This weekend we celebrated 4 years in Ottawa.
During that time we've had many struggles but also successes....after moving 4 times we were finally able to purchase our own house last September. It's not the Canadian dream that I had of living in beautiful red brick house in the city (Old Ottawa South) but it's a start and I appreciate that. The suburb that we chose is affordable, still very close to downtown and the people are friendly. I've made friends with the people on my street and hope that once the snow thaws we'll be out meeting lots more people!
After 2 bad jobs with very inflexible employers my husband now has a job that he loves and which gives him the flexibility to be at home when he wants to be etc.. that is also invaluable to us.
My kids are happy, they have moved schools 3 times and I was worried about all of the changes but they seem to be ok. I know a lot of people don't think that Canada offers that many opportunities different to the UK, but for us it does. In England we couldn't have afforded the ballet, gymnastics and swimming lessons that they do now.
We bought a tent and enjoy camping...the kids love it. It's affordable, we get to see some beautiful places and with the seasonal climate we've never had a wash-out camping trip, like we had in the UK with constant rain!
I have had the opportunity to go back to school, which is great, and I have made some good friends. It has taken a while to get there and to feel happy but on the most part I am. I know that I can't build the types of friendships in 4 years that it took me 16 years to build in the UK. Nonetheless I have friends that I can rely on, that will help and vice versa.
This weekend was our 4th year here..we had a great weekend, we went to the Winterlude festival, did the ice-slides and beaver tails, skating on the canal and then we found a fab English pub and had the best Roast Beef dinner followed by Sticky Toffee pudding!
I guess in summing up I would say that it has been a struggle but a worthwhile struggle for us...we miss our family in the UK but not enough to consider a move back to the UK!

Many congratulations on a successful and ultimately happy four years. I want to visit Ottawa this summer as all of my neighbours here sing it's praises. It is time that makes the difference. You've certainly given yourself time to settle in and you are still happy and thriving as a family - tremendous, here's to another happy four years!

Great to hear that you and your family are enjoying life in Ontario. Here's to another 4 years

What a lovely post, congratulations

Congratulations on making a successful transition. Ottawa is one of my favourite places in Canada.

Great post ,roll on the next 4 years

congrats, nice post, glad its all going well, we are coming up 4 years and can finally say feel settled here with work, jobs, houses, kids, financially etc falling into place