I was editor of the Elstead Village News and having just spent some time catching up on the news I thought some of you might remember us and want to know how we are doing in Nova Scotia.

We left the UK two years last February and moved into our house 5 months later. We have 80 acres of land roughly 15 acres of grass to cut and mixed woodland over the rest. Our woodland is home to bears and bald eagles so we have some exciting times watching the wildlife. Also some anxious and obnoxious times when our puppies go out at night and meet the skunk!

The view from the house (www.thymeandplace.ca/webcam) stretches across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island. After we close the garden centre we take the dogs for a swim at the beach just 5 minutes away.  It was interesting to compare the similarities between the two places for example you have an annual boat race and we have a sandcastle competition, you have the marathon and we had a dandelion festival. Many of the fundraising activities, WI and church things are the same. Even the initiative with the children growing vegetables has been happening on this side of the pond too!

For those of you who remember our son Adrian he and Rebecca got married here in our garden last month and they have just returned from their honeymoon with an even stronger urge to come and live here too. The space, clean air and pace of life is refreshing after chasing up and down the A3 but obviously we have to travel further for certain items or do without so there is good and bad in both ways of life.

In case you are wondering... yes, I have started a magazine here as I think it is such an asset to any community. Ours is called The Grapevine and is almost the same as your Village News. The back issues are on the website www.thymeandplace.ca if you want to check it out. I am also still teaching and driving Allan mad with my mad-cap ideas for decks etc that he has to build from my vision.

Have a great day, as we say in these parts.