How!

Hiya All!

First of all, well done Julie for taking a stand on the pet stairs . . . just don't go letting the thought of precious pooches breaking limbs in their quest to lie on the sofa keep you awake at night!!

Now to the weekend rodeo. This was a 'First Nations' bash - which put Bert just a tad on edge, and allowed us a rare glimpse of his melodramatic tendancies . . . he insisted I park the car facing the wall (due to the Union Jack plate on the front and the history of Brits in Canada), and was definately on the lookout for spears, arrows and tomahawks!!

We all stood for 'Oh Canada', the 'Star Spangled Banner' and the Tsuu T'Ina Nation Chief chanting a native prayer, accompanied by cowgirls on horseback riding around carrying the appropriate flag . . . at which point Bert finally relaxed, having spotted a Union Jack on the corner of the Tsuu T'Ina nation flag!

This was Bert's first adult rodeo . . . and his face when the 'Steer Wrestling' started was well worth the entrance fee. It's all a bit brutal for me, but I kept myself entertained reading the names of the 'Indian cowboys' (can you get your head around that concept ???) . . . Darrell Many Grey Horses, Kyle Running Rabbit, Winn Bruisedhead, Brent Dodginghorse and Elissa Heavy Runner to name but a few. Winn Bruisedhead won easily, with little more than a bruised butt . . . I wonder if that entitles him to a name change???

The 'Pow-Wow' was fantastic. It was a genuine First Nations gathering held in a big tepee. The native dances, costumes (masses of eagle feathers), drumming and chanting were fabulous . . . really worthwhile seeing. I absolutely loved it. We all left very happy, with our scalps intact and no arrows in the tyres.

Slideshow nicked from t'internet: http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/82990349zsAbti

We've had some cloud today . . . a welcome relief . . . it has been the hottest July since 1960! The average temp has been 28 degrees, so our long-awaited 'sod' at the front has been well and truly scorched. Oh for a good downpour . . . . maybe they did a rain dance at the pow-wow?!?

Katie is back on Friday, bringing with her Julie, Millie, gravy granules and Minstrels (the chocolate variety, not medieval musicians), and I'm off to clean windows in their honour.

I hear August is looking good for you folk across the pond . . . so happy sun-worshipping!

Love and hugs, Nicki xxx

Keeping In Trim In Trim

I'm back. I've spent the last 5 weeks working silly hours (3.00pm to 02.00am, 6 days a week) in the Trim dept at work. I've been shattered. It has had it's benefits though ..... I've lost over a stone!!

My belt has moved 2 holes back and I've had to buy jeans with a smaller waist! I did want to lose weight, but this wasn't what I planned. I'd get to bed at 3.00am and wake at 5.00am aching all over. Anyway it's done now and I'm back to normal hours (8.00am to 5.00pm), let's just hope it stays off.

I have threated to blog a few times recently, but when discussing the subject matter with Nicki I've had the inevitable 'that's a bit boring don't you think?' reply, so I haven't bothered.

Prepare to be bored senseless.

It's now almost 6 months that we've been here; the worrying part is that things that seemed odd then don't any more. We went to an Indian Rodeo and Pow-Wow yesterday ..... Sunday's watching Steer wrestling and Calf roping just seems so normal. Every now and again though something catches my eye (generally TV ads) that makes me think WHAT!!!

Pet stairs!! ..... you buy some carpeted steps that help your dog climb on the sofa or bed!! Saves the poor flea ridden pooch having to jump up onto your furniture, hey? The 4 step one's on offer for just under £80 so if you're interested you could always ask Julie to bring some back with her.

Here's a link: http://www.luckypetfurniture.com/petsteps1.html

There are also a couple of fishing rods advertised that take some believing. There's the 'Pen' and the 'Rocket' ..... one's a tiny telescopic one that fits in your top pocket and the other launches this massive float miles into the water causing a massive splash. Unbelievable. I can just imagine the reaction of other anglers if you used one at a UK fishery.

Links: http://www.gizmoandwidget.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=266&zenid=df41ebd56ebf5f79fbf73f392b40b749

https://www.spindirect.com/product.php?productid=16174&s=rocket&sessid=b18863004251827dba9d4c61433c110b

Those hail stones last week were something else!! Friends of ours saved some so we'll put a pic on when Katie returns with our camera.

Now that I've cured your insomnia I'll go.

Love to all.

Bert xx

Some recent pics are on-line here:
http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=26915162

Great Balls Of Ice!

Hiya All !

Well, we have managed to disprove the theory that bigger is better . . . bigger hailstones are not too impressive, believe me!

We had a fab day in Kananaskis Country last Sunday . . . toasting marshmallows, paddling in the river, admiring the majestic mountains, drinking cans of lager (that would be Bert, not the kids) . . . all topped off with a loud sing-a-long to 'All You Need Is Love' in the car. Perfect. Then a quick trip to Walmart to buy new balcony furniture, minimal 'flat-pack-assembly-ranting-and-stress' (wonders will never cease), and a celebratory sit down to appreciate said furniture. Closely followed, as you might expect, by black clouds rolling in and a severe weather warning.

'Severe' was pretty on the button, as descriptions of weather go. I have never seen anything like it in all my life. The marble sized hail was on the dramatic side, but then it stepped up a gear and pelted us with golf-ball . . . and the odd tennis-ball . . . sized lumps of ice!!! Some were 4 inches in diameter, according to the paper. We got off lightly with a hole in a piece of our siding . . . my friend lives out on an acreage, and her entire house looks like it has been machine-gunned!!! Adeles friends had just arrived in their new hire car - which couldn't be rescued without risking a fatality - and is now sporting multiple dents in the roof and bonnet. A neighbour had the car windshield smashed, the local car dealership has had pretty much his entire stock trashed, and the golf course is full of pot holes. You see . . . modesty in all things . . . a far better plan!

Of course, this brief-but-dramatic storm was a mere blip in our glorious weather . . . 25 degrees minimum for the next fortnight, with the occasional sneak into the 30's. Lots of sitting in the shade, swimming in the river and cooling off at the sprinkler park has been called for. Are we having plenty of sun in the UK ?????

Bert is back on days so is a much happier bunny, Katie is on Wirral (not getting much wear out of all her new sun-tops), the kids are having a ball, and I got 2 questions right on 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader' . . . so all is well with the world!! Of course, we wish you could all be here, soaking up a few rays and chilling on the balcony . . . so do drop us a line and let us know what we are missing back in Blighty.

Lots of love and hugs, Nicki xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Local rag write up: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=61&x=story&xid=325140

http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=61&x=story&xid=323834