Winter Wonderland

Yes, winter has arrived in Cochrane! It started snowing last Monday night. I wasn't really looking forward to Tuesday morning because I knew the traffic was going to be horrible. (it always is when it's the first snow)
Got up at 4:30 and there was already more then 10 cm of snow on the ground. Drove out of the garage and there I was, stuck on the street... (we live on a hill and I couldn't get up the hill). This happens when you don't buy a 4WD... Olli to the rescue!! But no luck... We took Olli's car to bring me to the C-train. No luck either. So we had 2 cars on the street and not one of them was able to get up the hill.
Luckily at around 7, our neighbourhood comes alive and 2 friendly neighbours gave me a push up the hill!
We had light snow for 3 days and temperatures are still between -15 and -25. On Tuesday we go to a low of -30... And as I write this update it's still snowing and another 5 cm is expected...
What exciting things are coming up? My mom is coming over again next Sunday, for 2 weeks. So we are both looking forward to her arrival. And Elmo and me will have our first dressage show, also next Sunday!

Panorama of snowy Cochrane



Even Elmo is doing well in this cold

Let the real Canadian life begin!!

Today was my first day at my new job!
I work as a CAD Technician (this means making drawings, calculations, interpret field notes, ....) for Stewart Weir. So I swapped the Tideway Rollingstone for an office in downtown Calgary.
Let us say that is not very practical when it comes to taxes to work for a Belgian employer and to live in Canada... So I made the decision... Instead of working for the offshore oil and gas, I work for the Alberta oil and gas now!
This means no more travelling, no more 6 weeks on but unfortunately no more 6 weeks off... More time for Elmo (and getting ready for the dressage show season next year) And the start of the real Canadian life!
But I have to admit I will miss the ship and the crew... It was the coolest job I ever did!



Tideway Rollingstone


Tideway Rollingstone


Me and my 8 survey screens. Ah, good times!

Farewell my dear equine friend...

On the 28th of September, Athena, one of my horses back home, died of colic. Completely unexpected... She was 20 years old.
Farewell my dear Athy, you were an amazing horse! Thanks for all the fantastic times together. You will be missed...

Fall Colors

Because we didn't really have a summer and the end of august and beginning of september were really wet, the fall colors were amazing this year! Patches of yellow and orange were spread all over the foothills.
So we would like to share these beautiful colors with you.