25/02/2025

Hi to all family and friends,

Over the past four weeks or so it has been too cold for my camera and I to go out on a photo-shoot with temperatures ranging between minus low teens to -30ºC. This last week started at -30ºC and was up to +10ºC by Sunday but the forecast tells us that the temperature will be hovering around the 0ºC for a few weeks. Since I have not taken any photos this last month, I will attach this letter to the email, it can also be viewed on the website. There seems to be a thaw going on due to the milder temperatures, so we have some flooding on some roads and in the back garden.

Geraldine has been doing what she said she would during sub-zero temperatures, hibernating! We have bought a reclining bed where the head and foot can rise using a remote control which helps with her back issues and hibernation.

Mark and Claire took us to an RV exhibition (we would call it caravan and motor home exhibition). Some of the caravans where huge with a matching price tag. There is a lot of money involved in recreational activities here in Canada, camping, shooting, fishing, etc. It was an eye opener, needless to say we bought nothing.

Mark took me to a “man’s” shop something like B&Q, Screwfix, and the like all rolled up into one massive shop where they sell everything imaginable that a man would need in tools, fixings, machinery, engines, mechanical and electrical equipment and more. Tony, you would love it, and Sally would lose you for hours if it not days in the store!! We also visited an Amazon store that sold returned items. Amazon do not put the items returned back on the shelf but sell them at these outlets. Real bargains can be picked up for little money.

We have just been informed that our consignment will be here before the weekend which is good news. We then have the job of unpacking and sorting everything out!

We have bought a new mobility scooter for Geraldine to get around locally to the shops, etc. This one has three wheels and has a maximum speed of 30km/hr (18.6 m/hr) not a meagre 8m/hr as in the UK, and it is red in colour. See photos below.

Shopping here is more expensive than the UK, and it is possible to buy limited British food products at a premium price. However, the GST (VAT) in Alberta is 5% (no tax on food items) so some things are cheaper with the lower tax. Shopping trollies (carts as they call them here) are bigger than the UK and some even have a cup holder!

We all went out with some friends on my birthday to a steak house and had an excellent meal and good company.

Sunday, we went to a garden centre for lunch and for Geraldine to get some ideas for the garden when the snow has all gone. She is looking forward to doing some gardening again.

Left to right: Mark; John (Canadian friend); Dario and Alejandra (friends, originally from Venezuela); Claire; Some old miserable geezer; Geraldine; Sam (Dario and Alejandra’s son/Liam’s friend) and Grandson Liam

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine

05/01/2025

Happy New Year to everyone.

Geraldine and I had a lovely Christmas with the family, it was white outside, but it did not snow on the day. We have already had some adventures with a few firsts. Both of us are now kitted up with new warm coats, suitable boots and warm headgear.

We, as a family, went to the Edmonton Zoo to see the Christmas lights which were very good, and I took a few photographs of some of the illuminations. Could not take any photographs of the animals as it was too dark and most of them where in kept in warmer facilities. Cold, but enjoyable evening.

Mark and I with some of his friends went ice fishing on Pigeon Lake which was completely frozen over. A first for me, and although it was -15ºC, I enjoyed it but would not take it up as a hobby any time soon. John, Mark’s friend caught two perch fish but let them go. Because I am over 65, I do not need a fishing licence to fish in Canada! I managed to get a photograph of an American red squirrel on a tree at the edge of the lake.

Mark, Claire and I went to a New Years BBQ at a friend’s farm which was held in a barn with a roaring fire. Sub-zero temperatures do not put Canadians off from having a good time outside. Geraldine stayed at home with the pets as it was too cold for her to stand around. However, we all got back home early with a take-away dinner which we had before midnight. Another first, a BBQ in subzero temperatures.

Geraldine and Claire went on New Years Day to a casino; putting coins in a slot machine does not appeal to me. However, Geraldine enjoyed herself, another first for her.

We have bought each a reclining chair for our comfort, more for Geraldine’s back, and a relining bed which proved to be absolutely great for a good night’s sleep. Could not get Geraldine up this morning, well it was the afternoon, so bed definitely works for her.

We have been welcomed by all Canadians we have met, last night we attended a birthday party of one of Mark and Claire’s friends, at an Italian restaurant.

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine

18/12/2024

Well, we have made it to Canada at long last. Geraldine is happy as we have 10 to 15cm of snow, two cats and a dog to keep her company. However the temperature is now around -20ºC.

The final few weeks of vacating the rented house in Chirnside was horrendous, one problem after another. For example, we contacted the Salvation Army to collect what ever they wanted and listed a few large items like my desk and the fridge-freezer. The only item they took was my desk, which they left part of it behind in their rush to get away, no thank you or anything like that. Luckily, a man from the village came over and took what was left on the last day and the house was finally cleared. I hired a car from Europcar at Edinburgh Airport and drove it down to London Heathrow stopping at family on the way down.

The flight over with WestJet (a Canadian airline) was great as we were upgraded to business class. Taking Geraldine’s scooter on the aircraft was no problem at all as the airline is all geared up for mobility aids these days and we were not the only travellers with a scooter.

We have bought suitable boots for walking in the snow and suitable coats. We need to purchase other items, such as a new more rugged scooter for Geraldine (with skis!!).

It is now snowing again and about 10cm deep, very Christmasy.

Jet lag does not seem to an issue for Geraldine or I as we travelled east (back in time).

Thanks to everyone who helped us on our way by putting us up for a few nights.

Contact Details:

32, Chaplin Lane, Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8H 0B1, Canada

Grahame’s mobile no. +1 825-343-4250

Geraldine’s mobile no. +1 825-785-4250

UK landline (Vonage) no: 01407886155 (please do not call before 3pm GMT -7hrs)

I have updated the website and the new photos are the last ones I took in Portland Park Kirkby before we left the UK. They are not brilliant but they are OK and they can be viewed by clicking on the button on the Home page.

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine

28 10 2024

Hi to all family and friends,

On the 8th May 2024 we submitted our application to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and twenty-four weeks later with no sign of our visas. At the time when we submitted the applications, we were under the impression it would only take a couple of months to process; how wrong we were! A couple of months ago we were given a link to part of the IRCC website where it calculates how long it takes to process a specific visa. We have been checking this each week and as of last week the time was down to 96 days, which works out to the 12th August 2024! We will let you know when it eventually arrives, if they ever arrive. Mark has informed us that the Canadian government let by Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister) is in chaos with his own MP’s wanting him to resign. He is pushing for a reduction in immigration figures from 500,000 to 375,000. Whether this is the hold-up, I do not know.

It is my intension if we do eventually move to Canada, to post a monthly newsletter on this website so you can keep up to date with what Geraldine and I are up to in Canada. Now we are both fed up with waiting for the visa to arrive and living a life on hold, however we are hoping we will be in Canada for Christmas!!

I have posted new photos of a walk I did around the Hirsel Estate in Coldstream which I enjoy but the photos are bit mediocre at best, I need to just to “keep my hand in” so to speak and some bird photos in from the Lammermuir Hill near us. A couple of months ago Geraldine and I went to North Queensferry on the Firth of Forth and I took some photos of the Forth Bridge form the north side of the firth, some of which are unusual and not to everyone’s taste. I managed to catch a photo of the Harvest Moon, the Aurorae Borealis and Supermoon. Hope you enjoy them.

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine

21 July 2024

Hi all family and friends,

Welcome to my new website which I have developed so we can keep in touch, and you will not miss out on any of my photographs!! This “Private" section is for you to load any family photos you may wish distribute within the family group and to keep in touch through the “Contact me panel”.

As most of you are aware that Geraldine and I are due to move to Canada to live with my son Mark, daughter-in-law Claire and grandson Liam, initially on a five-year visa and hopefully get residency during that time. To date, we have heard nothing from the Canadian immigration since submitting our applications on 8th May 2024, which is now becoming very irritating as we have our lives on “hold” not sure what lies ahead. One thing is sure, we have had a good clear out of things we no longer need or want!

The website is not 100% complete and still work in progress as I have more photos to load its I get them processed. Three weeks ago I went to The Farne Islands off the Northumbrian coast near the fishing port of Seahouses, and had a great time photographing the birds. The Puffins were very difficult to catch in flight as they are so fast. I was attacked by the Arctic Terns (and so was everyone else) when I got too close to their nests with eggs or chicks in them. I managed to get the classic photograph of a a puffin with sand eels in its beak though.

I hope you enjoy the photographs.

I will keep you all up to date with regards to the Canadian visa.

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine