The back window

May 6

April 8

March

February

Coyotes

Snowshoe Hare

Spring Break

We charged through the mountains, down the Icefields Parkway, out to Calgary and back up to Edmonton. Highlights included Johnston Canyon; a days skiing at Sunshine; a night with Marilyn in Canmore; Calgary Zoo; chasing squirrels and eating out in Calgary (events not connected); Strathcona Market in Edmonton; and staying with Myra who is on exchange from Ballarat. It was great to catch up with Anita Hamilton who was out from Deakin doing university business.

Icefields Parkway

George spent the best part of an hour in Banff hunting the souvenir shops for a suitable baby moose for the very pregnant and overdue Marvin (the Marvellous Moose). He is pleased to announce the safe arrival of Mini Marvin Jnr. who has been welcomed into the family.

George a-huntin' baby Moose.

Anita in sunny Edmonton moments before heading for home.

Upon our return to Barrhead, a huge amount of snow had melted. We discovered that the back deck has a lower level and the local tennis courts are nearly ready for action. Loads of birds are starting to appear from wherever they have been for the last six months.

Life returns to normal as school begins again after the ten day break and Amanda has signed up for 4-5 shifts a week at Shepherd Care. The boys have signed up for soccer. The days are noticeably longer.

In 11 weeks we'll be in Paris.

Staff Car Rally and Scavenger Hunt

The School staff social committee organised an ingenious and very successful event before Spring Break. I found myself in Margie’s car with Laurin and Nadine moving with speed around town doing a range of obscure things. We had our photo taken by a nice man in a beret who spoke no English in front of the town’s Great Blue Heron statue and delivered four lines of ‘I Come from a Land Down Under’ to the Barmaid at the Neighbourhood Inn. We ended at the Legion getting excited about meat draws, the free spread and avoiding the threat of Karoake. A small collection of the weakies succumbed to peer pressure to finish off the night with a startling rendition of Sylvia’s Mother by Dr. Hook.

After having participated in this unique event, I can report that:

• It was Agnes Schilling (not Angus) who died in 1999 and lies in the Barrhead cemetery
• The Neighbourhood Inn was not founded in 1983.
• The Mayor of Barrhead will happily provide you with his signature upon learning that it is worth 20 points when a pink hair-tie is worth only 5.
• Blair’s music collection boasts a ‘Best of Elvis’ CD
• The Albertan system of numbering Streets, Avenues and Houses still confounds people who have been living here all their lives
• It is possible to kill two songs that died a long time ago in one night
  
• The Legion is looking like a genuine contender for our Farewell Party in December

At home, Timmy and Chloe tie the knot

Our congratulations and love go out to Timmy and Chloe who were married at Meredith last weekend.

We've just received these photos (thanks Andrew) and we are really sorry to have missed it. Tears were shed in Barrhead.

Best we can do is throw a few photos on the blog to celebrate.

The wedding appears to have been celebrated in classic Timbo style.

Glorious setting... nice suit! And of course, Chloe... ravishing.