Originally Posted by victorfoxtrot

Me too Chromeo! Although I wasn't as lucky as you to live further in or work in the city - I grew up at the western end of the Central line and lived in Kingston for a while. But I love London. It just makes me happy. I like TO. I do like the fact we can closer to downtown than we ever could in London. But like you if I could move back tomorrow, I would.....I'm very lucky my OH is happy to do that.

Originally Posted by dudlek

Am about to hit 3 year canniversary here in Fredericton NB and I have to admit I am still lost and confused as to the draw this country, sorry I have to say province as not been elsewhere, has for my OH and others
We moved here for a new and adventurous life initially in the maritimes with a view to take experiences in other parts of Canada when an if offered but I'll be honest I just don't 'get' it!
Admittedly I am a SE England home counties lass used to having my workplace ie London on my 1.5hour commute doorstep. Easy access to shops and amenities and if course no more than 1 and a quarter hours from the seaside. But let's be honest everybody without exception told me of how wonderful Canadia was its beauty and it's people!
Beauty? Ok when you have seen the amount of trees in NB you think if there is beauty, I can't see it for the trees, and the people, well let's put it this way, simply, frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees. Harsh? I don't think so. I had closer friendships and still do with the people I met in my 3 years in Amman, Jordan, which was warmer (lol) but still had nearly as much snow, just only lasted 2 weeks!
I have been recently surprised by my friend Sinead moving to Australia after 4 years here but then thought about it and it is not easy being the stranger here with the funny accent! My OH has a very good job in the RCAF so employment for him is not an issue, which I never take for granted, for me? It is!
So in summary, I just wanted to say that a visit gives you a pretty good view of amenities, etc but living here daily with the maritime mindset, very very hard and at times incredibly boring!
Ps must add that would love to x-country ski or snowshoe but had ankle op last feb and still healing so pretty wintry walks out too sadly!
I sorry if this post seems vague but I just want to be honest about how I see life here and of course appreciate others feel differently.

Originally Posted by Lorry1

Same apart from change NB to NS.

Originally Posted by yogi.bear

Hi, I read with interest your posting as your doubts sounds exactly like what we are going through at the moment.
We moved here from the UK in November 2010 and bought a house on the northside of Fredericton. We had visited the province before we came here and thought it would be nice to have a country lifestyle and improve our quality of life. Whilst we do not regret our move as it has been an experience we do wonder if we have chosen the wrong province. We are both having to work in jobs with funny shifts and so do not spend as much time together as a family as we would like although at least I get to work from home and so no childcare is necessary. We chose to pay for a private school for our eight year old as we have found the quality of education here to be dreadful. Fortunately we only have one child or we probably would not be able to afford it. When you have a teacher tell you that it doesn't matter if the spelling is incorrect as long as they understand it, it does make you wonder doesn't it!
Like you we do not find the people of Fredericton to be particularly friendly and welcoming, now I don't think this has much to do with us being 'foreigners' as we have spoken to other Canadians who are now living in other areas such as Moncton as it is so much friendlier. We have therefore made very few 'friends', acquaintances yes but that is about it.
I do miss the shops and the choice of goods, very shallow I know. I also miss the British sense of humour very much, we can't remember the last time we had a really good laugh with anyone other than each other.
When I look at what I have written it all looks very negative, maybe I just needed to write it down. Of course there are good points to living here, there is very little crime and it is a far more relaxed way of life. It is a nice place to bring up children. We have a much larger house than we did in the UK and I love seeing deer in the garden and watching the woodpeckers.
Maybe we should have actually done more research, we thought we had but maybe not enough. Maybe we just haven't given it long enough, but we can't see the job market changes dramatically there are not not the opportunities here.
Anyway my husband has now started applying for jobs in Ontario so we will see how it goes. If its meant to be its meant to be.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian

Im confused the OP said they moved here. Im tending to think they applied rather than being sat at home in the UK and the phone rang one night and a nice Canadian Govt official asked them if they might consider moving to Canada. Maybe we have an army of officials selecting random numbers from various UK phone directories and ringing up people.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

Seeing as they have said they were 'posted' there, they may not have applied. Perhaps Army? Or just a work transfer.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

Seeing as they have said they were 'posted' there, they may not have applied. Perhaps Army? Or just a work transfer.

Originally Posted by Souvy

Attention to detail, sweetheart!

Hubby is a helicopter pilot who transferred from the RAF to the Canadian airforce (lots of it going on these days). Forces personnel do get posted every few years. Kingston would make sense for a helicopter pilot because there is a helicopter wing based there. And quite a few prison officers looking for new jobs.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian

Why would he take a downgrade old forces joke UK v Canadian.
So how come in my job when I pay attention to details sometimes the traveller is pissed off at me:lol:
I see you have more than $20 in dairy products

Originally Posted by BristolUK

Some of the things on National TV......fashion tips for things my mum was doing over 30 years ago......some shows on a par with what we saw in the UK when all night TV was in its infancy, like that tacky James Whale show.

Originally Posted by se1zm1c

Seriously even after 4 years? To be honest ... I'm convincing myself that I'll be ok in a GTA winter...but if I'm honest, I'm not sure at all how I'll cope with 3-4 months of relentless grey sky, bone chilling cold and snowscapes. Is it something you can learn to tolerate coming from SE UK?

Originally Posted by Oink

I think that depends on you and what you do. I couldn't give naffing toss about making mates with anyone over here, I wish they'd just piss off and leave me alone. That said, I've ended up with way more I want, mainly due my access to a boat and that and I make a bolloxy hot curry which they seem to snaffle up like its the best thing they've ever had.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian

Average number of hours of bright sunshine a year in major Canadian cities. City Hours
Calgary, Alberta 2405
Winnipeg, Manitoba 2372
Regina, Saskatchewan 2338
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2329
Edmonton, Alberta 2299
Victoria, British Columbia 2193
Hamilton, Ontario 2088
Ottawa, Ontario 2061
Barrie, Ontario 2055
Toronto, Ontario 2038

Be like the Village People and Go West.

Originally Posted by Alberta_Rose

But not too far west or you'll be back in the grey and wet!

Hey! Calgary won something!!

Originally Posted by JonboyE

There is not a lot west of Victoria BC other than Pacific Ocean.

Originally Posted by Souvy

Attention to detail, sweetheart!

Hubby is a helicopter pilot who transferred from the RAF to the Canadian airforce (lots of it going on these days). Forces personnel do get posted every few years. Kingston would make sense for a helicopter pilot because there is a helicopter wing based there. And quite a few prison officers looking for new jobs.