A quick update from us lot - moved to Cochrane, Alberta on 30th May.

I already bored you with the first few days, and that customs searched our container, but we moved into our house on 7th June and things are going well.

First off, whilst buying in haste on a one-week trip, by myself - I am really pleased with the house. Thank goodness ! And the family loved it too - a bonus. There are many distinctly groovy decorations around the place, light fittings being my pet hate - but nothing can compare to some of the horror wallpaper stories I have seen on other threads. In fact the house is so plain as to feel pretty cold and bland. So very slowly, we will be updating and painting and generally making it our own. One bathroom does need the full upgrade and I think I can get away with a kitchen makeover with new appliances and countertops and tiles. No rush though ....

The location has proven to be great for us too. We are very happy with Cochrane what has to offer us as a family. A gate at the back of the garden opens to a park area - so the girls are never in the garden that I spent hours agonising over. They have never been outdoors so much, or on the move so much - it took them 9 weeks to ask where their Nintendo DS was !! Both are fit and heathly, tanned and strong - monkey bars are a doddle now. They have made lots of new friends, spent two weeks at summer camps, and they are blissfully tired at the end of the day. Oh, to be a carefree child again ... School kicks off again next week and they will use the yellow school bus for the first time - they cannot wait. I'm just hoping they can find the right one again at the end of the day - there are about 40 buses lined up outside the school !

I still have a mini personal dilemma going on in my head about the correct Grade/level for my 9 year old - who is a bright young thing. And now having seen the curriculum for the coming year, she seems to have already done all that (and excelled at it). Do I try and move her up a level? Discussions with teachers next week - but it would mean moving her up to middle school also - a big jump for a 9 year old. Too much ?

Hubby has started work and is in week 7 of a 23 training programme. By week 4 he was pulling out what little hair he has left. Not a happy bunny. We had a bad weekend with a few choice words and accusations flying around (we never argue) - and a poor atmosphere for a day or so - but since then, things seem a lot better, happier and a general acceptance that this is just a stage he has to get through! So one bad day so far is not bad going

I am not working - for the first time ever - and it suits me well so far
I have kept busy with kids, house and garden and generally getting settled in. How long that will last, I do not know - will I get bored? Possibly. Again, wait and see - happy to just play along and see how the next 6 months pan out. A lucky position to be in, but lets just see how much money all those ski weekends we want will add up to!

Meeting people has been slow - like many expats say on this site. I have met about 10 other mums though the kids, but certainly not long enough or well enough to take it any further - yet. A few are 'my cup of tea' and these things take time. Don't want to come across as some pushy weirdo - well, not yet, anyway. Have also met up with a BE member for lunch in town which was nice - and am getting together with my neighbour for a coffee and chinwag next week when the kids are back to school. She seems very nice and has only lived here a year herself. We have not really met many of our neighbours - apart from the ones with other girls ! Three separate households came over to introduce themselves when we moved in which was lovely - but one lady directly next door is rarely in and has never spoken to us - I cannot catch her eye and I feel time has moved on so much it's pointless knocking on her door. Guess she's just not interested !! s'nothing personal, I tell myself ...

Hubby has met a few really nice people at work - one of them hosted a massive BBQ for the whole class a few weeks ago - so that was nice to get to know a few faces and their other halves. Again, a few seem worth pursuing (in a nice way) and it would be nice to meet up again individually.

Financially, things are OK. Hubby's salary seems a couple of hundred bucks shorter bi-weekly than we anticipated, but once training has finished, things should be OK. I've contributed on the various 'Cost of Living' threads and have not been unduly surpised or shocked at the expense of anything. Cars were both about $1000 to insure, household bills are not high or low compared to what we are used to (but obviously winter will take it's toll), we have chosen to eat out about once a week, and, yes, cheese and wine is expensive

My favourite part of being here so far are those "aahhhh" moments of sheer, peacefull bliss, that come and go. We have had some truly lovely days out, to some truly spectacular places, and have so enjoyed our 'family' time. Even something as simple as a bike ride along the city paths have proven popular.

Whilst I would never say that Calgary is an attractive city (in my opinion) - there are some very pretty pockets all over the city. It has proven to be far more green and attractive than I gave it credit for whilst visiting in the winter. I am pleased with my general knowledge of the layout and my ability to get around - it's a slow, painful process to get to know where 'stuff' is located that you are looking for. Telephone books and internet searches (and this site) eventually point you in the right direction.

And finally - I LOVE THE SKY !! Big, huge, enormous thing. Never appreciated it so much ! Even when the weather is bad, in fact especially when the weather is bad, it's fascinating ! Personally, I think we've had a great summer here. Granted, it's been pouring today - but even then, the cloud base is high, it's still really bright and I'm not hemmed in with a grey depressiveness.

So - things ahead for us. School, routine and hubby graduating. First snowfall, learning how not to skid into the house opposite, first hair cut and colour booked for next week () (see previous threads about hairdressers!), becoming comfortable with the amount I spend on wine (no longer a hidden cost in my supermarket trolly, I can now monitor the costs as I have to go to a separate liquor store), painting and decorating, soothing my husband's stressed brow, and waiting for the moment that I stop referring to 'home' as the UK (could take days or years) and the day I do not convert the cost of something back into pounds (could also take days or years).

Things I miss - friends, the phone ringing in the evening, and someone 'just popping in'. Marks & Spencers and Next. That's pretty much it !

Hubby has not missed his family as much as I thought, due to weekly Skype sessions, and the kids have barely mentioned any previous friends or school. Fickle or what?! I am concious of them not being able to see grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, but again, Skype is helping out enormously on that front.

So 8 and a half out of 10 for us

Woah - that was a really long post - I do apologise, and if you get the end of it, well done you

Thank you

Ann, what an excellent post. I really enjoyed reading it and could also relate to a lot of the things you have said - about getting to know neighbours (or not in some cases!) and missing people dropping in and phoning in the evening. Also about constantly saying "home" meaning UK instead of here and missing Marks and Spencer and Next - I haven't quite reached that point yet but know I probably will when we need new clothes! (Mind you I did buy several packs of M&S undies to keep me going for a while before I came over!)

Thanks for giving us such a good update and good luck when the girls start school next week - and hopefully find the right school bus!!

Lisa

Glad to hear that most things are going well.

My OH found the easiest way to meet people was through walking our dog. If you have a cutie (the dog, I mean*) everyone seems to want to stop and chat.

*I don't think my OH reads this site but, just in case, this is in no way meant to suggest that she is not a cutie as well.

I got to the end of it and enjoyed every word

Glad to see everything is working out so well - brings back memories of a couple of years ago - you'll be pleased to hear that the lack of evening phone calls and neighbours popping by will soon be forgotten cos you'll be inundated with a constant stream of people wanting to chat.

Kids' evening/weekend activities (sports etc once school starts again) also bring you into contact with lots of new parents - that's a good way to meet people too.

Thanks for posting

Great post!
If you are interested, the next time you are in Calgary check out Metrovino (11th Ave SW) for wine and Janice Beeston's (17th Ave and 8th Street SW or Kensington) for cheese. Two of the better purveyors in town.

A lovely post which I enjoyed reading. I love to read these posts about settling in, it's all so different and yet still so like when we first moved here over 30 years ago. I think we had it much simpler, to be honest. Welcome to Canada, and good luck to you and the family.

Dear Ann

Thank you so much - what a lovely post. It is nice to hear that for the most part you and your family are happy and glad you made the move.

We are sat here in Wales ( not rainy - been a very hot day again ) and although we love it here - we wish we were where you are

Your story is of particular interest because Gerry has applied to CPS and at some stage we hope to be able to post something along the same line - although Gerry is bald already so will have no hair to pull out, and we will pass on the bad day you had - we also never argue and so it would be a shock to the system

I read yr post to Gerry and we both agreed it must be very hard for yr hubbie to be in the training position again ( after all our men folk have been doing the job for many years ) however, just keep telling him its a small price to pay for the oportunity of a lifetime.

We really hope yr girls settle in well at school next week - sure they will, and it will then give you more time to make some 'friends' . Sounds like the CPS lot are a nice bunch - especially the one who gave the BBQ, that was a nice touch.

Well, we are still waiting for the file manager to contact us to make arrangements and sort dates for the testing etc... We had hoped to come in October time - but as the days and weeks fly by we are fully expecting them to say Nov/Dec or even Jan 08 for testing - still nothing we can do other than sit and wait ( by the phone for it to ring ).

Anyhow, all i really wanted to say was THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY and i have sent some Karma yr way - being as yr tooooo far away to invite you round for some ........... Cheese and Wine

Take care

Dawn and co x

I am glad its going well for you Ann, doesn't time fly.!

I agree about the skies.

I just found out today that Cochrane are having there very own Highland games this weekend! Sounds like a great day out.

Thanks for spending the time to write this post. It was very entertaining. The bit about not working for a while was my favourite, I won't be able to work while Mal is on TWP (shame). Pity we are going to be a Province away or we could have spent that time wisely searching for the best/cheapest/tastiest wine together

Thanks Lisa - and ditto !!

Thanks everyone for kind comments - so you didn't die of boredom then before you got to the end! Thank you and bravo !

The common thread of wine throughout my posts is something I should perhaps address .... over a large glass, of course

Ann - thanks very much for the great post - we have just been to Calgary on a recce as we might well move there (or Vancouver).
It was good to read how well you are settling and enjoying it - especially the big skies which I also took note of - something I miss terribly from my childhood in South Africa.

It's so encouraging for us "wanna be's" to read about folks actually making it to live the dream.
Reminding us that it will one day happen for us too - e v e n t u a l l y ! ! !

Wishing you all every happiness.

Rob.

Great post, Ann. Glad things are going well for you, which I'm sure has been facilitated, at least in part, by the good research that you did before you left the UK and have been continuing to do since your arrival in Cochrane.

Good luck with the hair cut.

And, no, that wasn't a long post.