Originally Posted by curleytops

Two years ago today I came home to England. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by, it seems like yesterday.

At times it shocks me that when I think of what I left behind to return I realize it's my family and a couple of old friends I think of much of the time and not Canada. Actually, in retrospect I find I have thought very little about Canada and realize I don't miss it at all and I've detached myself from it very easily. Being back in England I have a sense of contentment I had not known since childhood and I feel like things are finally how they should be.

That's not to say that the past two years have been altogether easy either. Hubby and I were married two months to the day of my arriving back in the UK but we had a few not so great issues to deal with as well. In the first few months both he and I had what could have been potentially serious health issues and I noticed my arthritis got considerably worse living literally right on the English Channel. This had a knock on effect with my mobility so I have not been out and about since being home as much as I would have liked to.

Shortly after my husband finally got his doctor's ok to go back to work he was made redundant and we knew if he was to continue in his chosen profession we would in all likelihood be moving. That was a big blow for all the usual reasons but also we now found ourselves trying not to get too attached to our new surroundings in Kent. After embracing it with so much optimism and hope for the future, I found I was detaching myself from this new place that had held so much promise for us. It hurt looking at our lovely old flat and the beautiful sea front knowing that we would likely have to say goodbye to it - the big questions were when and where would we end up? In the months that followed, hubby ran an exhausting rat race all over the country in search of work with seemingly one disappointment after another. He worked a couple of contracts in different areas and commuted home for weekends over several months. Keeping two sets of accommodation going and the time out of work exhausted our savings but eventually last August hubby found himself with two permanent job offers to choose from. We chose North Yorkshire over Oxford because we had a chance to enjoy a lower cost of living near the coast and closer to our home town in the northeast.

We packed up and made our move north at the end of October and we're both very happy in North Yorkshire so far. Because of the mobility problems I've had with my arthritis I've not been able to explore my surroundings as much as I'd have liked to and consequently I feel like I'm still settling in over here but we are both optimistic about the future. We've had more than our share of adversity thrown at us over this past couple of years but we both agree it has served to make us stronger. I don't for one minute regret my decision to move back to England. For the first time since childhood I feel like I truly belong somewhere and that I can finally be myself again.

I can't say there has really been anything that has really bugged me over here, just a few minor annoyances but I feel if they are the worst of it then I'm way ahead of the game. One thing I try not to do if possible is compare the price of things between here and North America. Lots of things are cheaper here but some aren't and there's just no point in losing sleep over it. The way I see it, I'm here so what does it matter what something costs over there. I can live with not having a decent sized shower and those annoying pencil pleat curtains and in return I get real fish and chips, beautiful countryside without a deluge of mosquitoes and black flies as soon as the weather gets nice, a temperate climate, the list goes on and on...but most of all I've got my very best friend here beside me - a pretty great husband! It's also been wonderful getting to know family and old friends I've not seen for years all over again. All in all, I think this move didn't work out too bad at all.

Good luck to all of you yet to come - I hope your move turns out as happy as mine has

Originally Posted by curleytops

Thanks to all of you for the good wishes.

WhoFan - Thanks for the tip on the Comfrey cream, I'll have to pick some up and give it a try. I've been taking glucosamine/chondroitin for a few months now and I think it's really starting to make a difference.

Miss Betty - Not been to Betty's yet but we're looking forward to a visit to Harrogate very soon. Love the troppo thread btw and glad to hear your escapades are keeping your spirits up. Hubby's always asking "has Miss Betty been up to anything good lately?"

tina111 - Hi and welcome to BE
I didn't have a house to sell when I left Canada so I avoided any issues on that score but there others here who can keep you right there. I haven't actually filed a final tax return as last year's (2011) was filed business as usual. I had already filed my 2010 return before I left and opted not to apply for the GST rebate. I still have a small RRSP in Canada along with a couple of bank accounts but there's not enough left in them to generate T5 slips. I've left them in place and kept my Cdn. credit cards to keep my credit rating active over there. I've yet to look into what's needed re a final return so I'll let you know how I make out. As for opening a UK bank account, they want to see a passport and proof of residence ie a utility bill or council tax bill. When I came over I was added to my husband's current account at Lloyd's TSB (he vouched for my UK address) the morning after I arrived with my passport. There are quite a few posters here who have used HSBC accounts to make the transfer who can give you pointers on that. Best of luck with your move!

It occurred to me after reading my original post that my feelings toward Canada may have come across as negative and I just wanted to add that I don't feel that way at all. I must say I had a decent life in Canada for which I am grateful and for the most part I was reasonably happy there most of the time. It does offer a lot of opportunities for many and indeed I look forward to going back for visits. Canada will always have a special place in my heart...it just never was home.

Originally Posted by curleytops

Two years ago today I came home to England. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by, it seems like yesterday.

At times it shocks me that when I think of what I left behind to return I realize it's my family and a couple of old friends I think of much of the time and not Canada. Actually, in retrospect I find I have thought very little about Canada and realize I don't miss it at all and I've detached myself from it very easily. Being back in England I have a sense of contentment I had not known since childhood and I feel like things are finally how they should be.

That's not to say that the past two years have been altogether easy either. Hubby and I were married two months to the day of my arriving back in the UK but we had a few not so great issues to deal with as well. In the first few months both he and I had what could have been potentially serious health issues and I noticed my arthritis got considerably worse living literally right on the English Channel. This had a knock on effect with my mobility so I have not been out and about since being home as much as I would have liked to.

Shortly after my husband finally got his doctor's ok to go back to work he was made redundant and we knew if he was to continue in his chosen profession we would in all likelihood be moving. That was a big blow for all the usual reasons but also we now found ourselves trying not to get too attached to our new surroundings in Kent. After embracing it with so much optimism and hope for the future, I found I was detaching myself from this new place that had held so much promise for us. It hurt looking at our lovely old flat and the beautiful sea front knowing that we would likely have to say goodbye to it - the big questions were when and where would we end up? In the months that followed, hubby ran an exhausting rat race all over the country in search of work with seemingly one disappointment after another. He worked a couple of contracts in different areas and commuted home for weekends over several months. Keeping two sets of accommodation going and the time out of work exhausted our savings but eventually last August hubby found himself with two permanent job offers to choose from. We chose North Yorkshire over Oxford because we had a chance to enjoy a lower cost of living near the coast and closer to our home town in the northeast.

We packed up and made our move north at the end of October and we're both very happy in North Yorkshire so far. Because of the mobility problems I've had with my arthritis I've not been able to explore my surroundings as much as I'd have liked to and consequently I feel like I'm still settling in over here but we are both optimistic about the future. We've had more than our share of adversity thrown at us over this past couple of years but we both agree it has served to make us stronger. I don't for one minute regret my decision to move back to England. For the first time since childhood I feel like I truly belong somewhere and that I can finally be myself again.

I can't say there has really been anything that has really bugged me over here, just a few minor annoyances but I feel if they are the worst of it then I'm way ahead of the game. One thing I try not to do if possible is compare the price of things between here and North America. Lots of things are cheaper here but some aren't and there's just no point in losing sleep over it. The way I see it, I'm here so what does it matter what something costs over there. I can live with not having a decent sized shower and those annoying pencil pleat curtains and in return I get real fish and chips, beautiful countryside without a deluge of mosquitoes and black flies as soon as the weather gets nice, a temperate climate, the list goes on and on...but most of all I've got my very best friend here beside me - a pretty great husband! It's also been wonderful getting to know family and old friends I've not seen for years all over again. All in all, I think this move didn't work out too bad at all.

Good luck to all of you yet to come - I hope your move turns out as happy as mine has