We managed a couple of pumpkins this year... but chose easy designs - we're losing our touch... Here's some from years gone past.

So, after much angsting, i finally left my job to pursue a career in consulting. My first gig is out in Edmonton and so yesterday I hopped on a plane from an unusually hot T.O. (32*c) to head to Edmonton (4 hours flight west - which makes you realise just how bloody big this country is). A bit shocked by the -3*c temperatures here. They call it big sky country out here - and you can see why. Flying in I swear you can see the curvature of the earth - flat fields as far as the eye can see in all directions. I woke early this morning (Edmonton is 2 hours behind T.O.), and was greeted by the arrival of the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, into my inbox. Radiohead have experimented with offering the album on the internet, as a DRM-free mp3 download, and asking fans to pay what they think is reasonable for their new album (which they have spent a number of years working on, and nearly split over). They don't have a record label, so they can do this out-of-the-box type thinking. I paid $5 for the album. Interestingly, I could have paid $0.01, but didn't. I felt guilty about ripping the band off - how's that for flipping it around on the illegal downloaders? Anyway - i'm sure that many others didn't feel guilty ripping off the band - but equally many will have paid a reasonable amount for the new album. I have no doubt that Radiohead, with their massive popularity, will make a tidy sum using this approach. It'll be interesting to see how other artists follow suit (already Oasis and other major acts are thought to be pursuing this approach). It'll also be interesting to see how record companies react to losing their major cash cows - having (they'll argue) made them in the first place. Anyway - halfway through the first listen - i'm loving this album, pretty accessible and seemingly more guitars (mixed with the usual electronica). Anyway, another day, another dollar ...

We headed to the drive-in yesterday for the first time. Another one of those North American experiences that we've been meaning to try out for some time. For people with kids (and especially young babies) this is a brilliant way to get to the movies whilst the little one(s) slumber in their car seat. Just tune in your radio to the allocated FM station, grab some popcorn, recline your seat and relax. Brilliant!

This is a cottage in the thousand islands... getting there may be a pain... but this really is getting away from it all...

A visit to the Toronto Islands last weekend was really fun... it's always good to get on the water. It was a really odd experience to look back at the big City, from the quaint cottages on the Island - the noises of the City (traffic, construction and the hum of the A/C) could be clearly heard. Even so, I wouldn't mind this commute.

From Jack 7 Months

From Jack 7 Months

Our camera broke, so that explains the brief hiatus on photographic evidence of the development of the boy. The camera has now been repaired and normal service will resume shortly. In the meantime, here's the nicest picture of the 3 of us that we've seen.

From Canada Day 2007

Yesterday, we sang happy 140th birthday for Canada, in a sea of Red and White, there was even a cake. 140 years seems crazily short to me, but any excuse for a party, eh? Hazel, the crazy local mayor (who at 86, yep you read right, 86, is still going strong) - and has been around for the majority of the 140 years - demanded that we all integrate into Canada. How patronizing. I saw more flags, canada tattos, t-shirts pronouncing 'i am canadian', canadian beer and chicken wings, and Tim Horton cups - so I don't think there is a problem there. Doesn't mean that everyone supports Canada in the Cricket though! This was Jack's first Canada Day and he is a fully paid up, integrated, Canadian. Camera is currently broken, so no photo's of Jack... rest assured he's moving into the ugly stage!

It was fantastic to have a couple of days off over the weekend to spend with the family - it was all about entertaining the troops. Our neighbour Walter helped out by lending us a Chexx - Bubble Hockey table... which kept us all busy all weekend... it was fun to get in training without having to pay a buck-a-go... even so, my 8 year old nephew can still whoop my 'ass! We also made it to the Blue Jays home opener - a crushing 9-1 defeat of the Kansas City Royals - and a 50,000+ crowd. A fantastic evening was had by all. Jack amazed the crowd by his ability to sleep through fireworks, and the cheers of 50,000. Click on the photo to see Jack's sleeping antics. In the same Picasa album you'll also be able to see (a very grainy) video of Jack's First Swim... phew... back to work for a rest!

From Jacks First Swim

The winter finally arrives... it reached -25*c yesterday morning... it always makes me laugh when we reach into the -20's... i would have never believed it - but it really feels positively warm when it makes it into the -10's! The cold was accompanied by a dump of snow... which makes the neighbourhood look pretty at least.

I was at a conference this week in downtown Toronto. It was an interesting couple of days - debating the merits of building CityWide WiFi networks a la Google in San Francisco - geeky fun - and a whole bunch of possibilities - but that's by the by. © Cold Cut The thing that caught my attention was the pictures that everyone used... As we were in Toronto - every powerpoint presentation started and ended with a picture of the Toronto skyline. There were some stunning images and it really made me sit up and notice what an amazing looking skyline the city has. What do you think? Is this a good looking skyline, or a monstrous modern carbuncle? A couple of other pretty awesome shots are here and here. The usual Jack service will resume shortly.