I have decided to retire from this forum as I have nothing useful to contribute.

For those of you who have followed my posts, you'll know life has been less than perfect for me in Canada and it's impossible to comment on anything without bringing in that negativity.

So time to give you all a break! I might come back eventually to post updates, but we'll see. It seems to have turned into a bash UK forum rather than Canadian lifestyle, and that's not for me since I disagree with most of what the anti-Brits say.

Final bit of advice - the only way you'll find out if you like this country is to live in it for yourself.

Good luck.

Simon, I'm sorry you feel this way, your posts have offered a great counterpoint to those who think canada is the land of milk and honey, and are always interesting and too the point. I hope you will reconsider (as I did). As you know, when all is said and done, no country is perfect.

All the best

Iain

Retirement? You're too young to retire yet, so please don't! Your story about the homeless living in your basement must have been an eye-opener to many of us and has possibly put us with both feet on the ground again.
And even your most negative posts contain a sense of humor. I'll miss you and I think many others too.
But if you've made up your mind that strongly I wish you all the luck in the world for finding yourself a new home and maybe even a job you really like. So long, my friend, and I hope seeing you soon back on this forum.

Simon, I think you should reconsider retiring from the site, we all want to read your posts. Not everyone comes to Canada and likes it and has lots of luck with jobs and lifestyle, so hearing your opinions is very interesting. If you are not happy in calgary why not give another place or province a shot. Then you will well and truly know that Canada isn't for you. What ever you decide, best of luck to you!

I think that a lot of your advice and experiences have been invaluable to a lot of people. Anyone thinking of uprooting their lives needs to know both the pros and the pitfalls of what they are thinking of doing. People's experiences both good and bad enrich the forum, and I for one will be sorry to see you go....

A very good piece of advice.

There are good and bad places in every country and depending on where you are will definitely influence ones opinion of the country as a whole.

Always enjoyed reading your postings and never really considered them "negative".

Sorry to see you go.

Simonhouse,

I, as one amongst many, will be sad if you leave.

Negativity, properly applied brings a sense of realism into what, for many of us, is a dream of utopia.

As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder, and the 4-7000 mile distance from the UK to Canada seems to have instilled a fondness within many of us.

That "rose tintedness" needs people like yourself who brings us back down to earth, to show us the darker side of emigration and life in Canada.

I hope you do not leave us, but if you have made up your mind, I hope you find happiness away from your current surroundings, and one day come back to visit, in the knowledge that we will always lay the welcome mat out for you.

Richard

I really agree with Corky, having lived in NS. We certainly thought, huh "What do they know?" to all the people who advised us to give it more time, try another province. I so wish we had done that instead of returning to the UK. The UK is a great place and I sure wish that people who lived here would realise that, but alas they won't in the majority, which makes living here a struggle to be positive. I think the UK that I really missed when I was in NS was the UK when I was growing up as i had a very happy childhood etc. Everything that pissed us off though before we moved to Canada was still here upon our return and was Much worse in many cases (Especially yob culture).

I really imagine that we were much the same as you this time last year and I remember feeling the same way when people just continually bashed the UK but unfortuneately many of those people turned out to be right in some way.

Gone, and forgotten already?

May God be with you!

Yes...its all about 'the grass is (may be) greener on the other side'

I am not a 'UK' basher...in fact I am still here!

I emigrate to Canada August 27th, but have to say that I have made this decision for a 'person' rather than wanting to escape Scotland U.K.!

Had I not met my partner on a visit to Canada...I would be more than happy to remain here in Scotland. O.K....its not perfect...but tell me - what country is?

Bottom line is, all countries have their down sides.... On my frequent visits to Canada (Ontario, including Toronto) over the past few years, comparisons have been drawn, some negative, some positive. On balance...at this time, I would say Canada has the edge. However, that is not to say that Scotland, and the UK in general, are at a considerable disandvantage. Far from it.

Will let you all know how I get on 'living the dream' so to speak....can only suggest that everyone truely ask themselves 'Why am I really emigrating'?(or considering emigrating) to Canada. Providing you have done your homework, having discarded the 'rose tinted specticles', and you are truly honest with yourself with regards to the answer to the aforementioned question, then their should not really be any rude surprises in store for you if you take that step.

I'm sure you are right. No one country is "right" and no one country is "wrong". They all have their good points and bad points. You just have to take advantage of the good points of a country and try to accept or ignore the bad points.

i think some of your negative posts have been very useful and realistic for those still considering emmigrating such as me and my wife as you have been honest and given your view on how its gone for you and a case of it doesnt always suit/work for everyone.
good luck in the future and if you stay in canada i hope it gets better for you

Ditto, all of the above. best wishes whatever you decide.

good luck simon for whatever happens in the future, if you do come back to post (and i for one hope so) try to make it sooner rather than later!

all the best!