A Year in Alberta

  We've been here in Canada for 6 and a half weeks now. And I have been blessed/gifted with time and space to think. Ideas are coming about what I want my future to look like.  Firstly, before sharing my ideas, I need to write down what I believe the best way is to achieve ones hope for the future. When you know what you want to become like, start doing those things, or at least start leaning in that direction. The changes I would like to make to become a better person are: Laugh more. I often find things funny but don't actually laugh. I will start laughing more. Spend more time in nature. Being here in the foothills of the Rockies, makes me want to snorkel more, hike more, bike more, and take the kids on these adventures. Establish an annual men's camping trip (I reckon Dean will be key in getting it going with me), maybe at Melrose? Yorkes? That's all for now.

  I love being in the Canadian Rockies. Everything is so awe-inspiring. But I've been approaching it from a place of fear. Awe can do that. It is so tremendous, that it can be hard to wrap one's head around.  But today I had an epiphany. I can approach these mountains, this year in Canada from a place of wonder. I want to dance all year long. I want to try all the things. I want to throw open the cage and let my soul soar free and unencumbered. No longer will fear hold me back. I will climb the mountains. I will ride the horses (even if they throw me off). I will be awestruck by the majesty of the bear (instead of scared).  Wonder, instead of fear. Living here, and loving it; instead of just missing home. Amen to trying new things and being open to new experiences.

It is cold and dark here, though the sun is rising earlier and setting later each day. It's not getting much warmer though (-32 when I dropped the kids at the bus this morning). The novelty of snow has worn off and Sully has finally started complaining about school (meaning that he is back to his old self again). The honeymoon is officially over. It's kinda nice, in a way, it means that we are now here, finally fully present in Canada. We are now living here, instead of pseudo-holidaying. Bonnie is working full-time, and I am menu planning, shopping, cleaning, baking (but Bonnie somehow still ends up cooking most dinners. I've tried to take this job off her I swear). I'm looking forward to taking the boys to the mountains to snowboard, that'll be something new and exciting. Also, the change of season will be fun to see a different version of Alberta.

I thought I was a 'gung-ho, risk-loving, wild dad' who laughed in the face of danger and (metaphorically) threw his kids into shark infested waters in order for them to learn how to hunt and swim at the same time. I have never shied away from my kids riding bikes on the street, playing cricket with the hard ball, playing out of sight at Kuitpo Forest, etc.  However, coming to Canada has been a real shock to my self-image as a parent. I keep on wanting them to stop doing certain activities that other people seem fine with. Basically it's all the stuff that I didn't so as a kid. Can they run up and slide down staircases (in people's houses)? Can they go outside in the cold with hardly any snow gear on? Can they ride horses even though people keep getting thrown off? My initial response continually seems to be: "Take it easy" and I don't know how I feel about this. I want my children to have a great, (acceptable) risk filled life. I grew up water skiing a...

I finally feel settled in Canada. Bonnie has steady work, I have been filling my days with purposeful activities, the kids seem happy in school. We had dinner at a new friends house last night (thanks Jess and Anthony), and that was something we had been hoping for. The first 3 weeks have been crazy, with broken arms and shifting goal posts around work and a vehicle. But things seem to have stabilised. I am hopeful that this will be a great year, and that we will really look back on it fondly. No regrets. I need to focus on our 3 core goals: 1: Closer connection to family, 2: Bond with this part of the world, 3: Adventure. Remembering these goals will help me to make good choices about what we do with our time here, and not to just be a miser counting pennies and not spending any time or money.

 It is sooo dry here, like 14% humidity dry. Your skin dries up, tea towels are bone dry, and brown sugar loses its moisture. I feel parched all the time, and feel like I can't drink enough water. The landscape itself is dry at the moment. Winter is the snow season, and there hasn't been any real snow since November. This snow is important as when it melts it feeds the rivers, and recharges the aquifers. Also, where we are living the bore water is gross; good for cleaning with, but not for drinking. So we need to buy 20L jugs of water. It is interesting to watch water consumption going in a more visible way. Like going camping and only having your jerry cans. Water is something I think about in Australia, but not to the same extent. I always thought I lived in a dry part of the world (and it is); but having the ocean means that the humidity level is generally lovely, and you can desalinate the ocean to top up city water supplies. Not so in Alberta. What they've got is what ...