Originally Posted by deeana

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this forum, having only just found it online. It looks pretty informative and lively so I'm looking forward to participating. A little bit about me first before my question.

My husband and I emigrated to Calgary, Alberta in 1991 with our teenage children, and in common with most Brits going out without jobs, we had a very hard time indeed for the first 5 years. My husband was a top executive in his engineering field and had to accept a job as a shift engineer being paid $8.25 an hour (I remember it well!!) and work his way back up inch by painful inch. I was a teacher, and despite doing my upgrading at the University of Calgary, never got a teaching job as the school boards were downsizing at that particular time and jobs were very hard to get. The best I could do initiallly was working at Office Depot where I was a department manager on $7.50 an hour (later rose to $10!!!)


That said, both our kids did very well in high school and university and eventually my husband made more money than he ever could have in the UK. He now works in the Bahamas - and I am back home in the UK helping my daughter set up her own little business. My son is in Saudi Arabia working.

We are both 51 and starting to think about planning for retirement. It is unbelievably difficult to decide between Canada and the UK. There are huge differences between the two countries, and huge advantages to both, depending on so many variables. In particular I found the harsh climate very difficult to live with and I missed the greenness of England. We were in Alberta of course, which is a desert, albeit a very rich one where the standard of living is very high.

However as we get older I am tending to think toward retiring in Canada rather than the UK. The main reason is the infrastructure. You can survive over there without a car, for example. Hard to do in the UK. And the health care is much better (I know, there is a downside to that too, but in general it's good. I had breast cancer in Calgary and think I survived because of the quality of the care.)

Soooo, after all that preamble, my question. We are looking for a retirement spot. We know enough about Alberta and lots about BC, but nothing at all about Ontario. We are thinking of London or Picton, in the Quinte area. Does anyone out there have opinions on the wisdom of either choice? Obviously we will visit soon to take a look for ourselves before making any decisions, but I would be very interested in hearing anyone's opinions. Or any other suggestions...

Thanks for listening! Take care all,
Deeana

Originally Posted by SANDRAPAUL

Hi Chris and or Vicky and Jim

May I ask who you might think are the better builders in the area. I have dozens of web site links and have had details of new build sent over but one never knows until you are on the ground so to speak who might be the good ones.

Thanks

Paul

PS Hope you and yours are well Chris. Still no further up the line..Yawn Yawn!

Originally Posted by deeana

<Quote 2) Calgary has to be milder in winter than the east? Haven't had a really harsh winter here for years compared to when we first came here 12 years ago. Plus you get the breaks that the Chinook winds bring with them

(it's also greener than the UK at the moment - we've had so much rain....lol) end quote>

Hi
Hmmm, I would dispute that about the winters. 1992-3 was diabolical, but there were many more very cold snaps. Plus I personally found the Chinooks gave me headaches, as they do many people.

Green? No way. Nothing like the UK. No way. Never.

Not that I'm dogmatic or anything but in my 13 years of familiarity with Calgary it never was what I call GREEEN. Not green like the Weald, where I am temporarily living again.

Sorry, just MHO.

But I still might go back one day. Nothing against Calgary. I recommend it to people all the time as a good place to start, if you don't mind the cold.

Deeana!

Originally Posted by pollard

In the London ontario area, REIDS are known for their nice builds. We have seen quite a few of those since we've been here.

Originally Posted by vicky n jim

We have just bought through reids uptown homes , there is also reid heritage homes both are worth a look at

Originally Posted by pollard

DEEP PURPLE
June 20, 2005

For more than 30 years DEEP PURPLE has enriched the spirit of rock music regularly with new albums and fascinating tours. DEEP PURPLE consists of Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), Steve Morse (guitar), and Don Airey (organ). DEEP PURPLE has always had an intuitive feeling for powerful rock songs delivered with their own unmistakable sound. They are about cutting edge performances based on a sound philosophy: “the music comes first�. The music comes from within the core spirit of the band. Deep Purple performs with special guests April Wine and the Jimmy Bowskill Band at 7:30 pm at the John Labatt Centre. Tickets are $48.75.

Contact: 519-432-8894 or visit the website www.johnlabattcentre.com

Originally Posted by deeana

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this forum, having only just found it online. It looks pretty informative and lively so I'm looking forward to participating. A little bit about me first before my question.

My husband and I emigrated to Calgary, Alberta in 1991 with our teenage children, and in common with most Brits going out without jobs, we had a very hard time indeed for the first 5 years. My husband was a top executive in his engineering field and had to accept a job as a shift engineer being paid $8.25 an hour (I remember it well!!) and work his way back up inch by painful inch. I was a teacher, and despite doing my upgrading at the University of Calgary, never got a teaching job as the school boards were downsizing at that particular time and jobs were very hard to get. The best I could do initiallly was working at Office Depot where I was a department manager on $7.50 an hour (later rose to $10!!!)

That said, both our kids did very well in high school and university and eventually my husband made more money than he ever could have in the UK. He now works in the Bahamas - and I am back home in the UK helping my daughter set up her own little business. My son is in Saudi Arabia working.

We are both 51 and starting to think about planning for retirement. It is unbelievably difficult to decide between Canada and the UK. There are huge differences between the two countries, and huge advantages to both, depending on so many variables. In particular I found the harsh climate very difficult to live with and I missed the greenness of England. We were in Alberta of course, which is a desert, albeit a very rich one where the standard of living is very high.

However as we get older I am tending to think toward retiring in Canada rather than the UK. The main reason is the infrastructure. You can survive over there without a car, for example. Hard to do in the UK. And the health care is much better (I know, there is a downside to that too, but in general it's good. I had breast cancer in Calgary and think I survived because of the quality of the care.)

Soooo, after all that preamble, my question. We are looking for a retirement spot. We know enough about Alberta and lots about BC, but nothing at all about Ontario. We are thinking of London or Picton, in the Quinte area. Does anyone out there have opinions on the wisdom of either choice? Obviously we will visit soon to take a look for ourselves before making any decisions, but I would be very interested in hearing anyone's opinions. Or any other suggestions...

Thanks for listening! Take care all,
Deeana

Originally Posted by pollard

DEEP PURPLE
June 20, 2005

For more than 30 years DEEP PURPLE has enriched the spirit of rock music regularly with new albums and fascinating tours. DEEP PURPLE consists of Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), Steve Morse (guitar), and Don Airey (organ). DEEP PURPLE has always had an intuitive feeling for powerful rock songs delivered with their own unmistakable sound. They are about cutting edge performances based on a sound philosophy: “the music comes first�. The music comes from within the core spirit of the band. Deep Purple performs with special guests April Wine and the Jimmy Bowskill Band at 7:30 pm at the John Labatt Centre. Tickets are $48.75.

Contact: 519-432-8894 or visit the website www.johnlabattcentre.com

Originally Posted by ray1968

Totally lost on that reply ..cryptic clue or something ?

Originally Posted by pollard

This is not a cryptic clue, it was just posted for those in the area, or those that might be in the area, that like the band.

Originally Posted by pollard

This is not a cryptic clue, it was just posted for those in the area, or those that might be in the area, that like the band.

Originally Posted by MikeUK

I loved the band in its day, and have family I could stop at in london....

But the whole Deep Purple team were well past their sell by date when they "regrouped' in the 80's...

Now all it'll be is a bunch of sad old men well past their prime, and well its not got Riche Blackmore on Guitar either.....