Originally Posted by Timbit (Post 9068107)

Hi Mandy
You didn't say how long you have been in Canada. I moved back to the UK after being in Canada for 30 years!!. What a culture shock. It took a while for me to get back into the UK way of life and accept the way they do things here. I found the whole process infuriating and incompetent.
Fortunately I was on my own so the issues I had to deal with were mine and mine alone. Having a family presents you with many hurdles to jump. Life here is good but only if you have money and a good job. Life in Canada is FAR BETTER especially for your sons. The UK is a violent nation within the cities (I know as I was with Manchester Police before I retired 3 years ago).
Gasoline is the equiv of $2.20 a litre, car tax annually $500 per year, yearly MOT $100 plus insurance another $400 per year. and that's just for having a CAR.
Jobs are tough to find here and there are massive cut backs presently by the Government with many losing jobs. If you are over 50 finding work here is tough and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Housing costs here are astronomical compared to Canada and renting is also expensive. Housing in London is the equiv of $500,000 for starters and prices go up. Renting a home for 4 would run about £600 ($1000) per month outside London.
I moved back as I say on my own and had a job to come to. I was lucky.
Don't get me wrong, I have no regret moving back as I live in a small cottage near the sea in Cornwall but away from all the crap in the big cities.
I do miss Canada and visit twice per year to Toronto to see my family.
Do yourself a favour, think hard about moving back to ol blighty. Ride the wave and take my advice...stay in Canada...you are far better off trust me and your son's deserve their Canadian upbringing. You are a nurse and work should be easy for you. In the UK you would have had to keep your UK RN registration up to date to work here.
Have a Tim Hortons double double for me will you?

Originally Posted by Sally Wilson (Post 9088165)

How right you, we have followed the same path. I lived in Canada for a number of years, also live in Cornwall, UK and have been here for sometime, but I have to say I am considering going back to Canada again now that my family have grown up. I find the country sadly in a financial mess and as you say it is very expensive to live here. For Mandy though as her profession is in nursing, I believe she will always find work in the UK. This is a long topic, so I think I shall stop here!

Originally Posted by Cumbrian Lass (Post 9094707)

well i have read everyones thread here and it seems like the UK is the most favourable place ,although there are lots of pro's and con's for both Canada and the UK.
We have been in Canada for 10yrs and are seriously considering going back to the UK.Although i have never been home sick,i have felt very unsettled for some years now.However my OH has always wanted to go home.We, like lots of others dont find the connection with the people,there is'nt alot of things to do unless you have a pocket full of cash,there isnt any cheap flights to fun places,we find the people very fake,although we do have some genuine friends too.We dont regret for one minute the experiances we have had here,but we think its time to go back and be close to family and friends.
We have a 13yrs old son who we worry about,but we have lots of friends that have gone back recently too.They all say it takes about 3 months to get adjusted again.After that they say there are no worries and there are no regrets moving back at all.
We have the house on the market,and in the mean time are wondering where to move to in the North west .Maybe Garstang,the lake district or Lancaster ......what do you think????