There's no place like home, whether it be Canada, the US, Australia or for some lucky people like us, the UK

Yep...and i have a brilliant dentist and doctor too, how's about that eh

Well I haven't got around to them yet (luckily for me!!) but I am sure they are out there just waiting.........

Just found out today that chemists here deliver your (free) prescriptions to the house bound elderly for free!! How good a service is that??/

Thank you Nu-shooz. I'm looking forward to rarely (hopefully never) discussing the merits of living in Canada or the UK again.

I'll be very glad to get home with hubby, the 4 year old, the dog, and the new baby. Can't bloody wait.

I watched David Dimbleby's Picture of Britain last night on Ireland and Scotland. Wow. I toured Ireland a few times as a dancer and LOVED it. My husband is from Edmonton and he saw the ocean for the first time (up close and not from a plane) in Ireland. He said it was the most beautiful and incredible place he's ever been, literally took his breath away. They were stood on a cliff edge risking life and limb...y'know 19 years old....invincible! And I remember being in Donegall and a fog came in so thick I couldn't see my hand in front of me. So cool! Anyway, a trip to Ireland is now a must on our return home. Yipee. This time I won't just see the inside of a theatre!

I love how happy you are to be back. Very reassuring.

That's so great. There is MUCH to love about Blighty.

My Mum LOVES her free bus pass and her rail card. She's so chuffed she can hop on the bus and not have to fiddle with change bless her. The car sits in the garage most of the time. She only uses it to take out the really, really old dears on her street shopping. Bless.

And Tescos will deliver crates of wine to your door. Now THAT is service!

Sorry...just thought...are you in Ireland or am I getting you mixed up....or are you from there but living somewhere else? Have I lost the plot?!!!

Nu Shooz lives in the county of Yorkshire...the one that is nearly as nice as lancashire...lol....

Just read your post about Ireland...never been but I just watched a film on Sky T.V and the scenery was breathtaking...you should also try a trip to the west coast of Scotland....especially Gairloch...it has the most fab. beach would not look out of place in the Caribbean.....G.B does have spectacular coastlines but we do not "bull" it up enough like other countries...and we should...here in Perth there is not a day goes buy when you do not either read,hear,told just how great Aus and espeically W.A....it's good in some ways but it can be overkill and a bit brainwashing.....so maybe we should do that but is smaller doses....and I also do think we should also make it "harder" for migrants to gain benefits etc...just to stop people from thinking the U.K is an easy touch..here in Aus..you cannot claim anything from the government for the first two years (might be more now not sure) you can claim child benefit depending on what visa you have....

Hilarious.

Lilly don't stress...if someone likes/ loves a place and you don't then your never really going to agree....my compaints here in Perth are for me very valid, to some it would be just I'm a "moaning so and so"....lol....I just told a "friend" here that I have to wait a week for my sons appointment at the docs. they said "just go to another practice and get an appointment sooner" now I could do this and maybe get an earlier appointment but I am of the old fashioned.."like my doctor to know my family history etc" plus I do know people here who do this and get medication all over the place...seems to me to be a "drifting" kind of lifestyle but each to their own, anyway that would be my gripe but my friend does not mind doing this at all.......and facts...I do not take them to seriously, facts can be very flimsy at the best of times......living your life how you want to is the best fact of all...if you know what I mean....

Not just crates of winebut food shopping as well...my Dad did that when he was not well....bless he did not want to bother the family....I also ordered my xmas pressies from Marks and they were gift wrapped to a very high standard and delivered in time even though I ordered my items with only a few days to spare....

I'm going to Manchester next week for my sisters birthday...whoop whoop

I think we're each talking about our own experiences and making that clear, as you are, though I did just post something to show other aspects of Vancouver Island, so yes, we should be careful to be clear about exactly where we're talking of.

What you say is great. Do you find that typical in Vancouver? I suppose that means that Vancouver is more attractive to doctors than Victoria. Victoria's not exactly a rural area of low population, but the difficulty in getting a regular GP there is well known. The natural consequence of that is little choice, and that often the ones accepting new patients aren't usually much good unless they're new, or new to the area.

I've made it clear all the time that I wasn't desperately unhappy in Canada and like and admire many aspects of it. It's always been an option to return if we want to, and the idea doesn't bother me. But I think it's worth pointing out some of the downsides because people do read here to see if they want to emigrate to there.

For the record, if you have a good doctor in Canada, the standard of care is generally excellent. I can't compare it to the NHS as I haven't needed much here and hope that continues.

Bev

Well, now I know you're not in Ireland. Hilarious. What was that about!? Have fun in Manny. I love St Ann Square and the Marks and Sparks outlet in Salford Quays. Lots of high quality but very cheap knickers!!!

I so agree Bevm. When I finally did get a doc I have had nothing but very good treatment. I saw my O/B this week and didn't even have time to read one article in Star magazne in the waiting room. I was straight in. Gutted!

The hospital is poorly equipped here but that's how the majority feel not just me. It's under review to tear the whoe thing down and get a much larger hospital that will cope with the level of demand. However, I too am happy with it apart from NO TUB for mothers in labor. To me that is madness......

I know and thank you. It drives me nuts that you make one critical observation (even when you like a place...I have little to complain about here other than I'm a little bored and miss home) and the 'Canada is so great' committee swoop in and will not and can not here it. Drives me nuts. But I am very pregnant and obsessing that there's no tub at the hospital and they won't support a home birth..... Aaaggghhh.

There is plenty to moan about everywhere but I think I've been lucky to live here for a few years and I'm lucky that I can go home. Those poor pioneers in the 1800s didn't have that choice!

I'll chill out now and not get too tetchy. Sorry all. x