Well we have a rainfall warning in place because Hurricane Kyle is rushing towards New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Although it looks like Nova Scotia will be bearing the brunt of the wind (one of the reasons we chose NB over NS).

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It has been a fantastic September with this weekend delivering the first rain since August. I am through working in Montreal and focusing back on Fredericton and the Maritimes. I have a project based in Fredericton with the local hospital that will keep me busy part time until March 2009. On Thursday I will drive to Moncton to deliver a lecture to Project Managers and then drive back (340km round trip). Then next Monday I will be Halifax to deliver a training day to xwave Project Managers. (no rest for the wicked or even slightly naughty).

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Last night was the Newcomers Club Pub Night at the Lunar Rogue and we had a pretty good turnout and some new members. The club is growing and looks like it will be self-sustaining from now on. Another family arrives from the Uk for their reccie trip in a couple of weeks and Kathy is here now looking around in preparation for their arrival from the UK. There seems to be an increasing number of people from the UK (and Europe) and purely ancedotal but it seems to be speeding up rather than slowing down. I thought the depressed UK housing market would stop the flow of new arrivals but some are renting out their homes and coming anyway.

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Kathryn has decided to return to the UK next year (I don't know when so don't ask me). She wants to see what it is like striking out for herself. I have asked for a couple of conditions first.

1. Gain your Canadian Citizenship so you can return when you want to
2. Buy an open ended return ticket so you can return when you want to without worrying about saving up the money.

She has agreed to these so we shall see when she gets her plans together.

Gemma has decided something opposite (which I did not expect). She will be signing up to study art at University of NB next year and at the moment she is busy earning money working hard at Macdonalds (it is doing her a world of good).

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Julie and I are fine and looking forward to the new Tango season which starts next Friday . We now have a Tango website for our little group (no I havent put more of my spare time into something else, others are doing this).

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We are preparing for our 3rd Canniversay on November 5th with our annual Bonfire Party. But this time due to Julie's craft fair on the weekend of the 8th Nov we have brought the party forward to the 1st Nov. Julie has made up the invite list and it tops 90  .........   One of the problems is it has been successful and people have the time marked in their calendar and ask us if we are having one and before we know it the guest list has built itself. Oh well it will be noisy and busy.... In the UK our biggest Bonfire Party was 17-20 people.

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We will be eligible to apply for citizenship on the 6th Nov and we will be applying.

Yes we have had two frosts this last week and yesterday morning I had to scrape the frost off the windscreen before driving to work.

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We are ready (I think), the wood is drying nicely and my chainsaw has been actively chopping down some either dead or fallen trees. Chopping the tree down is pretty easy, it is the chopping it up and moving it that is the real hard work! Although I do need the exercise so I don't complain (much). Plus it is boosting our wood pile. The wood I have recently cut down I will place at the bottom of the pile when we stack it in the garage so I will only burn it at the end of the winter (giving it more time to season).

I was all dressed up with my Blue Satin Waiscoat and hair slicked back when I went on my first MC gig on the JD Irving Acoustic stage on Thursday night.

The opening act  was Ryan LaBlanc could play his Guitar with one hand while banging on a box drum and playing the harmonica at the same time!  

He plays the guitar with his hand on the neck just by picking the strings amazing to watch and listen too. Next up was something completely different! Nano. A guy from Paris who plays jazz on the Accordion! (see the flash movie clip in the list below)

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Some real talent everywhere you look at the Festival! - (remember to click Back to return to this page)

• Nano
• Telfer
• Downtowns Blues Band
• Tore Down
• Joel LeBlanc & Sylvio Pupo

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I also introduced a great group called "Eric Fresia and the Offsprings".

A really nice guy with his two kids Charlotte (keyboards) and Sam (percussions).

My Stage Manager was Steve Braun another great guy who brought us Orange Juice that wouldnt freeze (something about a drink from Russia).

I had a great time and this afternoon we are going for the final free concert at 1pm. I will get some photos and who knows perhaps a bit of video?

Well we never made it to Parlee Beach and opted for New River Beach instead. A really beautiful beach and well worth checking the link.

A photo of the beach (not mine)

A real steal at only $7 entrance fee for the family! The weather was gorgeous and we all caught the sun and look a little like lobsters today. It is amazing how a walk along the beach will lift your spirits and sooth some of the stresses of life. We came home revitalised after a stressful summer.

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My work in Montreal is just about completed and I should be home for a while now. I know it has been hard for the girls while I have been away for long days working in Montreal and their summer hasnt been a great one. I am trying to get my company to allow me to carryover 10 days of my holiday allowance so I can book two holidays next year (I am thinking of Mexico in Feb during the cold blast 2 weeks). Plus we are probably visiting the UK in June and perhaps I can sneak in a last minute summer holiday in August next year.

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I have been 'volunteered' to be the MC at the Harvest Jazz and Blues festival for two evenings on the JD Irving Acoustic Stage (527 Queen Street, for those of you who want some entertainment). The stage is a free stage and will have three acts each night running from 6:30 - 11:00PM. I have been told I have to remember it is PG rated  .....  ..... as if I would have a problem staying within that rating. All I can say is they are lucky I am not introducing "Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin Bastards" in the Bud Light Tent because my English accent would work wonders with the deep vowels . My A's are to be listened too.

Who knows perhaps a new career in show business will be born! I could play the Simon Cowell role, or perhaps a Hell's Kitchen type approach might work better!

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Well lets see how it goes and if you are around on either of the evenings of Thursday 11th or Friday 12th Sept be sure to look me up.  I will be the one in the electric blue waistcoat

I am still working away from home in Montreal for most of the week and then home for the weekend. So this last week has been no different. But I did notice that the leaves on a Maple tree on the side of the road has started to change colour! They are turning golden red...... Where has this year gone too? It has dashed past so quickly.

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How summer seems to have returned this weekend with temperatures in the mid thirties. Gloriously hot and sunny. Kathryn has been in New York for the last week with her friend Chris. They returned today and by all accounts have had a great time. Gemma has been working everyday and is piling all her spare money into a "Horse" fund.

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I have been cutting down trees or perhaps it would be more truthful to say cutting up fallen trees. I have been practicing my chainsawing skills on a couple of large fallen trees. Feels macho and it is hard work to cut up and stack 80 feet of tree! But I have enjoyed it and I am looking forward to tackling a couple of leaning trees that spring storms tipped and they need cutting down for safety reasons. Watch this space for some photos soon. 

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We had a BBQ with Ceri and Jason and their three kids (Owen, Ethan and Ellie). They are like our extended family we all get along so well. Anyway we are thinking of driving out to Parlee Beach on Labour Day (1st Monday in Sept).  Hopefully we will have a warm sunny day.

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OK I have to sign off now, I need to pack for tomorrow's trip to Montreal (back thursday this week). Hopefully there are only a couple more weeks to go on this project.

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PS lots of new arrivals in Fredericton, Martin and Susie, Ben and Helen and another Martyn and family are planning to come over next year. The Beasties are back home and suffering from Jet Lag but have selected Fredericton as their landing point after their Atlantic Canada reccie.

Another busy week in Montreal working long hours, which I tend to do when working out of a hotel room. Nothing much to do on your own no matter how nice the city is.

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I have been watching the Olympics on Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) channels (while working ) and I find it strange that the Canadians are worse than GB for olympic achievements. In the UK we tend to complain bitterly about our Olympic medal tally, moaning about our lack of sporting achievements. Well today (or perhaps yesterday) the Canadians won their first medal a silver in rowing followed swiftly by a Gold and Bronze in woman's wrestling  ... what happened to the feminine sports. (although I am sure women wrestlers are fine athletes).

Team GB  are doing a fantastic job!!!!  Two amazing swims from the Mansfield girl Rebecca Adlington..... knocking over 2 seconds off the longest standing swimming record for 800m freestyle! She now has two gold medals! Makes me proud to be a Brit . One benefit of living in another country is you get to cheer on two sets of Athletes and have extra chances of winning. (well sometimes)

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I have been working in Montreal for a few weeks now and once again missed a chunk of the summer. For those readers who remember last summer I was off work after a bout of Bells Palsy and the first summer I was working in Toronto. Well the Bell's Palsy is just about all gone. I still have a lop-sided smile and when I purse my lips my right eye closes (the nerves are trying to figure out what signals control which bit of my face).

Anyway it feels good to be home again, even though this weekend will be spent cutting down trees, mowing the grass and on Sunday sneaking in a BBQ with Ceri, Jason and the Davies brood(Owen, Ethan and Ellie).

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The weather is pretty good 25-26c sunny and forecasted to be just a bit lower all the coming week. However last night as we sat outside on the deck at 9pm I detected a chill in the air which we havent felt before...... Summer is ending OMG  - time to start thinking about snow shovels and winterising the lawn mower

It has been sometime since I last made an entry on the blog (about 2 weeks). My excuse is I have been so busy flying backwards and forwards between Fredericton and Montreal, mowing the lawn in between wet weekends and generally trying to get out an enjoy the summer (what little we have had so far).

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Last night we went to the Speedway 660 short circuit race track to watch the Firecracker 150 (150 lap race). This was our second venture to the track and it was as much fun as the first time.  The photo below was downloaded from the 660 site. Check their gallery link below for more photo's

Photo Gallery Speedway 660

Mixture of Street and Pro Stock car racing, great to watch the cars racing around the short circuit track and the thrills and spills of racing over a short distance keeps your attention. There was some pretty impressive driving and crashing last night!.

I am now officially a pseudo Canadian!

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I am the proud owner of a chainsaw ("oh no" I can all you all groan) Yes I know I tend to injury myself with sharp knifes, or display a distinct lack of care when using power tools. I know I was the first person to cut 2 inch strip off a 6 foot fence post with my circular saw (while it was still vertical and set in the ground). It could almost have been an Olympic sport. I can hear it now

"and for the UK on the stool balanced precariously is David Whelbourn competing in the cutting a 2" strip off the 6 foot Fence Post while it is still in the ground event. David is reaching out for his maximum stretch to bring off this amazing display of vertical circular sawing! All this without the aid of safety glasses!!

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But my gravity defying, fence post cutting days are over, as I now become a model of Health & Safety while cutting down trees (not in high heels worth listening too) with my new Echo CS-346 16" Chain Saw.  See picture below for reference

OK now to the family bits.

On Friday 8th August Julie and I celebrated 28 years of being together! I took Jules out on our first date 8th August 1980 at 8pm. Based on Chinese good luck on the number 8 then 8/8/80 8pm could be the secret of our still being together?

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Both Gemma and Kathryn have decided to stay in Canada. I am really pleased they have settled in at last. Now they are talking about buying a Horse!

Well the Beasties (Lynne, John and their two sons Micheal and David) arrived in Canada and stayed with us for the weekend. Strange really we had never met and yet we all got along really well. Friday night we all went out toKingswood to participate in that age old sport of tin pin skittles. We had to put the kids on their own lane so they wouldnt be too embarrassed by our amazing scores  . A great night out for $30 for 8 people

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Saturday was our combined birthday party, Kathryn was 21 on Thursday, Gemma was 18 (March 1st) and I was 50 (March 16th). So this was the yearly celebration of us hitting special birthdays. Julie invited about 60 people and I think we had about 40 (not bad seeing as it is the height of holiday season).  Potluck contributions added to the Joints of Beef, Pork and a 15lb Turkey that Jules cooked (plus about 5lb of steamed baby potatoes). We finished about 2am Sunday morning  Good night had by all.

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Sunday was more subdued event all together, BBQ dinner of some stupendous ribs, amazing tasty chicken kebabs with Kathyrn's grillable cheese (some sort of mozzerella) and the ever popular hotdogs. Sunday evening we all trouped out to Under the Stars to watch Steve McQueen and Faye Dunway in the original Thomas Crowne Affair. I must admit I preferred the Pierce Brosnan version, but hey it was a free night out. On our return we spotted a Skunk next door, and while sitting out having a coffee our friendly neighbourhood Racoon(Bandit) decided to come onto the deck and check us all out

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I am in Montreal all week and looking forward to a rest this coming weekend!

We were working on putting the finishing touches to the basement when the lights flickered on and off then ....pzzt darkness befell us.

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There was a power cut I called into to NB Power to report an outage. We sat on the deck enjoy our enforced break and I took advantage of the dire situation and used my Kelly Kettle to knock up a quick brew... Really impressed Julie with my emergency preparedness. The NB power truck turned up and and the girls went outside to the front to watch the fuss. SHOCK HORROR it was a squirrel who caused the power cut! The conversation went something like this.

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"What colour is the squirrel is it red or grey?" (daughter asks NB power man),

NB Power man answers ..."I dont know, but It is black now!" (he missed of the crispy bit of the description).

Sadness decends,  OMG it could be Rusty our relatively tame Red Squirrel who eats out of your hand We know the cable was one of Rusty's routes across all the drive ways.

 Rusty in winter (well April) ahhh isnt he cute?

(actually it is a she, I checked when it crawled up the screen in front of me )

Jokes about roasted nuts do not go down well. Or my remarks about terrorists training suicide squirrels to sabotage the decadent Western electrical supply.

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Anyway today I call home to let them know I am still alive in Montreal, and the first thing I hear is that Rusty is alive and well. It serves that other squirrel right for using Rusty's route   Women are soooooo weird. 

Home again after a week of travels. (I definitely see Fredericton as home now). I started the week in Newfoundland - prounounced similar to understand with an emphasis on NewfundLarnnd. I love the accent and the Newfies are really friendly and welcoming to all. (even the English ).

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I spent all monday teaching a group of 12 on the fundamentals of project management and felt exhausted at the end of the day. I enjoyed it the whole day I get such satisfaction out of seeing the lights going on when they understand the point I am making. Teaching is fun. PS I had a great opportunity to reverse the phrase I often hear, I told the class I love their accent

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While in Halifax I managed to find a Kelly Kettle  and I felt compelled to buy one as I have been admiring them for a couple of years. To those of you who have never seen or heard of a Kelly Kettle, you need to know it is one of the greatest inventions to come out of Ireland. It is a device for boiling water (damn obvious because it is called a Kettle) anyway here is a picture from their site showing how it works.

The fire is fuelled by pine cones, twigs, leaves, newspaper any old bits of fuel you can pick up while hiking. My version is the Pint version and it boils enough water for two mugs of coffee in about 3 - 5 minutes. The kettle will be for camping / day outs to whip up a quick cup of coffee, make some cuppa soups etc... I am thinking of getting the 2.5 pint version for our 72 hour emergency kit. 

Kathryn has already laid claim to it when I die. I guess that starts to happen more when you are 50 , "Dad, I love your .... can I have it when you die?" I don't consider it callous just practical plus it cuts down on death duties HAHAHAAHA (by the way they don't have death duties in Canada so your family keep the value of everything you have accumulated)

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Greasy Gary is my secret name for a new ground hog we have under the shed. It is a young pup and the girls all insist on giving our wildlife residents cute names.  Although the Racoon's name has changed from Petunia to Bandit while I have been away. I guess it is because Petunia was it's mother's name (dont try to rationalise it, just go with the flow).

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We had our annual Newcomers Club Potluck BBQ yesterday. Location Mactaquac's Centenial York Park. When we arrive it was drizzling and overcast, but like true Brits going to the beach on a summers day we persisted.

Then the sun came out and we had a great time. I think there was about 34 people including kids. Stuart and I were flipping the burgers, wieners, corn cobs and some sausages. This was accompanied with a whole pile of green salads, potato salad, bottles of coke, lemonade etc finished off with several cakes (Virginia made an excellent Banana Cake), water melon etc... I think we finished about 6pm so 4 hours of fun and it was great to see the tennis cricket game using the empty burger boxes as wickets. I didn't get any pictures sorry.

Montreal all week again, I decided to let them suffer my version of French and ordered all my meals in French, even if the waiter was speaking in English.  

Of course the smiled graciously and replied in English (thank god). Montreal is a nice city. However I wake up to the morning news and hear about drive by shootings, drug arrests and general low level stuff. Whereas in New Brunswick is is more ..... hmmm mundane. Except for this week when the police had to shoot at someone and grazed him, he stole their police car and ended up rolling it. The said they needed to taser him when he got out because he was still threatening them! That was in Campbellton in Northern NB miles from quiet old Fredericton.

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The work there is going well and hopefully I will be completed by the 8th August. I am planning to be in Fredericton for the week of the 21st July as it is Kathryn's 21st Birthday. Hey a father has to be sensitive to some things. and I am renowned for my sensitivity or lack of it.

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The basement is finished (well my bit is ) I put up the ceiling this very day.  Now Julie will whip some paint on it and we will put in the single bed's, ready for visitors.  Hmmmm   perhaps we should open a B&B ..... on second thoughts perhaps not.

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Next week is another busy one, with me doing the rounds of 4 Provinces in 5 days. Newfoundland Sunday - Monday, Nova Scotia Tuesday Wednesday , Quebec Thursday, Friday morning and back to New Brunswick on Friday afternoon  it is good for the air miles collection.  Well thats all I have time for so I will sign off and go enjoy the lovely evening. The summer is progressing nicely with average temperatures around 26-27c sunny for the last two weeks and forecasted for all of next week too!

Well it is the 5th of July and I am back at home!

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The last 2 weeks have been a whirl of work. Yes I know we emigrated so I would have more time with the family but occassionally I need to put in some extra time and I think until August I will be very busy flying, working and not sleeping very well.

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I am working in Montreal of the next 3-4 weeks helping to replan a very large project. There is alot of cultural sensitivity about being seen as a collaborative experience rather than a English led session. I was worried that my genetic inability to speak French would be a problem. But it was fine, I mutter my pathetic attempts to speak the language with Bon Jour and Jer Voudrais Cafe Noir but then go and ruin it be finishing with Por Favor or Gracias  Anyway it keeps the Montrealeans amused

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I love Montreal! It is a beautiful vibrant city, which mixes English and French without any effort. You will hear 'Bonjour, Hello' and however you respond they switch into the appropriate language. Without making you feel guilty . Very different to Quebec city.

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Julie and Kathryn were very excited when I phoned home on Thursday. They saw a Skunk in the flowerbed (see Lupin photo previously) and it then walked around to the bird table. They were sat on the deck, no more than 8-10 feet away. I wonder what the average Skunk squirting range is? Mental note to buy some Skunk Stinking Shampoo just in case.

I flew into Fredericton Airport yesterday at around 11:30pm and drove home. I often use the cruise control to stop me speeding on the local highway. So as I came off the highway on to the local road I resumed the cruise control and carried on down the hill when ..... flashing Police lights oh bum speeding! I dutifully pulled over and waited. The young constable came over and told me I was doing 103kph in a 70 zone! In my head I calculated that to be about $250 -300 fine. Then he recognised me from the accident where I was rear-ended. It was the same constable who recorded the accident a couple of weeks ago. He commented on my hugging of the other driver, (well she hugged me but what the heck) and he then gave me a written notice of warning telling me it would be $250 fine next time  So next time you have an accident in Canada, hug the other driver and don't get angry it might save you from a speeding ticket

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Next two three weeks I am clocking up some serious air miles with flights to St John's Newfoundland, Halifax Nova Scotia and Montreal and finally back to Fredericton  Then perhaps a restful summer.

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The pool looks inviting it is 26c and sunny tomorrow is forecasted to be 29c so I am off to swim. Have a great weekend where ever you are!

Today has been a beautiful sunny day right from the start.

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I awoke early (6:30am) and eventually got out of bed at 7:00am made big cup of tea and sat out on the deck in the morning sun. I love the summer mornings here. No noise other than birds singing and I sat sipping my tea and thinking about nothing much in particular. Luxury!. Kathryn was up about 8am to go for breakfast with some of her friends before working today.

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Julie and Gemma got out of bed about 9am and we all sat our on the deck with a boiled egg breakfast. So civilised

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I have a couple of photos for you. one of the above ground pool now full and a nature shot taken by Gemma the ace photographer.

15 foot diameter and 4 foot deep.Visitors to be bring your cozies!

Gemma's bumblebee close up using my Fuji S7000 in Macro mode

In the afternoon we went off to Wilmot Park for the Newcomers club Potluck Picnic in the Park event. We had a good turn out of about 30+ and we played some boules, tennis, badmington and frizbee throwing. The beauty of the potluck concept is everyone contributes some food and collectively you have a great meal. We took a potato salad and a pile of chicken wings with an orange sauce. Everyone had a good time and it lasted from 3- to around 6pm.   Sorry no group photo this time (too busy having a good time ).

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We have just finished mowing the grass and are exhausted. Mowing our half acre of lawns is certainly a good way to get fit.  One thing I noticed surprisingly few mosquitos today (Megacatcher is doing its job!) . I would say this summer we have used about half the amount of repellent we would normally use. So now we are relaxing with a coffee, slice of toast and waiting for an episode of Lewis which is being broadcast on the New England PBS channel.

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This coming week I am in Halifax and next weekend is a long weekend after which I am off to Montreal. They want me to carry out some replanning on a very large project ($100 million) .  I guess they have more confidence in me than I thought, or it is in such a mess they think I cannot make it worse

Both our daughters are now adults. Gemma attended her graduation Ball on Tuesday and looked fantastic in a dress made by Jules, complete with matching purse.  (photos some time soon). She had a great time coming home about midnight and then sitting down by the fire pit with several friends cooking sausages on long forks. They stayed over and she seems much more settled these days. Her boyfriend (Jay)  from the UK arrives next Tuesday, so she is pretty excited about that. She is taking drivers education too..... It is all happening for her!

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Gemma graduated from Fredericton High School on Thursday. Below are some photos from the ceremony at the Aitken Centre. I found out at the ceremony that Fredericton High School is the oldest in Canada (founded 1785). It used to be the largest secondary school in the Commonwealth and is still one of the largest in Canada.

Gemma with her High School Diploma	Gemma with proud mum
The biggest tassel twirl in Atlantic Canada - 400 graduating students!

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After the ceremony and a reception at FHS until 11pm all the students were whisked off to SafeGrad an all night party (no alchol) at a camp on the edge of Maquadivic lake and poor  Dad  has to get up at 5:45am to pick her up from school on Friday morning..... I was tired all day. Gemma slept until 5pm ...

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The Water Man came and filled up the above ground pool (a sort of adult paddling pool) $110 for 14,000 litres of water. We should have bottled it and sold it to the public for $1 a half litre which would still be cheaper than they pay now. I am still amazed at how much people are prepared to pay for a bottle of water!

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The water temperature today was 19c and sounded warm! So in I climbed and I swear my armpit hair got frost bite! Anyway the pool is ready for the summer.

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This week I have fixed up a couple of stud walls in the basement and it is looking pretty good.  All that is left for me to do is to put up a couple of new lights with an extra switch; fix the plasterboard onto the ceiling; cut and nail on the skirting board ; cut and nail ceiling moulding and then watch Julie paint it all . The beds are moved downstairs and the girls are now in luxury with a double bed each. Julie has decorated their rooms and I was impressed with Kathryn's bedroom complete with handmade pelmets.

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Tomorrow we have a Newcomers event - Potluck Picnic in Wilmot Park. Lots of people are going and taking outdoor games (Badmington, Croquet, Boules, and there are free tennis courts and a paddling pool in the park. The forecast is 24c and I predicting a great day .

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I will take some group photos and share them with you. The Newcomers club is certainly growing, with more people coming out from the UK, and we have some new members from Germany and Switzerland

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I have to dash the girls are challenging to a fight on the Wi and I love beating them. (its the only time I win an argument)

Well that is the last of the brood through school.

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Today Gemma graduated from high school  and promptly called me at 10:30am while I was in the middle of a teleconference (it has been a completely crazy day today and it's only Monday). I was a very understanding father, listening to her shrieks of happiness and I congratulated her then asked to be excused so I could rejoin the 15 other people who were waiting for me. Any way I was glad to take the call and hear her happy to have finished school..

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Welcome to the Adult World.... Although I am still waiting to discover where and what she will be doing in terms of further education? But heck what am I but the father.

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I will await the graduation photos and if there is enough demand I'll publish them on a post.

Beautiful day which inspired me to take some photos of the flowers that Julie has cultivated since we arrived. Bear in mind that the house only had grass and trees everything else Julie has created/dug out,planted fresh and nutured.

Kathryn's Bird Table with Speedwell and Lupins behind. Link to photo of the bird table in the winter

Clemantis Trellis with Bird Bath at the bottom, some ferns, varigated privet and peony. The snow came about 8 inches below the top cross bar on this trellis!

No flowers but lots of grass (that needs mowing again). You can just make out our above ground pool on the right behind the boulder. The pool is 15 foot diameter and fills to a depth of 4 feet. We are waiting the water delivery man to fill it up ($100 for 10,000 litres of clean water). We are wishing for a long hot summer!

Julie's south facing Iris and lily flower bed. This photo doesnt do it justice. Kathryn's greenhouse is just in the shot too.

Now for some of Gemma's Macro (close up photography). Blue Lupins Chives Spider hunting in the Lupin flowers.

OK must dash now I am back in the basement fixing up the new room ready for our summer visitors It is looking good

PS Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads out there.

I have been travelling this week. First half of the week in Halifax working on a presentation to the Nova Scotia Dept of Health. If they buy us I could spend the summer and autumn in Halifax.

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I stayed at the Delta Hotel on Barrington Street and visited a couple of excellent restuarants (don't ask their names I was a guest rather than choosing). I arrived home later Wednesday night and Gemma rushed off to change into her Prom Dress (Julie has made her a nice crimson evening dress) and show it off. Looks good and when she dresses up, I will get a photo for the blog.

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Today I returned the rental car and drove up Smythe Street in Fredericton, taking Gemma to school (not a route I would normally be on).  I stopped at a queue of traffic and the car behind made no attempt to stop, just rammed into us, I think she was doing about 30-50km.

I controlled my language as Gemma was in the car with me. After getting out I saw the car that hit my Escape was one of the Nissan Altima and it was not going to drive away anywhere soon. The Altima was a write off, having driven under my bumper. My exhaust pipe is bent back and the bumper is cracked. Anyway, she called 911 and we had the full complement of Police, Ambulance and Fire Rescue. I am guessing they are a bored and wanted to get out.

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Being the caring father I am, I asked Gemma if she was ok and when she said she was fine I told her to walk to school and sit her exams. . All the services were good and did a thorough job of checking everything was ok. The firemen cleaned up the road and cut through her battery cables. Paramedics wanted to take us to hospital to check for whiplash etc... The Policeman was great, cool, collected information and then gave out accident reports with both drivers, details and insurance information on.

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I arrived at work and after 20mins her insurance company called me up and told me that they wouldnt be contesting any claim and to instruct my Insurance company to go ahead. Tomorrow I have an insurance assessor coming round.

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One thing that was weird is the other driver gave me two or three hugs! I was thinking..... "hold on lady I'm British I dont do this with my own kids". But she seemed happy and it helped stop her bursting into  so I accepted it.

Sometimes when I am really busy on a project I find it hard to switch off at night. So at 2:30am this morning I woke up and damn if my brain didn't start whizzing around filling my sleepy head with all sorts of work thoughts.

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Next week I am going to Halifax to help present a bid for a project in the Nova Scotia Dept of Health. I suspect if we win I will be asked to be the Project Manager, and so begins a summer of weekly commuting to Halifax (four and half drive each way).

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Good news!

I just yawned, and so this is my last entry for tonight/this morning. I may be gone for a while  don't send out the search party until 7:30am.

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I promise to empty the Mossie Catcher tomorrow and post some news. We have certainly had markedly fewer Mosquito's this year.

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From the title you can tell that my MegaCatcher Mosquito Trap is working. .

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It is a shame the Black Fly are not quite so interested in being sucked into the trap.

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Black fly are different from Mosquito's in that they do not suck your blood. They chew a hole in your skin and sip like elegant ladies drinking tea. See prove below.

Because it takes long to chew they try to hide in your hairline!  Itchy and red hairlines isn't very attractive. I will adjust may MegaCatcher luring strategy by changing from the net, to the cup filled with water, coke, sugar and a little soap (to break the surface tension so the little beggars drown). I will report back on the results.  Anyway enough about the joy's of spring. It has been a very busy week here in Mooseland.

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Julie is busy decorating Gemma's bedroom, and Gemma, being Gemma would never has anything simple like four walls painted in some suitable colours, has asked for something that demands a significant effort. Apparently this is bedroom is going to be a master piece of geometric designs painted in various colours. (I will post some photos on here when it is finished).

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Kathryn has fully recovered from having her wisdom teeth taken out, and I can report that she is no dafter than before! However she does complain of earache and I wonder if it is her brain is trying to move out!

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Gemma is getting more excited about having her braces of next thursday than graduating from highschool the following week. I still have no idea what she is going to do after high school. We hope she will go on to university.  Julie in her spare time is also making a Prom Dress for Gemma.

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Me, I have had a very busy week at work, and when I get home I am joined by Julie in her other spare time job of fixing up the new sewing room in the basement. We have the dry wall up (plaster board to you Brits) and I have rewired a couple of sockets (not a single spark in sight).  

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Last night was the Newcomers Club pub night at the Lunar Rogue. We had about 12 people there and everyone had a good time and we eventually left just after midgnight and made it home around half-past midnight without turning into a pumpkin.  However I do have a headache this morning, two beers and two tomato juices ? I knew I shouldn't have had those tomato juices

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Poor Kathryn had four Wisdom teeth out this week (now she has an excuse for being occassionally daft). Her face still looks like a football and is pretty bruised. The total cost was $1,350  But the insurance reimbursed us $940 . Thank god for employer health insurance! I do care about her, honest, I just thought you would be interested in the finance side.

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Gemma has starting working at MacDonalds (Mickey D's) as a cook in the back.  OK, everyone who knows Gemma should sit down now, otherwise you may fall over. She is working hard and enjoying it . Not to shocked I hope.

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This coming June Gemma graduates from High School, and I am still waiting to be enlightened on her plans for University. UK or Canada who knows?  I do know that she is still seeing her Boyfriend, Jay after nearly three years so who knows where she will go. One thing to note she did tell me that she loves living in Canada and our house.  I tried to hide my shock!

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I still have to relocate the Mega-Catcher Mosquito trap thing. It could be purely incidental but I think there are less Mosquito's in the back garden compared to the front. I will move it tomorrow and take some photo's of my catch .

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I am busy fitting up the extra room in preparation for the summer visitors. The extra room will eventually Julie's sewing room but for this summer it will be extra bedroom. While I practice my building skills Julie is redecorating Gemma's bedroom, gardening, using left over material to make scarves to match her purses/handbags and a million other things.

She makes me feel so unproductive, but I guess I can live with being a single tasking man

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PS: Another family arrived in Fredericton this week. We are meeting them tomorrow and they have already put an offer in for a house in the Lincoln area of Fredericton.