I think I've been coming over far too negative lately, so in an attempt to counter any ill-feeling, its time to write about the good things in Calgary and Canada as a whole. Please join in, but for one thread, no negativity is allowed

- Internet access: fast, cheap, reliable

- Cars stop when you cross the road, even if there is no designated crossing

- Space: Calgary has a small population, but is geographically huge

- You'll never starve for all the restaurants

- Mountains. They are simply awe-inspiring

- Alberta is great for fishing. One low fee, and you can fish pretty much anywhere in the province.

- Plenty of off-roading tracks in the foothills/mountains

- Great opportunities to start your own business

- Predictable lifestyle patterns - eg you know when the restaurant will be emptier, you know when the kids play park will be quieter etc.

- Credit is difficult to obtain (believe me, this is a good thing)

- Big fridges to store more beer

- You can get pizza at 3 or 4am

- Nice surreal atmosphere when its snowing in the early hours of the morning

- I'm loving the thunderstorms

- They provide several picnic areas right next to the runways at Calgary airport.. brilliant for those who love watching the heavy metal take off or land!

I can see the stars twinkling at night.

Positives from the UK.

1cm of snow is considered a Blizzard.

It never gets too hot or too cold.

You can buy anything, from anywhere in your local supermarket.

A Family doctor is pretty easy to find.

The NHS does work, eventually.

We have roundabouts rather that traffic lights.

Our TV is the best in the world.

Association Football.

50 miles away is thought of as a long way.

Four weeks minimum holidays a year. Plus bank hols.

We can keep chickens in a shoe box if we want.

Our children know there is more than one continent.

London taxi drivers.

We value everyones experience and qualifications.

Our water is safe to drink.

We take our Christmas decorations down by 6th January.

Back to canada...

I can afford my own place without having to borrow a ton of money just for the downpayment.

My "starter home" comes with 1200 sq feet, and nearly an acre of garden, so lots of room for the kid to play.

People really respect the 40km speed limit in school zones and everyone stops for the school buses without grumbling about it.

I get 4 actual real seasons.

People take an interest and are involved in the community, and make it a better place to live. I know my neighbours.

Access to Liqour and Beer is strictly controlled by the licensed stores, who have too much to loose by serving minors, so I dont see tanked up kids hanging around at the weekend.

I can jump on a plane and be in Manhattan, Las Vegas or the Caribbean in a few hours.

I can enjoy beautiful beaches and swimming in clean fresh water lakes in the summer, or skiing on a beautiful crisp winter afternoon, without thousands of others crowding around and leaving their rubbish behind.

OHIP works...eventually!

I can drive to friends 100km away, without worrying about how long I will spend "in traffic"

I get to have a Saturday morning lay-in, and watch the footy at the same time!

Iain

Positives in Canada:

We really do get a summer every year!

We never have to line up for the washroom at home, in fact there are more washrooms in the average Canadian house than there are in a whole UK apartment complex.

Most stuff is cheep to buy.

I can afford to buy a house.

If I want to rent an apartment I can find one without waiting 10 years!

Gas is half the price of gas in the UK

We do not always send troops anywhere Bush wants us to!

We beat the American’s in a war!

We burnt down the Whitehouse!

The Great Lakes give some of the best sailing in the world!

People pick up dog shit just so the sidewalks stay clean.

I don’t walk out of my house everyday to find that another yob has vandalized my car.

What makes life in Calgary good ...

Fifty minutes after I got up this morning I was fly fishing at a crystal clear pond in Kanaskis - I had it all to myself without another angler in sight - just me and the trout.

And it didn't cost me anything apart from some gas and my $20 fishing licence.

Positive in Calgary - you can see a specialist without waiting 6 months. My wife had a referral appointment to a dermatologist within 90 minutes of a walk in surgery visit.

My son had an abdominal X-ray within 30minutes of seeing the paediatrician.

Despite the general misconception in the UK about Canadian healthcare - there is no user fee for a visit to the doctor!

lol.....I thought that was just here in the Okanagan, what is that all about????!!!!

JJ

January 6th is "twelfth night".

This is the day when the Three Kings were meant to have arrived bearing gifts.

This is why many catholic countries (esp. Spain) have their christmas presents on the 6th Jan not 25th December!

Its 'cos its too friggin' cold to bring them in by Jan 6th, and too friggin' cold to put them up in December. Mine are up from Late November till (usually) Feb, but I dont turn them on till December, or after the 6th Jan. I am not going up on my roof in the middle of winter for anyone, and I dont care how retarded it looks.

Iain

Sorry, that is no excuse!!! (Only joking!)

They don't really have that excuse here for leaving them up all year plus why are there still Santa's in the gardens in July?!

JJ

I guess they figure that if it doesnt warm up till Easter, and they have to get them out again at Thanksgiving, why bother bringing them in for the couple of months in between. Besides, isnt it always the mans job to take care of these chores, and you know how lazy the average man is, well half of us are even worse than that!

Drives me crazy too, but at least people make the effort to brighten up Xmas. Of course you never see the Hydro or Utilities companies put on a big light show for some reason....

Iain

PS sorry to post such gross generalisations...but many a true word spoken in jest

PPS, One to add to the original list...Tim Hortons, for both the Ice Cap and the Timbit!

Biggest positive

No Yob Culture / you feel safe here

Absolutely right - and it has a tremendous impact on quality of life.

Positivies...................lots and lots of sunshine and hardly any rain!

JJ