Every evening last week Chris came home and I promptly left carrying a very large and heavy bag packed with all 'the gear' for ice hockey including a long stick which apparently I am going to be able to hit a puk with in the right direction of my opponents net. On Monday night after half an hour of huffing and puffing I was finally ready to hit the ice. There was approximately 20 nervous girls ready to take to the ice and learn the tricks of the trade for playing ice hockey. We had a very good trainer who came up from Medicine Hat for the 5 nights to give us training which was a lot to take in in such a short space of time. Before having all the training I would have said I could sk
ate however when trying to skate with so much padding, wheelding a stick and trying to stay upright at speed has been very entertaining. The one hour lessons went with surprising speed, some nights more positive than others as I often found I was stronger on one leg and when I tried to do the same move on the other leg soon fell flat on my face. But it has been a great week, very very tiring, but I am so looking forward to playing during the winter. At the end of the month I have another weeks lessons on the actual game of ice hockey and learning all the rules etc. Then on the Friday night we all go to the pub to find out if we are playing for the White or Red Devils which are the 2 ladies teams for Ralston. Then the season starts and we have to train every Wed night with a game every other Thursday. Once I know what team I am in I get my own shirt with my number and name on - I might frame it in 2 years time if it is still in one piece.Saturday night we attended a Progressive Supper around the village. For those of you who do not know what this - there were 17 couples who were all told where to go for their starters with one couple in each group making a starter, but you do not know who your guests are going to be. Then during the first course you open an envelope which tells all the couples where to go for main course each couple being sent to a different house, then the envelope opening is repeated for dessert and finally everyone met up at the Com
manders house for liquors and coffee. The weather Saturday night was perfect for wondering around the village from house to house with people steadily getting louder and merrier as the night progressed. Chris, myself and Sam T (Andy had gone back to the UK) were doing the starter at our house. So Sam sorted out the food and Chris was incharge of cocktails - as you can see by the picture it involved a very large melon which was hollowed out and filled with vodka, orange juice and a bottle of champagne. The other rule of the supper is that all opened bottles are taken along with you to the next house, so Chris had to 'griz it' round the village carrying a melon which kept being topped up at each house - needless to say by the end of the evening there was a potent mixture being consumed by the foolish! It was a great evening with a lot of merry people leaving the Commanders house at 1am, unfortunately Chris had to be on the prairie early the following morning as the final Medman of the season started - I think it was a long and painful day for him.
