This is a letter I wrote in July about what I had
been up to. If you see a small
picture while reading this, click on
it, and it will show a photo of what I am describing.
The first week of July was a very
exciting time for all people living in Canada. On Tuesday, July 1st, there
was a national holiday to celebrate Canada Day. It was the country's 136th
birthday. It was a lovely, sunny day and people made the most of it
visiting all the tourist places and some stopping for free maple syrup pancakes
for breakfast - a Canadian tradition. I looked at the TV during the
evening to see thousands of people waving their Canadian flags, cheering and
enjoying an outdoor concert given in Ottawa, Canada's capital city.
Everybody looked so happy! I had a stroll around Inverness village, where
I live, and it was good to see so many houses displaying the flag waving in the
breeze.
On Thursday, July 3rd, Grandson Nicholas and his friend
Philippe 
arrived ready to attend the
Calgary Stampede, which is described as "the greatest outdoor show on Earth" and
is certainly the biggest event in the Calgary calendar. The events last
for ten days, during which the city celebrates its cowboy culture and
heritage. It features a real rodeo, an amusement park, chuckwagon races,
daily free breakfasts served all over the city, fireworks each night, and
hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists dressed up in western
clothes. The Stampede also features numerous prize competitions and
lotteries and we were amazed when Dorothy's name was chosen - and even more
amazed to learn that she had won a new car!
An excellent ten days were had
by all.
When Nicholas and Philippe returned home after their first day in
Calgary, they took Dorothy and myself grocery shopping as Dorothy is not yet
able to drive. We decided to visit a Fish & Chip restaurant as a
special treat. Dorothy and I do not eat as much as the boys and so we
asked if each of the boys could have three portions of fish each with chips, and
Dorothy and I simply asked for extra plates with which to share. I was
amazed when the waitress agreed to this suggestion. Dorothy and I each had
one fish and chips with lemon and coleslaw on the empty plates. We all
left very full and the bill did not even come to 20 dollars (less than 9
pounds).
And in between all of these events, I managed to watch Wimbledon
live on television…
With much love to
you,
Rene
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