We made our decision to move to Canada 10 years ago and apart from a few odd twinges have never regretted it. Our 4 children have thrived here they all did well in school and ended up in university, I can't say they all stayed there but that is another story. Our oldest daughter is about to marry a Canadian and no doubt the other three will not be too many years behind. Canada has been a good place for them without the pressure they have in England growing up.

We looked all across Canada and spent many holidays here usually in a motor homes enjoying the wonderful campsites and I think that is what we first fell in love with. Our first choice was Kelona in British Columbia but at the last minute changed our minds and decided on Winnipeg, Manitoba right in the heart of the prairies.

Winnipeg is the best kept secret, people always ask "Why Winnipeg" when they find we moved here by choice not because of work or family. Our wants were very specific, we wanted less traffic than we had to put up with in the U.k, we wanted a friendly community, less crime and we wanted to be able to afford a nice house and send the children to good schools which would not cost an arm and a leg. Winnipeg had everything, the only down fall was the scenery it is very flat and lacks hills and corners, (there are some very rugged and rolling areas of Manitoba just not in our area), but it has bucket loads of everything else and the thing about beautiful scenery is if you live with it all the time you generally don't notice it after a while.

Not that Winnipeg is ugly, the city itself is beautiful with green parks and tree lined avenues, we have the best beaches and great water sports, surfing, sailing and fishing, and that combined with the friendly people, safe neighborhoods and great choice of shopping malls. If a change is wanted we can get down to the States within 2 hours or across to Edmonton or Calgary in 13 - 15 hours, sounds a long trip but on these roads it is an easy drive.

Winnipeg is a growing city and the way they are expanding it is making it even more appealing than it was already. Would I make the same choice now after living here for 9 years? YES most defiantly. Does it have everything on my wish list? NO but then nothing would, well maybe Richard Bransons Island would come close but I am sure I would soon get bored of laying in the sun all day in complete luxury. (I'd give it a go given the chance)

Work has not been a problem we have tried a few things over the years, some good and some not so good, but now my husband is in Real Estate selling houses and myself and two daughters run a store importing British foods and gifts called the Raging Brit.

It has not always been easy but compared with the problems faced at home it is a doddle, life is good, the people are great and the province welcomes you with open arms and is extremely helpful.

Nine years next month I don't know where the time has gone.