Issue 15? Considering how sporadic we’ve been over the last few years I think we can give ourselves a pat on the back that this tradition is still alive – refusing to die.

We’ve been in Canada for two years and we’re still settling in. The immigration process is more complicated than we anticipated but we should complete that by around March 2011, with good luck and fair winds. We’re still renting the same house we moved into when we arrived here in December 2008 – it’s a really nice place and we benefit from sharing a beautiful garden/yard that we don’t have to look after but just enjoy.

What We’re Up To

Heather (13) and George (11) both go to West-Mont School which is about 5km away, just the other side of Witty’s Lagoon.

Heather continues to ride her horse Maggie and spends a lot of time at Follyfoot Farm. Nonie rides there too. Heather has just recently started to get serious about drama and has joined a local group called the Youth Performance Company. They did several performances of The Gift of the Magi this autumn – just a short 15 minute play – very funny and professional.

George plays soccer at least twice a week and plays in a team for Juan de Fuca.

Nonie has found it really hard to break into the conservation scene in British Columbia. She volunteers with the BC Coastal Waterbirds Survey on nearby Esquimalt Lagoon in winter and is enjoying learning the new species. For employment she has returned to old haunts, helping UNDP & GEF project preparation in West Africa (two trips in 2010, to Togo and Sénégal). Sénégal was the first visit since 1985 but she enjoyed it as much as ever, finding familiar places and friendly faces to work with.

I continue as a freelance web developer person, working most days for a company in Victoria called MyArtChannel. I still find the Internet an interesting place to create things and have more ideas than time to do them.

Visits

We’ve had our fair share of visitors. Ian, Tracy, Lily and Ella took a detour on their way home from Whistler were our first visitors – arriving before our furniture! From as close as Vancouver (Micky & Dani), just a ferry ride away, or Gareth & Anne  living over on the mainland but hailing from Lintrathen, just down the road from Kilry. From as far away as the UK. Caitlin came all the way on her own at the age of 12. Netti arrived by float plane. We’re not far from the US west coast and our Canyon pal Erika was kind enough to take the ferry up from Port Angeles during her road trip up.

Our friends Robin & Paul, who gave us our first taste of the Pacific North West when we came out in 2006, have come up from Bainbridge Island on the other side of the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Bill’s sister Anne came over with her family, Nick, Rosie and Megan in May/June 2010 for a much anticipated two week trip. They fitted a lot into their time here: whale watching, zip wire,  Hornby Island (see below), lots of walks and swims in lakes (not exactly warm at that time of year, but we’re hardy). Wonderful.

It’s lovely to take visitors to our favourite places and to discover new places together. We’ve barely scratched the surface of Vancouver Island, let alone British Columbia. Why don’t you come over, up or across (depending where you’re starting from) and explore with us?

Hornby Island

We’ve managed two trips to Hornby Island: once in August 2009 and again in May 2010, joined by Bill’s sister Anne and family. It’s a beautiful place and very restful. I think we’ll be going back there whenever we can. Beautiful beaches, rock pools, walks, wildlife. Thanks Ken & Laura for the cabin. See our video of a Californian Sea Lion:

Whistler in All Seasons

We had a great, short trip to Whistler in February 2009. It takes about 6 hours to get there, including a two hour ferry ride. We went back in August 2010 and took bikes instead and found out just how exciting and scary downhill biking is. George, naturally, took it all in his stride. Nonie, more surprisingly (I hope she won’t mind me saying) also got into the groove of bouncing off rocks perched on a bike and left me behind most of the time. We were lucky enough to have our old friend Justin Barnes, a British kayaker now living in Australia, over to help us down and to encourage us to move a little out of our comfort zone. I’m not sure I’ll become a regular downhill biker – the odds seem too stacked to stay injury free – but it was fun finding out some more about it. George only took one tumble – just before we bought him knee and elbow protection, but fortunately just after we bought him a full-face helmet. I think I know why they wear all that gear now.

Mount Washington

We were also introduced to Mount Washington here on Vancouver Island. It’s a lot closer and we can get there in under 3 hours. There are fewer runs than Whistler but it gets a lot of snow  (we have 3.5m right now) and it’s charming. We’re planning at least another couple of weekends up there this winter.

Ucluelet

We heard so much about the west coast of Vancouver Island and eventually took a trip to see our friends Barb & Gerry up in Ucluelet and explored the coast up to Tofino. There’s a lot more exploring to be done up there – including a much talked about a sea kayak trip among the Broken Islands which is definitely in our plans.

Back Home

We’ve been lucky enough to get back “home” to the UK a couple of times. First time was a long Christmas trip in 2009/10 that ended up being extended a week due to snow. Then Heather and Nonie got back for a summer trip to Scotland and York last July (see the photo with the MacKays below). Both times involved returning to Kilry which is now a very strange, but thoroughly enjoyable experience for us. Finally, I took a trip back on my own last November and had a peaceful 10 days or so spending time with my family. I just got out of Heathrow before the snow closed Europe down!

Happy 2011

Whatever you’re up to in 2011, we wish you good cheer and hope to meet up with you soon. Take Care.

Long Overdue

This issue of the Horsman Homnibus is long overdue – the last one was in January ’07! I’m sure you’ve all managed without it but we do realise that your lives have been poorer in its absence. I hope this new issue will relight the spark that has been missing.

Hebridean Challenge

Bill raced in the Hebridean Challenge again this year – with team mates Alan, Graeme, Kate and Nick. It’s a great excuse to spend a week exploring the Hebrides.

What made it perfect is that Nonie, Heather and George came along too – as well as Bill’s sister’s family: Anne, Nick, Catherine, Rosanna and Megan. They were all official race marshals.

Norfolk

We went down to Norfolk for Anne and Nick’s annual garden party. In case that sounds too grand, perhaps we should call it a party in the garden Perfect weather and lovely to meet up with lots of folk that we won’t be seeing for a while. There was even a live band – The Gallowhills – to keep us stomping and jigging into the night: your typical English folk, Eastern European, South American, Southern States fusion. Thanks Pete, Vic & Matt!

The following day we headed down to West Acre where we had a lovely walk with Bill’s mum, Mary, down by the ford. Heather and George found a nice, high tree to climb.

Packing up for Victoria, British Columbia

We’ve been busy packing up and organising our move to Vancouver Island this year. Sorry if we’ve not been in touch sooner to let you know our plans! Bill’s been back and forth a few times and we’re very close to getting the house packed into a 20 foot container ready for shipping. The plan is for Bill to move out there on 9 Nov and get a house rented, followed by Nonie and the kids on 16 Dec. The container should arrive about the same time – hopefully in time for Christmas! Biffo is flying out too – but the rest of the animals (two cats, two guinea pigs) are finding new homes with friends. We’re going to miss them.

Bill will be working for a company in Victoria and Nonie will be doing freelance work as usual. We don’t have any fixed plans on how long we’ll be out there – but bearing in mind how much effort it is taking to get there it’s unlikely to be less than two years. We’re keeping an open mind!

Loanhead Challenge

We did our tenth and final Loanhead Challenge in October too. We had a bunch of people up for the weekend and had a lovely walk and mountain bike on the Saturday followed by a long, boozy party. It was very satisfying to finish off ten years’ worth of challenges with such a good one. Thanks to everyone who made it so special. The next day was an easy walk for families too.

Family Packing

Bill’s sisters plus families came up in October to help us pack. And while the adults sorted out 12 years’ worth of stuff the kids got busy and produced a play: Lizzie and the Magic Necklace. You can see it on You Tube: Act I and Act II (a total of less than 16 minutes).

We’ll let you all know when we’ve got an address out there. In the meantime, the best way to get hold of us is by email. In order to embrace our new global presence we are now using .com email addresses: bill@logicalcobwebs.com and nonie@logicalcobwebs.com – although the .co.uk versions will continue to work.

We hope you don’t mind us sending you this email. If you’d prefer not to receive future emails like this then you can easily unsubscribe if you want.

- Nonie, Bill, Heather, George & Biffo!