The Bad
No Pubs, a Canadian bar just doesn't cut it.
Newspapers are badly written and boring.
Here in Winnipeg, not the fashion or food choices available in the UK.


The Good
No Yobs.
No Drunken Yobs.
Newspapers that don't get you worked up over the days events.
No Yobs.
Very pleasant freindly people
No Yobs.
Calm stress free drive to work (or anywhere)
Plenty of Parking
No Yobs.
4 real seasons, some you hate by the end, but it really does make you appreciate the changes.
Winnipeg is known as the crime capital of Canada, well that is true if you are a downtown drunk, drug addict or drug pusher, where we live in the suburbs there has been NO property crime at all since we have been here (5 years).
The kids can walk to and from school.
The kids can go downtown to a concert without us worring.
"Cheap" housing, take your 2up 2 down terrace and convert it into a 1,800sq ft home, with a full basement and garden in a "nice" neighbbourhood. (See:- www.stewartmann.com for some local home listings.

Now we have have settled in (8 years) we love it here.

jonfrank123
Cheap weekend break which came through my e-mail this morning which we intend to do now we are back in the UK

from just £ 63 per person(inc. standard ensuite cabin,taxes and surcharges)

a voyage of discovery

Take a 2 or 3-night break and discover the sights of Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Bruges. With free car parking in Hull and inclusive city centre coach transfers, a mini-cruise is a great, stress-free way to travel and explore these beautiful cities. It isn't just the cities that will entertain you, there's plenty to discover onboard too. You'll be able to choose from a great selection of restaurants - including the stylish Langans's Brasserie - some fantastic live entertainment, great shopping bargains and you'll get to relax in your own comfortable ensuite cabin.

I agree with the mobile phones. the system is much better here. I gave my 12 year old one for school with £10 of credit at Christmas and he use hardly any of the credit as you do not get monthly charges on "Pay as you go". He has used it about four times such as after football had been cancel or when school bus broke down. In Canada we had only one cellular mobile phone due to rental costs etc.

We found Ebay is good in the UK. Purchased a new parts for the trampoline we brought back from Canada and even a cheap new BBQ(made in Canada).


Last month purchased all our 11 year presents online as good discounts can be found. Needed new brakes for my VW ordered online and received them 08:30 the next morning. No more travelling 120 miles to VW dealer to get parts.

Any good Ex pat enentrepreneur there in Canada its must be a good business to set up in Canada. Internet based shopping. The fellow I brought the USA trampoline parts from said we could not sell the parts he had. Advertised on Ebay and he told me he was up all night send spares all over England.

I must admit our first winter back was pleasent as it did drop sometimes below zero over night, but we had some days at 10C and sunny in the middle of winter. We actually play tennis outside over winter.

We missed snow at Christmas as it seemed strange that the grass was still green and flower were still blooming and did not have 3 feet on snow on the garden. Happy not to see -40C over winter.

The Good
Canadians are very helpful.- I remember my first trip to the mall with the kids and a stroller and struggling to open the door- 2 teenagers ran back to help me- had I ever seen that happening in the UK? No, and is it still the same? I think so.I have a disabled relative and even he gets kicked out of the line to get in the elevator in the UK-usually by young women with strollers- really selfish group of chavs.
The Bad
Why are our cellphones so expensive over here? I have an O2 phone for my UK visits and I only pay 10 pounds per month for 400 minutes- granted I still have the same contract from 1999.
The Ugly
Hudd, I am truly envious of that aspect of British life, we seem to be imprisoned in Canada because of the huge costs of travel.

Liana
We could only affords to visits the UK in the summer holidays because our family would help us with the costs of flights, otherwise 10 days trip to England would have cost us $6-7k. My dad travels alot around Europe and went on a 5 day trip to Venice in March including meals for $250.

Certainly something to be envious of- and very nice to show your family different cultures etc. Here in Canada unfortunately it is cottage country and spend time off- mainly weekends- there. I do think that we are an insular society- both figuratively and literally and other than new migrants there is no exposure to different ways of life and its history. Sad really, in a newly globalised world where for instance most middle class Europeans travel abroad- but wait -isn't that what they have been doing the last millennium?
Unfortunately we don't have a good market here for travel it seems, so what is available is not cheap. Expedia gives some good deals and certainly for trips outside Canada I book on-line with them. Yes, I really do envy that 5 day trip to Venice for $250. OK, Niagara Falls are spectacular but has anyone else been there- tacky, tacky. The food would also be good in Venice Oh I am feeling miserable now, thinking about my bad things- for the most part of my life I ignore all my bad/ugly syndromes. Let me focus on the good for a change

Niagara Falls yes just like Blackpool. My wife and I were suprised how run down the town is once you are away from the glitter etc.

Possibly (have not seen it ALL) the 'cheesiest' place in Ontario. Take away the 'Falls' and the place is the capital of 'Gross-dom' . Niagara on the Lake, a short drive away is the saving grace for so many tourists to the area.

We did drive away from the tourist bit and I agree its much better than all the casinos and funfair's. There is a nice park and I think better senery away fron the tacky parts. My old boss from England had a second home on Niagara on the Lake. If I visit a country I tend to go off the tourist route and you see what a country is like. Went to Sweden not so long ago, reminded me of the Canadian Shield landscape. Ate Swedish food and drank Swedish beer($10/pint). Who wants to go to another country abd eat a Big Mac(crap) and fries.