Celebrate Everything

Happy Saturday Y'all!!

We're really getting into the swing of things with the 'reasons to be cheerful' mentality this month. After 'Groundhog Day' came the '100 Days Of School' bash, followed by the Valentines love fest (huge with kids, in a sweety-giving kind of way), Canada Flag Day, El's school 'Random Acts Of Kindness Week' and the 'Family Day' Bank Holiday. Can you feel the love?
The shops are now groaning under the weight of leprechauns and all things green (St.Patrick's Day) with a huge smattering of bunnies and all things egg-shaped. Party, party, party.

The weather has gone from the ridiculous to the sublime. Minus 40's are a dim-and-distant memory and we are basking in sunshine and bright blue skies . . . 16 degrees on Wednesday! We were donning shades and peeling off layers at the Olympic Park, watching the kids skiing. How fantastic are kids?? First time on skis but no hanging around on the slight inclines - not when there are big bumpy hills to tackle!! Mind you, stopping was another matter entirely. Watching El careering toward a long line of parents was a sharp-intake-of-breath moment. Could have been side-splitting in more ways than one! Luckily they saw her coming and did a parting-of-the-parent-sea. Katie perfected a hurl-yourself-to the-ground manoeuvre . . . not graceful, but she did stop! After 7 hours they had all got to grips with sudden swerves and were back on the ramp without the detour through the crowds. Phew. They were up for death-defying stunts but we had assumed they'd spend a fair bit of time face-down/skis up, so bought 'first turns' passes. They'll be back next week on the big lifts . . . must remember to check my insurance cover.

Ski Pics Can Be Viewed Here:

http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=28689376

Snow is still waist deep in the mountains so we headed to Banff to make the most of it. Down in High River the grass has re-appeared . . . the dead, brown grass of home. Doesn't have the same ring, somehow, hey Tom? Hopefully it will have greened up by the time Karen and Gary arrive in May . . . can't wait to see y'all!

Love and hugs to all until next week - our one year mark !!!
Nicki xxxxxxxxxxxx

A Right Balls Up

Straight up, the pic on the right was on the front page of our freebie paper, the High River Times (HRT to the locals), last week. I was in pleats when I saw it ..... good job they put his name underneath so he could wallow in his 15 minutes of fame! Just imagine the scene when the (paid!) photographer submitted his 'art' for approval. You really couldn't make it up could you? The editor is either a complete dunce or has a unique sense of humour.

The weather lately has been extreme to say the least. I commented to a colleague last Monday that it was the coldest since we've been here ....... his reply was that it hadn't been this cold for about 3 years!!! Every time I send Dylan out to answer the call of nature I have a vision that I'll have to get out there to snap him off the fence post. It's forcast to be around zero for the next 2 days, before plummeting to -20 for the weekend. Oh joy.

Click the link for the local rag write up:
http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=61&x=story&xid=373291

I'm really in to Professional Bull Riding at the minute; it's on telly loads over here. It's great. Locals from cowie backgrounds long for their sons to be professionals when they grow up. One little boy in Nicki's class is called Layne because his dad wants it to sound right when he's on the circuit! Jack's thankful that I'm not of the same mindset. Imagine your first day at high school if you were called Pele Thompson?
Clip here: http://www.youtube.com/user/PBRNow

I'm still off the weed (70 days now!!). I don't think I've changed that much but Katie and Eleanor bought me a Grumpy t shirt for Christmas. Maybe there's a (not so) hidden message in there somewhere?

The kids and Nicki are off school the week after next so I've taken a weeks holiday too. We plan on getting out and about to enjoy the snow and fresh air. Trips to Banff, Lake Louise and Calgary Olympic Ski Park are all pencilled in. It's 20 years since the Winter Olympics were here so they're having a nostalgic bash with guest appearances from stars of the event, including Eddie The Eagle! Got to be having some of that. Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. We also plan on going to a Calgary Hitmen hockey game as well. Busy, busy.

Anyway gotta go, butties to do, bath to have etc. We'll both do some more at the weekend.

It's good to see comments coming through as well.
Robbo, Robbo, Robbo.

See Y'all.
Bert xxx

As Cold As Cold Can Be

Hi folks, this is your weather girl, and have I got news for you?? No, it's not raining men . . . it's -49 !!! Well -37, but with a severe wind-chill factor making it officially feel like

-49. And boy, it certainly did. As soon as you got out of the car the lining of your nose froze, and frost-bite would set in after 6 mins skin exposure. Schools declared a 'snow day' and the buses were off Tuesday so I did the sensible thing - waved Bert off while refusing to set foot out of my toasty house. He made sure his car was plugged in to a 'hook-up' at work (outdoor sockets - keep your oil warm). One of Adele's friends left her car at the airport and returned to find the battery frozen solid. We're up to a mild -11 today with a forecast of zero by the end of the week . . . we can barely contain our excitement.

We ventured out to Laser-Tag today - another first for me and Bert. We didn't get to grips with it for the first game . . . happily zapping a couple of kids, who gave us one of those "Oh P-leeease" looks before pointing out (sigh/exaggerated patience) "We're all on the green team". Ooops. Game 2 brought out the terminator in Bert and he got the top score. I mainly hid - accompanied by an unknown but nervous 5 year old, and given that I don't do suspense (I turned 'Die Hard' off after 4 mins - couldn't cope) I did remarkably well and only screamed once.

Over to Bert, who has a list to work through now that he's regained his mojo. Thanks Robbo:)

Snuggly cuddles to all,

Nicki xxxxx

PS : Katie would like it to be known that she has turned into an ice-cube.

Bert here: I did intend to post but we've been riveted to the TV watching the Super Bowl. We didn't have a blinking clue as to what was going on, but it was real edge of the seat stuff. Well done NYG.

I'll post again soon ...... bet you can't wait?

Brrrrt (it's a bit parky) xx