Apologies for a long overdue Xmas blog from The Rockies... We all had a great Christmas. We stayed at home in the village as did a few other families, so we had some rather jolly festive get togethers! Which was nice! The children were more than pleased with what Father Christmas left for them - Bob the Builder sit and ride digger for Charlie, a princess castle for Olivia & Ski's, boots and poles for Ben amongst alot of other things. We couldn't have gone away for Christmas even if we wanted to without hiring a 10ft trailer! So here we are at last in The Rockies...again, staying in a great hotel called The Windtower in Canmore. We have a self contained condo which is just what we need and use of the outdoor hot tub which is great! Seems a very odd thing to do when it's at least -9 outside, but once you are in it you can see why they are so popular. It's kept at around 40 degrees and being the sensible one, I kept my hair dry, where as Leigh and the kids got theirs wet so it froze to thier heads! With all the steam it's not a problem - as Ben pointed out it's like were in are a giant saucepan of people soup! Leigh and Ben have been skiing together already and today we went in another outdoor spa in Banff which is a natural hot spring a fair way up Sulphur Mountain. Tomorrow Olivia & Charlie are going into day care and Leigh, Ben and I are skiing together for the day at Sunshine Valley. I shall make sure I dont make a wrong turn at the top and come down a double diamond black run! I'm sure the boys wouldn't mind that! I have a few reservations though! We have a sleigh ride booked around Lake Louise for New Years Eve which will be a real treat. Sorry you haven't been able to see the sledging videos from my last blog - I keep trying but there seems to be a problem with the web page. I'll blog again at New Year. Hope you all had a great Christmas & have a great New Year x

Another great week! Ben & I have had such great fun skiing...obviously we have been singled out for the next winter Olympics! Well perhaps not me...but Ben was brilliant and whizzed past me a few times on the ski hills! Whilst I was working on my technique (zig zagging slowly down the mountain) Ben just pointed his ski's down the hill and went for it! No fear..I'm so envious! I couldn't even get off the ski lift without falling on my arse! Anyway,enough of that! Olivia & Charlie are great. Olivia has had her school nativity...sadly I missed it as I was skiing but Daddy went and was ever the tearful father. Friday evening we had the Mess Christmas party which was great fun. Scottish dancing (bizzarly!) and lots of carol singing...and drinking.. So as not to let the English down, we were there until the very end! This weekend we went sledging at Kin Coulee park (near Medicine Hat - hopefully you will see the footage below) - it was a great family day and the kids had such fun hurtling down the big hill. And being the biff that I am, I managed to get taken out by a teenage snowboarder (ouch!) Hillarious!. So, a pretty chilled week ahead. Kids at school and Leigh on leave (though he he went to work today)..Ben's Xmas concert tomorrow though Leigh won't be there as he is playing Ice Hockey at the Med Hat Arena v the Ex-pat's. Not many beers after the game then!...

Back from another weekend in The Rockies... It looks even more beautiful there now with lots of snow everywhere. We went back up the Banff Gondola (cable car) to the top of Sulphur Mountain and looked down over a very white Banff with it's frozen river - so pretty and so very cold! We also went back to Lake Louise to see the now frozen lake. Absolutely stunning - there was even a game of ice hockey happening on part of the lake! At -20 (plus windchill) we didn't stay there long though - infact we had a real 'National Lampoons' family moment where we walked the short distance from the car to the lake, paused slightly to take in the scenery and then very quickly walked back to the car! It was sooo cold, it's hard to describe! I don't think the kids were particularly chuffed either! So after a spot of indoor ice skating we went back to the condo with it's lovely real fire to thaw out! Everyone is well apart from the usual seasonal colds. Ben and I are off on a 3 day skiing course starting on Weds so we have been busy kitting ourselves out for that. Sadly Olivia & charlie are too young to come with us on this course, though don't think they are bothered! So Leigh will temporarily become CIC Home Command! The good news is that the weather forecast predicts it should not drop below -10! Positively balmy! I shall let you know how we get on...

Back from a long weekend in Calgary which was great fun and very cold! It snowed alot and the temperature did not get above -16, but as that is the norm in Canada everything was business as usual. We went up the Calgary Tower which apparently is the highest tourist viewing tower above sea level in the world which has fantastic views across Calgary. Part of the floor at the top of the tower is glass which was very wierd to stand on! We also went to the Science Museum which was full of interactive things for the kids to do, they loved it - infact we got turfed out at 5pm when it closed! We had a good look around the city with all it's impressive sky scrapers, had a look around the shopping malls, and went to the cinema (where Leigh & tried not to stay awake!). Another impressive sight there is the Olympic Village (Winter Olympics '88) which is still open for skiing, tobogganning, and ski jumping - what a shame we didn't have enough time! When you get up close to one of those massive Ski Jumps it makes you reaslise just how crazy those guys are It's huge!....!
Other news, Olivia received a Recognition Award at school last Thurday which was presented to her during assembly for all her hard work and enthusiasm - just another day at school for studious Olivia.
Everyone else is good. Its still very white everywhere. The plan is to go back to The Rockies this weekend so my next blog may be from there...

Snow at last!

Yes as forecast we did wake up to snow this morning. Not quite the snow dump of the season, but the kids were very impressed none the less! As you can imagine when Ben woke at 7.45am he wanted to go straight out! More snow is forecast and given that it was -10 today with a wind chill that made it -25, its's not going to dissapear over night!
I picked the kids up from school today with Charlie in tow on his sledge and we then had some decent sledging time before sledging
down to the ice rink for Ben's hockey training. All good fun apart from the extra 1/2 hour it now takes to leave the house with the kids fully kitted up!

Fairly quiet week (apart from the usual hockey of course!). The Canadian winter is definitely creeping up on us...today we had a high of -14 with a windchill that made it -18. So tad chilly on the school run this morning at 8.30am! The kids were well wrapped up in all their winter kit and I am happy to say my snow boots have had their first outing! The temperatures are not set to improve much now and there is snow forecast tonight. I'll be able to pull the kids to school on thier sledges soon(well of course I mean Leigh will be able to pull the kids to school!). The winter driving course I went on last week was all theory so although useful,a little dull! We are going out on the airfield as soon as the conditions are bad enough to practice some skidding - apparently no one has rolled a car yet..! We are off to Calgary this weekend for 3 days with another couple and their son. Its apparently even colder there! We have driven through Calgary a couple of times and have seen the Olympic Village and the big Ski Jumps etc. We shall have to keep Ben away from there as he was eyeing the jumps up trying to decide which one he would do first! We also have tickets to see Medicine Hat Tigers play Russia (ice hockey) on Thursday eve so that should be fun too. I shall blog the snow tomorrow...if it arrives...

The main event this week has been Ben's birthday. He was 7 on Saturday, so a big thank you for all the cards, presents, money and emails he received. He put his money towards a BMX bike which he went and chose with Daddy. He is chuffed to bits - especially as the bike has 'stunt pegs' (dont ask me!). As you would all expect from Ben,he was out on it at 8.15am Saturday morning when it was a balmy -9! The rest of us were still in bed! In the afternoon he had a party at the bowling alley (which is literally across the road) with about 10 of his school friends,so he had a really great day. In the evening we went over to a friends house for supper and had a really nice time and on Sunday we went to the public skating at the ice rink.Charlie had a chance to try out his new skates.He did really well on them though a few times his dear little feet were going nineteen to the dozen trying to stand up! Olivia has really got her confidence on the ice now and really enjoys it & Ben is still annoyingly good! So this week it's ice hockey as usual - infact Leigh is down there now playing the Orange Oilers! I am on a Winter Driving course on Thursday, which I am not sure whether I am looking forward to or not! I'll let you know how I get on...

Another hockeytasctic few days since my last blog! We girls did play the Officers on Thurs eve and we managed to hold them to a 2-2 draw, which was a great result. I managed to score a penalty after being on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle which sent my flying! Leigh & I were part of a hockey tournament this weekend (which neither of our teams won!) and that was followed by a party which was good fun. During the tournament lunchbreak the kids were pushed around the ice on what can only be described as giant frisbee's, there were prizes for the kids who went the furthest! On Sunday we had the rememberance service (outdoor brrr!) & then lunch in the mess, which was very welcome after freezing at the parade! Ben, Olivia & Charlie are all well. Ben spends most of his time outside the ice rink where there is a big snow pile (which is dumped there by the machine that smooths the ice regularly during the day). He and his friends make snow tunnels which they then crawl through. Crazy kids! The photo above is of Leigh playing for his team - The Icemen - he's the one with No 6,'Maverick' on his back (obviously!).

Just had to do a quick mid-week blog to show off my new fluffy snowboots! Comforatble to been worn as low as -40, and stylish too (well I think so atleast!). Ben & Olivia laughed and Charlie put them on and they came up to his bottom! Bring on the snow! Won our hockey match 4-0 last night (think the pre-match vodka jellies & lager in the changing room helped!) and am now playing again tonight - women against the Officers. It will end in tears - thiers!

Lots of halloween and hockey this week. As you know, halloween is such a huge thing out here (completely OTT & very funny!)- alot of people made a huge effort decorating their houses and gardens...someone here turned thier garden into a graveyard complete with grave stones...very spooky...another house led trick or treaters through a maze of cobwebs and skeletons in order to get to the goodies...I went completely out of my way and carved 3 pumpkins....and lit them...! It was good fun and the kids came home with bags so full they were dragging on the ground! The rest of the week it feels has been spent mostly at the ice-rink. Leigh and Ben have been training and I had a match against the Orange Oilers (an all male team!) They were very kind to us and didn't play hard at all...so we only lost 6-3...it could have been alot worse! Last night we went to the firework display here at Fort Whoop Up (!) which was very cold! Today we woke up to SNOW! So the kids were out first thing (apparently the novelty wears off, so all the boring ones keep telling us!). Twas only a smattering and its all gone now. A taste of things to come though. The other morning it was -10. So lots more hockey this week. Leigh is playing tomorrow, Ben on Tues, me on Weds, Leigh again on Thurs...it's starting to take over! Olivia was skating yesterday, she's really enjoying it now and today I got Charlie some 'Bob Skates'! Basically they are like the really old roller skates we used to have that buckle over the shoe, only these have two blades on the bottom so he will be bombing around the arena with the rest of them. No doubt he will have some top tips for Leigh and I aswell!

Blogging from The Rockies tonight...and having a fantastic weekend. We arrived on Friday eve here in Canmore and are staying in the same 'condo' which is gorgeous - 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, complete with fantastic views of the mountains and the condo is luxurious inside. Lucky us! (We will bring you here when you visit!) So friday eve was a family eve with delivery pizza - the kids were soo excited that someone was actually bringing a pizza to the house they were queueing at the door for it! Yesterday, we went looking for Grizzly Bears along the river in Banff - the kids thought that we were on the trail when we found some Gopher's Poo (which we told them was definately bear poo!) but were then fear sticken that they were going to be 'bear lunch'!.... We then headed off to see Lake Minnewanka (have been waiting all weekend to write that!) which was really beautiful, but it was soo cold we didn't stay too long. In the summer you can take a boat trip on the lake which is defiantely on the 'to do' list. Last night we all went to see the Canmore Eagles play ice hockey (picked up a few tips!) - a really good fun night out. The funniest bit was when the local pizza firm brought in a free pizza and the whole crowd went nuts fighting for it! (Sod the hockey!) Today we went back up Sulphur Mountain in the cable car and then went ice skating at the local rink afterwards. Olivia at last went on the ice and loved it. Ben was brilliant and was giving Leigh & I some tips on how to stop! (Git!) Charlie came on wearing his snow boots and ran around the rink (atleast 3 times!) using a frame - he was so happy! The plan is to head home tomorrow....but we might just stay an extra day....watch this space.....!

Definately getting colder here....no sign of snow yet though. So windy today the 10 ft trampoline has blown across the garden! Quiet week - kids at school, Leigh on the Prairie - same stuff, different country! So not much to blog about this week. Leigh's excercise finishes tomorrow; no more 'Med Mans' for the winter, so home life should at long last become a bit more stable. It does mean that we can now escape alot more over the long winter weekends; this weekend we are heading back to The Rockies which we are really looking forward to & we have a weekend in Calgary booked up for November. We are staying in the same 'condo' in The Rockies which is fab and I expect we will notice the drop in temperature. Ben & I are still playing hockey - we won our game again last week and I am playing again on Wed's. Ought to mention that my son got 'Sin Binned' during his training on friday for trying to start a fight with the kid who had just accidently knocked him over....(not sure whether to be worried or proud!) Leigh (or should I say 'Maverick'!) will be getting alot more 'ice-time' now he is off the Prairie. So next weeks blog should be alot more interesting...... Just leaves me to say a BIG 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my MUM'! - Have a fantastic day & we will Skype you tomorrow xxx Won't publish your age on the World Wide Web, but can't believe it's been 10 years since Leigh & I called you from Barbados on your 50th birthday!

Where has the week gone....Miraculously won our hockey match on Weds eve 3-1, though I'm not sure how much I contributed to the game! It was good fun though. Ben continues to improve on the ice and is really enjoying his hockey training. Olivia is still deciding whether to give it a go or not....she has a couple of weeks to decide and is going to keep us all guessing! Olivia has her first full day at school tomorrow (hip hip...!) She is more than ready for it - infact she has been from day 1 but as the Schools here do not have an Autumn half term, they are eased in gently as its a long time until the Christmas Hols. Charlie is very well too (feel I ought to give him a mention!). He is still going to nursery every morning and really enjoying it. Infact as we near the nursery I can't see him for dust! - no tearful farewells from any of my kids (starting to get a bit paranoid!). The weather here is still very warm and sunny, 22 degrees today so I think it will be a real shock when the cold weather really does set in.... In the absence of any new photo's this week I have included a photo of me & the children at Lake Louise in The Rockies. Also see footage of Ben below at hockey school this week. It's not obvious at first which one he is (he is not the one skating off at the begining), but you will have no doubt which one he is by the end of it!

Hello! Another pretty busy week. Leigh has been out on the Priaire a fair bit, but he has had most of the weekend off so we have had some nice family time. We got to watch the rugby too (what a great result!) and we have been out and about in Medicine Hat. Got the kids kitted out with snow boots, which are insulated to wear in temperatures as far below as -30! I shall go and get some for myself and Leigh (am already thinking of stitching him up with some big furry ones with wooden tennis bats attached!). Ben continues to improve on the ice. He is doing really well. We took Ben & Olivia on Saturday morning to the rink. Ben got invited to stay on for another session with the older group and Olivia flatly refused to get on the ice at all! It all started to go wrong for Olivia when I produced these black knee and elbow pads, which clearly weren't 'pink and barbie like'! Even the gorgeous white ice skates I got for her (luckily 2nd hand!) would not persuade her! Hopefully she will go next time. She say's she hasn't decided yet and can I stop going on about it!! Thanksgiving day today. Took the kids into Med Hat for a walk along The South Saskatchewan River - really pretty in the 'Fall'. Ben skating again tomorrow. I'm training Wed's and have my first match on Thurs. Yikes!

Pretty busy week....Leigh has been out on the Prairie quite alot and I have been at hockey school every evening - I have survived without injury and we had our first 'shinney' (game) on friday, which was great fun! A bit scarey when the puck comes your way (followed by 10 people chasing it!). That was followed by the pre-season party which was a good laugh too. There are some real characters here. Ben has started his hockey/skate school this weekend - he looks so cute in all his kit. Yesterday morning was his first time on the ice and he spent the majority of the hour on his hands and knees! He went back today and he was much improved, so I should think that in a few weeks he will be a speed demon! He is already talking about playing for The Montreal Tigers! See the short video of Ben skating today (below), I will take another in a few weeks time so we can see his progress. Hopefully Olivia will have skating lessons this week (she's too young for hockey - thank goodness!). Charlie can have a go too, but I think I'll introduce one at a time to the ice! Big Hello to Grandad Bob who is following my blog via his neighbour Ellen x

Very quiet week (hence the lack of blogging) with the exception of a dinner party on Weds eve, which was really good fun. So nice to go to someone elses house and be fed and wine'd! In true North American style another couple picked us up and drove to the neighbours house! (It was raining though - honest!) We have met some lovely people here and made lot's of new friends. Have had an even quieter weekend (speaking for myself that is - Leigh had a 'leave-pass' Fri eve and wobbled home on his bike in the early hours!). Managed to escape to Medicine Hat for a few hours yesterday afternoon, without the children and discovered this whole new shopping mall. Happy days! My turn for hockey school this week. Leigh survived his without injury so I am encouraged by that. The new 'Med Man' excercise has started so Leigh shall be back out on the Prairie alot again - just as the weather has turned grey, cold, wet and windy! Feels just like good old Blighty!

Sunday eve here....so shall let you know what we have been up to the last few days. Thursday eve we took part in a 'Progressive Supper Party' - which involved 16 couples from around the patch (where each couple goes to someone else's house for a dinner course, hosting a course themselves). Luckily we were hosting the pre-dinner drinks which was very easy! A really good night, though needless to say, Friday was a complete right-off! Poor Leigh had to get up a do a 10k charity run! Saturday was more productive - we went to a place called Elkwater, just the otherside of Medicine Hat - another National Park, similar to Echo Dale with a big lake and beach. Needless to say, the kids stripped off and were straight in the water - lots of fun had! Leigh is hoping to get his speedboat licence whilst we are here and there is a speedboat here we can have use of and take to Elkwater. Should be fun! Apparently when the lake freezes during winter you can go along for a sleigh ride, ice fishing or ice skating.... Leigh has finished skate school without injury and is embarking on hockey school next week. My turn the week after....then the 'hockey season' really starts. Apparently our first match is against the Men's team....I bet they are scared!

Back from an amazing long weekend in The Rockies. We stayed in a friends 'condo' in Canmore which was fabulous and visited Banff and Lake Louise. Banff is a really pretty town at the foot of mountains (with lovely shops selling Clinique!). We spent a little time there on Saturday before heading up to Lake Louise, which is a beautiful Lake, quite high up in the mountains with crystal clear water which is fed by the glaciers. On a sunny day the surrounding mountains reflect on the water and in the winter you can skate on the frozen lake. Just gorgeous! On Sunday we went back to Banff for a cable car ride up Sulphur Mountain (not my favourite pastime! - but I wouldn't have missed it for the world). We went up 7500 feet - Leigh and the kids loved it! The views were absolutely amazing - Rocky Mountains as far as the eye could see in every direction. We even had a snow ball fight at the top! All the peaks are covered in snow. When you come out to visit, we will take you! - If it's in the winter we will ski back down!

We have been at a 'Party in the Park' tonight. The Parachute Regt band were playing (all kinds of music) they were really good. Had a picnic listening to the music. Luckily the weather here is still warm and sunny (chilly in The Rockies though!). Leighs turn for skate school this week...he'll let you know how he get's on......

Well, I am survivng 'Skate School'! Infact I'm loving it! 2nd day in and am already managing to stand up :)) I have managed somehow to skate my way into the 'fastest eight', which I am really pleased about, however I have problems with stopping! - So I either hit the barrier, fall down (very gacefully, ofcourse) or keep going around in a circle until I eventually stop! The training is a bit intense and far too serious for my liking: we are already being taught how to 'cross over' (going round in a circle putting one foot over the other - with the hockey stick) and doing figures of 8 around cones...skating on one foot, then the other, but the most fun is going as fast as you can from one end of the arena to the other....all of which I can do pretty well.....I just can't stop at the end of it! But hey -that's why the barrier is there isn't it? Anyway, kids happy, Leigh home (at the moment!) Charlie started 'Kiddie Kare'this morning and had a lovely time.....so all is good. Took delivery of a climbing frame & trampoline today that someone here was selling, so once again our garden will no doubt become a 'kid magnet'! Will let you know how the rest of Skate School goes x

Lazy sunday.....and a bit cooler too, which is most welcome. Bike ride and swimming with the kids. Not alot else! Leigh still out on the Prairie (so he say's - he could be skiing in The Rockies for all I know!) Another video below...this one of Ben at a BMX/Skate park near Medicine Hat (note the lack of graffitti!)

Another hot sunny day (yawn!)...Olivia took some tests at school today - fine motor skills, speech, hearing etc and passed everything with flying colours. Leigh has emerged from the Prairie, albeit very briefly - he's back out tomorrow... Not seen much of Ben either! He's loving school, his new friends and the freedom he has here. Planning a long weekend in The Rockies (Canmore) one week today. Will be great to see more of Canada! Have a look at the short video below - I took this at the Splash Park about 2 weeks ago.

Very hot and sunny here today. Ben & Olivia's 2nd day at school. They seem very happy and have made lots of friends. Ben say's they have to sing the Canadian National Anthem every morning! Leigh back out on the Prairie not sure when he will emerge again!

Leigh's Blog

How impressive is this blogging thing?! I'm finally back off the Prairie for a few days so thought i'd add a few bits to what you have already heard from Kerry...life is great out here; work is busy but hugely enjoyable, kids are having a riot, Canadians are lovely (althouth not noted for their sense of humour!), Canada is an amazing place to be and all is good with the 'Tingey Tribe'. I'm back out on the Prairie tomorrow so will drop you all an update when I get back in - take care and don't get caught!! (Kerry here) - good start at school - Ben & Olivia have already settled in and even though it was only thier first day, both biked off into the distance leaving Charlie & I in a cloud of dust!

Sunny day here, took the kids swiming. Lots of fun. Leigh has emerged from the Prairie....looking very dirty & very tired. Apparently they have spent alot of time beating back fires, which I can well beleive given the state of him! First day of school for Ben & Olivia tomorrow. I am doing rather well at winding Ben up by singing songs about going back to school... Ben is going to school tomorrow, school tomorrow, school tomorrow....

Signed up for the ladies ice hockey team today! For $60 I get one weeks skate school and one weeks hockey school! After which, if I am still standing, I can join The Ralston Devils Ladies Ice Hockey Team......I'll let you know how I get on. Skate school starts 3rd September. Leigh has already joined the men's team! Kids are good. Mostly been at home today - Leigh still out on the Prairie somewhere! Don't see much of Ben - he's always out somewhere on his bike with his friends. School starts on Wednesday - Olivia is so excited! Ben, not so excited!

Sunday 26th Aug 07

Not much today....Leigh has mostly been on Prarie. Took the kids in to Medicine Hat for new shoes as they start school next week and have to have 'indoor and outdoor' footwear. A happy experience as you might imagine as I was on my own! At home for the rest of the day...very sunny one minute then the winds changed, hailing, raining, thundering the next - then sunshine again.

Plans with Marluth tomorrow (my new Spanish freind) will let you know what we get up to...

The Start

Hello! We've been here just over one month amazingly and I am going to create a diary of our adventures in Canada. If this works it will be great, and I can update weekly or more and add photo's. That's the plan anyway! All I need to do is remember to update this space!

Let's see how this goes......