Tuesday 24th April
I've got hooked on a local TV comedy show called "Corner Gas" which is set in a mythical town called "Dog River". The real town which is used for the series is called Roleau and is about 30 mins from Moose Jaw. We went to visit it and the whole film set was boarded up for the winter! However meet one of the film crew and took a few pics.

Tuesday 24th April
Went to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, about 4 hours away. Amazing prairies all the way stretching for miles.

Stayed in this B&B and went to the hot mineral springs.

Met a group of elderly ladies who belonged to a club called the "Red Hats".

The springs were so good we went back again in the evening.

Monday 23rd "The Branding"
I had never been to anything like this before. The people who own this ranch were friends of Dave and Stacey's.
Branding is an process where calves are inoculated, castrated and branded all in the one operation. I hope it isn't as painful for these 100 odd calves as it sounds! This went on for four or five hours until they were all done and then we all had this magnificent supper together.
These are good, hardworking, openhearted folk. It was a privilege to be with them. Drove back to Medicine Hat as the sun was setting over the prairies.

Monday 23rd April
Went to Elkwater which is a beautifully quiet little spot about 40 minutes from Medicine Hat. Had lunch and went for a stroll. Still some signs of snow on the ground here but a lovely morning. We left about 1.00pm because we had been invited to a "branding" at a local ranch.

Sunday 22nd April.
Preached in "The Link" (Dave & Stacey's church) on Sunday morning. Very relaxed two hour service so there's no pressure of time. Young and rapidly growing church filled with young families which has outgrown its present building and will be moving in a couple of weeks into bigger premises. This is me with Pastor Mike and his wife, Krystal.
After church Pamela and Troy arrived with the kids. Good to see them again Troy has applied to the RCMP but it's a long process. Hope the Mounties do get their man eventually.

Went to the Medicine Hat pool yesterday for a swim. Fantastic pool complex, jacuzzi, wave maker, steam room, water slides etc. etc.. $9.50 for four people all day! (Divide that by two for British pounds)


Caleb came home and crashed out!

Just taking it easy. Caleb hasn't been too well over the last couple of days but is recovering. He is happy with any sort of ball, big or small and any shape!

Saturday 14th April.
Only in Canada!
Dave decided to buy a Wii, but there is a big shortage of them here and they are rationed out to selected stores. We heard that Canadian Superstore were getting a delivery of 18 on Saturday morning so we arrived at 7.00am, (an hour before the store opened). Gradually a small group of people gathered all waiting to buy a Wii. At about 7.45 the store manager comes out and gives everybody a $30 discount voucher! And these guys have been queuing up to buy them anyway! Only in Canada!

Thursday 12th April.
Dave had to work night shift tonight but he called in on a break. This is him with his gran. Caleb still a major source of entertainment!

Wednesday 11th April
Arrived in Medicine Hat, Alberta on Wednesday after a good 9 hour flight from Gatwick. Dave, Stacey and Caleb picked us up at Calgary Airport. Stopped for a bite on the way home to Medicine Hat. The Hat is basking in the usual clear skies and starting to warm up after a cold spell. This is the City Hall. Caleb getting big and very active and talkative!

Yesterday we had Lilian's birthday party. Her birthday isn't for another few days but we are leaving to see Dave and Stacey in Canada tomorrow so we had the celebrations early. Winnie, Pearl & Archie, and Rick, Katie and Reuben were all there.

After Sunday/Birthday lunch we all had an Easter Egg painting competition and after judging we went out to the back garden and tossed them! Archie came out a clear winner as the longest surving egg!

Afterwards we went inside and Lilian opened her birthday gifts.

The second part of her birthday party will be in Medicine Hat later on in the week with Dave, Stacey and Caleb. Looking forward very much to seeing them all again although they tell me they have two feet of snow at the minute!

Reuben had his first time in his high chair at the table with the rest of us!

Yesterday was Easter Morning! Christ is Risen! Lovely clear warm day. Lot's of the church's young folk away on a YF weekend, but church still pretty well filled.

On Saturday morning Lilian and I went down to Rick and Katie's in Greyabbey to babysit Reuben for a couple of hours while Rick and Katie got the church prepared for a Praise Evening that night.

Lovely warm day so I went up for a walk around the abbey at the top of the village. Lots of parents and children having Easter picnics. Don't know what the monks would have thought!

Even with the children about, there is always a quiet serenity about the abbey.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.


Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

A. E. Housman (1859–1936).