Unlike many, I'm a great believer in not only asking for advice but considering it in detail also, so here goes, this is my little question.

Me and Mr Miggins, after 4 months apart, sorted ourselves out when he arrived back in the UK for a couple of weeks and know that we want, more than anything to live a normal 9-5 family life, for the first time ever. I have bought a house here in my name, he owns the house in Canada, he's got a good job in Canada, that will soon mean that he's home for 10 days after every two weeks away, unlike the three weeks away and 10 days or so at home.

So here's the thing, the house in Canada has not sold, he's not been there to keep on top of the realtor and it's dirt cheap as it is, and can't Welist it with a big drop in price as he's not there to manage viewings etc, even then he can't get rid of all the Canadian house stuff etc to the best of his ability as he's going to be totally time constrained. He also needs to sell a car and box stuff etc, while at the same time trying to get some time off work or possibly fly back to the UK to visit us, yes, as you can see we are in a bit of a fix there with just how many hours are in the day.

My thoughts were, to go over with the kids to sell the house, pack up and spend as much time together as a family as possible. My reasoning for this is saving money, family unity and the fact that I am working full time here, but wouldn't over there and I would be there to pick up the kids and drop them off and they would at least have one full time parent - as now I really feel that they are missing out with me working full time. They are fine with the idea as long as the puppy comes and they both decided to go to back to their old canadian school rather than stay at home and have me home school them, the lad has said he's excited, the little lady is fine as long as she has her hairy little friend. In the meantime, I can work back at the local college tutoring during the school times, get the house sold and have us all return as a family, back to our house in England, back to original schools as there are a few places left in each of the kids classes and back in to our new life. They were at school in England here for 8 weeks and settled in grand with good school reports, but like many immigrant kids, I think they have good social skills which just means that they get on with stuff. Kids are more resiliant than we often give them credit for.

It's a big step, but one that I need to get on with soon due to the new school year. I have the means of paying for everything here, and still having a life and us being financially ok over there, I was going to start looking for a new job anyway, and have only a weeks notice to work as it stands. So the question is, do I stay here and wait it out for God knows how long (and we all know the Canadian housing market doesn't exactly boom in the winter) or do I get back and get it sold, and at the worst of times still get to see the aul fella who, in reality wouldn't get to see very much of us at all if we stayed here, still have lots of time with the kids and walk away with the best we can financially while knowing that we are at least all on the same continent.

Over to you guys.......I'd like to know your views, it's a big decision with lots of little variables!

Thanks and hope you are all keeping well
Mrs Miggins x

Sorry things aren't working out as you'd hoped. All I can offer is that you shouldn't worry about the kids if you do decide to go back to Canada to sell up. In general, kids a lot more adaptable than adults often give them credit for. A bit of chaos in their life won't scar them - it's only really a bit of travel with the possible added bonus of a few days off school here and there! It's not as if their parents are getting divorced or anything. So don't worry about them, just concentrate on doing what you feel is right for your family.

Secondly, this thread should be a cautionary tale for anyone who's thinking of emigrating and immediately committing to the millstone of a property and mortgage before they're confident they're going to stay. Renting for the first year or so gives you flexibility, as well as time to settle down and start seeing things as a 'local'.

Hope things work themselves out. Good luck.

I don't know if I agree with this. Ping poning across the Atlantic for short periods is not the best way to proceed in my opinion. 3 months here, 3 months there (if the house sells) sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

to the OP - How badly do you need to sell the Canadian property? If there's no real desperation, why not just change your realtor and get one that works for you. They will receive a huge commission for relatively little work (as acting for you, they have it listed and will no doubt market it). It sounds like you are settled in the UK so why not stay where you are, let the family "bed in" and let the "professionals" do their job.

we bought pretty much immeadiately in the summer of 07 so yes, I would agree that what we should have done was rent, that was a defenite thing that I would have changed about our situation.

I hear what you are saying about the ping ponging across that atlantic, but this would be a one time deal only, as there is also a house to pack up, car to sell and all the shipping side of things. Plus, if it takes an age to sell the house at least we can see the OH as he is still working over there, otherwise it could be very sporadic when we get to see him, and then unlike the schools here, the canadian system doesn't mind the odd afternoon off to catch up. Here potentially he could be coming back to see us, but we would all still have to go to work and school. Plus, it's a huge pressure on him to do on his own as well as work away. If it does take an age to sell the house, at least we will spend time together as a family, while knowing that once it does sell, we have a home to come back to in the UK.................

Although AC, I love the use of puntuation in your post concerning the "professionals"

Any more views will be read and appreciated, thanks guys xx

OOh Blimey missus!!

Well -I would say go back and get it sorted, sold etc. . .but dont forget if you take the pup it will need rabies jabs and then the blood test and wont be able to comeback to uk for 6 months after the blood test date - just in case it all sells really quick! well technically it can come back but will be stuck in a quarantine kennels!

bloody good point there lady! thanks for that, so going out is fine, it's the getting back in that will be the problem!!!!!! Righto, I hear ya there!

Just found out that the kids places are all ready to go at school......now just to the rest of the stuff lol! I have a standby sitter at a friends kennels for the wee fella, so that should all be good!

Thanks for that though xx

He will need his rabies jabs and fit to fly certificate to get out . . .

to get back in he needs a blood test taken at least a month (dont quote me - check defra) after the jab which has to be sent off for special testing to show that the jab has "taken" ie there are enough rabies anti bodies on him - some times they dont take - I have read on here that pees have had both dogs done t same time - one blood came back fine and the other was too low - so had to be jabbed again . . .but v rare.


You can have the test done once you get back to Canada but remember the 6 month date STARTS from when the blood is taken. . . . they can then come back into uk after that date, or come back in before that date and spent rest of time in Q kenenels.

Once the bloods have been done and show ok anti body levels, as long as you keep the rabies jabs up to date you dont need to get it done again.

I would say stay put and get a new realtor to sort it out.You can ring/email the realtor every day from UK just as easily as you can from Canada

Who knows what will happen if you come back, will you decide to stay? Will something happen that forces you to stay? What if the kids decide that they don't want to go back to the UK?

Too many 'what if's in going back -- to my mind.

mmmm I hear ya! Although I have to be honest, my mind is made up, just spent another day thinking about it, so it's just logistics now

Thanks for your input peeps, I was kinda hoping that I might have heard from anyone who's gone back for a short period of time.

Mrs Miggins x

So....what was your decision? I was just about to post that if it were me I'd want to have my (whole) family together and would definitely go back to Canada for the duration. (Obviously not going to say that now though, since you 've already made up your mind! Hehe!!!!)

Yep, that's pretty much what I have decided. Windy Lethbridge, here I come

Mrs Miggins x

If you decide to stay or come back for a spell you know that you have a few here in town that are there for you
You already know i wont be here for a few weeks, but i sure know one lady that will welcome you back with open arms

Whatever you decide let us know, i am off to the westside today for a coffee morning

Good luck
LB

thanks lady, god this has all been much harder than I thought. All the best to you and your guys over the next few days x

I know you've already made up your mind.

And from your orig post it's seems that the most omportant thing is to spend tme as a family with the "auld fella."

Since that's the priority then I'd let everything else "hang" on that.

Good luck.

I got da kettle on girlie cos the coffee pot broke lol