Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Well we have been back 3.5 months now after spending 10 years in the GTA (in a very family orientated area).

The only thing I really miss is my friends, salads and wildberry coolers...

We have been really pleasantly surprised at how much we are loving being back (missing friends a lot but we are in a new area), the heritage, the countryside and just the Englishness.

Have four kids and they have settled amazingly well into school, my eldest was even made a prefect after three weeks. Kids have been so friendly to them.

Moving in two weeks to house, we were surprised to be able to get a mortgage so soon.

I do find it hard to overcome the English whinyness and then the battle of people still in Canada not completely understanding your return, I think there is a huge difference between areas in England and experiences definitely depend on that. We are finding it exceptionally friendly here in the West MIdlands, but its noticeabley different in the South East.

Weather has been amazing the last couple of weeks too.

We moved with four kids, a cat and a dog so if you need any help, feel free to ask questions.

Thanks
Daisymoll

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Good to hear you're settling in well Daisymoll.I guess we all have a few things we miss but I guess we just learn to find a substitute or make our own. I used to love the Woody's Ice Blueberry coolers in Canada but have never seen any of the Woody's line over here which I found rather odd since it's made here. There are a lot of nice berry ciders out there these days that might help quench your thirst for Wildberry - just think of the fun you can have experimenting. I just try my best to copy salads I used to have and have experimented with making my own dressings as there are not so many commercial dressings available here.I guess there'll always be the whinge and moan factor to cope with here but hey - it wouldn't be England without it. I wouldn't be too concerned about those who don't understand your move - you and your family are happy and that's what's important and if someone else doesn't understand the whys then that's that someone else's problem. It's good to hear your kids are settling in well in school, that's always a big worry.Just wanted to say welcome home and let's hope this glorious autumn weather continues!

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Thanks for the update. Good to here that things are going well! Are your children all Primary school or do you have any in Secondary?

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I have three in primary school and one in middle school (Year 7), so high school in a lot of places. Getting school places was a definite challenge, but we have ended up with a couple of lovely schools, which took some ringing the local authority and driving around to assess.

All have settled amazingly well....

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Welcome Home from someone who is also ex Canada and ex West Midlands; although despite eight years in Alberta, I have no idea what a 'wildberry cooler' is, or for that matter, what a wildberry is, or a cooler unless it is a prison cell.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Yup I looked up wildberry in Google and I'm none the wiser. I think you'll find them in the LCBO but no such thing grows on a bush or a tree ??

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

They seem to grow in the marketing department. :rolleyes:

Wild Berry coolers

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

This is what we find.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I guess Wildberry is just a blanket term given to mixed berries like we see "Fruits of the Forest" and the like over here. They had Country Berry coolers in Canada as well. Personally, I love Hedgerow conserve on my crumpets in the morning.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Congrats Daisymoll sounds like you are settling in well. If you only really miss salads and wildberry coolers (I don't know what they are either :lol:) then I pretty much think you will do well here. Friends are a bit tougher I admit but weirdly skype & facetime to my friends in Canada is a lot easier than to my friends here from Canada, if you know what I mean?

Anyway, keep on enjoying the countryside & beautiful buildings :thumbsup:

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hi DaisyMoll,
Great that your family are doing so well now that your back in the UK. My son and I are planning to move back in about a year and I do have a question for you. I noticed you brought pets back and I have two cats I will be bringing back. How did your cat handle travelling and did you use anything to make your pets drowsy or relaxed? Thanks for any help.
Gilly

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I brought 2 cats back from Canada in 2014. The airlines won't allow any tranquillisers. I was told this is because the low air pressure in the cabin, combined with the tranquillisers can be fatal for the animal.

But, both our cats, one of whom was over 20, were fine.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Thank you so much for your response, Editha. My cats are both under ten years old but it's such a long flight I can't help but worry about their comfort. You've helped put my mind at ease, thank you so much.
Gilly

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

We moved two cats to Australia and three cats back from Australia five years later. I guess we don't really know what the flight is like for them, but they all seemed perfectly fine afterwards. A bit disorientated for the first few hours, but then a cat would be a bit disorientated if you moved to a different house down the road so that is not necessarily due to the flight.

I expect they just curl up and go to sleep for most of the journey. No as mentioned you cannot use anything to sedate them on a flight.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Thanks so much, Bermudashorts. Again very reassuring to hear this. I know our one cat , the young one will be fine, he always is, but my older one is a bit, shall we say high-strung, he's the one I really worry about. He's only eight years old now, but your kind reassurances have me very relieved. He's not very frail, just a bit of a nutter when it comes to change. Knowing that your cats were only disoriented means he will probably freak out for a few hours, then he'll be back to his usual I'm mad at you for changing my world for a few days and then back to his old cuddly self. You really have helped so thank you so much, I really appreciate your comments.
Gilly

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hi there we have been in Canada for 6 years and are moving back to UK in a couple months, can someone advise us, we are wondering if we have to resit a test for our drivers licences, we changed over our licences 6 years ago and would like to get our uk licences back we are both in our 40's if we can just move back and send off for areplacement I will be over the moon! Also, you mentioned that you were able to get a mortgage quite quickly is this because you had a large downpayment?

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

one more thing, we have two small dogs, how do we go about taking them with us to uK? is it exspensive?

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I think you'd be better off posting your queries about moving back in the main UK forum, rather than 'back home'. More people will see it and you will get more replies.

You don't have to resit your driving test.

Yes, bringing the pets back will be expensive. Enquire of the airline you are using. There will be vets fees too.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hi Ontario 70,
I've been looking into this a lot as I am planning to return next year with two cats. British Airways and Air Canada will both transport your pets for approximately $200 each. They have to be micro-chipped and have all their shots etc... but they get checked by a vet when you land and then you take them straight home, no quarantine. Both the airlines have lots of information about what needs to be done and the timing for everything you need to do, size of crates and so on.

Travelling with pets | Special Assistance | British Airways

Travelling with your pet - aircanada.com

These are great jumping off links. I hope this helps! All the best :thumbsup:
Gilly

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hi Daisymoll,
We are hoping to come back after 20years in Ontario.Have loved it here and don't regret coming but the winters are getting hard .2 or our grown up children have returned to Uk now and we feel we are ready to return .Its nice to hear from people who have made the transition and are happy .
I may be asking for advice in a couple of months !

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

After 14yrs in Canada/MB, all my family are in S.Wales and Winters in Manitoba aren't funny, I intend to return back next year.
Any tips on preparations as far as shipping personal belongings and good moving companies would be great.

Good to see your transition has gone well 😀
Regards

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hi there - been living in teh US for 20 years - wife is american and we lived in teh UK 15 years prior to emigrating to teh US - would welcome your input on tips and process...

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Why didn't she naturalise and get her British Citizenship while she was here? That would have made everything so much easier, She now needs a Spouse visa to move to the UK,

Spouse Immigration-UK : British Expat Wiki

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing - if she already lived and worked in the UK for 15 years doesn't that count? Also our daughter now lives permanently in the UK.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Unfortunately no. If you have been out of the UK for some 20 years you will need to sponsor your wife for a spouse visa in order to live in the UK.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

thanks!

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

as a further note - my wife has a UK driving license, her National Health Ins card and her original Visa in an old passport - surely that counts for something?

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

No it does not. You have been living in the US for 20 years. If you wish to return to the UK with your US wife then you have to go through the immigration process to sponsor her.

Note, that if you return to the UK and then decide to move back to the US after, say, a couple of years, if YOU have not obtained your US citizenship YOU will need to go through the US immigration process all over again.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Blimy, they don't make it easy!

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I can fully understand why you don't miss Canada, horrible place.
I am trying to sell a business so I can move back and get out of this country of high taxes, expensive everything. Canadians are nothing like they portray themselves on the international stage, they are racist, low intelligence, no style, no culture, and sometimes just down right nasty. I know having been here 21 years and hated it for half the time. I made a HUGE mistake of buying a business in a smaller town than Vancouver, WOW THAT REALLY OPENED MY EYES AS TO HOW NASTY THESE PEOPLE ARE.
Why on earth they want to be American is beyond me when America steals the oil and gas and laughs at how stupid Canadians really are.
Can't wait to go home.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Totally agree with you, Benson55 ... I'm dying a very slow death here in this country, it's sapping the life right out of me :-(

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

sorry to hear that but I feel the same way as have medication the last few years to cope with this aweful country. You are not alone there are a lot of people who want to get out, some are more fortunate than others to be able to do so, some are not able though.
Keep going.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

+1 :lol:

Canada is by far one of the most overrated countries in the world, everyone has this massive sense of entitlement and at the same time think that they are polite, courteous and welcoming, which could not be further from the truth

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

+2!

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Have to agree on what Benson and Trish both said. Living in Canada can be very draining in many ways, especially if you become unhappy and disillusioned with your lot!

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Agreed , the carbon taxes, the price of electricity, groceries are so expensive now. I really want to move back- my Dad who is 85 is coming out to see me in July this year for a visit- I am contemplating suggesting that Hubby and I think seriously about moving back in 2 years to be closer to my Dad- hibby moans constantly about everything in Canada- he is like Victor Meldrew on steroids- that said- he is not too happy about the thought of the UK refugees issues with no go areas and no freedom of speech either..

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

WTF is all that about, we've been back in the UK for 8 years and not seen anything of what you are complaining. Certainly there is no lack of freedom of speech, just look at all the lies created by the EU leave groups, and that they have admitted were lies. Freedom of speech is well and living in the UK, unless you are inciting people to break laws or harm people of other races or religions.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

I don't understand the 'UK refugee issues with no go areas'. What does that mean?

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

No idea either, wasn't my post.

Re: Back 3.5 months after 10 years in Canada
 

Goodness me. :ohmy: