june 2012

moles are a big problem where we live. i'm personally not bothered by them but i know the lawn-lovers are not fans. i spotted this very cute mole pup on my next door neighbour's driveway last week. it was so small [maybe 6cms] that i probably wouldn't have noticed it except that a giant crow was pecking at it. the mole seemed certain that it was going to be able to dig through the concrete but we weren't convinced, so i put on my gardening gloves and relocated the little guy under a bush next door. it's just as well we're moving, my neighbours would never have spoken to me again if they seen what i'd done!

bunny fun at the automall

the local automall is doing ongoing fundraisers to raise money to relocate the enormous bunny population. there are plenty of rabbits in richmond but, for some reason, they love the automall. we met the biggest rabbit you've ever seen in your life [russian giant i think?]. rabbits are zoe's favourite animal and she loves bunny-spotting at the automall so she was VERY happy at the fundraiser. [oh - and did you see how enormous my other daughter is now??!]

zoe found herself a boyfriend when we went out for some greek food. they circled the [fortunately quiet] restaurant together and the poor little guy had a total meltdown when we had to take her home to bed! i'm so excited that zoe is becoming much more sociable than she used to be.

june 11

we had a lovely weekend in kelowna the first week in june, despite a rocky journey on the way there [torrential rain through the mountains, screaming toddler etc]. we had a chance to show mom the new house and to explore our neighbourhood. 2 or 3 deer trotted past our house and one of the thousands of turtles from the pond next to the house took a very slow stroll past the front door. it should be a fascinating few months with the best view we’ve ever had. sascha is moving from his bachelor pad to the rental house this week and we will move at the very end of the month.

view looking back towards the house

view from the balcony

more views from the balcony:

george the turtle

dopey the deer!

last week was my last week at work which was a little strange. on my last day i had the opportunity to help someone who very much needed all the help she could get. it felt like a fitting end to my 7 years of paying richmond family place back for all the kindness and support i was shown when i moved to canada. it’s been a fabulous place to work. there were always delicious meals being cooked, cups of tea being offered and lots of hugs; a very different environment from the male-dominated tech-industry i had been used to [although both are great in their own ways]. it’s definitely changed my outlook on life and i’ve grown a lot. i feel like i’ve become more tolerant and less judgmental of people, improved my self-reflection and become a little more willing to acknowledge my own emotions.

now it’s time to wade through the last of the to do lists; pack, sort, change my address with [what feels like] a million different companies, and recycle and dispose of items to various different places inconveniently spread across various cities, whilst trying to spend precious time with good friends. i’m very much trying to look forward – a little afraid of how sad it might be to look back.

a few golfing tips for our youngest golfer

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