Well, after a tough year and a bit we have decided to take ourselves back to the UK.

OH's job is not all it was made out to be when he initially took it and despite trying to get them to put him on a different project and looking at other opportunities within our area we have concluded we were actually way better off in the UK, with the jobs/lifestyle we had. OH has already emailed his old company who have stated they will re-employ when the time comes. Even if they don't he still has a number of job connections and is very employable in his industry.

We're planning on returning in the new year as we have cats to arrange to transport and our home is currently rented to someone so they will need notice etc.

It hasn't been all bad though. We've had a wonderful time here, made some great friends and will no doubt visit in the future. It's just not what is right for us long term for a number of reasons. We've learnt a hell of a lot about ourselves and what is important to us too and I am glad we can say "we did it" with little in the way of bad feelings or regrets.

Good luck.

Sorry to hear about the job - but you've taken a good attitude.

We tried it, it didn't quite work out and we're off. Hey ho!

Best wishes on your plans and your return

Thank you very much

We have a lot of planning/saving of money ahead of us now

Good luck for the future, you seem to be very positive about your time in Canada and very positive about your return back to the UK, which is very refreshing

Good luck and enjoy the cheese, and/or the bacon sarnies.

May I ask which company your OH works for in Montreal? I used to work in the videogames industry too back in the UK. I still develop games here in Canada, but in a different industry, which pays much better and with zero overtime and stress.

I'd rather not discuss his place of work here. That is not my place, but his should he so wish to do so...

His work has merely been the "last straw" at this stage and there are a number of other reasons we are heading back. Many of them are personal though and I'd rather not make this a huge thread about how crap certain things are when ultimately we've enjoyed living here and had an overall positive experience.

Good luck with your next new adventure,

Hi,

Sounds like you have a very good attitude: came here, gave it a year, not right for you and you're heading back. You've had a new experience and that's good.

Good luck with the move and enjoy you new life back in the UK.

Fair play to you and all the best.
It's always nice to say you did it then should have, even if the outcome was not the initial plan.

No worries, it's totally understandable.
Best of luck to you both

Great attitude. Tried it. Didn't work. Moved on. Some good memories. Sounds like you are more expats than migrants.

All the best with what you do next.

Thank you very much for all your well wishes!!

I have so much to plan I don't even know where to begin I am gradually sorting through non essential stuff to sell and looking at shipping costs for extra baggage and costs for the cats today. It's amazing but I have almost completely forgotten what it was like organising things when we moved here and how stressful it was. I think I am more stressed with 6 months to plan than I was with just 3

I echo what others have said - I think that you are perfectly right to think it was a valuable experience and take from it all the good you can. In the end, there is sometimes nothing really wrong with a place or a job, it just isn't right for you . Having made the break in the first place, it takes a brave person to accept that it isn't working out and go back.
After all this International removals experience, you could have a new career advising the rest of us on planning it!