A busy night

Lots to do tonight. First a trip next door to fix a ballvalve and a tap - ably assisted by my little helper.

Next clear some of the snow from around the yard, Luke did his best but tipped the salt all over the place!

Finally the finishing touches to the new sledge, I added some metal runners so it's good to go once we get a bit more snow.

Photo by email

Truckfest

Straight from work and off to Truckfest at Haydock Park. Loads to see and do, especially good were the monster trucks and motorbike stunts.

Scout Camp

Another great weekend at camp, Saturday we split up the Cubs and Scouts into three groups and and they worked to collect their firewood, arrange their cooking areas and make a meal. In their spare time they made themselves shelters - although none decided to sleep in them this year!




Cath and Luke helped me and William worked with the Scouts.

Luke really enjoyed the hammock I slung between two trees.
On Sunday all the boys went down to the lake and did water activities.

Put the first coat of stain onto the new paneling tonight. Boys are back at school tomorrow - Luke's first day so early to bed.

Luke enjoyed looking at the grass again. It had been rowed up but not baled (the baler arrived around 9 o'clock.

Whilst he got on with playing I fixed the panel in the patio window. Just needs treating now!

Bike ride

All four of us went for a ride tonight, just a short one up Broadith Lane and then back down Mill Lane but it was a start.

Hedgecutting

Finished off the hedge today. Took about five hours but lost three foot from the top and two from the width.



Also the big field was mown for the last time this year, looks like the weather will hold for the next few days - although it's being baled tomorrow. Les was making hay this morning, he cut the other day and turned it then baled it today.

Work on the House Again

A slow start this morning but eventually I got up and began to paint more woodwork. I had only done a couple of windows though and the rain began. The afternoon wasn't much better so after a little weeding (Cath had done most yesterday) I picked more cucumbers and some tomatoes and I'll spend the rest of the day cooking. Stuffed Marrow for tea!

Painting the house

A long overdue task - re-staining the woodwork. We finally had a good forecast today so after a quick cut of the grass first thing I set to. I did manage to get quite a bit done but it rained mid-afternoon. I'm now catching up with my holiday blogs! Tomorrow is supposed to be heavy rain but hopefully Sunday and Monday will be good.

Gulliver's World

We took the boys to Gulliver's World at Warrington. We have never been before so didn't know what to expect. The rides were good - as good a Camelot anyway with a couple of decent roller coasters and plenty for the children. We were a little disappointed at the choice of food, hot-dogs and chips but nothing else. Even the cafe was shut - surprising given that we're still in the school holidays.

A Trip on the Canal

Jonathan and Ruth have their new boat on the canal at Burnley. We joined them at the marina and then set off for a trip down the canal. the weather was lovely and although all the locks were still shut, the trip included a tunnel and plenty of bridges. It was so quiet, we didn't see another boat all day!

Southport Flower Show

The best day of August this year! At last we got to see a bit of sun. Not many gardens but plenty of floral displays in the marquees.

The Just So Festival

Today we visited the Just So festival at Barnswood Scout Campsite near Leek. It wasn't too bad but perhaps aimed more at younger children.
Luke slipped in the mud and it began to rain. The activities were artistic, making lanterns, painting etc but Luke enjoyed hooking ducks at the RSPB tent.

A walk towards Whittingham

Went for a walk tonight - what a trek! It was supposed to be a nice quiet walk in the country but ended up being a real hard slog.

Everything went well at first, we walked from home towards the hospital. on the way we found quite a number of old cherry trees - at least that's what we thought they were. Luke also found a huge mushroom.
As we neared the hospital we followed what must have been the path before it was diverted, it would have been better if the old stile had been removed. Next we walked towards the sewage works but the path was so overgrown that we couldn't get through.
I have complained to the council.
Once we had battled through we were met by a field of bullocks - and they weren't friendly! All this meant that our walk had to be cut short and so we ended up walking up Brabiner Lane and then back through a field of alpacas, much nicer than the cows!

The Kitchen Shelf

Finally got the new shelf up in the kitchen!

From 2010-08-09 - New shelf in Kitchen

ebay now for things to put on it!

Chicken Farm Loop

A walk tonight through the chicken farm.

More Rockies

Lake Louise, Glaciers and Athabasca Falls

Drive to Jasper

Bull Riding

Banff

Drive up to Red Deer

Calgary Zoo

This morning we decided to make the trip down to Calgary and visit the zoo. The weather was fine but very windy. The zoo is located by the river in Calgary just beneath the flight path of the airport, you get to see as many aeroplanes as animals!
The first part of the zoo is about Canadian wildlife - very interesting and all presented in realistic enclosures.
After that there are loads of other animals from around the world.

Finally there is a very large section about dinosaurs. It is very well put together and the models and surroundings are excellent.

On the way back we stopped off at Cochrane for some cough sweets for Luke.....

He had been coughing since we got into the car and we gave him his inhaler when we got home. By bed time he wasn't too bad so some more inhaler and off he went. By the time we decided to go to bed he had taken a turn for the worst and so off we went to Olds hospital. Two goes on the nebuliser and some steroids seemed to do the trick and off we went back home, it was two in the morning by now.

The Badlands

Cowboys and Helping on the Farm

Leaving for Canada