Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. I have really enjoyed reading about your own experiences 😊 Now I will continue....
1982 onwards
In 1982 Graham was offered a good job in Toronto. We thought long and hard about the upheaval and the exciting opportunity for change, and he accepted the job. We went through the very lengthy emigration process, sold the house and most of the contents, and in June tootled off with the kids to Canada with a mix of trepidation and excitement. Our sole possessions were in 1 suitcase each. We moved into a rented unfurnished apartment on the 6th floor as a temporary measure whilst we got ourselves organised, and the kids started school just a short walk away.
After just 4 weeks Gray was laid off as recession hit the industry. We were devastated to say the least. He tried desperately to find work but to no avail. We could see our savings being chipped away so decided to return home. We already held return flight tickets as they had been cheaper than one way flights (thank God) so we had until the middle of October to wait it out. The weather was gorgeous. Hot, sunny and wonderful. We spent the summer exploring Toronto, Niagara Falls, The Science Centre etc spending as little as possible whilst enjoying all the experiences we could lay our hands and eyes on. We had the most wonderful summer.
In October 1982 we landed with a bump (in more ways than one) at Birmingham airport in chill, damp and mist.....
We managed to find a small semi to buy and began our lives in the UK again. This house was close to a good school for the kids and was cheap to run. Again, there was no central heating; a gas fire in the lounge and a tiny heater in the third bedroom which was over the garage and quite chilly. Winter was not easy! The kids and I walked everywhere. But Gray managed to find another job quite quickly and we saved to buy a better home. Four years later we moved to a lovely detached new build home not far away so that the kids could remain at their current school. We lived very happily in that warm, centrally heated house for almost 25 years.
Things changed again when, at the age of 56, Gray was made redundant from his job as a patternmaker. By then the kids had left home and bought their own homes so there was just the two of us to worry about. He went to college and retrained in Horticulture, becoming self employed for the very first time while I worked part time to make ends meet. Mum was becoming frail, demanding and difficult, and I was struggling to care for her, work and stay sane. It was a very difficult time.....
More in my next post if you can bear it 😊.....
Has anyone else upped sticks and moved to another country to work? How hard was it to settle in?
Thanks for popping in. Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,
Angie 💗
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Oh, wow, that must have been so difficult to move to Canada to accept a new job only to be laid off almost right away! Thank goodness you had a return ticket home! My parents and I immigrated to the US and it was very difficult, at first, for them to find employment. But, we managed.
ReplyDeleteIt was very difficult to accept Bless. The children had begun at primary school in Canada and loved it. They were doing well and had made friends there. Thank goodness that your own family settled well x
DeleteThe only new country we moved to and lived in was Wales. A very Welsh speaking part of Wales, so it did feel strange at first. Alan had been offered a job in Canada a few years earlier, as his skill set is very unique and he's a true expert in his field. But the pay they offered him was less than his Berkshire salary, and although the moving package was excellent, we turned the offer down. It would have been an amazing adventure though.
ReplyDeleteToronto was amazing, Sue, and I would have loved to stay there for good, It just wasn't meant to be. I think I would have struggled if I had to learn another language though, especially Welsh!
DeleteWow, a difficult decision to make and then to get there and within a few months no job. You were both very brave. I've never moved country but my Dad changed his job and we moved from Hertfordshire to the Midlands, and with temporary housing I did 4 schools from one May to the next May, and swore I would never do the same thing to my children. We always bought the worst house on the best street and did well from them, but our last two houses have been new builds, so much easier. Xx
ReplyDeleteMy parents moved, first to Indonesia and then to Singapore, both times for a couple of years. My brother and I, both young teenagers, were moved to English boarding schools. We both missed our previous schools and friends very badly, but life abroad in the holidays was quite an experience.
ReplyDeleteYes. Interestingly enough my partner and I moved to TO in 1980, small world
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