We have been in Canada since Nov 5th 2005 and I decided to reflect on what is different in our lives now compared to the time of BC (Before Canada ).

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1. We have more of a social life now, infact I would say we have a pretty full social life. This is due to having more time for socialising than being financially better off. It only takes me 13-18 minutes to get to and from work so weekends seem longer because I can mow the lawn etc before the weekend.
2. We are financially better off. Although the tax system isn't that much different we do manage to qualify for a rebate each year which does help. We also realised some of our capital in the UK house when we moved here. Plus I am in a reasonably well paid job (which I was in the UK). Our daughters are now working, so they contribute to the house in the form of 'weekly board' payments. It isn't a huge amount but it does help.
3. We have a much larger house which allows us to escape from each other when tensions are high, this was especially difficult in the UK. Teenagers need retreats (as do their parents) when the stresses of life make them unbearable (teenagers and their parents)
4. We have much less stress driving to and from work/shopping etc. Road rage is a very rare feeling for me now. In the UK I used to rant and rage at other drivers but here there is no point. So what if it delays me by 1-2 minutes
5. Clothes shopping choice is limited, and the quality of lingerie can be lacking. I know this drives the girls batty.
6. The TV is for the most part pretty bloody awful. However I am not sure how the British TV is now. When we left it was quickly detoriating in reality shows and Britains Worst .... We do have quite a library of DVD's now especially after hacking into our player and setting it to Multi Region so it can play any DVD's from UK or North America.
7. Health: Well there are a couple of health reflections; I have put on alot of weight since arriving and that is really all down to a much more seditary lifestyle, I calculated in the UK I would walk about 30km per week during my commute, walking the dog etc but here in Canada were we have more immediate access to the great outdoors and some hiking trails I do much less walking.  So this coming year is a great excuse for getting fit (again), I want to go hiking and canoeing in the Summer of 2009 and to do that without killing myself I will need to lose weight.  In the UK you should never moan about the cost of prescriptions, in Canada unless you are really destitute or have medical insurance with your employment you pay more like the true cost of the drug. Luckily I have good medical coverage and my 3 months prescription for Anti inflammatory is about $10. Getting family GP is a struggle in New Brunswick due to the lack of Doctors, however when you get one they seem to have more time to spend talking about your's and the family health rather than our experience in the UK. Sit for a couple of hours in an overcrowded waiting room, rush in, shove a prescription in your hand and thank you very much.
8. I have ran out of things to list for now.

So where does this leave us coming into our fourth year in Canada?

I think we are in a much better position for 2009 than if we had been in the UK. I know I am much happier, more relaxed and look forward to 2009. But then as a soldier home was always were my suitcase was. The girls have had much more of a challenge settling down and settling in. I would like to think they are all in a better position to settle down this coming year. I am not sure where Kathryn and Gemma will finally land, and as a parent I have realised that I shouldn't expect them to stay around us. We didn't stay around our parents while starting our lives so why should they?