[dingbat]

Originally Posted by sans Is that like nipping over to france for cheap booze ....Mind i think that bubble has burst, from what i hear people saying. To be honest "D" we would of never been able to afford a trip anywhere on the money we had coming in... And now we just nip to tesco's or Morrisons for cheap wine and beer

Three days at the Great Wolf Lodge just outside Olympia cost us $1200, all in. Add petrol and beer....around $1400. I thought I could manage a holiday for the younger kids this year - then eldest daughter called this morning to say she is coming back to Canada from the UK, as she cannot get a decent job to pay rent on her own. She has given up trying to make ends meet. Add her flight costs...aggggggggggggggggggh!

[dboy]

Originally Posted by sans Is that like nipping over to france for cheap booze ....Mind i think that bubble has burst, from what i hear people saying. To be honest "D" we would of never been able to afford a trip anywhere on the money we had coming in... And now we just nip to tesco's or Morrisons for cheap wine and beer

My brother is the manager for the Asda/Walmart in Manchester. He told met that booze is sold largely at a loss to attract shoppers. Creates the notion of unfair competition for those that depend on liqour sales, particularly pubs.

I seldom drink these days and never could understand the preoccupation with cheap booze, still my old man always asks for a bottle of grouse from duty frees when I head back to blighty.

[Madmac]

Originally Posted by iaink That is 100% the truth. I see the original poster has reached 4 months and is increasingly homesick.... Do people not look into culture shock and homesickness as part of the emmigrating process? It should really be a compulsory part of the curriculum. Around about that time the initial honeymoon is over, the adrenaline rush of finally getting here long gone, but for most people if you stick at it, then in time, like another 6 months, things will start to fall in place and feel familiar, and then you can make a rational decision about how you feel. Making any decision in the first year or two is really asking for trouble in the long term.

As Iain has mentioned on numerous posts to many people - don't make any decisions based on your feelings during the first year. Emotions run high (and incredibly low). We're here three years in a few weeks and I constantly thought about returning during the first year. In fact I think I wrote a long-winded post on that very subject during the first few months.

Here's my thoughts at the six month mark: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426964 My, how things have changed.

Take your time and although I fully appreciate that you won't be able to see any positives just now they will come eventually.

Good luck.

[pinkkristen]

Originally Posted by Madmac As Iain has mentioned on numerous posts to many people - don't make any decisions based on your feelings during the first year. Emotions run high (and incredibly low). We're here three years in a few weeks and I constantly thought about returning during the first year. In fact I think I wrote a long-winded post on that very subject during the first few months. Here's my thoughts at the six month mark: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426964 My, how things have changed. Take your time and although I fully appreciate that you won't be able to see any positives just now they will come eventually. Good luck.

Thankyou for that, comments like that make me feel better, i am going to sit and read your blog now with a glass wine - to cry into - just kidding

[Sunshine Girl]

Originally Posted by sans Hey!!!

Hey back We are currently planning our 'escape'
Dogs rabies titre all done (two failed), awaiting repeat blood test for them.
Currently looking for anything that can house us and the dogs.
Tent and field spring to mind

[sans]

Originally Posted by dingbat Three days at the Great Wolf Lodge just outside Olympia cost us $1200, all in. Add petrol and beer....around $1400. I thought I could manage a holiday for the younger kids this year - then eldest daughter called this morning to say she is coming back to Canada from the UK, as she cannot get a decent job to pay rent on her own. She has given up trying to make ends meet. Add her flight costs...aggggggggggggggggggh!

Is she coming back for good?? Or just till uni starts up again....Kids eh My eldest is 27 and i'm still sorting him out

[dingbat]

Originally Posted by sans Is she coming back for good?? Or just till uni starts up again....Kids eh My eldest is 27 and i'm still sorting him out

Sent you a PM.

[sans]

Originally Posted by dboy My brother is the manager for the Asda/Walmart in Manchester. He told met that booze is sold largely at a loss to attract shoppers. Creates the notion of unfair competition for those that depend on liqour sales, particularly pubs. I seldom drink these days and never could understand the preoccupation with cheap booze, still my old man always asks for a bottle of grouse from duty frees when I head back to blighty.

The supermarkets have been selling cheap booze for yrs... Their are not many Off licenses about anymore. I dont think social drinking in pubs will ever go out of fashion.....having said that, the fact that smoking is now banned in pubs ...some are struggling.

We very rarely drink at home, much prefer to socialise

[johnh009]

Originally Posted by brizzle I am based in surburban Vancouver. Part of my problem is that I am here for family reasons and never had a desire or dream to live here. It can be a nice place to live especially if you love certain outdoor activities and can afford to live in one of the more central locations. Trouble is the lack of decent, interesting jobs. I'm working in a job, I was doing 10-15yrs ago. Outside of downtown, there are possibly one or two areas that have any life or soul. If I were you I'd give it a year or two, it may grow on you. For me, I love my football/cricket, pubs, history, quality tv, culture and travel to Europe. Been away too long and would rather be in the UK than here

I think the lack of decent, interesting jobs just about sums it up. I came to Ontario in 1987. Those were the days when Ontario was supporting the whole country and good, high paying jobs were in abundance. And then Bob Rae came to power in the provincial government..... The amount of companies that left during that era, or never came here, has now left us as a have-not province. You can probably do okay here if you have a government job.

[sans]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Girl Hey back We are currently planning our 'escape' Dogs rabies titre all done (two failed), awaiting repeat blood test for them. Currently looking for anything that can house us and the dogs. Tent and field spring to mind

Oow!! abit chilly in winter......
You could always stick a static on Yarmouth beach Seem to remember it been abit pebbley that beach , but great for a hot dog van }Hugs{

[ExKiwilass]

Originally Posted by brizzle I live in Coquitlam I think that I get a different experience to those that are able to live more centrally. Thing that pee's me off is that I could really afford to buy in UK/Van after 2002, but didn't get to visit the UK enough to be able to buy a place and didn't know I'd end up marrying someone from here and then return later. If hindsight prevailed I'd have bought something in Van, but it was too expensive before I knew it. Van can be great place if everything falls into place right, but it it don't necessarily always happens that way.

You live in Coquitlam???!!!

Okay that explains a lot. Dude. say no more. I get it. I too have that sense of soul-crushing banality when I get too far from the old, established neighbourhoods...I love where I live...I would not be singing van's praises if I lived in the 'Lam or Pomo, etc. No. I know some people love the new Stepford developments but I am not one of them. Nor do I like strip malls etc.

Do you think you'll be able to return to the UK or is OH against?

[brizzle]

Originally Posted by dboy Ah now i know why you are such a miserable bugger. When I speak of Vancouver i tend to omit the metro areas and think only of Vancouver proper. The reasons I enjoy living here don't really apply out of the city. I have zero desire to live out of the city with the exception of one or two places. The experince of living in metro vancouver's burbs is completely different to the lifestyle of living in the city. I find life, for the most part, deathly dull out in the burbs. I too met a Canadian and ended up here by chance. We actually met in San Diego when I worked for the cruise lines. I knew very little about Canada and even less if anything about BC/Vancouver. Funny how life conspires against you. The prospects of a crap job, low pay and a house in Coquitlam would not be overly appealing to me and would defeat the reasons that I enjoy living here. I would rather rent downtown than own out in the burbs. Easy for me to say since I only have me to worry about.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass You live in Coquitlam???!!! Okay that explains a lot. Dude. say no more. I get it. I too have that sense of soul-crushing banality when I get too far from the old, established neighbourhoods...I love where I live...I would not be singing van's praises if I lived in the 'Lam or Pomo, etc. No. I know some people love the new Stepford developments but I am not one of them. Nor do I like strip malls etc. Do you think you'll be able to return to the UK or is OH against?

Wierd isn't it?? It's OK I suppose, better than Surrey that's for sure. Each of the main suburbs has nice areas, but I really don't think much of any of them (Richmond, Burnaby etc). It's a bit further away here. Trouble is that it's expensive downtown and not much affordable housing for a family. Love to go back to the UK, but obviously at this moment in time it's job dependent. Applied for a job there recently, so here's hoping !!

[dboy]

Originally Posted by sans The supermarkets have been selling cheap booze for yrs... Their are not many Off licenses about anymore. I dont think social drinking in pubs will ever go out of fashion.....having said that, the fact that smoking is now banned in pubs ...some are struggling. We very rarely drink at home, much prefer to socialise

No offies? I am out of touch!

[dboy]

Originally Posted by brizzle Wierd isn't it?? It's OK I suppose, better than Surrey that's for sure. Each of the main suburbs has nice areas, but I really don't think much of any of them (Richmond, Burnaby etc). It's a bit further away here. Trouble is that it's expensive downtown and not much affordable housing for a family. Love to go back to the UK, but obviously at this moment in time it's job dependent. Applied for a job there recently, so here's hoping !!

As Kiwilass will attest, there are actually some very neat older established areas in north Burnaby (capitol hill and vancouver heights). Hope all works out for you. Good luck

[brizzle]

Originally Posted by dboy As Kiwilass will attest, there are actually some very neat older established areas in north Burnaby (capitol hill and vancouver heights). Hope all works out for you. Good luck

Aye, cheers. Like I said each suburb does have it's plus points. Burnaby, I think is pretty awful in most respects. Some of N.burnaby is pretty nice, but much of it is very non-descript and downright dodgy in some areas.