Our last few days with James were filled with a mixture of relaxation & celebration as his real birthday arrived. We caught up with washing & watched the AFL on tv at his flat - just like a weekend at home! Saturday night we went to the vast Cineplex movie complex at Chinook Mall to see the new Jason Bourne movie. We couldn't sit together so I managed to find one spot in the back row while the boys were really part of the action down the front - very enjo...

After our mountain interlude we returned to the city & the Hotel Elan where we were generously upgraded to another lovely suite with plenty of room. This has to be one of the best hotels we've ever stayed at with many bonus extras like great complimentary breakfast, coffee machine, heated toilet seat!!!!!, rain shower, 6 seat dining table & the best quality HD television I've ever seen. To top it off the color scheme is my colors - black, grey & featu...

We found our National Park in this centenary year for the US Parks Service when we drove south to Waterton Lakes in Alberta & Glacier National Park in Montana. They are of course one huge area of the Rocky Mountains & together they form the world's first International Peace Park & world Heritage site. A small detour on the way took us to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump where the native Blackfoot tribe used to herd the bison over a rock face to their deat...

It was so good to see James again as we arrived in Calgary where he met us & drove us to the Hotel Elan, less than a block from his home. The first thing we did after checking in was to give James his surprise birthday present of the quilt I made for him from some of the fabric we bought in Alaska last year when we were with him. His reaction was wonderful & it's such a pleasure to have all the work appreciated so much - he loves it! We had several days h...

How lovely to be back in Vancouver after 9 years & have the pleasant experience of seeing the changes & also the familiar sites, igniting happy memories of our times here with the children - we kept having deja-vu moments as we walked around. After another flight with no sleep we were greeted at Vancouver airport by the most delightful volunteer named Harry who welcomed us in the generous way Canadians do & made us feel "right at home" immediately! It...