The End....

Yet again I am a few weeks behind, but so much has happened. Finally I did get round to sorting out and packing our bags from our lovely house on the prairie.

However before doing so we had a day out with Noo, Lexi and Harry at the Medicine Hat Spectrum Festival which was held in the old part of town. The weather was baking so ice cream was definitely order of the day. Harry & Fraser loved seeing the monster trucks which were parked up in the closed off street and then it was off to the petting farm and a quick pony ride for Tegan and Fraser. All the children loved stroking and holding the animals and it was hard work getting them out to look at everything else going on. We had arrived slightly later in the day so just missed the performances on the stage but we were all very happy to meander around in the sunshine. After a lovely stroll around the festival we finished off with the children cycling lovely pedal tractors that a local company makes out of disused metal such as sewing machines etc.

As we would be in the UK for Fraser's birthday we took 6 of his friends out bowling for the evening after school. Everyone started off quite keen for the 5 pin bowling but soon just wanted to go and play in the softplay area, leaving Noo and I to finish off the bowling. The bowling alley provided some hot dogs and chips (crisps) for everyone and I had brought along fruit and then the all important birthday cake. Once this had all be eaten it was back to running around and getting hot and sweaty. Fraser had a lovely time and it was really important that he had a party with all his close friends.

The week leading up to our departure from Canada was extremely busy. The Friday night friends invited us round for a curry dinner which was amazing and good entertainment. Chris had to leave early as he was on the prairie at 4am the following morning. Sunday was the Spectrum Festival, Monday Fraser's bowling and Sam T very kindly had a girls lunch for me - yet again more delicious food. Wednesday Chris finally came off the prairie and had a night of drinking with the boys - apparently he really had to as it was his last Xray Template. Thursday night we moved out of our house and in with Sam & Andy so that we could finally finish the house ready for 'March Out' on Friday lunchtime. Thursday was also getting Jinx to the vets in the correct timescale for her necessary injections prior to flying. Chris spent the day getting certain documentation signed off and closing down all his accounts at work. Thursday night Sam & Andy had a bbq for us and invited our good friends from the village - we had a fantastic evening although our looming departure made it a little sad. Friday was frantic getting the final bits & pieces out of the house, Tegan and Fraser had sports day and at midday we had the 'March Out' which is always a little nervous as if things are not in correct order you may get bills for items or damage and with such a tight timescale, our transport was coming at 3pm, it had to go well. Everything was fine so again Chris rushed up to camp to pay all final bills whilst I finally made it up to school to catch the end of Fraser doing his sports day events. It was really hard saying goodbye to lots of wonderful girls I had met in the village. It was then back to Sam & Andy's house to wait for our transport. This was the really hard part of leaving as our three sets of really good friends and their children were all there to send us off. The girls gave me a fantastic present - a book containing pictures of our time in Canada and some of the lovely memories of the special scenery that can only be found in Canada and on the prairie. So with many tears and lots of hugs we finally got onto our transport off to Calgary airport.

We stayed at the Delta Hotel which is located at Calgary airport on the Friday night as we were due to fly 2pm Saturday but had to make sure we got Jinx to the cargo department during the morning. So Friday night we went to the hotel bar to have supper and watch the Stanley Cup on their big screen, much to Fraser's delight. Unfortunately we missed the final of the Stanley Cup as it went to the 7th game which was played a couple of days later when we were in the UK - Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks.

Saturday morning Chris took Jinx for a walk to stretch her legs before her 12 hour journey in her crate. One of the military personnel, who live in Calgary and who's job it is to help all the incoming/outgoing troops and families move in and out of Canada, kindly helped me with transporting Jinx to the cargo department which is on the opposite side of the airport. After a fairly traumatic couple of hours trying to find the correct department/bay I eventually got Jinx checked in and had to leave her - hoping that she would make it onto our flight. Before I knew it we were all checked in and waiting for our flight, unfortunately it was delayed 2 hours, but the time passed quickly and then we were boarding. After checking that Jinx was also on board I could relax and hope that the tv's worked for Tegan and Fraser. The flight passed fairly painlessly as food was served and Tegan and Fraser watched their films. We landed at 8.30am UK time and after collecting all our bags we made our way to get the hire car. Fraser asked 'what are all those old cars doing on the road' - pointing to black cabs - he had never seen them before. We collected the hire car and made our way to the animal reception in order to collect Jinx. After a wait due to customs checking all her paperwork she was finally reunited with us and off we set to Collingbourne Ducis.
Although Chris's next job will be at Minley, Fleet we made the choice to privately rent a house in Collingbourne Ducis, Marlborough. This decision in an attempt to give Tegan and Fraser continuity of their schooling at Collingbourne Primary School which is a lovely village school set next door to the cricket pitch and surrounded with horse paddocks. We had never seen the house except some pictures that our friend Les sent to us and all of Noo's descriptions of the house and village - so our first stop back in the UK was to the house in order to drop of all the bags and have a quick look around.

So for the last 3 weeks we have been unpacking boxes as we received all our boxes that had been in storage for 2 years and all the Canadian boxes. It has been a time for a massive clear out of 15 years worth of 'stuff' that we have carted around - and there is not enough storage space in the house. Tegan and Fraser had two weeks off school before starting at Collingbourne Primary school - they have now been there for 1 1/2 weeks and have settled in amazingly well.

It is lovely running with Jinx around the gorgeous countryside that is Collingbourne Ducis and the surrounding villages although I am not used to hills. It is a natural thing to compare UK with our life in Canada - if anyone has the opportunity to live in Canada I would definitely recommend it as we have had an amazing two years and wouldn't swop it for anything. It was the first time that we left a posting where we really didn't want to leave. So is this the end of Canada for us - well for a start many of our good friends intend to make Canada their permanent home so always a good holiday destination. As for the Leonards we shall wait and see..... We have had an amazing adventure living on the Prairie in Alberta - living the Canadian Dream.

Busy Weekend Eating & Drinking...

So with two weeks left in Canada we really should be sorting out our quarter, cleaning, clearing out the rubbish, sorting out the sheds, weeding the garden and so the list goes on - however we have been out eating and drinking.

Tue morning Ralston School held a pancake breakfast for all the students and parents from 8am to 9am. A first happened in our house that morning, Tegan and Fraser were up and dressed ready to go by 7.15am needless to say we were one of the first to be at the school. We were just beaten by our friend Noo, Lexi and Harry - which was quite astonishing as Noo is not known for being on time!! Tegan and Fraser both tucked into numerous pancakes, maple syrup and sausages.

Now that the weather has finally picked up and the snow really has all gone I am able to run around the prairie again much to Jinx's delight. There has become quite a little group of us who all drop the kids off at school and then head out on the different trails around the village. For the last 3 weeks several girls have been taking part in the biggest looser - I managed to put on weight the first week so the running is definitely helping.

Fri night Chris and I were off out with all '6' group - the guys that Chris works with and their wives/girlfriends. We went to Moxi's in Medicine Hat to have some food and ended up staying there until the early hours in the morning and then decided to go dancing at Ralphs. The boys presented Chris with a very unique leaving present - whatever it is Chris is over the moon and thinks its great. The girls kindly gave me a couple of new running T shirts with Canada motifs, a new baseball cap and a fab photo book of Medicine Hat. We had a brilliant night full of laughs, lots of drink, dancing and finished off calling into Tim Hortons for takeout coffee & doughnuts!

Needless to say Chris didn't manage to spring out of bed on Saturday morning but managed to surface early afternoon. The day soon disappeared and we were then off out again - to Seafood Night at the mess. The theme was Pirates. Once again Noo (along with a team of helpers) transformed the mess into an amazing stage of pirate treasurer, boardwalks, ponds, twinkly lights, palm trees, pirate flags and lots & lots of fish hanging from the ceiling!!! Virtually everyone of the 150 guest dressed up with lots of amazing costumes - there were lots of Jack Sparrow's.


Our starters were served at the table - a very large lobster. Chris was more than happy as I cannot eat lobster so he lucked in with 2. We then went to the buffet were more fish was to be had along with salads and roast beef. During the dinner there was a sudden uproar and several pirates lunged into the centre of the dinning room for a dual with several having very long winded deaths. Chris left the evening very early as Prairie Thunder one was starting in the early hours of Sunday morning along with John who is Chris's successor. So Lucille (John's wife) and I decided to carry on the party along with friends.


It was very hard introducing Lucille to new people when they were all in such good fancy dress outfits, she will never recognise anyone. Especially the colourful parrot.


Sunday was a calm day with a dog walk and then purchasing new cowboy boots for Tegan and Fraser with 'room to grow' in them once we are back in the UK.

Three Weeks To Go...

Sun 22 May - This time in 3 weeks we will be off the plane and back in the UK - time is really going far too quickly. So we are doing all the usual things that need to be completed before another posting - cancelling tv, internet, telephone providers, closing bank accounts (not that there has ever been any money in there) and trying to sell things that we do not wish to take back to the UK. The list of 'things to do' is ever increasing including all of Jinx's documentation but I am sure we will get there.

Thursday night we had the Black Devils end of season party - slightly late but it was the first date we could all get together. Sam kindly opened her house for 18 of us to turn up have a bbq and sit round the fire pit which luckily kept all the mosquito's away. It was a great night full of girlie chat, witty poetry by Jilly (who was the Blacks Captain) great food & drink and fun playing with the fire pit the straddlers finally left just after 1am - I think we may have woken a few people up on our walk home!

Friday lunchtime saw Chris's leaving lunch held at the mess along with Tom who is leaving at the same time. Lunch was a curry which is always lovely as there are no curry houses in Medicine Hat. Richard was given the task of doing Chris's leaving speech and took the opportunity to 'highlight' some of Chris's finer points over the last 2 years - not much to do with the prairie!! Stuart (commander) presented Chris with a beautiful silver buffalo as a presentation piece and I really do like it for a change. After lunch the guys took up their places in the bar and there they remained until late evening.





The weekend has been a mixture of work on the prairie and socialising. Sam D, Noo and I went to see Grease sing-a-long at the Monarch Theatre in downtown Medicine Hat. Unfortunately they had technical difficulties and the sing-a-long bit didn't work, so they played the movie and the audience sang along anyway. Good fun - always loved the movie. Sunday night was spent at friends for a bbq - my diet, ready for our return to the UK, keeps being sabotaged.

Monday Tegan and Fraser are not at school which doesn't help my intent to start cleaning the house - oh well.

Moving/Drag Racing/Sheila & Alex/General Fraser....

Monday 2nd May - The packers arrived. I cannot believe that it is our turn to move. During our time in Ralston you watch many removal vans arrive around the village and all of a sudden that truck turns up at 4 Detrick Avenue. Luckily the sun was shinning that day so perfect for the guys to be packing boxes and moving outside, especially as there isn't much room in our house when you add an extra 4 guys and lots of boxes. Although I had packed several boxes it still took them most of the morning to pack, along with quite a few coffee breaks. So with all our belongings on their way back to the UK we are living out of suitcases and the remaining army furniture which is very useful and making the whole process much easier. Slowly we are selling off all the extra things that we have bought whilst in Canada that will not work in the UK.

So with an empty house you would think I have lots of time on my hands, as usual my days fly by. There has been lots of 'socialising' over the last couple of weeks mostly around food and drink, but the summer seems to have arrived in Ralston along with the ever increasing swarms of mosquitos.
At the end of April Kindergarten mums were invited into school for a 'mothers day tea'. All the children had drawn pictures of their mummys and had to stand on stage and say what was special about their mummys. Fraser did a great picture and actually managed to stand on stage and speak, I am still suprised how shy he is when at school. We were then invited back to the classrooms for strawberries and ice cream.





This weekend we have had a fab time - 13 May. Friday night we all went Drag Racing. We didn't quite know what to expect. As we have learnt during our time in Canada most things are very laid back and children are well looked after, hence our entrance was $5 each for Chris and I and the children were free, along with being given stickers. The races started at 7pm so we took our places on the bleachers and watched in amusement as all sorts of cars lined up to race one another. There was everything from normal road cars, trucks & motorbikes (all with fast engines) to proper drag cars and even a hearse - hilarious. We left at 8.30pm although the races went on until 10pm - by this time the wind had increased and was a little cold, but great fun.

Saturday morning Chris was in work and I frantically got our house ready, made easier by not so many things in the house, as Chris's cousin Sheila and her husband had very kindly flown in from Vancouver for the weekend. Sheila and Alex arrived mid afternoon after landing at Calgary and driving down, they did remark at the lack of scenery whilst driving through the prairie. We had a great afternoon & evening catching up. Sunday morning after a lazy breakfast we all went to Echo Dale Park for a dog walk then returned for a Sunday late lunch. Vancouver Canucks were playing San Jose Sharks (ice hockey) for which Alex is a big canucks fan so Fraser was more than happy to watch the hockey. Unfortunately Alex and Sheila had to leave for the drive back to Calgary during the 3rd period, at the point of leaving the Canucks were loosing - luckily whilst driving the Cancuks scored 2 more goals and Alex was very happy. We had a wonderful 28hours together and very much appreciated their journey and effort to come and visit us before we return to the UK.

Mon 16 May - Kindergarten children have recently all been learning about transport and were set a task to build a mode of transport from boxes and there was to be a parade in the school gym. So Chris took the project to hand and with a small help from Fraser produced General Fraser's jeep. It was a great morning watching all the children walk around the gym with their different types of transport, lots of tanks funnily enough. After playing a few games in their boxes it was time to get on with some lessons. Fraser has mentioned how are we going to get his jeep on the aeroplane - haven't told him it is going to the recycling!

R.M.S. Titanic ...

Thu 28 Apr - ,After checking out of the Falcon Crest at Canmore we drove in pretty hideous conditions, to Calgary. We still cannot believe that it is snowing so much, at this rate the ski slopes will remain open until the end of May.

We were off to visit the Telus Science Museum to see the White Star Line - Titanic exhibition. The science museum has removed all it other exhibits and only has the Titanic exhibition through to the end of summer. Both Tegan and Fraser were really keen to go as several of their friends have been and told them about it. So an educational day out - they might retain some of the information?

On our entrance each one of us was given a different 'Boarding Pass' which on the reverse had details of who we were, age, where we were from, accompanied by, the class that we travelled and our reason for travelling. At the end of the exhibition there was a large wall showing how many people in each class or crew that either lived or died. Luckily Tegan, Fraser and myself all survived - Chris was not so fortunate.

We started off by going to the theatre room to listen to a presentation about the liner and those people that were heroes or people, predominately men, who were portrayed cowards. There were many amazing stories. The captain Edward John Smith was persuaded by White Star Line to make one more voyage before his retirement - as all captains do he went down with his ship.



The exhibition included many artifacts that have been recovered from the liner sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Including in one of the cabinets were bottles that had once contained wine along with 3 bottles of champagne that still had their eroded corks in and half full of champagne - although a little salty maybe!

After a fascinating time at the Telus museum we jumped into the car and headed back to Ralston, luckily the weather had calmed down and the journey home was fine. This was our last time in the Rocky Mountains which we will certainly miss, the mountains are always breadth taking and we have a lot of amazing memories from our time staying there.

Monday 2 May - the packers arrive, so Sat & Sun will be spent throwing things into boxes - nothing like last minute preparation for the Leonards.

Last Day Skiing at Sunshine...

Snowwhite is missing one of her seven dwarfs - he came skiing today!!












Well for our last day skiing at Sunshine Village we had a full day of snow which started about 11am and didn't stop all day. However it made for awesome skiing as there was glorious powder on the slopes and still the mountain was fairly empty. Tegan and Fraser both skied well and we played amongst the trees finding lots of jumps to their joy and cries from me as I went over them. During the morning we skied the top part of the mountain and then as the cloud came in went down lower to ski Rollercoaster and several other runs of Wolverine chair lift. Rollercoaster is one of the kids favourites as it is a small run amongst the trees and all about 'bumps and lumps'.

What has become the norm we left the mountain and after a quick stop in Canmore headed for the hot tub which we sat in with snow falling on our heads, although it felt considerably warmer than when we skied during February when temperatures were -30degrees and below.

Farewell to Sunshine....

Today (Tue 26 April) we woke up for our penultimate day of skiing in the Rocky Mountains. To our joy the sun was trying to appear and more to our surprise it was warm as we parked up at Sunshine Village car park - a first as before now we have been putting on our ski boots in minus lots. Friends have very kindly lent us their VIP parking pass which enabled us to park very near to the lifts. So onto the gondola we jumped and headed up the mountain. The first part of the morning we had snow showers but still wonderful skiing, especially as the mountain was so empty. After lunch the sun came out with blue skies which just made the whole ski experience great, especially as Tegan and Fraser just wanted to go over jumps.

After leaving the mountain we popped into Banff and then headed back to the Falcon Crest for a bit of hot tubing with a view of the three sister mountains. Then back to our room for a bbq and to watch the Stanley Cup hockey games - we have become so Canadian.