Originally Posted by dbd33

In the case of the chickens I was serious. We keep chickens, it seems no bother, I would have thought anyone who lives rustically would consider it.
Making you own wine, otoh, requires a dramatic downgrade of the palate, I don't think that works.

Originally Posted by moosey2canada

I just don't know what to say i am normally an articulate funny person with a positive (to the point of annoying) outlook, my husband wants to go home he thinks we have made a mistake and cant afford to start again here, i want to stay and give it a better go he told me yesterday that he has booked flights home for oct, my dog is with my mother, my car is rented and automatic and i hate it, my flat is rented and they build all night next door, i think my upstairs neighbour is a dancer (tap), no-one here gets my jokes, apparently i need to know how to brew wine, grow veg, and make cheese to live here (NS), i need to eat more red meat to afford meat (arteries be damned), add to all that that i apparently need to have chickens that i couldnt slaughter (which i am fairly certain my dog would eat first chance he got) but i dont want to go home, obviously i need to decide why? i am in love with NS has it captured my heart (apart from the gorgeous peggys cove) not really- am i not doing it right, or am i just a uk-ian, a yorkshire loving, royal family supporting, family missing, NHS IS FAB, uk-ian and is that a bad thing? so i cant afford 5 bedrooms and an acre at home, so what, theres only 2 of us anyway and neither of us knows squat about gardening, and always end up buying the car that everyone thinks is ridiculous (usually purple) so what, and maybe work is supposed to be just that, work,that'll be the same anywhere, but at least i get 6 weeks a year off and i can afford to travel wherever i want.............................. i think i want to go home

Originally Posted by moosey2canada

We wanted a better life ie 5 bed home massive garden close to a city but not in a city, to live near the sea, simple a that, not realising the life we had was pretty great, nice home, good jobs, beautiful countryside, diversity and understanding, brilliant TV, cheap beer, chicken i can afford you get my drift its nice here the public spaces in the city are fantastic (ie parks) the landscape is austere in its beauty and simplicity, everything is near the water, but its not home.................. that says it all for us really. but just because its not for me doesnt mean its not for you the only way you will know is to come and have a look do a reccie, not just one to look at houses, but give yourself time to spend time, dont compare the price of things in pounds (its cheap when you do that) you wont be earning pounds, you never know this could be what youve been looking for, everyone is different so come and give it a try the trees are turning red and orange and the weather is warm yet 'crispy' it may be for you!

Originally Posted by kazbob

I actually fancy giving the chicken rearing thing a go myself dbd. Have a nice patch in our yard, to the side of the house which lends itself nicely. I'm sure my palate can be lowered to home wine making, give anything a go!

I may be after some tips on the chicken keeping when we get out there permanently.

Karen

Originally Posted by dbd33

In the case of the chickens I was serious. We keep chickens, it seems no bother, I would have thought anyone who lives rustically

Originally Posted by moosey2canada

We arrived in NS last wek after deliberating for over 2 years we decided to just pack up and come to NS got a vistors visa for 6 months thought we ahd plenty of money did loads of research on net and books etc but didnt comeover for scouting trip, assumed everything would be ok. ITS NOT. we have worked out our finances and what is alot of money in the the UK isn't alot of money here- houses inside our budget are miles from anywhere, cars are expensive, shopping is expensive chicken is $10 FOR 1 SMALL BIRD dont think thats only £5 its not when youre earning dollars its 10 dollars! petrol is dearer than home in equivelents, if we live here, bearing in mind we are both professional people with good jobs, we couldnt afford chicken in our weekly budget, milk is 2 dollars a litre - more than petrol. fruit is extortionate please dont reply that maybe we are shopping inthe wrong place we looked at the three top supermarkets and barring a few cents here and there it doesnt vary much. If you like a drink get ready to get a bank loan to enjoy one, 24 330ml budwiesers is $40 dollars dont ask about spirits. We thought this would change our lives and be a better life but the fact is that we had it all at home a house of our own that we could afford to run and have nice, a car each, money for holidays meals out and basically a nice life- all the things we came here for. So now we are going home in 3 weeks (when our flat runs out of lease) embarrassed, (we had a huge party before we left) a few thousend pounds lighter and homeless and unemployed and to be honest going home is more frightening than coming to NS ever was i feel like such a failure, if anyone can put a positive glean on this i would appreciate it but only as long as its not well at least now you know or at least you tried.

Originally Posted by G586

Or indeed suburban

Originally Posted by moosey2canada

We arrived in NS last wek after deliberating for over 2 years we decided to just pack up and come to NS got a vistors visa for 6 months thought we ahd plenty of money did loads of research on net and books etc but didnt comeover for scouting trip, assumed everything would be ok. ITS NOT. we have worked out our finances and what is alot of money in the the UK isn't alot of money here- houses inside our budget are miles from anywhere, cars are expensive, shopping is expensive chicken is $10 FOR 1 SMALL BIRD dont think thats only £5 its not when youre earning dollars its 10 dollars! petrol is dearer than home in equivelents, if we live here, bearing in mind we are both professional people with good jobs, we couldnt afford chicken in our weekly budget, milk is 2 dollars a litre - more than petrol. fruit is extortionate please dont reply that maybe we are shopping inthe wrong place we looked at the three top supermarkets and barring a few cents here and there it doesnt vary much. If you like a drink get ready to get a bank loan to enjoy one, 24 330ml budwiesers is $40 dollars dont ask about spirits. We thought this would change our lives and be a better life but the fact is that we had it all at home a house of our own that we could afford to run and have nice, a car each, money for holidays meals out and basically a nice life- all the things we came here for. So now we are going home in 3 weeks (when our flat runs out of lease) embarrassed, (we had a huge party before we left) a few thousend pounds lighter and homeless and unemployed and to be honest going home is more frightening than coming to NS ever was i feel like such a failure, if anyone can put a positive glean on this i would appreciate it but only as long as its not well at least now you know or at least you tried.

Originally Posted by kazbob

I actually fancy giving the chicken rearing thing a go myself dbd. Have a nice patch in our yard, to the side of the house which lends itself nicely. I'm sure my palate can be lowered to home wine making, give anything a go!

I may be after some tips on the chicken keeping when we get out there permanently.

Karen

Originally Posted by dexdaw

Maybe you could start practising now kaz!
I'm sure the landlord wouldn't mind!!
I can just see you and Bob in "the good life"

Originally Posted by moosey2canada

I just don't know what to say i am normally an articulate funny person with a positive (to the point of annoying) outlook, my husband wants to go home he thinks we have made a mistake and cant afford to start again here, i want to stay and give it a better go he told me yesterday that he has booked flights home for oct, my dog is with my mother, my car is rented and automatic and i hate it, my flat is rented and they build all night next door, i think my upstairs neighbour is a dancer (tap), no-one here gets my jokes, apparently i need to know how to brew wine, grow veg, and make cheese to live here (NS), i need to eat more red meat to afford meat (arteries be damned), add to all that that i apparently need to have chickens that i couldnt slaughter (which i am fairly certain my dog would eat first chance he got) but i dont want to go home, obviously i need to decide why? i am in love with NS has it captured my heart (apart from the gorgeous peggys cove) not really- am i not doing it right, or am i just a uk-ian, a yorkshire loving, royal family supporting, family missing, NHS IS FAB, uk-ian and is that a bad thing? so i cant afford 5 bedrooms and an acre at home, so what, theres only 2 of us anyway and neither of us knows squat about gardening, and always end up buying the car that everyone thinks is ridiculous (usually purple) so what, and maybe work is supposed to be just that, work,that'll be the same anywhere, but at least i get 6 weeks a year off and i can afford to travel wherever i want.............................. i think i want to go home

Originally Posted by dbd33

Chicken keeping has been something of a revelation to me. It's easy, it costs next to nothing, chickens are cute, the eggs are far far better than you can buy and, if you get mad at a chicken, Blam! It's soup.

Mammals, otoh, are not easy, not cheap and I've derived no nutrition from them.

Originally Posted by Poppy2

Really I am staggered at how unprepared you were and how unprepared you are to even try. What made you ever want to leave your apprently happy life in the UK, if when you came here, it wasnt for you? And what made you think coming here was for you? Why here?

I think the immediate stuff about where you are, the flat and the rented car......are all transient. We all start out somewhere. As for Peggy's Cove being the only place you liked here? I am not sure what you hoped there would be or the things you usually like, but there are loads of us who have been here longer than a week who can give you some great ideas of places to go and see, things to do.

We have kids and we rented in Spryfield for 6 months then bought a house in Tantallon, we didnt think NS was about our renting experience in Spryfield, or our initial uncomfortable week in a B&B in the midst of January without decent coats or footwear.

I dont know that any of our help or support to ease you into life here will be enough as I dont think you made the choice to leave the UK was very thought out. Why did you hope for? I am sure it wasnt just cheaper food and beer.