September 30th

11pm: One plant that hasn't suffered during the recent cold snap is the Chocolate Mint - I harvested a big bunch of it today & made it into Belgian Chocolate chip Mint ice cream - truly delicious.

September 29th

8pm: A rare chance for Nicky & I to get out for a meal in Canmore! We headed down to Chef's Studio Japan - one of a number of excellent Sushi places in Canmore. It is run by a friend of mine - Yoshi, and we waited on by another friend Masa (both of Canmore football fame). The food was good & we ended the evening in the bar at The Wood. Great to get out & enjoy some quiet time sans kiddies.

September 28th

8pm: Spent this evening with Tabby & Charlie making mixes for their new CD player. They have got the music bug big time, wonder how long they will be listening to my taste in music before peer pressure takes over.

September 27th

10pm: The sudden warm weather has brought out the neighbourhood moths for a final fling before winter sets in. This beautiful specimen  was sitting on the hall floor as I locked up this evening.

September 26th

September 25th

4pm: We enjoyed a day out in Calgary today, fabulous sunny weather at last. After lunch in Kensington, at a really nice Vietnamese (what else in YYC) restaurant - we made our way over to Inglewood. Inglewood is a developing neighbourhood with funky little arty shops & a Harley Davidson dealership where a glamour photo shoot was going on in the parking lot where we had left our car. It involved gleaming bikes &  a scantily dressed young lady! The kids were a bit bemused by it all..........not something you see every day.

September 24th

5pm: Finally a chance to see young Gavin, George & Lesley's new son. We missed the dramatic birth as we were in Oregon & then the new family headed off to Rosland in BC for a month. So today it was great to meet him. He is off course, super cute & was impeccably behaved. Looking forward to watching him grow up...

September 23rd

8pm: On my way back from Calgary & golf again, the sun going down the cow's in their pasture somewhere between the Springbank Airport & Morley. Prime Alberta beef!

September 22nd

4pm: Yes, again my favourite viewpoint as I drive out of Calgary after a day's work. The snowy cold weather has moved out & it's more like a Fall day again, the colours are beautiful & the view towards the Rockies is wonderful.

September 21st

8am: Ah yes! My prediction from yesterday was true - a pretty decent snowfall overnight, not too cold though so it probably won't hang around. The joys of scraping, defrosting & warming up the cars beckon!

September 20th

2pm: The cold weather continues, I think we've got some snow on the way judging by the low temperatures & the suffocating clouds wreathing the valley (here obscuring the East End of Rundle).

September 19th

September 18th

4pm: Driving back from Banff to Canmore, the recent snow evident on the Three Sisters. We were in Banff for Tabby's climbing lessons today - she seemed to enjoy it. I have to say by the age of nearly 6, she has participated in -  by a comparative stage - a load more things than I probably ever did. Climbing, skiing, XC skiing, skating, minor soccer, mountain biking, hiking - the list is endless. I wonder what I had done by the time I was 6 years old & living in sleepy old Bradford-on-Avon back in the UK.

September 17th

11pm: On the way back from Vancouver the other day, I picked up this little birthday present for my boy Charlie. He will be 3 on Sunday - I suspect I might get as much enjoyment out of this remote controlled helicopter as he will!

September 16th

8pm: Back from the warmth of Vancouver to snow in Canmore. Just to compound a miserable, tepid summer we are now getting snow here already. I suspect any remaining plant life in my back garden is on its last legs by now!

September 15th

5pm: I'm on the golf course again, this time with a trio of work colleagues at the Furry Creek course near Vancouver. It was a nice day, I started out in totally hopeless mode but by the end of the round was hitting the ball quite well, it's not really my cup of tea - but once in a while, especially if it is paid for by someone else - well I can abide it. Ended up in a nice restaurant in Vancouver - Chambar is well known, well respected & the food was very good.

September 14th

September 13th

September 12th

September 11th

September 10th

September 9th

September 8th

September 7th

September 6th

1pm: Finally the weather warmed up a smidgen & we had a nice little Bank Holiday hike up to Heart Creek near Lac des Arcs. Negotiating our way round large, meandering groups of Chinese day-trippers from Calgary - we eventually had the trail to ourselves. The kids enjoyed going off trail & hiking up some steep inclines. On the way back I snapped this beautiful Astarte Fritillary enjoying some rare sun.

September 5th

7pm: Yesterday's rain continued overnight & as the temperature dropped, the snow settled on the mountains opposite us in the valley. Pretty? - undoubtedly. Welcome in the first week of September? - no!

September 4th

12.15pm: We headed up to Kananaskis country today, I wanted to do a bit of fishing & we have a favourite spot on Mud Lake . Well the day started off quite fine, but about an hour into the trip the skies predictably darkened, the thunder rang out around the mountains ( much to the discomfort of poor Charlie) and the rain poured down with a vengeance. End of trip!

September 3rd

7pm: Picked up a load of beautiful fruit & vegetables in Calgary today after I finished work. Despite the dreadful summer we had here in Alberta, neighbouring BC can usually be relied on to provide us with all kinds of goodies. Here are some amazing peppers - habaneros, jalapenos, scotch bonnets & pimentos - will be a spicy weekend for sure.

September 2nd

7pm: Nicky got home today, very happy to have her back & the kids were as excited as I have seen them. They have been impeccably behaved. I had to dash off to take charge of the final Canmore Rose & Crown game of the season. The team did well this year, but I didn't really have much time to do the head coach job justice, with work, illness & holidays. I have decided to pack it in for next season, I truly love my football but with a young family & hectic job it was playing very much second fiddle.

September 1st

9pm: The nights slowly draw in, but we get some magnificent sunsets. I just happened to look up from the TV this evening & spot the sun on the peaks - it was a rush to find the camera, but i got the shot in before the sun disappeared & the mountains became shadow once more.