Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Hi Brit expats, Great site, amazed at the amount of expatriate information.
I've been reading some of the reasons people come back to the UK then head back to their emigrant country.
We're ever interested what drives people to make the major decision to come back to the UK and then decide to return to Canada /or indeed other countries.

In our case, we lived in Canada 9 years. Came back after a sense of isolation set in over a 2 year period. We decided we should give it a go and zip back to Blighty. Now realise we have grown used to living in Canada. Seems a pity in one way to head back to Canada, due to family here in the UK. But not as though we see them constantly. You have to think about daily life and live it to the full...:)!

Did anyone else get that 'dull' feeling being back in the UK? Don't wan't to put a 'y' in front of UK.... but it just seems like the people lack enthusiasm and don't get up and go. I know some think Canadians can be over the top, even pretentious at times and again lots of threads about challenges of making friends with Canuks beyond friendly acquaintances. Nevertheless it still seems preferable.
Things are cleaner, brighter and more positive in Canada. We were on the West Coast so for sure, didn't have the snow issues of fellow expats.

I realise these are generalisations and clearly people have different opinions about both countries good and bad.

Ha, we expats are never happy I guess.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

You were mixing with the wrong crowd then as I find the complete opposite. I find the Canadians I mix with incredibly insecure resulting in conservatism at best, more probably incompetence. My British colleagues can be stuffy and more concerned with which school or college they went to, but when there is a tough situation they perform admirably with few mistakes and are funny with it.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

My Mum has just spent 10 days back in Lancashire looking after some family stuff (she lives in France). After the experience, she has vowed she will never return to the North West whatever happens. Too much negativity. Too dirty. Too expensive.

I can't see us moving back to the UK any time soon.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

I'm looking forward to seeing any apples to apples comparisons.

On a side note, we drove through the Bransholme Estate in Hull once and after comparing it to Ambelside in West Vancouver we agreed Canada was better than the UK.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

I bet the pubs are better in Hull than West Van. And thats saying something.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Thanks for your responses guys. Interesting point Oink regards your Brit colleagues fine performance in a crises. Fair play. Actually the team of Canadians I worked with were funny and didn't stand on ceremony, but that was at our local level. Some of the managers on the other hand were hopeless and disingenuous.

For sure everyone's experiences are different.
Cheers.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Found the North West cheap, compared to the South East. Relatives in Manchester, they enjoy life there, lots of facilities and stuff to do. Though they have good jobs. But traffic is bonkers, as is the case in a lot of the UK.
Cheers.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Nope, never feel it's dull in the UK. Not in the SE/London. Quite the opposite. So much going on and everyone seems switched on and ready to discuss things. Neither place is perfect though, some aspects better in Canada, some better in the UK.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Well put Shard. Neither place is perfect, some things better in Canada and UK. I'm finding the traffic in SE England very congested though. Drive in Kent /Sussex countryside, but most places are stuffed. Took a trip to North Wales, that was nice:) Open roads.

But yeah as stated by many, driving standards are better in the UK. I guess due to the 'obstacle course' and narrow roads. Canadians with non use of indicators, non existent roundabout education etc. is more hairy in that respect.

London, lots going on as you say, but very rushed, you're cast aside if too slow. Bit nuts to see the tension. I didn't find this in Calgary & Vancouver (ha, except behind the wheel as discussed...)
Toronto visits - we had people coming up to us to help, when we looked at the map on the street. Some may disagree but Toronto for its size and populous, still a better, easier atmosphere than London.

Cheers.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

How long have you been back in Britain?

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Well I've pinged and ponged

2yrs Canada > 2yrs UK > 10yrs Canada > 2yrs UK

As many will say something better in each location

BUT !! the UK has no nasty bitter winter in which to commute

IMHO you can add up all Canada’s pluses, and they'll never erase that negative

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Hi Mike, sounds like you're experienced at popping back to the ol' country and over again. Must get expensive. For us this time, we won't take much stuff back to Canada. We were West Coasters...so mainly rain rather than the fine fluffy stuff. East coast seems a lot more bitter with Winter. But most of the folk still have a smile on their face most of the time....!#@:)

Was it mainly the Winter that took you back to the UK, and what made you return to Canada may I ask?

In our case, purely felt isolated from family, but put it aside for some years, finally thought let's give it a go back in the UK. But now looking at the big picture again and settling in Canada seems the best option. But one never knows...you know how life is.

Cheers.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Now back 18 months. After a few months we thought better to be in Canada. But gave it a decent amount of time. We've looked at different parts of the UK and opportunities. We had some good visits to Manchester and Liverpool, ah the Scousers are a friendly lot, can't say it's all bad here. I wouldn't knock the place totally, just overall Canada ticks more boxes. Like open space and Pacific summers among other things.

Cheers.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

The Pacific summers are very decent. A bit heavy on the UV during the day, but the evenings are wonderful. British are summers can also be wonderful, just a bit unreliable, this one as evidence. It generally takes two full years (two annual cycles) to readjust IME.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Interesting, my family has just spent 3.5 years in southern ontario - working in Toronto but couldn't live there - and we're in the process of moving to the UK. I have a few friends who think I'm mad for leaving, and others who think I'm mad for staying so long!

Work is easier in Canada, no question. But infuriating.

Our main reason for going back to the UK is for family and friends, those guys who would make any place in the world feel like the best option. For us there comes a point when the country you live in is almost immaterial.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Yeah Pacific summers are more reliable than the UK in that sense. Such are weather patterns, the UK is a bit short changed on that score. Fine except when you plan BBQ /outdoor events. I actually didn't find the Winter weather too bad either. When you live there, you find enough 'slots' to go skiing on a sunny day.

Do you currently live in the UK or Canada, Shard?

Cheers

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Hi Toon Alcona, well expressed comments. I think Family/friends is such a common reason for us expats to return to the homeland... We did just that. I would say be sure you're happy to give up whatever Canada gives you. It's difficult to really know till you return for sure.

We're in the process of looking at a return back to Canada, perhaps more savvy now, more switched into the fact we can see other family on visits. A lot of them want to visit us back in Canada...!:)

Re point, some people think you're mad to go /stay. Those are just general opinions, I find often from people who haven't emigrated. We got the comment 'why on earth would you come back?' when we arrived back in the UK.

Anyway you can only live each day. All the Very Best for your move.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

We keep bouncing around the idea of moving to a different Province or back to Blighty, we make up our minds what to do then change our minds and start the process again, who knows where we'll end up but it for sure won't be Alberta in the long run.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

I missed France when I moved back to SE England after 13 years and then missed SE England when I moved to NS Canada after 22 years. Now I'm in ON Canada and miss NS... Think there's a pattern...

Neither hubby or I can see ourselves moving make to Blighty. But never say never, although with 4 sons very settled here I can't see how I would ever leave them all behind!!!

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

The only thing I missed about the UK when we moved to NS was the working culture. Now I work for a better company I couldn't imagine leaving here for anywhere else

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

[QUOTE=

Our main reason for going back to the UK is for family and friends, those guys who would make any place in the world feel like the best option. For us there comes a point when the country you live in is almost immaterial.[/QUOTE]

:goodpost:

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Any possible perceived advantages the UK has melt away after you've been sitting in traffic on the M25, M5, M6 wherever in a traffic jam for however long it has been, especially if it's raining.

Yes, yes, the traffic in Vancouver is equally appalling and driving in the winter in Canada is a bit vexing at times, and of course you could always move to say, Belfast where the traffic isn't so bad. (Although having said that, the A24 at rush hour is a mind blower).

But overall, the traffic in the UK is much worse, as you would expect from having 60 million people in such a small landmass. Even when the traffic is moving, you have all these crazy junctions and much narrower roads generally which pile on the stress.

I could never live there again. Every time I go over to visit I notice that it has gotten worse.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Swine! (No pun intended! ;)) those that claim thay that don't miss such beautiful English villages even a smidge must be bonkers or liars. We lived near Hickling- described very well in the article and Burnham Market- unfortunately the latter having been taken over by holiday home owners from London.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

the winter was always a pain, and I often joked if you offer me a job anywhere outside of Canada in March I'd take it...

The final straw was work, Management had changed at my place and I started to look around for alternatives, the big problem was that all my type of R&D work had either gone south to the US or gone back east to Europe..

I 've family in the US and Canada so hat wasn't a concern, in fact I have more family in NA than in Europe, it was the wife wasn't willing to go south, so I headed back east to follow the work...

Plus for what I do, the companies have always paid for me to move, it helps a lot with the ability to ping pong

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

I'd dispute that... and I did drive in most Canadian cities too

Traffic still moves here journey time over similar conditions are comparable ( I get to compare Birmingham with Toronto and I think 'surprisingly' Birmingham is actually better, But I now use the train as its even easier)

the real test is bank holidays...and throw in a good bit of Google traffic you can see the size and scale of the jams in both countries when bank holiday kicks in ...

I think the reason is in two parts, between cities you have may more options on routes in the Uk so you can spread the load and not just jam on same single highway, also travel time going almost anywhere is shorter so you flex on your travel time

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

I miss beautiful English villages for sure but could I afford to live in one - no. Therefore they were just somewhere to drive to or drive through. Here I can afford to have that.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

My mum lives in a gorgeous village about 20 minutes from York city centre. Her house is worth the equivalent of maybe $300k. Very affordable and idyllic.

It's also within a 45 minute commute to Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Doncaster, and other cities so work opportunities are in abundance.

It's ace :thumbup:

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

My wife and I grew up in the UK (her in NW England; me in N. Ireland). We met in Manchester where we spent 7 years. Then it was 7 years in Canada (Toronto); 2 years in the UK (London) and now 17 years in the US (Maryland; about 20 miles outside Washington, DC).

There is much that I still like and miss about the UK and Canada. Both are great to visit but of course that's not the same as living and working there - although I still have a good handle on what it means to do that in both countries. I do think I could quite happily live/work in the UK, Canada or the US.

Of course, it's never just as simple as living where you prefer to live. There are many other factors e.g. jobs, finances, personal and family circumstances etc. In terms of finances it's not just cost of living and salaries - it also costs money to move and settle in somewhere new.

Since my job is in IT (and I work at home a lot) and my wife is a nurse, we are actually in a good position to be mobile - in theory at least. In practice, it's difficult for us to move at the minute because our 4 kids are at various stages of their education and 3 will be in college next year (2 of them at different colleges in Maryland not far from where we now live). Countering that is the fact that we have aging parents and other family members with health issues back in the UK and we would like to be closer to them and see more of them.

So I don't think the best place to be is ever cast in stone. It's a fluid thing that depends on many factors and these factors often change with age and circumstances.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Interesting Mike. Good that you get some company support to relocate.

Also the vital point of having family in NA, more than Europe now for you. That's great. In our case we have no family in Canada, so a move there again means acceptance that you get on with things, and enjoy your lifestyle but need to put aside holidays to head back for our folks in the UK. This is common of course for expats, it's one of the conditions we need to recognise when we venture forth.

Sounds like you've enjoyed variety in different places.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

But...!! I now need to put money aside to see family in NA ;)

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Theyre more interesting thats for sure.....and fine as long as you dont look at anyone! lol. Im not from Hull but used to vist friends there a lot, and Bransholme estate is down right scary! A group of us were in a pub there once (dont ask me why) and they were playing pool with the broom!

We just stared at our pints (safe option) and left pretty sharpish....it was an experience!

Outside Bransholme, In my heyday ive had some great times in some of the pubs in Hull!

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Yes, because I've never been down a B road into a village which was rammed with traffic. That has never happened...

If anything, living in some rural locale is even worse because you have to use your car.

Where was I, er... St. Austell I think it was, it literally took 45 minutes to turn right out of the Tesco parking lot. I timed it. Didn't really have much else to do...

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

But my point was that the conditions aren't similar...

I agree that the traffic in Vancouver is appalling and it can be pretty appalling around downtown Toronto, but in the UK it can be just generally appalling at any given point on the road.

Go north on the M6 and there is even a fixed, printed sign south of Manchester that says: "Traffic Queues Ahead". I.e. it's a permanent feature of that road.

And I seem to recall you mentioning the A38. Well the A38 is supposedly a dual carriageway but is it even remotely possible to use it that way with all the parked cars?

Anyway I'm not going to argue the point, I'd rather be anally penetrated by a gorilla than live in the UK.

I have no doubt there are places in the north that have less traffic but they're permanently overcast.

If I'm going to put up with weather like that, may as well live on the Isle of Man and at least then you get to pay less tax. And unlike Northern Ireland and Scotland, at least I can understand what they're saying.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

take out the M6 and replace with the 400'series highways and you'll finds the same

pick many of the supposed dual carriageways running in and out of Toronto and you'll find the same


and correct me if I'm wrong that 'ring road around Calgary has spots that has regular jams too

quote "TomTom’s latest Congestion Index report on 26 major cities estimates the average Calgary driver with a half-hour commute faces 73 hours worth of delays in a year. With a downtown concentration of offices almost unparalleled on the continent, Calgary fares worse than Dallas (61) or Chicago (71), the same as New York, and better than Houston (80), Los Angeles (89) and four Canadian cities, including Montreal (92)."


You might find with this link its much closer than you realise http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/#/list

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

St. Jacobs ON. Any Saturday.

This is the norm in Canada. Not so much in the UK as the UK has buses and trains and trams.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

CR124, along which I used to commute, has permanent "Road Closed Due to Weather" signs. They're operated remotely so the Works Department Staff don't have to go out into the weather.

I lived in the middle of the often closed section so I'd sometimes go out for beer or to go to work and find it was unlawful to drive home again.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Continuing the traffic theme, it appears that my home town, Belfast, has the worst traffic in the UK and the 14th worst in the world!

The 15 Worst UK Cities for Congestion and Getting Stuck in Traffic | Lifehacker UK

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

Belfast? Belfast is ranked higher than Bristol? :lol:

Another totally meaningless ranking.

What I notice about Northern Ireland is my A to Z was published in 1987 and it is still totally bang up to date as far as I can tell. They need to do something about the congestion on the A24 but other than that it's a piece of cake.

Re: Back to UK then returned to Canada... how was it for you?
 

The 404 isn't that bad, 400 and 401 yeah fair enough but like I said it's more of an issue around downtown, you can just be rolling down the M5 at any given spot and be stuck there for ages, or the M25. Plus you've got the 407 as an alternative.

Huh? There's virtually no traffic on the ring road. There's a bit where the SE ring road meets the NE ring road and it goes from six to four lanes and that causes a bottleneck. If you're there at just the wrong moment during rush hour you may have to dab your brakes momentarily but that was caused by a planning SNAFU. There is actually enough space there for six lanes, for some reason they only painted four lanes so there is a hard shoulder more than a lane wide.

In talking to Alberta Transport they are aware of it but it is deemed low priority at present because the traffic volume is so low.

Calgary does have traffic problems but nothing like in the UK.

Er... well London is ranked 16th, Birmingham is ranked 90th, Calgary is ranked 101st and moreover at rush hour the differences are even more stark.

And that doesn't really disagree with what I was saying, I accept that the traffic is bad near downtown my point was in the UK it's just generally bad. You could be driving from er... Tamworth to Nuneaton and be in a jam.

These measures also don't take into account the overall stress of driving either. There's no "Milton Keynes" measure.

In the UK you're far more likely to have an: "oh shit I should have turned there" moment than in Canada.

Sitting in a jam at a wide-open four-lane four way junction is no way near as stressful as being wedged in behind a double decker bus at some awkward angle on a single lane A-road because there's a parked car that you're trying to get around and the traffic light (which you can't see) has turned red and the bus stopped, etc.

Remember this conversation the next time you drive through the roadworks at Paradise Circus.