Ye gods.....

Steve where have you been ??

I've thought a lot about moving back over the last few months, to the point where maybe 3/4 weeks ago I actually had mentally committed to the move. Now I'm not sure. Depends what the next few months of life bring...

Nowhere.
Since my wife left me in January for a Canadian builder person, and my son has taken up with a floosie in Toronto and my daughter has decided to stay with her new husband in England I live in the basement on my own. It's a big basement mind you, 4 large rooms, I play snooker and visit the gym equipment now and again. But mostly I drink and sleep. My compuer is upstairs which I get afraid to go, unless it's at night. I had some bread delivered which is why I'm up here now. I'm having my last jar of marmite.

The loo's in Wigan that used to be the local Gay pick up area were converted into a 'flower shop'

Sharon

I think my maxim is largely true, but not exclusively so . A good job helps people settle, but some will not settle anyway, it just wasnt what they expected, or its just not for them. If you dont try, you wont know.

As far as steves list goes, Im about 50:50 on it (Red is me, blue isnt)

I think one of the most important things to bring with you is an open mind and a lack of preconceptions about what it will be like once you are here.

One very important thing to remember to bring with you is your sense of humour.

Some seem to leave it behind in the UK.

If one cannot laugh at ones self or see humour were there is apparently none then he/she may be doomed to failure.

Spooky - I visited Wigan a number of times over the years. (Relatives in Orrel and Standish.)

That is spooky, maybe you should research other places that you have visited that have had a public convenience turned into a place of business

Spookier, I live near Standish and my bessy mate lives in Orrell.

Can anyone else hear the tune to the twilght zone ?

I think it depends on many factors, one of which is how your old life compares to your new one. If Canada has improved aspects of your life and lifestyle beyond all recognition, then I couldn't imagine wanting to go back. If like us, you had a good life in the UK, and have a good life here, then other things come into play.

We never set ourselves a time scale. We always said we'll see how it goes, and its all gone so well, but here we are, STILL thinking about going back.
What it comes down to is the fact we are English, living in a foreign country.
We didn't realise just how English we were, didn't appreciate that who we are and what we are is so deeply linked with the country we grew up in.
We miss lots of little things, that in isolation seem silly, but lump them all together and they become a much bigger issue.

The crazy thing is, that if we did go back we would also miss lots of things we have here, lots of really lovely and fantastic things, and thats why its so hard to get your head around it all. If things had gone badly here, then it would be a much easier decision I think.

Glad to see you posting on here again R2D2......I've been wondering how you and OH have been getting on following his homesickness last year. Obviously, those niggles are still with you.....I'm totally with you on your views about our Englishness and more so, about when you combine all those "little things" together....they do seem to override the pro's of staying here (in my case they do anyway). But my OH won't budge right now, so I'm the one on a megga downer....probably because I know I'm not going to get my own way on this just right now.

Good to see you again

Ruby