Category Archives: Canada

What do you do in a ski town when you’re not skiing?

Posted on January 8, 2011 by BarryH

The last time I went skiing before this Canada trip was in Verbier in Switzerland in 1991.  I know this because I happened to find the lift pass just before I came away.  It cost an arm and a leg.  … Continue reading →

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White-out, Wipe-out, Black Monday

Posted on January 6, 2011 by BarryH

It often irritates me when people talk about a ‘white-out’ whenever it snows. It’s part of the unfortunately growing habit of exaggerating everything for effect.  Some people never have a headache, only a migraine.  If you’ve had migraine you know … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grumpy Old Men, Winter | 3 Comments

Rocky Mountain Sunshine

Posted on January 5, 2011 by BarryH

We got back from the guided walk in Grotto Canyon about 12.30.  It was still clear blue sky and bright sunshine and so, having had something to eat I decided to go back up Tunnel Mountain.  The views had been … Continue reading →

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Another frozen Rocky Mountain Canyon

Posted on January 4, 2011 by BarryH

Sunday was our second day-off from skiing and the second part of Ruth and Tim’s Christmas present to me, a guided walk in Grotto Canyon near Canmore.  It meant an early morning start as, unlike last week’s afternoon amble, we … Continue reading →

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Banff and a Rocky Mountain Winter

Posted on January 2, 2011 by BarryH

Saturday and a day off skiing.  Early morning cloud and mist cleared to crystal blue sky.  So I took my camera for a walk.  Twice. Towards the end of the morning I walked through ‘Downtown’, still buzzing with New Year … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, extreme gardening, Winter | 1 Comment

It’s cold outside

Posted on January 1, 2011 by BarryH

Happy New Year.  As those of you in the UK were celebrating  New Year, or having an early night as the case may be, we were on the bus coming back from skiing.  The concept of time and time zones … Continue reading →

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More Impressions of Banff

Posted on December 29, 2010 by BarryH

Monday was the second of our days off skiing over Christmas.  The thinking was that the ski hill would be very busy.  Despite the apparent marked fall in numbers of visitors from the UK, it was indeed very busy.  We … Continue reading →

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Frozen North

Posted on December 28, 2010 by BarryH

Many years ago we changed the whole nature of our Boxing Day as a family.  We got fed up with just sitting around and eating yet more food and becoming bloated and lethargic.  So we started asking friends over, going … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Winter | 1 Comment

Alternative Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2010 by BarryH

It was inevitable that this Christmas was going to be different from any other. Before Ruth was born Enfys and I used to split our time over Christmas between her parents in Surry and mine in Salford, travelling from one … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Reflections, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The run-up to Christmas in the Canadian Rockies

Posted on December 25, 2010 by BarryH

Thursday was our day off from skiing and the day that the world seemed to descend on Banff for Christmas.  The appartment block seemed to suddenly fill up, the streets and shops of ‘downtown’ were suddenly thronged with people of … Continue reading →

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