Been here a few days - phew!
Jul 10th 2009, 7:49 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 221
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Cool stuff and congratulations
For one of your downsides (Phone Calls), have you considered using Skype. Even if your family or friends are not using it you can set up an account that cost £2.95 per month and with that you can call any uk landline for as long as you want.
Cheers and good luck
For one of your downsides (Phone Calls), have you considered using Skype. Even if your family or friends are not using it you can set up an account that cost £2.95 per month and with that you can call any uk landline for as long as you want.
Cheers and good luck
Jul 10th 2009, 2:31 pm
#17
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
What's the difference? A card is a card. The details can be stolen regardless. My credit card and my debit card both have insurance schemes in case of fraud. Does that make me crazy?
Incidentally, I have been a victim of card fraud once, and it was my credit card not my debit card where the details were stolen.
Incidentally, I have been a victim of card fraud once, and it was my credit card not my debit card where the details were stolen.
- $10,000 of the credit card companies money being spent
- $10,000 of YOUR money being taken from YOUR bank account
I know which one would cause me the least stress.
Jul 10th 2009, 3:18 pm
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: North
Posts: 1,357
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Oh - the risk of them being stolen is the same (or maybe slightly greater for a credit card). However, which of these would you rather be dealing with
- $10,000 of the credit card companies money being spent
- $10,000 of YOUR money being taken from YOUR bank account
I know which one would cause me the least stress.
- $10,000 of the credit card companies money being spent
- $10,000 of YOUR money being taken from YOUR bank account
I know which one would cause me the least stress.
Either way, if there was an issue, credit or debit, the bank wants the money in the end.
Jul 10th 2009, 3:42 pm
#19
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
And as for 'the bank wants it's money in the end'. That's partly true, but the cost of fraud for a credit card is already built into the interest rate you pay - they expect a certain percentage, and write most of it off.
I guess you pays your money and makes your choice, you can gamble with your money, I'll do it with someone else's. Especially as the price for my peace of mind is just getting a different card out of my wallet.
Jul 11th 2009, 5:52 pm
#20
Soulless bureaucrat
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 361
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Welcome to the city! If you are at that end of Bay St, then have you been to the Hartmans supermarket on Bank St in Centretown? AFAIK is the largest one in that area although more expensive than other supermarkets it is a 'proper' one rather than a glorified convenience store. Other than that, you could consider a taxi home from your weekly shop if you want to get lower prices, although obviously you'd factor in the cost of the taxi.
Jul 11th 2009, 9:33 pm
#21
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,986
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
For phone calls I use:
http://www.justdial.ca/
Lots of national (and international) access numbers. Top up online. You can register phones so that no pin is required. 2.5c to the UK. Very reliable and decent customer service (the once I needed it).
I found this a lot better than some of the cards you can buy which advertise low rates but with the access fees per call etc quickly add up.
http://www.justdial.ca/
Lots of national (and international) access numbers. Top up online. You can register phones so that no pin is required. 2.5c to the UK. Very reliable and decent customer service (the once I needed it).
I found this a lot better than some of the cards you can buy which advertise low rates but with the access fees per call etc quickly add up.
Jul 14th 2009, 9:54 am
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Neilston, Scotland
Posts: 15
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
After three years waiting for our PR visa, we arrived in Ottawa a few days ago and I thought I'd share some of our experiences:
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
Congratulations GrendelHubby and I make the big move to Nova Scotia on Saturday, so its nice to hear that things are going well for you. We are staying in a furnished apt in downtown Halifax for first month, this will give us time to find somewhere to stay more permanently. I hear what your saying about the rental car prices, we have rented one for two weeks from this side of the water which was really expensive but a necessity. Good luck with everything and it sounds as if you have the right attitude to help you settle in, hope we are as lucky.
Jul 14th 2009, 12:34 pm
#23
Home Sweet Home
Joined: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 482
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
After three years waiting for our PR visa, we arrived in Ottawa a few days ago and I thought I'd share some of our experiences:
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
Hi Grendel,
Thanks for such a great post - some really useful stuff in there! Good luck with your new life in Canada
Jul 14th 2009, 2:27 pm
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 404
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Bit late joining this thread - but welcome to Ottawa. See you in the Heart and Crown for the RBC Six Nations in the spring.
Jul 14th 2009, 3:18 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,113
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Jul 20th 2009, 12:46 am
#26
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 487
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
If you have a laptop and free internet you should buy yourself a headphone and microphone and set yourself up on SKYPE asap and make ALL your phonecalls for a couple of pennies.
Jan 13th 2010, 12:25 pm
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: originally from Portchester, Nr Fareham UK now Braeside, nr Arnprior, Ontario and loving it!
Posts: 60
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Hi, I am new to the site and I realise that this thread is a few months old but we are moving to Arnprior around March/April time and I wanted to get in touch with other expats that are in or around that area.
So how is life in canada and where did you eventually settle? We are very excited about our move and completely fell in love with arnprior when we came to investigate in the summer.
Thanks
J.
So how is life in canada and where did you eventually settle? We are very excited about our move and completely fell in love with arnprior when we came to investigate in the summer.
Thanks
J.
Jan 13th 2010, 3:34 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Carleton Place, ON
Posts: 133
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
Drop us a line if you need any advice.
Jan 14th 2010, 5:04 am
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Victoria, B.C.
Posts: 164
Re: Been here a few days - phew!
If it helps - I use Yak to call home (and for LD) from my cell phone for years, about 29c/min to the UK, and the Yak call back is great if you have unlimited incoming calls:
Rates: http://www.yak.ca/product/yak-cell/great-rates
Call back: http://www.yak.ca/product/yak-cell/how-it-works
Cheers - Steve
Rates: http://www.yak.ca/product/yak-cell/great-rates
Call back: http://www.yak.ca/product/yak-cell/how-it-works
Cheers - Steve
After three years waiting for our PR visa, we arrived in Ottawa a few days ago and I thought I'd share some of our experiences:
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
LANDING
After a 7.5-hour flight we queued for 15 minutes to show our passports then went to Immigration, where we handed over our visas and forms, answered a few questions and showed our proof of funds (a letter from HIFX confirming a transfer to our HSBC Canada account). All was in order, thankfully, and the whole process was straightforward. On to customs, where we showed our B4(E) and mover's inventory. All OK. Welcome to Canada!
SETTLING IN
We're renting a hotel suite for a month while we settle in and look for work. I'm in the middle of a job application process which I started in the UK, and while we wait to discover if I've got the job, we've obtained our SINs and are now getting to explore the city. It's quiet, spotlessly clean and very friendly, although we've had to speak slowly so that people can understand our (slight Welsh) accents. HSBC has put us in touch with a realtor who is looking for homes outside the city for us, in areas like Carleton Place, Almont, and Arnprior, but buying will have to wait until I've got a job.
CONCLUSIONS
It's been a mindblowing experience so far with so much to take in.
On the downside:
Calling home on mobiles was ridiculously expensive so now we're using Euroshade calling cards.
We have to hunt for a Tescos-like supermarket in the city centre to keep bills down.
We were going to hire a car for a few days to explore but have been alarmed by the price, etc.
On the upside:
Cars are not quite as expensive to buy as we expected, but we'll wait until I've got a job.
Portions in restaurants are enormous.
The people are very pleasant.
The bus network is excellent (although it can be hard to understand the drivers).
Scenery around the city is lovely.
I've had to appreciate that we can't get everything we want (job, house, car) in just a few days, and we have to take it one day at a time. Every day has taught us something (everything is further away than you think, Second Cup serves a great hot chocolate) and we have to be patient.
BE has been a great source of information during our long wait to get to this point, and if anybody has any advice on how to make our first few weeks go smoothly, I'd love to hear it.
