Hi - all

Had my PR card in UK (took 5 years) and work announced redundancies - so i tried not to look too keen when they asked for volunteers. 3 months sorting out all our stuff, saying goodbye etc..

So we landed in Dec 2010 and have just completed our second xmas here. We landed near friends and rented a cottage by a lake at a good price. Winter was cold and we learnt alot about wood burning stoves etc.. as we watched the wildlife around us. Living in open accomodation in a rural location was a challenge to say the least, esp with 2 kids in tow. Quite weird having no job for 3 months as we needed to save our cash - I watched alot of DIY network on TV. Applied for LOTS of jobs and got a return rate of any sort (even just a no) of about 5%. Ended up talking to a local during the subdivision winter festival (hotdogs in -20C) who put me onto a job and hey presto I got a job in Peterborough ON. Spent the rest of the winter evenings deciding between going to bed early to get warm or put some more wood on the burner. Spring and the thaw were just amazing - complete with nesting loons, beaver etc..

Eldest child went to school and didnt get on too well. My wife had decided that although living by the lake was fab, she found it too remote in winter. Trying to find a decent place to rent near town (Peterborough ON) was a bad experience so we ended up buying a house just outside of town. New house is surrounded by trees and the neighbours are great. We moved schools and my eldest is v happy now.

Xmas number 2 was a bit blue as we missed home & spent alot of time on Skype. I miss going down the pub with my mates.

And here we are 12 months in, owning a house and with a good job. Can't say it has been easy and we have a few wobbles now and then (water pump in the well broke on new years day). And i have wondered at times if we would make it as a family. Finances are a bit of a struggle when you cant get much in the way of credit, but we are getting by. I am building a canoe in my garage and i am, on the whole, quite content & optimistic. My wife is finding it harder as she is more house bound with the kids esp winter, and she misses her family. I am hoping that will ease when the second goes to school aslo. Can't say if this is forever (still got the uk house to fall back on) but am glad to be giving it a go. Never thought i'd own a pair of ice skates.

Cold out eh?

Cheers

Roj

Best wishes for the next year - it's never smooth, but I hope things get even better for all of you.

Congratulations on making it through.

Congrats on your first year