This time last year!!!!!!!!
Jun 8th 2010 | 9:31 am
#1
Thread Starter
Citizenship Nov 10 2016!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,661
From: Stewiacke Nova Scotia
This time last year!!!!!!!!
Well, this time last year we were at the Hilton Gatwick about to embark on our new life!
, cant believe a year has gone already, although a lot has happened.
We moved to NS and rented for about 8mths before buying our first place, thank god we did, we ended up buying something the complete opposite to what we initially thought we would buy when we first landed, the rental was very old 100+ years and very cold in the winter with hardly any insulation, we were lucky NS had a mild year, otherwise I could see we would have been moving on elsewhere lol!
We have really settled in now, kids are happy at daycare and school and the jobs are going ok, mine working out really well, work with some fab people and lots of opportunities, OH looking at options of setting up something on his own, we have space at home, this was something we could never have looked to get off the ground back home, so lots of opportunities ahead fingers x! OH has also joined the volunteer fire service in our town, something that gives back to the community and again a completely new experience!
NS has been everything we dreamed of and more, for us we have so far been able to achieve the lifestyle and quality time as a family which we never had in the UK, cost of living I would say is on a par with the UK and I would recommend to anyone moving here to not underestimate the set up costs for the initial few months!
We have had some great ups, but also some downs, our DD was diagnosed with autism since we arrived, this has been a huge impact on us, particularly without the support network of friends and family back home, but the support and care she has received here through the daycare, early intervention and speech therapy has been amazing and this along with us actually being in a position to spend more time as a family has helped to deal with this. My Nan also passed away a couple of months ago so I have made an unscheduled trip back to the UK aswell, it was great to see everyone,whilst very sad that I did not get to say goodbye, but definitely felt that I was coming home when I left Heathrow.
We have had 3 sets of visitors come to see us since we arrived , with the in laws due in 2 weeks time
we might get a night out lol!, the amazing high of people arriving and the horrible flat feeling of when they leave I don’t think will ever change, but you just learn to accept over time that this is compromise we have to make to live here.
One last word for NS, the support network of friends that we have made here has been amazing
, you all know who you are
and in the tougher times of this first year you have all provided so much friendship and support, we are so lucky to have met a great group of expats and we look forward to all the curry nights, camping and get togethers we have planned for the summer.
To anyone looking at NS check out our FB page, its growing all the time and is a fantastic way to start your support network which is so important before you leave the UK.
We will see what the next year brings, sure there will be ups and downs, but that’s life, wherever you are and I’m definitely glad I am experiencing it here!
p.s If I am allowed a little plug for my brother, following his visit to NS in March he wrote a travel article for Real Travel Mag which is due out for July issue, well worth a look!
Cheers!
, cant believe a year has gone already, although a lot has happened.We moved to NS and rented for about 8mths before buying our first place, thank god we did, we ended up buying something the complete opposite to what we initially thought we would buy when we first landed, the rental was very old 100+ years and very cold in the winter with hardly any insulation, we were lucky NS had a mild year, otherwise I could see we would have been moving on elsewhere lol!
We have really settled in now, kids are happy at daycare and school and the jobs are going ok, mine working out really well, work with some fab people and lots of opportunities, OH looking at options of setting up something on his own, we have space at home, this was something we could never have looked to get off the ground back home, so lots of opportunities ahead fingers x! OH has also joined the volunteer fire service in our town, something that gives back to the community and again a completely new experience!
NS has been everything we dreamed of and more, for us we have so far been able to achieve the lifestyle and quality time as a family which we never had in the UK, cost of living I would say is on a par with the UK and I would recommend to anyone moving here to not underestimate the set up costs for the initial few months!
We have had some great ups, but also some downs, our DD was diagnosed with autism since we arrived, this has been a huge impact on us, particularly without the support network of friends and family back home, but the support and care she has received here through the daycare, early intervention and speech therapy has been amazing and this along with us actually being in a position to spend more time as a family has helped to deal with this. My Nan also passed away a couple of months ago so I have made an unscheduled trip back to the UK aswell, it was great to see everyone,whilst very sad that I did not get to say goodbye, but definitely felt that I was coming home when I left Heathrow.
We have had 3 sets of visitors come to see us since we arrived , with the in laws due in 2 weeks time
we might get a night out lol!, the amazing high of people arriving and the horrible flat feeling of when they leave I don’t think will ever change, but you just learn to accept over time that this is compromise we have to make to live here.One last word for NS, the support network of friends that we have made here has been amazing
, you all know who you are and in the tougher times of this first year you have all provided so much friendship and support, we are so lucky to have met a great group of expats and we look forward to all the curry nights, camping and get togethers we have planned for the summer.To anyone looking at NS check out our FB page, its growing all the time and is a fantastic way to start your support network which is so important before you leave the UK.
We will see what the next year brings, sure there will be ups and downs, but that’s life, wherever you are and I’m definitely glad I am experiencing it here!
p.s If I am allowed a little plug for my brother, following his visit to NS in March he wrote a travel article for Real Travel Mag which is due out for July issue, well worth a look!
Cheers!
Jun 9th 2010 | 1:02 pm
#2
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,609
From: Ontario
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Great post Nik. You have crammed such a lot into your first year - we are really pleased to have met you all and look forward to lots of activities over the summer xx
Jun 9th 2010 | 3:16 pm
#3
Purpe80 in another life..
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 665
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Fantastic post Nikki, glad your enjoying life, wish some of you NS lot would move here though...Might have to drive up for a visit!
Jun 9th 2010 | 3:47 pm
#4
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,956
From: Nova Scotia
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
A lovely post. Nice to hear that things are going well for you. Hopefully I'll see you sometime this summer.
Jun 9th 2010 | 4:52 pm
#5
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Great post 
Jun 10th 2010 | 1:14 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 366
From: Lincs, UK
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Congratulations on your first year!
Hope you have many more happy years to come.
Linz
x
Hope you have many more happy years to come.
Linz
x
Jun 10th 2010 | 6:51 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Great post - congrats on your first year, and continued good wishes to you all
Jun 10th 2010 | 7:20 am
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 72
From: Sherwood Park
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Congratulations on your first year and a brilliant post.
Best wishes for year 2.
Ness x
Best wishes for year 2.
Ness x
Jun 10th 2010 | 8:50 am
#9
Thread Starter
Citizenship Nov 10 2016!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,661
From: Stewiacke Nova Scotia
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Thanks for all your good wishes
Jun 10th 2010 | 9:30 am
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 244
From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Jun 10th 2010 | 9:42 am
#11
Thread Starter
Citizenship Nov 10 2016!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,661
From: Stewiacke Nova Scotia
Jun 10th 2010 | 11:23 am
#12
Scottish Canuck
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,703
From: Auld Scotia > Nova Scotia > Calgary
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to you all on your 1st year. Nice to hear you are getting good support for DD , it will make a huge difference to you all and she will come on leaps and bounds.
Here's to many more happy years ahead
Here's to many more happy years ahead
Jun 12th 2010 | 12:34 am
#13
Wellington NS
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 596
From: Nova Scotia
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Well, this time last year we were at the Hilton Gatwick about to embark on our new life!, cant believe a year has gone already, although a lot has happened.
We moved to NS and rented for about 8mths before buying our first place, thank god we did, we ended up buying something the complete opposite to what we initially thought we would buy when we first landed, the rental was very old 100+ years and very cold in the winter with hardly any insulation, we were lucky NS had a mild year, otherwise I could see we would have been moving on elsewhere lol!
We have really settled in now, kids are happy at daycare and school and the jobs are going ok, mine working out really well, work with some fab people and lots of opportunities, OH looking at options of setting up something on his own, we have space at home, this was something we could never have looked to get off the ground back home, so lots of opportunities ahead fingers x! OH has also joined the volunteer fire service in our town, something that gives back to the community and again a completely new experience!
NS has been everything we dreamed of and more, for us we have so far been able to achieve the lifestyle and quality time as a family which we never had in the UK, cost of living I would say is on a par with the UK and I would recommend to anyone moving here to not underestimate the set up costs for the initial few months!
We have had some great ups, but also some downs, our DD was diagnosed with autism since we arrived, this has been a huge impact on us, particularly without the support network of friends and family back home, but the support and care she has received here through the daycare, early intervention and speech therapy has been amazing and this along with us actually being in a position to spend more time as a family has helped to deal with this. My Nan also passed away a couple of months ago so I have made an unscheduled trip back to the UK aswell, it was great to see everyone,whilst very sad that I did not get to say goodbye, but definitely felt that I was coming home when I left Heathrow.
We have had 3 sets of visitors come to see us since we arrived , with the in laws due in 2 weeks time we might get a night out lol!, the amazing high of people arriving and the horrible flat feeling of when they leave I don’t think will ever change, but you just learn to accept over time that this is compromise we have to make to live here.
One last word for NS, the support network of friends that we have made here has been amazing, you all know who you are and in the tougher times of this first year you have all provided so much friendship and support, we are so lucky to have met a great group of expats and we look forward to all the curry nights, camping and get togethers we have planned for the summer.
To anyone looking at NS check out our FB page, its growing all the time and is a fantastic way to start your support network which is so important before you leave the UK.
We will see what the next year brings, sure there will be ups and downs, but that’s life, wherever you are and I’m definitely glad I am experiencing it here!
p.s If I am allowed a little plug for my brother, following his visit to NS in March he wrote a travel article for Real Travel Mag which is due out for July issue, well worth a look!
Cheers!
, cant believe a year has gone already, although a lot has happened.We moved to NS and rented for about 8mths before buying our first place, thank god we did, we ended up buying something the complete opposite to what we initially thought we would buy when we first landed, the rental was very old 100+ years and very cold in the winter with hardly any insulation, we were lucky NS had a mild year, otherwise I could see we would have been moving on elsewhere lol!
We have really settled in now, kids are happy at daycare and school and the jobs are going ok, mine working out really well, work with some fab people and lots of opportunities, OH looking at options of setting up something on his own, we have space at home, this was something we could never have looked to get off the ground back home, so lots of opportunities ahead fingers x! OH has also joined the volunteer fire service in our town, something that gives back to the community and again a completely new experience!
NS has been everything we dreamed of and more, for us we have so far been able to achieve the lifestyle and quality time as a family which we never had in the UK, cost of living I would say is on a par with the UK and I would recommend to anyone moving here to not underestimate the set up costs for the initial few months!
We have had some great ups, but also some downs, our DD was diagnosed with autism since we arrived, this has been a huge impact on us, particularly without the support network of friends and family back home, but the support and care she has received here through the daycare, early intervention and speech therapy has been amazing and this along with us actually being in a position to spend more time as a family has helped to deal with this. My Nan also passed away a couple of months ago so I have made an unscheduled trip back to the UK aswell, it was great to see everyone,whilst very sad that I did not get to say goodbye, but definitely felt that I was coming home when I left Heathrow.
We have had 3 sets of visitors come to see us since we arrived , with the in laws due in 2 weeks time
we might get a night out lol!, the amazing high of people arriving and the horrible flat feeling of when they leave I don’t think will ever change, but you just learn to accept over time that this is compromise we have to make to live here.One last word for NS, the support network of friends that we have made here has been amazing
, you all know who you are and in the tougher times of this first year you have all provided so much friendship and support, we are so lucky to have met a great group of expats and we look forward to all the curry nights, camping and get togethers we have planned for the summer.To anyone looking at NS check out our FB page, its growing all the time and is a fantastic way to start your support network which is so important before you leave the UK.
We will see what the next year brings, sure there will be ups and downs, but that’s life, wherever you are and I’m definitely glad I am experiencing it here!
p.s If I am allowed a little plug for my brother, following his visit to NS in March he wrote a travel article for Real Travel Mag which is due out for July issue, well worth a look!
Cheers!
Here's to many more happy yearsI cant believe it's a year already
Jun 12th 2010 | 8:44 am
#14
Thread Starter
Citizenship Nov 10 2016!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,661
From: Stewiacke Nova Scotia
Jun 13th 2010 | 4:06 am
#15
Happy
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,942
From: Nova Scotia
Re: This time last year!!!!!!!!
Congrats Nikki and Andy! I think its a brave move to make, one we hope to soon, and its inspiring to see that you have gone with the ups and downs and made a new home.
Was lovely to meet you yesterday!
Was lovely to meet you yesterday!
