Can you tell that I have too much time on my hands?

Parked up, so I have been going through some pictures which I took last year during on our summer in France.

I'd hung up my keys in the UK and we both went to work at Le Moulin Fort campsite in the beautiful Loire Valley, before coming over to Alberta to work for Watt and Stewart.

Amboise, France.

Candes Saint Martin France July 2011

Chambord Chateau France June 2011

Chambord Chateau France June 2011

Chambord Chateau France June 2011

Underground at Chateau Breze France July 2011

Chateau Chaumont sur Loire France 29th June 2011

Chateau Chaumont sur Loire France 29th June 2011

Chateau Chaumont sur Loire France 29th June 2011

Chateau Montpoupon France 2011

Chateau Montpoupon France 2011

Chateau Villandry France June 2011 

Chateau Villandry France June 2011 

Chateau Villandry France June 2011 

Chenonceaux Village France June 2011

North American trucks parked near Francueil village near Blere, France

North American trucks parked near Francueil village near Blere, France

View across the river Cher to Le Moulin Fort Camping

Rose nursery near the village of Francueil.

Saint Aignan France September 14 2011

The Beach at Montrichard France 26th June 2011

The barrage at Civray de Touraine, France June 2011, ND filter and slow shutter speed.

Chouze Sur Loire France july 2011

View of traditional boats on the Loire River taken from the Chateau Chaumont sur Loire France 29th June 2011

Guy Durand wine cave near Amboise in the Loire Valley, France.

Guy Durand wine cave near Amboise in the Loire Valley, France.

Guy Durand wine cave near Amboise in the Loire Valley, France.

Looking over the bridge on the Cher near Chisseaux in the Loire valley France.

Still in Tye.

We're still in Tye as we received a message on the Peoplenet not to go to South Carolina until we got the green light from the boss.
I can't get hold of anyone at the office, but it definitely says 'don't go', so we will sit tight, although I have 30 hrs driving time so we will have to 'talk turkey' about this down time!

Railtracks near Brookshire , Texas.

Cath snapped this, in Colorado I think.

Caths brother, Anthony.

Tye, Texas.

We're in Tye Texas tonight before we take a slow run across to South Carolina, preserving duty time until it rolls back around on Wednesday.

A few pictures taken on the way down.

Looking North from the 87 in Montana USA.

Looking North from the 87 in Montana USA.

Looking North from the 87 in Montana USA.

Looking North from the 87 in Montana USA.

Grain elevators in Hobson Montana.

Grain elevators in Hobson Montana.

Taken from one of the great rest areas exit 92 on the I25 in Wyoming looking West.

Summer construction zones

We're on the way to Texas again after loading reels in Calgary, and we're hoping not to get stuck on the way back with Memorial Day restrictions for oversize loads.
The way down to Texas includes various detours to avoid construction zones and  low bridges, but it's all good fun, unless a mistake is made in my planning!
We seem to have met a lot of Canadian, Watt and Stewart drivers this last week, and as usual they are helpful and friendly, unlike the Government, who can't seem to get their fingers out regarding Temporary Foreign Workers, and are currently making one of our friends lives a misery with a serious chance of them losing everything they have worked for in the few years they have been here!
We also met a new driver (originally from Germany) who has come over from the dark side to work at the company, and we wish him the best for his future here.

Shot this nice new truck passing Claresholm last week.

Elevators and rail car in Nanton Alberta.

Same old same old.

Not much to report here in Canada, we are on a loop at the moment taking reels down to Texas and mainly bringing back either empty reels or tyres. Great weather in Alberta right now, and we have been managing to miss all the tornadoes down south.

Our time off has been very nice, and we have spent some time at the Mc Garry household with Mick, Martina and the kids, although we have now bought a car, so when we are resetting in Canada we will be able to get about a bit more and see the sights.

Micks Kids

Butter wouldn't melt!

Four of the five reels on the way to Texas

Parked in the rest area at Kaycee Wyoming

Big nose

Would have liked to go to this BBQ, but it's only open on Saturdays

Parked at Wheatland, Wyoming on way back with tyres

One of our drivers bobtailing south near Claresholm Alberta

A day out in Nanton over the holiday weekend, time for some pictures

Accelerated Labour Market Opinion Program Announced Today - Canadavisa News

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) announced today plans for a new Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) initiative. This initiative is effective from 25 April 2012.
In order to hire a temporary foreign worker, a Canadian employer is usually required to first apply for and receive a positive Labour Market Opinion. However, processing times for these Opinions have risen in recent months as provincial offices work hard to reduce backlogs.
The A-LMO presents an option for some employers to circumvent these long processing times. In order for an employer to be eligible for the A-LMO process, they must:

• Have been issued at least one positive LMO in the previous two years;
• Have a clean record of compliance with the LMO program within the last two years;
• Not have been the subject of an investigation, infraction, or serious complaint; and
• Not have any unresolved violations or contraventions under provincial laws governing employment and recruitment

Employers who qualify for and submit an application to the new A-LMO process can expect to receive an Opinion within 10 business days.
 
 Accelerated Labour Market Opinion Program Announced Today - Canadavisa News