Not the Gay Pride Parade

One of the big things for the World Trial was the parade. All the competitors loaded up into buses and headed their way down to Penrith.

The Canadians were in full force. MaryLou was parade marshall (well, not really, but it looked as if she was barking orders). Kathy Keats was flag bearer since she was tallest.
Jennifer Larivee and I made up the rest of the crew. I had a yellow jacket so that I could be found. A yellow corn between the roses.

We walked through the town of Penrith, the streets being closed down for our homage.

There were spectators from around the world. I was ready for Ben Mulroney from Entertainment Canada to come out to interview us. But alas, he was not there.

The bobbies were in full force to direct traffic.

I and Gin helped him stop the traffic.

It felt like we were in a mile long parade.

This was the band that toured us through the town.

After the parade, I went back to have a meal on roast hog.

On the left side of the picture you can see part of the orchestra that played while we ate.

One more sleep, and the World Trial would begin!!!

Let's Backtrack

Okay, we will once again go back in time and a review of the World Trial trip.

Before going to the trial, I was able to get Gin working some sheep in Yorkshire. Notice the sunshine - that was to be a distant memory in just a few days.

I was really confident in that Gin could handle any sheep that was to be given to her in couple of days.
After working Clarkson's sheep (the people I stayed with when I first arrived in England), Gin and I made our way to one more farm trial prior to our trip to Cumbria and the World Trial.

Brick walls everywhere - there is even a college to teach people how to put up brick walls.

Micheal Gallagher and Cap (2010 Supreme Champion) was at this trial along the coast as well, sharpening his already sharp skills.

This trial field was used by many of the World competitors that day. I learned a little Dutch that day.

We drove one last time to Yorkshire, counting the hours (okay, I counted the hours, Gin just slept) until the World Trial festivities.

The next chapter of this saga will be soon.

Memories Of My Past

October is winding down quickly, and soon it will be Halloween. Halloween candy has become a staple of everyone's diet at the clinic. As I reminisce about my youth (yes dearies, my creaking bones and my old age spots remind me I am not young like I thought I was), I remember how Halloween was like. Halloween was a time in which we all dressed up the same - a costume covered by the snowsuit since it was so frigging cold out. Of course there was that one year in which a bed sheet with two holes were cut out and I went as a ghost -I remember that it would keep shifting around and the eyes would shift to the back. A lot of walking into walls that night, and it wasn't because I was trying to be a ghost, it was because I couldn't see a damn thing. I remember we usually had to sing at the neighbors to get our treats. Not sure why, maybe it was a Saskatchewan ritual. There was no Walmarts to get the 1.2 kg bag of candy - we made popcorn balls, and gave apples out. Now days, these would be thrown out because there might be needles or blades in them. "Vandalism" consisted of someone soaping windows on the night. Fair enough, it would be hard to soap windows these days because most soap is in a pump bottle. Maybe loofahs would help out.
I also remember that this time would be the time for fall fairs - it was a huge town affair. The young kids would send in short poems, and would be judge on their writing skills. I never won that - my writing was always messy - probably was the reason why I became a doctor. There were entries for cooking (yes, I baked a few cookies in my time), entries for art (I drew a lot when I a kid), and of course, the best laying chicken. I appreciate now what my mother had done - she was the one who brought everything to town - the artwork, the potato and carrots that looked like animals, the chickens that she would have had to chase down to load up for their visit to town. After school, we would go to the farm fair, and all of our projects would be in full view of the town. We would collect our ribbons, our chickens, and our winnings (two dollar bills back then) and brag to mom and dad about how well we did.
The good old days - doesn't matter how old a person is, we all have them. They are only as good as what your memory allows them to be.

Slowly Moving To Saskatchewan

So our move to Saskatchewan has been slow - our cows have been there longer than I have. I think I have slept a total of a week there, my cats a week more, and Chris since June. The last trip I made down, I had brought my cats, and a trailer load of dog kennels and the ducks. I made the ducks at home with their new pen, and set up the dog kennels - finally they will have runs - hopefully one day there will be a building associated with them, but for the time being good old Saskatchewan straw dog houses will have to do.

I thought that with the move and the slow pace of Saskatchewan live, there would be less stories to tell - that is not going to be the case. I had gone to South Dakota to judge a couple of trials, and the flight was going to be a day after the trial was over. Changing the flight would mean costing more than the original flight, and it thankfully worked out that I could come back with Stormy Winters. He brought me to their house in Neville, Saskatchewan and after Chris and I had supper, we went home. I was welcomed by the mewing of one of my cats, who had decided she was small enough to crawl into a hole that was meant for a dryer duct. All that stuck out was her head, and she couldn't get any further. It was like a mini calving with the legs back. It took a little time, but I yanked on Potsy, pulling her front legs out of the hole at the same time with her head. I was about to pour some lubrication on her, but finally she popped out - the hole is now covered.

It hasn't taken long for the neighbours to discover there are new residents on the place. Day one the big bag of cat food was eaten, day two all the ducks except a few feathers were left. On the third day, they thought the duck feed was good as well. Yes, the bandits have arrived. I do believe my Jack Russells and I will go coon hunting soon - that will have to wait until I finally come back to reside at our new place, which should be in early November. Up to that time, there will be a trip to Paxton Valley for a dog trial, a trip to Wetaskawin to work (and actually for a well deserved rest). Hope the weather will stay good for moving - what the heck am I thinking - I will have a better chance winning the lottery than expecting November to be nice! However, October has been quite balmy. I guess time (which is quickly going by) will tell.