Great Opportunity to Buy Property in the UK

Picking up on an article in this month’s BritClub Gazette (news in brief, UK Mortgage and Housing market set for further drops), are the next couple of years going to be a great opportunity for British immigrants in Canada who are thinking of moving back to the UK? It seems that the housing market in Canada has been fairly stable over the last couple of years whilst the UK market has tumbled. If prices keep falling I see a great opportunity to pick up cheap property. This is enhanced by the great exchange rate when moving from Canadian dollars to Stirling. Furthermore, if you came over to Canada more than five years ago you would have got an equally great exchange rate coming this way! It strikes me as a very good opportunity to make the move pay by investing in a home in the UK.

US Border Woes

Why are U.S. border guards such stone faced, “jobs worth”, humourless wankers.  Just about every time I cross the border into the states there is a problem.  The latest incident was last week when I crossed the border at the main crossing point Autoroute 15/I87.  I crossed with my two sons and initially everything was good; there was hardly any traffic, the initial check went without incident and we filled out the green visa cards in good time and didn’t have to wait for an hour to do it - so far so good. 

It then came to the time where we had to pay our $6.00 each to cross the border.  When I first emigrated over here just over six years ago I had been caught out at the border because they didn’t accept credit cards then.  However, since the old days the border has actually caught up to the 21^st century and a couple of years ago they started to accept Visa and MasterCard.  So, instead of changing Canadian into US cash I thought I would simply cross the border using my credit card and go to an ATM in the States to keep things simple.  So the guard swipes my card, but nothing happened.  Incidentally, I had used the card not 15 minutes before to buy enough petrol to get me across the border.  The guard tried again; nothing.  I told her I had just used it but, in that irritating, officious tone that only border guards can muster, she informed me that that was in Canada and I was in the USA now; obviously in the USA the equipment is far superior (Apart from the this one of course.)

It was then my son said that he had 15 U. S dollars on him.  We offered this but, of course, we were a whole $3.00 short so totally unacceptable.  The guard then told the boys to sit down and wait and I had to follow her outside.  She pointed up to the top of the hill to the Canadian duty free store and, although it was around -12^oC, told me to walk up to the store, change some Canadian into US (At a totally rip off exchange rate) and then come back and pay cash.  Believe it or not she would have seriously refused us entry into the USA for the sake of $3.00 just because their machine was not working.  As soon as we got across the border not more than 5 minutes later we stopped for some food and used the card with no problem whatsoever.  Where do they get these people?

Why wouldn't you move to Canada?

Apart from the dated and overused Clichés "You can't get Heinz baked beans" or "Cadbury's chocolate doesn't taste the same", if someone asked you "Why shouldn't I move to Canada" what would you tell them?

Ashes Jokes

Ring Ring.....

Hello - Australian team dressing room Hello mate...Can I speak to Ricky Ponting
please.
Sorry mate - he's just gone out to bat It's OK - I'll hold.

Q: What is the main function of the Australia coach?

A: To transport the team from the hotel to the ground.

Q: What do you call an Australian with a champagne bottle in his hand?

A: A waiter.

Q: Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone in the Australian team?

A: The woman who irons their cricketing whites.

Q: Why don't Aussie fielders need pre-tour travel injections?

A: Because they never catch anything.

Q: What's the Aussie version of a hat trick?

A: Three runs in three balls.

Q: What do Aussie batsmen and drug addicts have in common?

A: Both spend most of their time wondering where their next score will come
from.

Q: What is the most proficient form of footwork displayed by Australian batsmen?

A: The walk back to the pavilion.

Q: What did the spectator miss when he went to the toilet?

A: The entire Australian innings.

Q: What's the Australian version of LBW?

A: Lost, Beaten, Walloped.

Q: Why do Australians call their favourite drink XXXX?

A: Because they can't spell beer.

Welcome to the britclub.ca Blog

British immigrants living in Canada, moving to Canada or intending to move to Canada, britclub.ca is for you. The aim of the site is to inform you about Canada and British resources in Canada that can make the transition to Canadian life and living in Canada much easier.

Please use this blog to post anything at all that you think is relevant; your story, help and advice, questions, anecdotes, jokes, etc, etc.

I am hoping that 2011 will be a stellar year for the britclub. I am asking for your help to bring the site to life and I aim to make the site the biggest single resource for British immigrants in Canada. Please join in and help me make this happen. You can contact me at any time on mick@britclub.ca. Please let me know what you want to see on the site and I will do my best to oblige.

Once you have the start the rest is inevitable - Joey the lips, The Commitments