The temperature today is sitting at -10c at midday and the windchill is supposed to be something like -22c but I am not going outside to find out. The forecast is for 25-35cm tonight and tomorrow. I am thinking of applying for Inuit (Eskimo) citizenship status because we now have 26 words for snow. Lets see if the old saying is true "March in like a Lion out like a Lamb", Last year we dodged a storm at the end of March and poor old Newfoundland got the lot!.

 This is really a photo post just to give you a flavour of what alot of snow looks like. Last night it started snowing, pretty light fine grained snow. We woke up to 40cm+ and most of the day has been spent digging snow one way or another.

See photos below

Me with my trusty snowblower (1st session 7:30am - 8:30am). I think another session will be inorder later today because it is still snowing

Kathryn digging her way to the front door, and yes she is standing up!

The back deck is usually kept clear and Julie has shovelled the hill off the deck infront of you. You can see last nights snowfall (the deck is full to a height of about 40cm).

Kathryn has always been interested in survival experiences and the outdoors so she saw the 3metre snow piles at the back of the deck as an opportunity to dig a snowhole. So armed with a trowel she set too digging herself a survival snowhole.

Comparison photo. On the right a photo of Jules clearing the deck taken 19th Jan 2009. On the left Kathryn sitting on the snow bank next to the hand rail taken today. The same left side hand rail as the other photo

Well last week we all thought winter was coming to an end. Temperatures soared to 3 degrees above freezing and the ice was melting, with big wet drips off the icicles hanging from our gutters.

But then along comes a quick snow storm to deposit 20cm of snow over night and temperatures back below zero and Winter reminds us it is still around for March too.  Then last night we had another 30cm and 25cm forecast for Sunday night! WOW did those Groundhogs get it right after all?

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We are still making the most of Winter weather with skiing, snowball fights and other winter outings. Below are some snaps from earlier this month.

Gotcha Mum

Newcomers sleighride at Mactaquac Park

Gemma, Jules and the new man in their lives (nice Moustache)

Old Blue Eyes herself (don't tell her I used this caption)

Just the two of us, and no I am not trying to throw her to the floor.

Tomorrow we are back to Odell Park to take more cross country skiing lessons and debating whether to go to Crabbe Mountain for some Downhill Skiing this weekend too(it is only $40 for an hour). I would really like to get some snowshoeing in before the end of February and the thaw kicks in.

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Perhaps next year I can convince them all to come out for some extreme camping! (Yes, people here do go camping in the winter  and I don't mean the Inuit)

So January turned out to be a record month here in New Brunswick. It was the coldest January for 25 years and we managed to get the coldest January 16th recorded in Fredericton since 1884 it was -34.4c  Pah we had -39c on our outside thermometer.

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February has been cold too, we have still been out skiing and this coming weekend we are off on a sleigh ride, bit of ice skating (for the girls) and some more cross country skiing. I might get in some snow shoeing on Sunday. Gosh we sound so outdoorsy.  Just to add to the image, I have promised Gemma we will go and do some rough back country camping in the summer. This was ok when I was a soldier in 1983, but now I am fifty it sounds more daunting. I will certainly be very creaky in the mornings. I will have to teach her a few old survival tricks.

It is Julie's birthday tomorrow, and yes I have remembered (I don't think I have ever forgotten but everyone assumes I will). I have brought a nice present and a card, plus I have already brought a valentines card (yes I have never forgotten that day either).

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We have had a round of lay-offs at work. Being 'laid off' is a North American term meaing to be 'made redundant'. The company announced 500 managers were to go and then it became clear that manager is loosely described as non-union staff. I am ok and busy at work, plus I am being put forward for some senior work at a couple of Government departments. I have no worries about staying employed.

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We seemed to have watched a lot of international news on BBC World News recently, seeing all the problems with the credit crunch in Europe, wildcat strikes in UK and the disruption caused by the weather. Also the terrible tragedy of the bush fires in Australia. Enough to make an aethist pray for the victims.

As we headed out to Mactaquac Park for our ski lesson the temperature this morning was a mild -7c and beautiful sunshine. Last week we were at Odell Park in Fredericton, I like the fact that they change venues, I can try different falling down techniques. Anyway we all had a great time working hard on the lesson.

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Jules and I were tango'ing last evening (Friday), there was a big class with lots of new people. Apparently we are now considered veteran dancers . We met up Bill and Christine, Maggie and Doug plus James and Norman. They have invited us to go out to dinner next Friday after the tango lesson. More socialising, if we keep this up I will need a social secretary to keep my calendar up to date. 

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Tonight is pub night we are expecting to meet up with about 20 others from the Newcomers club for a evening of laughs and fine beer. Tomorrow I have volunteered to act as a helper at the cross country skiing loppet (series of races). The weather looks good at about -8C and sunny, I'll get some photos and post them on here.

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I was invited to the Premier's "State of the Province" Address on Thursday and sat next to a Byron James who turned out to be the Deputy Minister of "Post Secondary education, Training and Labour".  Byron is a nice guy with a life full of civil service across all the departments in New Brunswick government. The premier (Shawn Graham) gave a good speech about the state of the Province and the successes and challenges we face. He announced, tax cuts plus lots of investments in infrastructure and education / training (Byron was happy).  Seems we are destined to be an energy hub for NE USA as new investment in tidal generation was announced plus a solar panel factory is going to start up this year. After the speech Shawn came round talking to people, shaking hands etc ... no sign of New Brunswicks Secret Service at all. It does seem weird the open access the politicians here give to the public. The premier walks to work most days.

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On the whole life is good here in 81 Garden View Drive, although xwave / aliant will be making some lay-off's in the next couple of weeks (I am not expecting any problems) so the job might be a little fraught over the next two weeks.

Well it is nearly the end of January and we have two months of winter left (perhaps). Wood reserves are looking ok (fingers crossed) and the snow is perfect for skiing (dry crisp and powdery) especially because we have had no thaw or freezing rain to form any hard surfaces in the snow.

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Last Saturday was our first cross country skiing lesson with Fredericton's Wostawea Club  and all four of us were there Odell Park, 9am Saturday morning, -20c beautiful clear skys with no wind. Absolutely gorgeous morning. Good lesson even better physical workout! We are all looking forward to this coming Saturday's lesson. Especially as there is a forecast of 20-30cm of snow tonight  and more powder snow on Saturday.

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On Sunday 1st Feb in my infinite wisdom I have volunteered to help on a Cross Country Ski Loppet. (sort of series of races, ranging from 2.5km to 28km ) I am going to be standing out at a station and handing out drinks and food to keep the racers going.  The forecast for Sunday is Cold and Clear -6c with a wind of 15km/hour giving a windchill of -12c (ish). For those of you who are unsure about Windchill read this link. Lets hope the wind stays low!

Well it is warming up some, and we had another one of those weird Canadian moments last night when as I climbed into bed I told Julie that the temperature was going up and the forecast was minus 12 tonight. Her response "ooh quite warm then"  we did laugh for a couple of minutes.

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We have always enjoyed the winter time here. Last weekend we sign up for the local x-country ski club $40 for family membership and $20 each for lessons from Jan - March every saturday! I think it works out to about $4 an hour lesson.....  We now have another circle of people to socialise with.

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We were shopping for a present for our new Nephew (David) when someone said "Hello" and it was David Letterman (Fellow Tango Dancer), so David, spoke to David while David was buying a present for David LOL. Anyway it is nice to have people stopping us to talk about how the holidays went etc. Then yesterday as Julie was putting the finishing touches on our Sunday dinner one of our neighbours, Betty called and asked us over for dinner! (we are almost locals)

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Lots of snow over night, forecasted 10-15cm actually landed 30-40cm. Thank god for the snowblower investment. Here is a photo of my trusty snowclearing equipment.

And for those tricky little areas were a whirling set of blades just will not do.

And to top it all off here is one of Kathryn the Bird Feeder

Yes we were three weeks into winter and Fredericton broke a 125 year record with a recorded temperature of -34.6c. Whereas us out in the sticks and without the benefit of city heating hit -39c  Windchill down to -45c, needless to say we don't actually try to go out and experience the windchill.

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So here is the proof via a photo of our outdoor thermometer from our kitchen window.

This is our fourth Winter in Canada and by far this has been the coldest (last year was the snowiest). Usually this type of temperature is reserved for two weeks in February, let us hope it will not get any colder.  We  supplementing our baseboard (electric) heat with our woodstove and this week we have burned plenty of wood. We buy about 2 cords of wood for winter and I think we have about 2.5 cords for this season. (a cord is 128 cubic feet of wood normally a stack 4' x 4' x 8'). One thing we have learnt is to order our wood in May/June and get it delivered in July / August so it has plenty of time to dry out before you store it away for the winter. 

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Gemma came home on the 8th January and started back to work after three days (I was amazed they kept her job open for 6 weeks). She managed to see our Christmas Tree before we took it down. See below for todays photo of the tree

A little bare but still in fine shape LOLOLOL. Anyway after cutting it up it is now being recycled in our kindling bin for firestarting.

I know it is late and more Texan than New Brunswickian but y'all means all of you readers and anyone else who just reads the first paragraph!

We spent our New Years Eve at the Glitter City (70's & 80's music) held in the Fredericton Delta Hotel. We have done that for that last three years and next year it will be somewhere different, perhaps a pub. Anyway we had a great time and our neighbours Geoff and Elizabeth came with us and I am sure they also enjoyed the strange experience of watching me on the dance floor.

Next entry will be about embracing winter and learning to live in the deep freeze!

We have been in Canada since Nov 5th 2005 and I decided to reflect on what is different in our lives now compared to the time of BC (Before Canada ).

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1. We have more of a social life now, infact I would say we have a pretty full social life. This is due to having more time for socialising than being financially better off. It only takes me 13-18 minutes to get to and from work so weekends seem longer because I can mow the lawn etc before the weekend.
2. We are financially better off. Although the tax system isn't that much different we do manage to qualify for a rebate each year which does help. We also realised some of our capital in the UK house when we moved here. Plus I am in a reasonably well paid job (which I was in the UK). Our daughters are now working, so they contribute to the house in the form of 'weekly board' payments. It isn't a huge amount but it does help.
3. We have a much larger house which allows us to escape from each other when tensions are high, this was especially difficult in the UK. Teenagers need retreats (as do their parents) when the stresses of life make them unbearable (teenagers and their parents)
4. We have much less stress driving to and from work/shopping etc. Road rage is a very rare feeling for me now. In the UK I used to rant and rage at other drivers but here there is no point. So what if it delays me by 1-2 minutes
5. Clothes shopping choice is limited, and the quality of lingerie can be lacking. I know this drives the girls batty.
6. The TV is for the most part pretty bloody awful. However I am not sure how the British TV is now. When we left it was quickly detoriating in reality shows and Britains Worst .... We do have quite a library of DVD's now especially after hacking into our player and setting it to Multi Region so it can play any DVD's from UK or North America.
7. Health: Well there are a couple of health reflections; I have put on alot of weight since arriving and that is really all down to a much more seditary lifestyle, I calculated in the UK I would walk about 30km per week during my commute, walking the dog etc but here in Canada were we have more immediate access to the great outdoors and some hiking trails I do much less walking.  So this coming year is a great excuse for getting fit (again), I want to go hiking and canoeing in the Summer of 2009 and to do that without killing myself I will need to lose weight.  In the UK you should never moan about the cost of prescriptions, in Canada unless you are really destitute or have medical insurance with your employment you pay more like the true cost of the drug. Luckily I have good medical coverage and my 3 months prescription for Anti inflammatory is about $10. Getting family GP is a struggle in New Brunswick due to the lack of Doctors, however when you get one they seem to have more time to spend talking about your's and the family health rather than our experience in the UK. Sit for a couple of hours in an overcrowded waiting room, rush in, shove a prescription in your hand and thank you very much.
8. I have ran out of things to list for now.

So where does this leave us coming into our fourth year in Canada?

I think we are in a much better position for 2009 than if we had been in the UK. I know I am much happier, more relaxed and look forward to 2009. But then as a soldier home was always were my suitcase was. The girls have had much more of a challenge settling down and settling in. I would like to think they are all in a better position to settle down this coming year. I am not sure where Kathryn and Gemma will finally land, and as a parent I have realised that I shouldn't expect them to stay around us. We didn't stay around our parents while starting our lives so why should they?

Merry Christmas to you all!

Plus best wishes for 2009 and lets hope it is better than 2008. Not that 2008 has been a particularly bad year, but I thought 2009 would need some encouragement.

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The Christmas presents have been opened, the turkey (half), potatoes, parsnips, sausage meat stuffing, paxo stuffing, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower have been eaten. After watching the Vicar of Dibley on BBC Canada we had a little Christmas pudding just to top it all off.

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Outside is cold after the freezing rain last night. The drive is like an ice-rink and the wind means the temperature has a significant windchill so we will not be venturing out today. After the double G&T and half bottle of wine I am not sure how far I could wander .

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Below is a photo of our Christmas Tree before the presents were unwrapped. This is for Gemma who is currently in the UK staying with her Boyfriend and his family until Jan 8th 2009.

This is the one from the back garden which I despatched with the Chainsaw (in 20 seconds). I had some great presents this year, infact one of my best years for David type presents.

Engineers compass, telescopic hiking walking staff, express compact battery charger, lock knife with firestriker, severa; shirts, couple of pair of chinos, DVD(Poirot) and a complete suprise combined Christmas Birthday present from Kathryn of a Garmin GPS . I am looking forward to trying out all my presents over the next few months and on into summer.

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Oyster Event this Christmas Break.

1. Kathryn brought home a dozen oysters, oyster knife and a cooked lobster. That became our Christmas eve supper. I managed to push the Oyster knife right though my left hand it didn't break the skin on the back of my hand, but it did push up the skin between the knuckles..... it made Kathryn turn postively pale. I was a little shocked and just pulled it out, then as a man toughed it out with washing and putting on a plaster. See photo of entry wound below

No casualty dept for me. However I did wake up about 5am this morning and my hand was throbbing. I started to wonder how much of the Oyster's bodily fluids made it into my hand, and was Oyster bodily fluids poisonous? Oh well it's nearly 24 hours and it still looks the right colour if a little stiff between the knuckles.