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!!!