Winter activities (in the Fall)

Well with the cold well and truly set in we are signing ourselves up for all the winter sports. First of all Ian has joined a curling team during the lunch break - it's a bit like lawn bowls but instead you have a 'sheet'- ie ice sheet, and you thrown a rock (lump of granite) down the sheet and curl it asyou go! It's loads of fun. Have also tried our hand (or legs) as Cross Country skiing. We had through that seeing as we're mastering the downhill then we'd pick this up pretty quick,,, not so! You use entirely different muscles and the skis are about half the width of our downhills! But we have to learn - and learn quickly because we have signed ourselves up for a famous cross country ski race called the Birkenbeiner (The Birkie). It honours a famous moment in Norweign history and this year is the 800 year anniversary - the web site is great - www. canadianbirkie.com. This picci top left is of Ian - but check out the kids in the sleigh in front of him!

We've also taken to ice skating - Ian is just a legend and has been able to cross over his skates since day 1! We've had 2 goes on an indoor rink - but the best thing was last Tuesday when we had our first go on an outdoor rink. It was a full moon and there was a little tinkle of snow falling - an absolutely magic night. These piccis are in the daytime - Ian is the one in the black top and khaki jeans in the pici to the left.