It's nearly five years since we started our journey....we've had a lot of stress and upsets along the way; at one time we didn't think we'd ever get here but I'm pleased to say we finally touched down on Canadian soil on Thursday. Phew!

It's all a bit surreal at the moment. We're running around doing the essentials (SIN, bank accounts etc) but all the while it feels like we're on holiday (especially with the temperatures here in the GTA at the moment (late 30s, feels like late 40s!!)). I keep thinking 'when we get home we can take this or that' but we won't be going back! Odd.

When you're back in the UK, wishing your life away to get here, you feel it will never happen. Now we're here, it feels like those times whizzed by!

There's a lot to do now....it's all very daunting and a little bit scary but so far we're feeling optimistic. We still have our 'holiday' heads on and are jet lagged and ragged but we're hoping for things to turn out well. It's early days, we still have jobs and a house to find but right now we feel quite relaxed and are looking forward to spending the weekend doing nice things. Once Monday comes, it'll be back to whizzing around but that's then, this is now.

We shall see what the future here brings. We're hoping for good things. We know that could take time. We will now try to take one day at a time and pace ourselves.

Thanks to all who helped us with our daft questions along the way. I would think we'll be asking a whole load more!

Welcome and enjoy the next stage of your adventurous journey.

That sounds bumpy. You'd think they'd have proper runways.

Thanks MJ, really kind of you. We're keeping EVERYTHING crossed that it all works out!!

Funny you should say that, if anyone was on flight number TS149 flying from Gatwick to Toronto on Thursday at 10.30am, you'll know what I mean when I say you had to hang onto your seats when we landed!

Welcome to canada weve been here 7 weeks and after the initial finding of everything banks sins phones house jobs and the like lol we have now settled in nicely and absolutely love it here, theres do much to see and do and we have 3 boys so weve tried to do as much as we can with them to fit in to the canadian way of life x enjoy your new life and just take time to take it all in it really is a lively country to be in . We are in cobourg by the way x

Best wishes for this next part - five years in the planning is a long time! Hope you all settle well.

Welcome to Canada! Enjoy the new adventure!

Thanks everybody for your kind wishes. Yes, five years is a long time to wait and we know that with all the changes afoot with applying now, we're lucky to have been given the chance! Today I feel much more calm. We've just returned from the supermarket and were pleasantly surprised by the amount we spent. We haven't stocked up on everything yet as we're not in our own place so have mostly got essentials and things to eat for the next few days, but I would say the cost evens out over all. Some things, for instance chicken, were more expensive but other things, like a huge Heinz tommy ketch and bottled water were really cheap. Let's just say my hubs didn't exit the shop any paler than when he went in. Phew on that one anyway!

We're now going to spend the evening looking through a free paper picked up at the supermarket for a rental and maybe take a drive out to look for a car. Can't wait to see the bill for the insurance though

Hi,

Although were not living in Canada just yet (still waiting for nomination) we have flown to Toronto for our connecting flight a few times now and each time has been terrible landing. I don't mind flying, but after the last landing there, I will never fly to Toronto again... lets just say my hubby had grab marks on his legs for quite a few days after!!

Good luck to you and your family, I'm sure it won't take you long to settle in.

Julie

Thanks for your kind wishes Julie and I hope your move over goes well!!

I can honestly say I've never experienced a landing like it. It actually felt liked we'd crashed! I've flown quite a few times now and have landed once (can't remember where though) with a full on thunder storm but even that was smoother. There was a small cheer of relief from some other passengers and I was glad just to get off!!