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!!!