It's all go!!!

I can't believe its almost October already. It has been chaotic here over the last few weeks. Firstly there was a whirlwind trip to Rome for hubby's 50th. It was sooo hot mixed with dramatic thunderstorms. Had a great apartment within easy reach of the Vatican. The bus system was so easy but we still walked for miles and had blisters to prove it. The kids were great...not one whinge even from the youngest one! We checked out the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Basilica, the Sistine Chapel (boy that was the longest walk ever!!!), we ate ice cream beside fountains and ate pasta in small squares whilst being serenaded. We bought delicate cakes which were as good as they looked, had coffee that could have stripped walls and drank great wine that was cheap as chips. The flights were a doddle although the airport facilities smacked of Greece 1988!
Then it was eldest ones turn to leave home and head of to Northumbria University. He seems to have settled in really well and is loving it....really proud of him! He texted yesterday to say he'd done his first clothes wash...didn't mention if he'd dried them though lol!! So the house is a bit different without him but we're all coping well :)
On the document front....one of my employers has lost my employment record...I've a good mind to name and shame them!!! Luckily I have some evidence in the form of P45/60's and a few payslips. I'm also not too dependant on them, its my other employer who really counts. On Saturday they sent me everything I needed...copies of contracts, job descriptions and a covering letter stating that they could confirm that I had carried out the job criteria for NOC code 4131 which is a huge bonus!!!! The Police checks have also arrived back...obviously nice and clear lol!!
And finally yesterday I submitted my final ECA for the MAODE!! So that's hopefully the end of two years of studying....just need 40% for the ECA to pass overall and the results will be out in December. Open University have just sent me my next group of students which will be my last before moving to Canada :( I'll spend next week doing the last of the photocopying and waiting for the last employment reference and then hopefully we can send it all off a month earlier than requested.
Now I'm planning for quite a few trips over the next few weeks. Middle daughter has a geography trip to the Lake District on Wednesday, youngest is off on a trip with the school to London...she's seeing the London Eye, 10 Downing St, the Lion King musical and a whole lot more. Then the three of us are off to Canada for 10 days!! Once back the middle one is off to Scotland on a Geology trip! She has now decided to do her degree in Cinema Studies (film) instead of Geology. She'll still study at St George Campus in Toronto though.
So I reckon that's about everything for now......

Busy, busy, busy!

I have no idea where July went. Hubby has been at home for the last couple of weeks (his actual booked holiday!!) so we have been having a clear out. I cannot believe how much we hoard. I've ran out of the times he's take stuff to the skip but you can now fit the cars into the garage...yay!! I have gone through every bit of the paperwork that we have kept in files and boxes....most useless but some crucial for immigration. The spare room is now fab...just as well as hubby's sister arrives the day after tomorrow! And the playroom is clear enough for the kids to play on the pool table. All the guttering has been washed and I've painted the back door. We have someone coming to view the house in a couple of weeks who's desperate for a large bungalow he can blitz.....but I know there's every chance he may not like it or it may be too pricey!
On the documents front....we've found all our education certificates... hubby's were in his safe place but he couldn't remember where that was, turns out it was a cupboard at the back of the garage...where else!! We'veboth ordered sealed transcripts from our Universities (7-10 working days), I've contacted all my past employers so can now send off reference requests and we've just sent off to renew the 10 year old's passport as it runs out next March and I don't want to have to land before then!! I've got my mother trying to work out where I've lived since 18....couple of hazy years where I'm not too sure of exact addresses and dates but she's pretty good at that sort of thing. Hubby is sorting out the police checks as we speak or as I type. That leaves the forms to fill in...ta for the advice on that David (Sadshirt)... and a cover letter to explain how I've calculated the points. I'm soooo pleased I started looking for all the documents months ago...hubby scanned them and has now printed them all off and they are safe in a file awaiting their next move. I thought collecting up all the documents would be my worst nightmare but I've actually really enjoyed doing it...having 120 days has helped ease any pressure mind!
Eldest has been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden increase in activity regarding the move. He's not too sure Canada is for him and was a bit worried that he'd move there after Uni and not have any friends. We've reassured him that no-one is going to make him do anything he doesn't want to do and if he decides to stay on in UK then we'll back his decision but for now we want him to just enjoy the adventure of being at University. All of us being scattered globally isn't what we'd envisaged at the start of this move but we'll make the best of it and its only temporary :)

Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well after 2 years of waiting to hear from the Canadian immigration we got a 120 day letter this morning!!!! It's all the more brilliant when you think of how long they said it would take them to get to us.....42-48 months!
They simply want copies of everything, nothing notarised and work history 10 years prior to original application up to present day....brill!!!
Told hubby when he got in from work and he was more excited than me...if that's possible!! Celebrated by taking the 5 of us off to see Harry Potter....lacked a good fight scene but otherwise pretty good!
So we have until November 17th 2009 to get all the documents back to London including the Police checks...should be straight forward I hope!!

My mymuchmor blogs!

When I heard that mymuchmor was shutting its website I decided to try and log in and save some of the blogs that I have posted on there over the last two years. I thought these would be another reminder of this immigration journey. Some of the later posts have already been posted in this blog but I wanted to keep these together so I'm posting them again! So here they are.....

Countdown
(9:25 PM on Thursday 16 August 2007)
Sent off the 'simplified' application forms to the CIC at the end of May in the hope that we could emigrate to Ontario in 2010. The AOR arrived in July and we were gutted to find that the CIC would not contact us again for another 42 to 48 months! Well no good moaning......there's nothing we can do but wait .I work in further and higher education mainly teaching psychology and early years. I've already started job networking by contacting colleges and universities and have made a couple of good contacts so far. We had really wanted to live in or around Collingwood where we have friends but due to the lack of jobs we may need to be nearer the cities.

Holiday booked
(10:02 AM on Monday 20 August 2007)
Well I've just booked 3 weeks in Ontario for next year. We are going to use it as a fact finding mission to see which areas we like/dislike. We'll also check out travelling distances for potential workplaces. It may seem a bit mad as we're not due to emigrate for a few years yet but the plan is to make this one of the last holidays to Canada and then concentrate on holidaying in UK and Europe as we will probably never be able to do that again once we've landed. This will be our 6th visit to Ontario ........our first was almost 14 years ago. We decided to make it 3 weeks this time to coincide with Collingwoods Elvis Festival where Elvis impersonators from around the world converge on the town....I could well regret this (I'm not a big Elvis fan and my youngest child doesn't know who he is!) but I'm told its brilliant! :-)
We are going to stay in a small town near Collingwood. We've stayed there before and have made good friends there. There's great shopping in nearby Barrie, loads of eating/coffee places in and around Collingwood, not to mention it's right on the lake and obviously surrounded by beautiful countryside. There are loads of activities for the kids (I have 3) such as sailing, tennis, canoe races, hummer tours and glow in the dark bowling (locals take this very seriously and frown down on us noisy amateurs!)

Mymuchmor
(2:02 PM on Monday 15 October 2007)
Well I can't believe it's been 2 months since I first signed up to this site and boy has it grown. It feels like we've had to build an extension to the 'home' to accommodate all the new people joining everyday. Since the first day I feel like I've been a part of everyones journey....from those thinking about going, to those like me in the 'process' of going , to those who've finally landed. It's been a roller coaster of emotions so far, some ups and quite a few downs and I'm sure there'll be plenty more to come but there's always someone with a sympathetic ear .....you know who you are and ta for that! It's become part of the daily routine to check the site, chat to pals, look at everyones photo's/websites/blogs. It 's what keeps me going by making me and mine feel close to Canada even though there's still a way to go till we get there!
I'm still being very practical regarding the wait....well there's nothing you can do about it is there, so me and the kid's have decided to pretend that we're in the UK on a 3-4 year twp!

Mad or what?
(4:43 PM on Thursday 7 February 2008)
Although we are not due to land in Ontario until 2010/11 we have the opportunity to buy a new build in our chosen town of Collingwood! My best pal lives on the estate and the thought of being within staggering distance of her BBQ was a big incentive! Also as she has introduced us to the developers we get $500 each
We are now deciding which model to buy and when we go out this July we'll sort out tiles, units and any upgrades. It looks like the builder might be happy to leave building our home till last as we're in no rush to move in. Can't decide if we're mad or not but as there are limitations on the choice of new builds going up in Collingwood this may be the best thing for us. The school is at the bottom of the road so our 8 year old will have friends close by and all amenities are also very close. However there are a few 'hidden' costs to consider which could make it too expensive. A finished basement knocks up the Canadian equivalent of council tax and if you want a plot that's not overlooked there is a steep premium to pay! Ruled out older properties as the electrics etc are in need of overhauls and we'd just like to move in and be done. So emails are now flying across the pond between us, the developers and my pal Sophie!! Am keeping my fingers crossed!!

Modernising immigration procedure??
(6:34 PM on Monday 17 March 2008)
Well I read this on CIC and felt a bit deflated:
Amendments to Modernize the Immigration System.
On March 14, 2008, the Government of Canada introduced legislative amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to modernize the immigration system, to ensure that families are reunited faster and skilled workers arrive sooner.One of the challenges facing our immigration system today is the large number of people waiting in the queue. This is especially a problem in the skilled worker category which makes up most of the backlog.Under the proposed measures, Citizenship and Immigration Canada would have greater flexibility in processing new applications, especially from skilled workers.The legislation is intended to provide greater flexibility in addressing a range of labour market needs. It will not apply to refugees and does not affect our objectives related to family reunification.Ultimately, this will result in reduced wait times and improved service. It will also help manage the growth of the backlog of applications. Once passed, the new measures will apply to applications received on or after February 27, 2008.Those who applied prior to February 27, 2008, will not be subject to the new measures and will be dealt with fairly under the existing rules.
Does that final sentence basically mean as you were, you're no better off? Should all of us who applied last year reapply?(lol!!!).....think I'll just leave my application where it is!!

Simplified Skilled Worker Application
(10:36 AM on Saturday 24 May 2008)
Well those of you who know me know I have my little moments of blind panic and here's today's!!
Browsing another site (I should know better and leave well alone!!) I came across this very recent discussion thread (and supposedly reputable source) regarding processing times:
CIC only reports average processing times for cases completed (visas issued) in reported period. Thus, whatever London time lines are stated they are for cases submitted between 2003 and 2005, well before introduction of simplified application form (Sep 2006) and implementation of the policy to expedite process of cases with arranged employment and PNP certificates. Those cases are processed now within 3 to 10 months (reported time lines of course don't show it) and are taking majority, if not all of available visa quotas in SW class. As result simplified applications are being pushed farther and farther - expected 5 to 7+ years wait for request for full application package from London for those who submitted only simplified forms between Sep 2006 and Feb 2008 is very optimistic and I won't be surprised if such wait for many will exceed 10 years or so. As for those who submitted simplified forms on or after Feb 27 2008 - if tabled amendments to the law pass then some of them (those with occupations in high demand) may wait just a year to few years longer than applicants with PNP or arranged employment, while most with occupations not in high demand will have their applications returned without processing.It then goes on....
As of September 2006 only applicants with PNP certificates or proper arranged employment are eligible to submit full, standard application packages........... And they are being processes with highest priority - within 3 to 10 months.Applicants without PNP or arranged employment can only submit simplified application form (it is not a full application!), unless they are eligible to apply through Buffalo.Then they wait - first, highest priority and first available visas from annual quota are given to applications with PNP or arranged employment, second priority and any remaining visas are given to pre Sep 2006 full applications . As for now none of applicants who submitted simplified applications to London were asked for anything and if trend continues they won't be asked for anything for at least 4 years from application date, maybe even not for 5 to 7+ years.
So I'm more than happy for someone to tell me that there is no need for panic and that my simplified application will be processed in the time I was stated (42-48 months). Or am I wasting my time and need to find Canadian employment and fast??!

Finally off to Ontario...well for 3 weeks!!
(9:35 AM on Thursday 10 July 2008)
Well we're off to Collingwood on Saturday for 3 weeks holiday or as my kids now say...we're popping home for 3 weeks!! It's part holiday part research trip. Looking at houses but probably won't buy...good excuse for a nosey look around though.
The eldest two are looking at Universities in Toronto and Guelph. Although we're not landing for a while yet its an opportunity for them to see what the Uni's are like. I now fully understand why Canada and USA do 4 years for an honours degree compared to UK's 3 years. Canada's education is very broad and UK's is narrow. Therefore UK students enter Uni at a higher level so only need to do 3 years. This doesn't mean UK is better...its swings and roundabouts.... a broader education can often be more advantageous. At the end of the day everyone comes out of the degrees at the same level.
Really looking forward to spending time with family and friends that we haven't seen for over a year!! Just hoping the weather will be kind ....can't be worse than here surely?!
The kids have a huge list of things they want to do and see but not sure if 3 weeks will cover it!! Hubby feels its his duty to check out the golf courses so I'll take that as my cue to go shopping!!! We'll take loads of photos to put on the site when we get back. I've very little Internet access while away so may not be on here much. The downside is I still have to take work with me to do....no rest for the wicked eh!!!
Just wanted to say good luck and all the best to Sadshirt and his family and Britchick and her family. You'll probably both be landed in NS and Saudi by the time I get back....keep in touch and of course I'm jealous of you both (ha ha!)

Holiday update!
(6:16 PM on Friday 18 July 2008)
Finally arrived after an 8 hour flight on a very small Thomas Cook plane. Dark when we landed so tense 2 hour drive to Collingwood! Really worried that we would arrive and all or some of us wouldn't like Canada and decide to remain in UK. Can safely say we all love it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now in holiday mode. Been meeting up with friends after not seeing them for over a year, visiting the usual haunts. Kids are playing tennis everyday as the weather is great....huge thunderstorms through the night though!Have viewed some houses and are undecided as yet! My only Internet access is the local library which is really nice so that's ok. So here's to the next two weeks and I know we'll be dreading having to leave and return to UK, but we'll be a little bit closer to the final move...hurray!!!!!!!!

No Way!!!
(10:58 PM on Friday 25 July 2008)
Well we're having a great holiday still! Have been to Owen Sound....you're town is really nice AmandaUK. The Elvis Presley impersonators have descended and there are some pretty dodgy ones I can tell you!!
We went to Toronto last Friday which was great. My eldest looked around the Art College and loved it. After a great lunch at the Pickle Barrel we went to the Worlds Greatest Bookstore. Whilst deciding where to start my 16 yr old daughter headed to the dvd section and saw a man coming towards her. She stopped.... he stopped..... they made eye contact..... unsure what to do or say she wandered off. She turned the corner and there he was again.... same thing happened. She came and stood behind me and nudged me. Meanwhile this man was right behind us. I was so busy trying to get the 8 year old to her book section I completely ignored my 16 year old. I got them all onto the escalator and apparently she looked back and saw the man then leave the store. At the top of the escalator she turned to me and said...'Mum why didn't you turn round, David Beckham was right behind you?'..........No Way!!!!!!!!!!!!

Research trip
(5:49 PM on Tuesday 5 August 2008)
Well we're back from our 3 week holiday/research trip to Ontario. This was the first time we'd been since putting in our application and it felt very different.....more like visiting home than a holiday destination!! Many of you already know this but I can't state how important networking is when you're out there. Luckily hubby plays golf.....got lots of info from a cardiologist, policeman and a fireman! If hubby had been a hospital doc instead of GP the cardiologist would have hired him there and then!!!! The fireman (Wayne) gave great info on the nearby towns to live in. We had looked at Orangeville but not felt comfortable...Wayne said it was a 'small' town that doesn't take well to strangers. Angus was an army base so a no no for us. Apparently Uxbridge is meant to be fab just outside of Toronto. Alliston was fab but relies on a huge Honda plant which if closed would result in a ghost town....of course that may never happen. We're now looking at Barrie at the moment as its only an hour away from Toronto so ok for commuting. Collingwood is actually more expensive than the city and 2 hours from Toronto!!!
Our youngest, now 9, had been unsure about the move but now loves Canada and can't wait to live there! The eldest 2 are now aiming for Uni in 2010 though they may have to go as international students......covering the costs by hubby staying on in UK for a year or 2 and he'll be flying in and out....just have to make sure he meets the PR requirements of 3 years out of 5!
So so far so good and we're still on track fro moving hopefully in 2010 when the middle one has completed her A levels!

Getting nearer!!!
(3:12 PM on Tuesday 21 October 2008)
Well it looks like CHC are now beginning to process the last of the old skilled worker applications..... so hopefully it won't be long before they start on those of us who applied under simplified skilled worker!
It'll be interesting to see if they slow down at all once they start processing them....hopefully not much will change which means that with our AOR being July 2007 we may get to hear from them earlier than stated.....dare I say even at the end of next year....hey one can hope lol!!!!! Guess we'd better get the documentation pulled together!!

Verification.....yeah!!!
(7:47 PM on Saturday 25 October 2008)
The person on BE has finally verified that they are indeed one of the first Simplified Skilled Worker applicants....hurray!!!
They've somehow got an August 2006 AOR rather than a September one but its dated for the end of August so that may be why.
They did indeed receive a standard 90 day letter asking for all their documentation.
Feels like a huge leap forward.....roll on 2009!!!!!!!!

All change again...perhaps!
(10:28 AM on Thursday 13 November 2008)
Well the plan in the Northernlass1 household, as many of you know, was to try and land in 2010, youngest to start local school, eldest two to go to University in Toronto and hubby to stay on in UK for two years and fly in and out (due to work/financial commitments). The eldest at 18 is completing a diploma in Art at the moment and was then going to take a gap year before starting his degree in animation. He now thinks its too long a wait and is unsure if Canada is really for him. So he may now start Uni in the UK in 2009, fly to Ontario for holidays and then see how he feels about it. He may decide to transfer to Toronto or he may stay in UK. He'll land with us to activate his PR and we'll just go from there!
So it now looks like it may be just me and the girls living in Ontario to start with.
Not quite the way we planned it but this way everyone's needs are met and it's only temporary after all! I know there are many on this site who have had to make huge compromises/sacrifices in order to get to Canada....some have hubby's still in UK, some are doing jobs they did many years ago rather than their present day job, others have had to change provinces, others have had to change routes of entry and so on....so I don't feel that I'm alone in this, it's yet another challenge to tackle

Pre Feb 08 vs Post Feb 08
(8:43 PM on Sunday 11 January 2009)
Well I've been in this queue for over a year and a half now and I know we won't get a 90 day letter until this summer at the earliest....so I'll be honest and admit I felt a tad rattled seeing post feb 08 applications being processed less than a year since applying. Had we known we could have waited and applied Feb 08 as I have 2 jobs on the list of 38 and hubby has one!! Its not the applicants fault but its hard to watch what feels like queue jumping.....
Now before you all start messaging me that I'm not being fair to the post feb 08's I have had a long hard think and I reckon I've actually gained more by having this long wait. I signed up on this site when there were only about 20 members. Wobblyknee and I would 'put the kettle' on at 10am and send a couple of emails of support....wasn't much else to do on here in those days!! Our wait time was given as 42-48 months in July 2007 but I've always known we would land in 2010 as this was our goal....to be fair we never wanted to go before then really but if the option presented itself we would have taken it!!
I've watched many people land via PR, TWP, PNP, Spousal visa etc. Some have remained on the site while others have gone. I've spent the past 18 months researching Canadian immigration....I know it sooooo well now but have no idea about the UK's! The time has definitely made sure that we know that Canada is the right choice for us....otherwise we'd have definitely given up by now!! We've changed where we want to live in Ontario twice, we've had time to save financially, have had time to take further qualifications now we know what Canada wants from us which is why I have 2 jobs on the list. We've had time to make amazing contacts both through mymuchmor and emailing colleges and Uni's...never thought I'd have a University Dean as an email pal!!.....and have created a support network for when we land. The time has also enabled our kids to get used to the idea of moving and the older two have been able to make decisions that are best for them regarding higher education. Family have had time to come round to the idea after initially being horrified and refusing to say the word 'Canada' for 6 months!!
I've had amazing support from you guys on here and am sending you a huge Thank You... you're all brilliant!!
So am I still miffed at not being processed as quick as the Post Feb 08's..........nah........I wouldn't change the experiences of the last 18 months for anything. I wish everyone good luck with their application.....honestly I do!
Tracey

Hello Spain, goodbye mymuchmor!

I've just had a fantastic week in Moraira, Spain. Temp was 30C+ every day and the villa was brilliant. Hubby stayed Saturday till Tuesday but he managed to chill out anyway. We basically laid by the pool every day relaxing.

I read Emma Kennedy's 'The tent, the bucket and me'..sooo funny...I swear she was describing all my childhood holidays on varios dodgy campsites in stinking hot tents! Did no work at all on my Masters....got soooo much catch up to do now that I don't know where to start! Have to say EasyJet could not be faulted....brilliant there and back!! Also big thanks to Gold Car rentals who, although they laughed mercilessly at my dire parking (yep all of them at the window...I kid you not!), rang hubby in UK to say I'd left the Tom Tom in the car who in turn rang me at the check in desk so I could retrieve it. The office was full of Brits complaining about their cars....one had the nerve to turn up without actually going through the booking procedure in the terminal......so when I thanked the guy for the Tom Tom he looked so shocked and said he was so glad he could please someone today!!!
Whilst on hols I found out that mymuchmor the social networking site that I've been a member of for 2 years was closing down....its now gone:-(
Recently its been so hard to log on the mymuchmor site that I just haven't bothered much and have been using British Expats instead. I think that now the application process for Canada has changed there's not a lot that I can offer anyone so I've decided not to join the new muchmor social networking site. To be honest I haven't got the time. I had to join Twitter as part of my Masters and I spend quite a bit of time on there now. I can keep in contact with some of the mymuchmor people through their blogs so its not all bad.
So now its getting this Masters completed and passed...I've another assignment and then the final research paper to be submitted by September 27...aaargh!! I've got a new course to tutor starting this October as well as tutoring on one of my existing ones. Hopefully I can take time in October to enjoy the trip to Ontario with 2 of my kids....a whistle stop tour of Toronto University and Halls of Residences on St George Campus, viewing houses in Barrie and Innisfil, meeting up with pals!
Now just waiting for the 90 day letter which I reckon should arrive around the end of August!!!

Everyone's on the move!!

Youngest child broke up from school last Friday. It was an emotional day as the headmaster and one of the teachers who we've known for more than 10 years both retired. There were actually a couple of mums and teachers who came up to us to say goodbye thinking we were off to Ontario this July.....I wish!
Now busy packing before heading off to Spain next Saturday...bliss!! Promised the youngest she can have her ears pierced as she got 3 awards for schoolwork!
I've been extending the house search to include Innisfil and Stroud....going to check them out in October along with Barrie.
Still no 90 day letter but that's fine with us as we still don't want to land before July next year. We actually have someone interested in buying the house.....wants to view when we get back from Spain. Not holding my breath but hey you never know!!!
My Aunt is now selling up and moving nearer her daughters in Birmingham and my sister has just sold her house in Manchester and is moving into a rental there....she's bought a clapped out barn in Teesdale that she and her hubby are going to convert to a 4 bed house. It has the most amazing views and will make a fab family home. So everyone is on the move not just us which I think is great...makes it a bit easier for us to leave if things don't seem so set in stone!

June already!

Can't believe how fast this year is going and that we're in to June already!! The youngest only has 4 weeks left at school before breaking up for the summer. Middle one has almost completed AS levels and the eldest has passed his Diploma in Art so his Uni place is secure!!
We decided as we've worked solidly for the past year that we needed a short break. Booked a fab villa in Spain for a week in July......pool, airconditioning, internet access, outdoor kitchen, the works! Then hubby broke the news that he'd got his holiday dates wrong and he wasn't off that week after all....men!!! So now we're all flying out on the Saturday but he has to return to UK on the Tuesday night...oh well its better than nothing I guess!!
Going by Trackitt http://www.trackitt.com/canada-immigration-trackers/federal-skilled-workers/page/2 we should recieve a 90 day letter in the next couple of months....can't believe we're finally reaching this stage after a 2 year wait. I'm also loving the new countdown I've added to my blog....it may seem like a big number to some but less than 400 days is nothing to someone who's already been waiting 2 years lol!!!
I'm having major internet speed problems and it seems at worst when accessing mymuchmor or trackitt. So for this reason I'm not logging in much on either of them at the moment. I see the blogs have been blocked for private view only...that's a shame! Also had to remove my email from here as I'm being inundated with all sorts of bizarre emails...can't be bothered to log in and delete them each time. So I've moved important emails to my work account and for anyone else they'll have to use mymuchmor and hope I can log in!!

Update!!

Oops haven't been on here for a while!! Well my boss at the Open University came back and thinks I might be able to have a contract from October to June......yippee!!
Hubby has bought a new printer/scanner/photocopier and has spent most of today scanning all the documents ready to print when we get the 90 day letter....I've never seen him sooooo organised!!
As usual Canadian Affair have changed our flight times for this Oct and we're now flying out at 9.30am from Manchester...need to book an overnight stay at the Hilton now! The good thing is we'll land at lunch time and drive up Airport Road while it's light...really hope the trees are full of Autumn colour and the pumpkins are everywhere!! Going to have a really busy week...Toronto on the Monday, viewing houses in Barrie on Tuesday possibly with Sophie and Amanda, back to Toronto on Thursday and meeting Alistair for coffee and then Saturday we're having our first Halloween in Canada with Amanda and the kids....can't wait!!!!! That should leave us with a few days for shopping, eating out, cinema etc.

Finally told work!

Well today I emailed my boss and told her I was moving to Ontario next year!!!!! Although its over a year till we go the courses I tutor at the moment end in July and work is expecting me to apply to tutor the new course starting in October. Trouble is it runs till July and I may not be in UK then. Also there's the likelihood of the 90 day letter arriving this summer and I need a reference from work....they won't be too chuffed if I've applied for the new course then inform them I'm leaving and oh by the way can you write me a nice reference!!!
Still waiting for my boss to reply....watch this space!!!!

Update!!

Time for an update I feel. I recently rang Toronto University to sort out a visit and interview for the eldest daughter next April. The fab lady I spoke to said they don't interview...academic record is the decider. Also she has to apply this December at the latest and if possible should visit before then because there are 7 colleges she has to choose from to live in. So all change......flights for me and the 2 girls are now booked for October this year for 10 days. Hoping to look at schools in Barrie and some houses there as well as looking at the Uni in Toronto. My pals rental isn't available but I've found a condo in Thornbury which will be perfect and only adds about 15 mins onto the journey!

Eldest son was offered a Uni place in UK yesterday which is brilliant!!!!! It was his first choice Uni too. Even though he and hubby are moving to Canada for good until 2012 they are both getting excited about it now....about flippin time!!!!
The youngest ones school has been fantastic.....since telling the headmaster that were moving they've been keeping an eye on her, chatting about Canada so its part of her UK school life. They're also helping her to collect photos of her on school trips etc to create a memory album.

Keli-Ann is moving!!

I've actually only met Keli- Ann about 3 times in the last 2-3 years but she has played an important role in our family. She's an artist in Collingwood and she has helped my 2 eldest kids so much with their Art. She did a one to one lesson with my daughter that helped her towards acheiving an A* in her Art GCSE. She also helped my son to decide where he wanted to do his degree and let him spend a day drawing at her studio. So I was pretty shocked to hear that she's moving to Newfoundland where I think her family are based. Collingwood just won't be the same without her. When we first visited she was painting in a local cafe with the window bay as her studio. Then she moved over the road to the Fish Bowl still on Hurontario. Me and the family wish you all the best with your move and will miss you when we finally land and you're not painting in Collingwood. Here are some piccies of my daughters art influenced by Keli-Ann and here's Keli-Ann's website
http://www.keli-annpye-beshara.ca/ which is also on my Canadian links area

CHC are stirring!!

It appears that CHC may be awakening from their winter hibernation as the first 2007 applicant has received a 90 day letter....hurray!!!!!
Looks like we're still on track to receive ours this summer...a year or two earlier than first predicted!! Still pulling together the documents but almost done now......the last few bits have to be done last minute anyway eg references/ police checks etc. Now waiting for the return flights to open for April 2010 so we can get that booked up and that will hopefully be the last trip before moving permanently!!
Its back to full workload again...now studying final MA course. My two fab pals in Ontario have now met each other and are getting on really well...soooo pleased! Can't wait to get over there for a few get togethers lol!!
Have soooo much to do this year that hopefuly the time will fly by and it will be 2010 before we know it!!!

February

So it's finally February and although there's little movement from CHC those who were asked for 90 day updates seem to have sent them off so there could well be some movement in the next few weeks or so!! Just waiting for the first 2007 applicant to receive their 90 day letter.
I've just received my Post Grad Certificate in Online and Distance Education.........now just hoping I can get the Diploma too!! I start the final course on Saturday which will run through till October and then it's finished. I'm already worrying about how I'll manage without having some form of studying as I'm so used to it. Hopefully there'll be enough to cope with sorting out the move to Canada and then settling in to living in Barrie.

70th birthday and the start of the goodbyes!!

My dad celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday with a get together of his oldest pals. Many of these I've know since I was born. It was really great but I have to admit to a slight feeling of dread prior to the party. This was because I realised that it would be the last time I would ever see many of those attending. We all usually only get together every few years as well as sending xmas cards. But they've all had significant roles in my childhood and so I have a connection with them all.
Well in contrast to the horrendous reaction we got from family when we told them we were emigrating everyone at the party was brilliant. They fully supported our decision, never once questioned why we were going, they wished us well and promised to pop in for coffee if they were ever in Ontario! I left the party having been kissed and hugged to death but also knowing that there are no doubts whatsoever about moving to Ontario!!!!!!

Thanks to my fab pal Sophie I now have a realtor!!! Having chosen 2 schools that look promising for the youngest so we're focusing on houses around these 2 areas. Have also arranged for my 2 pals Sophie and Amanda to meet up as they live near each other. So they're having coffee in Owen Sound in the next few weeks but it does feel strange that I'm 3000 miles away and can't join them!!!

On the fridge front.. it finally arrived last Friday and is working a treat!!!

Fridges and houses........

Today the new fridge is arriving.....yeah!! So this means a bit of normality will finally be restored! Who'd have thought anyone could feel excited about buying perishable goods!!
Have decided to enlist the help of a realtor. We've been researching Barrie and the houses there and have an idea about where we want to be (Kingswood area I think!) but it's probably time to get a professional's opinion and help. We don't want to buy till next year and we may still rent at first but we need to decide on a school for the youngest child. We've looked at Algonquin Ridge Schools's website and it looked promising. So our next big plan/goal is to fly out to Barrie Easter 2010 so we can look at the schools and middle child can have an interview for Uni and also to check out Barrie again. If the visa's have arrived by then we'll also officially land at that time!!!!
In the meantime we are sending off letters to get a printout of all National Insurance contributions since me and hubby were 18. This will give us exact dates for CHC. My University are also awarding me a Postgraduate Diploma when I finish this present course as I won't have completed the Masters in time to submit that as evidence for CHC. At least it will show that I've done something post grad!

2009 and we finally get to say......

Since deciding to move to Canada in 2007 and then being given a 42-48 month wait has always been hard to tell people that we are emigrating and they then ask us when......when we've said 'oh 3-4 years time' they've looked at us as if we're mad and usually replied with 'oh a lot can happen in 3-4 years!!'. Well finally we can now say that 'we are emigrating next year!!!'
2009 looks like its going to be a really busy year for us....

• I'm finishing an MA course at the end of January and start the final one in February. I'm hopefully going to tutor a new course starting in October
• Eldest is doing workplacement with the British Council and possibly Love (advertising company). He's also starting University in October....possibly Northumbria
• Middle daughter completes AS levels this year and starts driving lessons
• Youngest daughter moves into final year at prep school
• My dad turns 70 and hubby turns 50!!!
• CHC should send the 90 day letter out in the summer.
• Should spend one last xmas with all the family

I spent last week finding documentation for CHC....just so we're ready. I reckon I must be a secret hoarder as I have kept past pay slips, P45's, P60's and job descriptions for the last 10-15 years!!!!

Caught hubby today looking at houses on MLS....looked promising!!!