Canada Bound - of family, dogs and horses

Welcome to... er Canada?

I'm way south in Texas, what part of Canada are you moving to?

I too really enjoyed the opening ceremony of the Olympics in London. I loved the ceativity and comprehensiveness. I sure wish I was there too!

It has been a while since I posted because we have now packed up and left our (old) home and are staying at my parents in South London. Suitcases.....

Leaving the village was, astonishingly, all a bit of a rush. An outsider would have thought that I was leaving everything very last minute, but the truth was that living with a six year old who is a perpetual motion machine, I had no choice but to leave the packing of the suitcases until the last morning. *My lovely neighbours stepped in again, and helped me pack, clean, and exit.*

I have been surprised - touched, at how many tearful goodbyes have been said. The world may be getting smaller, but when we live our lives with daily face to face contact and support with our friends, we all know that in reality the Internet is not a substitute.*

So, down to London for a week. *Ooh, we have packed it in. *Shopping, Harry Potter Studios, regent Street, Olympic Show Jumping, lunches, dinners, drinks. *My parents have been fabulous and we've enjoyed our week. My 86 year old dad is as fit as a fiddle and alert as ever. He's done most of our trips with us. My mother finds moving around very hard now, but is mastering the iPad like a pro. They're both being very brave about us going, but I think tomorrow might be hard.

Son is less unsettled now - he's had the stress of 'leaving', and we're now very close to being back with his daddy. Today he spoke to him on the 'phone - for the last couple of months he's refused to speak to him. *Not out of anger, but I think because he couldn't handle the emotions of Daddy being away.

To Heathrow Airport tomorrow. We fly executive class because the company is paying - it's surprising how much of a difference that makes to the travelling experience of a 9 hour flight. 6 year old son is actually looking forward to the flight. *And I think I am too.

Thank you. My small person read his book for the whole time - he deigned to watch the Brits though

Just west of Edmonton, Alberta.

Hope you have a smooth flight, and friendly immigration officials

Executive class, sigh, lie and tell me it was horrible, save me keep hankering for an upgrade.

I'm fairly certain your midair at the moment as its nearly noon, but safe trip and when you land in Canada, stop and get a Timmies hot chocolate and apple fritter on behalf of me please!

I am so excited! It's ten past five in the morning; I've been awake since three o'clock, lying in bed listening to the silence and contemplating everything, and now I've given up pretending to be trying to sleep and have got out of bed to explore the house and plan for the future.

Our house, garden, home, fields, woods everything are so beautiful. Even though I was tired and disorientated and frankly petrified about the enormity of the step into the unknown that we had just taken, as soon as we arrived I knew that this was the home I've been waiting for all my life.

Let's take a step back though to the flight and arrival. Yes indeed travelling executive class does make a nine hour flight a whole lot more bearable. In fact - both son and I were looking forward to the flight rather than dreading it. Champagne, nice food, movie, sleep, cups of tea-a-plenty, lovely helpful stewards and stewardesses all came together to keep both me and son happy and comfortable. [Note to Golden Horse - I made all that up, don't worry it was horrible, rubbish movie choice, uncomfortable beds, plastic tasting food; give me economy any time] Then we arrived, and we got through immigration (irrational fear that they wouldn't let me in pushed to the back of my head), collected two trolleys worth of suitcases, and through the gate to find husband who was there to meet us. Hurrah, together again! Big sense of relief for me - I've spent three months as a single mother in a very stressful period so to be back as one of a pair is good, and huge and apparent feeling of relief and joy for son. Then out to the truck: my lovely, big, shiny, chunky truck. I am so happy to see it! It's a Dodge Ram for those that know about these things (for all Europeans reading this I can't even admit to the size of the engine, nor to the fact that it's petrol not diesel - I dread to imagine the damage I do to the ice caps every time I start the engine.)

On the way from the airport I was suddenly and massively scared. We were driving across a continent in which I have no friends. No support network. Nothing. Yes, my husband is here - but he's already got his job going - he has colleagues, he's settled - I've got all that to come. Yes, I know I can do it but for that 25 minute drive I was scared.

Then, then we reached home and yes it is immediately Home. As quickly as the fear hit me, so it went away. I think basic human security requires these things - Family safety, a Home, Friends, your own things about you. For that short drive in the car, I only had my family - and I was worried as hell about how son was feeling - but as soon as we arrived home, that pillar of security dropped into place and I knew that the rest would follow. Strange isn't it?

So here I am drinking tea out of a picnic thermo-mug in an empty house. So much to do - dog food to buy, furniture to receive, house to arrange, boxes to unpack, vet to register with, horse to buy. I am SO EXCITED!

Welcome to Canada, hope that you have a really settled and happy life here, it is a great country to live in.

That irrational "will they let me in moment" happens to everyone I think, I think my son John will be having the same thought on Thursday, he has been here on a visitor Visa, then on work permits, but last week got his permanent residence status, so he has flown to LA to get his paperwork, so when he enters again on Thursday, once he clears immigration he will be 'safe'


Glad to hear it, I wont feel so bad back there in cattle class next time I fly out.

I'm looking forward to reading your journal as you settle into your new country.

Long time no see! Ooh it's been a busy week, and I'm now writing this under the influence of half a bottle of champagne, so please forgive the typos.

The furniture has arrived, and all boxes have been unpacked, with the assistance of the 'unpacking crew'. The house is now full of randomly placed furniture and ornaments; one room is 'finished', that's the living room. Also the kitchen is done, but of course will be rearranged over the course of the next six months or so. Son's bedroom is finished but in his joy at seeing his books again, he has taken almost all of them off the shelves, and they are now on the floor.

I have driven my truck; first around the property (son riding in the back waving his plastic sword), then into Edmonton under the supervision of husband. I like driving, and I'm not intimidated by cities at all (learnt to drive in South London) but after the day driving in and out of the city I was exhausted. Really, the driving is so easy because the roads are all sooooo straight with the occasional 90degree turn, it's just the road junctions, and different signing that makes me have to think at all times.

I have mastered the sit-on mower and had a ball driving it around. Husband (he who does not like practical jobs) loves using it too!!! It can do big fat weeds by the barn as well as the lawns, so I like it a lot.

The dogs arrived - yah and failed to live up to all expectations of running off immediately. They are dead happy here in doggie paradise. Rufus the shaggy one keeps on getting in the pond (I'm not a big fan of that) and Chica the lurcher keeps on barking at the squirrels. I am surprised and delighted to report that they are not in the least bit bothered by the coyotes howling at night.

We have visited the local feed store twice, and (as well as purchasing things) have received a vet recommendation and a number for a pig farmer who might be able to sell me a half pig- and hopefully a couple of weaners in the spring. I have learnt that when I say weaners (meaning baby pigs), the locals hear wieners meaning sausages. Hmmm.

The fence guy comes round tomorrow evening. At home, fencing is costed at materials plus labour. Here, the local one-and-only-fencing-firm seem to charge it at 'how much can you afford?'. So luckily, we have been given the number of Fencing Guy Who Used To Work For Fencing Firm. We need a few repairs to the paddock fence, plus some elec fencing to keep the doggies in.

I need to get a trailer and have been receiving some advice on this forum - thank you all. Maybe next week when husband had gone back to work, son and I will go out trailer shopping... Eeek! A trip out on my own!

Compared to Shropshire, trailers are a lot more expensive. And different. And spread out further.

Tomorrow, the opening of a bank account

Oh - I haven't mentioned the exploration of the Canadian supermarket! Save that for the next gripping installments.