Atlantic Xpat

On 17th Nov 2004 I landed in St John's NL. This evening as I gaze out of my hotel room window at the seemingly endless traffic on the 401 in Scarborough I can reflect upon four years in Canada but mainly I'm thinking 'why the hell would anyone move from UK to suburban Toronto?!'

burton bunch

Congratulations Atlantic Expat - may there be many more years for you.

gaynor

ps - get out of GTA asap

Steve_P

Congratulations and may you celebrate many more.

I'm thinking why would anyone move from anywhere to suburban Toronto.

ann m

Many congrats AX - and here's to many more

Auld Yin

How much about suburban Toronto do any of you know? A hotel window staring onto Hwy 401 in no way reflects the whole GTA. The same question(s) could be asked of London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, etc., etc., etc.

Atlantic Xpat

Well I have no desire to live in surbaban London, Birmingham, Newcastle or Manchester either. However the answer to your question is 'not terribly well'. I have spent the last two days following the sat nav to various addresses from Bolton to Markham, Richmond Hill and North York and it all looked fairly much the same to me. Tonight I had dinner with a couple of business contacts who were recounting their 120km / 1.5hr (via the 407) commutes daily each from west of TO. I'm sure the GTA offers much that Newfoundland can't but from my limited experience thus far it wouldn't be something I'd consider emmigrating to experience.

Cookie

Happy Canniversary AX.

Wish you many more happy years on the Rock

Paul Wildy

Good for you AX. Next week I'm heading back to the UK for a visit for the first time in nearly 3 years so that will be an experience. I'm wondering how I'm going to remind myself to lock my car at night!

Tangram

Congrats mate.

iaink

Congrats. Its seems longer than 4 years, you seem to have become a fixture round here.

As you know, I share your views on the GTA.

Atlantic Xpat

A consequence of Avis car hires finest Sat Nav (which is a truly excellent tool btw) is that I spent three days driving around Brampton/Bolton/York/Richmond Hill and Bowmanville without every really having a clue as to where I was. People would ask me where I had been and all I could say is that I was at postcode so and so. It all looked the same!

Annoyingly my trip back to the Rock has been compromised by the inability of Pearson International Airport to de-ice planes quickly. 2 hrs on the ground waiting for de-icing and then for a takeoff slot meant I missed my connection in Montreal and get to spend a night here rather than at home with the Mrs.

Ah well. Time to go to the bar for a cold one then!

Thanks for all the best wishes. It really doesn't feel like 4 years. I s'pose I ought to apply for citizenship now!

Piff Poff

Thanks for all the best wishes. It really doesn't feel like 4 years. I s'pose I ought to apply for citizenship now!

Oh how exciting! Congrats on a good 4 years and best wishes for many more.