London Mike

I can totally appreciate what you're saying. I had the exact same experience when having a drink with my brother in London in March.

printer

Alan 2005 must clearly be delusional, not surprising really if he's been on the real ale for a week or two.
He clearly hasn't seen this http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714324

Atlantic Xpat

I'm sure that Alan would allow an element of rose tintedness in his view of his vacation. But a trip back does bring into sharp relief those things that we give up to move to Canada. Beer, family, Bruce Forsythe etc. Last summer, after two weeks back in UK I was about ready to move back after 6 years away. But that was due to job situation for me and the Mrs here in Newfoundland. That situation improved dramatically and the desire to move back diminished. It will be interesting to see how we feel after this summers trip. For me it's now about taking my daughter to spend time with her grandparents whilst we can - and seeing my new niece. As with everything "its for the children....." (and ok possibly the beer as well)

Seedubs

Did you not visit a petrol station? Surely the £1.40 a litre was something different since you last visited.

Alan2005

Yeah, that was an eye opener. One petrol station I went to only had the posh stuff at £1.50. Ouch....

jrhodes

I know everyone gets home sick and all that but does anyone who has been living in Canada for a few years really regret it?

My wife and I are moving out in August, to Ottawa and I have already drawn up a list of things I know I'll miss:

1. Best friends
2. Surf trips to Croyde (With best friends)
3. Drinking Tribute Cornish Ale (While on Surf Trips with best friends)

erm... Now I'm struggling to think...

I know what I am going to like:

Having an insane house on 4+ acres of land for a tiny / F*** all mortgage.
Getting a dog.
Having kids.
working less hours for more money, in real terms.
Skiing a lot in the winter.
...

And a whole lot more

Who cares if the Canadians dont have good Bitter, they do have Steam Whistle beer which is a close second and is going to be my drink of choice.

Who cares if they don't take any notice of the highway code they may or may not have, I've driven around Compton (South Central L.A. - that was something to see) - Anyway I'm just going to buy a tank instead or a car and watch them get out of the way then

nldfc

Is Steam Whistle Beer the one that you get free on Air Porter flights ?

jrhodes

If it is then Im booking!

Not sure but the brewery is in Torronto by the hockey stadium. The tour is great fun! - It's a micro brewery but has not yet gone nationwide, last time I heard.

I also remember one more thing I'll miss...

Seeing Reef (who have now reformed) / any of the Gary Stringer and Jack Bessant related bands in concert on a regular basis (Reef, Themisme, StringerBessant)

Lorry1

Can't you get a dog and have kids in England?

It's a common misconception that you can get a good house here with no mortgage. Houses here are not as cheap as they were, unless you live in the middle of no where, in a fixer upper.

Why do you think you will work less for more money?
Canadians work long hours with 2 weeks holiday being the minimum (you can negotiate more). Pay is generally less here unless you're in a very good job.

Yes, you can ski. I'm not sure about ski hills in Ontario though.

London Mike

How much??!!

BristolUK

With part of the money I got from selling my 100 year old 2 bedroomed terraced house in a tatty part of Bristol - part after paying off the mortgage - I could have bought two houses here like the 4 bedroom, detached one I did get, with air conditioning, large drive, garage and big yard. And there would be $30k change. Not a fixer upper, in excellent shape and no mortgage.

The exchange rate was better then but it would still buy it now with about $50k change.

I think he said in real terms. I think that means if the mortgage saved is less than the drop in wages, there is more money left for all the other costs.

Lorry1

Fair enough...but you moved to NB, they are moving to Ottawa where it is generally more expensive anyway.

Alan2005

Be honest now, houses are cheap where you live for a reason.

The poster wants to go skiing. In BC 4+ acres within 2 hours drive of whistler with a house you'd actually want to live in would set you back around $1M.

BristolUK

But I was answering the post that said

And I think the point about "real terms" still stands. Just less obviously so.

I highlighted what the proceeds of a crappy old 2 bed terraced house could buy in NB. Others are, no doubt, selling a higher value home the proceeds of which would be used in parts of Canada not as cheap.

Plenty of folk on these forums have highlighted that they can do a lot in those places with the proceeds of their UK homes. It's not just Atlantaic Canada where Brits are mortgage free or relatively low mortgage.

I'm not sure what you think the reason for cheap housing here is but I'm willing to bet it would be based on the usual misconceptions.

YoshiPal2010

The average house in, say, Halifax appears to be around C$25000). At today's exchange rate, this works around 155000 Pounds Sterling. Methinks the original poster is either very rich, in which case why would he want to move to Canada -- he could probably find a nice lifestyle in the UK -- or he is living in a dream-world. I don't imagine a ordinary person coming from the UK at this time, and probably under 40 years of age, would have that much money in house equity (he could, as mentioned, be indepentely wealthy, but )like I said, WHY?) For the kids, perhaps?