Just Joined

Hi all,

I am a TO native who's just (officially) moved to the Telford area.

Any others around this area?

Hello and welcome to the UK..I'm afraid I'm not in the Telford area but wanted to say hello.

I arrived about 8 months ago from Vancouver. Now living in the south west country side.

Hope all is well.

Also welcome! I grew up just down the 401 in Waterloo County and often love visiting my family in T.O.
I have been in the UK now for 11 years. This year is my 11th and my last.
republican

Thanks to both of you.

Yes things are going quite well. Tough transition in a lot if ways, but I tend to be a bit of a chamaelion so I adapt relatively easily.

Sorry to hear that you are returning to Canada republican. It isn't the same country you left behind. I hope you won't be as disappointed as I was last month when I left.

It has become very americanized. Prices have gone stupid. The only thing that remains cheaper than the uk is gas (sorry, petrol).

Property - expensive. Food - expensive. Beer - expensive (38 dollars for a 28 pack of canadian) If you smoke - forget it. $8.50 a pack.

Property tax has also caused a lot turmoil. Average on a 3 bed property in the GTA is over 4000 a year.

And throughout, wages have risen, but not by as much as would be needed to compensate completely. (keep in mind that the minimum wage is still under 7 an hour.)

Anyway, just venting.

Thanks again and best of luck.

Regards,

Pete

Are you serious about those prices? And here I thought that living here in the UK is extortion!

However, I can say that buying foreign DVDs is still quite cheap. We don't have the same sort of multi-culturlism thing going on here as we do in Toronto and DVDs are loads cheaper there.

So how do you find Telford?

I'm in Birmingham so I'm not a million miles away.

Hope you're settling in.

Hello Pete,

TO sounds like an expensive place. I still intend to take an empty suitcase with me when I go back to BC for Christmas. I find buying clothes here particularly painful so I splurge when I go back. It can't be helped.

Hi czappy,

I've joined as well. Actually I just found this website and forum while looking for Canuck stuff on the internet.... feeling a little homesick at the moment and craving Canadian things, Canadian conversation, Canadian culture, etc...

I'm from Vancouver Island, BC and have lived in the UK for nearly 3 years. I'm not near Telford but I thought I'd say hello.

Yeah things are pretty expensive out there-I visit home at least once a year (actually I am planing a trip home for Thanksgiving). The truth is, I know Canada ha changed-a lot since the early 90s but as far as I am concerned one thing has not changed. That feeling I get whenever my plane lands in Canada, or when I can see the CN tower from outside the window. Seeing my Cousin and going down to Elora to seemy Grandmother. These things and feelings ar still the same as they were all those years ago. Canada is my home-the UK is not.
I will be going home in October-I'm so exitedI am booking my flight tomorow!
republican

Hello again,

Republican, I know exactly what you mean when you reminisce about the place.And yes, it IS home. I know the longing everyone has for their real home: ie the place they were raised. I feel it too. While Telford is a great place to live, it doesn't compare to being able to hop on the subway and hit my favorite cheap chinese lunch place on Dundas west. (Honestly, the BEST chinese in toronto. Not much to look at but the food is 5 star and you get change from 6 bucks!)
Or even the fact that cars will almost always stop and wait for you to cross the street, even if you're not really supposed to.
Enjoy going home republican. It really is a feeling that can't be beat. I wish you all the best mate.

Thanks, I will enjoy going home-I just booked my return flight today. For me it is odd, I moved when I was very young and have actually spent a year more in the UK than Canada. Yet, I feel a certain connection with Canada, maybe its because my family is there, maybe its because I was born there I'm not sure.
Ahh the Chinese on Dundas is great. I am not into Chinese food much but wow T.O has some great places! I also always like Pizza Pizza when I'm there.
BTW Two Pints, any time you want some Canadian conversation let me know, I'm always up for some Canadian conversation!
Oh one other thing could you please type republican with a small r? The reason is that a "R"epublican is some one who likes the US Republican party wheras a "r"epublican is someone who supports a democratic Canadian republic.
Actually, just call me Ben
Ben