Skimom

Wow, Lunan Bay - my favourite place in the whole world! We just spent a week there earlier this month, staying in a cottage about 5 mins' walk from the beach (at the Corbie end). My OH is from Arbroath and we go up to Lunan Bay each year. The kids love it and it has a real connection with the past for us as OH used to camp there as a kid and his mum used to go on school trips there in the '30's!

Jingsamichty

I'm originally from Dundee. My folks moved out to Perthshire, and when I'm visiting them we still usually pop into 'the toon' for a wander. It's changed a lot.

Cookie

We are having beautiful weather this August. July was a bit wet in parts but this month has been fab. October will see the Fall colours which are just stunning I would say that November here is similar to back home. Spring comes much later, usually mid April/early May and is relatively short, with a heat surge coming around mid June. We definitely know the day summer arrives.

Winters obviously last longer and is typically much colder. First snow may come at the end of Nov/early Dec then disappear quickly for a few weeks. Jan - Mar is the coldest months. We have experience 5 winters here now and I am not that bothered by them.

We landed on Jan 7, 2007 to see no snow and temps at around +6C. Within a weeks or so the temps plunged to between -25C and -35C. There was very little snow and lots of blue sky and sunshine that year but it was just freezing!!!

We have seen a few years with really heavy snow dumps which means the temps are higher (average -15C to -20C). This year Scotland and much of the UK had a far amount of snow but their dump doesn't stay for the same amount of time as here. A combination of much fewer snow trucks and no winter tyres is a disaster for the UK roads. Once our snow is down it doesn't defrost completely until April. However, we have much better road clearing system and they do a good job around here. We have a long driveway so that's one thing to consider when buying property. Also, consider what your commute would be during a snowfall, blizzard and black ice.

During the winter months, daily routine carries on as normal. I have a job that has shiftwork and requires me to be on the move every couple of hours so I love having a remote starter on my car. I had a Honda CRV which did great on the roads and my downhill driveway. I always changed over to winter tyres - much better traction. This year I have a Ford Escape 4WD and would think it will do just as good. Our garage is also attached to our house - what a bonus that it.

Life in general does not stop in the winter. I still work and socialise. Snow clearing can be very time consuming even with a snowblower, and it's not the best thing to do before 6am on a weekday. Luckily I have Mr Cookie and 2 teenagers for that job but I do help out too of course.

There are lots of sports all year round to take you out and about and make the winter more pleasing. Hockey is my favourite game to go to but curling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, skiing and ice skating are all very popular. Free outdoor ice rinks open up almost everywhere during winter.

This winter I decided to take up snow-shoeing at our local park. We had some very deep snow this year so it also came in handy when playing with the dog in the garden. One night I snowshoed through thigh deep snow garden with my pool brush to clean my satellite dish when it went offline just before Desperate Housewives. I called it Desperate Measures for Desperate Housewives

The thing about winter is just accepting it for what it is. It's Canada, it comes every year, just roll with it.