checking in

been here since 94 originally from all over ( Ex RAF Family), mostly Oxon/Berks/Lincs/Gloucster, loads of time in Germany

Hello and welcome to Expats

Hi there, we're a family of 4 newly landed in July 07 and come from Glozzzz originally but did Cyprus and up north in the UK as husband ex RAF too. We live in Ottawa too and OH works in Kanata. What made you choose Ottawa? For us it was a no brainer as we went where the job was but just love living here. Where are you from originally?

was born at RAF Halton, my dad was in the RAF 30 odd years, spent most of my growing up years in Germany or Lincs (Sleaford area), moved to Ottawa as my wife works for the federal govt, I am at the other end of town in orleans - what trade did OH do in the RAF? I was a a P & A Clwerk (shiney) my Glos connection is that my folks settled at Innsworth, Dad bought a surplus MQ when he finally retired

my first married quarter was in Innsworth as usual it started how it finished in condemned houses. I managed to always get the ones that were "about to be" gutted but they always waited for me to move out first...hmmm! Me and my OH actually born and raised in Glozzz and so all the folks still there.

We did RAF Akrotiri for 3 years and I know Sleaford very well we were at Digby on 2 tours and then Cranwell as husband got his commission years back. So he started as a JT (don't even have that rank now) and ended up retiring as a Squadron Leader last year. He's now working for a satellite company in Kanata and seems to have found the transition no big problem.

I was never, ever the typical RAF wifey or Officer's wife (well how can you be when you're from Glozzz hey!). Still got a bit of a Gloucester twang, keeping it real! Yeah, my husband's career got off to a flying start as soon as we bought our own house and he lived away ha!

We're building our own custom house and so have been in rented accommodation since July (just like the pre fabs in Cyprus) and can't wait to finally unpack as all the boxes have been stacked up high in the garage since last year. Have no idea what my sofas look like as still wrapped from DFS. It'll be worth it in the end but bloody hell wouldn't do this year over again for love nor money, the stress has been unbelieveable. So we haven't really settled in properly yet and the month the house should be finished my elderly parents have booked a month off to come over here and stay with us for their holidays!!!! Our timing is lousy and we never seem to learn but hey ho just "smile and wave". My builder actually lives in the East of Ottawa as he's French Canadian as all the guys who are helping to build it and a lot from Quebec. We're in Manotick and love it here although I understand a bit more now when they say "Country" here it isn't the same "Country" as the Cotswolds!!! But we're adjusting and finding a sense of humour to get us through. Sorry whaffled on so much, the sheer excitement of somebody actually knowing where Gloucester is has got to me!! Over to you...

Digby eh? I lived at Digby 78-80 (finished my schooling at Carre's in Sleaford)

Manotick is a nice place to build a house - near the river? Bet you miss "marching in and out" of MQs - what a life that was !!!

never did get to Cyprus but here it was nice posting

Hope you are settling in well, i find Ottawa an easy place to live and if you are like most military families you fit in anywhere quite easily...

btw if your OH was a JT and went now works with Satellite company my guess is he was more than likely working at Boddington - my Dad worked there as an MOD guard when he retired from the RAF

Welcome!

We have been here since 2006, as you can see i have joined this forum tonight. Your post caught my eye as my partner was born in Nocton & lived in Sleaford & attended Carres before leaving for University.

well bugger me, you clever bunny, indeed when I met him in '92 he was at Boddington. When was your dad there?