Hi everybody, we're back!

I would like to thank you all once again for the support you have given us following the death of my MIL, It was a bit of a shock to hear of Ruby Murrays situation too!

As you all know the reason we were back in the UK was the funeral, but I thought I'd post our observations too.

The Funeral was held on the only Sunny day we had and it was lovely, I almost lost it while singing all things wise and wonderful - the first song after the coffin was brought in, but managed the stiff upper lip bit in the end! We even all held it together at the mud slinging bit The coffin was lowered very quickly - before we has all got to the grave so that was a relief.

As anyone would, we worried about FIL - the parent left behind, but he is doing OK and has even bought himself a brand new car to replace the written off one. There is still no indication of what caused the car accident though.

Now we felt we were forced back to the UK, as we had no intentions of going for at least another year and spending all that money going somewhere we didn't want to go...well you know what I mean.

We wondered what our feelings were going to be, being back in the UK after nearly 3 years away, we wondered if we would have any regret, longing, homesickness so it was a bit scary. None of it! There was no regret, no pangs nothing but the feeling of we did the right thing in moving.

I was there 9 days, hubby 14, we had sunshine once and one other cloud filled dry day. The news was depressing, the traffic was horrendous (over 2 hours for hubby to drive to Heathrow to pick us up - only 33 miles). Litter was everywhere and people pushing and shoving to get to places and shop staff who didn't give a rats arse - I was looking at cream cakes in Asda and was shoved out of the way by a shelf filler so he could reload the shelves - and I mean shoved with the box of cakes he had. And everything seemed damp, inside and out, I mean really damp and cold too. The first few days I couldn't get up the stairs without wheezing and I'm fitter than I have ever been thanks to Curves and I don't have asthma so that was a bit scary. Parking was a nightmare and you had to pay everywhere you went to park.

On the plus side Fish and Chips were yummy, so were the kebabs from the Silver Jubilee in Potters Bar - the bloke that owns it makes his own from 20 lamb shoulders and salt and pepper - that's it and then he cooks it well so the meat is a little crispy on the outside - YUM. We brought back 66 quids worth of sweeties and OXO's The jam doughnuts were disapointing though, not what my taste buds remembered (and we tried two lots).

We went back for the worst reasons, we will only go back for the worst reasons from now on. Our home is Red Deer, Alberta and this is one family of immigrants that made the right choice for them

Now I must go and walk my wonderful doggy who I have really missed!
Piff

Welcome Home Piff!

Wow .... it doesn't seem possible 2 weeks have passed!

Welcome back Piff.

I am glad the funneral went as well as can be expected.

Glad your trip went, even under the sad circumstances. Pleased to hear that it just confirmed you made the right move. Hopefully life can settle down for you now.

Welcome home, Piff.

Thank you for the update.

I'm glad for you that your trip worked out all right, and I'm also glad for you that you feel as if Canada is home.

Nice to hear of your experiences. Sorry to hear about MIL.

Welcome home, glad all went well. XXX

welcome back piff poff

While you were away I noticed in an earlier thread that you had lived in Bedfordshire at one point. So did I. Went to school in Bedford, and then much later lived in Leighton Buzzard. I wondered where you were ,, for some reason my keyboard wont type a question mark, i just get an É I am being terrorised by keyboards

Wow what a welcome!

Yep Batty we moved here from Bedfordshire - Biggleswade to be exact, however I went to school in Harlow then later in Cambridgeshire, didn't move to the delights of Biggleswade 'till I was 24ish.

Ah yes, Big Les, wading, across the river. So we never met in a previous life!

I don't beleive so - I think we would have a right laugh if we did meet up though!

Well done Pif Pof pleased it went as well as can be expected,
why didn't you shove him back pushed him into his cream cakes
Bet your dog was pleased to see you, ours go daft after a trip to the shops
Hope the food was good, pleased you feel Canada is the right choice for you and your family, good to have you back on here,

Welcome back piff poff

I lived in Leighton Buzzard for a while and have happy memories of 'tiddly tuesdays' in the Roebuck pub

Welcome "home" Piff.
Hope Hubby is doing fine. It's a funny old time after one loses a parent, but it gets better, just let it take it's time.

Rob.