Damn Edmonton is Cold

Well its been a while since my last post, I'll explain why later. Anyway for those that know me I have a 'small' grivance with 4x4 drivers. Now, if your reading and you own a 4x4 because you need to then - I don't have a problem with that. Its just all the city slickers/wives who drive around like they own the place and bully others on the road, plus the fuel economy etc etc... anyway you see I have gone off topic...

What I was trying to say was that Jaime picked me up in a 4x4 which I found really funny... though in Edmongton or should I say 100km North of Edmonton you need a 4x4. Anyway I laughed at took a photo, btw it canes 80 litres of fuel in 300km which works out at about 9mpg. Nuff said.



The first thing that you notice about Edmonton is how blinkin' "freezing" it is, yeah, yeah the UK is cool but Edmonton is freezing, -20C... I had been told by Christie (in Vancouver) that it was cold and oh how she laughed as I just didn't get it. Walking 50m from the warm airport to the truck, I got it!!

Anyway we drove out to Jaime's folks (Jerry and Patricia) and met Jaimes Grandparents, Baba and Gitou (Ukraine for Grandma and Grandpa). I was then introduced to Ukraine cuisine with salted pickles and various cooked meats it was pretty good.

We then left to pick up Jaime's friend Candice and off to a wedding reception decoration party. I'd been invited as Jaimes friend to Jamie and Sabrina's wedding reception however Jaime and Candice are such good friends that they said they would help out with the decorating.... superb!

When I get married (sure it'll happen one day!) I am definately going to do it the way that Jamie and Sabrina have done it, get everyone over to Jamaica for a week have the wedding and then come back and have a wedding reception for those who couldn't make it. The most important part being that you get everyone to help setup and clean up... genius!

Needless to say everyone there was sound, Jamie and Sabrina - superb couple and made me feel very welcome, hey I even got a mention in their wedding speech (the bit where they thank everyone for coming and especially to Jaime and Simon who have come from the UK!).

Anyway the wedding was great, there are a few pictures posted ... there was one of me but I looked so far gone that I'm gonna leave it out.

So the day after the wedding and I have been in Canada for a week and I think the Canadian diet really started to take its toll on me, sick as a dog for 2 days.... (Gareth you'd be disapointed in my diet regime.)

Anyway feeling better I was introduced into the world of Ice Hockey, the Canadians are as mad about Hockey as the Chinese are about Tai Chi and the British about football. Everyone (pretty much) watches the game and I have to say its pretty exciting. We watched Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames (local derby like Man U vs Leeds) and there were 14 goals!! The game went back and forth, back and forth. Make sure you watch a game during the Winter Olympics as its great, plenty of skill, loads of goals, fast and a bit of fighting for good measure!

Next was the West Edmonton Mall, now I heard before about this place as apparently its the largest Mall in the world, this I thought was because I thought (I stress, thought) the Canadians were like the Americans and everything in America is the world's biggest. But yep its pretty massive they are still building it but according to Jaime its 30 blocks in length, which is hugh. We went there and they have everything. Of course lots of fast food, shops (Syed - theres a huge Zara!) but also a water and an amusement park, 3 or was it 4 cinemas including a couple of IMAX screens too.. theres even a dragon which puffs fire in the reception of one of the cinemas (how they got that okayed by the fire safety lot - no idea.) Anyway I was pretty impressed... and bought a camera case and a postcard (lol - it'll be waiting for you when you get back ;))

Anyway Edmonton is a good laugh, I don't know how it would be if Jaime and her friends weren't there to show me around and you must have a car... but all in all nice place with nice people.

..... anyway bring on xmas ....