Camping 'out West' at Lake Sharbot

Contrary to popular belief I have in fact not been kidnapped by rabid gangs of chipmunks, but am actually just horrifically awful at updating the blog. This is the real reason why Josh has been the only one updating the blog for the past ... few months ... ahem. I have to say I do find it difficult after a day of working in front of a computer to come home and sit in front of a computer - Josh doesn't seem phased?!? Anywaythe operative word here is WORKING, a word which I have been able to apply to many sentences for the past one and a half months - (yeay and boo at the same time). It amazing how quickly that desperation to be working leaves you once you actually have a job.

I am working for an environmental organisation called Pollution Probe. They are the oldest and one of the most respected in Canada - I am working in the water programme area. Pollution Probe are a partnership building organisation who work with government, industry and other NGOs. It is a small office of five people (the main office is in Toronto), but everyone is very relaxed and friendly so I am enjoying the work environment. I'm working on a website which combines a number of government and industry environmental data sets for the public allowing them to use the data to learn more about what is being released in their environment and to take action accordingly. Anyway that's a quick overview - I'll give you the website once I've worked on it more.

After a month of hard work from me it was time for a leisurely excursion. Josh and I went camping to Lake Sharbot with two of my work collegues, Matt and Seanna. It was loads of fun and our first time in a while to get out of Ottawa and into the Canadian countryside. That being said it was quite a suburban camp - not exactly remote. Some of the camper vans had their own astro turf - fake grass and gnomes ha ha ha!! However it was very pretty and we swam in the lake, played frisbee and hackie sack, and went for some trail walks. We saw chipmunks, glow worms, a loon (Canadian bird found on the one dollar coin) and heard racoons rustling around at night.

Setting up camp, interpreted by the Ottawan 7th Ballet Troupe

Only the essentials in this savage wilderness

Lake Sharbot at sunset

Matt in the midst of Hacky-zen

All tuckered out!