WOW it is Autumn already! Today (22/09/09) is the Autumn Equinox here in NB

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OK we have been working hard, doing stuff and working in preparation for the change in seasons.

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The chainsaw has been busy (in my hands) cutting logs and I am looking at tackling a big tree that is dead and I worry it will fall on to the shed during a winter storm. We have enough wood for our woodstove to go through a long winter (about 2.5 cord) and I think there will be some extra for storage (in case winter lasts longer than expected).

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I have also being doing my good voluntary work with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival as an MC on the Queen Street, JDI Acoustic Stage. Thursday evening was bloody freezing and I felt sorry for Jules as she was stood watching and waiting for 3 hours! The line was Teresa Doyle (singer, guitar player), Heckman and Downes (two blues guitar players and singers), final act was Ryan LaBlanc from Saint Andrews (amazing talent, he plays the guitar with one hand while using the other for percussions).

Ryan LaBlanc on the JDI Acoustic Steps

Saturday was 5:30pm to 9:30pm with the following acts; An amazing opening act Ross Neilsen (without his band the Sufferin Bastards); Heckman and Downes, and fantastic final act was Isaac & Blewett, they were so good I brought one of their CDs.

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I am turning into my Father-in-law (Ernie). What I mean by this is where ever we have been in the UK with Julie's dad it was almost inevitable that we would bump into someone who knew Ernie! Well as we walked through Fredericton (not the whole of the UK admittedly) lots of people stopped to say hello and chat, it is mainly because my new job has suddenly put me in front of alot of new people, added to my presenting for PMI has a lot of people who had heard me waffling on. So this means someone says "Hello Dave, how are you" I say " Fine, how are you" ... conversation follows, we part and Jule's asks "who was that" I reply "Dunno".

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Kathryn is preparing to take over her mini home (final closing date 1st October), Gemma is enjoying UNB and both are having a great time with their new horse. Apparently she took Gemma for a gallop today.

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Jules is working unbelievably hard as usual, preparing for her November show, painting doors in preparation for winter, making sure we are all fed, watered and clean (equivalent of running a small hotel) and managing all the money(we owe our credit rating to Jule's).

This is going to be a general waffling entry, because I do not have central theme to use. The truth is I am feeling too lazy to think one up this sunday morning.

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First I want to thank my family for the congratulations card (for starting my new job).

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Kathryn has brought a mini home and moves in October 1st... she is so grown up now, and controls her finances really well (I'm impressed, and I wish I had her financial skills when I was 22). She is nervous about the big step and worries about lots of things (mostly other people because she has a natural empathy to consider other people first). I am sure she will be fine because she has a strong character.

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Gemma is starting uni (at UNB) next tuesday, to study for her BA in applied arts. We are proud of her as the first Whelbourn on this side of the family to go to university from school. She is nervous and worries about whether it will be boring or full of people who are more intelligent than she is.  Gem will be fine because she is smart and will work hard because she fears failing.

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Jules is continuing her dress/purse/wrap/scarve making, gardening (digging out tree stumps and building new flower beds), decorating the cold store in the basement, weeding the lawn by hand and the other full time occupation of looking after us mere mortals. She never ceases to amaze me with her organizational skills and attention to detail. I wish I were as organized in my profession of project management.

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Me ....hmmm what am I doing? Well I fixed a leaking pipe, mowed 14,000 acres of grass (thats what it felt like yesterday), sealed some potential leaks in the cold store, started a new job, volunteered to MC at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (Jules says it is because I love an audience, but I say it is because of my intrinsic kind heartedness).

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All in all a busy start to September 2009 and starting to think about preparations for winter. We had the driveway cracks fixed and sealed, I emptied the pool and today I'll clean it and pack it away. I am eyeing up some trees that need the attention of my chain saw  

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Finally we are going to visit New River Beach tomorrow for a family picnic on Labour Day Holiday.

Well an eventful August here in Mooseland.

Kathryn made an offer on a mini home and provided the home passes an inspection she is moving out into her own place in about 1st Oct. One down One to go

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Kathryn and Gemma also plunged into horse ownership and brought a HUMUNGOUS 16.1 hand horse called Lexie.  Lexie is a rescued riding school horse. Apparently the school went bankrupt in Ontario as a result of the recession there.  She is underweight but healthy and apparently has all the good habits (easy to catch, doesn't complain about head collars, doesnt bite (much) and Gemma loves her). They have both ridden, her and she is schooled in English style and responds well, and she has spirit (which pleases the girls). See a couple of photos below.

So it seems that the girls have put down some serious roots here in New Brunswick. Jules is pleased

My news is that I have volunteered to MC at this years Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. This festival has been running since 1991 and is completely organized and delivered by volunteers. I will be introducing acoustic acts Friday (18th Sept) and Saturday (19th Sept) evening on the FREE JDI Acoustic Stage in the front of 527 Queen St.

So come on down and enjoy the atomoshpere in downtown Fredericton! See you there!

PS I start my new job on Tuesday 1st September. you are welcome to come out Monday night for a drink at the Hilltop Grill on Prospect

The skunks have deserted us (without paying rent) and the whelbourn family in Canada are just getting on with life.

• Visiting friends,
• Walking around the beaver ponds,
• Accepting new job offer,
• Feeding our pet Racoon (who has replaced the skunks as the new family pet).
• Registering for UNB fall courses
• Spending money

Tomorrow we (Julie and I) are off to Saint Andrews NB. There are a couple of events and places to visit.

• Ministers Island Community Picnic
• Kingsbrae Gardens  (see what is blooming now)

Over the coming weeks I will be transitioning my assignment and preparing to start my new job (still hush hush really). One of the downsides to the new job is that I will have to carry a Blackberry phone. After watching the crackberry addicts tap out emails constantly I have managed to resist the pressure to have one. But alas the new job requires me to have one, I will have to time limit my use (no messages after dinner).

OK time to go and soak up the sun (its a sunny 30c here in Fredericton). The summer has finally arrived and forecast is hot and sunny all next week

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So as the ever dutiful father I vowed to spend some 'quality time' with my two daughters who are now both young women and not girls (as I have been reminded).

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I know this may sound strange but I used to teach survival skills while serving in the army and Gemma decided it was time I took her wilderness camping where she could benefit from my knowledge and spend some time with her Dad. (I cannot wait to write that entry when it happens at the end of August).

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When I was younger I also used to hike alot in the scouts and then as a soldier. I did the usual Kinder Scout Walk in Derbyshire, the 3 peaks in Yorkshire (which turned into a race), the Lyke Wake Walk in North Yorkshire, Snowdon (in February), Scafell Pike, culminating in 268 mile The Pennine way. So I would class myself as a relatively experienced hiker and one who knows his way around a map and route. (I was also a surveyor in the Artillery). I know I havent done much since 1982 but surely it is like riding a bike and the knowledge would come flooding back....

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I suggested to Gemma we have a short hike to get back into hiking shape before we think about survival camping. We picked a short (very short) 3-4km hike around a circular route in the Nursery next to our home. It was 1:30pm and  told Jule's we will probably be out for a couple of hours at the most....... She reminded me that at 6pm we had Brenda coming round for dinner with her kids and also her sister. "Oh yes take a big knife with you as there was a report that bear problems are up this year". "No problem" I said. (I have a thing about big knives). 

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Our 3-4km was turned into an 8-10km in deep woods strenous hike with no water, no food, no real map, But I did have a compass....and a M3 Fighting knife from my Army collection. To cut a long story short I knew we were never more than 3 km from home but we followed an unknown track into the woods to get off the boring logging road. Little did we know it was a mountain bike track (those mountain bikers are very sadistic) which was called 'Snake' for a reason.... we must have climbed the same hill 10 times and crossed the same stream 10 times. We could have always turned back and walked the 1-2 hours back but surely it will be finished just around the corner. It took us until 5pm to get out of the woods, and we rejoined the logging road 25 metres further up the path than were we went in .

We were exhausted and it took us another 25 minutes to walk the 1km home, then a long hot bath and rest until the visitors came...... I dare not drink more than two glasses of wine otherwise I would have fallen asleep at the table.

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So we are off on another hike tomorrow and taking a pack with us (plus sticking to the logging road this time). We will take a camera to record our epic trip!.

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On a different note, it is Kathryn's birthday today and she is 22 it doesnt seem that long ago that I was teaching her to read, swim, ride a bike etc...

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OK, I'll sign off for now, while I go to prepare for our 4-5km hike tomorrow, complete with kelly kettle, energy bars, teabags, map, compass, BIG KNIFE and the forecast is drizzle.  Have a great weekend where ever you are and think of me walking in the gentle drizzle.

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PS we didn't see any Bears or even sign of a Bear, but I did like the excuse to get 'tooled up', as the youth of today says.

Well we are back from our pilgrimage to the UK and a week in Whitby.

We had a great time and the English Summer came out for us. Two weeks of mostly glorious Sunshine! I think we used up the summer quota of sunshine for the UK.

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It had been 2.5 years since our last visit and we didn't notice any huge changes, apart from the sales and reduced eating out costs due to the recession. The girls loved the shopping (and did plenty of it), there was definitely a subdued return to Fredericton from that perspective.

I have so many photos from the holiday I decided to upload them to our online album and let you browse them.

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Well I am over the jet lag and we have discovered a family of squatters has moved in while we were away. A family of Skunks had moved in under the shed. They are cute, see the two little ones below.

We now have to buy some anti-skunk shampoo for when we eventually get squirted.

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.