Last weekend we went on a really beautiful drive up the Slocan Valley to check out the autumn leaves and get some nice pictures for the blog. Here is Slocan Lake, you can see in the picture a spring board in the swimming area of the lake near the beach. The sun was out and it was relatively warm so we took a picnic and sat on a beach near South Slocan where in the summer locals take their water floats (old inner-tubes) to set off down the river. Apparently its quite a tradition to take a spare inflatable to carry your beers in as you float down river!We then continued along the valley to Slocan but en route we saw the funniest sight that we felt we must share with you. Travelling down the highway in the opposite direction we saw a blue pick-up truck on the horizon. As it got nearer we could see what looked like a set of ladders which were in the bed and resting on the cab. However, as the truck got even closer and closer at the last second as it passed us we couldn't believe what we had just seen and turned to each other and both said "did you see that?" Wondering if we really did see what we thought we had seen. What we had originally thought were ladders actually turned out to be a cow stood in the flat bed of the pick-up with its head over the cab looking out. It wasn't just a small cow it was a huge fully grown cow - catching flies in its teeth as it went along!
Shaun was telling this story to a friend at work who mentioned he had seen a really funny cow song on YouTube - we have embedded the movie below so click play, we would certainly recommend the few minutes it lasts to check it out. It is called 'Cows With Guns'. The animation is so funny it's little addictive to watch over and over...The pumpkin party we went to this week was great - there were about 20 people there and all came with their pumpkins and weapons for carving. 
Some people there had obviously had a lot of experience and carved some very detailed designs. Shaun did a lovely design which we have a picture of here for you. We also have included a group shot of all the pumpkins that were c
arved. Whilst we were there we learnt that when the kids go trick or treating if you have your pumpkin outside your front door they know to knock as you will have some sweets for them! So in preparation we are going to the store to get a huge bag of sweets and lollies.
Some people there had obviously had a lot of experience and carved some very detailed designs. Shaun did a lovely design which we have a picture of here for you. We also have included a group shot of all the pumpkins that were c
arved. Whilst we were there we learnt that when the kids go trick or treating if you have your pumpkin outside your front door they know to knock as you will have some sweets for them! So in preparation we are going to the store to get a huge bag of sweets and lollies.Back to the subject of autumn colours, do you like the new header to the NWN blog? The picture was taken from Lakeside park looking up the hillside - did any of you spot our house on there? It is the wooden ho
use that has the big A frame windows - have another look! We are planning on taking a photo weekly from the same spot so we can update the header when the snow comes. Here is a picture of Lakeside park in Nelson, along Rachael's running route.
use that has the big A frame windows - have another look! We are planning on taking a photo weekly from the same spot so we can update the header when the snow comes. Here is a picture of Lakeside park in Nelson, along Rachael's running route.We have noticed over the last few months that the Canadian english spoken and written is a little different to The Queen's English used in UK, so here are a few differences that we have noted that you may find interesting:
1. Fortnight - they don't know what this is at all, it's great to fool them with!
2. Articulated lorry - they have no idea on this one as they say truck.
3. Conkers - what a hoot, they only call them chestnuts and they have never heard of or played conkers!
1. Fortnight - they don't know what this is at all, it's great to fool them with!
2. Articulated lorry - they have no idea on this one as they say truck.
3. Conkers - what a hoot, they only call them chestnuts and they have never heard of or played conkers!
4. Pavement - here is the road you drive on and the pavement we walk on in England is called a side-walk over here, so if you said you were driving on the pavement that wouldn't be weird at all!
5. Handbag - over here is a purse and a purse is called a wallet. That is just all wrong!
6. The boot of the car is the trunk here and the bonnet is the hood.
7. A clothes peg is called a clothes pin.
8. They don't have Bonfire Night which is a real shame - they don't get the whole Guy Falkes story and seem quite horrified when we explain all about him!
We managed to catch a great film over here on the Independant Film Channel (IFC), it's a bit like Film 4 in the UK and shows some great films. They showed The Full Monty, so naturally we had to watch it - it was nice to see Sheffield again, especially as we left behind our copy of the film we had on video as we no longer have one of those archaic video recorders.
We have had our winter tyres put on to the truck ready for the snow. The locals seem to think that it will be about a month before the deep snow appears in town. The ski hill opens on the 1st December. One of the girls Rachael works with has suggested we go back-country skiing with her husband. He is certainly looking forward to that but Rachael will just be happy staying on the nicely groomed relatively safe slopes!
At the ski hill they run a free course on avalanche awareness so that when you are off in the back-country you can recognise early if there are likely to be any avalanches, how to avoid them and also some survival techniques. This seems like a sensible idea.
Well, that's all for this week, hope you enjoy reading our adventures. We look forward to hearing your news.
Love Rachael, Shaun, Harley & Phantom
xx
5. Handbag - over here is a purse and a purse is called a wallet. That is just all wrong!
6. The boot of the car is the trunk here and the bonnet is the hood.
7. A clothes peg is called a clothes pin.
8. They don't have Bonfire Night which is a real shame - they don't get the whole Guy Falkes story and seem quite horrified when we explain all about him!
We managed to catch a great film over here on the Independant Film Channel (IFC), it's a bit like Film 4 in the UK and shows some great films. They showed The Full Monty, so naturally we had to watch it - it was nice to see Sheffield again, especially as we left behind our copy of the film we had on video as we no longer have one of those archaic video recorders.
We have had our winter tyres put on to the truck ready for the snow. The locals seem to think that it will be about a month before the deep snow appears in town. The ski hill opens on the 1st December. One of the girls Rachael works with has suggested we go back-country skiing with her husband. He is certainly looking forward to that but Rachael will just be happy staying on the nicely groomed relatively safe slopes!
At the ski hill they run a free course on avalanche awareness so that when you are off in the back-country you can recognise early if there are likely to be any avalanches, how to avoid them and also some survival techniques. This seems like a sensible idea.
Well, that's all for this week, hope you enjoy reading our adventures. We look forward to hearing your news.
Love Rachael, Shaun, Harley & Phantom
xx
