Our first week

Well, what a packed first week we've had. The first few days were filled with the boring admin type stuff of registering for Alberta Healthcare, SIN numbers, car hire, driving licences, appointments with our bank manager to sort out bank cards, savings accounts, credit cards etc, and shopping for basic food supplies and other essentials such as a hairdryer!
We also reminded ourselves of the areas of Okotoks and quickly decided that we really want to live up on the ridge to the north of Sheep River. Crystal Shores or Drake Landing for us! (and we're veering towards Drake Landing at the moment).
We've tried to keep the boredom in check for the children by interspersing the mundane jobs with more interesting things such as trips to local restaurants, the trip into the city, to the movies, etc but it's been a little dull for them so far.

Yesterday we decided that as we plan to live up on the ridge, and we're currently renting up here anyway, we may as well bite the bullet and get them into school. Jaz has been desperate to start for the last few days although Jake is less keen (no surprises there then!). So we went up to Dr Morris Gibson elementary school yesterday afternoon and enrolled them. They start on Monday but are going to visit their teacher this Friday and take a tour of the school.

We live too close for the school bus (which they are gutted about) so they will need to walk about 15 mins. It's a nice walk with one main road to cross - and here's the difference with back in England - they will walk by themselves. It's not cool for your parents to walk you and not really considered necessary here. Even 5 year olds walk by themselves, cross the roads etc. Here in Canada, the pedestrian is king, and when we tried the walk out yesterday, the traffic just spontaneously stops to let you across at any junction! I've never experienced anything like it. It's going to seem quite alien to us at first to just let them go, but there is something really nice about it too. It is like going back in time to when I was small, when you could play out for hours without supervision. All the subdivisions (housing developments) here have very strict speed restrictions and there isn't the paranoia of 'stranger danger' at all. Nevertheless, we will walk with them for the first day, then up to the main road on day 2, then they're on their own! I've been drumming it into Jake that he needs to take care of his sister, hold her hand across the road etc, so fingers crossed he takes it on board - you never can tell with Jake!
We've got a mortgage pre-approved now, so we start house-hunting in earnest over the next day or so. It's more expensive up here on the ridge as the school has a fantastic reputation so it is a desireable area. We will have to compromise on the size of house that we were considering as we don't want to overstretch ourselves before we get jobs sorted. Neil is already being offered jobs in sales! He's not sure it's for him, but it might be a starting point until he finds his niche. Once the kids are in school, we'll have time to start writing resumes and job hunting in earnest.
Here are some photos of us at Princes Island, on the Bow river just north of downtown Calgary. It was darned cold (-4) but a beautiful place, and we enjoyed the afternoon sunshine, followed up by a lovely hot chocolate!

We're here!

Well, we've made it! We 'landed' in Calgary at 8pm local time on 5th November.
Gary and Lisa drove us to the airport (thanks so much guys) and the farewells were hard - as we expected! After tearful hugs and promises to see each other next year we waved them goodbye. As we sat in the airport lounge, and then aboard the plane, I started to have my 'Oh God what are we doing????' thoughts. I was warned that it would happen by those who've been there and done it before us, and wondered when it might occur. I don't think it helped that I was so tired after very little sleep the night before. The nerves really started to kick in as we taxied down the runway and I felt really sick. It took a few hours before I began to feel more human again (a little nap helped) but by the time we were over Greenland I think I'd sorted myself out!
The flight was good, and the whole 'landing' process was really smooth and uneventful. All the immigration officials were really friendly and polite 'typically Canadian!' and put us at our ease. We made it through to the exits within the hour and Ian and Jayne were there to meet us and give us a ride to our apartment.
The apartment is a 'walkout' in Fiona and Terry's house in Drake Landing. It is brand new and gorgeous! It has everything we need for now and is very comfortable. Jake and Jaz are particularly impressed with the real flame fire that automatically turns itself on and off to keep the heat regular! We all had a good night's sleep and woke up raring to go!
There was a snowstorm as we landed on Wednesday which excited the kids no end! There's not much by Canadian standards but enough to get Jake and Jaz excited! Our first full day dawned bright and sunny with crisp white snow-covered rooftops around us - better than another grey English autumn day any time!
We packed a lot into our first day - registering for Alberta healthcare, Social insurance numbers, driving licence applications, car hire, new simcards for our phones, and an appointment with our bank manager at RBC - not to mention a trip to the pet store to buy our cat Domino some goodies for her arrival on Friday!
Lots more to do over the next few days, including shopping for a car (test drives - yippee!) and a meeting with our mortgage advisor before we start house hunting. The children have been really good so far so we also need to reward them with some treat time - maybe a trip to the cinema or the ice rink is on the cards!

We're off!

I can't sleep, so I'm up at stupid oclock in the morning writing this instead. After 3 years to the day that we sent off our application to become permanent residents of Canada, we are finally going!
I can't believe this is really it. We've waited so long and now it's finally going to happen...today!
I'm feeling quite emotional - probably because I'm not sleeping well at the moment. Lots to miss...but lots to look forward to.
I think the airport goodbyes will be tough today. We went to Gary and Lisa's for farewell drinks last night and I started to well up! I'm rubbish! They are taking us to the airport today as we thought it best not to have family there. We aren't going to say goodbye - just 'see you soon'. I really want to thank everyone who's been wishing us well with texts, emails and Facebook wishes over the last few days. My phone hasn't stopped beeping! Love you all xxx
I think we'll be over our weight limit on the baggage but I don't really care any more. I've done so much packing and sorting and have got it down to the bare bones of what we need.
The last few days have been a bit fraught. Neil has been quite stressed with all the final letters, phone calls and arrangements for our departures. The children have been fantastic really. They have managed not to kill each other in spite of sharing a small room, having no toys and no space to call their own - this is progress! Maybe once they have a big house to run around in, they might appreciate it more...who knows.
So, looking back at the last few months since we received our '90 day letter' back in January, it has flown by. We've achieved so much in such a short time. I'm so relieved we managed to sell the house as now I think we'd have no chance in the current financial climate. We've seriously de-cluttered our lives and feel the better for it. We've also really begun to appreciate the value of friendship, and appreciate each other more as a family. I think, in spite of the stresses and strains of emigration, we are closer than we've ever been.
Now I'd better go, as I've finished my Lemsip (getting a cold....lovely!) and I've still got a few bits and pieces to do before we leave. My next post will be from Okotoks! Our new home...sounds so strange!

Family farewells

Last night was our chance to say goodbye to our families. We had a lovely evening at Pinocchio's restaurant in Bournemouth. The whole family got together for the first time in ages and everyone had a really good time. Lots of holidays to Canada were planned for 2009 and Jake and Jasmine had a whale of a time with the cameras taking shots of everyone.

An evening of goodbyes

Last night was our leaving party in Swindon. It was a chance for us to say farewell and to thank all our friends for being so fantastic. Since we moved to Swindon 15 years ago, we've met so many wonderful people and there's no doubt that one of the hardest things about emigrating is leaving them behind.
A good night was had by all and there were very few tears - which was our main aim! It was a chance to celebrate friendship and have some fun. We sincerely hope that just because we are moving a few thousand miles away, we will carry these friendships with us and keep them alive in the years ahead. So many have promised to visit us - we can only hope that they keep their promises! We would love our friends to see the beauty of Canada through our eyes, and hopefully understand what has made us decide to make it our new home.

Last day at work

Well, it's the end of an era. After nearly 13 years at Brook Field Primary School, I've finally left! I never really thought the day would come.
I've been so tired over the last few weeks, not helped by rampant insomnia as my brain ticks over with my 'to do' list. I've been longing to finish, just so I can focus on the move....however...when it came down to it, it was one of the hardest days of my life.
I went through every emotion possible yesterday, and used up a whole pack of tissues! However, I didn't cry quite as much as I thought and was quite proud of myself for not becoming a jibbering wreck!
Now, I'm still looking around for work to do. I've never been in a situation where I've not had school stuff to do and it's really weird. I keep looking at my school bag, only to realise that there are no books in it to mark, or planning to sort out, or assessments to do. Weird...but nice weird!
In spite of emotions running high, it felt really good to have so many lovely messages of support and know that I will be missed, and that I have made a difference to some young peoples lives. You put in so much to a teaching career - your heart and soul, your time, dedication, everything - it's a good feeling to know that some of it is appreciated and valued.
However, now it's time for ME! I'm really looking forward to some family time, a chance to say yes when Jake or Jaz want me to do something with them, like play cards or make stuff, instead of my usual answer of 'in a minute, Mummy's busy with this', or 'maybe tomorrow, I've got to do this work for school first'. That's a good feeling!

We move out

On 2nd and 3rd of September. We moved out of Exmoor Close after nine happy years there. It felt very unsettling and was quite an emotional experience for both of us.

Luckily the children went to Neil's parents for the few days leading up to the move, and the moving days. I think this was best as Jasmine is finding the whole emigration idea a little traumatic at the moment.

Robinson's did a fabulous job: Jim, Steve and Aaron were packing demons and attacked each room like bubble wrapping machines! Their motto was - if it doesn't move, pack it up! - we had a few close shaves with unexpected things going missing as they cut a swathe round the house. Our documents got swept up and buried in a box but luckily we were on the ball and rescued them in the nick of time!

We both felt very weird as we watched the lorry drive off on Wednesday afternoon with all our worldly goods aboard. We know we won't see them again for at least 12 weeks. The house suddenly felt very empty and ....not like our home!

I went off to work the following day knowing that I wouldn't return again. The final few belongings we have left are going with us to our rented house, before we sell them on or dispose of them in time to fly off on November 5th. I couldn't bear to return that evening to say goodbye. I would get too upset. When we bought Exmoor Close back in 1999 I remember thinking that I would be there forever and it was our dream home. Funny how a few years changes your feelings and horizons. I have loved it though. It is a beautiful house and we will always have some fond memories of it. I hope the new owners -Craig and Kelly - are as happy there as we have been.