Yes I did say I would get this posted on our 2nd Anniversary but life was hectic around the 5th November and the following Saturday was our Bonfire Party and we are only just coming round to somewhere near normal life again.

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So I sat down with the girls and asked the following questions:

• What don't you like about living in Canada and more specifically Fredericton NB?
• What do you like about living in Canada etc...?
• What do you miss about the UK?
• What would you advise people to do if they are coming over or what would you do differently if you had the time over again?

I also asked an extra risky question: As a percentage express how happy you are with 1% being downright miserable and 100% being blissfully estatic.

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So here are the answers.

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What we don't like about living in Canada or more specifically Fredericton NB?

• Fredericton drivers (appalling roadsense and positioning)
• Frumpy fashions (thats not from me I am more than happy with mine (Dad))
• No swimming pool on the south side
• Lack of leisure centre facilities (to be fair they have built one on the North side and one is due to open next spring on the South side)
• Lack of teenager venues
• Poor road lighting around the edges of town. No cats eyes, and lines are generally worn out by the time spring comes around. (This is to be expected as winter really takes it's toll on the roads. Also less light means less light pollution)
• Lack of tourism signposting

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What we DO like about living in Canada or more specifically Fredericton NB?

• The wildlife, birdlife and nature is amazing
• Weather, we love the hot summer's and freezing winters and snow
• Scenery
• Lower cost fo doing things such as learning to drive, swimming, skating etc...
• Pace of life we have more time as a family to do things
• Our house and garden (Mowing 1 acre seems more fun with a petrol/gas powered mower ... I dont have a sit on mower, I need the exercise)
• Having campfires in the back garden during the summer autumn evenings
• The different seasons allowing us to do different hobbies or activities. We brought an above the ground pool this summer it was great and we have a kit for an ice rink for this winter as well as x country skis and snow shoes.
• Social life - we seem to have more friends here and more time to enjoy socialising. Between the Newcomers club and neighbours we had 46 people come to the bonfire party.
• Fresh fruit and the varieties, there does seem to be more than in the UK
• Fresh seafood (licking lips)
• My job, I really enjoy what I am doing and enjoy going to work. (Dad)
• Organised Summer Events - movies under the stars, free concerts in the parks and down town
• Outdoor leisure facilities such as tennis courts, free ice rinks in the winter etc
• Our cars (sounds trivial)

What do you miss from the UK?

• We do miss food like baked beans, branston pickle and other foods that are not available here, or only occassionally.
• We miss the variety of restuarants that stay open until late
• Good curry house
• Good Chinese take away
• Hearing all the please and thank you's

What don't you miss from the UK?

• 2 hour commute
• Crime and the feeling of the threat of crime
• M25 Traffic and road rage
• Constant noise in the background
• Lack of privacy both in the house and outside in the garden
• Seemingly never ending job of making ends meet  without an end in sight.
• Walking home in fear during the dark winter months and sometimes in broad daylight

What would you advise people to do if they are coming over or what would you do differently if you had the time over again?

• Come earlier so that both girls would have been at high school it would have been easier for them to settle and make friends to have through high school and to go out with.
• Have minimal visitors for the first 12 months. It is amazing the financial drain on your reserves when you take people around sightseeing, feeding, etc... You tend to have a holiday at the same time and spend like you are on holiday. Be aware of that.
• Gemma would have liked to complete her GCSE's (see first point on this list for conflicting points put forward)

OK the biggy question on happiness, "As a percentage express how happy you are with 1% being downright miserable and 100% being blissfully estatic"

• Kathryn = 65% and happy
• Gemma = 75% and happy
• Julie = 90% and happy
• David = 95% and very happy

Our conclusion is, that it always takes alot of time to fit in where ever you move to, and after two years we are now beginning to feel settled and happy.

For those of you who want to compare our feelings at the end of year click on this link to year one lessons learned.