My family and I are returning to Alberta, we emigrated in 2003, came back to UK in 2005, now going back again. It does get easier each time it seems, I was reflecting on how different it is this time:

Our top issues to sort out this time, are not that difficult:
1.What to take with us, furniture etc
2.Is it the right decision!
3.Telling family, and leaving family
4.When to go
5.How to speed up house sale here

I am interested in what your top 5 issues or hardest things to sort out are?

Good luck to every one on the move
Louise

For me it will probably be telling our families (we're keeping it a secret for now).

The thing that worries me the most is getting our cats over there safe and sound. I'm already panicking about it!

Furniture etc. doesn't really bother me: we'll take a small amount of things we really like, but only some of our stuff is worth keeping!

Why did you return to the UK and why are you now coming back here to Canada? sounds eventful.....

I'd go/come sooner rather than later as house prices continue to rise. If you want a quick sales in the UK de-clutter and price it accordingly.
Telling the family is weird but in your case presumably as this is the second time you will have more issues to discuss.

I wish you well

For me it was.....

1. Telling my mother in-law
2. Telling my mother in-law
3. Telling my mother in-law
4. Telling my mother in-law
5. Telling my mother in-law

Seriously though, leaving family is the hardest thing. Otherwise our main worries were about finding work, and getting visas quickly!

Is she scary dude?

My top couple of things to sort out are:
- Saying goodbye to family and friends.
- Organising schools - I have been totally unable to register kindergarten place outside of Canada. Frustrating as now my son will have to go where theres space, not necessarily where we wanted him to go.
- Deciding which big items to ship and what not to ship, then disposing of/selling off the unwanted stuff.
- Very time consuming sorting through smaller belongings, even loft (where no-ones been for years!)
- Biggest one - Are we doing the right thing? We sure hope so......
Nik

Well, my brother was killed in a motrbike accident 6 weeks after we arrived the first time, and I found it very hard being away from family. We are a very close family and I felt guilty for my mum and dad back in UK. It took away some of the initial enjoyment and excitement of arriving and settling in. Whilst we made many friends and settled well, I couldn't really get it out of my mind. After a visit to UK I was offered a fantastic job opportunity back in UK and now I realise it was the easy option.
I am glad we have lived back in UK for a while it has helped me come to terms with the loss, and now I can move on and get on with our life. It was hard to tell family we were going back but they are OK now.
I think the biggest thing for me was realisation that the first time we went the focus was on getting there, the logistics of that, not on what to do once we were there. The goal was to get there, we did that then struggled with what to do next. This time before we decided to go we were abled to make a much more informed decison on what we wanted from life, make a comparison between the two places.

Thanks for the tips, Pete my husband landed in Calgary yesterday and Oliver (my son) and I are waiting for house to sell now AAARRGGHH positive thinking I know it will be soon..
Wishing every one well, Louise

Thank to you all for sharing your thoughts. Seems there are lots of similarities in what we all go through to make a dream come true.
There is one thing that stands out to me, in all those who persevere and get there - is a determination that no matter what they will find a way and make it happen. Never lose sight of the goal.

Best Wishes Louise and Oliver (5)

Hi Louise

You are in the same boat as me - Phil is in Lethbridge AB (2 hours south of Calgary) whilst I am still here with the kids trying to sell

Gay
x

Hi Louise,
and welcome to BE.

I hope things work out better for you all this time.

One thing you mentioned, which I feel is so true, is the energies we all focus on actually getting here, when getting here is just the beginning of the process of settling in a new country.

It's almost like thinking that being born is the hardest part of living, and after that everything should be plain sailing! Good wake-up call!

Gay, I thought your house was sold?

Mate, you're suffering from Pedi-Oral Alignment Disorder*.


*Foot In Mouth Disease

Dont be daft Steve - only had 4 viewers in 3 months

Leaving family and friends.

Husband is in BC, has been away through whole WP/SP process, will come back 5 days before we leave for good. By which time nearly everything will be done - oh yes and that does include bringing up the 3 and 5 year olds too!


curse:

Mrs Miggins, that will be so great for you to be all back together again. I really admire you looking after the kids on your own most of the time. I've only had a week so far, and beginning the appreciate what Pete did a whole lot more already. When are you planning on moving?

Gay, have you been waiting a long time? it is so frustrating not having at least some kind of date to work to, isn't it? we decided it would be too expensive to rent in Canmore, and pay the mortgage here. Plus estate agents need a bit of strong encouragement to keep things moving on the house sale. We are having some more viewings now so I am more hopeful. What is Lethbridge like? What made you decide to move there?

Good luck to every one - Louise