Need a Group Hug
 

Hello everyone...I think we need a group hug because we have just had our going away party over the weekend and 120 people turned up. Why is it that after 2 years planning and dreaming of going to Canada do i now feel so bad about leaving. I know, I have read it all before that it is tough leaving every one behind, but i didn't think it was going to be this tough.

So come on people, cheer me up and remind me why we are leaving and that everything will be o.k.

Thanks very much.

Alex.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

{{{{{{{{{{{Alex}}}}}}}}}}}

There ya go. :)

I cried at my leaving do too! :o

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Oh man, I adore group hugs!

BIG HUG TO EVERYONE!

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

ERM

I cried a teeny bit when we drove away on our last nite.

BUT I didnt cry at my leaving do.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

(((Alex)))

You're going because it's the right thing to do. You've waited so long for it. Enjoy the party, say goodbye to people you love, and go, because it's what you need to do. It's only a plane ride away. If they miss you so much they can come visit.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

I nearly cried when I gave my best man a hug. The sad thing is I had not seen him for 3 years and he only lives 20 miles away. I guess we all get wrapped up in our own lives and sometimes we forget the important things...are friends. Oh well...I am sure we will meet new friends very quickly because the Canadians are great.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Thank you so much...I am feeling better already...I forgot to mention that one woman at our party got so drunk she threw up all over her self and then couldn't stand up...great party but some friends just couldn't cope.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

I wondered where the wife had been last weekend. ;)

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Hello Butch my old friend. I see you have bought a car now...what did you get then?

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

I'm confused ........ :confused:

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

You should have seen her, she turned up at 6pm and had only walked 300 yards from her house to ours and handed me a half consumed bottle of white wine. She said i opened it on the way. Now thats what i call a lady!!

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

..... I think it was probably all the :beer: :beer: :beer: as much as anything; I was tired and emotional as a newt (I'm told) :p

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Yep sounds like Mrs C. :rolleyes:

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Don't be, I was only reading your signature where you state the purchase of a car. I have been having real problems deciding what car to buy for a family of 5 when i get there and have looked on auto trader but cant find anything i like.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

i thought i'd be completely ok seeing as i couldnt wait to get here and had been planning it for so long
but i cried when saying goodbye to some friends and
i got all choked when i was leaving for the airport too
its natural but you will be fine once you get here
heres to you :beer:

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Have you sorted a hire car for when you arrive? Take a week I would say. Watch out for whats around, what you like the look of etc. THEN make a decision.
Personally I'd say with a family of 5 you're pretty limited IF you want to be able to ferry visitors\friends around with you. All depends on your circumstances as well, if you know people here it doesnt matter if you need to carry big things (somebody will know somebody with a truck or suv or people carrier) if you dont AND your going to be buying BBQs, patio furniture etc AND you dont want to pay for delivery maybe you should rule out sedans and smaller vehicles.
OK tell me I'm teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs I dont mind. ;)

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Im not going to give you a group hug im going to shake you violently - "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMEN!!!!"" No seriously its hard but think of all the reasons why you are comming here! its awesome remember! and freinds are only a phone call or red eye flight away.

Good luck with the move and landing and such, you deserve it!

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

I suppose our invite was lost in the post? :D

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

She is a he by the way :)

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Hello Butch, luckily for us we do have family in Calgary and we will be staying with them until we find a house to buy. I have been looking at the SUVs and I loke the look of the 7 seaters e.g Ford explorer of the chevy trail blazer. Unfortunately my Brother in law in Calgary says don't buy a ford explorer because they are not reliable however it seems to have everything we are looking for, size, 4x4 etc.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Hello Graham, hope you are well. Any news on the medicals yet. Well as you can see it is crunch time and I am starting to panic, however from what I have read, it is only natural. I am sure that as soon as we move into our new home and I find a job I will settle down again. Regards.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Everything was sent back to CHC by the doctor about three weeks ago and I also sent a couple of supporting letters in respect of our daughters GH treatment.

It is now just wait and see and keep our fingers crossed that we get the green light.

As soon as we get our Visas (hopefully) we intend to go over on a recce trip. As some point in time we hope to get over to Alberta for a look around as we have never been any further west than Ontario.

Good luck with your imminent move.

Have you finished work yet?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards

Graham

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Hello Graham. I am still working my notice period and my employer will continue to pay me right up to the day I fly which is nice. I have still not decided what I will do when I get there however I will probably stay in financial services and take the necessary exam. I have sent my C.V to a number of the big Banks and Insurance Companies and HSBC and TD Bank want to see me when I arrive. Unfortunately alot of the others will not respond without me having the licencing exams.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Alex

Why do you not see if any of the companies will take you on initially as a "Specialist Adviser" offering advice to UK expats who still have UK pensions, life cover etc. Just a thought.

No Canadian financial adviser will be able to advise on these products I would have thought.

Graham

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Mondo hug on its way (in case I missed the group one).

Must have been a great party. Now just remeber that you are one of the successful ones - lot's of people talk the talk etc. You only really have to worry if 120 people turn up at the airport to make sure you go :p

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Or you could go the convertible route like we once did :eek:

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Now I know that I have been here a while...I cry at the thought of the inevitable visits back to the UK

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

George, is that because you can't wait to see everyone again or in horror at the thought of going?? ;)

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Hi
I find that I don't get homesick until our UK visitors are leaving to go home (whoever it is). I then realise how far away everything is and how nice it has been to catch up on everything in the UK.
Still it doesn't make me want to go back again. I suppose after a while everyone will stop visiting and we will have to go and visit them. That will be a good reminder of why we love living here.

Re: Need a Group Hug
 

Couldn't agree with you more. It is great to show off your new life to your friends and family. I still find that I feel more comfortable with my old UK friends than any of my 'new' friends.
Family and friends did seem to swamp us with visits during the first 5 yrs, that has now slowed down and our usual is to have one lot of guest's a year. We haven't been back (as a family) for 5yrs and I don't imagine that we will be going back for another 5....This is my home and I don't like leaving it.
Trips back the the UK really are a good remedy for any homesickness that I might have had. That said I would say that for every reason that I prefer my life here, there is another reason that I would prefer life in Blighty.