Well as promised I have now found time to write about my experiences and why I am returning to the UK.

When we left for Toronto, My partner and I and the Mother in Law was sure it was going to be for good.

We had a house lined up, furnture and dogs packed and had a big farewell party for all our friends.

We now find ourselves returning to blighty on the QM at the end of August. Financially poorer, but richer in many other ways.

Firstly I am going to try and keep this balanced as it would be too easy to blame Canada for all the problems. There are some advantages to the country but not enough to keep us here.

For anyone thinking of coming to the east coast especially, do not underestimate the weather, the winters here really are brutal and seem to be getting worse. I love the snow, but this was just too much. My Mother in Law in particular found it difficult and felt house-bound for a number of weeks. She is of an older generation of course, but even we were fed up by it.

Also if you want to work in the Arts/media be prepared to find very few options here. Most of the TV is imported to Canada from Anerica, even series that are made here are then remade by Americans and get cancelled after a couple of seasons. Their is very little independent theatre scene here. The Mirvishes are the big produving house over here, apart from a few other companies a lot of the theatre is toured to Canada from the states.

There is more space here which is a posistive and the houses are cheaper, but these are the few bonuses we can see. The TTC in Toronto is great and good value for money!

Also there is no denying how beautiful the country is, but you can see that as a tourist.

Also at least Canada politics have not seen the rise of the right - lke the BNP, but when we are back in the Uk we wll be able to help fight the rise!

We have found food prices to be on a par with the UK. Except we have had to go for more organic / local produce which put the prices up.

There are a number of reasons for that. They are

1) The supermarkets have this horrible idea of spraying water on the veg in their chilling departments and I am sure this makes them go off quicker. So we go to a local organic grocers

2)They put sugar in their bread, so again we part the more frehly baked artisan breads.

3) If you are a veggie, there area few retaurants in Toronto, but as far as supermarkets go, think Britain (mid 80's)

4) Everthing prepacked caters for larger families, so be prepared to eat load or waste food.

5) The choice and range here is no where as good as the UK.

6) Dairy is expensive and the cheese is bland. Poultry is alsi quite expensive.

My other big pet hate is it is very hard to get a direct answer to any question in Canada, they start an explanation half way through - as if you already know the first half of the answer.

I am now looking forward to closing this chapter on my life and am looking forward to getting back home, its true "Home is where your heart is!"

Although, I have mentioned a few of my pet hates and a few pros to Canada, I still feel that if its your dream - go for it. As this board testifies, there are so many success stories. I would suggest that if you do come, please rent first, and leave some options open back home.

I have no regrets and wish all people taking the leap the best of luck!

I notice more and more people returning back to the U.K. Canada is one of the best countries in the western world but the weather is more of the ice age type that most of U.K and Europe was covered witha long time ago. It is no wonder than that a country 10 times the size of the U.K has half the population as the U.K. I've lived in both countries and I also find the biggest advantage Canada offers is bigger homes for the average person. Even in places like vancouver there are very few theatres, or galleries for one to visit. loved it here when i came to visit and stayed with relatives but living here is a different story.

Yeah and I forget there seems to be a break in theatre during the summer - guess the canucks wanna celebrate the sun.

Amazed it can survive, you could not just close the the theatre scene in London or NY for the summer - and Tdot is meant to be number 3 !

Go Figure !!!

I guess veg, TV and bread are more important to some people than others, how long did stay here for? There is always going to be a difference and adjustment period when moving to a different country. I guess your happy where you feel at home, but your reasoning seems a little short sighted. I recommend anyone to take any opinion on whether to come here as just that, and definitely do a recce for a sustained period of time.

There are differences, and they are things you just have to get used to if you want to benefit from the pros of living in Canada. Obviously being such a big country differences can vary from province to province.

I think you are trying to simplyfy my case. The Tv angle does not refer to the watching of, but more to a career in it.

As I stated this was my opinion and wished everyone the best of luck.

Your kind of response is typical of the happy (or some times not so happy, but unable to do anything about it) immigrant.

My points regarding the weather, the job situation and everything else were totally valid and can be backed up !

My post was possistive in stating it didnt work for us - thats all.

So rather than attack, embrace a country that works for so many

Good honest post- it does seem like Toronto wasn't for you professionally or socially. You live and learn. Food shopping in Loblaws is definately no match for Sainsburys!!!

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.

Can you tell us how long were you here in Canada?

very well put! Fortunately for me and my family we have very little culture and class so we fit in just great. Ski ing on the doorstep, hockey, skating on the canal and boating in the summer, barbies on the deck and doubling the OH's wage and me not working. Making more money on a house than we could have done in the UK in 10 years certainly swung it for us! One man's dream is another man's nightmare

Will be nearly 2 years by leaving date

Although the problems I had are not an issue of re-adjustment.

The work scene will be the same.

The food situations will be the same.

The answering the question halway through will be the same.

The weather is not going to change that much.

The way the theatre scene has been for the past 30 years is not going to change.

So I think the time we have been here is not relative.

I agree, I have read post when someone feel after 3 months or 6 months a country is not for them is a shame, but even then it is their choice !

Although, after the trouble most people take to get here in the first place, I hope that think long and hard before they revoke that privilidge.

Cheers mate for that ! Ah Sainsbury's, Tescos, even Asda ! Sad there was the demise of Woolies since I have been away, no more pick and mix, Except at the cinema (Thieving b******s - gotta love Peter Kay)

Yes Woollies is dissapearing fast. The one on Clapham High Street is a Boots already. Woolworths is relaunching as an online retailer only but where that leaves pic'n'mix I don't know?

Maybe you should have tried living in Small Town Saskatchewan!

Here, you grow your own veg, the arts consist of the local dinner theatre group (who are desperate for more actors!) plus karaoke at the bar, we have a superb local bakery, and no-one is that interested in politics (they are too busy golfing, curling, fishing or playing hockey and slow-pitch).

It is a shame that things did not work out for you. Maybe it would have been a plan to try somewhere else in Canada before giving up on the country completely?

Personally, I love my little piece of Canada and will only leave when they deport me!

Thats lucky you are doubling your income. Jobs we have experienced here are on par or slightly (only slightly below UK) and if you have to pay to top up health insurance here (oh yeah forget no NHS here and having to try and find a drs to register with in a city is difficult).

In UK we earnt approx 90,000 £, here combined its about 50,000.00£

I would say that Skiing, Hockey, boating, they are classy pursuits and mentioning money is also an indication of class !

As you say another man's dream .......

For my partner's line of business it needs to be a big city. Also acting is not where my talents lie, and Karaoke - my singing is enough to get me deported !

As for the rest, Golfing fishing, great bakeries, we have those close by in London.

lol can you imagine.

3 Shrimps
4 fizzy coca cola bottles
6 dolly mixtures
2 flumps
10 chocolate raisins ......

and how do u quickly slip a chocolate razzle in your mouth over the internet.

Those were the days !