SECOND REPORT FROM PAT SWARBRICK

Hello again from far away climes. It is coming up a year since we have left that green and pleasant land, apart from a trip home in May when we were lucky enough to meet up with a couple of you. Unfortunately it is also almost a year since I last ran in a race. There are plenty around but I haven’t got into entering any; too busy working and settling in is my excuse. The entry fees are also quite expensive in comparison with the U.K.; proceeds for charity etc. and you have to pay for your own tee shirt, a real bummer!!

Anyway, going back 10 months, we landed in Calgary, Alberta and drove over the Rockies, looking for suitable places to settle. We found some beautiful spots and some that we couldn’t get out of quick enough. For those of you who have watched the film ‘Deliverance’, you will know what I mean. I think one of the small towns in particular that we stayed a night in, hadn’t seen a stranger in years and they all appeared suspiciously related to one another. Anyway, we carried on driving and are currently settled in British Columbia, on Vancouver Island near Victoria, which is the capital of British Columbia. For those of you with an atlas, we are a small dot on the western side of Canada. I think we have been very cowardly with our choice of place to live, we have chosen the most British place in Canada. There are lots of English people here and Victoria itself looks like an English town with miniature Houses of Parliament. The climate is mild; it is unusual to see snow here. I think you saw more there last winter. However further up island there was 5 metres of snow at the local skiing resort. The summer has been glorious. I have been reading about the heat waves in England. We have had a couple of days where it has been really hot and the problem with the houses here are that they are made to keep the heat in. Everyone escapes to their basements. However those hot, hot days are not very often. It is usually around 22-23 degrees with glorious sunshine day after day. Also there are very few mosquitoes and flies. This climate is very much limited to this area though as inland, and on the east, there are extremes of temperature and humidity.

The move has been relatively smooth. It would be impossible to change countries without problems. We are really sorry that we were not able to say goodbye personally to all our friends at Wesham. I did have plans to have a good farewell drink with all the Wrinklys, and anyone else who wanted to join us, but things just took off at the last minute and there was no time. I think the British system of house selling was the main problem as we couldn’t book the flights until we knew the house sale would go through, and we didn’t know that until one week prior to the sale date. We have bought a house here and, believe me, the Canadian system is much better.

As I mentioned, I’m afraid to say I haven’t been keeping up my running and fitness as I would like. Shortly after we came here we did go running with one of the local groups around a local park. The people were great but it was difficult for me to keep up. They were called the Peninsula Harriers and are probably the equivalent of Blackpool and Fylde but older!! I have since seen the Peninsula Plodders around which are certainly more my sounding club!! There are many more runners here than in the Fylde but they don’t appear as serious on the whole. There aren’t as many races as Wesham are able to participate in and I often get the impression that Canadians favour a more relaxed style of running anyway. We watched a marathon race on our travels, and the winner took around 2:42. We assumed it was a hilly course but was told it was flat. There are definitely prospects for Wesham runners to take away first prizes here!!

I do intend to take part in a 10K when I can schedule myself to one but our days are still too full to plan ahead. We have so much to discover and Vancouver Island is a fantastic place to explore. Surrounded by the clearest sea I have every seen and the air almost tastes clean. We have done the touristy, whale watching and skiing and have started trekking, although with care, as the wildlife is a bit more threatening than the odd sheep. I have already frightened myself with reading books on cougars, bears and spiders. No longer do I have to be concerned about sheep and cows, there are more serious dangers lurking.

We live right next to a trail which was an old railway line. It must be around 50km in length running into the centre of Victoria and around the southern coast of the island in both directions. It is used by cyclists, runners, walkers, roller bladders and is car free. One thing I love here is the Canadian use of the English language. They speak as they see things with no words thought too ‘improper’. There are signs along this trail to the effect of “Cyclists – give way to pedestrians. Ring your bell or holler to pass”, I have been ‘hollered’ at a couple of times.

We have had quite a few visitors from England this year; a friend is coming for a week this month and a couple of friends for 3 weeks in September. At least I’m not running out of my supplies of Yorkshire tea bags, as they are bringing me plenty of stocks out. Will get this to Brenda prior to cut off date.

Written by: Pat & Arthur Swarbrick

Submitted: 15^th August 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

FOOTNOTE:

Since receiving these articles we have recently been sadly informed of the untimely death of Arthur’s son, Flt. Lt. Steven Swarbrick, who died in the Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on Saturday, 2^nd September, whilst serving in the R.A.F. patrolling above Kandahar. Wesham Road Runners take this opportunity to offer our deepest sympathy and support at this very sad time.

“Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one the link shall join again”

GOD BLESS.