Canada, 2025: Edmonton
FROM THE PEN OF THE PRIME MINISTER, ABROAD
International Visit to Canada, 2025
Station: Edmonton, Alberta
This one of a series of posts about my trip to Canada. More posts about this trip can be found here.
I'm writing this on the plane on the way to Vancouver, after four wonderful days in Edmonton with family, some of whom I haven't seen in ten years.
The flight from Manchester was long. Eighteen hours of travelling and back through several time zones does take it out of you, so I went pretty much straight to bed when I arrived at my aunt's. I watched some good films on the plane, and my new iPad mini turned out to be a fantastic travelling companion.
Edmonton is a city in the province of Alberta. I didn't see much of the city itself other than through a car window, as I was ferried about trying to make sure I saw all my cousins, who are spread across it.
I've got two aunts and uncles and four cousins in total. But there's now the addition of partners, four children (with one on the way), four dogs and three cats, all of whom I got to meet and spend time with. One cousin married a farmer, so I got to see a wonderful bit of land surrounded by crops and even more animals, with hens and horses there as well. I had a little experience of the farming life when the hens escaped from the coop. Chasing them around in the heat confirmed what I already knew, which is that I like to work indoors and make life as easy as possible. But it's hard to deny the views and the freedom out there.
Talking of the heat, I was surprised by just how hot it has been. It hasn't been under 25 degrees Celsius, and I'm glad I didn't just pack my luggage full of autumn outfits. Wildfires in the province next door have left Edmonton with a hazy sky with smoke carried hundreds of miles.
I know some people have trouble with families. But I've always felt so loved by mine, and even though they're thousands of miles across an ocean, when I see them it's like I see them every day. As with all families we have our moments, but ultimately the love, generosity and hospitality they share is a beautiful part of life. I hope you have this experience with yours, or are able to make one for yourself.
I definitely won't leave it another ten years until I see them again. A lot can, and did, happen in a decade, and if there's anyone you want to share your highs and lows with, it's them.
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