I wore an unironed shirt and no-one noticed

7.45 cold wet start on garbage run on way to school

That could almost be the title of a Country and Western song. But it's true. I went to school today and I was wearing a collared shirt, as one of my layers, and it hadn't been ironed. An absolute game changer for me, because I was expecting that people would be whispering behind their hands, giving very little discreet pointing movements. And heaven forbid, for the most audacious, to even approach me with a conspiratorial and quizzical "Is that an un-ironed shirt?"

Surprise, surprise, that didn't happen. It could be my biggest takeaway from #Canada - I might not need to be a "slave to the iron."

To be fair though, by the time you layer up and then get absolutely poured on by the rain, who would know?

Today we experienced "a weather event." Well, that's what it was called in the radio broadcast. An ex-tropical storm was making its way north from #Hawaii and was dumping rain in the coastal areas of #British Columbia. The weather team got it right. This wasn't the usual misty light and persistent rain we had previously experienced. This was the real thing. Not the hammering of a thunderstorm at home, with its associated wild winds and whipping rain, but a very steady heavy downpour that hung around for most of the day. Noticeably here, there is always that "gloom" and "darkness" associated with any cloud cover and it was no surprise that we made our way to school this morning in what felt like nighttime conditions.

Another wonderful morning with @Ms_W, the children and their pumpkins. The field trip to the farm had been a success and pumpkins large and small adorned the desks. The morning just flew and I had a ball working with my little groups across both language and math (getting it) activities and even successfully substituted "full stop" with "period." Nearly a full complement today - 18 students in attendance - only two still absent- apparently they are on holidays with family in the #Philippines. 

Every child has a pumpkin - like library book selection - some pick the biggest, some the smallest

The ground was already saturated and the water, with nowhere to go, pooled in deep puddles or gathered more force in the waterways and waterfalls. A paradise for kids in wet weather gear.

On the equipment, on the oval in the pouring rain

I was in for another eye opener at recess. The kids were protectively decked out in the overalls and Wellington boots. And, predictably, were all out on the playground again. What was the big surprise for me was the "supervised" play on the slope on the far side of the oval. There was the teacher on duty, complete with wet weather gear and umbrella, supervising the activity - making sure everyone had on the right gear and was waiting their turn. Apparently, only one child on the slope at once. Safety first.

One is progessing down the hill, one kneeling other edge of the puddle

Teacher supervising "turns"

The fun doesn't end with the slide down the hill - then you get to splash, stomp and even sit in the puddle at the base of the slope. Kids were out on the oval, kicking balls, jumping in puddles, playing games and the oval doesn't seem any worse for wear! 

Live action from the oval - note the little person in foreground - this is a new game - children have a ball in a mesh bag - find puddles and splash the ball into the ground. Awesome in its simplicity. Of course, sliders and puddle stompers in background.

And, in they go - strip off, and the day continues. I noticed today - there are no towels. Don't need to dry yourself off, the inside heat of the building takes care of that and when you go out for long recess, everything is dry (although maybe a little muddier) and good for round two.

Met some of the children that @Mindy works with and had a little in class visit with @Mel and @Mindy during a high energy math session. It was a Year 6/7 and it was straight after that wild wet recess. Cold air must fire up the brain cells - they were definitely on fire and on task and full credit - hands were shooting up in the air to share their solutions from their whiteboards. Definitely NOT a cold, wet bedraggled lot, with wet answers running across smudged whiteboards - quite the opposite!

Donned my layers and made my way to the bus. There is about a 40 metre stretch on the walk to the bus where #The Valley Trail narrows as it heads downhill and goes through a forested section. I don't like it because I am always on my hyper-anxious bear alert. @Ms_W told me just to talk out loud to myself as I wander through. I went one better and gave a fabulous rendition of "Happy Birthday" for @Carolyn - that did the trick perfectly - kept the bears at bay and I am sure that the #Birthday Girl heard it all the way on #Straddie.

I bundled onto the bus with everyone else decked out in my now extremely wet, wet gear. All the bus seats are that velour cloth. No matter, everyone just keeps their wet gear on - no doubt, the heating in the bus dries everything off. I have now spotted, attached to each bus stop pole a handy shoe scraper - you can at least knock the mud and snow off your boots if need be. No wind tunnel to get the water beads off your jacket though.

For your convenience - a shoe scraper chained to bus stop

Tried to dodge the ever-deepening puddles in my leaky shoes on my walk home from the bus stop, shook off my wet gear on the porch and abandoned any thoughts of ironing. Focussed my energies on dinner and reprising @Mindy and @Ian's wedding menu - burgers and chips! It always makes me laugh when I let my mind slip back to that bride, complete with layers of white tulle in the dress and the veil - sitting outside with the #Red Barn and #Mt Currie in the background, chowing down on a burger. Absolutely being your best self.

Such a great memory xoxo - I should have thought to ask them to dress for dinner

And yes, we did roll up for the movie sequel after a few late-evening-for-us, calls to home - and it (the movie) was BAD. Understand why the young ones abandoned us and left us to shake our heads wondering why we endured its after midnight finish.  Will make for a good sleep-in tomorrow.